She turned back to the coffee machine and pulled out a clean mug for Theo, he’d need refueling soon. He’d been up with the dawn. Neither of them had slept particularly well. Her way of dealing with everything was retreating into her shell until she was ready to talk; Theo’s way was to keep painting until everything he was feeling was poured out onto the canvas, in whichever particular form it took. She knew better than to disturb him, this was his coping mechanism and it was what he needed. She knew he was just as worried and frustrated as she was, but neither of them were ready to talk it out.
Pulling her toast out of the toaster she began to butter it. Putting one slice in her mouth she picked up her plate and her mug of tea and turned toward the island then froze. Her toast fell from her mouth in startled surprise at the stranger sitting comfortably in her kitchen.
He looked as if he were in his mid forties, with tanned skin and twinkling blue eyes. His hair was a riot of blonde waves which fell almost to his collar. He wore a strangely dated linen shirt, ruffled slightly at the collar and cuffs and his jacket was a rich, heavily embroidered fabric of gold and red brocade.
She tilted her head as she watched him, watching her curiously. Strangely enough she wasn’t afraid, after all there was no way he could have crossed her protective wards or gotten past the Gata if he’d intended her any kind of harm.
‘I’m sorry, are you lost?’ Olivia looked at the stranger, who, weirdly enough, reminded her of David Bowie when he played the part of the Goblin King in the film the Labyrinth.
‘No,’ he smiled.
‘Couldn’t find your way back to the Labyrinth?’
‘I’m here to see you Olivia,’ he replied in amusement, his English accent apparent.
‘Who are you?’ she asked suspiciously.
‘Please,’ he indicated the seat opposite him, ‘I’m interrupting your breakfast.’
She sat down warily as she continued to watch him.
‘I am the Hierophant,’ he smiled charmingly, revealing perfectly aligned, dazzlingly white teeth.
‘The Hierophant,’ Olivia frowned, ‘what, like from a Tarot deck?’
‘Exactly,’ he answered, seemingly pleased that she was able to keep up. ‘I am one of the Arcana.’
‘Sorry you’ve lost me,’ she shook her head, ‘I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Outside of the Major and Minor Arcana of the Tarot Cards I’ve never heard of the Arcana. Is it like a society or some kind of organization?’
‘We are a separate race,’ he told her. ‘Did you ever wonder where the Tarot came from?’
Olivia shrugged as she picked up her cup of tea.
‘All of the Major Arcana, the Sun, the Moon, Death, the Devil, the World, the High Priestess, are all real; they are my brothers and sisters. We are a race apart from mortals, demons, Gods and Deities, we have always remained neutral. We exist to guide only. We do not interfere in worldly or otherworldly matters. The humans who encountered my race and entreated them to send their wisdom, created the Tarot as a means of communicating with us.’
‘I see,’ Olivia replied carefully, ‘so why are you here? I haven’t entreated you for wisdom or guidance.’
‘Yet I am here to provide it regardless.’
‘Why?’
‘Why?’ he repeated.
‘Yes, why?’ Olivia asked. ‘One thing I have learned is nothing in this game comes for free. What exactly is the price tag on your offer?’
‘It’s more a matter of balance,’ he replied cagily.
‘Balance?’ she repeated slowly.
‘Does it matter why? I mean, really?’ he smiled so widely, that Olivia was sure if he swapped his archaic outfit for a cheap suit he’d be instantly mistaken for a used car salesman.
‘What did you do?’ she asked taking a bite of her toast.
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘You said it was a matter of balance. Obviously your offer to me is to offset something you’ve already done or are planning to do, so which is it?’
‘You mortals do continue to surprise me; you’re a lot cleverer and infinitely more interesting than those demons.’
‘Ah, so it’s Nathaniel who’s been knocking down your door then,’ Olivia guessed. ‘What information did he want? Let me guess…the location of the book?’
‘No,’ the Hierophant chuckled, ‘besides that’s the one thing I can’t tell. It has taken steps to hide itself even from me, so I couldn’t give away its location if I tried. No, he wanted something far more direct and very specific.’
‘And that was?’
