I reach for the power pulsing through my feet. It's raw with unmatched power and it rattles my bones as I draw it through myself in a torrent ready to be unleashed. Just as I push my will into it, it dissipates. It just flows from me and back into the rocky earth. My eyes widen as I pull back on it but to no avail. I look up at Hades. He tilts his head slightly. So similar to his sons mannerisms.
“This is my realm Krista. I control every pulse within its heart beat.” He smiles but I see a slight tightening in the corner of his eye. He's straining to keep the power in check against my pull on it.
Mum takes my hand. I turn to her but keep Hades in my periphery.
“Why are we here?” She whispers to me.
“Umm...” I turn to Alistair and then to Hades.
I don't know what to say to her. Even I don't fully understand why we're here. I blindly trusted Alistair and Gaia to help get us away from Lukas but now we're in the Underworld atthe mercy of the most powerful monster to exist. Did I just play straight into Hades hands? Dread fills me and I feel panic rush up my spine.
“All will be explained.” Hades states as he turns with his arm outstretched gesturing to the entrance to the palace. “The Fates await you both.”
We hesitate and I feel Alistair gently press his hand to the small of my back. Did he say the Fates? The three women who decide the length of everyone's existence and cut the thread of our life when they see fit.
“Trust me Krista. We'll explain everything.” His voice is low and earnest.
I grit my teeth and push down my rage. I nod to him and we walk into the Palace.
We climb the wide black stairs lined with torches of blue fire and come to towering bronze gates etched in an intricate, elegant design. They stand open and through them is the entry hall. Solid silver statues of rearing horses stand either side. Their manes billowing behind them as they glitter in the firelight. A smaller set of bronze doors open to a huge long room bathed in cool blue light. A roaring fire blazes in an enormous, ornate fireplace. Dominating the centre of the room is a long dark oak table ringed with 20 chairs. 10 down either side. Hades sits in another at the head of the table. Three women sit to his right in flowing white robes.
Alistair sits in the seat on his Fathers left and Hades throws him a black t-shirt which he promptly puts on. I take the seat next to him and Mum settles next to me. Her back straight and her gaze watchful but patient. I dare to look at the three women sitting across from me. The Fates.
They're older women but I couldn't say exactly how old. All three have eyes of the deepest black. Their skin is pale but not waxen and each holds the same calm, unreadableexpression. I can't help but feel in awe of them. They encompass the inescapable nature of fate and everyone's existence. Even the Gods. Their names if I remember correctly are Clotho, the Spinner. Lachesis, the Measurer and Atropos, the Cutter.
They watch me with cool indifference and I find myself unable to maintain eye contact.
Hades clears his throat.
“Thank you for being here ladies.” His eyes dart to each of us in turn. “Gwen, Krista, I know this is an extremely hard time for you both but now you are safe. I want to finally explain the entirety of events that have brought you here.”
The air is thick with tension and I watch him incredulously.
“A plan has been in motion for millennia since Zeus, with the help of the other Olympians, captured and imprisoned Gaia.”
Mum gasps and covers her mouth with her hand.
“I have searched endlessly for her. She is my Moira bonded mate. My everything.” He says his voice thick with pain. “A prophesy was foretold of a Nymph with incredible power who would be the Heir of Deaths equal in every way and together they would be Earths salvation. To keep this prophesy a secret from Zeus it was spun into the tale you may know of Persephone and myself.
I played the role of villain to keep my brother from discovering my true intentions. He believed the story we spun and decided that the loss of my Mate had driven me to insanity. Persephone bears some resemblance to Gaia and that was to be the cause of my actions. My rage and violence caused by my weak-mindedness and grief. Thus I was no longer a threat but a necessary inconvenience as my brother has no intention of being burdened with the ruling of the underworld. It's beneath him now that he commands all of earths existence.
Zeus grew so obsessed with power and being the strongest of us all that he turned on his brothers, sisters and even his own children. They left, never to return. Forsaking earth and abandoning it to its fate under Zeus's tyranny.”
His fingers clench on the table and I see the abandonment etched in his face.
“Though she is imprisoned, Gaia still has some small influence over the earth. She guides us in any small way she can. Mostly as a shining white Stag. Through her Nymphs she can keep some balance and protect most of earths inhabitants. Zeus realised this and thus created Lycans. Imprinted with his will they claimed possession of the Nymphs. Zeus gave them the power to create their own obscure version of the Moira bond. The instinct to form this bond overwhelms them. Their bite claims the power of the Nymph, binding her to him and severing her connection to Gaia but still allowing her a small amount of influence over the earth. Through this Zeus can monitor any potential threat to his reign. He is nothing if not paranoid.”
I feel the truth of his words. So many things start to make sense and fall into place but, he says the other gods abandoned Earth... puzzle pieces start to slot together in my mind.
I watch Hades intently as he continues.
“When the fates told me of a thread they had spun and the future it held I knew I had to make my move. I played into the angry, heartbroken role and launched the attack on Yellowstone 18 years ago. Zeus can see my every move once I leave the Underworld so I had to play my role perfectly. Alistair was to find you-” He looks apologetically to my mum. “-and bring you here. We would ensure your safety away from Zeus attention. Alistair had a change of heart and instead watched over you from the shadows. We proclaimed to the world that I had feasted on your blood and were subsequently killed. Zeushad no knowledge of your existence until you Krista, forced my hand into releasing the Yellowstone pack.
We underestimated how powerful you would be. I knew that you would never let us get you to safety unless, you had grown to trust Alistair or didn't have access to your power. This also helped hide who you really are from Zeus as he has no idea of the immense power you can wield. If he did I doubt he would let you live. And so, we formed the new plan disguised as a last, desperate attempt to get Zeus to release Gaia with Carter being my bargaining chip.”
Tears fill Mums eyes and I take her hand.
“I have been forced to become a monster and to commit unforgivable atrocities to ensure the prophesy is fulfilled. I have murdered. I have tortured my own son and I have broken my very soul to ensure this facade doesn't crack. To keep Zeus blind from our true plan. From my true self if there is anything left.” His voice breaks and his hands are clenched so tight his knuckles are white. “I'm sorry, from the bottom of my blackened heart. I. Am. Sorry.”
