Chapter Seven
Meg's skin was back to normal when she woke up, she felt her arms and legs desperate to make sure she was completely normal again. She gasped when she caught two pairs of eyes staring at her in the shadows and she quickly yanked the blanket back around herself. "Have you never heard of knocking?"
"Erm…no?" The pink imp screeched and jumped on the bed pulling at her left arm, she cried out as the blue imp pulled enthusiastically.
"Get up!" They cried in unison, "he wants you!"
"Alright you little twerps." Meg brushed them aside and forced herself to leave the warmth of her bed. "Wait for me outside, I don't need prying eyes while I dress." She suppressed a shudder at the thought that even now Hades could be watching her. If he is watching me then how am I supposed to drink from the river Lethe let alone get there? Pushing the thoughts aside she dressed quickly and ran a brush through her thick auburn hair. She thought about drawing out the process of dressing for as long as possible but knew it would just summon Hades to hurry her along. She did not relish the thought of starting his work, especially after their argument the previous day. I will do his bidding, she told herself staring in a mirror and checking for any signs of sun spots or wrinkles. But not that…if he needs me to recruit people to his cause then fine, but I will do so my way.
She followed Pain and Panic to the cavernous room where Hades did much of his planning. A stone table was covered with a map of Greece, carved figures scattered amongst the surface. Meg was disconcerted to see there was a figure representing her slightly behind Hades. She picked it up and studied it intently, had he always had this? Or had he created it shortly after she entered his service? Did he know? Can he tell the future?
"It's quite a good likeness isn't it? Really captures the eyes," Hades plucked the figure from Meg's fingers and she pulled a face as he placed it on the right hand side of his own figure. "Are you truly telling me that is not the place you wish to hold once I rule Olympus?"
"If," Meg pointed out. "How can you be so sure the gods won't stop you? Personally I'm rooting for them." She shrugged and pulled herself up so she could sit on the edge of the map.
"Really? You'd rather spend the next thousand years in misery?" Hades shot at her, Meg could only smile coldly and shrug nonchalantly. Would she be spending the next thousand years feeling anything other than misery? "Regardless of whether you wish the prophecy to be fulfilled or not, it is still your job to do as I say. Today you will help me begin recruiting, given your…reluctance at using your assets I shall start you off easy." Smoky tendrils curled around Meg's chin directing her face down to the far end of the map. A solitary figure, slender but with a mass of tangled hair caught her attention and Meg squinted her eyes trying to see it better.
"Medusa?" She asked incredulously, "you said I can still die. How can I persuade her to follow you when I cannot even speak to her?"
"Since when have you needed your eyes for talking?" As if to prove his point Hades covered her eyes with his icicle-like fingertips. "Given how the gods on Olympus have treated her, she should not be a challenge to persuade." He pressed the carved piece in to Meg's hand and she traced her fingers along the snaked hair.
"W – What did they do to her?" She asked despite herself, she had only ever heard tales of Medusa. That she would turn those who looked upon her to stone, but she had never known why.
"She was not always hideous to look upon – she was once a great beauty. Much like you," Meg shot him a glowering look before turning her attention back to the figure. "She caught the attention of many men, including gods. One decided to claim her in the temple of Athena. She did not take kindly to the desecration of her temple; she blamed Medusa for what had befallen her. As punishment she cursed her, taking away her beauty and ensuring that no man would look upon her again." Meg's blood ran cold as she continued to stare at the figure. She was cursed for something that was not of her doing? She glanced up at Hades remembering the night he had first taken her to his bed. "I am not the worst of the gods babe, believe me." You are hardly the best though, but she somehow managed to keep the thought to herself. Did he really think himself better than them? Meg was sure he had turned Adonis against her, purposefully keeping her in his temple while he put another woman in Adonis's sight. Not wanting to be drawn in to a debate with him Meg set the figure down and stood up.
"Why do you not just speak to her yourself? You're a god…why would you need me to convince anyone to join you?" She didn't flinch as Hades's blue hair briefly flared a vibrant shade of orange. He smoothed it back as he fought to gain control of his temper and she crossed her arms over her chest in a show of defiance.
"Are you going to question every task I give you?"
