"Welcome to Tartarus."
"Might you release us from our bonds?" Gomez asked politely at the intimidating woman.
She cascaded down the steps, towards the boat, the back of her dress whispering against the dark, crunchy grounds. As she loomed closer towards them, her ghastly sycophants disappeared—their eyes judiciously stalking them.
"I believe it's a little early for you to be dismissed." She replied, kneeling on her heels in front of them. Her piercing eyes glowed with further inspection of each family member, memorizing every feature of their gloom, pale faces. She studied each detail of their image, taking note of how their cheekbones were high and faces were long, eyes relaxing at the sight of their dark attire and almost looked as if they were practically the living dead. No other family or living soul that she had seen had this natural look on their faces. The only things that ever had this were corpses.
"Release us now, Atё." Selene growled behind her gritted teeth. The diabolical woman cackled loudly at the princess's immediate request and drew her attention to the princess. Along her tender skin, she traced the outline of her face, starting from her cheeks and grazing lower to her chin, ensuring her long talons also felt the smoothness of the face.
"Oh, Selene." She murmured, browsing back to her cheeks and replicating small circles, much to Selene's annoyance. "You're supposed to be queen, and yet you can't even properly acknowledge me?"
"Why should I?" She retorted back maliciously, earning her a punitive slap across the face. Her hand felt like a truck colliding into a wall, almost like being shoved back with an unbreakable force. The sound resonated throughout the walls, music to the creatures' ears. A satisfying pitch appeasing their sharp ears from irking echoes of joyous laughter they could hear distances away, unheard by those of the living.
"Do you even know who you're speaking back at?" Atё roared, annoyance and anger gargling in her throat. Her eyes began to roil to a dark ruby red, her anger quickly escalating almost like a volcano erupting fresh molten lava.
"Of course. That's why I'm speaking to you this way." Selene sneered, setting off Atё's hot-temper. Just as she was about to settle the strong-headed princess, a calm voice interrupted the escalating dispute between the two females.
"You still haven't answered that for us." Morticia spoke calmly, patiently awaiting an answer.
Atё quickly shifted her attention to the Addamses and eyed the matriarch. At the first sight, she became immensely jealous of Morticia's beauty. She was flawless—having pearly pale skin, lips full with deep crimson lipstick, black hair as dark as a moonless night sky, petite waist creating the perfect hourglass figure any man and woman could die over, and dark brown eyes giving her a mystical and gothic mien. Morticia was the ideal model for dark beauty—possessing dangerous eyes that could turn a man into dust by one look, yet lure any man she could desire with both eyes and body.
"I'm Queen Atё, ruler of the Underworld. Goddess of Evil." She answered, her voice choking on tones of bitterness and wickedness. Morticia had immediately stolen all of her confidence with one look and to hide her jealousy, she filled her voice with spits of poison.
"Goddess of Evil?" Fester repeated, almost put into a trance-like state just hearing that. "Almost like vital chemicals." He growled as her name set him off into another world.
"So you live here?" Pugsley asked.
"Yes." Atё plainly replied.
"Can I live here when I die?" He asked enthusiastically. The woman eyed him in surprise.
Even Pubert's eyes were wandering around the cave, sinking in all the wondrous sights before his young set of eyes. He smiled and giggled at the quick sight of a demon that happened to pass by.
"And what do you think about this, my dear?" Atё asked Wednesday, who had her emotionless expression dressed on her face.
"Homicide." Wednesday simply replied and the woman raised her eyebrow.
"And why is that?"
"I want to see all those that I murder here. Especially Amanda Buckman." The young teenager answered, heavily emphasizing the name of her rival at Camp Chippewa.
"Isn't she something? She really will live up to the Addams standards." Gomez beamed proudly, praising his one and only daughter. His little girl who was in the early stages of becoming a young adult.
"All of our children will, mon cher." Morticia reminded him with a smile. He returned the smile with a chuckle.
"Of course they will, cara mia." He agreed.
"Would you really enjoy living here?" Atё asked in disgust.
"Rather here, than at Debbie's." Mama immediately answered, the mention of Debbie's name making the family cringe.
"Well, I live in a world full of darkness and bitterness. A place where evil brews and spills, desiring to rip through the walls and crash the living world." Atё said.
"That's wonderful. I'm sure we will become great friends." Morticia responded, not surprising the "goddess." A thought emerged within her head and a cunning smile formed at her dirty lips.
"Friends with the Addamses?" Atё tested off the roll of her tongue, frolicking with a counterfeit mask.
"Are we too perky for you?" Wednesday asked sarcastically.
"Sounds much too irresistible actually." She agreed, intertwining her long fingers together. A smug smile plastered across her face. With a snap, their bonds were released. In a snake-like movement, she glided away from the group and peered at herself down at the water of souls.
