“We need to leave!”
Another ball of fire hurls itself between us, and Persephone steps back with a yelp. I stumble into Ileana. She grabs my shirt collar and yanks me to her, intending to throw me through the portal she opened in the distance.
This is what I trained for. I cannot let him get hurt right now. No matter what happens with Făt… He has to take care of himself. Hades is my priority.
I tear out of my immortal’s grasp, deaf to her cries. I’m going after the woman I’m meant to be with. I have spent the last eons asleep, unaware of all that I could be. Now, I have a chance to prove myself, and I will be damned if I do not.
But as I head toward Persephone, the sky winged creatures descend on us. One in front of her, two more around Pegasus and Frumos. The sound of shouts and clashes of metal fill the air, and I trust them to have my back.
I run toward Persephone, my sword raised high, slashing at the creature. But it moves backward before I can hurt it, its wide eyes on something to the side. I turn, and my stomach drops. This is the darkness I’d felt in Persephone.
It permeates her entire being, as if her deity powers have decided to manifest such. The ground underneath her burns, turning ashy, devoid of life and unable to give life. Houses crumble in the vicinity, as if corroded. Air itself—
“Persephone—”
What is she doing! Ileana yells. Out loud, she says, “Hades, stop her! She’ll kill us all!”
I run to Persephone, tackling her and falling to the ground with her. A ball of fire lands over our heads, and I roll us out of the way, then shove her in the direction of a house as I follow. Temporary shelter, at best, but it’ll do.
She curls up by the brick wall. Tears are bathing her cheeks, sobs racking her chest.
“Persephone—”
“This is what I meant!” she cries, her eyes wild. “I can’t… I’m not who I’m meant to be. I’m a fraud. A nothing. I don’t deserve to be in Olympus, let alone with you. This…”
I crush my mouth to hers, stifling her words.
“I don’t care. Do you hear me? There’s nothing wrong with you. Nothing.”
She stares at me as if unable to believe my words.
They’re not lies, though. It only makes sense that if she had repressed her powers, for whatever reason, that doing so would lead to this odd manifestation. Doesn’t mean it’s irreversible. And even if it is, I don’t care.
Shouts from around the house distract me. I don’t want to leave Persephone, but I need to make sure everyone else is fine. “Stay here. I’ll be back in a moment.” There will be plenty of time to deal with this new…development.
I rush around the corner and come face to face with one of the winged creatures…and find myself frozen. Its spear nearly collides with my chest, only to be deflected by a burst of bright light. The rider shades its eyes and forces the creature to retreat.
A moment later, Ileana appears, panting. “Are you unharmed?”
“Yes, thank you. Your magic saved me, I was…” I shake my head. “I don’t know what happened, really.”
She nods, glancing around in a panic. “We need to leave. There are too many of them, as if they knew we were coming.”
It’s true. I thought there were a few dozen, but instead we’re being faced with more than that. Clashes of swords from a distance draw our attention, as does a groan of pain. Frumos, trying to protect Pegasus. He must’ve taken the brunt of the hit, as he falls to his knees, his sword above his head.
Ileana takes a step toward him then stops herself. She stares between us, conflict in her expression.
“GO!” I order. “Get him, I’ll take Persephone.”
She leaves then, released from her duty, and I rush to Persephone once more. Pulling her in my arms, making sure my body protects her, I get us moving again. Balls of fire fall everywhere around us, but still, we make our way as we would in an obstacle course.
Ileana and Frumos rush to us, but it’s only as they open the portal that I realize someone is missing.
Pegasus.
I look over their shoulders—to his unmoving form.
“No!”
My roar of pain only attracts more creatures. Ileana tries to hold me back, but it takes both their strength to toss me and Persephone into the portal—without my friend, who never should have paid the price of my stupidity.
We enter my chambers like the proverbial marching parade of a funeral. Ileana and Frumos go out on the balcony, their voices low, leaving me with Persephone.
She’s been silent since the village, lost in her own thoughts. Under the shock of the attack, and me being right, I assume. Maybe also under the shock of seeing one of our own dead.