"Yes." She nodded biting back a smirk. Behind him she could see Pain and Panic both cowering, clearly frightened that he was about to destroy the room in a rage. "I think you have lived down here for far too long without anyone questioning you. Perhaps if one of those…imps," her lip curled as she gestured to the two still cowering. "Showed the slightest bit of spine then you would not be so quick to lose your temper. I'm doing this for your health."
"Careful, I might think you care."
"Perish the thought," Meg mumbled openly shuddering at the thought. She turned and looked down at the map before her. Was Hades any better than the gods and goddesses on Olympus? He was certainly not above taking mortals for himself, had he not just taken her? But to be punished for something that is not your fault, she picked up Medusa's carved figure and stared at her sadly. The gods are cruel, she thought blinking back tears. We are nothing more than playthings to them. "I hate to rush you babe but I am working to a strict schedule here." Setting the figure back down Meg turned to look at Hades, his cold hand stretched out for her to take.
"What happens if she refuses?" Meg asked taking his hand and instantly regretting it. Hades pulled her close, his free hand turning in to smoke which wrapped itself around her neck as if it were a noose.
"Perhaps you should not focus on failing," he warned tightening his grip on her neck as if to emphasise his point. Unable to speak Meg forced herself to nod, blinking against the black spots which rapidly exploded across her vision. When Hades released her neck she fell to her knees, gasping for her breath. When she finally opened her eyes she was surprised to see that she was no longer in the Underworld but sitting amongst rocky ruins before an abandoned temple. "Given what happened to her Medusa does not take kindly to men – especially gods." Shakily Meg climbed to her feet and looked at the temple; it threatened to crumble at any moment. Her vision was suddenly obscured by a piece of fabric which was tied around her head. "Best not to risk looking upon her." Hades pushed her in her lower back and Meg scowled but did not dare turn around in case she lost her way. Holding her arms out in front of her she carefully made her way forwards. He could not have blindfolded me inside the temple? She asked with a small sigh.
With each step she took she swept her foot in front of her, feeling for any gaps in the floor or any pieces of rubble which might trip her up. She had no doubt that Hades was watching her every move, no doubt waiting to laugh at her. She paused enjoying the soft breeze against her skin, had it really been a month since she had left the Underworld? Father…what happened to you? She almost stumbled at the thought. How could she have abandoned him like that? She had not even set a funeral pyre for him. She had merely left him for the birds.
"Who daressss tresspassss?" The hissing whispered snapped Meg back to the present and she held out her hand to brace herself against the nearest object. She listened for the sound of hissing, trying to locate where Medusa was. It would not do her any good for the woman to surprise her and rip the blindfold off. "Who daressss tresspassss?" The voice repeated and Meg's left ear pricked.
"Megara," she called out thankful that she sounded braver than she thought. "I come with a message from Hades."
"I want no messsssage from the godsssss," hot breath was on the back of Meg's neck and she carefully stepped forwards. She almost turned around but decided keeping her back to Medusa was best. Just in case her blindfold was taken she squeezed her eyes tightly shut. "Foolissssssh mortal, you should not mix yourssssself in the affairssss of the godssss."
"I have no choice in the matter." Meg shrugged deciding to be honest with the woman. "I sold my soul to Hades, now I do his bidding."
"Foolisssssh mortal," Medusa hissed. "I can end your ssssuffering."
"I am not suffering," Meg replied stubbornly. "And I think you would like to hear what I have to say – I believe Hades can offer you something that you crave." She thought back to the previous day, the smoky image Hades had presented her with. Adonis begging at her feet, pleading for forgiveness.
"What can the god of the dead offer me?"
"Revenge." Meg smiled coldly as the hissing abruptly stopped. She chose her words carefully, emphasising more on how Medusa could achieve her revenge rather than Hades taking Olympus for himself. "Those who wronged you will be left defenceless." She wished she could take the blindfold off, to study Medusa's reaction. But she knew it would be the last thing she did.
"If Hadessssss will guarantee me the revenge I desssssserve then I will gladly sssssserve him."