"Why, these clothes are too old for this day and age, isn't it?" Atё asked herself, the drapes of her dress falling, with new dress peeking through as the previous fabric peeled off of her skin.
A tighter, form-fitting metallic bronze dress hugged at her curves, a V-neck dipping by her chest. Long sleeves holding at the end of her shoulders concealed her lean arms and stopped at her wrists. The drapes of her dress had a huge puddle of fabric in the back, kissing the ground. At the edges of her dress were tiny, shiny shards of glass weaved within the textile, giving off an edgy, sexy style.
"Now that's more befitting." Atё murmured to herself in satisfactory, staring at her body.
"What is it that you really want, Atё?" asked Selene, hints of annoyance spitting from her voice. The Addams glanced at her and back to the queen curious as to what her true intentions were. This was going to be good.
"Perhaps we will witness an apocalypse." Morticia whispered to her husband, holding on to his arm and weaving her fingers into his fingers.
"Maybe, cara mia. Or maybe we'll see the world plunged in darkness and evil crawling on the streets." Gomez crooned, looking into his wife's deep, dark eyes.
"Mm, perhaps we'll be able to torture despicable souls." She replied back seductively, exercising her hungry eyes for Gomez to lure him to her body and bring her to sublime ecstasy. It would not be very difficult. Morticia knew extremely well that his love for her was practically written all over his twisted heart, as the same was in her heart.
"Oh, you will witness something much extraordinary." Atё confirmed, making her way to a large stone basin, a subtle gray haze pouring from its lips. She dipped her fingers in the contents of it, and gently stirred a mini maelstrom, a golden flash quickly bursting in the air.
Selene expeditiously seized her dagger and was about to attack Atё, but before she could make even a step, she suddenly became frozen in her position; muscles immobile, voice stripped from her vocal chords and eyes loyal to wrath. She held a cold look in her eyes, almost as if you could see winter swirling in her sapphire blue pupils, the bitter winds shooting and blowing straight through you, effortlessly.
"Oh princess." Atё smirked, turning aside to face her. "Is that really how you should respond to your new mother?" Horror racked through Selene's eyes and her heart must've jumped out of her body as she heard those words.
"That's a lie!" Selene shouted in disbelief, finding herself that she had regained control of her body and voice. Atё faced her, expression not distorted; a smile still calmly painted on her face.
"Is that something I would lie to you about?"
"My parents would never!"
"Are you sure about that?"
"What wouldn't they do?" Pugsley's voice interrupted. The two females glanced at him.
"It means that…" Selene began but was stopped mid-sentence.
"She was disowned by her parents." Atё rudely cut in, carelessly disregarding Selene.
"Stop spreading lies." She muttered under her breath, loud enough for Atё's ears to hear those words.
"Disowned?" The family asked in unison, their question bouncing off the walls and repeating itself.
"Who wouldn't want to be disowned?" Gomez asked, surprised to hear Selene's disbelief of the matter.
"Exactly." Atё agreed, crossing her arms.
"The best murderers are usually disowned." Mama said aloud.
"Or orphans." Wednesday added darkly.
"I still refuse to believe it." Selene spit back at the woman, anger clouding her pupils.
"They're not lies, my dear." Atё reassured Selene, placing her cold hand upon her shoulder, but the girl immediately shrugged her off.
"Do you remember when Zeus had entrapped the Titans to Tartarus in the Battle of the Titans?" The woman asked, gripping an iron goblet and pouring a crimson red liquid into the stone basin, or what seemed to be her type of cauldron.
"One of the epic battles for Zeus." Wednesday simply answered. Atё smiled behind her.
"And where were the Titans sent?" The dead gray mist that clouded by the basin roiled with intense pigments of a deep crimson red. Soon, the mist was rapidly overflowing from the cauldron, completely washing over the secluded cavern and imprisoning everyone within the cavern.
Moments later, the subtle fog began to dissipate and the surroundings began to come into vision, nothing changed at all. Except for the silhouette of a man and woman who stood ahead of Selene and the Addamses, their backs turned against the cluster. As the fog cleared, they were dressed in an ancient Greek warrior attire. Although their backs were greeting them, the contours and angles of the couple emphasized that they were quite fit.
Finally, they turned to reveal their faces, both emanating with such beauty that only a god could possess. The skin on their faces were smooth and clear, light easily bouncing off their faces, a gold aura almost gleaming from their almost invisible pores.