We are bred to believe we are immortal. All of us.
And yet, we are not.
Numb, I drop onto the couch, burying my head in my hands. Persephone’s there the moment after, holding on to my shoulders, allowing me to sink my face in her lap. She strokes my hair, and the feel of her fingers running through it is the ultimate catalyst. I finally allow the well of emotions to build up, and tears fall, one after another.
Gods never cry.
Gods are never weak.
We are the epitome of what is untouchable, invulnerable, immortal.
Yet here I am, bawling like a baby, and unable to stop.
“Hades.”
I jump to, hoping it was all a nightmare. I’d been half dozing off on Persephone’s lap, trying to avoid numbing my pain in ambrosia. Ileana and Frumos are still debating on what, exactly, attacked us, when Zeus barges into my chambers. And judging by his thundering expression, the day’s events are not, in fact, a nightmare. They’re only too real.
“Follow me to the atrium.” He glances at my guardians. “Only you, and Persephone. Her mother wishes to see her.”
Persephone winces but stands first. I admire her ability to be so collected. All I want to do is sink into the floor and forget about my existence. My one ally here, in Olympus, is now dead, never to be seen again. All because of me.
But Persephone won’t let me be weak. She intertwines our fingers and moves, and it’s the only thing that keeps me from crumbling. The fact I know she understands. I may not hear her thoughts, but I focus on that silence, drive all my attention toward it, and ignore everything else. Especially Zeus’ internal monologue.
By the time we enter the atrium, Demeter is there. I don’t focus on the other gods, only on her. Her pinched, yet perfect expression, eyes narrowed on Persephone’s hand in mine. Dark hair, same as Persephone’s, cascades over a shoulder, pulled in a half-braid. Curly tendrils surround a square face, with thin lips currently pursed. Her icy blue gaze finally lands on me.
She is impressive, Demeter. And clearly, her own inspection of me leaves me lacking.
Demeter sits on a throne, similar to Zeus, as she is one of the oldest conclave members for Olympus. Now that Zeus is supreme ruler, their input will only be required if the realm is in danger. Such as now.
When Persephone sees her mother, she immediately stands straighter.
“Come here, child. It has been long since I laid eyes on you.” Demeter’s voice is barely above a whisper, but there is still firmness in it. An order.
Persephone doesn’t want to let me go, but I gently disentangle our fingers. There is no reason she should endure the punishment I am about to. Before she leaves, I tug her into my arms one more time. Ignoring everyone else, I lower my head and kiss her, lingering as long as I’m allowed.
“That is quite enough,” Demeter says. Of all the gods to lay her eyes on, it had to be the most despicable of Olympians. No matter. Some time away, and it’ll cleanse her mind of him.
Persephone goes to her then, but all hesitation has left her steps. And her strength gives me the strength needed to ignore Demeter’s mental bitching.
“Hades,” Zeus says, drawing my attention to him. “You’re in trouble this time.”
That, if nothing else, surprises me. And
jars my focus to my current standing. I have no allies here. Not even my guards. And though Persephone is on my side, I don’t want Demeter to create issues for her. I’d meant for her to return to Olympus quietly, not like this. Fated or not, she deserves a peaceful existence after the mess I’ve already caused in hers.
She takes a step closer, opening her mouth, but Demeter clenches her hand and tugs her to her side, whispering furiously to her.
Is that what this is, then? Zeus, my dear brother, unable to find a cause or a solution to a mess of his own making—there’s no doubt he’s involved in this, to some extent—and thus turning to me. The perfect scapegoat.
I clear my throat. “In trouble for what, exactly? All I did was protect Persephone and bring her home.”
“And you caused the death of one of our own.”
Low blow. The pain hits me, rawer than ever. I avoid staggering, instead clenching my teeth and tilting my chin upward. I won’t let Zeus see me crumble.
“It wasn’t his fault!” Persephone says. “We were attacked, by winged creatures—”
Demeter scoffs. “Winged creatures? What is this nonsense?”
