Heir to the Underworld

by Walker, E. D.

  Kore's delicate nostrils quivered, her voice went cold, very much like Hades'. "I know it will be a trial for you, but to be consorting with Olympians is a great honor."

  Freddy ground her teeth in fury, the effort of not hitting Kore made her muscles quiver. "Get out."

  Kore stretched to her full height and managed, barely, to top Freddy's shoulders. "I will have you know, mortal, I am an Olympian. Daughter of Hades and Persephone. I am the Maiden of Spring, Beloved to the Lord of the Hunt. You will not enjoy the consequences of incurring my wrath."

  Freddy jutted her chin and raised one clenched hand. "And you will not enjoy my fist smashing your face either. Want to guess which will happen first? Count of ten. One…"

  Kore backed away, her eyes flashing.

  "Two…"

  Cernunnos' messenger entered the room, glanced fleetingly at Freddy then asked Kore to step over to the banquet. Freddy didn't know whether to feel relieved or gypped when Kore flounced out of the room.

  Still seething, Freddy glared at the door-flap, then uncurled her fingers one by one.

  ~~~

  To Polydegmon's mind, the interview between Hades and Kore seemed woefully short. Though young and impulsive, there was no harm in Kore, and Polydegmon would wager his immortality that--whatever else may have happened since--Kore had not willingly gone off to play concubine to Cernunnos.

  Kore said little as Hades questioned her. She hardly moved, barely spoke throughout the course of the brief exchange. The awkward interview ended when Hades asked Kore whether she wanted to stay with the stag. She caught her breath, dropped her eyes, and replied, "Yes, I do."

  Hades stared at her pale face, his eyes hard, unreadable. He looked away and dismissed her with a curt gesture. Her face crumpled.

  Polydegmon stepped toward her, but Clymenus restrained him. "Father won't like it," his half-brother whispered, voice tense.

  Polydegmon shrugged him off, but did not follow Kore as she rushed from the banquet ring, her face buried in her hands. His heart ached for his sister, but what could he do if he did catch her, after all?

  Cernunnos watched her go, then turned back to them. The stag-god chose a grape from the cascade on the table. Around a mouth of purple flesh he said, "There. You see. The girl wants me."

  Polydegmon eyed the stag-god with loathing. He could not let it rest. He would not. "Would you give my family a moment to confer? This is a grave matter."

  "Of course." Cernunnos crossed his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair. He watched them all with a smile of polite interest. But he did not leave.

  Ass. Stifling his irritation, Polydegmon pointedly turned a shoulder to exclude Cernunnos and addressed Hades in Greek. "Father, this is not right."

  Hades' voice rumbled, remote and harsher than the depths of his dark underworld. "Your sister has defied me, and, more, she has dishonored our family. I believe we should accept the truce and the stag-god's girl. Wash our hands of the whole business."

  "I agree," Clymenus put in. "After an adventure like this, Kore would never be able to hold her head up on Olympus again anyway. She's made her bed--now let her fuck Cernunnos in it."

  "You bastard--" Polydegmon leapt toward his brother, ready, in his anger, to tear Clymenus apart.

  Hades came between them, a hand on Polydegmon and his brother's chests. "You two disgrace me. Isn't the shame your sister has brought enough?"

  Polydegmon gritted his teeth, recognizing a futile fight when he saw one, but in the end, he could not stop his mouth. She was his sister. "Father, let me see Kore alone. Let me speak to her."

  "No."

  Blood red rage clouded his vision, and for the first time in his life, Polydegmon wanted to throttle his father, his hands actually clenching with tension at the thought. "You are wrong to do this, Father."

  Hades' eyes kindled. "It is not for you to decide what is right or not. Kore is my daughter--to dispose of as I see fit. She has forfeited her better chances with this…stupid incident, and there's nothing to be done about it." He grasped Polydegmon's shoulder, and his voice softened. "It will mean war to get her back, and she does not even wish to return. Your mother will be upset--"

  Polydegmon snorted wryly at that massive understatement.

  "--But that will pass," Hades continued, his gray eyes flickering like the cinders in smoke. "As I see it, Cernunnos has given us a graceful out. Let us take his daughter and be done."

  No. Urgent guilt fired in Polydegmon's insides, and he leaned anxiously toward his father, willing Hades to listen to him. "Frederica is innocent. She is in his power because of me. She does not deserve to be forced into this, trapped in a world not her own."

  "Enough." Hades swept his arm through the air in an imperious gesture. "I have decided to accept Cernunnos' terms. We will take the girl, and this whole distasteful episode can be put behind us."

  "Was it that easy when you kidnapped Mother?" Polydegmon tossed at him with a brittle relish--letting his own anger overcome his better sense.

  Hades gripped Polydegmon's shoulder, pinching the muscles with his fingers. "Do not incur my wrath, Polydegmon. It would displease me to punish my son as Zeus punished Hephaestus."

  When Hephaestus had defied his father, Zeus threw him off Mt. Olympus, crippling his own son for all eternity. Polydegmon met his father's eyes, and his own doom stared back. Polydegmon lowered his head in surrender, swallowing his anger with a gulp that choked him. "I understand."

  "Excellent," Cernunnos said in Greek with a sly grin. He clapped his hands. "And what proud fathers we shall both be on this happy occasion, eh Hades?" He half-hid his smug expression behind one hand as he motioned to his major-domo, a small, black-furred beast with the head of a goat. The creature inclined its head to hear the god's commands. "Prepare my daughter's dowry. She leaves by the end of the week."

  The goat horns bobbed. "It shall be done, my lord."

  Polydegmon sank into a chair, his head cradled in his hands, despair etched into his heart. He pounded his fists on the table, overturning more than one wine glass.

  Clymenus twitched his sleeve away from the pooling alcohol, his eyes narrowed with icy contempt. "You should leave, Polydegmon, if this upsets you so much."

  "Shut your mouth." Polydegmon started toward his half-brother, ready to beat him to a sticky, cringing pulp.

  "He is right." Hades put a hand out to restrain Polydegmon. "I brought you to deal with Kore. That has proven unnecessary. The bridal negotiations are between Cernunnos and myself, as the fathers."

  Polydegmon opened and closed his mouth a few times before shutting it with a snap, swallowing his protestations in the wake of his father's ominous distemper. "As you wish." He bowed, spun on one heel, and started to leave. Then he noticed a rather conspicuous gap in the table. Polydegmon stopped and stared at the empty seat--the chair between Badb and Nemain.

  He jerked his head back to look at Cernunnos.

  The stag-god's eyes widened and his mouth fell open in horror. "Where is the Morrígan?" Cernunnos bellowed.

