by J. N. Colon
Anger rolled through my body, igniting distant sparks in my eyes. I cracked my neck and then glanced down at my shirt to see a few wet spots of blood. Damn. I yanked the shirt over my head and tossed it in the fireplace to burn. No point in letting Hartley find it. It would just remind her of what happened.
In my massive walk-in I riffled through the row of shirts, noticing the lack of space between them. They weren’t crammed together, but they were certainly tighter than usual. At the end of the rack was an entire section of colored shirts in delicate materials.
My brow rose. Those certainly weren’t mine. I turned around and found another section and then a previously empty space that was now filled with a mountain of shoes. The scent of roses and pine lingered thickly.
I knew Hartley had clothes here, but she almost had more than me now.
Hmm…
I walked toward my dresser and realized piles of jewelry were draped everywhere and the drawers were filled with Hartley’s things. I headed for the bathroom next. Several drawers were overflowing with makeup and weird girly things. I pulled out a flat iron that looked more likely to eat your hair than straighten it. One device had three silver barrels and a clampy thing.
“Shit,” I mumbled, staring at the contraption. “It looks more like a torture device. What the hell does she do with this thing?” I placed it back in the drawer before it bit my finger off and leaned on the black counter.
“So, she thought she’d trick me and slowly move in.” I rubbed my chin in thought. “Not very original, but it’s obviously working.” A slow smile laced my lips. I had a very naughty girlfriend, but I had to admit it would be amazing having her here every day. To wake up next to her for the rest of my life would be a dream.
That smile faltered with my insecurities. What if she moved here and slowly grew to dislike being away from the world above? What if she regretted her choice? She was still so young and has barely lived. How could she be certain it was me and the Underworld she wanted, especially when she had the option of not only her human friends, but of Zeke and Olympus?
My fingers smoothed over the warm gold, shaping it into a flame. I was making a charm to go on the bracelet I’d been working on for the past few hours for Hartley. Thankfully my nose quit throbbing.
I bristled and sat the cooling charm on the rock before me, a terrible thought entering my mind, one I would never share with her. Was it Hartley that was causing me to weaken? Was she changing me? Making me soft?
It was obvious I’d been less evil villain since meeting her. I still became angry, but not usually uncontrollable anymore. Either Hartley stopped me herself or just the mere thought of her was enough to cool the raging infernos inside me.
Familiar footsteps echoed followed by the light swishing of a robe. Charon appeared around the corner, his dark eyes radiating worry in his gaunt face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“A few souls meant for Tartarus are giving Caius trouble in the courtyard.” His gravelly voice echoed against the rocky cave walls.
My eyes narrowed and jaw clenched as anger gripped my stomach. I was already in a foul mood from the day’s lovely events. All I needed were unruly dark souls.
I rubbed my hands on a towel and marched out, Charon quick on my heels.
When I arrived in the barren courtyard I saw three dark souls laughing while poking Caius. The other souls waiting for placement cowered away, fear staining their eyes white. My judges appeared wary. It’s been a long time since a soul has been disobedient.
Two gangly blonde men were getting spurred on by a tall male with stringy black hair and cold, soulless blue eyes. I could see the malevolence radiating off all three, but the ringleader was on another level. I stepped closer without being noticed, all eyes watching the three dangerous souls screwing with my guide. Caius escorted souls to their rightful place in the center regions of the Underworld beyond the massive iron gates. He was an intimidating man, thick muscles roping around his dark body and dark, glowering eyes. Not many souls would have the balls to even look him in those eyes much less heckle him.
The frontrunner of this little rebellion reeked of malice and the horrible smell of sin. He was a bad one, one that needed to be taught a lesson.
When the three dark souls finally noticed me, the two lackeys had sense enough to scurry back toward the cowering white souls. Not the leader. No. He pierced me with a defiant glare and grinned, showing his yellowed, jagged teeth.
