by Nicole Grane
Chapter 1
“Evie . . . back so soon?”
Like I had a freaking choice! I could hear the smugness in his voice. I had my hands on my hips surveying the area. “I like what you’ve done with the place,” I commented dryly. Truth. I did like what he’d done with the place. The thought of having to spend another minute in Hell, having to endure the heat, fire, and stone formations that gave the illusion they were closing in around me, was depressing to say the least.
But this wasn’t like that. I was in a spectacular garden. Lush looking foliage grew all around me. Up in the sky . . . sky? The moon hung full and bright. It’s light casting down upon us, illuminating the ground and flowers. My mouth popped open. The flowers . . . they glowed like fiber optic art: reds, blues, oranges and greens. Fireflies fluttered overhead. The garden flourished with life and color.
“I’ve pleased you. Wonderful!” the Prince of Evil remarked cheerfully.
Whatever! “Let’s get this over with,” I rolled my eyes, looking as put out as possible. I wasn't in the mood to play games. I'd literally been yanked from Antonio's arms and I was anxious to get back. I glanced around. No gate.
“May I offer you something to eat?” My eyes followed to where he was gesturing. A magnificent tree stood in the corner, brimming with apples. I bit my lip. I was starved. I hadn’t had a chance to eat anything since I’d been back from my earlier trip to Hell. My trip to Hell . . . now that’s something I never thought I’d say. Antonio had called me away from the table before I’d gotten my food, to discuss the “bargain” I’d struck with Satan.
Antonio . . . my hunky slayer boyfriend, at least that’s how I saw him, had finally admitted he loved me. It took a trip to Hell to do it, but hey, I wasn’t complaining. Antonio had looked heartbroken as I slipped through his grasp and disappeared into this realm.
“Do not eat the fruit.”
My eyes darted around me. Who said that? It wasn’t the first time I’d heard voices in my head here. Last time it had been Satan tricking me. Pretending to help me with spells I’d never used before in order to lure me to him. This was not the same voice.
“Perhaps a pear?” And just like that, the apple tree transformed into a pear tree.
I stood, almost too stunned to speak. “No thank you.” I didn’t know why I bothered with the pleasantries. He was Satan for crap sake. However, if stories were true, and I didn’t doubt that they were, it would be in my best interest to not piss him off. I smiled flatly.
“Look Satan. Let’s get down to it.” I put forth my best haughty attitude. I don’t wanna be here any longer than—”
“Satan?” he interrupted me. A confused look hung across his face.
I stared at him blankly. I looked around me once again. I was in Hell, I think? A tall, dark haired guy in his early twenties stood before me. He was super tan—my guess, the heat had singed his skin, and muscled like the eye candy in my beach volleyball magazines. He was hot. Way hot. I’d already scolded myself for even thinking he was attractive. I knew he was evil incarnate. I was so never getting into Heaven.
“You insult me,” he said. His tone indicating that I indeed did insult him. “As if I could be that evil; I'm not Satan.”
I opened my mouth to speak. Nothing! I continued to stare. My mind tried to wrap around his words. “Wh . . . what?” If he wasn’t Satan, then . . . who the hell was he?
“I see,” he said knowingly. “You assumed that because I greeted you in Hell, that I am—” He started to laugh.
“Aren’t you?” I challenged. I felt a surge of anger run through me. If he wasn’t Satan, then whom had I struck a deal with? Oh God. Who had I struck a deal with?
I doubled over in pain. Damn. I’d forgotten about that. Praying for divine intervention here, in the heart of darkness, was costly.
“I told you . . . never utter that name here.” His tone was sharp and severe.
“I didn’t!” I growled through the pain. “I just . . . thought it.”
His eyes narrowed. “You wonder now, with whom you struck a bargain?”
Duh! What the hell else would I be wondering. Idiot!
He grinned.
“Well? Who else would you be?” I snapped. “You had my dad!” How dare he look at me like I was a fool! I knew I was, now. But he didn’t have to openly agree with me.
“It doesn’t really matter, does it? You would have made the same bargain regardless. The stakes were too high.” He shrugged it off like it was no big deal. “I forgive your ignorance.”
He forgives my—“Who. Are. You?” I curled my fists, ready to give him a whooping of a lifetime. He smiled—mistake! I was on him instantly taking us both by surprise. No one screwed with me! I'd been through too much. I threw my body into his, knocking him down. If he wasn’t Satan, I had nothing to worry about. He was fair game! Just another demon who needed to be taught a lesson—a painful one.
Antonio would have been proud. All the endless hours of training I’d received during my Slayer classes had paid off. I brought my fist up into his jaw. A killer upper cut that I would pay for—immediately!
“Ahahh!” I cried out. I rolled onto the ground holding my hand against my chest.