  ~~~

  Eventually, the maids came. Were they the same ones as before? If so, Freddy was amazed she hadn't noticed one was half goat--the bottom half--and the other's hair was not hair at all but bright purple feathers sticking off her head like plumage. Freddy fought not to flinch away when they moved toward her. One let her hair down and brushed it out. The other unlaced Freddy's gown and helped her step out of the gaudy dress.

  As the one braided her hair for the night and the other selected a nightgown, Freddy's haphazard door flapped back. She whipped around to tell Kore to bug off, but the words died on her lips.

  "I came to offer my felicitations on your engagement," Morrígan cooed.

  "Thanks?" Freddy's mouth went dry at the mention of her engagement. The word alone made her gut clench with anxious sickness.

  Morrígan flicked her hand in a casual gesture of dismissal, and the maids scurried out of the hut. Freddy fought the urge to call t
hem back. The illegitimate child and the angry wife. What fun. Yeah, Freddy so did not want to be alone with this woman.

  Cernunnos' queen strolled into the room, trailing long fingers over the tapestries, the furniture, Freddy's pillow. "I should introduce myself properly, I think." She gazed at Freddy. "Your father never does give me my proper due."

  Freddy fought the urge to pull away as Morrígan reached out to touch her face. She met the goddess's mad red eyes without blinking.

  The white lady cupped Freddy's chin. She turned it up sharply so Freddy had to look at her or risk getting her neck snapped. "I am the Phantom Queen, child. Your father's lady-wife. Goddess of War and Prophecy. Last bastion of the Children of Danu. And you are nothing but a filthy bastard."

  Freddy kept her voice normal, trying not to start a fight, and struggling not to let the goddess sense her unease. "Fine. Fantastic. What do you want?"

