by S Lawrence
I refuse to react, trying to remember when he appeared in the chamber. Father. I grimace. I had to think I was dying to utter that word. I had said I would stay here for her though. Sighing, I glance at him.
"What are you doing for her?"
"Not much now. I gave her the help I could. Now it's up to her, if she contains the will to survive." He shrugs, not caring either way.
"Leave us then, and I will care for her. Is Perséphone here?" I ask.
"No." He turns on his heel and leaves, angry at something I said.
Turning my back to the door, I shake my head, refocusing on her when her body tremors. She is freezing. The stupid sheet isn't enough. I glance around but see nothing. Swallowing, I look back at the door, my fist opening and closing. It doesn't matter if he returns or watches now. I must do what she needs and damn the consequences.
Climbing up on her bed, I pull her into my arms. I focus on her breathing and block out everything else. She stiffens, preparing to fight even in her unconsciousness. Little wolf, indeed. I smile into her hair, sniffing at it and find a hint of lavender under the sweat and smoke. I whisper to her, tell her that Aislin is waiting for us. She relaxes a tiny bit. I keep talking, pushing at her with my power. She shakes her head and pushes, at me her voice is stronger and heated when she speaks. "Arias, NO!"
I stop instantly. He used his power on her, and she knew it. It is a puzzle. Perséphone said his was like mine but weaker, yet no one is aware when I use my power. I stare down at this amazing little human. She is relaxing. I try to think of what Aislin told me about her. All that comes to mind is her stories of the misadventures in their hometown and road trip karaoke. Aislin has an unhealthy love of hair bands and I stare down at Emma's face and wonder. I did tell Kai to sing to Aislin when she was trapped in her pain. Of course, he actually can sing. I try to remember a song and the only stupid thing that will come into my head is Don't Close Your Eyes by Kix. Oh fucking hell. Nope not doing it. She shifts, moaning in pain.
"Goddamn it. Shit… Okay but no one better ever find out, especially not Aislin because she will tell Kai and then everyfuckingone will know." I clear my throat, closing my eyes and sighing. Fuck.
"Whatcha doing out in the night time. Why'd ya' call me on the phone, your mama can't solve your problems..." I sing it and I swear she smiles a little through her pain. I continue, and when it is done, I move on to another ridiculous power ballad.
50
HADES
I stand behind the wall, shocked when Jason's clear beautiful tenor rings out. It only takes Orpheus moments to appear, grinning like a fool, and Hermes and Hecate join soon, all of their faces shining with pride. Jason doesn't know it, but he carries gift from them all.
I pin the others with a glare. "I want the one who thought to kill my hunter."
My rage breaks free for a moment and my power leaks out. The Underworld is filled with screams and even those that are used to them cringe at the cacophony. Jason jerks up in the other room, shielding the girl with his body. The three sift away as Perséphone appears.
"What happened, my love?" She lays her hand on my chest. I nod at the wall, and she gasps when she sees Jason.
"Why didn't you call to me? Tell me he was here? Is that the girl? Emma?" She asks.
"Maybe I should ask you why didn't you tell me he had been in contact and was in trouble." She cringes at my soft tone. I am most vicious when I’m quiet.
Straightening, she stares into my eyes. "He didn't want me to; hell, he didn't want to speak to me. It was the watcher that let me know he was here. You're right though. I should've told you about the trouble. I had hoped that he and his new friends could handle it. But you know Jason, he tried to exchange himself for the girl. I don't know anything more than that, but I was looking for him."
"He had been locked in his hellhound form and shot with a poison arrow while being locked in my temple." My rage and voice rise with each word. "It was almost too late when I heard her call out. She sacrificed herself for him, slitting her wrist with the arrow."
"Oh, the sweet girl. Will she live?"
"If her will is strong enough." My gaze travels back to the girl with flaming hair and she watches as my interest flares to life. Dread fills Perséphone. She knows she must get them away from me soon or they will remain here forever. "He called me Father."
She wraps her arms around me, hugging me tight hiding her face from my view. "How did it make you feel?"
