‘Theo!’ Olivia reached a hand out for him desperately.
The blade slipped again, gouging a deep trench along the ice. He scrambled against the slippery surface but Mary held tight, her lips peeled back in a snarl as she yanked hard.
Theo’s eyes met Olivia’s and something passed silently between them as the knife ripped free from the ice and he was sucked backwards to the gateway, with his dead wife still clinging to him.
‘THEO!’ she screamed in anguish, but with a huge grind the ice tore itself apart and split beneath her. Her head cracked sharply against a deep ledge of ice which speared up in front of her and she toppled into the freezing water with an icy splash. Urgently kicking her legs, she breached the surface, sucking in a sharp gasp of air. The water was so cold it was like her skin was being pieced by thousands of tiny needles. She scrambled to grasp onto the ice and pull herself out of the water but it was no good, it simply bobbed and slid away from her numb fingers. Blood dripped into her eyes from the cut at her temple and her vision wavered and blurred.
She went under again but she didn't have the strength to kick for the surface again. She could see the glow of light above the face of the water as she stopped struggling and sank down. She blinked as her body swirled in the water and all she could see was the dark deep depths of the lake engulfing her. A strange kind of acceptance passed over her, there was no use fighting. Theo was gone, she had nothing left that mattered.
Her vision began to waver and she could no longer hold her breath, briefly she saw a white shape in the water beneath her, cutting and weaving through the shadows and as her mouth opened and she felt the water rush in she thought she saw Charlotte’s pale face and white eyes. Then darkness consumed her and she let go. She didn’t feel Charlotte take her hand, nor was she aware of being pulled towards the surface.
Olivia rolled over, coughing violently as the lake water was heaved unmercifully from her lungs. Dragging in a deep shuddering breath she blinked, trying to clear her vision. For a moment she couldn’t move but sprawled face down on a hard wet surface as her body shook violently from the cold. She flexed her numb fingers and felt snow mixed with rough grains of sand. With a tremendous effort she raised her throbbing head and realised she was lying on the small sandy patch of beach near the dock by her house. Pushing herself up on shaky arms she looked out over the lake.
It was so calm now, the creatures and spirits were all gone and there was no sign of the net. The ice had broken up and bobbed harmlessly on the surface of the lake, like the ice floes of the North Atlantic. The huge and imposing gateway remained in the middle of the lake and although it still shimmered in the moonlight, it was silent and still.
Aware someone was close by Olivia turned her head slowly, her breath catching as her gaze fell on a hunched wet dirty figure kneeling in the snow, slowly rocking back and forth. Charlotte’s long dark matted hair hung forward, trailing in the snow, hiding her white face.
‘Charlotte?’ a soft voice called from behind them.
Olivia turned to look and saw Charon’s wooden skiff anchored at the edge of the lake, bobbing serenely in the water, its lantern lit. Charon stepped down onto the beach, clean and healed, dressed in a white tunic of linen with matching pants. On his feet were leather sandals, a leather thong hung at his neck and from it hung a pendant, which looked like an ancient coin. He stepped towards them and leaving his pole planted firmly in the soft ground he approached Charlotte slowly. His face no longer bore the swelling and bruising of his captivity and his matted bloodied hair was once again clean and sat in soft, dark brown curls.
‘Charlotte he called again softly as he knelt down beside her, his hand outstretched. ‘Come back to me…’ he whispered, ‘agapiméni, i kardiá mou ítan ádeio chorís eséna.’
She stopped rocking for a moment as if responding to his voice. Slowly she raised her head, her white eyes locking with his.
He smiled and reached out to her. ‘Gýrna píso se ména,’ he whispered.
She reached out her hand and for a second Olivia held her breath.
Their hands met and when she looked up at him, her eyes were no longer white but the same deep whiskey colour of Olivia’s. Charon stood, slowly pulling Charlotte to her feet and when she stood to face him her dress was no longer soaked and dirty but the same pristine snowy white soft linen that he now wore. Her hair fell down her back in soft clean, dark brown waves and her face was a warm flesh colour. With rose coloured lips she smiled at him as if he were the most precious thing in the world.
