Hades Descendants (The Games of the Gods Book 1)

by Nikki Kardnov

  “Physical strength,” Hades begins, emphasizing the word physical as though it’s an insult, “is one of the most basic gifts a descendant can have. It takes neither the intelligence of mental strength nor the adaptability of emotional strength.”

  My heart pounds in my chest as I consider what Hades will think about my absolute lack of anything, if he’s this unimpressed with Pearce’s gift.

  “But strength has its uses, I suppose,” Hades says. “For this first round, I will grant you a gift as basic as your talent—additional physical strength. Use it well and wisely until the end of your days.” Hades waves his hand and a flash of blue fire leaps from his fingers and slams into Pearce. Pearce drops to his knees as the veins in his arms swell beneath his flesh. The bigger boy doesn’t scream, but a growl rumbles in his chest.

  In a snap, the blue flame disappears and Pearce stands. He’s smoking slightly, but otherwise looks unchanged.

  “Lift it,” Hades commands, the same dark demand in his tone.

  Pearce looks at his hands and then back at his god. He steps forward and winds his arms around the boulder. When he lifts it this time, it’s as if it weighs nothing at all.

  Hades waves his hand again and the boulder disappears. Pearce staggers forward with the sudden loss of his burden, but he makes a smooth recovery and bends into a deep bow. “I thank you, my lord, for your gift. I’ll use it in your service.”

  Hades barley acknowledges him and gestures for Monstrat to call the next.

  I wipe my hands on my dress. I’m sweating all over. What’ll Hades do when he realizes I have no gifts to command?

  In my frantic state I glance up and find Haven staring right at me. There’s no expression on his face, but he must be thinking the same thing I am. Likely he’s internally enjoying watching me squirm.

  Even though I’ll surely fail this, I can’t let Haven get to me.

  I take a deep breath as Professor Monstrat calls the next descendant.

  I’ll not give Haven Knightfall the satisfaction of knowing just how terrified I am.

  The gifting continues on. Each descendant is called up, their gift confirmed and then elevated by whatever Hades gives them.

  Ely smiles widely at me as he heads back to his seat. His flame ability is now able to generate wider and further than before—a demonstration which required Hades to quickly put out the many benches Ely accidentally set aflame trying out his new gift.

  My anxiety is growing with each name called.

  Probably my punishment for arriving last will be that I’m gifted last, but since I have no gift to demonstrate, the time before my eventual dismissal and dishonor is the real gift. I rack my brain, trying to remember all of the times I killed things without meaning to and wondering if the absolute panic crushing my heart to my ribs at this moment will be enough to bring my gift out of hiding.

  I’m distracted from my thoughts when the blue flame bursts again and the twins, Kal and Orrin, who each have the ability to create light and darkness are gifted with the ability to extend that power beyond anything they could have imagined previously.

  How will they fare if one is eliminated before the other?

  Not my problem.

  My floundering attention is pulled yet again when Professor Monstrat calls Haven’s name. Monstrat doesn’t bother to consult his notes this time. “Your tests revealed your primary gift to be mental visual manipulation.”

  “Correct,” Haven replies, leaving off the politeness and use of “sir” the other descendants employed. Nereus glares at him warningly from behind Hades.

  “And have you any other gifts that would rival the results of this test?” Monstrat asks.

  Nereus is glaring daggers at his brother, both daring him to be insolent and promising retribution if he is.

  “No,” Haven says simply. “Sir.”

  “Knightfalls have served me well for generations,” Hades begins. “Some with gifts more useful to my service than others.” He doesn’t give away if he thinks Haven’s gift is the one that’s more or less useful.

  “We’re loyal to your service always, my lord,” Haven begins with much more respect than he showed either of the other two men on the dais, and for a moment I wonder if it’s fear I can hear in the slight tremor of his voice.

  “We shall see.” Hades lifts his hand. I suck in a breath. Haven is already dangerous. I can only imagine how much more dangerous he might become.