"I don't know." My hand runs over her hair and down her back. "Proud, maybe."
* * *
The goddess looked at her son and the woman she hoped was the one, praying they heal quickly. Hades hand came up to her face and drew her lips up to his. She kisses him passionately, drawing his attention away from the others. She learned long ago that he loved her in his own way, and through that love, she could protect Jason.
He could be a good man, but his need for knowledge overroad everything else in him. They were still wrapped around each other when Hermes strode into the room.
"We found him and a woman. They are down the hall."
Hades stiffens, his anger pushing his love down. Stepping away from Perséphone, he glances back at Jason, curled around the human girl.
"Who did you find?" Perséphone voice quivers.
"Arias and some girl from the Norse clan. I didn't think he had lived after he was sent to the humans." Hermes shrugs like the death of a child meant nothing. Hades strides out of the room and they trail after him. Perséphone stops in the doorway. Arias and the woman are strapped in two chairs which are reclined back. Arias is staring at Hades, his hatred palpable. The woman is angry, but her fear is overriding it. Her gaze flies around the room, falling on Perséphone, pleading with her.
"You motherfucker!" Arias jerks at his bindings.
Hades walk closer, stopping beside him and staring at him. "You almost killed my hunter. Almost." His voice is deadly quiet.
The woman's eyes widen and she struggles, understanding the dire situation. Arias' rage fills the room. "He lives."
"Oh, yes. Interestingly, the girl that was locked with him made an offering." Arias' eyes lock with Hades. "She offered blood, cutting her wrist with the arrow you shot into Jason."
Arias shakes his head in denial; she sacrificed herself for him. The last tiny flame of humanity sputtered and died out. He jerks against the restraints, fighting them. He knows he can't break free but can't stop. He wants to kill all of them. He wants their blood coating his hands. He doesn't know how much time passed by the time he is tired, blood dripping from his wrists and neck from the restraints. Others have come into the room, but Hades hasn't moved; he stands studying Arias. A memory surfaces of the same expression on Hades’ face as they tried to force his tiny body to change, and Arias can't stop the shiver of revulsion.
"She lives still, at least for now." Arias turns to study the woman in the doorway. She is beautiful, even in her sadness. Perséphone. He heard of her saving those she could over the years, but she had never tried to save him. Hades turns his head to peer at her disapprovingly and motions her away. Arias hears Ericka fighting beside him and turns his head toward her. Any hope she had left with Perséphone. He had no hope, so he had nothing to lose. No one will save him now. He will not obtain his revenge.
Perséphone glides down the hall, stopping outside the door to the room where her son waits with the girl that can save him. Now would be the time to take them from here. Hades will be busy with that poor soul for a long while. Reaching for the door, she jumps back when it hits her with a bolt of power. She looks down at her hand; it is burnt, the flesh blistering already. Orpheus appears and takes her hand, sending his healing power into it. It is better but not completely heal in seconds.
"He guarded against you stealing them away from him. He knows Jason holds your heart. He doesn't forget you only agreed to your marriage to save the boy. He will never forget."
"I love him now; it should be enough." Her sadness fills h
er voice. "I understand him now. I know he studies the emotions in others because he doesn't understand them. We need to get them out of here. Love has long been the great mystery. He doesn't understand his love for me. If they do love each other, he will want to test it."
"It is already too late. When they sacrificed themselves for the other, his interest was drawn." Orpheus draws her away from the door back into the viewing room. Jason's beautiful tenor whispers through the room. "Never have I heard him use my gift before. Good god, what is he singing?"
Perséphone smiles at the 80's love song coming from Jason. She only knew it because of one of her guilty pleasure movies, Rock of Ages. A shrill scream causes her to flinch and Jason leaps off the bed, eyes glowing ready to fight, placing himself between the door and Emma. Even in her sleep, Emma's hand reaches for him. Sensing his distress, her fingers close around his wrist. Orpheus takes note and smiles, glancing at Perséphone.
"She is the one. I know it."
