Hey everyone,
Happy Holidays/new year; here's a big chapter for ya.
A lot has happened and a lot of time has passed between chapters-please let me know in the reviews/messages if you would like me to post a timeline of any sort.
Sorry for the long delay-College student woes.
Again, if anyone is interested in being a beta reader, please let me know.
And on we go.
O.K.
Do gods have cars?
Bella doubted it, yet she stood now in the middle of a field of soft golden grass, wondering what trick Hades and Morpheus were cooking up. The two stood in front of the large entryway to what Bella could only describe as a fortress. Despite living there for a decent chunk of time, this was the first time she had faced the outside of the house of Hades.
It had taken a lot of prompting and promises from Hades, and a decent amount of dragging from Morpheus, before Bella had finally agreed to step back out the doors—the same doors she had avoided like the plague after her first night.
Behind her, a low huff blew a warm draft around her ankles. She winced, refusing to look behind her at the massive, three-headed beast.
The giant dog had practically flown across the long grasses when Bella appeared outside. She would have bolted back behind the safety of the doorway if it weren't for Morpheus, who caught her around the waist and lifted her like Simba in The Lion King. Bella was convinced the dog was going to devour her, and screamed right up until it reached them—when all three heads bathed her in a shower of pungent globs of drool.
She could still feel the wet pressure of the tongue on her cheek. Morpheus had thought it was hilarious, of course. Thanks to her screaming, she had gotten a good amount of slobber in her mouth.
Cerberus—the mutt—whined behind her.
"I'm not who you think I am. Go bother your owner," she grumbled.
The sound of crunching grass grew louder until a warm mass gently bumped her back. The hairs on her neck stood on end as a warm breath of stale air blew down her shirt.
She spun in terrified fury, and froze.
The sound of Morpheus and Hades's arguing droned out as she stared into the three sets of massive brown eyes, brows pointed together as Cerberus inched forward on his belly. A three-headed dog the size of a house, his paws nearly as high as her waist, bent and curled as small as possible as he desperately attempted to approach her.
There was apology in his eyes.
Just an awkward, large beast. Could she blame him for mistaking her for his mother?
He wasn't the only one who had mistaken her for Persephone, after all.
"Aren't you supposed to be a big scary guard dog?" Bella's hand brushed one giant ear. Cerberus, excited by the contact, pushed forward and nearly knocked her feet. Bella wrapped her arms around his giant jaws in an attempt to stay standing and was lifted in the air as Cerberus gleefully swung her around.
"Bella!"
Hades was there instantly, grabbing her from the air. His face was filled with worry, holding her with her legs around him as he scolded the dog over her shoulder.
But she was laughing. Struggling out of Hades's arms as she wiped her eyes, giggling as she batted down his pointed hand. "It's cool, he's just playing."
Cerberus waved his tail, his right-most head sweeping sideways to bathe her, again, in drool. This time, Bella made sure not to scream. She only squeezed her eyes shut as she pressed her face into the warm fur on his cheek, breathing in the smell of Sulphur and smoke.
"What were you guys even arguing about?" She turned her face, feeling one of Cerberus's heads wrap its neck around her waist to bump her hand in a request for scratches.
Hades scowled. Morpheus approached him from behind, dropping an arm around his shoulders. "Romeo wanted you all to himself, but I told the old man we're a package deal."
Bella frowned. "Didn't we talk about this yesterday? You promised everyone would come. You promised to be there for me."
"I only thought it may be best to leave any… potential for problems behind," Hades replied carefully.
"Wait, did you just call me a 'potential for problems?'" Morpheus crossed his hands over his heart with a gasp. "I'm offended. To think we were friends!"
"They will come, dear one. But I'm afraid I will be left behind to carry on affairs." Bella jumped, still standing only because of Cerberus's support and Hecate appeared, her ethereal glow freezing the space surrounding them.
"After all," the titan continued, "Death waits for no one."
"That's… fair." In truth, though Bella had grown accustomed to Hecate's presence, she could never shake the sense of foreboding and darkness that seemed to surround the woman like thick perfume.
Hecate grabbed her hand and held it sternly, bright eyes searching in Bella's gaze.
Bella buried her hand deeper into Cerberus's fur.
Hecate's gaze gradually dulled, glazing over as fog spread outward from her pupils and covered the entirety of her expression. She spoke, lips barely moving.