  Somehow, Morrígan's teeth seemed sharper than they had been a moment before. She bared them at Freddy in a smile more than two-thirds snarl. "All I have ever wanted is your heart gushing its hot blood into my mouth. Your eyes plucked out. Your body a lifeless husk at my feet, half-rotten and ready for my sisters and I to pick it clean."

  Fear charging her veins, Freddy ripped the woman's hands away and fell back. Morrígan's talon-like nails left several long, deep scratches on her neck. Too shocked to be afraid, Freddy stared at the blood on her hand, then at Morrígan. "What have I--I didn't do anything to you."

  Morrígan's face contorted, menace and fury pulling her muscles into a grotesque mask. "Your conception and birth were insult enough. You would have been mine long ago but for your father's meddling." The goddess whipped the sash off her own gown then wound the fabric around her hands, tugging it tight.

  Freddy fought her terror and groped for a weapon. She grabbed a wooden stool and swung it at Morrígan, but where the woman had been, the next instant, a large white raven hovered. Freddy gaped at the bird, her breath caught in wonder. As the bird dove for her, she swung the stool wildly, connecting only with air.

  White wings flashed up and over her head. The sash settled around Freddy's throat, the fabric slippery and cool. Panic jolted through Freddy, and she dodged back, her feet stumbling over the carpet, but Morrígan was behind her, human again, a solid weight. Freddy pushed back against her but could not move the goddess.

  Morrígan snapped the sash taut around Freddy's throat. As her lungs spasmed for air, Freddy thrashed and staggered, the force of her struggles lifting her feet from the ground. Morrígan pressed a knee in Freddy's back to push her down. Freddy fell heavily to the floor, the plush threads of the carpet soft against her cheek, Morrígan's sash cutting into her skin. Freddy gagged and clawed at her throat, fighting to breathe, to throw Morrígan off. The strength drained from her muscles with every moment, and now she fought not only Morrígan, but the lazy ache taking over her body.

  The goddess laughed, a harsh squawk. "Pretty thing."

  White spots appeared around the edges of Freddy's vision.

  Her body became heavy, too heavy to fight Morrígan. She couldn't get free, couldn't breathe…

  I'm going to miss Mom and Dad.

  Chapter Thirteen

  "Help."

  That wasn't Freddy's own voice. She had no breath left for breathing, let alone screaming. Her lungs quivered in her chest, clawing for air, but they were the only part of her body that still had any will to fight.

  The voice screamed on, closer and frantic. "Help!"

  Kore?

  Footfalls pounded near Freddy, and the pressure eased around her neck. She dragged the sash from her throat and gulped in air. Crumpled on the floor, coughing and wheezing, the carpet was cool against her cheek as the rest of her body tingled and burned with the return of feeling.

  Kore and a donkey-headed-man-thing stood above Freddy, each holding one of Morrígan's arms. The goddess lashed out, slapping Kore on the side of her head. Kore staggered but held on.

  "I will have her in the end," Morrígan shrieked. "My ravens will pluck the eyes from her head and toast our victory with her blood." Foam flecked the edges of her mouth. She didn't look at all beautiful now.

  "My lady, she is under the protection of Lord Hades," the donkey-headed man bleated. "Cernunnos has given her to the death god's son to wife."

  Morrígan stilled, a sour look on her face. "Has he?" She flung off their restraining hands and nodded down to Freddy. "I shall see you later." She twitched her silken skirts so they wouldn't brush against Freddy. The goddess made her exit.

  The donkey-headed man clucked and scooped Freddy into his arms, carrying her to bed. "You're all right, my lady." He rubbed her hands. His own were thick and furry, but he had fingers, not hooves. Small mercies. "Your father will see she won't come next or nigh you again," he promised before he stalked out.

  Kore's face appeared in a swirling, foggy puddle over Freddy. The smooth coolness of her palm was soothing on Freddy's forehead. "Sleep, Freddy. Forget about all of this for now."

