Face of Death by Kelly Hashway Page A

obviously had no idea what I was doing. I wasn’t really sure I knew either.
    I let go of Matt’s hand. “Okay, so here’s the plan. We need two new souls. I’m bringing Matt with me.”
    Arianna looked back and forth between Alex and me. I knew she was checking to see how he really felt about me bringing Matt along.
    “Alex and I discussed it, and Matt doesn’t deserve this kind of afterlife. Hades is only keeping him here to punish me. I have to free him, give him another shot at life.”
    I couldn’t help feeling like they were ignoring me. All eyes were on Alex. I nudged him, encouraging him to say something and make the blank stares go away.
    He let them squirm for another moment before he chimed in. “Matt will be human again, and he’ll help Jodi. I don’t want her to go through this alone. She won’t have anyone who knows who she really is since she’ll be in a different body.”
    Lexi raised an eyebrow. “You’re sending your girlfriend to shack up with her ex-boyfriend, and they’ll both be human? Wow, Alex, I didn’t peg you for a complete idiot.”
    “Enough, Lexi.” Arianna gave her daughter a long hard look.
    “What? I’m trying to help.” She shrugged, and in her own strange way, I think she really was looking out for Alex.
    “I trust Jodi.” Alex gave me a small smile.
    “And we won’t be shacking up,” I said. “Matt doesn’t have to stay with me at all if he doesn’t want to. I’ll help him get settled, but he’s free to live his life however he wants.”
    “Wait,” Leticia said. “You’re going to worry about getting him settled before you figure out how to save us? So, like, you two will be getting all cozy in your new lives while we’re here being tortured.”
    “Jodi’s body and half her soul will still be here,” Alex jumped to my defense. “She’ll be suffering right along with us, and it will actually be harder on her because she’ll be able to feel both parts of her soul. It’s going to be hard for her not to lose it, having to deal with that.” He looked around the group, his eyes falling on each Ophi. “So, if anyone wants to question what Jodi’s actually going to have to endure while trying to free us, you can take it up with me.”
    Lexi crossed her arms. “Seriously, I don’t know if you are the most romantic guy ever or if you’re a total dumbass.” I was about to flip on her, but she added, “Either way, Jodi’s lucky to have you.”
    Lexi had definitely changed since we’d come here. Maybe it was seeing her sister again, seeing what Abby had become, but part of me was almost starting to like Lexi. Almost.
    “How do we even go about doing this?” Carol asked. “No offense, but I’d really like to get home to Mason. I’m not crazy about having to wait around in Hell while Jodi figures things out.”
    “I know.” I understood how she felt. She missed her husband, and I’m sure seeing Alex stand up for me reminded her of Mason. He’d had no idea that letting Carol come to the school was going to mean losing her to Hades. If I had anything to say about it, they’d be together again soon. “Guys, I know this sucks. I know it’s my fault we’re all here.” Alex opened his mouth to protest, but I shook my head. “I’m the leader. Whatever happens is on my head. I take responsibility. It comes with the job description. But I promise you I will get us out of here. All of us.” My eyes fell on Carol. “Once we’re home, you can go back to Serpentarius and pretend you never met me.”
    “I don’t want to pretend I never met you, Jodi. I just want to be with my family again.”
    I nodded. “Then let’s find some bodies for Matt and me and make that happen as soon as possible.”
    I looked around the group. Everyone was in agreement. We had to get moving. Scope out new souls. The only problem was that no one knew how to get out of the Fields of Asphodel. Hades had dropped us in the middle of this flower-filled field.
    “Any