"I'll let you know. I sent Hermes on a fact-finding mission, he should be returning with his report soon," Gaia said.
They were interrupted by Saumya, escorting Hermes. "Goddess Mother? You have a visitor," she informed them while waving Hermes into the room.
He stopped and took off his hat, smiling broadly at the three Goddesses. "Ah, I caught you while you were still here, Mother. And in such enchanting company, I see."
Hermes bowed his head and took Kali's hand gently. He briefly touched his lips to her hand, causing a rare blush on Kali's face.
"Kalika, this is Hermes," Gaia said, retaking her seat. "And this is Goddess Lakshmi, that mortal's great-great-great grandmother."
Hermes stopped and started at the youthful goddess. "This is her? I can see where the mortal gets his abilities, even if he's trying to ignore them." Lakshmi blushed openly and moved to allow Hermes to take a seat next to her, across from Gaia.
"What did you find out," Gaia asked.
"It's far worse than I had imagined." Hermes said.
***
The Betrayal of Hades
Long, dark hallways flew past as Hades, God of the Underworld, marched into the Tartarus prison block. His blood-red and sliver cloak flew back, giving him the appearance of having dragon wings. His eyes were solid orbs of pure white. His mouth formed a tight line as he walked. Fury radiated from him in waves of heat. His anger boiled over at the news his daughter, Melinoe, had earlier delivered; the demon Sorath had managed to escape his prison cell. Hades held one of only four dagger keys that opened the cell. The other three were in the possession of the Furies.
To Hades' left were two demons: Bune, in his human guise, and Chirich, a lesser demon of native American origin. Chirich's face was elongated, giving him a very coyote appearance. His light brown eyes darted back and forth further enhancing the coyote appearance.
Hades turned a corner, and began to walk down a long corridor into a darkness lit only by an occasional torch in an iron wall sconce.
Hades stopped before a blank granite wall. The only sign that a door was there was a single slot in the black rock. From a scabbard under his cloak, Hades produced a bronze dagger. Inscribed along its blade were a series of round symbols, sigils, that opened the lock.
He slid the dagger into the slot, a slight click and the door swung towards Hades.
He pulled on the door and peered inside. Darkness encompassed the entire cell. He waved his hand and a dim purple light appeared, which did not help. It only served to heighten the darkness.
"Fix the light, for starters. I can't tell if he's actually gone or still in the bloody cell!" Hades ordered. He stormed into the dim cell, hand on his hips. He was looking for someone to blame for this mess.
A massive shape moved in the darkness. Red eyes glowed. "Oh, I'm gone now, Hades," Sorath growled. He stepped from one wall, and lightly leapt into the hallway. He laughed as Hades sought for his dagger.
"Looking for something, Boss?" Chirich stepped into view, holding the dagger. He gave a wolfish smile as the door slammed shut, locking Hades into the cell.
Hades was shut off from all sound and his powers had no effect. He crossed his arms and growled.
Outside, Sorath laughed and handed the dagger to Bune. "Hold onto this, I'll need it later. First, I need energy."
"What do you have in mind?" Bune asked, while stowing the dagger in a small scabbard tied to his thigh.
"I'm sure there's someone on the surface I can enlist. I also plan to find those damnable sisters and take them out of the equation, permanently." Sorath's eyes glowed brighter then dimmed. "I am weak. I shall return. Meanwhile, ready the troops. Alert my generals. I'll send word when I'm ready."
Sorath faded from view and Bune turned to Chirich. "You heard him. Let's round up the generals."
***
Hermes looked at each of the goddesses and sighed, "That's all I know right now."
"That's enough. So much to do," Gaia said grimly. "And little time to accomplish it all."
"I'd imagine Sorath wishes to deal with your daughters first, then move on all of the underworld," Kali said quietly. "It's what I'd do."
"To ensure that Hades is kept where he is, he needs the other three keys. There is only one way to get them," Gaia sighed. "We have a great deal of work ahead."
