by J. N. Colon
My heart pounded and insides trembled as Hartley held me tighter, taking so much pleasure in my every touch, every caress of my tongue and hands. A fine glisten of sweat beaded her skin, only serving to make her look more like the glowing goddess she was.
And of course she gave me what I wanted, tearing the rest of my clothes off and pushing me over the edge with her. Before long we were both wrapped up in each other—in more ways than one—seeking that connection we desperately craved and had been missing for weeks.
A wonderful bliss filled me as my bare skin connected with hers. Her heart slammed against her ribcage, matching the erratic rhythm of mine. We melted together in perfect harmony as the world around us fell away, leaving only our hunger for each other and inexplicable love.
I kissed Hartley’s bare shoulder as she lay beneath me, sated. Her skin was glowing and eyes flickering with distant crimson flames. She stroked beneath my own eyes, as gray as they had ever been.
“I miss you Hayden.”
“I miss you too baby.” I kissed her forehead.
“Tell me where you are. Tell me how to get to you.”
I’d been dreading this since she asked me the first time. Because no one save for the god of the Underworld could get to me. I reinforced the barriers of Tartarus with more power after Hercules and Persephone’s betrayal. If I couldn’t free myself, I wouldn’t be returning to Hartley.
As if she could see the despair in my gaze her face fell. “Where are you Hayden?” Her voice trembled with trepidation.
I laid my forehead against hers and whispered the one word that would doom her hope. “Tartarus.”
Hartley
My eyes fluttered open, staring at the elaborate silver crown molding running the length of the glistening black marble walls. The loss of Hayden’s touch slammed into me and a strangled cry escaped my mouth. I sat up, pulling my knees to my chest, trying to warm myself. It was useless. I would forever be cold without Hayden.
A massive knot formed in my chest, rising in my throat. I knew where Hayden was now yet he might as well be light years away. My hope was pulverized into dry bits of dust, dissipating into the air like nothing. I rested my head on my knees as tears leaked from my eyes, staining the silver satin sheets.
The onyx stone doors suddenly opened, startling me and igniting scarlet flames in my eyes. A sliver of terror sliced through me, thinking it was Ixion making good on his threat. A flame coalesced in my palm. It wouldn’t hurt him, but I couldn’t go down without a fight.
Instead of meeting those impenetrable dark eyes I was seeing two pairs of blue eyes at opposing heights, both wide with shock. It took me several moments to recognize their faces because they were so out of place in the Underworld. Then I thought maybe I was hallucinating. That was until a tiny gasp came out of one them at the sight of me with fire eyes and a flame pulsing in my palm.
Callie’s hand came up to her mouth while Will cursed.
Chapter 20
I snapped back to reality, extinguishing the fire in my palm. I couldn’t do anything about my eyes. I suddenly knew how Hayden felt the first time I saw him flame up. “W-What are you doing here?” I blinked. “How are you here?”
Hermes strode in behind them, whistling a tune with a proud smile on his cherubic face. “Hartley, I brought your friends here to cheer you up.”
Shock held my tongue for several seconds. Callie and Will were both still staring at me with wide, disbelieving gazes. What the hell was Hermes thinking! What did he tell them? Where did they think they were? I started to shake my head, but Hermes held his palms up, halting me.
“Don’t worry Hartley. I told them everything.”
My eyes went wide. “What!” This was a freaking disaster. “You… I … they…No, no, no.” Panic was staking a claim on my body, my heart trembling and head pounding. They were probably terrified of me, of this place. My gaze lingered on the black marble and onyx décor, the crimson fire outside giving everything a red glow. Blood colored embers were growing in the fireplace, probably sensing my powers rising to the surface. The sconces on either side of the massive bed sparked to life, dowsing the room in more crimson.
How could Hermes do this? And now. I didn’t need this now.
“Hartley…?” Callie’s hand finally left her mouth. “Is it true? Has Hayden really been taken by some crazy, love obsessed god?”
I hadn’t expected that question. I was waiting for her to go screaming and running out the door.
