Gena Showalter - Into the Dark: The Darkest Fire; The Amazons Curse; The Darkest Prison

Into TheDark

Lords of theUnderworld Book 5.5

By Gena Showalter

THE DARKEST FIRE
THE AMAZONS CURSE
THE DARKEST PRISON
LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD
Bonus Guide
CLASSIFIED FILES: FROM THE PRIVATE RECORDS OF DEAN STEFANO
AT HOME WITH THE LORDS OF THE UNDERWORLD
THE SACRED SCROLLS
GLOSSARY OF CHARACTERS AND TERMS
Dear Reader:

Im so happy that The Darkest Fire, The AmazonsCurse and The Darkest Prison, stories once available only in eBookform, are now available in one printed collection, Into the Dark.

In The Darkest Fire youll get a peek at thedemons from Pandoras box before they were given to the Lords of theUnderworld. Youll also discover how Pandoras box was created. In TheAmazons Curse youll learn about the painful pasts that both Zane and Nolafrom The Vampires Bride enduredand how they find a love that will lastforever. In The Darkest Prison youll finally get a glimpse insideTartarus, the prison realm for immortals, and meet the sexy Titan god runningthe place and the imprisoned Greek goddess he cant resist.

Each of these stories was a joy to write. A joy thatsometimes caused me to want to pull my hair out, but a joy nonetheless.(Stubborn characters!)

Whats more, this book is packed with all kinds ofgoodies. My favorite part: in an all-new behind-the-scenes bonus guide, theLords of the Underworld are stripped bare! Well, metaphorically speaking. Theother kindwell, well just have to save that for another book.

Warmest regards,

Gena Showalter
CHAPTER ONE

EVERY DAY FOR HUNDREDS of years the goddess had visited Hell and everyday Geryon had watched her from his station, desire heating his blood more thanthe flames of damnation beyond his post ever had. He should not have studiedher that first time and should have kept his gaze downcast all the times since.He was a slave to the prince of darkness, spawned by evil; she was a goddess,created in light.

He could not have her, he thought, hands fisting. Nomatter how much he might wish otherwise. She would not want him anyway.Thisobsession was pointless and brought him nothing but despair. He did notneed more despair.

And yet, still he watched her this day as she floatedthrough the barren cavern, coral-tipped fingers tracing the jagged stones thatseparated underground from underworld. Golden ringlets flowed down her elegantback and framed a face so perfect, so lovely, Aphrodite herself could notcompare. Eyes of starlight narrowed, a rosy color blooming in those cheeks ofsmooth alabaster.

The wall is cracked, she said, her voice like a songamid the hiss of nearby flamesand the unnatural screams that alwaysaccompanied them.

He shook his head, positive he had merely imagined thewords. In all their centuries together, they had never spoken, never deviatedfrom their routine. As the Guardian of Hell, he ensured the gate remainedclosed until a spirit needed to be cast inside. That way, no one and nothingescapedand if they tried, he rendered punishment. As the goddess ofOppression, she fortified the physical barrier with only a touch. Silence wasnever breeched.

Uncertainty darkened her features. Have you nothingto say?

She stood in front of him a moment later, though henever saw her move. The scent of honeysuckle suddenly overshadowed the stink ofsulfur and melting flesh, and he inhaled deeply, closing his eyes in ecstasy.Oh, that she would remain just as she was.

Guardian, she prompted.

Goddess. He forced his lids to open gradually,slowly revealing the glow of her beauty. Up close, she was not as perfect as hehad thought. She was better. A smattering of freckles dotted her sweetly slopednose, and dimples appeared with the curve of her half-smile. Exquisite.

What did she think of him? he wondered.

She probably thought him a monster, hideous andmisshapen. Which he was. But if she thought so, she did not show it. Onlycuriosity rested in those starlight eyes. For the wall, he suspected, not forhim. Even when hed been human, women had wanted nothing to do with him. Theydrun from him the moment hed turned his attention to them. Hed been too tall,too brawny, too bumbling. And that was before hed resembled an ogre.

Sometimes he wondered if hed been tainted at birth.

Those cracks were not there yesterday, she said.What has caused such damage? And so swiftly?

A horde of Demon Lords rise from the pit daily andfight to break out. They have grown tired of their confinement here and seekliving humans to torment.

She accepted the news without reaction. Have youtheir names?

He nodded. He did not need to see beyond the gate toknow who visited on the other side; he sensed it. Always. Violence, Death,Lies, Doubt, Misery. Shall I go on?

No, she said softly. I understand. The worst of theworst.

Yes. They bang and they claw from the other side,desperate to reach the mortal realm.

Well, stop them. A command, laced with huskyentreaty.

If only. He would have given up the last vestiges ofhis humanity to do as she wished. Anything to repay the daily gift of her presence.Anything to keep her just where she was, prolonging the sweetness of her scent.I am forbidden to leave my post, just as I am forbidden to open the gates forany reason but allowing one of the damned inside. Im afraid I cannot grantyour request.

Besides, the only way to stop a determined demon wasto kill it, and killing a High Lord was another forbidden act.

A sigh slipped from her. Do you always do as youretold?

Always. Once he had fought the invisible ties thatbound him. Once, but no longer. To fight was to invite pain and sufferingnotfor him, but for others. Innocent humans who resembled his mother, his fatherand his brothersbecause his true mother, father and brothers had already beenslainwere brought here and tortured in front of him. The screamsoh, thescreams. Far worse than the ones that seeped from Hell. And the sights Heshuddered.

Had the pain and suffering been heaped upon him,he would not have cared. Would have laughed and fought all the harder. What wasa little more pain? But Lucifer, brother to Hades and prince of the demons,needed him healthy, whole, so had found other ways to gain his cooperation.

The memories would forever haunt him, but might havefaded during the night, if hed required sleep. He remained awake, however,every hour of every day, never able to forget.

Obedience. I expected differently from you, shesaid. You are a warrior, so strong and assured.

Yes, he was a warrior. But he was also a slave. Onedid not cancel out the other. I am sorry, goddess. My strength and assurancechange nothing.

I will pay you to help me, she insisted. Name yourprice. Whatever you desire shall be yours.

If only, Geryon thought again. He would ask for asingle taste of her lips.

Why limit himself, though? he wondered next. Whateverhe desired. He could ask for a night in her arms. Naked. Touching. Tasting.Yes. Yes. Every muscle in his body clenched. In arousal. In desperation.

In despair.

No. He could not risk the suffering of the innocentwhydo you bother with them?simply to sate his craving for the lovely goddess.So have a kiss? A night with her? No again.

Finally I know true torture. He ground his teeth. Why did he bother? Becausewithout good, there would be only evil. And he had seen too much evil over thecenturies. He would not be responsible for more.

Guardian? the goddess prompted. Anything.

DO NOT SPEAK. DO NOT DO THIS. Geryon gulped. I am sorry, goddess.