PART THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
San Luis Obispo
He was on the move again, finally. He was cruising in his non-descript sedan out into the desert, not too far from where he was staying.
Earlier, it had dawned another beautiful Californian day, perfect for a drive up the coast on CA-1, the Pacific Coast Highway. His route had led him to the small town of San Luis Obispo. A popular tourist destination for anyone driving up the coast, not too far from a beach. The small town was also home to Cal Poly, a well-known school for engineering and business degrees.
Along the way, he'd stopped at a large hardware store for black plastic, duct tape, bottles of bleach, and zip-ties. To make it look good, he also bought some paint and rollers.
He was ready. It was time to hunt, again.
After a short cruise through the town, he decided to check into a small hotel south of the town on Cabrillo Highway. But he needed a spot for the special fun he was planning. An old building or house, something out of the way, abandoned or even up for sale. Far from neighbors and prying eyes. The set-up was as important as who he'd pick. Once he had found the perfect spot, the hunt would begin in earnest.
On a lonely highway a few hours away, he found a perfect spot. The sun was just setting as he drove around the property. A huge billboard announced the property as "For Sale or Lease". Perfect. No one around for at least half a mile.
He effected entry in a few minutes, and wandered through the shop space. He found a few old office chairs that would work, so he set about taping up the plastic and lining the area. All designed to contain bodily fluids that were spilled when he was having his own special fun. Proper preparation was vital; it reduced the possibility of being discovered.
The sun had set and the stars were shining as he headed back to his hotel and a sweep of the area's bars. It typically took a few hours to find the right bar, close to a college. This small town's college was different, but it might work anyway.
He passed by the small campus and noticed a game was wrapping up. A girls' volleyball game, and a lot of tall young women were milling around. Any one of them would make a nice plaything for this evening, but only few would be hitting the bars. It appeared many were heading home. A small clique of college girls were getting in a late model car, and he decided to follow and see where they were headed. To home or to a bar to celebrate? He would follow to see if they went to an apartment building, if so, then he'd turn around and head south to the main street where he'd noticed several bars.
The girls went south to the main part of the small city. Kyle passed their car and found a parking spot on the street not too far away. Now, he could see where they parked and possibly which bar they chose. All four went into a door under a green awning, about mid-way down the block. He jumped out of his car and began walking.
He glanced in the door with the green awning. It was a bar and restaurant specializing in pizza. He saw it wasn't what he needed. There’s be no way he'd be able to single out one of them, since the place wasn't designed for singles mixing. It was a college and family place.
Kyle continued to walk aimlessly down the street.
***
Furies House
Tisiphone was working at a desk behind where Alecto was supervising Brianna as she scrolled through maps and streams of data floating in the air.
"She handles that better than you, Alecto," Tisiphone pointed out. Little impressed her, but the young disincarnate was proving to be a valuable shade to have around.
Hovering in a corner, Bobbie watched in awe. She was still quite weak, barely visible, as she waited for the women to find her killer.
Earlier, Alecto and Brianna had faded into view in the main room in the house, with Bobbie held in-between. Megaera was just heading out and had stopped to tell her sister that she was heading out, and not to expect her for a few hours, or perhaps, weeks.
"Which one is it this this time?" Tisiphone almost sounded angry. She didn't look up from her work, copying some fragile scrolls she'd nicked from the library in Alexandria on her last trip into the past.
"Same one as last week," Megaera replied. Tisiphone had lost her heart to a mortal a few centuries ago and was still mending her heart, so it was a sore point with Tisiphone.
"This is a record. You usually tire of them by the third encounter," Tisiphone mumbled and turned back to her scrolls.
Tisiphone looked up when Alecto appeared. "Is this her?" Tisiphone asked.
"Tisiphone, this is Bobbie Banks." Alecto moved the faded spirit forward. "Now, you need to speak up so we can hear the petition."
Bobbie wavered in and out of view. She was having a difficult time maintaining form, much less being heard.
