Tisiphone sat, crossed her arms, and glared at Hermes. "Fine."
"The single most dangerous word ever uttered by a woman or Fury," Delfina observed. "Alecto, please take our young goddess under your wing, and give her practice with your swords."
"Of course," Alecto said, looking at Brianna.
"When will we know if my uncle has made it ok?" Brianna asked.
"He may already be successful, or he may be captured. We'll not know until he shows back up here," Hermes said. "From his point of view, he might be gone years, or only a day or two."
"How is that possible?" Brianna shook her head.
"Time passes far differently in the Underworld as it does here or even in Mount Olympus. And unless your uncle is successful..." Hermes let that thought trail off.
CHAPTER NINE
Furies House
Tisiphone stood at the edge of the practice field. The archery range was an area of grass about fifty feet by seventy-five feet, constructed to allow them to remain sharp with their weapons.
Tisiphone watched as Alecto gave Brianna some lessons in the proper use of a battleaxe. Brianna was swinging the axe in wide loops, training to stay balanced as the big weapon swung, while aiming at some rolled tatami mats. Several times, Brianna was drawn off balance by the weight of the axe, not even reaching the target.
She took another swing and this time; her balance was off enough to drop her onto her knees. Anger was obvious on her face as she climbed to her feet, whacking at the grass that clung to her knees. When she stood up, her face was beet red from frustration.
"Perhaps something a bit lighter," Alecto suggested.
"No! I can get this," Brianna said, her shoulders sagged, scowling at the axe.
"Seriously, you'll have better control with a Katana." Alecto took the axe from Brianna and, with little movement, tossed it across the yard. It sliced through the air and buried itself into a wooden archery target.
"You make it look so simple," Brianna grumbled. "Perhaps the big sword, the one that looks like what King Arthur used?"
"Brianna, that's even bigger and heavier than the axe," Alecto pointed out.
Tisiphone had seen enough and strode quickly towards Brianna. "You should stick to rolling bandages or fetching water. We simply do not have the time or resources to teach you how to fight," Tisiphone told Brianna.
Brianna locked eyes with Tisiphone. Her breathing increased as her eyes narrowed. She held out her right hand towards Alecto. Alecto shrugged and handed her the slim Katana.
She whirled and swung the sword around in an arch that would have taken off Tisiphone's head if she hadn't dodged. When Brianna turned to attack the target, Tisiphone reached out and grasped her by the shoulders.
"Stop it. Spirited enthusiasm will just get you killed on the field," Tisiphone said through her teeth. "You are not as immortal as you think. If you are sliced in two by a demon's sword, you're gone. Your spirit will evaporate and that'll be the end of all existence. We don't have the time to train you so you'd be able to withstand an attack."
Brianna's eyes glared, then her face softened, tears streamed down her cheeks. Tisiphone sighed and pulled her into an embrace. The katana dropped to the grass as Brianna broke down.
"I just want to help," Brianna sobbed.
Alecto stood next to Brianna and rested a hand on her shoulder. "I know, but we're dealing with something that you are just not prepared to handle."
Tisiphone released Brianna. Alecto picked up the katana and watched as the girl trudged back to the house, thoroughly defeated.
Brianna was about to step into the kitchen when the ground began to rumble. Having grown up in California, she instantly thought "earthquake"! She reached out and grasped the doorframe and held on. The place twisted and heaved as she held onto the door frame. Then, as abruptly as it started, it stopped.
Hermes appeared at the entrance to the living room, looking alarmed.
"I guess you felt that one, huh?" Brianna asked.
"That?" Hermes looked around. "That's wasn't an earthquake, dear."
"Yeah it was. We get them all the time here," Brianna said as she went to the cabinet to get a glass. "It's California."
"No, not here, not in this projection. That was another portal opening," Hermes said as he went to the back-door and peered out.
