by Sumida, Amy
“I go as vell,” Kirill had barely looked up during the conversation but now he stared right at Odin.
“Of course,” Odin nodded.
“And all of you will be welcome here too,” I nudged Trevor again, “Right, Trevor?”
“As you wish,” he didn’t take his eyes off Odin.
“Alright, Wesley,” I smirked when only Odin started to laugh.
“He would make a good Dread Pirate Roberts,” Odin nodded.
“At least you get it,” I shook my head. “Oh right, Santa TV. I never got to see that thing.”
“I'll be sure to show you next time,” Odin winked at me.
There was a sparkle behind Vidar and suddenly Thor was there.
“Holy God of Thunder!” I screamed and splashed soda all over. “Damn it, Thor, since when is my backyard a tracing point?”
“Anywhere can be an entrance,” he waved impatiently. “I just have to be familiar with the location, you know that. Now get up. Demeter just tried to kill Hades.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The Underworld was beautiful.
Stone clacked hollowly under my boots as we made our way from Hades' tracing room to his bedroom. Birdsong added a low chorus to the clacking and beneath it all was the bubbling of water over stone. To either side of the open-air walkway, were lush gardens with monstrous blooms, looking as if they'd climbed right out of the pages of Alice in Wonderland. The sun was bright overhead, the warmth coaxing a heady scent from the flowers and bringing little furry creatures out from the brush to laze in the light. The garden was so big, I could barely make out the line of the enclosing walls back behind the trees.
How did he get the sun to shine down here?” I asked as I tried to keep up with everyone and still take in my surroundings.
“We're not actually under the world,” Thor frowned backed at me from the head of our group. “This is the God Realm, same as Asgard and your Lion Palace.”
“Right,” my eyes widened as a large multicolored bird swooped by and landed in a tree on my left. It squawked at me and fluffed it's feathers before settling. Then an absurdly large insect landed beside it and the bird struck out with ninja-like reflexes and gobbled the bug down. “Holy hand grenades!” I winced as I watched the twitching legs disappear into the bird's beak.
Trevor steadied me with a chuckle but I noticed Kirill silently maneuvering himself between me and the bird. I scanned the skies for anymore avian distractions but the next thing to fly in couldn't really be called a bird.
“Is that a...” I stopped walking and starred at the thing standing in the clearing on our right.
“Yes, a pegasus,” Thor made an irritated sound. “Vervain we shouldn't dawdle.”
“A freakin' winged horse just flew in for a landing right in front of me and you tell me not to dawdle?” I couldn't take my eyes off the exquisite creature, even to yell at Thor. “This isn't like the time you took me to DC and wouldn't let me gawk at the White House. This is a pegasus and I am gonna gawk, god damn it!”
“Well fine,” Thor growled. “You don't have to go damning any of us. Go. Have your gawk.”
“I will,” I stepped off the walkway hesitantly and slowly made my way towards the shining white pegasus. It lifted its head and fixed a wary eye on me. “Hey,” I said softly. “How you doin', big guy?”
“I'm rather famished, if you don't mind,” he said and lowered his face to the grass.
I stood there, gaping at him, with the sounds of my friends' mirth as a backdrop to my shock. A sort of choking sound came out of my throat a second before I recovered. Of all the things I'd seen, it was kind of funny that the one that startled me the most was a talking pegasus.
“Um, ok,” I finally said. “Sorry to interrupt you.”
“No problem,” the pegasus said around a mouthful. “Tell the boss man I said hi.”
“Sure,” I cleared my throat, “and you are?”
“Oh, my apologies,” he looked up. “I am Peter.”
“Peter?” I blinked.
“Yes, what is it?”
“No, I uh.”
“You don't like my name?”
“No it's fine, I just thought...”
“You thought it would be Theseus or Perceus or some other name ending in eus?”
“Yeah, maybe,” I shrugged. “I don't know, you're the first pegasus I've met.”
“Ah, okay,” he nodded regally. “I will forgive then. I am Peter the Great if that makes any difference.”