  Hades says, “I’ll gift you the ability to manipulate the visions of more than one person at a time. See that you use this gift wisely or there will not be another.” He waves his hand and the blue fire flashes, pulling barely a grunt of pain out of Haven who’s gone completely rigid. In a moment, the flame is gone and Haven turns to us.

  My stomach knots.

  There is a wicked smile on his handsome face.

  Now comes his opportunity to show us his heightened power. I’m dreading what it will be and how I might react to it.

  But then...snow falls from the dark ceiling. I hold my hand out as a fat cluster of snowflakes hits my palm and immediately melts into a bead of water.

  All of us turn to the ceiling when the snow intensifies. The other descendants laugh and hold out their tongues.

  I’m immediately relieved until I see something scuttle across the floor by my boot. I look down and find a giant black spider rearing back its fangs.

  I crawl onto the bench, feet off the floor.

  “Enough,” Nereus says and the snow disappears.

  The spider goes too, just seconds before a scream had threatened to tear out of my throat.

  “Theo Diorson,” Monstrat calls.

  Theo is the last before me! Okay, quick, think. What can I do to get out of this? I didn’t display any power at the testing phase, so maybe they mean to skip me? Which would be fine by me. I can’t handle any more embarrassment and especially not in front of Haven Knightfall.

  “Are you telling me, Diorson, that this is all you’re gifted with?”

  I pull my attention back to the front of the gathering hall, back to Theo.

  A small set of stones is on a table in front of Theo and only one of them hovers in the air. It wobbles and falls as Theo squeaks an apology.

  “To bring such a lowly gift before me is a dishonor few would risk,” Hades barks. “My gift to you will be nothing.”

  Hades waves his hand and the blue fire flashes. Theo drops to the floor screaming. The sound is high-pitched and animalistic and it echoes through the cavernous space.

  Some of the descendants stand to get a better view. I can’t help myself. I get up too. It feels as though I’m watching my very near future as I stare helplessly at the boy who appears to be burning alive from a fire we can no longer see.

  After what seems like an eternity, Hades holds his hand up and all sound in the chamber stops save for Theo’s whimpering. “As I suspected,” Hades muses as a door to the side of the chamber swings open and two of his guards come to carry an unconscious Theo out. “Some descendants have too much mortal in them to ascend.”

  Nereus nods. Monstrat frowns.

  I look to Haven. He was harassing Theo earlier. Is he happy to watch Theo’s demise?

  But Haven isn’t smiling or laughing. There’s something etched across his face that looks an awful lot like grief.

  Before I can begin to wonder about this, Professor Monstrat’s voice calls out across the room, “Anastasha Hearthtender.”

  Chapter 14

  For the second time this ceremony, every eye in the room turns to me. I remind myself to keep breathing and slowly push my legs to take one step, then another as I move to the dais. As I get closer I realize the colored tiles on the floor make up a mosaic of souls heading to the Underworld. For all I know, I’m about to join their death march. I’m no closer to figuring out what I’m about to say or do than I was when this whole thing started.

  Except now my time is up.

  I glance again at the door through which Theo�
�s seemingly lifeless body was just carried away as though he’d never been here.

  Too mortal. Not enough deity in him to withstand Hades’s blue flame. Instead it burned him from the inside. And if he was too mortal, with his ability to do something, what hope in Olympus do I have?

  “Anastasha Hearthtender,” Professor Monstrat says as he looks at his notes. What could he possibly have written in there? Failure. Inept. No power.

  “You’re in the unique position,” he says, “of having been excused from the original test for reasons relating to emotional distress.”

  “Women in Hades House,” Nereus mutters darkly, and not as quietly as common decency would require. There are light chuckles behind me from the other descendants.

  “However,” Professor Monstrat continues, “based on the intervention and testimony of one of your fellow descendants, we’re aware that you did display your gift at another time and that your primary gift is that of...destruction.” He sounds almost impressed as the murmurs behind me begin to grow in volume and disbelief.