A quiet fury burned through me, igniting crimson flames in my irises. A cruel smile twisted my lips as I held my palm out and easily took control of the soul. My powers rolled through me, strengthening with every moment I harnessed them. I used it to drag the soul across the courtyard toward me, his feet scraping against the stone with an ominous sound.
Maybe this was what I needed to return my powers full force.
“I think it’s time to give into my darkness.”
Chapter 8
Hartley
“Thanks for taking me Hermes,” I said once we landed in front of the main doorway to the Underworld.
“Any time.” He gripped my hand and he pulled me through the massive boulder.
The world opened up before me. Pitch skies hung low while scarlet fires burned in the distance. The Acheron River stretched before me, fog crawling over the top. A few souls milled on the black sand shore, waiting for passage while Charon docked his boat. The barren courtyard was on the right where the three judges sat in thrones. On the left was Hayden’s dark castle, turrets stabbing the ebony sky while fire encircled the bottom. In the center were the massive iron gates to the inner regions of the Underworld, guarded by Hayden’s three headed dog Cerberus.
I waved at Charon. “Hi there.”
I couldn’t see his face, but I felt his wary gaze on me, probably searching for hidden coins. I have been known to dole them out to souls for passage.
I scoffed incredulously. “Charon, I don’t have any this time. I swear.”
A skeptical grumble echoed from the shadows of his hood. “Well, come on then. I’ll give you a ride.”
I glanced back at Hermes, but his amber eyes were preoccupied on a cute little brunette digging her bare feet in the sand, pretending not to notice his long stare. “Never mine,” I said shaking my head. “I’ll see you later.”
Hermes waved without looking at me.
Charon extended his boney hand to help me into the boat, something he’d never do for a soul. Then again, a soul probably wouldn’t be too inclined to take the skeletal ferryman’s offer. I saw passed his appearance.
“Thanks.” The boat shook gently as I settled in, misty fog shifting over the edge from the dark waters. I bit my lip hesitantly. “Is he in the castle?” I asked.
Charon nodded.
“Is he okay?”
Charon nodded.
My brow arched, unconvinced. It was passed 10pm and I thought Hayden would have got me by now. Apparently he still wanted to hide in the Underworld. I finally got fed up and called Hermes.
“He didn’t seem—I dunno—off or something?”
Charon dipped the stone ore into the water again. “No. He seemed like his normal, fiery self.”
My lips pursed. Maybe all Hayden needed was to be in the Underworld for a while. Maybe Zeke was right.
When I approached the throne room, agonized screaming resonated from the other side of the thick tourmaline doors. My brows furrowed in confusion. It must be the television.
It wasn’t the television.
When I stepped inside I saw a thin man with stringy black hair and cold blue eyes on his knees in the middle of a circle of crimson fire. His shirtless torso was marred by fresh bruises and whelps. Hayden was looming over him, his eyes pure crimson fire while flames danced precariously down his shoulders and arms. In one hand a flame burned as he readied to throw it at the soul. The circle of fire lit him from beneath, pulling the recesses of his face into dark shadows while the rest held an ominous red glow
.
A sick feeling twisted my stomach. Hayden’s only response to the man’s desperate pleas was to smile, a cruel curl of his lips that was completely unrecognizable.
Those burning eyes suddenly flickered up to find me. He flinched and shock flashed across his face, but too soon it was washed away by an arrogant expression unusual for him.
“Hartley. What are you doing here?”
I let the doors fall closed behind me as I slowly made my way toward the center of the grandiose throne room that didn’t match the violence taking place. “What are you doing?”
He shrugged indifferently and twisted his onyx ring around his index finger. “What does it look like?”
My eyes narrowed, anger over his odd behavior leaking through my veins. “It looks like you’re torturing a soul.” I glanced at the trembling man next to us.
“If you knew what I was doing why did you have to ask?”
I was taken aback. This was definitely not the guy I saw earlier who was struggling with his powers. From the look of things his dark powers were in full swing again.