“Oh sure, that's... great,” I rolled my eyes. “Like the Czar?”
“He was named after me.”
“Oh yes, of course.”
“Vervain,” Thor growled.
“Okay, gotta go, nice to meet you Peter. Oh, I'm Vervain, by the way.”
“Like the herb?”
“Yes,” I laughed. “Exactly.”
“Ah, an excellent name.”
“Thank you, I'll let my mother know you approve.”
“Vervain!” Thor rumbled.
“Catch you later,” I turned away.
“Woman,” the pegasus neighed. “Never use the word catch around a pegasus. Haven't you ever seen Clash of the Titans?”
“Oh, right, sorry,” I rushed back to the walkway and Peter went back to eating the grass.
“I just met Peter the Pegasus,” I whispered to Trevor as we continued down the path.
“Yes,” he chuckled. Everyone was still kind of laughing at me actually.
“Can someone please tell me why the Underworld is filled with giant flowers, monster birds, and flying horses that talk?”
“Well Hades is Greek,” Pan shrugged. “And the pegasus is Greek but as for the talking bit and the rest of it,” he waved his hand at the strange gardens. “You're in a version of the afterlife. Magic is even stronger in the domains that house human souls. It is easily influenced, as Asgard has a battlefield for the fallen Vikings because they expect it, so does Hades have things like our friend Peter.”
“You're telling me people expect not only a pegasus to be in Hades but a talking one?” I scoffed.
“The Greek Underworld was created from the dreams and nightmares of humans,” Pan shot a glance at a strange ball that rolled out of the bushes and then became a bunny. “What you see around you are the best bits of it all. Here, inside the walls of Hades' home, he allows only the dreams in, however odd they may be. Outside his walls though, is another story.”
“Nightmares?” I swallowed hard.
“Let's just say I don't recommend you going on a walkabout past the old garden gate.”
“Gotcha,” I nodded and filed away the information under the heading of What Not to Do... Ever.
I did feel a little safer though, walking through the gardens, knowing that all the really bad stuff was beyond the walls. Hades surely had some serious wards in place with them. Then I stopped thinking about walls and wards because we had reached a huge iron and wood door. Carved into the stone frame, over an intricately designed scene of a wasteland filled with tortured souls, were the words:
Abandon hope, all ye who enter here
“You've got to be fucking kidding,” I stared in morbid fascination at a scene on the door. A man was chained to a rock, being torn apart by monstrous birds. I swallowed convulsively and looked back over my shoulder. I wasn't much of a bird lover. I'm a cat person, it's kind of against the rules.
“It's Hades' idea of a joke,” Odin patted my shoulder reassuringly.
“Oh,” I huffed a little chuckle, my unease disappearing in another wave of embarrassment. “I knew there was a reason why I liked him.”
“Come on,” Thor had the massive door open already and was headed through. “We've tarried long enough. I want to see how he's doing.”
We all followed Thor into what was a remarkably modern home. We walked down a wood paneled hallway, turned around some corners, and passed a few open doors which led into luxurious rooms. All the rooms had large windows to showcase the g
ardens and all had plants featured prominently.
The carpet under our feet was a creamy white and the art hanging on the walls were Matisse and Gauguin. The pieces of furniture strewn about, were all antiques. Why had I been nervous about going to the Underworld? What an idiot. I should have known better. Then I remembered the nightmares beyond the walls. So maybe not so much of an idiot.
Thor led us into a large room, windows open to let in the sweet air, and plush Persian rugs stretched out over the cream carpet. There were seating areas, reading areas, vanity areas, and finally the sleeping area. The room needed to be sectioned off, it was that big.
Hades was laid out on top of a thick burgundy comforter, on the right side of the bed. I wasn't at all surprised to see that the bed was an antique four-poster, hung with velvet curtains. It looked right at home in the room.
What didn't match, what seemed very out of place in fact, was the pale blue of Hades' skin and the rumpled mess of his person. Hades was always so well put together. He looked like a fashion model, especially with the sunglasses he always wore. At the moment though, he looked more like a concentration camp survivor. He was just so gaunt and so still.