“Foolish girl,” he murmured under his breath as he rose from the ground. “Let me see it.” He was completely unaffected by the damage I tried to inflict.
“No! Don’t touch me!” I yelled through the tears.
“You attacked me,” He pointed out coolly.
I stumbled to my feet. I was seeing spots! I’d broken my hand, I was sure of it. I swear it was swelling up before my eyes. “Where do you get off having a face made of stone anyway,” I cried, cradling my hand still. My vision blurred and I stumbled to the side.
“It’s not,” he said dryly, taking my hand in his—I hadn’t even seen him reach for it. “You just didn’t strike me properly.”
“I know how to punch someone!” I spat. “I’ve punched plenty of guys before.” It was true.
“I'm sure.” He put his hands around mine, cupping it. I started to pull away. “Stop!” He commanded forcibly. His eyes were dark and intense, staring into mine, challenging me to disobey.
I swallowed loudly, afraid to move.
He held my hand gently between his. A surge of heat moved through my skin, warming the muscle and bone. “It will be sore,” he said as he released my hand. “But the bones are healed.” He stepped back, his face paling a little. His eyes, still watched me intently.
I looked at my hand, tilting it back and forth. It still held the heat he’d given me. I closed my fist slowly. It wasn’t a tight fist, but the bones weren’t broken any longer. The pain had subsided somewhat, and the impulse to pass out was gone.
“Who are you?” I breathed.
He studied me for a moment, pondering. Perhaps debating a lie. “I am the Lord of the Underworld,” he declared, his arms out, motioning around him. “The King!”
“The what?” The Underworld had a king? Unbelievable. Another bit of need-to- know information I’d been denied. Havoc was so going to get her little pixie butt kicked when I got back. If I got back. “The King of the Underworld?”
He nodded at me.
“I don’t see what the difference is: Satan? Prince of Evil… Lord of the Underworld. King of the Underworld… it’s all the same!”
“It most certainly is not the same,” he promised darkly. “I am not Satan. If I were, you would not have been allowed to leave with your father and friends. You would not have been given a generous offer in order to save them.”
“Generous?” Now that was debatable.
“Can you not think who I am?” His eyes looked long into mine, as if he was passing the knowledge to me telepathically—a skill he did not know I already possessed. “Is there no one that you’ve heard of, that precedes Satan? I am the Lord of the Underworld!” he repeated with a hint of malice in his voice. The very air around us shuddered at his words.
Someone who precedes S
atan? What was he talking about? No one preceded Satan. He was the head guy down here . . . or so I thought. Who would be older than—? My breath caught. “Wait . . . you don’t mean . . . Hades?” This guy had to be crazy. The very idea was crazy. I couldn't believe I'd even suggested it. Hades was pure myth. Like witches, and creatures from Hell, and pixies. Crap! My expression fell.
“You’ve heard of me!” He smiled.
Now, my Greek Mythology wasn’t up to par, but what I did know was that Hades didn’t just rule the Underworld he was the Underworld. Double crap! If this man was Hades, then I had an even bigger problem. Hades wasn’t entirely bound to this world. He could leave whenever he wanted. He could spy on me whenever he wanted. But if he was Hades, where was Satan? Never mind! Never mind. I had no desire to tread there. I suddenly felt sick. “You’re Hades?”
He strode over to a garden bench and sat. “None other.” He leaned back, folding his arms behind his head, the picture of cool . . . or should I say hot. Bad Evie!
“As in Zeus’s brother Hades?”
“Pomegranate?” he offered. One suddenly materialized in his hand.
A story came to mind, reminding me that Hades had once given Persephone a pomegranate that she’d eaten and thereby bound her to the Underworld forever. “No fruit!” I jumped back, putting as much distance between us as possible.
He smiled knowingly.
A million things crossed my mind at once. The first and most obvious being—“You’re married!”
I swear he looked sheepish. “Would that be a problem?”
My mouth popped open again. “Yes that would be a problem!” I gasped. This was unbelievable. I looked around me, half expecting a jealous woman to pounce on me at any moment. And not just any old jealous woman, a Goddess!
“I’m not going to . . . you know . . . with a married man!” I could feel the hot heat of blush against my cheeks. I couldn’t even say it. How in the heck would I ever be able to do it? My shoulders slumped.
“She’s not here you know,” he said, answering my unspoken thought. “Persephone; she is no longer my wife.”
I sighed with relief. “You mean, you got divorced or something?”
“Or something,” he answered with a wry look.
I waited. That appeared to be all the information I’d be getting on that subject.
“So . . . you’re not married?” Not that I was interested in him. We simply needed to be clear on that point—very clear.
“Evie. You seem flustered.” He was enjoying this too much. “Fear not my dear. You are the only object of my attraction and I—”
“I never said you were the object of my attraction,” I blurted out before he could finish his cocky assumption. Another point we had to be clear on—very clear. Although, hindsight, I probably should have kept my mouth shut.
