Page 144 of Hell’s Weapon

Contemplating that for a few seconds I piece it together with what Hades told me yesterday. The Angels soul system is dwindling in souls.

Before I can sign a response Charon speaks again. “I don’t know how the recruitment games are connected but it makes sense as to why they would come after you.”

My head tilt must signal my confusion as he adds, “Your kills will always come to me. Any deaths by our assassins do, and your numbers are far higher than any others in the guild. If they take you out it at least gives those souls a chance to go to them rather than me.”

That does make sense, and if you add the number I add to Tartarus, which will never be allowed reincarnation, then I am taking a good number out of the process altogether.

“I think you’re correct, Charon. That makes sense. And maybe the games affect the percentages too?” I sign.

“Perhaps,” Charon replies. “But I think they are just an easy way for the Angels to reach our realm. What they plan to do if they ever successfully manage to make it beyond the compound is anyone’s guess, but I think they need bodies on the ground in Hell to open those portals. They’ll be trying again in the next round, mark my words.”

That is something Hades, Garrick and I had already discussed. We already had meetings set to begin reviewing the security for the next ones in ten years time. Garrick has already agreed to head the operation once more, and this time I will be on the team from the start, working with the Guard Team this time.

Nodding to Charon I leave him to his preparations.

Heading up the shoreline I have to pull my lips between my teeth to stop the laughter trying to burst out of my throat. Wyatt has pulled out the bag of graduation robes and is trying to convince the other contestants to wear them. Graduation robes that he forced me to go to the human realm and steal for everyone when he found out we didn’t have anything special for the humans to wear. Seffy is squealing in delight beside Wyatt, already twirling in the navy fabric. Rio is groaning, complaining about the silly gesture. The others are a mix of resignation and active protest.

I watch on as Milo dons his. We’ve agreed that although they both interacted publicly with me as Hades’s Assassin during the games, that we’d not reveal our relationship to the realm. They’d rather be out with me as Tacita than with the Death Bringer and that is what I preferred as well. The rest of the contestants were told that Tacita was a demon, and already works for Hades, which is why she’s not at the ceremony today. They’ve not been told that she is the Head Assassin who fought with them that night the Angels came to attack. Some might figure it out, but then rumours of my true identity fly around all the time. I’m not worried.

Of course, I’m coming out of the last few months with far more people knowing my true identity. Rio and Seffy obviously. Tarron too. But I trust them all to keep my secret.

I’ve resumed my work as well, although I’ve told Hades that my cases might not number nearly as many as they did before. I don’t need the money and I don’t want to work as much as I did before. Wyatt is going to take on some of them, as his new role in the Assassin’s Guild of Hades’s employment, so it’s not like there will be more assholes running around not meeting justice just because I’m less active.

Milo has also taken on a role directly within Hades’s team. He will be leading a few tech projects to ensure our own resources are secure and unbreachable.

Rio is joining the enforcers in Tartarus so will be working under Garrick, and Seffy is yet undecided. She wants to keep learning the different types of potions she can make as a witch and see where it leads her.

Khaos claps his hands attempting to keep control of the humans, and hollers his agreement with Wyatt about the robes. He gets mostly ignored as the protests continue until Hades appears at his side in a plume of black shadows. Khaos makes his husband take his side and only then do the rest of the humans start pulling on the robes.

The Lord of the Underworld doesn’t get much chance to chat with the group, however, as he gets heckled and pulled in several different directions by the rest of the demons gathering for the ceremony.

The attendance today is much smaller than it has been previously. Before the last games we’d allowed thousands to come and watch the humans get their demonic forms. This year though, it’s invitation only. We have still got around two hundred guests from across Elysium’s society but we’ve screened them thoroughly. Just in case.

Seeing as several hold fairly powerful positions in the realm Hades’s attention is in demand, and he gives it graciously. I do a quick perusal of the crowd, nodding to the handful of Hades’s personal security team who are strategically placed throughout. Finding no threats I wander over to Khaos, who has stepped back from the contestants now they’re all kitted out in their robes, and Charon appears ready to start.

“He’ll be fine,” Khaos says to me once I’m at his side. “Wyatt is with him.”

“I know,” I whisper, so only Khaos can hear. “But I’m still worried.”

The two weeks between figuring out the Angels’ connection with Milo and now has given us ample time to research and investigate further. We’ve not found a single shred of evidence to suggest that this shouldn't work. Every Dark Angel has been through this process and none, as far as we can tell, haven’t survived. The only difference is that Milo isn’t truly an Angel; he’s some hybrid reincarnation because those pricks experimented on him to give him enough powers that they could connect to his mind, without giving him their traits.

The same process was applied to Cameron, as we looked further into his past as well. I may have also interrogated him a bit in Tartarus one afternoon, trying to learn how he got the elemental magic when Milo did not. I took it too far and so far he’s not woken up for us to continue questioning him.

Hades briefly considered throwing him through the Styx first to double check what would happen but as he hadn’t had a demonic side awakened we felt the test a bit pointless. And we didn’t want him to awaken as a fully turned demon. The asshole didn’t deserve any of our magic.

“Alright, quieten down. We are ready to get underway.” Charon’s voice booms over the crowd.

It's always a big moment when Charon herds the contestants onto his boat to set sail across the river. The flames that swirl above the water seem more intense this morning, like they know the significance of the passengers on board this particular voyage.

I desperately want to go to my humans, to hug them one final time, breathe in their scents, tell them I love them. Doing it in the apartment a couple of hours ago seems like a different year. They need to know in case anything goes wrong. But I hold steady, despite the fact my wings flair, ready to catch an updrift and take me to them.

“You can’t go with them.” Hades appears at my side.

“I’m aware,” I reply, locking my muscles tight, ignoring every instinct raging in my body.

“They’re going to be okay, babe.” Khaos grips my hand in his as we watch the contestants move around on the boat, the anticipation high.

Biting my lip hard, I taste blood as Charon releases the final ties to the shore and revs the boat away from the dock. I don’t blink, don’t breathe as I watch the vessel carry away two of the most important people in my world. They look back as they move away from the dock and our eyes lock. Wyatt pulls Milo against him as he mouths “I love you” to me.