"Your true form grows stronger each day. Be wary of the power you hold, and stand firm against the trials which await. The war you fight is oncoming, Death stands with you."
"I—" Electricity spread through Bella's veins as Hecate released her hands, stealing away Bella's breath with the action.
"Enough, Hecate. We depart now. I wish you the best in our absence and thank you for your work." Hades wrapped an arm around Bella's waist and bowed, as Hecate returned the gesture.
"Wait—" But Hecate was gone as suddenly as she had arrived, disappeared like a cloud of fog within the mist.
Bella glanced at Hades.
Death stood beside her.
"Let's get going then, yeah? I'm so pumped to get some decent food for once. We need to get burgers, like, immediately once we're up-top." Morpheus turned and clapped his hands. "I'll see you up there, yeah? Enjoy the ride babe!"
The air crackled with purple lightning. Morpheus reached forward, his back taught with tension as he reached into the chaos and stretched, fingers grasping at an invisible barrier which wavered against his hold. Bella watched in astonishment as space seemed to bend against his hands, the trees and grass surrounding him bending like crumpled fabric. A glowing split, spitting sparks and gold fire appeared before Morpheus as he turned to wink back at Bella—hands stretched wide to keep the gap open.
He stepped inside and disappeared. The split snapped shut behind him.
Hades stood with Bella in silence as space returned to its natural form. A soft breeze continued to blow, peaceful aside from the scotch marks littering where Morpheus had once stood.
"Okay," Bella said, "what the fuck."
"The Aether," Hades answered. "The material which fills every space of the universe. By traversing it, we are able to travel wherever we need."
"Like… dark matter? I think I saw that space documentary."
To her surprise, Hades smiled. "Something like that. Come."
He guided her forward, issuing a stern command to Cerberus to stay still as he released his hold on Bella's waist. She could feel the air begin to crackle as he lifted his hands, and she quickly found her own arms wrapped around his shoulder, yanking it down. "Wait, is this going to hurt?! That's fire for god's sake!"
He smiled—was that twice now?! His hand raised to grasp hers and lower them to his chest as he leaned forward. She could feel his breath on her ear.
"You will be safe. Hold on."
Bella wondered for a moment whether she actually did have to hold on, or if this was a trick to keep her close. Either way, she wasn't taking any chances—they were jumping into actual flames, some universal material, what if they came out all mixed-up? Or she accidentally let go and got lost, ending up somewhere wild like Mars?
She wrapped her arms around his waist, intertwining her fingers and burying her face into his chest as she squeezed her eyes shut.
She could feel the air crackle again around them, heard the warping of sound as the world bent around them, listened to Cerberus's low whine change pitch as sparks kissed the grass at their feet.
Dear Gods, let me survive this insanity.
Hades stepped forward once, his arm tight around her waist.
She felt the ghost of his lips across the crown of her head, his hold on her tightening.
Then they were flying. The world snapped shut behind them, taking the underworld away as Bella was enveloped in a burst of light.
She felt impossibly hot and cold at the same time, her fingers burning as her heart froze with ice. She tried to breathe but found her lungs choked with emptiness, gasping for air as they traveled somewhere between here and there in the space between two seconds.
Hades wrapped a hand in the hair behind her neck, fingers pressing her tighter to his chest.
She held on.
"Open your eyes, Bella." Hades shook her shoulder gently, and Bella squeezed him tighter.
But she could breathe now, and the ice digging cold fingers into her heart had eased away to cool air and the smell of city life.
She slowly turned her cheek against the soft fibers of Hades's clothes as she peered around them. Street lights had turned on in preparation for the oncoming night as cars sped past them, sending sprays of rainwater in their wake.
It was her city.
For some unexplainable reason, her heart ached at the idea.
"You made it!"
Hades released Bella so she could turn to look at the figure approaching them. Brilliantly blonde with heels high enough to use as a weapon, a woman sauntered toward them. She stood with her hands pressed to her small hips, flicking her hair over her shoulder as if she was auditioning for Mean Girls.
"Um." Bella blinked.
"It's me, babe! Morpheus. But please, call me Rose, that's my human name." The woman, Rose, winked.
"But,"
"Morpheus changes as he, or she, desires," Hades said drily. "Though I wish you would pick something a little more decent."