‘Sorry Princess can’t tell,’ he shrugged, ‘those pesky confidentiality clauses, you understand?’
‘You said he wanted something more direct and fairly specific, that almost implies it wasn’t information he was after,’ her eyes narrowed suspiciously. ‘He wanted you to do something for him didn’t he?’
‘As I said,’ his mouth curved cockily, ‘you mortals are cleverer than you’re given credit for.’
‘I thought you were supposed to remain neutral?’ she replied.
He blew out a loud theatrical sigh and rose, walking toward the coffee machine. ‘May I?’
‘Sure,’ she shrugged, continuing to chew on her toast.
‘We are supposed to be neutral,’ he answered, ‘but do you have any idea how fucking boring that shit is?’ he took a deep gulp of his black coffee and sighed in pleasure. ‘I’ve spent thousands of years sitting on the sidelines, giving out advice and guidance that everyone ignores if it doesn’t coincide with their own selfish desires. I’m so bored; I could literally gouge my own eyeballs out. I figured now was the time to shake things up, you know, hurl a brick at the proverbial wasp’s nest.’
‘See who gets stung?’ Olivia offered sarcastically.
‘Maybe,’ he smiled. ‘Anyway, so I did something for Nathaniel and now I’m here to offer the same to you. Ask of me anything you like darling, just consider me your magic 8 ball.’
Olivia leaned back on her stool, watching him silently. She lifted her cup and took a slow sip, considering him carefully.
‘Tell me about... the Many.’
‘The Many?’ his eyes widened a fraction, ‘and I thought there was nothing you could ask of me that would surprise me. I can see I shall have to remember never to underestimate you Olivia,’ he sipped his coffee, casting his eyes over her with the same appraising gaze she’d given him. ‘No mortal has ever had knowledge of the Many,’ he sucked his teeth thoughtfully. ‘Might I ask how you came to hear that name?’
‘My question first,’ she countered, ‘then I’ll decide if I want to answer yours.’
‘As you wish,’ the corner of his mouth twitched in amusement. ‘The Many were the beginning, the first race. They existed so long ago the number would have no meaning for you. They were obsessed with magic, with the most elemental and volatile powers of the universe. In their quest for the ultimate power and knowledge they delved too deeply into things they had no business probing into. The power they released was dark and vast, it could not be contained and ultimately it destroyed their whole race. Eons passed and all knowledge and evidence that they had ever walked this earth disappeared too. That is except for…’
‘The five books,’ Olivia answered.
‘That’s right,’ he watched her carefully, his vivid blue eyes filled with interest. ‘They created the books, among other things. There were other…objects of power; many have been lost but a few survived. A compass, a sphere, an acorn…’
‘An acorn?’ Olivia frowned in confusion.
‘Never mind about that, the acorn is not destined for you,’ he waved off her question. ‘Now tell me how you know about them.’
‘I’ve seen them,’ she answered.
‘That’s impossible,’ he snorted, ‘they ceased to exist thousands of years ago.’
‘Are you sure about that?’ she asked softly.
The Hierophant leaned back,
stroking his smooth jaw thoughtfully.
‘You interest me Olivia,’ he murmured.
‘Heard it before.’
‘I may just drop in on you from time to time,’ he smiled in amusement.
‘You’ll probably have to get in line.’
‘Well, as enlightening as this has been I really have to be going,’ he stood slowly.
‘Need to get back to the palace beyond the Goblin City?’
He chuckled lightly. ‘I think I’m going to enjoy your company Olivia,’ he threw her a cheeky wink and disappeared.
She shook her head and took another sip of her tea. What did it say about her life that she didn’t even bat an eyelid when the physical manifestation of a Tarot card appeared in her kitchen? Maybe she was going crazy, but…if she was, she thought absently, at least she was getting creative about it.
She looked down at what was left of her plain buttered toast and wrinkled her nose. It needed something else. She rose slowly from her stool and headed to the refrigerator. Wishing she had some of Liddy Mayberry’s preserve, she opened the door to see what she did have left that she could put on her toast. She leaned in and frowned at the empty plate which greeted her. She lifted it out of the refrigerator and stared at it. When she had retrieved the butter from the fridge earlier it had contained an entire chocolate cake, again courtesy of Liddy, but now there was nothing left but a smear of chocolate frosting and a few crumbs.