I walked over to where Persephone stood beside him, holding his hand and sobbing as she tried to stay out of Teharon's way. The Mohawk healer was concentrating on a spot in the center of Hades' chest, a bright light radiating from his hands and into Hades. As I watched, the blue tinge on Hades' skin retreated and a pinkish glow started to fill him. It was so miraculous, Teharon's ability, and I was so grateful that he was on our side.
As soon as Persephone saw me, she used her free hand to grab me and pull me in tight. “Vervain,” she swallowed hard, looking back and forth between me and her husband. “I never thought she'd sink so low. To try and kill Hades...”
“I know,” I rubbed her back as we watched for signs of life from her husband. “Is he going to be okay, Teharon?”
“He's fine,” Teharon smiled and stroked the hair back from Sephy's face. “Demeter lowered his temperature and we both know how that can affect Hades. I simply raised it back up again.”
“You defrosted the hothead?” I asked and instantly winced. “Sorry, bad time for a new nickname.”
“Who exactly are you calling a hot head?” Hades brought our attention back to him.
“Sizzle Butt!” Sephy exclaimed as she launched herself at him. That was my original nickname for the Lord of the Underworld but Persephone stole it. “Are you okay? How are you feeling?”
“I think I'd like to get under these covers for a little while,” he started to pull at the heavy velvet and Persephone jumped up to help. “Other than that, I feel remarkably well. My thanks, Teharon.”
“You're most welcome,” Teharon made a slight head bow. “I'm glad I was able to arrive in time.”
“Bunny-Nose,” Hades took Sephy's hand. “You know body heat is the best thing to warm someone up. You should climb in here too.”
“Hotcakes, we have company,” she giggled as she jumped into the bed with him anyway.
“Hotcakes!” I exclaimed and everyone looked over at me in surprise. “Damn it. I wish I'd thought of that. That's a good one, Sephy.”
“Thank you,” she grinned at me from the cage of Hades' arms. “I learned from the best.”
“Aw shucks.”
“Yes, yes,” Thor interrupted. “I'm relieved you're restored, Hades, I really am, but we need to know what happened.”
“Of course,” Hades sighed as he snuggled in closer to Sephy. “Demeter came here to visit, she'd come before and I never thought to deny her entrance. I was in my office, working on the placement of some new souls, when she walked in and took me by surprise. Before I even knew what was happening, she had turned my office into a frigid wasteland and pulled all the heat from my body. I don't remember much after the cold, just waking up in bed.”
“So you have no idea where she is now,” Thor said with clear disappointment.
“No, I'm sorry,” Hades frowned and combined with his fiery eyes, it was a little frightening. “I wish I did. Wait, there was something.” His face scrunched up, the fire from his eyes illuminating the creases in a frightening way. “She smelled like salt water. Like the ocean.”
“Since most of the world is covered with it, that's not the biggest help,” Thor grimaced.
I wasn't looking at Thor though, I was looking at Persephone, and her hollow stare. I knew my friend. I knew that look. It meant she knew something. Something she wasn't sure she wanted to share and something I wasn't sure if I wanted to know. Demeter had killed and tortured my friends. I wanted her dead but the thought of hurting Sephy in the process still left me a little uneasy.
Sephy,” I finally said quietly. “What is it? Where is she?”
“I'm not sure,” she looked away.
“Persephone,” I sat on the edge of the bed. “She just tried to murder your husband. How far are you willing to let this go?”
“She bought Ku's old place,” she whispered.
“What?” I stood back up, horrified at the thought of having to step foot in the house where I'd made my first kill. “Ku, Ku? The Ku I killed? The Ku whose car I drive?”
I killed him and kept his car. Yes, I know there's something very wrong about that but it wasn't like he was using it and it's a Jaguar. I mean, come on, who could resist that? It's not like he was going to report it stolen and I was witch enough to handle any traffic issues that might come up but driving his car was one thing, returning to the site where I beheaded him was another.
“Yes, V, that Ku,” she shook her head. “I think she thought it was a good place to keep an eye on things and maybe a way to get into your head.”