Gaia's garden, the scene of the previous attack, was a scene of chaos as dead plants and debris shot up into the air, forming into a tight swirl of energy. It was a tornado of lightening, crackling with a purple and blue light. Inside the swirling maelstrom was a dark form. The figure grew larger. Wings spread outward as the maelstrom faded.
Tisiphone arrived first, followed immediately by Alecto. Both held swords ready.
Brianna tried to squeeze past Hermes, watching the brilliant display.
"No child. You'll just be destroyed," he said, holding her back.
An iridescent green monster spread out its enormous wings. The dragon turned his head and eyed Tisiphone. Another head appeared, and it focused on Alecto.
"Bune." Tisiphone muttered. "Doing Sorath's dirty work for him?"
The lightening continued as another figure emerged.
Sorath.
He rose up through the strobing maelstrom. The storm continued as smaller figures appeared, boiling up around the demons. Gossamer shadows flew out from the portal, dark shapes twisted and whirled.
Tisiphone stood ready, holding the katana like a baseball player, ready to knock one out of the park.
Alecto edged closer until she was at Tisiphone's side.
The flood of shadow demons swirled outward and started surrounding the sisters.
Tisiphone had to shut her eyes as the gale force wind blew dirt into her face. Alecto ducked and held her head away from the swirling debris. The sisters were standing back to back, each holding swords out, ready to attack.
Sorath held up a massive arm and pointed at the Furies. Now a new type of demon appeared: bony, black beings, with arms like scimitars. The deadly demons joined the swirling shapes, encircling the two sisters.
Brianna hugged Hermes with her face buried in his arms. She looked up in time to see the Furies become engulfed in the storm, as the huge shape of Sorath towered over the landscape.
"Will he attack here?" Brianna whispered.
"I doubt it, I really do. It's the sisters he wishes to destroy," Hermes breathed.
The swirling mass drew closer. Alecto began swinging her Katana. As she connected with the demons, black blood sprayed as she began taking off heads. Tisiphone followed suit, and more demon heads went rolling. The mass of black demons appeared endless, with more and more streaming up out of the gaping hole left by Sorath's entrance.
Bune was hovering high above, keeping himself in the power spilling out of the portal. If he moved out of the storm, he'd likely revert to his human shape and be vulnerable to attack. Sorath was still in the field, then he lifted up and stretched his arms outward.
The swarm of black demons flew up into the air and then back into the portal. Black blood covered the Furies.
Tisiphone glared through the black blood at Sorath.
"Get ready," Tisiphone whispered.
"For what?" Alecto asked.
"This." Tisiphone grinned and held up her Katana.
She charged towards Sorath. As she drew closer, she spotted a bandage around the demon's thigh. She aimed her sword at the orange-soaked rag and plowed on. She ducked under his arm and stabbed the blade into his leg.
Sorath roared and swung his hand down, seeking to grab Tisiphone. He missed and tried to pull backward. He turned just in time to see Alecto charging at him.
Alecto took aim at the bandaged shoulder. She connected and drove her blade deep into his shoulder. She leaped over the demon and pulled her sword upwards.
Alecto landed next to Tisiphone, ready for another attack. Sorath reeled from the pain and slipped back into the portal.
Tisiphone started for the portal when s
he felt a hard force hit her back. Alecto watched in horror as Bune's claws dug into Tisiphone's shoulder. She swung her Katana at the dragon, missing and fell as Bune lifted Tisiphone up, shaking her like a dog shakes a chew toy.
Tisiphone twisted and turned in a futile attempt to slash at Bune's claws. With a flick, he shot her flying across the garden. She impacted the edge of the garden, plowing a groove with her face.
Alecto leapt at Bune, attempting to drive him away from the portal's field. He easily fended off the attack and flew up into the blue lightening storm. One of his heads, the human head, grinned viciously. He waved upwards with a clawed hand, and a stream of red demons poured through the portal, swarming Alecto.
Tisiphone hauled herself up, throwing off the dirt that caked her face. She twisted to face the demon, he eyes narrowing into small slits. She charged, slicing demons in half as she waded towards her sister.
