Diana and the Underworld Odyssey by Aisha Saeed

Author:Aisha Saeed [Saeed, Aisha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2021-05-25T00:00:00+00:00

Diana woke with a start. Liara was asleep, curled in the crook of her elbow. Diana exhaled. The hatchling was okay. They were both alive. Looking around, she realized she lay on a small island, the one she’d seen from the boat. It was more of a sandbank, really, with just a few trees a couple hundred feet down the shoreline. Propping herself up into a seated position, she pressed a hand to her aching forehead and winced. She had no idea how long she’d been asleep, but it was still light out. It was time to get going. The Siren would return. And she’d bring others.

Waves splashed against the shore. Splinters of wood floated in the surf. My rowboat. Diana paused, remembering. It was gone. How would she get to the River Styx now?

The clouds had cleared, and the sun hung low in the sky. Soon its light would dip into the horizon. Diana had only a few hours to get to the Underworld. But without a boat, the prospect of reaching the River Styx seemed as simple as flying to the moon.

Diana saw the dolphin who had saved her, swimming just offshore. Its dark eyes watched her with concern. Maybe the dolphin can take us, Diana thought. But there was little chance they would make it there unscathed now. The Siren had said everyone in the sea knew about the bounty on her head. How many more assailants would she have to battle before she reached the River Styx?

“Oh good, you’re awake,” said a voice.

Diana scrambled up. A boy who looked a few years older than her was leaning against a nearby palm tree with arms folded. He was tall and lanky with dark hair cut close to the scalp. She yanked out her sword and struck a defensive stance.

“Someone woke up on the wrong side of the island,” he observed.

“Stay back.” She pointed the tip of the weapon at his chest. She had no idea who he was, but she definitely was not taking any chances after what had happened to her.

“Whoa.” He held up his palms and nodded to the ground next to him. “I only want to help. See? I brought you food.”

A tray sat by his feet. Resting on it were a bowl of steaming vegetables and rice and a drink. Diana’s mouth watered.

“Where did you come from?” she asked, eyeing him suspiciously. He didn’t have any tails or tentacles that she could see, but there was no telling what he was up to. And it wasn’t like there were any buildings on this island—so where exactly did the vegetables and rice and glass of water come from?

“I’m from here.” He rolled his eyes. “Who do you think made this little island pop up in the middle of nowhere to begin with?”

“What do you want?”

“Um…to feed you?” He raised his eyebrows. “Looks like you’ve been through an ordeal. I’m sorry I wasn’t around earlier. Family emergency. Just saw you when you washed ashore.

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