I nodded, afraid to speak.
Her sharp intake of breath echoed through the room before she sprinted over, climbed on the bed, and wrapped her tiny arms around me. “I’m so sorry.”
Unshed tears filled my eyes and my bottom lip trembled the moment my best friend held me. I had desperately needed her comfort more than I realized, especially now after learning Hayden’s location and the impossibility of rescuing him.
I found the crook of her neck, my sobs breaking free as I fisted her shirt in my hands, afraid if I held her as tight as I wanted she’d get hurt.
Callie rubbed my back in a soothing manner, reminding me of a mom—or at least what I thought one would be like considering I had no real comforting experience with my own. “It’s okay. We’ll figure this out.”
The other side of the bed dipped as Will crawled on, his warm arms gathering both of us to his chest. Never in a million years did I think these two would be in the Underworld.
After I cried for what felt like forever, I drew away and wiped my face with my hand. “I can’t believe you guys are here,” I sniffled. “Aren’t you scared?”
Callie chewed her bottom lip nervously as she tried to mask the hesitation in her expression. “It’s… different.”
I scoffed.
“Okay, this place isn’t exactly my style.” She flashed a soft smile. “You know I’m more sunshine and daisies.”
I glanced at Will to find his gazing moving around the room, taking in the marble and jeweled inlaid walls. He let out a whistle. “Hayden’s got some nice digs.” He nodded. “Very nice.”
“Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet.” Hermes snatched a remote and plopped on the end of the bed, pointing to a massive mirror on the wall. “Watch this.” He pressed a button and the mirror turned into a flat screen television.
Will’s baby blues widened in awe. “Cool.”
“It gets every channel—in the world,” Hermes said.
“No way.”
Callie and I rolled our eyes. Boys.
I gently kicked Hermes. “I can’t believe you told them and brought them down here.”
He batted his lashes. “You can thank me in the form of a date with that little cutie Mandy in Asphodel Meadows.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“I’m not sure if I should thank you. You could have warned me. What if I tossed a fire ball at them?”
Hermes waved a dismissive hand in the air. “I had faith in you. Plus, your reflexes are much better than they used to be.”
I shook my head. “You’re impossible.”
Will laid back on the bed with his arm propping up his head, looking at home while Callie absentmindedly played with a lock of her blonde hair.
I ran my finger along the black and silver covers. “So, you guys know everything and you’re not freaking out?”
“Why didn’t you just tell us Hartley?” Callie asked.
“Oh yeah, let me see.” I put a finger to my lip. “Guys, my boyfriend is really Hades, god of the Underworld, and now I’m chained here and have to return or I’ll suffocate.”
Callie tossed her arm over my shoulders. “We don’t care who Hayden is as long as you love him.”
Will nudged me. “Yeah Hart. And who cares you have flaming eyes sometimes and can throw fire.”
“Oh that would have been too simple.”
“What’s the plan?” Will asked. “We want to help get Hayden back.”
The giant, breath stealing lump returned to my throat. “That’s the thing. I
know where he is now and we can’t get to him.”
“Why?” Hermes dropped the remote, turning his attention to me.
I blinked the tears away. “He’s in Tartarus.”
Hermes’ eyes widened and his usually rosy cheeks lost all color. “No.”
I nodded.
“What’s Tartarus?” Trepidation laced Callie’s voice, picking up on Hermes’ bleak reaction.
“It’s a place of purgatory,” I answered solemnly. “And no one can cross the threshold and come back except the god of the Underworld—who is not going to help.”
“How did you find this out?” Hermes’ smile held barely a fraction of hope the lighthearted god of travel normally showed. “Maybe it’s not true…”
Isaak suddenly appeared in the doorway, his golden brown hair disheveled and chest heaving out of breath. “Hartley.”
“What?” Worry leaked through my veins.
Isaak took in the two humans sitting on my bed, his amber eyes lingering over Callie.
I snapped my fingers. “Isaak! Focus.”
