Ruby Shadows by Evangeline Anderson Page B

pretty sure the only thing under those tattered black
rags of Charon’s
was an animated skeleton, either. I was also weirded out by the
idea that the only people who crossed these black, tarry waters
were already dead. Also, I’m not the best swimmer in the world and
I didn’t like to think what might be in that black goo waiting to
get me if I fell in.
    Still, there
was no other way to get to the second circle of Hell and time was
wasting. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, meaning to place
my foot on the ferry.
    But I couldn’t.
    Frowning, I
tried again but with the same result. There was something in the
way—some invisible barrier that I could feel but couldn’t get
past.
    I
tried again, this time leaning forward with my upper body. Again,
the invisible wall met me and kept me from stepping foot on the
boat. I felt it in
every direction, reaching up with my hands and pressing my palms to
its smooth, invisible sides. It occurred to me that I must look
like a mime—and not a very good one, either.
    At
last, I gave up on
trying to find the edges of the wall and turned to Laish who was
watching me quietly with absolutely no surprise on his chiseled
features.
    “ What’s going on?” I demanded. “I thought you said I could
ride for free since I’m not dead. Why can’t I get on
board?”
    “ I
never said you could cross for free, mon ange ,” he rumbled. “Styx is the barrier between the first and
second circle of Hell and you may not pass through to a new circle
without first paying the toll.”
    “ What toll?” I shook my head. “You said something about that
before but you never explained. I tried to give him the coin but he
wouldn’t take it.”
    “ It is not in money that you must pay.” Laish was still looking
at me intently. “But in deeds. You must pay the Sin Tax to cross
from one circle of Hell into the next.”
    “ Sin Tax? What are you talking about?” I put a hand on my hip,
all out of patience. “Look, Laish, just tell me what I have to do
and I’ll do it. Come on—help me out, here!”
    “ I
will be more than pleased to help you out—though I do not think you
will like it,” he said quietly. “You see, Gwendolyn, in order to
pass on to another circle, you must commit a sin. A small one at
this juncture, as we are still in the upper levels of Hell. But as
we pass through each concentric circle, your crime must be greater
and greater in order to satisfy the tax. It is the only way that
you, as a living human, may pass through.”
    “ But…what kind of a sin?” I asked, though I was afraid I
already knew.
    “ One of lust, I believe will do at this point.” Laish fixed me
with those ruby eyes and beckoned to me. “Come to me, Gwendolyn. I
can help you pay the tax.”
    At
last I understood. This was what
he had meant when he said I would have to let him touch me in order
to get through Hell. I felt a flush of warmth run through me,
though if it was lust or anger I couldn’t tell—maybe it was a
mixture of both.
    “ You…I…” I had no words. What could I say? “What…what am I
supposed to do?” I finally got out.
    “ Just come to me,” he murmured. “I will be gentle, I
swear.”
    Rather than
reassuring me, his words scared the Hell out of me—no pun intended.
“What are you planning to do—have sex right here on the river
bank?” I demanded, holding my ground. “Because I’m not up for
that—not even to get across the river.”
    Laish sighed. “I wish you did not fear my touch so very much.
No, mon
ange, I will not
penetrate you now. As I said, only a little sin is necessary to
satisfy at this juncture. If you let me simply touch you, I think
we can pay the tax very well.”
    “ Touch me how?” I asked, still reluctant to go to him. “What
are you going to do? I need to know.”
    “ Simply caress you.” His eyes were heavy-lidded with lust and
his voice was soft and deep. “Come, Gwendolyn—don’t fear me. I will
never hurt you, I swear