"The one the Fates spoke of?" He asks. She had only told Orpheus of the prophecy, as he sometimes helped her save those deemed failures.
"Yes, see his eyes." Jason's eye had bled back to his normal chocolate brown. He was looking down at Emma's still form, his body between her and the door. From their place on the other side of the wall, the two gods could see her shivering. "Can you go in and take her a warmer cover, at least?"
Orpheus nods, manifesting a fur blanket as he walks toward the door. When the door opens, Jason tenses, ready to fight again. He relaxes when he sees Orpheus.
51
JASON
"Uncle." Orpheus is one that I actually like, regardless of his part in the things that happened here. He reminds me a little of Perséphone, someone caught in a situation and making the best of it. Still, I watch him as he approaches Emma. She moans and draws my attention.
He eyes flutter and I lean closer, forgetting Orpheus. "Emma?" I whisper, knowing the God of sound will hear everything I wish to hide.
"Jason?" My names whispers out on a sigh, and I can stop the slight smile that turns up the corner of my lips. "Did it work, did he come?"
"Yes, you crazy, brave woman. Hades came." My thumb rubs over her delicate fingers that are still wrapped around my wrist. "You are still sick, so rest."
"Poison. I didn't know." Her eyes flutter close. I look up at Orpheus as covers her with the fur. "So pretty." She murmurs and I glance back at her, ignoring the grin on Orpheus' face.
"Isn't there anything you can do? At least fix her damaged ankle." My irritation at the situation beats at me.
He pulls the cover back and studies at her ankle and clucks his tongue, unhappy. "I don't know why he didn’t fix this. I understand the poison. Pushing it through her body could do more harm than good but this. Well, this is easy."
"Thank you. She is a dancer, and it would kill her to not be able to. Not to mention it is our fault she was ever in the situation of needing to jump out of a second story window. Arias is his fault." Anger swirls just below the surface, and my beast is pacing. ‘Protect her.’
I pause pondering the statement. 'Even against Hades?' I question.
'Yes, even against the God of the Underworld.' Interesting.
Orpheus’ angelic voice rings out in the room and his head tilts in consternation. He gazes at Emma's face, and I feel his power ramping up more and more pouring into her. Much slower than it should, her ankle heals, the bones sliding back into alignment and the skin returning to its ivory tone. She sighs in her sleep, and I'm glad that some of her pain must be gone.
"She is interesting." That one statement raises my hackles and it worries the beast.
"How so?" I force a nonchalance I don't feel into my voice, knowing I won't really fool the God of Sound.
Instead of an answer, I get a question. "Does your power work on her?"
"I'm not sure. I tried to use it earlier, but she seemed to know that I was and fought it, even though she was unconscious. Why?"
"My own power didn't work on her as it should. I had to really force it." His eyes narrow in interest and once again I feel desperate. I have to get her out of here. I glance at the wall; I know it is where they watch from. "Hades is busy with the one that hurt you both."
My eyes fly to his face. "Arias is here?"
"Oh yes, your father was very angry that you were almost killed. It is not going to go well for that one." There is no emotion in his voice as he hinted to the torture that will befall Arias. Another shrill scream fills the air. "That must be the woman brought in with him."
"Can you get us out of here?" I'm ready to beg him, but he shakes his head.
"I'm sorry, Jason. He locked you in using your DNA. He even barred Perséphone from this room. Unfortunately, she drew his interest." His eyes show a hint of sadness as the gazes at Emma.
Looking at the wall, I know my mother watches. Orpheus turns and crosses the room, glancing back at us one last time before he goes. "I will do what I can."
I stand looking at the closed door for a long while before I cross to the wall, knowing she is on the other side.
"Mother, please. You have to help me get out of here. I will gladly stay, but this is no place for her light. You know this. Help her." I lean my head on the wall, closing my eyes, desperation coursing through my body.
Her voice whispers through my mind. "Hold on, my son. I will figure something out. In the meantime, I will tell your friends what is happening. They will want to know that you both live."