I planted my hands on my hips and shot him a glare. “Do you really want to keep the attitude up Hayden?”
He crossed his arms against his chest, a frightening smirk melting across his usually kissable lips. They weren’t so kissable now. More like smackable. “What are you going to do, threaten me?”
WTF?
I’d show him.
I waved my hand in the air, dowsing the flames around the soul. “Let him go.”
He snapped and the fire returned. “No. He’s a soul destined for Tartarus.”
“So. Send his ass there already.” I made the circle of flames disappear again.
Hayden’s jaw clenched so hard tendons strained against his skin. He ignited them again. “He and two other souls were disobeying Caius and the tribunal. He has to be punished.”
I tossed my hands in the air, frustrated. “Isn’t the whole point of Tartarus punishment?”
“I can’t let any soul harass my employees without extra reprimand otherwise they’d all try it.”
“It’s enough Hayden.” I motioned toward the soul as I got rid of the fire trapping him. “He’s about to keel over.”
A growl snaked out of Hayden’s mouth, surprising me. Before I could react the dark soul lunged for me. Adrenaline shot through my bloodstream and I reacted on instinct, pulling on my own dark power. Flames leapt high up before him, scorching his skin and sending him scrambling back with terrible screams of agony.
The room suddenly smelled of burnt flesh and singed hair, churning my stomach.
Hayden shot me a knowing smirk. “You were saying Hartley…?”
My currently flaming eyes glared at my unfamiliar boyfriend. I flipped him off before stalking out the throne room, slamming the doors dramatically behind me.
I let my fingers trail across the vibrant flowers in Asphodel Meadows, their soft petals tickling my skin and filling my nose with a sweet scent to wash out the odor of burning flesh. The brilliant green grass cushioned my feet and brushed against my legs. Souls dressed in white spotted the field, lounging around and sipping from the River of Lethe.
Why was Hayden being such an ass? I knew he had a temper and he’s tortured souls before, but to actually see it was a whole other story. It left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Okay, the soul was definitely bad and probably deserved it. I just didn’t like seeing Hayden that immersed in darkness. I wasn’t afraid of him. I was simply afraid of what was happening to him.
“Hey Hartley!” Davis ran up and hugged me, nearly knocking me over.
I patted his back. “Hey.” He could knock me over fifty million times as long as he wasn’t scared of me anymore. The day I meant to throw a fireball at Zeke and hit Davis instead was burned into my mind, reminding me how easy it would be to sink into darkness and terrify them. It was why seeing Hayden like I just had worried me so much.
Davis pulled back. “How’s Laurie.” He wiggled his blonde eyebrows.
I shot him a mock glare. “Don’t you have a girlfriend now?”
He grinned, crinkling the smattering of freckles on his nose. “Yep, but I still got to keep tabs on my favorite crush.”
I shook my head and ruffled his wheat colored curls. “You’re impossible.”
He surveyed my face, his brow arching. “Did you have a fight with Hades?”
“Why?”
He shrugged noncommittally. “Just wondering.”
A cute girl with blonde braids called his name, waving shyly at him.
His face lit up. “Oh. Got to go.” He sprinted away like a little happy puppy.
“Ah. Young love.” Isaak, the demigod I met my first time in the Underworld, was standing beside me, offering me a purple wild flower.
I took it. “Yep. Too cute.”
He motioned toward my eyes. “Your flames are showing.”
Realization settled over me, pulling my lips into a grimace. Now I knew why Davis asked if I had an argument with Hayden. My irises were still flickering with crimson flames.
Isaak laughed from my expression, shaking his shaggy brown locks. “Who are you mad at?”
I started walking, motioning for him to follow. “Hayden.”
“Ah. That’ll do it.” He flashed a smile.
I sighed and absentmindedly twirled the flower between my fingers. “I’m worried about him. Something’s wrong.”
“I know.”
I glanced up at him surprised. “What do you mean?”