He shook himself. “You better come quick. The souls in the courtyard aren’t exactly cooperating.”
My brow arched. “What do you mean?”
“A few of them are giving the judges trouble over where their soul is to go.”
I groaned. “Let me guess, they think they deserve Elysium.”
“Bingo.”
I threw on a pair of jeans and one of Hayden’s t-shirts that nearly swallowed me up. Callie flittered behind me, tying a knot in the back so I still—and these were her words—looked like a hot girl. I marched out the palace with Isaak and unfortunately my two vulnerable and very human best friends.
As we neared the courtyard arguing echoed, the voices of the tribunal unsuccessfully attempting to regain control. Minos sputtered in disbelief while Rhamanthus anxiously pulled on his long white beard. Poor, soft-spoken Aeacus was glancing between the other two judges and the soul standing before them with a distressed expression.
“Why should we listen to you three with regards to where we should spend the rest of eternity?” the male soul asked, crossing his arms against his large chest with a haughty smile. His flaxen hair swooped away from his arrogant face in a little curl and his skin was porcelain pale. His eyes were icy green and currently burning into the three judges.
“We are the tribunal—the judges. This is our job.” Rhamanthus stood, giving the soul a firm glare.
He wasn’t intimidated. Instead he absentmindedly buffed his fingernails on his white cotton shirt to show how little he cared for the judge’s words. “Maybe you should get a new job.”
Anger coiled in my chest, releasing a hot flow through my veins. Who did he think he was to challenge the judges? Did he think because Hayden was absent he didn’t have to abide by the rules?
I’d have to remind him like I did the souls on the shore, except intimidation might be a better tactic in this situation.
Sensing my preparation, Callie leaned forward. “What are you going to do?”
I glanced back at her and Will. “You guys should stay here.”
Callie clucked her teeth. “No way.”
Will raised his blonde brows, daring me to challenge him.
I scoffed and planted my hands on my hips. “You do know I’m a demigod right? That means I’m stronger than humans.”
He flashed a crooked grin and waved me over. “Give me your best shot Hart.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head before turning back to the courtyard. “Fine. I did warned you though.” I was going to have to get a little flaming scary.
I slowly slinked into the courtyard and sidled up to Rhamanthus, the closest judge to the opening. The conceited soul hadn’t noticed me while he babbled about why he should choose his destination, but the half dozen souls behind him did. Some of them shifted awkwardly while others grinned, sensing the soul’s impending fall from his high horse.
I cleared my throat, finally getting his attention. “Oh, hello. Am I interrupting you?”
He flashed a placating smile. “Hello. I was just trying to explain…”
I cut him off and moved toward the center of the tribunal, directly in front of him. “What’s your name?”
“Michael.”
“Well, Michael, do you know who I am?”
His icy green eyes searched me as he tilted his head in thought. “I’m guessing you’re Hartley, Hades’ girlfriend.”
Minos tapped my shoulder with a long boney finger. “Hartley, we can handle this really. You’ve been through enough lately and we wouldn’t want to upset…”
I held my hand in the air, halting him. “No worries Minos. I don’t mind intervening.” I flashed all three judges a gentle smile and waved for them to sit. They shot each other wary glances before complying and taking their respective seats. My gaze pierced Michael’s. “And what is your problem with the tribunal’s decision to send you to Asphodel Meadows?”
His shoulder lifted infinitesimally. “Well, they’re not Hades,” he drawled. “He can see where I belong, but they can’t. This is just their opinion.”
Minos scoffed. “We’ve never been wrong.”
Michael held up a finger and tsked. “That’s not what I heard.”
He was referring to several months ago when the judges were infected by the sin spirit pride and almost sent an innocent soul to Tartarus.
“That was due to extenuating circumstances,” Rhamanthus claimed, his voice calm despite the turmoil in his eyes.