  Monstrat turns to Hades. “My lord, it would seem Anastasha’s gift, while powerful, is one that’s been stifled for too long. It doesn’t come to her call easily. But as it was verified by a witness, I suggest we don’t require additional demonstration before the gifting.”

  He smiles at me encouragingly while on his opposite side Nereus fumes. Hades stands between them with an unreadable expression on his face.

  I glance over my shoulder at Haven. He’s the only one with an intimate knowledge of my power. Did he intercede on my behalf? Why would he help me?

  A murmur wends through my fellow descendants.

  “Silence.” Hades’s dark voice moves through the room like a storm cloud. Chills run up and down my spine.

  “It has been suggested,” Nereus intones, disbelief clear in every word, “that destruction is your primary gift. Do you dispute this?”

  “I mean...I’ve always had a bad habit of…well…I don’t exactly know what it is but sometimes things…well…die in my hands. At Hestia’s House, there’s so much focus on life and light so it wasn’t like I went around trying to kill things. Having an affinity for killing perfectly healthy flowers and plants was usually a…” I trail off realizing that my mouth has clearly lost my mind.

  “Is that a no?” Nereus asks disdainfully.

  “Yes, sir,” I stammer. “I mean, no. I mean, yes, sir, I don’t dispute this.” For all that’s good and godly can someone please smite me now.

  Hades clasps his hands behind his back and paces across the dais. “Skill in destruction is rare. Even for my own children.”

  I lock eyes with him. Is this the moment he’s going to admit to being my father? I can’t decide if that would make this whole situation better or worse.

  “Hestia never mentioned that one of her maidens was destructive,” Hades muses.

  I’m unsure if it’s a comment or a question, but my brain has already given up and passed out so my mouth just keeps on running wild.

  “I don’t think she knew, my lord.” My voice is barely above a whisper. “I hid it well.”

  The temperature in the room drops noticeably as Hades turns the full force of his glare upon me. “Don’t be insolent, Hearthtender. A mere child hasn’t the cleverness nor the power to fool a high goddess in her own house. If she chose not to tell me, her reasons must be good and I want to know what they are.”

  “I don’t deign to speak for my godmother, my lord,” I reply honestly, not sure what else there is to say.

  “The wisest choice you’ve made.” He continues to pace. He’s quiet for a moment, contemplating what, I don’t know. Every step he takes feels like another nail in my coffin. Sweat beads along my hairline. I’m going to end up like Theo. Or worse.

  Is Theo officially out of the competition? Or does he get to fight another day now with a black mark on his reputation?

  Why in the world would the Fates put me here? Are they mocking me?

  Hades returns to his place between Nereus and Monstrat. “You seem to break all the molds, Hearthtender.”

  Thankfully even my runaway mouth can tell that this is a statement, not a question, and so I bow my head and await his next words.

  “I’ll gift you with the ability to destroy without touch. To reach out with your mind to thwart your enemy. This isn’t a gift I give lightly. Use it wisely and in my service until the end of your days.” He lifts his hand, blue flames writhing around his fingers.

  He flicks his wrist to deliver my gift and—

  Fire.

  Burning, searing pain rips through my body unlike anything I’ve ever suffered. It’s inside me and outside of my body and I’m floating in and around it.

  Pain.

  I’m pain. Every fiber of my being is pain. I’m weightless, lifting off the ground, the pain pulling me in every direction at once.

  Bright.

  There’s light all around me, loud and piercing in its brightness, and beyond it the faintest noise of panic before everything goes blessedly, peacefully, black.

  Chapter 15

  Mother Hestia, save me.

  I come back to myself with those four words playing over and over in my mind. My entire body feels as though it’s been filled with marble. I’m heavy and unmoving. I attempt to open my eyes but they feel as if they’re stone too, sculpted shut for all eternity.

  After a moment I realize I’m not the only sound in this stone form. The voices around me start to clear. Hades and Professor Monstrat whisper somewhere near me.

  “Summon Hestia,” Hades says. “She must be behind this.”