Alecto was kept busy as she swung her sword in wide arcs, demons falling as her blade severed them in half. As each demon fell, two more would take its place, the number of demons doubling every few seconds.
Tisiphone and Alecto stood back to back, severing demons as fast as they charged. Bune watched from well above the battle, his human head grinning. He looked towards the house and spotted Hermes and Brianna, both horrified by the battle.
Bune looked back down and drew his breath in. His dragon head stretched forward and a long, green flame erupted and doused the combatants in fire. Sacrificing his legions of demons, he poured fire upon Tisiphone and Alecto. Their sudden screams of pain join the high-pitched squeals from the sacrificed red demons.
Brianna watched as the fire engulfed the Furies. She buried her face in Hermes' chest and let out a single sob. He held her tight, watching as Bune did a flip in the energy of the portal and dove back to into the ground.
<<<>>>
Hades' Palace
Dan awoke, gradually opening his eyes. The room was dark as he stretched out a hand, expecting to encounter Dude, or Megaera.
Then his eyes popped open, and he sat up, looking around. It took him a moment to remember where he was, and it all came rushing back to him. The caves, the trek to the bottom of an endless cavern, crossing the mythical river Acheron, the boatman.
Shit, it wasn't a dream!
He sighed and looked around. In the dim light, he made out a shape near the bed. The light slowly increased, revealing the head of the massive puppy, Spot. When the dog noticed that Dan was awake, his tail began to wag, shaking the entire bed. His head lifted off the bed and he nudged Dan with an enormous nose.
"What is it?"
The dog answered by gently taking Dan's hand and tugging. Dan stood up and noticed his legs were a bit stiff from the long hike.
The dog led him out of the room and down a long passage, to a sweeping staircase leading downward.
He allowed himself to be led by the dog down the stairs and across a large foyer to a set of double-doors. As they approached, the doors swung silently open, revealing an elaborate dining hall. The long table could easily accommodate two dozen guests.
At the moment, only two chairs were being used. Persephone and Thanatos were seated at the far end. Spot led Dan to Persephone, then released him.
"Thank you, Spot!" Persephone said as she rubbed the top of his sizable head. Spot's tongue lolled out, and he relaxed and sat next to his mistress. Persephone turned her lavender eyes to Dan. "I hope you had a nice nap, and while you were asleep, Thanatos and I were discussing how to proceed next."
Thanatos nodded and gave Dan a grave smile. "All routes in and out of Tartarus are well guarded."
"I've lost three spies in the last few days. None have returned, so this tells us Sorath is keeping them and not destroying them," Persephone told Dan.
"Hold on, if everyone here is an immortal, how can one be destroyed?" Dan asked.
"All immortals can be regenerated after they're destroyed, owing to the energy in this area. When one regenerates, you reappear where you first entered this realm. In cases of imps or demons, that's usually in the center, near the marshes you crossed a few days ago," Thanatos explained.
"What?" Dan said, holding up his hand. "A few days ago?"
"Yes, you've slept that long," Persephone pointed out. "It was quite a walk from the Necromanteion to the Palace. You were exhausted."
"It didn't seem that far to me at the time," Dan said.
"Remember, time is different here," Persephone said.
"As well as distance." Dan mumbled. "I feel fairly rested."
"And you'll need all your strength for the next phase of your mission," Thanatos said. "But, unlike an immortal, if you're caught and killed, there is no regeneration. It's for keeps."
Dan swallowed hard and sat, looking at Thanatos, then at Persephone.
"I have no choice," Dan said.
Thanatos smiled and nodded. "Yes, you do. But failure on your part may doom your entire planet."
"No pressure, huh," Dan observed. "So how do I get to where they're keeping Megaera?"
"On foot, perhaps across a small rock bridge build by Sorath's demons," Persephone mused.
"That area is out in plain sight, so he'd be discovered easily," Thanatos countered.
"Can't one of you, you know," Dan paused, searching for the right word. "Magic me over there?"