  Freddy blinked and rolled away from the goddess, falling into a soft welcoming darkness. Her worries, her pain, her throbbing throat, all faded into blessed oblivion.

  ~~~

  Polydegmon, Cernunnos, and Clymenus met up with the Morrígan twenty yards from Freddy's hut. The smug smile curling on the Morrígan's lips set Polydegmon's stomach squirming with worry. Near frantic now over Freddy's safety, Polydegmon burst ahead of the others, rushing past the goddess toward Freddy's hut. But Cernunnos caught his arm and hauled him back, strong fingers digging hard into the muscle of Polydegmon's arm.

  The stag-god glared at the Morrígan, and his voice dropped to a rumbling growl. "What did you do?"

  She gave him a sharp smile. "But nothing, my love. I went for a stroll about my camp."

  Polydegmon ground his teeth in impotent rage and tugged ineffectually to get Cernunnos to release him. Someone should check on Freddy.

  "Nothing?" Cernunnos released Polydegmon to loom over the Morrígan, nearly nose to nose, his antlers casting their broken shadow on her face. "If you've harmed the girl, I'll flay you alive."

  "And I shall help." Polydegmon glared at the goddess.

  "If you kill me, my sisters will avenge me, the fairies will revolt, and you will lose what little you have. So, if I harm the girl you will have to swallow your ire, won't you?" The Morrígan beamed at her husband, ignoring Polydegmon in the most infuriating manner.

  Polydegmon grabbed her shoulder and gave her a rough, angry shake, making her acknowledge him, and hoping to scare her. "Harm the girl and you shall have to deal with me."

  "And me." Clymenus leaned toward her in what the clueless fop probably believed to be an intimidating manner.

  Polydegmon groaned in exasperation and let go of the Morrígan. "Freddy is unharmed?" He tried to keep his voice cool, steady, detached, but it broke on the end with fear, and Cernunnos shot him an amused glance. Polydegmon pressed his fists to his sides to keep from hitting anyone and glowered at the Morrígan.

  She fluttered her eyelashes, flirtatious and patronizing. "I left her breathing."

  Polydegmon stepped forward in fury, his hands rising for her throat, but Cernunnos' major-domo galloped in front of him before he could move too far. The donkey-headed fairy seemed winded and gave a jerky bow. He whispered something urgent to Cernunnos. The stag-god's face purpled in anger as he jerked back to glare at his servant. "The guards let her through?"

  Icy dread spiked through Polydegmon, chilling his heart. He eased closer, hoping to hear more.

  The donkey-man shrugged. "She is their Queen. It is not in their writ to bar her from anywhere in the Otherworld."

  Cernunnos' fists balled up. "That is all they were there to do."

  The Morrígan emitted a girlish giggle from behind her hand. Cernunnos' antlered head whipped back around to her. He bounded forward and slapped the Morrígan hard across the face. Twice. Polydegmon winced at the crack of sound and looked away. Cl
ymenus hid a smile behind his hand.

  When the stag-god stopped, his whole body shook, and his voice carried the ominous thrum of fury. "Do it again, Macha. Just try my temper further."

  The Morrígan's lip had split against her teeth and stained her mouth red. She rolled her head back to the front, working kinks out. Guilt niggled at Polydegmon to see her ivory face flame red with Cernunnos' handprint, though the rest of her face darkened to match as her own temper rose. "You robbed me of the other, and your bastard is the price I demand."

  Cernunnos curled his lip back. "You made that argument many years ago, my love. I didn't fold then." Some subtle emotion Polydegmon could not place trembled in an almost subliminal hum beneath the stag-god's words. Regret? Sorrow? For what?

  Polydegmon shook the idea away, he was over-sensitized and imagining things. Cernunnos was blazing mad. As any godly ruler would be to have his will tested.

  The Morrígan spat, her saliva bloody. "This is not finished." Her seething glance flicked around the ring of them. Polydegmon restrained an impulse to recoil from the irate goddess. She stomped three paces before she spread her arms. The skirts of her gown whipped in the wind and were gone. A white raven, as large as her human form, flapped up and off into the night.

  "Evil harpy bitch," Cernunnos muttered. He turned back to Clymenus and clapped one hand around the demigod's shoulders, then flicked a glance at Polydegmon as he spoke. "I know you Olympians traditionally don't take the bride off her father's hands 'til after the wedding, but circumstances being what they are…" He glanced at the white bird circling the sky then back at the two of them. "I wondered if together, we might all work out a suitable compromise."