Alecto and Tisiphone both turned to Megaera at the same time. She sighed and strode across the room, in a hurry and wanting to be gone. "Alright, just this once. Then I have to leave," Megaera said with a sigh.
She held out a hand and moved it into the fading form. A blue light flickered, sparks swirled and moved. Small bright motes began to swim around and the fading spirit grew more substantial. "There, she should be fine long enough to ask the petition. Anything else? I have to jet." Megaera turned and was face to face with Brianna.
She stopped and looked at Alecto, "Who's this one, again?"
"I'm Brianna. Alecto says you're dating my uncle," Brianna said.
"I guess. A mortal. A cop? Unbeliever? Fantastic in bed?"
"I wouldn't know about the last part," Brianna remarked.
"You were just born a few thousand years too late," Megaera smiled and started around her.
Brianna moved to block Megaera. "What are your intentions towards my uncle?"
"Zeus save us, what is with you?"
"Dan's my uncle, and I don't want to see him hurt, again," Brianna explained, moving closer to Megaera.
"Mortals usually hurt one of us. They tend to run away when they know what we are," Tisiphone warned.
"You just picked a poor, simple shepard kid, who had to ask mommy for permission," Megaera pointed out.
"So, what happened?" Brianna asked, wide eyed.
"When he refused, she killed the poor boy," Megaera explained.
"If you hurt my uncle..." Brianna's eye flashed.
"Don't worry. I'll see to it he has no memory of our time together." Megaera smiled, winked, then vanished.
"Can she do that?" Brianna asked the others.
"Yes, she can and has. All that’s left is a dream like memory," Alecto explained. "Usually a very pleasant dream. Avoids the awkwardness of a mortal being in love with a goddess who'll never age."
"Enough talk about my past, let's get this petition under way," Tisiphone snapped. She moved to face the fading spirit of Bobbie Banks. "First question: Who killed you?"
"My cousin Kyle," Bobbie whispered.
"Second question: Do you wish to end your time wandering this world?"
"Yes, please," answered Bobbie.
"Last question: What do you wish me to do to your cousin?"
"Avenge my murder. Kill him," Bobbie said, this time louder.
Tisiphone smiled. "Gang, we're in business!"
"Let's find him," Alecto said. She turned to Brianna. "Care to give it a try?"
"You bet!" Brianna began scrolling through data. It blurred on the screen. Then the images froze, and a list of charges appeared overlaid on a city map.
"Okay, I think I have him. A credit card receipt to a small hotel in San Luis Obispo. There's a small college there. I once visited, thought about enrolling. A LOT of students that look like me," Brianna pointed out.
"If he checked in today, he might already be out on the prowl." Alecto studied the displayed map. "Yes, checked in this afternoon."
Tisiphone scrutinized the image of Kyle Banks shown in mid-air. She reached out and touched his face, making a ripple in the image.
"I'm ready to saddle up and head out. Brianna; you be ready to escort Bobbie and Kelsey to me, I have a plan to make his final moments really special." Tisiphone smiled and strode out.
She walked around the house to the stables. A noise from inside. Like a hoof pawing at the ground. She opened the door and walked to the gloom. A light flickered on and three stables were lined up. Tisiphone went to the nearest gate. Her horse waited patiently for his master to open the gate.
"I'll need you to be the chopper again, okay, sweetie?" Tisiphone asked. The horse nickered and morphed into a flat-black custom chopper. Its engine was quietly turning over, almost a purr.
"Let's go to work!" Tisiphone settled herself onto the seat and the bike slowly headed out of the stable and accelerated towards the front of the house. As soon as Tisiphone hit the road, the bike blasted off into the night, leaving a streak of flame as it traveled out of sight.
The door to the stable slowly shut itself.
***
San Luis Obispo
Kyle stood outside another bar, this one small and dark. So far, he had entered and checked out five small bars. Although there were a lot of people out and about, he was beginning to feel this town wasn’t suitable. There were few bars of the type he needed to pick up a nubile victim. He looked around and figured to head back to the selected kill spot, dispose of everything and head north. Perhaps leave tonight. Not even stay overnight.