"I can only 'magic', as you put it, people who are in spirit," Thanatos explained.
"You're a mortal, limits what we can do, I'm afraid," Persephone added.
"We saw a dragon on our way to the Palace, maybe–"
"We don't have dragons. Sorath has all the dragons," Thanatos interjected. "You have to go on foot, plan on it taking a few days, and hope you're not detected by Sorath's dragon patrol."
"I guess I'd better get moving then," Dan said, starting to stand.
Persephone waved him back into his seat. "You must eat and be supplied for the long hike," she said. "Plus, I have a new map of Tartarus, from what little my spies were able to recall after regenerating. You'll need a copy, and I marked places you might be able to stop and rest."
"I hadn't thought of that," Dan admitted.
"It's not something most beings here worry about, what with them being spirits and all," Thanatos said.
Three servants appeared at one of the entries, bearing trays of covered dishes, accompanied by what could only be termed a "butler", a rail-thin blood-red demon; a full-on devil, complete with horns, pointed tail and fangs. They quickly placed the serving platters on the table and withdrew, and the devil started serving. He began by pouring dark red wine into large goblets. Then he turned to the largest platter on the table.
He removed the cover to reveal a mouth-watering rack of ribs, cooked to perfection, the demon smiled at Dan. "I have the advantage of being able to reach into your mind and determine precisely what you are most desiring."
The demon then looked into Dan's eyes. "Only food, not what else you might happen to desire," he said through a toothy smile.
Dan looked at the butler as it served up a generous serving of smoked ribs.
"That's incredible," Dan said, suddenly reminded that he'd not eaten in days. Dan watched as the demon served Persephone a plate of fruit and Thanatos a modest serving of what appeared to be cacti.
They dined in silence.
<<<>>>
Megaera sat and glowered at the tray. The tray had held some small rations and a bowl of water. At least she wasn't being hounded by Sorath's toady, Bune. He'd left her alone with her thoughts for the past three days.
In the hallway, a demonic guard strutted to the doorway. He inserted a small dagger into the slot. The door made a quiet click. He stood in the door, peering into the gloom inside the cell. He noticed the water bowl was against the far wall, and the tray was nowhere to be seen. He grunted and slowly entered the cell. His nose caught the odors of human waste. His thoughts briefly skirted how his boss was so concerned with this woman and why she was powerless.
He
took another step and glared at the bowl. As he took another step, the missing tray made itself felt when Megaera slammed it against the guard's face, crushing his nose. As he bent over, Megaera kicked him in the middle of his fat belly. As the guard impacted the floor, she began delivering kicks with the precision and force of a professional soccer player with the game on the line and time running out.
Megaera paused only to make sure the guard wasn't going to be getting up to sound an alarm anytime soon. She crouched and watched the open door for a moment, then she liberated the dagger key from the guard's outstretched hand. She rose and walked quietly to the edge of the door. She quickly glanced out and ducked back inside.
The corridor was deserted.
Before she left the cell, she delivered another solid kick to the guard's middle. If the guard was a football, the goal would have been good from 70 yards out.
Again, she slowly peered out. The hallway was still empty. She stepped out and held herself flat against the wall. She had no idea what the layout of the prison was, and she had to decide which way to go. Left, or right? The hallways looked the same. Mentally flipping a coin, Megaera decided to go left.
She silently walked to the end of the long hallway and paused at the opening. She poked her head out and glanced each direction. To her right, the hall ended in a black wall. To the left, another corridor. Again, she headed to the left.
As she passed an opening to another hallway, a gray leather hand struck out and caught her by the throat.
The hand belonged to another guard, this one a huge, ugly demon that was easily twice Megaera's size. He hoisted her almost the ceiling and smashed her against a wall. He lightly took the dagger key from her hand and handed it to someone standing behind him.
A smooth as silk voice behind the guard said: "My dear Megaera, I see you're regaining your strength."
Bune stepped from behind the massive guard and gazed at Megaera.
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