He stood. All amusement had disappeared from his face. “Our contract is binding,” he snarled.
I shivered at the thought. He was right of course. This “bargain” was worse than I could have imagined. I needed time to regroup—this would not be that time.
Dark shadow’s appeared around me, threatening to swallow me whole. “Do not think to cross me.” His voice deepened. “I own the Underworld and all who dwell here; you are part of this world now!” So much for being the caring guy that fixed my hand! “You have promised yourself to me. Do not forget that,” he snapped.
How could I? But I didn’t remember promising myself exclusively to him. But that wasn’t exactly information I needed to point out.
“The gate.” He motioned to the left. His eyes, still fixed on me. The garden façade had vanished. Now, hot molten rock appeared before me. Loud screams poured through the crack in its wall.
I jumped back, using Hades as a shield. Damn! I had to act tougher, especially if I was going to be dealing with unsavory demons from Hell. I peeked out from behind him and ducked back. Nope. With eyes closed tight, I pressed my forehead against his back, willing myself somewhere else. There was no way I was going near that thing. Who knew what was going to jump out of that fissure and rip me apart. I’d take my chances with Hades. And why couldn’t he wear a shirt? Holy Hell was this guy built! His back was as muscled as his front. Talk about temptation!
“Fearless I see.” He was mocking me for still hiding behind him. I didn’t care. “We had a bargain,” he insisted.
I gripped his arms and peered out from behind him again. “Had.” I emphasized, ducking back once more. I was such a coward.
“Are you going back on your word?” He growled over his shoulder. I could see a muscle ticking under his eye.
I thought about that. I wanted to say yes, but then I pictured my dad the last time I’d seen him, small and frail, and Antonio, beaten and bleeding. Havoc and Chaos, my pixie pain in-the-butt friends; they’d been scared too. Not to mention Roland, who was still under the assumption he was my boyfriend. He’d been tied to a spit and roasted over a low flame for days. Poor, Roland. What was I going to do about him? At the moment, that was the least of my problems.
“The Oracle first,” I demanded. When I was last here, Satan, I mean, Hades, had promised that in exchange for my sacrifice, to put it mildly, he’d give me the location to the Oracle: A powerful being that possessed the knowledge to save my father and restore his health to what it once was. “And don’t you dare tell me Medusa!” Please don’t say Medusa.
His eyes narrowed. “Megara.” Ok, not Medusa, but not exactly the detailed map I’d expected. Still, it was a start.
I met his stare, giving him a distressed look.
“They will not harm you,” he assured, almost sounding sympathetic. Yeah right; like I trusted him.
Okay, let’s assess the situation here. I was stuck in the Underworld, hiding behind Hades, and stalling so I wouldn’t have to open the gates of Hell where I might get eaten by some . . . God only knows what—I winced in pain.
“I told you, never utter that name here,” he growled, turning to face me.
“I know!” I couldn’t freaking help it. I needed divine intervention. I glanced toward the mock sky.
Hades would kill my father and friends in a heartbeat if I backed down. Not to mention what he’d do to me. He may not be Satan, but he was darn close; if not worse as I said before, evil incarnate. If there was any credence to the legends about him, and I believed there was, I was sure of that fact. He controlled the Underworld. He was the Underworld. And the Greek God was not forgiving. Talk about an unexpected turn of events!
I growled mentally. I stepped around him and walked slowly up toward the rock. The screaming intensified as I neared. “God help me,” I prayed, fighting back the pain that shot through me once again. I’d take it without complaint now. This would be my penance for what I was about to do.
I reached out, hands shaking. I could feel the pressure building in them as before, when I’d cast those spells to fight off the creatures of Hell while trying to rescue my father. My hands began to glow with a luminous light once more. I looked back. Hades was stepping forward with eager anticipation.
“You sure they won’t hurt me?” I questioned. Stupid of me I knew. Why would he care if I were suddenly overrun by demons?
“You will not be harmed. I swear it.” The sky thundered above, cementing his promise.
And with the comfort of that knowledge, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I pressed my hands against the rock. A sonic boom vibrated through my body, propelling me backward. My head hit against something hard. My vision blurred and then everything went black . . .
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BIOGRAPHY
Nicole Grane lives in Tooele, Utah with her husband and three children. She enjoys collecting cool rocks, oil painting, finding unique pieces of jewelry, and playing on the beach with her family. As a native Californian, the ocean is a cherished part of every visit back home.
Nicole has always loved mythology, folklore, and researching unique places. The Pinehurst series has allowed her to study
and explore theories and sites she never would have known about. To incorporate her findings into these books and share them with readers has been an amazing experience that she wishes to continue.