Read From Origins (Descendant Prophecies Book 3) for Free Online Page A

reaper zapped into the air and appeared at the end of the boat.
    “I’m not giving you anything from me, you creepy skeleton,” Amanda huffed, but I could see fear in her eyes when it turned face to face with her. I could imagine Amanda having chills down her spine, seeing through the emptiness, hoping nothing hideous would pop out from it.
    “Don’t do anything hasty,” Zara warned. “We don’t want to disturb the peace. I don’t think it wants anything. It’s just escorting us out of the boat.”
    “Oh.” Amanda cowered, letting out fake laughs.
    Everyone got off the boat except for Nick, Mason, and me.
    “Bye,” Nick said to the reaper. “Don’t want to ever see your face; or maybe I should say don’t want you to ever see my face.” He chuckled at his own joke as he jumped to shore.
    “You get off first.” Mason gestured by giving me a slight tug behind my back.
    Once I got off, I looked behind me. My heart started thumping faster, anticipating something bad happening, or Mason having trouble like the last time.
    “You may go,” the voice said to Mason.
    As soon as Mason’s one long stride got him off the boat, he tugged the reaper’s cape down to his level and put his face into that empty space. “For the record. I didn’t ask for your permission.”
    I was afraid of what the reaper would do after Mason let go, but thank goodness nothing happened. Sometimes Mason could be arrogant and bold in a given situation. It was a part of him that I was attracted to. The boat started to drift backward, and a second later, it disappeared.
    Mason was fired up today, but I couldn’t blame him. I was annoyed too when the reaper toyed with him before he got on the boat. What the hell was that for? It was already annoying that we had to go through a lot to get to Hades; anything more was just fuel for the fire.
    “Now what?” Noah piped in, staring into pitch darkness that was covered by mist from the ceiling down.
    “Be patient. It will appear,” Zara stated with excitement, but there was fear in her eyes. Just like the rest of us.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    “What will appear?” Everett asked.
    Amanda pointed straight ahead, looking stunned. “That.”
    As the mist evaporated like a slow moving curtain, a giant double door materialized. I could only see the thick, gold door and nothing else. It was almost as tall as the ceiling and as wide as the cave. I felt so tiny compared to the grandness of it. With fancy, intricate designs and inscriptions, it was beautifully crafted.
    “Want me to knock on the door, or can I ring the doorbell?” Nick chuckled.
    “No. You must tell it your saddest memory. Then it will let you through,” Zara explained, heading for it.
    The fog that had covered the door was now floating on the ground. I couldn’t see my shoes.
    “I’ll go first.” Zara’s cape swayed across the whiteness, and as always, Tara followed her.
    I had thought the door would open, letting in one person at a time; instead, Zara went straight through the door. I guessed the door was an illusion.
    When only Mason and I were left, I suggested he go first. Again, my reasoning was that it might not let him go through once I was in. Seeing Mason walk through it as I stood alone gave me goose bumps. I didn’t want the same bad experience happening again while we were separated. Thinking of my parents, and the reason why I was there in the first place made me braver and more determined.
    “Give me your saddest memory.”
    “I have none.” This time I decided to speak out loud instead of in my mind.
    “Give me your saddest memory. You must give one to enter.” His tone was louder and more demanding than before. It was the same being. I could never forget the gruff, cold voice.
    I didn’t want to give it mine, so I gave it what popped into my mind, another reason why I was there. “My saddest memory was the day the gods were divided. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades were once strong and united. They