“Into my head?” What kind of freaky juju was this bitch working? “How was she going to do that?”
“Not literally,” Sephy sighed.
It was so strange, this was the first time Persephone seemed more mature than I did. Not that you needed a PhD or anything to be more mature than I but usually Sephy played it a little on the childish side. Seeing her like this, world-weary and a touch cynical, kind of hurt my heart. I missed the old Sephy, almost as much as I celebrated her stepping up and becoming Persephone.
“She thought that she could get a feel for you,” tears were flowing down Persephone's cheeks, “if she lived in the house you made your first kill in. Plus, she really liked the view.”
“It is a nice view,” I whispered.
“You don't have to be a part of this,” Trevor was beside me, his arm around my shoulders. “I can take the Intare in with the Froekn.”
“No,” I shook my head. “I know how to get there without tracing and I won't leave my men alone with her. If you go, I go.”
“And I,” Vali took my hand.
“I as well,” Vidar nodded.
“If you wouldn't mind an old man tagging along,” Odin grinned and shrugged. “I'd be happy to join in the fun.”
“Alright,” Thor said decisively. “Call your wolves, Prince, and Vervain, summon your lions. It's time for the Harvest Goddess to finally reap what she's sowed.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
There it was. The place where it had all began. I still remembered the nightmares vividly. The heart-poundingly terrifying dreamscapes where I didn't win. I'd run and run but get nowhere. Scream and hear nothing. Then Ku would get up off that bloody floor and reach for me. He'd laugh and tell me he was a god and I was a human. I could never win against his kind. There was no hope for humanity and there definitely wasn't any for me.
Those nightmares had been the catalyst that propelled me into action. I was never one to just sit around and be terrified. So I opened that spell book of Ku's and began to read. I studied the information on the gods, the Atlanteans. I researched the chants I'd need to get into god homes. I put on Ku's gloves, strapped on my sword, and trained hard. I practiced and prepared, and then instead of hiding in my bed, afraid of the monsters, I killed them in their beds. I became t
heir monster, their nightmare.
I became the Godhunter.
“Minn Elska,” Trevor was crouched in the bushes beside me. “Are you ready?”
“Sure,” I whispered, keeping my eyes on the large koa wood front door. “I'm ready.”
I got up and ran to the door, as quietly as I could, and I felt my Intare rise up to follow. The Froekn were following Fenrir, who caught up with me quick and was the first to place a hand on the door knob. He looked over at me in surprise when it opened easily. That wasn't a good sign. I let my claws down with a deadly click and followed him inside.
The house was silent and I was impressed at how quietly we moved through it. Not a single creak or shuffle betrayed our presence as we cleared each room. My heart started to pound as I passed the living room, where I'd beheaded Ku. I just glanced in to make sure it was empty but my mind filled in the things that were missing. The body. The blood.
I shook my head and moved on. The bathroom where I'd washed away all that blood, was empty. The library where I found the gloves I was currently wearing and the book I valued above all others, empty too. The bedroom where I'd taken a piece of luggage to store my loot in, empty. Not just empty of Demeter, empty of any trace of her. I turned around to head back to where the others were and saw the expressions on everyone’s faces.
“Fuck!” I screamed as the Intare and Froekn both growled. “Where the fuck is that murderous bitch?”
“Not here,” Trevor placed a calming hand on my shoulder. “She's abandoned this place. Come on, Minn Elska. Let's go home.”
“Vait,” Kirill held up a dvd. “Zis had note attached, saying to vatch.”
Trevor took the dvd and went into the living room. We all followed behind, silent as he put the dvd in the player and turned the television on. The screen flared to life, showing a large picture of Demeter on it and both the wolves and lions started to growl.
“If you're watching this,” she said in a smug tone from the safety of the screen, “you're not as stupid as I thought. And my daughter is even more traitorous than I feared,” she narrowed her eyes on me. “This of course is all of your fault, Godhunter, and I intend on making you suffer for it. You think living through the death of your lion was bad? You have no idea what true pain is. The loss of a child.”