River of Shadows (Underworld Gods #1)(48)

“Don’t worry, the bonemice will get those,” she says, wiping her mouth with the back of her forearm.

I don’t even want to ask what a bonemouse is.

“Thank you,” she then says after she swallows. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve eaten. Lovia should have been to see me by now with some grouse or salmon, anything left over from dinner. I guess with you here, the castle is up in arms. Out of whack.”

“What makes you say that?”

She lifts a shoulder in a dainty shrug. “If you haven’t noticed, we aren’t used to having mortals in our presence. First your father, now you.”

At the mention of my father my heart pangs. “Did you know my father?”

She nods. “But not well. I only met him a couple of times, when Death showed me off.”

My face scrunches up. “You mean Death was showing my father around the castle?”

“That was my understanding. He was in the same situation as you, in a way. A prisoner, unable to leave Shadow’s End, but he had coffee in the mornings and roast dinners and was able to roam the halls and rooms, everywhere except the crypt and the library. And Death’s bedroom, of course.”

While I’m relieved to know my father wasn’t treated nearly as poorly as I had imagined, I have to point out, “Except I’m not allowed to roam anywhere. I heard Raila lock me in.”

The mermaid nods again. “I know. For now, you’re trapped in here, under lock and key. But if you play your cards right, you’ll have full rein of the castle in no time. And then, when the time is right, the both of us can escape. So what say you? Will you get me out of here if I tell you how to make this situation work for you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well let’s get my needs down first, because they’re the easiest to fulfill. When the moon is full, you must take me to the Stargaze Tower. It’s at the very south of the building, has a telescope and star maps and everything. You can’t miss it. You’ll watch through the telescope for Kuutar to appear, and she’ll make sure I have safe passage to the sea. In other words, you can finally chuck me out of a window. The water is right below.”

“Kuutar!” I exclaim softly. “Vellamo mentioned her. I thought it was a place.”

She shakes her head. “Kuutar is the Goddess of the Moon. Anyone from the sea worships her, as she controls the tides. And because we rarely get the sun here, we bask in her light when we can.”

“What if it’s cloudy?” I ask. “It’s always cloudy. Because of Death.”

“His moods make it cloudy, but there are exceptions. When he’s asleep, it clears. It’s why so much of Tuonela worships the stars and astronomy. It’s a celebration. When he’s happy it clears too, but that rarely happens. More often than not it snows or rains or is this never-ending mist. Drives you bonkers.”

“Like living in San Francisco.”

She frowns. “I guess?”

“Speaking of bonkers,” I say. “Where did you pick that word up?”

“Lovia,” she says proudly. “When I was gifted the chance to speak, not all the translations went through properly. Lovia taught me the rest. But she also spends a lot of time in the mortal world, so she’s picked up on a lot of your slang through the ages. I wouldn’t know if what I’m saying is right or not.”

“It’s all good,” I tell her. “What is your name anyway? I’m Hanna.”

I smile and hold out my fingertip, wondering if this is weird or cheesy or offensive to mermaids.

But she just laughs and grabs hold of the tip of my finger, shaking it. “I’m Bell. It’s not my real name, that name doesn’t translate. But Death named me Bell. Well, actually it was Tinkerbell, but Lovia made him change it.”

You’ve got to be kidding me. What is his obsession with Peter Pan?

“Anyway,” Bell says, “I really appreciate you doing me this favor. Once Kuutar gets me to the sea and guides me home, I’ll be reunited with Vellamo and my sisters again.”

“But you’ll be small.”

“I’m sure it will have its advantages. After all, the giant pikes are giant, no matter if you’re my size or if you’re full-grown. But the sisters will take care of me.” A serious look comes across her face. “But while that takes care of me, it doesn’t help you much, does it? You want to know how to get out of here, don’t you? Back to your homeland? The Upper World?”

I nod eagerly. “Yes. Yes, more than anything. Please.”

If I could escape from here, I could be reunited with my father, who will be cured of his cancer. I’ll have a do-over for everything. I can bring him back home with me to LA, or we could move somewhere else in Finland and I could get a new job, it doesn’t matter anymore. Wherever he will be, I will be there too. I’m never letting go of our second chance.

“Then take it from me,” she says gravely. “Because I’ve been in your shoes. Whatever Death wants, you do it and you do it with a smile on your face.” My face must immediately fall because she cocks her head. “I mean it. Be as charming and seductive and willing as possible. You want Death to want you, not just physically—I’m sure that’s a given there—but emotionally. That’s the key. That’s what I didn’t have the strength or the foresight to do, but I think you could do it. You seem strong enough.”