The door swung shut and Olivia looked up, almost dropping the plate in surprise as she looked over at her next uninvited guest sitting comfortably at the island.
‘For God’s sake,’ she snapped, ‘does no one knock anymore?’
‘Hello Olivia,’ Hades’ smooth, amused voice echoed within the confines of the kitchen.
The handsome God of the Underworld, no longer in his bloodied armor but once again wearing his beautifully tailored suit, sat comfortably on a stool as he watched her. The sapphire stone at his signet ring flashed in the light as his fist curved comfortably around the pommel of his cane.
‘You’re looking especially radiant,’ his gaze raked over her swollen belly.
Olivia looked down at the empty plate in her hand, her eyes narrowing as she thought back to the empty bags of Cheetos, the empty boxes of cereal and pop tarts, then to the empty jars of peanut butter and preserve.
‘Hades,’ her assessing gaze fell on him, ‘where are the Furies?’
Hades mouth twitched.
‘I expect they’re around here somewhere.’
‘Why?’ she asked bluntly.
‘Someone had to keep an eye on you,’ he shrugged elegantly. ‘I do have an entire Underworld to rule you know, I can’t just keep rushing up to Earth everytime you’re in danger.’
‘What? The Gata weren’t enough?’
‘Nothing is ever enough when it comes to your safety.’
Her eyes softened as she watched him.
‘Why don’t you tell me what the Hierophant wanted?’
Olivia sighed, dropping the empty plate on the counter as she moved over and took a seat on the stool opposite Hades.
‘Does nothing escape your notice?’
‘It depends,’ he shrugged.
‘On what?’
‘On whether or not I have a vested interest,’ he replied. ‘Now tell me what he wanted.’
‘To make me an offer,’ she answered.
‘An offer?’
‘He said he wanted to balance things out; Nathaniel made a request of him which I gather he fulfilled.’
‘The Arcana are supposed to remain neutral,’ Hades frowned.
‘That’s what I said,’ she replied, ‘but he said he was bored.’
‘Mystics,’ he hissed in disgust. ‘You know, for a bunch of walking, talking, playing cards they get in the way surprisingly often, especially considering they’re not supposed to do anything more than tell fortunes.’
‘Forget about him,’ Olivia waved her hand dismissively, ‘he’s not important, but seeing as you’re here there is something I want to ask you.’
Hades inclined his head, indicating for her to continue.
‘I have learned recently that Nathaniel and his brother Seth are in fact the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux.’
‘Have you?’
‘Is it true?’ she asked. ‘Is Nathaniel’s brother Seth your nephew?’
‘Yes,’ he sighed after a moment. ‘My brother Zeus never did know when to keep his zipper closed, as you mortals would put it. At least I remained faithful to my wife; Zeus has many bastards, both by mortals and immortals alike. He liked to live dangerously. I for one would not like to cross his wife Hera, she has a filthy temper and is irrationally jealous, not that my brother does anything but give her constant reason to be. I must admit I’ve never fully understood their relationship.’
‘But you have him locked up in the Underworld? Seth I mean, or Pollux, whatever you want to call him.’
‘Trust me,’ Hades replied darkly, ‘my nephew Pollux is not going anywhere.’
‘What about Nathaniel?’
‘What about him?’ Hades replied. ‘Once I get my hands on him I’ll be tossing him into the same pit I keep his brother in. If the two of them want to spend eternity together I am more than happy to oblige them.’
‘It’s a little more complicated than that,’ Olivia told him.
‘What do you mean?’ Hades’ eyes narrowed suspiciously.
‘Nathaniel has been stealing human souls, he’s taken three as far as I know but there could be more.’
‘You’re sure?’ Hades frowned intently, ‘he’s been feeding off them?’
Olivia nodded.
‘The souls are amping up his power,’ she replied, ‘I can feel him close by. He’s not only getting stronger but he’s becoming more unstable. From what I understand the human emotions of his victims are amplifying his own mutilated humanity. He’s getting more unpredictable and dangerous.’