"Hun, this form is as 'decent' as decent gets." Morpheus—Rose—spun to illustrate her point, her long legs traversing the cobbled street easily as she turned to show off each curve of her scantily clad new body. "Besides, this is how I always go out."
"But aren't you…" Maybe it the lack of air from the trip, but Bella was still having a hard time wrapping her head around the fact that the man she had seen only a few moments ago was suddenly a gorgeous supermodel.
"Baby, I'm the god of dreams. I'm whatever I feel like being, whenever I decide to be." She winked again.
"I'm just… holy shit, you're so beautiful!" Bella laughed helplessly. "But your tag is sticking out."
"What! Oh, damn it all." Rose spun around, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she tucked the tag for her jacket back underneath the collar.
"Enough. Emmet should be right around this corner; we need to find him." Hades led them both forward. Thankfully the streets were relatively empty, so no passersby noticed the man in ancient Greek regalia and the supermodel leading the pale girl down the street.
Bella didn't miss the careful glance Hades passed toward her as they walked; did he think she was going to run, now that she had returned back home?
The idea was tempting, but she was forced to stop considering it as they arrived at the storefront only a few feet away. Her feet froze in place outside the door, her arms wrapping around herself in confusion as she studied the dirty glass door and almost-broken sign swinging above it.
"But this is…"
"Hades!" A booming voice shook her being as a massive, mountain of a man barged through the door. It only took a moment for Bella to process the familiar, forbidden dark blue of his uniform and the bright yellow badge pinned to his chest.
Oh, hell no.
She turned, grabbing Hades's arm as she made to run, but he clutched her hand and held fast. Was he insane? The police were here, they had to move. Habit and years of conditioning kicked in as she stood still as death, carefully avoiding the gaze of the cop as her life depended on it.
What were they doing there? Had they found Alice? Had they blamed her for Bella's kidnapping idea?
If Alice had been locked up due to Hades's actions, she would kill him.
The thought struck her only a moment before her own horror at how confident she felt—if any harm had come to Alice, she would wreak havoc. Chaos she wasn't entirely sure she was capable of creating.
"Emmett," Hades said evenly, not at all alarmed by the presence of the giant police officer. "Please. What's the situation? You have the sister?"
"Persy!" The massive man cried, ignoring Hades completely as he charged toward Bella, who shrunk back in terror of his massive reaching embrace.
"Easy there, killer, no hello for me?" Rose, thankfully, intercepted Emmett's embrace to place a dainty hand on his cheek, her eyes full of fire. The man seemed lost for words, his mouth slightly agape as he stood, stunned by her sudden appearance. He may not have noticed her before, but his eyes were glued to her now. "Uh…Morpheus?"
"This is Emmett," Hades supplied when it became evident that the cop was sufficiently stunned to silence. "He's a demigod. Son of Potamoi the river god, sister to Minthe—who also dwells in the underworld, though I do not believe your paths ever crossed."
Emmett's ears must have been ringing loud enough to finally draw him from Rose as he grinned at Bella. "Hey Persy. Hades filled me in and everything, about your memory and all, but hot damn is it good to see your face again! You gotta get those memories back soon, kay? Shit it's been brutal down there without you keeping it upbeat. Wait it's cool if I still call you Persy, right? Like, even if you don't have your memory back yet?"
"Uh—" His energy was overwhelming. Bella gaped like a fish, searching for words but lost to the glee in his smile. His police officer suddenly seemed very out of place on him.
"Um, hello," a boy appeared in the doorway, taking away her chance to reply. She turned and frowned. A halo of blonde hair—so this was the same corner store.
"You're…"
"Jasper, hey, long time no see." He smiled at her, though it didn't reach his eyes as he pushed the door fully open and gestured inside. "Come in. Please."
They filed inside, soldiers in line one-after-one until the shop was filled with otherworldly gods and two bewildered humans among the rows of snacks and basic products.
Bella recognized the florescent lighting and dingy interior from her last night on Earth—how long had it been now? The crate she had sat upon by the door was gone, replaced by a display of cheap phone chargers and extension cords. A refilled box of granola bars sat untouched behind the counter.
The TV was switched off.
Instead, a woman with kind eyes and a soft gaze stood awaiting them all, her tanned hands clasped tightly together as she watched them file in. As she watched Bella file in, carefully trailing every movement with the intensity of a thousand suns.