‘My love,’ she whispered, cupping his face gently and pressing her forehead against his.
‘I waited for you,’ he whispered taking her lips gently.
He pulled away from her and turned to Olivia.
Thank you Olivia,’ he replied softly, ‘I am in your debt.’
‘Charon,’ her voice betrayed her emotions as her body was racked with deep shudders, ‘where is Theo?’
Charon’s face fell and he shook his head sadly.
‘He was pulled through the doorway Olivia; he is trapped on the other side now.’
‘Give him back to me,’ she whispered brokenly, as her eyes filled with tears. ‘Please…’
‘Olivia,’ he replied remorsefully, ‘I can’t, it is beyond my authority. I cannot return a soul once it has crossed over.’
‘Then who’s authority does it need?’ she asked harshly.
‘Mine,’ a voice spoke firmly from behind her.
All three of them turned to look. She could feel Charlotte drop into a curtsy behind her and somehow knew Charon bowed low but she paid them no mind. All her attention was fixed on the tall stranger in front of her. He was extremely handsome, tall and well-built, immaculately dressed in a tailor made suit which could only have come from Savile Row in London. His hair was so black it looked almost blue and he carried in his hand a polished black walking cane, with a huge blue jewel instead of a handle.
The stranger’s eyes flicked to Charlotte and Charon, scrutinising them carefully.
‘You may go Charon,’ his voice was low and smooth but carried within it great authority.
‘My lord?’ Charon asked hesitantly, ‘what of Charlotte?’
The stranger continued to study her for a moment longer before inclining his head the barest fraction of an inch.
Letting out a relieved breath Charon retrieved his staff and stepped into the boat. Helping Charlotte in beside him he pushed away from the shore and began to pole the boat towards the huge archway. Olivia watched them numbly as they reached the centre of the lake until they and the gateway both disappeared.
Olivia turned back to the stranger; her teeth were chattering loudly and her body was shaking so violently now her head almost bobbed on her neck.
‘W…who…a…re you?’ she managed to stutter out her, body wracked so badly from the cold all she wanted to do was lie down, go to sleep and never wake up again.
‘Do you not know?’ he replied, ‘let me give you a hint.’
Suddenly his hair burst into blue black flames.
‘Hades?’ she gasped.
He crouched down low to where she was huddled on the freezing ground and took her hand, helping her to rise to a standing position.
‘Mortals,’ he murmured studying her. ‘Such fragile creatures.’
He pressed his hand to her chest and she felt a sudden warmth flood her body. She gasped loudly at the sensation and as he stepped back she realised not only had her body stopped shaking but her clothes and hair were now dry.
‘That’s better’ Hades replied, taking a seat on thick chunk of driftwood, placing his cane between his legs and folding his hands neatly on the jewelled hilt. ‘Now we can have a proper conversation.’
‘You’re Hades,’ Olivia whispered in stunned disbelief, ‘what…THE Hades?’
‘Olivia West,’ he continued as if she hadn’t spoken, ‘you have caused quite a stir.’
‘I ha
ve?’ she asked in confusion.
‘The human girl who can wield Hell fire.’ He studied her carefully like she was a fascinating specimen, his sharp dark eyes unreadable. ‘The human girl who understands our language and speaks the ancient tongue as if born to it; you are quite the enigma, aren’t you?’
‘I’m just a regular girl, there’s nothing special about me,’ she replied. ‘I’m a witch and my natural affinity is for fire. I’m sure it’s not that big a deal.’
‘I don’t think you understand, no human…NO human has ever been able to summon and control Hell fire, yet you do so with ease. It comes as naturally to you as breathing.’
She kept her mouth shut as she had no idea what to say. She’d only come face to face with the Goddess Diana before and she had felt nothing but love, warmth and comfort from the Deity she had chosen to serve, but now standing on the shore of a freezing cold lake in front of an ancient and powerful God, she fought the urge to tremble with nerves. Locking her spine, she stared him straight in the eyes, hoping she looked more confident than she felt.