  “Perhaps it's something simpler,” Monstrat says. “Like Theo, Ana may be too mortal for your gift.”

  “Don’t be a fool. This was something else. She’s something else.”

  “My lord...I’d caution you—”

  “Get me Hestia!” Hades’s footsteps fade away.

  “And the girl?”

  “Take her to her room. When she wakes, if she wakes, continue on as if nothing has changed.” Hades voice blurs and blends into the darkness as he walks away. “But keep your eye on her, Monstrat.”

  “Yes, my lord.” Monstrat is quiet for a minute until Hades is gone, and then, “Call Max. Have her carried to her room and—”

  “No. I’ll take her.”

  Haven?

  I must be more lost to the darkness than I thought because it almost sounded as though Haven had offered to take me. My thoughts are swirling around this as strong arms suddenly lift me up and cradle me against a hard chest. My eyes refuse to open and see.

  I want to see.

  I want to see his face.

  What game is Haven playing?

  Why is my body not working?

  As we turn down a hall, Haven clutches me closer. I’m weightless in his arms, as if it takes him no effort at all to carry me.

  My body is lowered onto a bed. The blanket is pulled up to my shoulders and tucked in around me. Carefully. Gently.

  From what seems like impossibly far away I hear Max screaming in panic. “What happened to her?”

  Yes, what happened to her? To me? Am I her?

  The darkness creeps back in. I welcome it closer, wanting it to take me under and away from the confusion and the pain. I wonder if this has all been a nightmare. What’ll I find when I wake?

  It’s at this moment that I know for certain I’m dreaming because I’m almost convinced I hear Haven’s steady, concerned voice reply to Max’s terrified question. “Stay with her.”

  Chapter 16

  Strong hands dig into my shoulders and give my body a shake.

  I’m yanked from whatever dark, cozy dream world I was in and violently brought back to reality.

  I blink. My head is pounding. Every bone and joint in my body is sore like I either walked a pilgrimage or caught the flu.

  “What’s going on?” I say and shield my eyes from the lamplight across the room.

  “You hav
e to get up!” Max yells. “The First Trial is starting in twenty minutes. It wasn’t supposed to start until after dinner but Nereus moved it up.”

  “What?!” I bolt upright in bed and catch hell from my head. I squeeze my eyes shut so the room will stop spinning. “Oh gods. Why do I feel like crap?”

  “I don’t know. Something happened at the gifting last night. Do you remember?” He doesn’t wait for my response. “Are you okay?”

  I scrub at my face as the memories come back to me. Hades tried gifting me more power and instead of finding myself better for it, I found myself flat on my ass. So did it work? Or am I really too mortal to hold the new power just as Theo was?

  The creakiness in my bones seems to point to the latter.

  How the hell am I going to perform in the First Trial if I can barely walk?

  Nereus knew exactly what he was doing when he moved it up.

  He’s hoping I’ll lose.

  This realization has me shoving the pain down deep. I throw the blanket back and set my bare feet to the thick rug. I can do this. I have to do this. I can’t go to the mortal realm. I’d never make it there. I owe it to myself to do whatever I can to keep myself in the game, even if it seems impossible.

  “I’m okay,” I say and stand on wobbly legs. Max reaches out just in time to catch me. His dark brow furrows. “I’m okay. Seriously. I can do this. I have to do this, Max.”

  “All right.” He nods, but the frown stays on his face. “You’ll have to get dressed quickly. Descendants are to meet in the back garden at half past three.”

  Though it’s hard to tell what time of day it is in Hades’s House, my body must be attuning to the rise and fall of the sun regardless of whether I can see it. It feels like the middle of the night, so half past three means three A.M.

  We’re trialing in the dark.

  Great.

  Max hands me a black undershirt and I don’t bother with modesty. I tear off the tunic I had on and toss it to the side. Once the undershirt is on, Max hands me the form-fitting black overshirt. It molds to my body. Next comes the black leggings and black boots. When I’m done, I’m nothing more than a shadow.