I meet Persephone’s gaze, ignoring her mother. And I shake my head, once. Her expression falters. I wish there was a way to convey what’s in my heart, but there isn’t. I can only hope I won’t drag her down with me.
“Do you not even feel remorse?” Zeus asks. You should. It will take me millennia to clean up the mess you’ve left behind!
A shard of ice lodges itself in my chest. “Don’t talk to me about remorse! You—liar!” I march toward him, jabbing a finger in his face. “All this time, playing the perfect would-be ruler. All this time, pretending to be honest, accusing others of lying. When through it all, you’ve been the worst of them.”
Zeus glances around, then back at me. He smirks. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do. Because you’ve known my entire life I’m fated to be with Persephone, and you hid that from me. Didn’t you?”
How did he find out! Demeter’s panicked thought almost makes me turn her way, but I don’t. My focus is on my brother, and him alone.
Lightning blazes in his eyes, and I prepare to defend myself. But Zeus doesn’t strike me. Instead, he stares back at me, unmoved. It doesn’t matter, brother, he thinks, loud and clear. Whatever you may have found out, it’s useless. Because I now have the perfect way to ensure you’ll be out of my way for good, cast somewhere I can’t be blamed if anything should happen to you. The oracles can’t foresee you dethroning me if you no longer exist. And as for your dear Persephone… Well, she’ll find another lover, I’m sure. After all, gods being fated is a myth, no?
I clench my fists. Never have I wanted to strike him more than in that moment. He’s doing this knowing full well that no one else hears his admission, only me. Forever keeper of this secret.
As his smirk widens, Zeus dismisses me and waves toward Demeter.
She stands, clearing her throat. “Regardless of what harm you think was done to you, you have done much, much worse to Olympus.”
“Really?” I cross my arms over my chest. “Do tell me. This should be entertaining.”
Why, the insolence— She takes a deep breath and continues in a forced, even tone. “You broke many laws, perhaps the two biggest being that you killed one of our own and showed yourself to humans.”
“There were no humans around!”
“A little boy saw you.”
Of course. With my luck, it shouldn’t be surprising.
Already, I knew the moment I entered the atrium that it would not be a good ending for me. It’s time I accept it, and with a bit of luck it’ll lead to somewhere with a good beginning. After all, if nothing else, this entire mess has made it clear I don’t belong in Olympus. Never have, never will.
“You’re aware of our dilemma,” Zeus continues. “After the pantheons undertook the check-ups we requested, it has become apparent some evils have, indeed, escaped. The Valkyries of the Norse have offered to hunt them down for the rest of us. In the meantime, we need a spot to imprison them all next, and to transfer them. Somewhere they can never pose a risk.”
Of course. Let everyone else do the work. “And I presume you identified a location already?”
“Yes. Tartarus.”
I start at the name. I know of it, of course, we all do. It’s a barren land, a realm of darkness and shadows where human souls wander, unseen and ignored, since we retired from the world.
And its mention… Now, it all makes sense.
“You wish me to become the new jailer, then?”
“No!” Persephone cries, unable to help herself. “Mother, you can’t do this. Hades was protecting me!”
Sure he was. “Hush, child.”
Persephone ignores her, instead taking a step toward me. “And you know! Mother, you know we’re fated together! By the Fates themselves!”
Demeter’s tone is harsh as she yanks her back. “Enough of this.” To me, she says, “Yes. To answer your question, you are to take over this domain, and do as you please with it.”
“What of the souls down there?”
“Exile them, banish them, keep them,” Zeus says in a bored tone. “I care not. Your purpose there is one, and one alone. To keep that evil contained.”
“I will need more help than just me.”
“Then you can recruit others.”
As if anyone sane would join me in this isolation quest. I see how it is. But I won’t give in to their insidious thoughts, nor show the pain this is causing me. Because if anything, it’s only causing me one particular agony—that I won’t see Persephone for a while.
“Very well,” I say, feeling the weight of her teary gaze on me. “When do I begin?”