“W-We were not ourselves.” Aeacus was fidgeting nervously with his sleeve.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to explain.” I took a step closer to Michael, any sympathy for Aeacus I just had was obliterated by the arrogance oozing off the soul. “You should know Michael, I’m much more than Hades’ girlfriend.” I glanced over at Will and Callie, hoping they could handle another show of my powers.
His smug blonde brow arched. “Is that so?”
The corners of my lips twitched moments before I felt crimson flames lick my hazel irises. “You bet your ass.”
Shock resonated through Michael’s face he quickly tried to mask with a tight, forced smile. “Well, I see.” He fidgeted nervously, the arrogance gone like a thin wisp of smoke.
“And did you also know, like Hades, I can see inside your heart and know exactly where you belong?”
The blood drained from his face. “I-I did not.”
“Now you do.”
He swallowed hard and anxiously looked toward Caius. “Well, uh, big man, I guess you can escort me to Asphodel Meadows after all.”
Caius didn’t make a move, waiting on instructions from me. His onyx eyes narrowed infinitesimally on the out of order soul, his dark tan fists curling against his sides.
“Not so fast.” I stepped close enough to Michael that I could see the silver flecks in his eyes. “Maybe you were right.”
His brows knit in confusion.
“Maybe the tribunal had it wrong all along.” My crimson flaming eyes scrutinized him. “Yes, maybe they did make a mistake.”
I felt the judges stir uncomfortably behind me, fretful I might threaten their reputation. Thankfully Charon, who had joined the show, put a reassuring hand on Rhamanthus, whispering something in his ear to calm his worries.
A satisfied smirk broke across Michael’s face. “So Elysium it is then.” He rubbed his hand together, fostering the greedy image of him.
A humorless laugh tumbled out my mouth, echoing ominously across the silent, tense courtyard. “What make you think I meant paradise?”
There was no hiding the fear distorting his features, especially coupled with the tremors that racked his body. “N-Not Tartarus.” His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed frantically. “I can’t go there. I don’t deserve that.” He looked at the judges, wildly shaking his head and pleading. “Don’t send me there please.”
I buffed my nails on my shirt, mocking him. “Now you want to lis
ten to the tribunal?”
“Yes please. I’d like my original sentence.”
My brow arched curiously. “I thought you didn’t have faith in their choice.”
“I was wrong. I was wrong.” He clasped his hands in front of his chest, praying for mercy. “Please Hartley. I’m sorry.”
Will snorted on a laugh behind me, forcing Callie to slap his arm with a scowl.
I sighed and waved my hand at Caius. “Oh fine. I’ll let the first judgment stand.”
Michael practically kissed my feet as he bowed. “Thank you. Thank you.” He dashed off toward Caius without glancing back, afraid I’d change my mind.
I watched the massive escort grip Michael’s bicep, his own arms bulging with muscles, and hauled the soul through the iron gates toward the inner regions of the Underworld, Cerberus growling as they passed.
Rhamanthus cleared his throat. “Ah, Hartley, you weren’t really going to send him to Tartarus, where you?”
I shot him an incredulous expression. “Of course not.” I turned to the remaining souls, some of which were staring cautiously at me. My eyes were still flaming and any recent souls wouldn’t know I had no control over it. “Sorry.” I smiled and pointed to my eyes. “I can’t really make this stop. They just have to fade.” I shrugged.
Will stepped closer and grabbed my hand, forcing our fists together. “That was bad ass.” He ruffled my hair before I swatted his hand away. “Remind me never to piss you off.”
Callie skipped over and threw her arm over my shoulders. “You should flash those eyes at Darby next time you see her. She’d probably choke on her bubble gum.” Callie’s lips pursed. “I wouldn’t want her to actually die of course. I’m sure someone would give her the Heimlich.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, thankful my friends weren’t the least bit fazed by my inhumanness or the Underworld. “Thanks.” I cleared my throat and returned my attention to the souls remaining in the courtyard. “From now on listen to the tribunal. Just because Hades is missing doesn’t mean we can let this place fall apart, okay?” I bit my lip to keep the tears from falling. “He’ll be back and I don’t want his domain in a mess.”