Last two nights were very quiet. That last thought alone should have caused a ruckus in his head, but there was nothing but silence. Perhaps the darkness was finally satisfied. Kyle hoped he was finally on his own again, hunting on his own time and not being pushed by the darkness.
The last thing it did was propel him north, and away from San Marin. After the last victim was set out for display, he felt free to move on.
This time, the need inside was just himself, hungry for another kill.
He walked to the small lot where he had parked, and found his car. He sat inside, waiting. Nothing. No pushing. He grinned to himself, started the car and slowly pulled out of the lot, taking his time driving back to the hotel.
At the hotel, he slid the magnetic card into its slot and entered the dark and cool room. He had made the decision to go on and head north, see what San Francisco might hold, perhaps deviate from his usual choice of victim. Perhaps a brunette this time. He grabbed his suitcase and started to repack. As he went into the bathroom for his razor and toothbrush, he felt the room twist and spin.
He bent over in pain as the darkness gripped him in the stomach. He broke out in a sweat as the intense pain dropped him to the cool tile floor. He clutched the toiletry case, and mashed it into a wad of black leatherette as the pain washed over him.
The pain passed, and Kyle rolled over onto his back, gasping for breath.
We cannot delay, you must stay and hunt here, now.
The voice appeared in his head. Bypassing his ears. He felt himself being lifted up and walked out of the bathroom. He was pushed along like a toddler by a parent. This had never happened before, it was always a urging from inside. Or pain until he did what was wanted by the darkness.
He fell onto the bed and waited for the bright spots from the pain to fade. He wiped at his face. He looked and the darkness was in the corner, it's usual spot.
"Now? I looked everywhere. No one was what I was looking for!"
I need one more. No time left. We can't be picky.
The voice echoed in his brain, causing throbbing pain. He squeezed his eyes shut.
"No! Please, stop! I'll go out again! I'll stay and kill! Just! Stop! The PAIN!" Kyle's head thrashed and bounced on the bed. He was lifted up and shoved at the door by an invisible hand.
He crashed into the door and slid to th
e floor. He gasped and checked his front shirt pocket. He pulled out a broken vial, his hand bleeding from a cut.
"My drug! What I use to take the girls. You broke it when you slammed me against the door," he held up his bleeding hand. "See? I have to go get more, I can't kill tonight! See?"
Perhaps it is your time to die. The voice echoed.
"No! I'll do one more!" Kyle picked himself up and opened the door. He stumbled out of the hotel and to his car. His hands were shaking when he opened the trunk. He fumbled with a small black bag and removed a small vial. He checked to see that it still held enough of the mixture for one more victim. He pocketed the vial, flinching as he cut himself again on the glass shards in his pocket. He saw the pocket on his shirt was soaked with the fluid. He headed back inside for a clean shirt.
In the bathroom, he put a small bandage on the cut, combed his hair and went back to his car.
Kyle sat behind the wheel and tried to think. There had to be the right place in this town. He's just have to drive around until he found it.
He drove out of the hotel parking lot, heading back towards downtown, again.
After another pass through the darkened streets, Kyle ultimately settled on a small bar, off the main road and nestled between a side street and a parking lot. Kyle pulled into the parking lot and parked next to several motorcycles. As he strolled to the bar, he passed a sinister looking matte black custom chopper. Several people were milling around when Kyle entered.
The bartender was a tall blonde, a bit older, but very attractive and might just work out. Change up the usual pattern, he knew it was time to change his habits. The cops found his last place a bit too quickly. Kyle watched the bartender work. The woman's big smile as she greeted customers. He'd have to wait until closing to attempt the pick-up. Her name tag read: "Audrey".
He made his way to the bar and took a seat next to a brunette in black. She was in quite an outfit: black bustier, black jeans, black high heels. The bartender and the brunette were talking, laughing. Beer bottles were lined up in front of the woman, the bartender added another.
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