"I give you my word he will grant you revenge." Meg replied without hesitating. She knew Hades craved revenge against Zeus most of all, what should it matter who Medusa bore a grudge against? Holding out her right hand she felt a leathery hand clasp her and a bright light flared piercing her blindfold. "Return to your masssster mortal, remove your blindfold and go safely." Meg waited until the hissing had retreated before she finally pulled the blindfold off. She found Hades sitting outside the ruins where she had left him, a bowl of wriggling worms in his lap. I can end your ssssuffering. Medusa's words rang in her mind as she reached Hades. Why had she not accepted the woman's offer? A thousand years in servitude to Hades…did she truly think that was not suffering? But she saw what death meant. She had seen the souls floating listlessly along the river Styx. Find the river Lethe…if you cannot remember Adonis then the next thousand years will be bearable.
"Cheer up babe, you accomplished that a lot quicker than I thought you would." Meg snapped herself back to attention and shrugged. She couldn't bring herself to question if she was doing the right thing or if she was unleashing pure evil upon the world. What would Hades do if he had complete control over the mortal world?
Sluicing water over her hair Meg settled back in the bathing pool, resting the back of her head against the edge. Her mind was fixated on the river Lethe. How could she find it? She desperately wanted to ask Hades but knew he would grow suspicious, no matter how casually she dropped it in to conversation. Would he care? What should it matter if I remember how I came to be in his servitude? Surely as long as I succeed in the tasks he sets that is all that matters? She thought back to the time she had spent in his temple. What had happened while she was there? Who had murdered her father? Choking back a sob Meg pulled herself from the water and quickly dried herself. She could not stand the thought of his body rotting in their cottage, nor the thought of his soul floating listlessly through the Styx.
There must be someone in the mortal world who knows of the river Lethe…even if it is down here at least they could tell me how to find it. But how could she speak to someone without Hades knowing? He would not watch my every move – not if he is plotting the downfall of Olympus. Surely that would take priority over spying on me? Dressed in a dark peplos she walked in to her sleeping chamber, scowling as she found Hades sprawled on her bed.
"No." She hissed.
"Did I say anything?" Meg answered him with a fresh scowl. "I thought you would be happy, I gave you your first task – and I cannot fault you! Well…I probably could but hey, I'm a generous god."
"I want to leave the Underworld." Meg replied abruptly. "At least for a little while. Please." Hades seemed to ponder her request, as if mocking her a ripe pomegranate appeared in his hands. She eyed it wearily as he ran his knife-like nails across the tender skin, slicing the fruit effortlessly in half. "I am not bound to the Underworld – you said it yourself when I first…when…" she could not bring herself to mention selling her soul; it sounded so callous. To Medusa it seemed as if there had been no shame. Now…she was full of shame. "You said I would pine for the mortal world…I don't but I do miss it. I miss life."
"You realise you cannot escape me?"
"I am not planning an escape oh Oneness," she shot back. "Notice how I am asking your permission to leave rather than trying to find my own way out?" The suspicion in Hades's eyes was clear and she pressed the back of her hand to her forehead as if she was about to faint. "I fear I may become hysterical should I spend much longer in this world of death." She cried dramatically remembering how he loathed hysterics.
"Funny," he drawled rising from the bed and drawing her close. "You would not be planning to do anything foolish such as warning the gods of my intentions?"
"The thought had not crossed my mind," she answered honestly. What if she did? Could she gain her freedom? The information she held must be of some value to the gods, especially if it meant protecting their own freedom surely?
"I would not want you to do anything foolish Megara," Hades tenderly stroked her face while biting down in to the pomegranate. Crimson juice dribbled down his pointed chin and Meg recoiled as he brought the fruit close to her lips. "You can leave the Underworld at the moment – but should you cross me…"
"I would never…" She shook her head swallowing fear. The next thousand years trapped in the Underworld? It was not a thought she relished. "Just one week, please. I give you my word that I will not mention you – I hardly want to admit I am in your servitude." The pomegranate was dangerously close to her lips and Meg tried to step away from it, frightened that she would somehow inhale one of the seeds. Hades fingers gripped her waist firmly, keeping her in place.
"Very well. But should you attempt to mention me…" he held up the pomegranate threateningly. "I can always add time on to your service."
