The thick darkness collects and swirls a few meters in front of us. Black, smoking tar rises from the ground to meet it creating a 10 foot funnel that gets wider. Galloping hooves echo from it seconds before the horses erupt out from the top of the vortex. The chariot right behind. The horses are beautiful. Huge and black as pitch with eyes like black diamonds. Their glossymanes billowing like silk. They leap down landing gracefully standing almost twice the size of a shire horse.
The chariot, also black is gilded in silver with a figurehead depicting the three headed dog Cerberus. And the charioteer. Hades himself.
I didn't know what I expected him to look like. Maybe old and bearded. Dressed in a robe befitting ancient Greece. No.
He looks to be in his 40s. Tall and muscular in a finely trailered black suit holding a Scythe in one hand with a large key hanging by his hip. His short hair is dark as night and slicked back stylishly. His beard is neatly trimmed into a goatee. He's handsome and utterly terrifying. His eyes are a cold, piercing silver that seem to stare deep into my soul and freeze the breath in my lungs.
He stands in all his incredible, daunting glory. Assessing. His eyes pass over each of us in turn. Lingering on Caleb, who doesn't move an inch, before finally settling on me.
I force myself to stand proud. Not to shrink away from his gaze. I stare right back unblinking. Even as my heart beats wildly in my chest.
I am Powerful. I am Powerful.
Maybe if I say it to myself over and over again I'll actually believe it long enough to fool him.
My dad takes a step forward and drops to one knee with his head bowed. The pack do the same. My mother stays standing so I follow her lead.
Hades smiles slightly seemingly content with this display.
Carter is the first to speak.
“What brings you here, Lord Hades?”
Hades strides down from his chariot, leaving the Scythe to lean against the side. The darkness swirls around him like a cloak. The sheer power emanating from him chokes the air with despair and fear.
“I would think that obvious Carter.” Hades answers in a voice that is smooth, soft and chilling. “Were you really so gullible to think I would let you live happily ever after?” He scoffs. “Get up.”
Dad and the pack stand in unison at his command.
Seeing them so obedient to their most despised enemy is devastating.
Hades stalks in front of us with comfortable arrogance.
“You've certainly been hard at work fixing up this place. It was quite the wreckage after my last visit.”
His demeanour is totally at ease but his eyes, unblinking, go from lazily looking around to watching me.
I stare back. Refusing to show any kind of weakness. Mum shifts herself slightly to stand in front of me.
“Ah Gwen.” Hades grins. “And Krista. A pleasure to finally meet you in person.”
“I wish I could say the same.” I state.
“I can see why my son was so helpless to acquire you. You are more beautiful than the dawn.” He says sweetly though I can hear the menace dripping from his tongue.
“It wasn't my appearance that had him so outmatched.” I warn as I take a step forward. Looking up at him with the bolster of a powerful being.
“Don't fain confidence Nymph. I know you're powerless now.” He chides.
I feel the blood drain from my face. So that is why he has come. He knows I'm not a threat. Fear and anger coil in my gut as I look up at his smug face.
“What the fuck do you want!?” I shout.
My dad grabs my shoulder. “Krista don't.”
I shrug his hand off me and take a step toward Hades. He turns his back on me and reaches into the Chariot. His smile istwisted as he stares at me. Effortlessly lifting Alistair with one arm by the back of his neck. He holds him up as if in triumph.
“I want vengeance.” He spits.