“Now.” Zeus claps his hands and opens a portal, then stands back, ignoring Persephone’s gasp. “I trust you can summon whatever you need in there?”
I step toward it, clenching my jaw, trying my darndest not to look at her. “Yes.”
“Good. Valkyries offered to escort the various evils, a few at a time. You can expect them to arrive in groups as soon as they catch said evils.” Zeus pauses, meeting my gaze arrogantly. “Do try not to screw this up.”
A bitter laugh escapes me. “Screw up? In your eyes, I will always be the screw-up. But I have gotten used to that, and I expect nothing else.” I step closer, dropping my voice to a whisper. “I know what you’re doing. And you won’t get away with it. Sooner or later, you’ll pay for your arrogance.” I step back before he can say anything and glance at Persephone one more time. “Until we meet again, beloved.”
Because I have to hope this is not the end. At least, not forever.
With a last sigh, I straighten my back and step through the portal.
The portal drops me into a realm I should be familiar with, but I’m not entirely. At some point, most of us tried to enter this vast land of nothingness in a way to gain some edge. Our version of rebellion.
Tartarus has existed since the beginning of time itself. It was a story we all grew up with, something we dared ourselves to broach. There was a time our parents blocked all realms from accessing this one…
The last time I’d been here? Zeus had dropped me and left me alone. He’d only learned of my special powers and wasn’t about to get through Olympus with having a freak god for himself. So in his youthful mind, dropping me here was the best thing he could do. For himself, that is.
I guess things don’t change that much over many eons, after all.
I don’t know how long I spent here, assailed by souls and human ghosts, until someone came to get me. It was Pegasus, and that was the beginning of our friendship.
He’d heard us quarreling right before, and when Zeus returned to Olympus without me, Pegasus forced Hermes into tracking down where he’d gone. And so, it had led them to Tartarus. And to me. Hermes immediately thought it had been my fault, but Pegasus knew better. And even though prior to that we had barely
interacted, he soon became my best friend. A better brother to me than Zeus ever was.
And now, here I am again.
I drop my gaze to the ground, and the full pain of Pegasus’ loss rattles through my body. My legs sway and, unable to hold myself up, I kneel, digging my fists in the arid earth. Hot tears pour down my cheeks, and though I try to control my sobs, I cannot.
In all of Olympus and the pantheons, Pegasus was my one true friend. I have passable relations with other deities like Morrigan, but Pegasus was truthful with me. Honest. Always there. And I repaid him with mistrust, disloyalty, and dragging him into a fight that was his end.
Yet I cannot regret it, not fully. If it hadn’t been for his help, I couldn’t have saved Persephone. We couldn’t have all gotten out of there, alive. Was it worth it, to lose my only friend? Especially now that I lost her, too?
I’m under no illusion. No one, least of all a goddess, will enter this exile with me. Because it’s nothing short of an exile, at the end of the day. For however long they see it fit, I’ll serve my penance here. In this valley of nothing. I will speak with only spirits, and have no connection to the outside, other than through visitors.
Even that will probably be monitored, if I know Zeus. This is his best way of getting me out of the way, that much is apparent. And while I could fight him, what would be the point? I never belonged there. In a way, he and the conclave did me a favor. A chance to start anew, in an area I can devise to my heart’s content, and with no rules to follow other than my own.
And if Pegasus’ death has taught me anything, it’s that I won’t let it sit in vain. He was able to be selfless, the way only he could, in his quest to help me and protect me. I won’t repay that effort with my indifference. I’ll do my duty, I’ll protect Olympus. But I won’t be miserable. I’ve played that game once before with myself, and it’s time I outgrow it.
If I’m to remain here, I’ll make this Underworld my home, and I’ll become its Lord.
Easier said than done. After wandering the lands of the place far and wide, I can’t settle on where to begin. Everywhere I turn, I’m met with ghosts of human spirits and a vastness of land that’s gone unchecked for too long.
Secret Shadows: A Greek God Paranormal Romance (Immortal Rogues Book 1) Page 11