I look up, mouthing ‘thank you’ before returning to Emma's side. Crawling back on the bed with her, I wrap my arms around her and smile as she snuggles in, sighing. What does it say about me that I fell asleep to the sounds of the screams? Nothing good, I'm sure.
52
AISLIN
I'm curled in a ball on the bed. Kai is watching me from the door. I don't want comfort, I want to sit in my despair, wallow in it. How much can I lose before this world breaks me? I feel her arrive. I smell the sweet scent of her and push up , hope flaring to life.
"They live. But... " She sighs and I feel that hope dying. "They are in the Underworld. Your girl made a blood sacrifice to call Hades to them to break the ward. It worked. He came and took them back with him."
"Why is that such a bad thing?"
"When Hades becomes interested or intrigued by something, he inevitably want to study it, and he is very interested in Emma and Jason. He locked me from the room they are being held in. I'm working on trying to free them. Emma is sick right now, though. For now, they are safe because his attention is on Arias, the others found and brought back. He will not be getting his revenge."
Kai pushes off the door frame. "The arrow was poisoned."
"Yes, and it is so strong, meant for Jason, that if they try to force it from her, it could kill her."
I gasp, fresh tears starting to fall. She turns back to me, and I see something on her face. "What? What happened?" I whisper it not daring to become excited.
"She calmed him. The beast should have torn her to pieces when they were locked together. It didn't, and I saw it with my own eyes in the room, she reached out and his eyes went from red to brown at her touch. And Orpheus said his power didn't work on her right. Jason said his didn't either."
I grin, "I told you she was unique. That's my girl. Thank you for coming to tell us. Please go back to them. Help them in some way." She disappears, and I glance at Kai. He is shaking his head. "What?"
"I knew you were up to something."
"Please. She said the one for Jason would listen but not hear." He stares at me. "Emma." Still nothing. "Her ears are messed up; she can hear but in double tones." He shakes his head. I jump off the bed and run down the hall passing him. I want to tell the others.
They are all in the garden, and I repeat what Perséphone told me, leaving out the part about Emma being Jason's mate, his destiny. Sean and Michael immediately begin trying to figure out a way to Jason and Emma out. God, I love these boys.
&
nbsp; Nestor is listening intently. I watch him. Sliding over to his side, I draw his gaze and raise my eyebrows.
He answers his voice low. "I might be able to at least go to them. I can't bring them out though. Hades holds the keys to the underworld, and no one can pass go without his say." I squeeze his hand, thanking him. He sifts away. Kai is watching me, and I feel his love fill up the dark places inside me.
My attention turns back to the boys and the others. Raven is silent, Powaqu is relieved, and Mimi is crying.
"I'm sorry, so sorry." Mimi is rocking back and forth.
"Oh, honey what for?" I move and kneel in front of her, pushing her hair out of her face.
"I helped him. I helped him to make the poison. I was trying to save the others." She begins to sob uncontrollably, and Powaqu moves to her side, wrapping her arm around her.
"Darling, this isn't your fault in any way." I squeeze her hand before standing.
I move into Kai's arms, letting his heat warm me, and listen to the boys talk about storming the Underworld. I smile at them and glance at Raven. She is quiet. I realize that is how she operates - quietly assessing situations before she makes her suggestions. She glances up, smiling at me.
"I think I should contact my father," she states before moving away. "I'll return shortly." Her eyes drift over Michael and Sean. I smile at Kai, raising my eyebrows. I understand that look. Sooner or later, all those sparks are going to ignite.
The rest of us talk far into the night. We realized somewhere around dawn that it wouldn't be us saving Emma and Jason. Raven had returned some time ago and informed us that even Loki couldn't sneak us into the Underworld. No one entered or left Hades's domain without his knowledge. Kai takes me to bed and holds me in my sadness, whispering to me of times long ago, distracting me, or at least he tries. My memories of Emma play through my head. One flies in, in technicolor, and I blink, trying to force it away. I roll to my side away from Kai, needing to distance myself some. I know he is in my head, can see every memory, but this is one I won't speak about.