He rubbed his chin pensively. “Well, the other day some lady friends and I were trying to sneak into somewhere forbidden.”
My brows arched questioningly.
He waved a hand in the air. “Not important. Anyways, when Hayden found us he was all mad and everything.” Wariness crept into his eyes as they flicked toward me. “Pretty scary too.”
Tell me about it.
“But when he was about to scorch my tail with a fireball it fizzled out.” Confusion laced his voice while he blinked as if trying to clear the memory from his eyes. “I’ve never seen that before.”
My throat tightened. “I wish I could say the same.”
“Is that what happened?” he asked, gently bumping me with his shoulder. “His power died out and he won’t tell you why?”
“Earlier,” I admitted. “But that is not what happened a little while ago in his throne room. It was the opposite actually. He was all about the dark power.”
Hayden
I leaned over the balcony overlooking the courtyard where a few souls were waiting to be judged. Toward the left I watched Cerberus gnaw on a bone with one head while the other two slept, fire in the distance reflecting on his shiny onyx pelt. Passed him and the gates were the Asphodel Meadows. Hartley already returned with Isaak and had Hermes take her above.
She was definitely pissed.
I always detested being the dark god, but when my powers were threatened I turned to the darkness to keep them.
My head dipped, laying against the balcony railing. I was ashamed Hartley saw me torturing a soul even if he was destined for Tartarus. She’s never seen me so cruel.
At least she didn’t run out crying.
I groaned and picked my head up, realizing I needed to apologize. I was lucky she couldn’t access her powers above. Otherwise I might find myself slammed into a wall a couple times. Of course she had other powers there. She could pretty much have me on my knees with one little head tilt and pout.
I needed to do something to get my mind off my girlfriend who was probably thinking of fifty ways to make me suffer for being a prick. If I sat around I’d only stew in my bad mood and hate myself for disappointing her.
Instead I headed off to see Athena. She may have some words of wisdom on how to find Ixion.
I finally found her sitting atop the head of the Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt, staring pensively out toward the desert. She was dressed in a billowy ivory blouse with olive shorts
and Grecian sandals. The wind blew her dark waves around her sculpted face—a face that never revealed her secrets before she was willing to give them.
“What brings you here Hades?” she asked, popping another grape in her mouth while her feet dangled in the air off the ledge.
I leaned against the stone. “Ixion’s escape from Tartarus.”
A smile twitched her lips. “Of course.”
I rolled my eyes. She could be such a know-it-all sometimes. “Do you have any knowledge on his whereabouts?”
Athena popped another grape in her mouth, slowly chewing. “Maybe.” She motioned her hand toward the pyramids in the distance. “Do you remember when they were building these? I actually watched them for a time.”
I sighed and decided to settle down on a spot next to her. This could take a while. Athena liked to deliver her wisdom on her time. I snatched a grape from her. “Yeah I remember.” I also remembered the shit ton of cats they had running around to scare away evil spirits.
“That civilization was far advanced in multiple areas.” She tucked her dark strands behind her ear, her gaze thoughtful as if she was staring into the past instead of the distance. “It’s too bad they’ve regressed.”
“Yep,” I said, trying not to sound bored. I wasn’t actually in a hurry to leave. “It happens.”
She nodded solemnly before her hazel gaze turned toward me, a knowing smile splitting her lips. “Now Hades, did you really come here to talk about Ixion or was there something else on your mind?”
Damn. How did she know my motives when I wasn’t even sure of them? I thought I wanted to get away from that crap, but maybe I really sought the goddess of wisdom for that very reason.
I sighed and leaned back on my hands, looking out at the dusty desert to watch dust storms kicking up. “Something is wrong with my powers.”
Her brow arched in my periphery. “Go on.”
I told her about passing out the other day and how my flames dissipated a few times without my direction. I also reluctantly told her about the human punk getting the drop on me and giving me a bloody nose. Part of me thought she’d laugh or at least snicker, but she remained quiet and contemplative.