"Uh, Esme, these are the people Emmett was talking about, I think. Alice's sister and… everyone." Jasper trailed off for a loss of words, going to stand beside the silent woman. Bella wondered how much they had told him, how he had processed the impossible.
Rose reached back to clasp Bella's hand tightly. Hades wrapped an arm around her waist, his permanent frown deepening.
"Demeter," Hades said evenly. The woman, Esme, ignored him.
"My dearest daughter," the woman whispered.
"Uh," Bella blinked.
There are a million ways to imagine the reunion of a mother and daughter long separated by time and death. A glowing star born in the inside of the small corner store as hands were clasped in love, bright happiness only barely out shown by the sense of relief and grief for years lost to conflict. Flowers blooming in concrete corners as balance was restored to the family once broken.
Unfortunately, the reunion of the goddess Demeter and the goddess Persephone was neither grand nor fantastic; only confusing and split with pain as a mother rushed forward to embrace the daughter who did not remember her.
Esme, one of the first and last goddesses to spend her time among the humans as they grew alongside time, had awaited the return of her daughter with suppressed impatience and anxiety. She had awaited her return in peace, continuing her humanitarian efforts and upholding her duty to guide mankind.
She had hidden everything, suppressed the nature of her being if only to attempt to gain a closer foothold in the search for her disappeared daughter.
But now, clutching the hands of the woman who stood like an image of dear Persephone, she saw only a ghost. The girl's eyes held no recognition, no love, and no regret.
"Dear gods," she whispered. "Dear gods."
"You're… my mom? Or, Persephone's mom, right? Demeter? I'm sorry, Hades told me a little about you…" Bella bit her lip. She couldn't help but feel guilty.
"Wait, you're who?" Jasper's confusion was promptly ignored.
"I'm so sorry," Demeter whispered. "I'm so sorry. I understand it, I see it in your eyes. Please, allow me to stand here beside you, for at least a moment."
Hades had told her about how Demeter had tried to protect her from Zeus, how she had sent her only daughter to him in an attempt to save her from unwanted pressures. How Demeter had walked, largely alone, among the humans ever since Persephone's disappearance in an attempt to find her.
For just a moment, for a single person, the shell broke. If not for the absence of Alice, of any support, Bella leaned into the woman and breathed in the scent of earth and pollen, hands tightly wrapped around her middle.
It was uncomfortable, it felt like lying, but Bella recognized the desperate look in Esme's eyes. She had seen it in Alice's, when the nights got bad and Bella had to hold her, reminding her of reality, of the ground they sat on and the air they breathed.
Esme closed her eyes. Her hands carefully hooking Bella's shoulders.
"I'm sorry your daughter was taken from you," Bella said, as awkward as she was sincere. To her credit, Esme did not seem to fault her for it, only shaking her head and smiling as she pulled back to tuck a strand of hair behind Bella's ear.
"It's no worry," she said softly. "You are here, and you will remember."
Bella stayed quiet, only chancing a glance at Hades—who looked carefully composed and he stood by the door, arms crossed.
"So…is Alice here, or, is she back home?" Bella pulled away from Esme, turning to look at Jasper.
He glanced down to the floor.
Emmett coughed.
"Oh, shit," Rose said.
"Wait, wait where is she?" Bella turned to Hades. "You said you were bringing me to her. You said she was here."
"Emmett?" Hades's voice carried darkness.
"We had a… small problem—"
"She's gone." Jasper ran a hand through his hair, standing unsteadily.
"No, she's not," Bella said.
"Emmett?" Hades's fiery glare swallowed the large man, who winced.
"She… got spooked. She ran out, we tried to stop her—"
"She saw the cops and booked," Jasper finished coolly.
"You tried to arrest her? Are you a fucking idiot?!" Rose grabbed Emmett's arm. He refused to meet her gaze. "These girls have been on the run for practically their whole lives, so you decide to parade around as a cop?!"
"Who has her? Where is she?" Hades strode forward, grabbing Jasper's shoulders. "And who even are you?"
"Jasper. I work in this shithole. She got taken by some crazy lady, down the street. They got in the car and disappeared."
"Hades."
He turned and met Demeter's gaze. Her brows were pulled together in thought.