‘You interest me Olivia, nothing has interested me enough to visit the surface for more than two thousand years and yet here I am…so what am I going to do with you?’ he mused.
‘Nothing,’ she replied carefully, ‘I serve Diana. You have no authority over me.’
‘Is that so,’ he smiled slowly in amusement, ‘it seems the little mouse has a backbone after all.’
Olivia’s mouth tightened, she could feel a wave of belligerence building inside her.
‘I’m not a mouse,’ she answered indignantly, ‘and I would have thought you’d be a little more grateful since I managed to save your friend Charon and help stop all your little prisoners from escaping from the underworld, despite what it cost me.’
‘And what did it cost you?’
‘It cost me Theo,’ she whispered as her heart lurched painfully in her chest, bringing with it a fresh wave of grief.
‘Ah yes Theodore,’ Hades replied thoughtfully. ‘Would you like to have him back Olivia?’
‘My pain is not a game for your amusement,’ she bit back.
‘No games Olivia, tell me and I will know if you are lying to me…tell me truthfully, why you want him back. Because you feel guilty?’
‘No.’
‘Then why?’ he pressed.
‘Because I love him,’ she breathed painfully, ‘because it feels like there is a part of me missing without him.’
‘Is it really so hard to admit child?’ he replied softly. ‘Humans… I will never understand all of your complexities.’
‘That’s because, with all due respect Hades, you’re a God,’ she looked at him. ‘You see what you want and you take it, you don’t have to worry if that person will love you back or betray you.’
‘You think a God cannot feel such doubt?’ he asked curiously.
‘You tell me,’ she asked. ‘Is it true what they say about Persephone? Did you take her against her will and bind her to you?’
Hades scoffed lightly. ‘Humans,’ he shook his head, ‘they get more wrong than they get right.’
He fell silent for a moment, watching her, as if coming to a decision.
‘My wife remains with me because it is what she wishes,’ he finally replied. ‘The love of a God is vast, all-encompassing and eternal. Now do you want Theodore back or not?’
‘You can give him back to me?’
‘No.’
‘But you just said…’
‘I asked if you wanted him back. Now what are you willing to risk, for that to happen?’
‘Everything,’ she whispered.
‘I can’t just give him back to you Olivia,’ he tapped his fingers against the hilt of his cane, the moonlight catching on the fiery blue stone embedded deeply in the signet ring he wore. ‘It sets a bad precedent and if I were to just go around returning souls I’d be hounded constantly. But like I said, you interest me…’ he pursed his lips thoughtfully, ‘I can send you to the other side. Once there it’s up to you to find him and convince him to come back.’
‘Convince him?’
‘Mr Beckett carries his own demons with him,’ Hades shrugged. ‘Guilt like that can do strange things to one’s mind on the other side.’
‘If I go and I find him, how do we get back?’ she asked.
‘That is up to you’ he replied, his eyes glittering with entertainment. ‘There is a way, we’ll just have to see if you’re clever enough to figure it out.’
‘So this is a game to you?’
‘Not at all,’ he smiled, ‘but it doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the show. I’ve spent the last several thousand years surrounded by demons and damned souls, this will be a delightful change of pace for me.’
‘Fine,’ she agreed.
‘There is of course something I want in return.’
‘What?’ Olivia asked suspiciously.
‘Regarding the matter of your mother and Nathaniel.’
‘What about them?’
‘Let’s just say I am well aware of their search for Infernum,’ his eyes narrowed dangerously. ‘I am not too concerned with your mother; she and I will come to terms eventually and when that day comes I can’t say that I’ll be feeling too…charitable.’
Olivia resisted the shiver of fear that tickled the length of her spine. For all of his smooth charm, Hades was not a God she wanted to cross and for a moment she almost felt sorry for what her mother obviously had in store.
