Hey people! What's up? Are you as excited for this chapter as I am? I doubt it! Just kidding! Sort of...ON WITH THE FIC! (See how excited I am?)
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Shayera patted my shoulder reassuringly. "Diana, you worry too much," she spoke in an attempt to calm my nerves. "Celeste will be fine. Honestly, you act like she's never gone to school before."
We were on monitor duty in the Watchtower. I used to actually like monitor duty before I had Celeste. It gave me time to think. Now it's more of a nuisance than anything. It keeps me away from my baby longer. I shook my head stubbornly. "It's different this time," I insisted. "I have a feeling, a really bad one." Something wasn't right. I could feel it in my stomach. This whole day hasn't sat well with me.
Shayera rolled her bright green eyes. "I have those all the time," she retorted. "It's all part of being a mom."
Suddenly, something whirred into the room. I immediately became even more agitated. "Flash-!" I began, but stopped short. This man wore a Greek-style chiton and winged sandals. "Lord Hermes!" I exclaimed, instantly bowing. "How may I be of service?" I swear, I could feel Shayera's eyes rolling that time. She wouldn't understand, she had no Gods to worship. She didn't comprehend faith.
Hermes cupped my chin. "Diana, we're practically family," he purred playfully. "There's no need for such formalities." Hermes took out a scroll from his bag and handed it to me. "I bring with me a message from Lord Hades of the Underworld."
I took the scroll from him and quickly scanned the message, which was written in Greek. I almost dropped the scroll. It read in English:
Dear Princess Diana,
How are you daughter? I just happened to be in the neighborhood when I came across the most interesting thing. What would your mother think if she knew you had a daughter with a mortal man? A daughter that you've kept from her for thirteen years? Well, I'm just elated to finally get to meet my granddaughter. Why don't you join us? We're having a blast.
Your father,
Lord Hades
I clutched the scroll in my fist. "How dare he..." I muttered dangerously. "He will pay I swear it."
"Who?" Shayera demanded from beside me. "Diana don't leave me in the dark. Say something!"
I snapped my head to her sharply. "Hades has Celeste," I growled. I began to storm out the door. "I'm going to Tartarus." I didn't care who saw me, what the other Founders thought, or even the risk of being kicked out of the League. All I cared about was finding my baby girl and kicking Hades's ass deeper into hell.
Shayera followed me. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" she exclaimed. "Di, where do you think you're going? Diana!" I ignored her. "Diana, think about this! You can't just take off in your jet to Themyscaria and hop through the gate! You're banished remember?"
Although Shayera did have a point, I really didn't care. "I'll fight every Amazon on the damn island to get through that gate!" I shot back. "No one is going to stop me from saving my daughter! Not you, not Hades, not even Superman!" I began stomping down the hallway again, towards the jets.
"Diana."
I turned around and came face-to-face with both Batman and Superman. "What?" I snarled at the two. Wow, it was a good thing the Wacthtower was made of the same kind of metal that Clark can't hear or see through. Must have been Bruce's idea.
"Going somewhere?" Batman inquired. Dear Hera, I have no time for this. Who knows what that monster who calls himself my father could be doing to my baby. And I certainly did not want to have this conversation with Bruce yet. Scratch that. I never want to have this conversation with Bruce. Ever.
I glared at them both. "Yeah," I answered harshly. "Hell."
Batman gave me the infamous bat-glare which I ignored. It's never scared me before and it won't scare me now. "Care to elaborate?" he said through gritted teeth. I could tell he was holding in his frustration with me.
"No."
Kal instantly moved between us, probably to make sure we didn't attack each other. "Cool it you two!" he exclaimed. He turned to me. "But really Di, where are you going?"
"I told you," I retorted. "Hell." I began to walk past them.
Batman grabbed my arm. "Diana, would you mind explaining what the hell is going on?" he demanded.
I snatched my arm away from him. "I got a distress call from Themyscaria," I lied. Yes, I lied. "There's something wrong with Tartarus again and they need me for damage control. If I don't get there soon, at least twenty percent of the League will be MIA." I turned to Kal. "Is that alright with you?"
"I'll still be there for monitor duty," Shayera reminded them. To be honest, I forgot she was following me. I noticed she was slightly glaring at Bruce. "I always thought it was stupid to have two people on monitor duty anyway."
Superman looked cautiously between Shayera and I. "Sure it is Diana," he finally relented. "Just try to be back soon. We're short on people." I nod at him and make my way towards my invisible jet. I start the engine and take off towards my childhood home of Themyscaria where the gates to Tartarus awaited.
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I landed on Themysacria's fine white sand about an hour later. I got out of the jet and breathed in the scent of sea water. Dear Gods, I missed this place. Suddenly, the tip of a spear is pointed at my face. "Halt!" a voice exclaim. "Who goes there?" The Amazon had a strong physique and flaming red hair that I'd know anywhere.
I rolled my eyes. "Artemis, don't be stupid," I deadpanned. "You know it's me."
Artemis glared at me. "I see you are as smart-mouthed as ever Princess," she said angrily.
"I see you are as temperamental and pig-headed as ever Artemis," I retorted. I was still raging from finding out that had taken my daughter and Artemis wasn't helping. She never did. "Now if you don't mind, I'll be on my way." Before the redhead could utter another word, I was flying towards the gates.
Now there was a problem; getting inside. If I just pulled the gates open, it would release all the horrors of hell onto Earth. There was one way around that however...a true heir to the Underworld could get inside the gate without setting chaos upon the world. But that would mean accepting that I am his blood, his offspring. But this was for Celeste.
"That doesn't look like uncontrollable damage to me." I turned around and casually leaning on a pillar was Batman.
I narrowed my eyes. "What the hell are you doing here?" I demanded. "Are you out of your mind? If Mother or any of the other Amazons catch you, they'll kill us both!"
Batman scoffed. "I could ask you the same," he said. "What's the real reason you're going to Tartarus?"
I turned to face the door. "To save someone," I answered honestly, my voice softer than it had been. Tear began to well in my eyes as I thought of Celeste, scared and alone in Tartaus with Hades. Dear Gods, I couldn't lose my baby girl. I just couldn't. She was my world, my Sun and Stars. She was my only ray of sunshine in a cold, dark world.
She was the only thing I had to prove that the love Bruce and I had shared wasn't a fabrication of my imagination.