His lips pursed, frowning. "Surely she would not go to such lengths…"
"If Persephone has been revealed and returned, she would make an attempt to regain power." Demeter reasoned.
"Oh, no. You don't think. Hera?" Rose let go of Emmett, her face paling.
"Hera? That crazy bitch who tried to kill me? Zeus's wife? She has Alice?" Bella slammed a hand on the counter, barely suppressing a scream as she slapped away Demeter's comforting hands. "Are you fucking kidding me?!"
In the past two weeks, she had been dragged through the literal depths of hell, lost her sister, had the embodiment of death claim her as his wife, been nearly killed by a three-headed dog, and had the literal piss scared out of her by that same supposed-husband.
The fires of swallowed her chest and lit each vein with electric heat, her fingers glowing. She could feel each inch of space around them, stretching and adjusting around her fury.
Alice was gone.
"Shit, she needs to calm down."
"What the fuck?! What's happening?" Jasper jumped back, right into Emmett—who shoved him behind a guarding arm as Rose and Demeter charged forward.
They never made it to her—both collapsing as the energy within was sucked dry, dragged from their bodies into the magnetic sphere encompassing Bella as she gasped for air.
Every fiber of her being was shaking.
Alice is gone.
She could feel it, every second of Rose and Demeter's lives pulled away from their souls into her own.
She could see Hecate in their eyes, back in the underworld, testing her.
She recognized the electricity, the darkness encroaching on her vision as the ghost of Alice haunted her gaze.
Anger turned to fear.
These were Persephone's powers.
Bella closed her eyes, trapped in the darkness, pulled by the current of life flowing through herself like wires, linking her to each being in the person. She was being pulled apart.
"Bella."
She's gone.
"Bella. Listen to me."
I'm not in control.
Cool hands clasped her cheeks.
"Open your eyes. Breathe, Bella."
"What's happening?" She choked.
"Your abilities are awakening. You must regain control. Breathe."
She sucked a tight breath in through her nose, releasing it carefully with a hiss between her teeth. Hades brushed his thumbs over her eyelids, tracing the frustrated, tired tears that had begun to fall.
Eventually, quietly, the pulls and strings that seemed tied around Bella's soul loosened, releasing her to collapse onto the counter. Her hands were shaking. She carefully opened her eyes, breathing heavily, in and out, as Hades watched her. "Well done. Welcome back."
"You took me from her," Bella whispered, pulling away. "You took me from Alice, and now this bitch has her."
"Bella," Hades murmured. "If I hadn't taken you, you would have died."
"We have to get her back," Bella whispered. "Hades, we have to. We will."
"We will retrieve her. You have my word. Hera has made a grave mistake."
"Damn, Bella. Could you maybe ease up on that next time, sweetheart? Practically sucked me dry. How're you doing, old lady?" Rose carefully stumbled up from the ground, one hand rubbing her forehead as she battered away Emmett's outstretched hand. "Goddamn."
Esme eased upward, an unreadable expression on her face. She turned silently, hiding her own shaking hands. "I will find accommodations for everyone. It seems this shall be an extended trip."
"Wait, I'm sorry, I, are you hurt?" Bella's chest tightened with guilt as she watched the warm woman turn cold, adopting the same protected persona as Hades.
"I'm fine, dear." Esme stopped at the doorway, turning to Hades. "You will protect her."
"Always," he said grimly.
"I will contact Jasper as soon as I find accommodations. It may benefit you to find new attire in the meantime." And Esme was gone.
"Bella,"
She glanced at Hades.
"I promise," he repeated.
She nodded, her chin heavy as her head dropped forward.
They stood in silence for a moment, everyone catching their breath as oxygen seemingly slowly slipped back into the store.
Hera had Alice.
Demeter was gone.
Bella had as much control over her quickly-awakening powers as a sailor over the sea.
The weight of every drop of knowledge dragged the words from everyone's mouths as they spaced themselves evenly. Even Rose was quiet, carefully appraising Bella as she shakily found a stool to sit on. Emmett stood beside her, downcast.
Jasper was the first to speak, knocking a fist on the wall lightly as he coughed.
"So, uh. Can someone explain what the fuck is going on?"
Gang's all here, all pieces are in play.
Poor Jasper, dragged into this mess.
Still looking for a Beta, so we can hopefully avoid more long gaps and weird little errors in each chapter.
See you next time,
O.K.