To the left of the castle a river flows, hidden amongst the rocky terrain, to a faraway woodland where the only sunlight in this realm streams from above. It's warm and glorious. Great buildings of white, shining stone stand proud amongst the trees. It's happiness and wonder. It's what I always imagined the perfect afterlife to look like. Triumphant and glorious.
Next to it is a pale field of what look like flowers getting the edge of the sunlight from the woodland next to it. I seefaded, pearlescent figures walking amidst the flowers. As if in a daydream. They look content. Relaxed. At peace. Like they have found somewhere to just be. Without stress, or pain. Just that simple comfort of stopping to smell the flowers and enjoy the warm, gentle rays of sunshine.
My attention is broken when terror filled screams echo faintly from the next area. I walk around the statue of Gaia and see a land of ice and storm-lashed cliffs. Thunder and lightning rain down from above. It's angry and punishing.
Then between that and the palace is the deepest dark I have ever witnessed. It's cold, terrifying and gated by a wall of carved bronze.
Together these realms make up the levels of the underworld. Alistair points first to the glorious sun-dappled woodland.
“Elysium, the paradise for the virtuous and heroic.”
He turns to the field of flowers.
“Asphodel Meadows, we're the ordinary souls dwell unless they decide to drink from the river of Lethe. The river of forgetfulness to be reborn.”
He gestures to the frosted, stormy wasteland.
“The fields of punishment for those who committed crimes and are not remorseful.”
He turns to the bronze gates with the all-consuming darkness behind them.
“Tartarus. The dark pit reserved for souls who have committed the most wicked of crimes and are deserving of divine punishment by the titans of Night, Chaos and Time.”
I focus on my breathing as I take in the immense weight of where I am standing. The centre of the Underworld. Power like nothing I have ever felt thrums through my veins and channels straight to the man standing before me. This is his home. His fathers realm that he is heir to. His eyes shinebrighter than I have ever seen them. Stormy grey with starlight sparkling in their depths.
“You're safe Psychi Mou.”He whispers to my mind.
“What does that mean? Psychi Mou?” I ask as I straighten myself.
He looks deep into my eyes as if he can see straight to the very depths of who I am. See the good, the bad and what I am yet to be and isn't afraid.
“It means My Soul.”
My world seems to still. My breath, my heart as if frozen in time. He called me that before we knew we were Moira bonded. I watch him swallow as if he has just come to that same realisation. I can't get swept up in him no matter how much I want to.
“Where's my Mum.” I ask sternly.
He holds out his hand and I take it instinctively. Darkness swirls again.
One second the palace is a mile away and the next we are at its steps. My mum runs down them and wraps me in a hug so tight I can hardly breathe.
“Sweetheart! Are you OK?” She cries as she steps back, brushing back my hair and examining me from head to toe.
“I'm fine Mum.” I reply with a teary smile.
I breathe deeply trying to calm my racing heart. Then a figure that instantly has me on edge walks down the steps.
His perfectly tailored suit is rimmed in silver metal and at his waist is the key to the underworld, dangling by his hip, suspended by a black chain. His eyes shine like silver nitrate. Though they lack that cold, madness that has always glinted there. Instead they look... kind, concerned and sad. That unhinged grin is gone and instead his expression is soft and tired. Like the weight of the world rests on his shoulders. There is an air of grief about him that weighs him down. A whollydifferent man stands before me but I know in my gut that he's still Hades. Still the man who slaughtered my Father.
Rage like nothing I have ever felt floods my bones as Hades approaches with a warm, welcoming smile on his murdering face.
“Relax Krista. You're safe here. I trust you had a safe travel?” He asks. His voice flows with lilting softness.
Alistair steps forward and dips his chin slightly in a nod.
“All went as we had planned but I think we need to watch the Skinwalkers. Three are travelling together at Yellowstone.”
Hades taps his finger against the key at his waist as he asses this news. His strange change in personality confuses me to no end but my Dads body flying through the air into Caleb's jaws flashes in my mind and rage boils through me. I let myself drown in the need for vengeance.