‘We need to put a stop to this;’ Hades’ expression hardened, ‘even Lucifer forbade this abomination. It was one of the only things we ever agreed on.’
‘I may have to destroy him,’ Olivia whispered. ‘He can’t be reasoned with and he won’t allow himself to be captured. If he manages to get his hands on the book, even you won’t be able to stop him.’
‘Olivia, it’s not as simple as that; you don’t understand the repercussions.’
‘Then explain it to me Hades,’ she replied angrily, ‘because from where I’m standing I’m the one in the firing line here. As soon as Nathaniel has fed on enough souls to break through my wards, he’s coming after me and I’m not just going to stand around and wait for that to happen, because when that day comes he will kill everyone I love before he turns on me.’
‘I won’t let that happen Olivia,’ Hades frowned.
‘You can’t stop him,’ she answered, ‘you said it yourself you have no power here. Zeus forbade you to interfere on Earth.’
‘It’s too late now,’ Hades replied quietly, ‘that argument is now a moot point. I’ve already crossed that line. Do you really think I would stand by and let that miserable twisted creature, Nathaniel, harm you?’
Olivia closed her eyes, her heart thumping painfully in her chest as she realized what Hades was trying to tell her.
‘By sending the Gata and the Furies to Earth to protect me you broke the rules Zeus put in place, didn’t you?’
Hades stared at her silently.
‘Why?’ she whispered.
‘For you, Olivia,’ he replied, ‘because you are important to me. If I have to break every single rule to protect you I will.’
‘What will happen when Zeus finds out?’
‘That’s my problem,’ Hades replied stiffly. ‘I will deal with my brother but you need to stay off his radar. You have to understand, Nathaniel and his brother are connected. Since my nephew shared his immortality with his brother they essentially bec
ame one person, split into two bodies. If you kill Nathaniel it will damage his brother severely.’
‘Damage, how?’
‘I’m not sure exactly, physically, mentally, emotionally? I just don’t know, it may even kill him and that is one thing Zeus will not tolerate. No matter what Pollux has done he is still the son of Zeus. Why do you think I have him locked away in the Underworld? It’s because even I was not allowed to harm him.’
‘Then just what the fuck am I supposed to do?’ She stood angrily, her stool scraping loudly across the tiled floor.
At her raised voice Theo came rushing into the room, his eyes falling on Hades. As he realized who his wife was shouting at, he slowed down and wandered further into the kitchen toward Olivia.
‘Will you talk some sense into your woman?’ Hades snapped just as angrily, as he too stood.
‘I might,’ Theo shrugged, ‘if I knew what the hell you two were arguing about, so if you don’t mind I’ll just grab a coffee and watch the show.’
‘Mortals,’ Hades growled.
‘Well?’ Olivia propped her hands on her hips, ‘you seem to have all the answers here Hades, why don’t you tell me just what the hell I’m supposed to do? Because from where I’m standing I have no choices at all. I get that Pollux is Zeus’ kid, believe me I do, but he’s also a several thousand year old adult. He made his choices and he made the wrong fucking ones. He doesn’t get to hide behind daddy, just because daddy happens to be a God.’
‘If I do nothing I risk the lives of MY children when Nathaniel comes after me and if I do kill Nathaniel to stop him from killing me and everyone I love, I risk Zeus coming after me. Well do you know what, I’m done! I’m fucking done! I’m sick to death of playing by everyone else’s rules. Whoever comes after me does so at their own risk. I will kill anyone who tries to harm me and my children and you can tell Zeus from me, to grow up and let his son take responsibility for what he has done instead of taking his temper out on everyone else.’
Hades turned to Theo, who was watching Olivia with a smile, his eyes glittering.
‘Have you anything to say?’ Hades asked him.
‘Nope,’ Theo replied, taking a sip of his coffee, his eyes never leaving his wife. ‘I think she’s covered all the bases.’
The Guardians Complete Series 1 Box Set: Contains Mercy, The Ferryman, Crossroads, Witchfinder, Infernum Page 186