‘I am more concerned with that filthy creature Nathaniel.’ Hades hair flared suddenly, as if he’d momentarily lost his composure. ‘I have his brother Seth as my permanent…guest shall we say, still I would have like to have the set.’
‘What exactly is it that you want me to do?’
‘Stop him from gaining possession of the book.’
‘Why me? Like you said I’m only a human, couldn’t you…’
Hades shook his head. ‘I cannot interfere with the book, that is not my destiny.’
‘You want me to stop a Demon?’ Olivia breathed, ‘how am I supposed to do that?’
‘Again I’m sure you will figure it out,’ his mouth curved again, ‘but I will give you a little help to set you on your path.’
‘And that is?’
‘Information,’ he replied. ‘Aren’t you mortals fond of the aphorism, knowledge is power?’
‘Alright then.’
‘Your mother and Nathaniel escaped from the hotel; even now Nathaniel has taken Isabel into the Underworld where they search for one of the five lost crossroads.’
‘I’ve never heard of any lost crossroads?’ she frowned.
‘Of course you haven’t, they existed a long time before your race was even created.’
‘Why are these crossroads so important?’
‘Crossroad, singular, he only needs to find one,’ he told her. ‘Each crossroad has a Keeper, a cursed soul who committed such terrible deeds during their lifetime they are sentenced to the crossroad for a minimum of one thousand years, depending on the severity of their earthy transgressions. Each Keeper must guard the crossroad and any human traveller who makes it to the crossroad may ask a boon of the Keeper.’
‘What sort of boon?’ Olivia asked in fascination.
‘Anything their heart desires, fame, wealth, beauty, love, immortality or...the location of something they desperately want.’
‘So it’s like a genie?’
He sighed and rolled his eyes as if he were trying to explain something to a four-year-old.
‘No, nothing is free especially not in the Underworld, the traveller may ask for anything but the Keeper has to demand payment.’
‘And what is the payment?’
‘Anything the Keeper wants,’ he shrugged, ‘they are fickle capricious creatures. It can be anything from a treasured memory, a year of your life, your youth and beauty, your first born child…your soul.’
&nb
sp; ‘Why hasn’t Nathaniel used the crossroad before now?’
‘Because he isn’t human, but now he has your mother to make a deal for him.’
‘God,’ Olivia breathed.
‘You people throw that word around an awful lot.’
‘How am I supposed to stop them from making a deal?’
‘By finding the crossroad before they do.’
‘And how am I supposed to do that?’
‘There you go again, always expecting to have the answers handed to you,’ Hades replied irritably, ‘dealing with mortals makes my teeth itch.’
He reached into his pocket and retrieved a golden object, which looked a bit like a fob watch suspended on a long gold chain.
‘Here take this,’ he tossed it to her.
She caught it easily and turned it over in her hands. It was beautifully engraved with constellations and star charts. She pushed the tiny gold button and the lid flipped open with a barely audible click. Inside was an incredibly complex compass.’
‘It’s a compass,’ she replied, but as she turned, the needle remained still. ‘It doesn’t work.’
‘It most certainly does work,’ Hades answered, ‘you just need to figure out how to use it.’
Olivia clicked it shut again and pulled the chain over her neck tucking the compass into her clothes.
‘You have everything you need now Olivia,’ he told her his dark eyes intense, ‘I’ll be watching you.’
‘But…’
He flicked his wrist and she disappeared, leaving him staring up at the sky which was brightly lit with stars.
‘You could have been a little more patient with the child,’ a smooth warm, amused female voice spoke up behind him.
‘Dealing with humans is like trying to have a conversation with a rock sometimes,’ he sighed and turned around, his eyes sliding appreciatively down her body. ‘My love,’ he smiled slowly, ‘the Valentino looks exquisite on you.’
Persephone smoothed her hands down the midnight blue, shimmering beaded gown with girlish delight.
‘It appears the human tailor has some talent,’ she agreed before glancing up at the sky and taking a deep breath. ‘I haven’t been topside in over a millennium,’ she laughed in delight.
The Ferryman (The Guardians Series 1 Book 2) Page 38
