"I don't care, Jared. As long as you don't hurt or eat me and Deidre. No unwritten terms. No modifications or substitutions or creative execution of timeframes."
"Very well." He didn't sound pleased.
She didn't care. Clutching the keys in one hand, past-Death rose and approached him, hand outstretched.
"Deal," she said.
"Deal." He touched her fist with a fingertip, the only part of him capable of reaching her while chained.
"Okay. Now to get out of here. I need to sleep again." She paced instead. "My head just won't stop!" Frustrated, she gripped her temples.
"I'd be happy to knock you out."
"Is it painful?"
"Hopefully."
"No thanks. I've got to do this. I ruled over the Underworld for tens of thousands of years. I can will my stupid human brain to let me think." With a deep breath, past-Death stretched out on the uncomfortable floor. "Don't wake me up this time, demon. If you see me fade, leave me alone."
"Just bring me an arm or leg. I'm so fucking hungry."
She ignored him and closed her eyes, her thoughts going to the soul in her bedchamber first. She needed to secure Gabriel's soul, before it was too late, and then find the keys to Jared's chains.
Come on! Dreamwalk.
"Cupcake, should that be happening?" If not for the odd note in the demon's voice, past-Death would've ignored him.
She cracked open one eye to see what was going on. He was pointing at her feet. She checked to make sure the keys were in her hand still then lowered her arm and looked around her.
A faint grey haze had begun to engulf her, starting at her feet. It didn't touch her skin but snaked up her body, swallowing her in a soft fog. It was clingy and cool, like walking through the shadow world that existed in the place between portals.
"Oh, fuck," she mumbled. Her heart felt as if it stopped, and she forgot to breathe. "I was out more than two hours, wasn't I?"
Jared shrugged, unconcerned. "The suns went down and came back up, but not much time passed."
"Another day in Hell time must've passed." Past-Death closed her eyes.
"What is it?"
My soul. She didn't answer him out loud. The one-week deal she'd made with human Deidre was over.
She'd lost. Gabriel didn't love her, and time was up. Her soul belonged to the Dark One's mate, who lay dying in a cell down the hall.
Tears rose, and past-Death swallowed hard. If she'd been outside of the underworld, there would be no problem. Her soul would become Deidre's only upon death.