The man was a handsome being—had smoky brown hair that was grown out a bit to his shoulders, with a clean cut beard giving him a powerful and mature expression. He had sapphire highlighted eyes, much the same to Selene's. His skin was olive-toned and glistened with the aromatic and soothing fragrance of oils. From top to bottom, he had extremely toned muscles, not bulky and huge, but rather an athletic figure. He wore silver metal shoulder armors protecting the deltoid, and extended into a spider web like pattern and stretched across his envious pectorals. A sapphire gem in the shape of a ten-point star securely shone at the center of the armor. Another metal armor clasped around his forearm. At his waist, a sapphire bleached satin sash, meandered around his figure, layered atop of his black leather skirt that ended mid-thighs, almost resembling the straps of a whip, with a silver stud at the edge of each flap. Resting on his hip, was a large sword secured in its sheath. More armor could be seen on him—metal shin guards with ancient designs carved atop, protecting from the knee to ankle. Finally ending to his feet, silver sandals with straps encircling his ankles.
As for the woman, she was as equally as striking as the man standing beside her. She had long, smooth, dark chocolate stained hair cascading to her waist. Her eyes were the color of a hazel and filtered jade. Her skin was rather fair, compared to Selene and Morticia, with soft blush pink lips just as Selene had. She too, was dressed in similar warrior attire as her companion. A gold, seemingly tight, metal corset enveloped her torso, leaving above her chest and up naked, except for the small gold shoulder armor that latched on to her skin. She also had forearm armor clutched on just as the man besides her, except gold. A sleek bow peeked from behind her shoulders, with a bundle of arrows accompanying it. To her mid-thighs, she wore a gold miniskirt in the same style as the man, resembling straps of a whip, with a red stud pierced at the edge of the flaps. Again, she had gold shin armor, rising at the knee and descending to the ankle. With gold ankle-strapped sandals securely fastened at her feet.
"Mother…Father…" Selene whispered to them, tempted to reach out to them.
"They can't see or hear you. This is a simple memory." The shuddering voice of Atё called out to them, as she appeared beside Selene.
"Just watch and see what your parents didn't tell you, princess." From there, no one dare spoke another word to witness and perceive what was about to occur between the pair of fascinating beings.
"Zeus is going to pay for this!" The woman shrieked, pacing back and forth. She was in a fit of rage and her eyes gleamed a malicious hue of bright fiery yellow and orange, with a tint of ruby red at the pupil.
"Theia…you need to calm down." The man spoke, attempting to relieve the fuming woman's rage.
"Your own nephew just overthrew all of us and hurled us to Tartarus, Hyperion!" Theia retorted, glaring daggers at him.
He sighed.
"Well, he's YOUR nephew as well!" Hyperion exclaimed back at her. But this statement had no effect on the woman's anger.
"I know very well that he is. But," She paused, moving towards him. "That doesn't mean I can't emphasize that he is also yours."
"Well, then what are you going to do about this?!" Hyperion boomed at her, anxiously waiting for her fit to fizzle out. Theia stopped and was silent for a moment.
"There are twelve of us here. We are all angry at what has occurred, but why is it that YOU are the one creating the biggest rant of it?" He asked anxiously.
Theia opened her mouth to speak, but a familiar voice of a woman spoke instead.
"Is there anything I can be of assistance?" It spoke, sending shivers down both of the Titans' spines.
"Atё, this is none of your business." Theia replied hastily.
Atё appeared before them, dressed in the same clothing that she had worn as Selene and the Addams family arrived in Tartarus. She looked exactly the same, not a day or year older, no wrinkle lined at the forehead or under the eyes. The woman looked exactly as if she were 35 years of age.
She played an offended face.
"But it is, my dear." She argued, making her way towards the couple. "You are in my home. Therefore, this argument should be of my notice."
Hyperion sighed and moved to his wife's side.
"What is it that you want now?" He asked suspiciously. The woman chuckled at this question and gave them a sympathetic smile.
"Why, I'm attempting to assist you in your troubles." She merely replied, the smile remaining. Theia and Hyperion were already growing suspicious of the woman and yet, they already felt that they had fallen in her trap.
"Really now? Then how will you help us?" Theia mused, hoping for a glimpse of the devious woman.
"Well, if you truly desire to seek revenge against Zeus…" She started, making her way towards the stone basin.
"Then I have a plan."
"What is it?" Hyperion asked.
"I will only tell you, if you truly desire to seek revenge and will pay whatever cost that is." Atё replied slyly.
Theia and Hyperion glanced at each other. They both sought to enact revenge upon their nephew, but were they willing to associate with the Goddess of Evil to execute this plan? Both were hesitant to approve of the offer, and were about to reject this, until Atё returned again to guide them back to her malevolent plan.
"You would really do that for us?" Theia asked suspiciously, squinting her eyes at the diabolical vixen.
"Oh, my dear. That's what I do. It's what I live for. To help unfortunate beings like yourselves. Poor souls, with no one else to turn to." Atё replied, leading her into a song.
"I admit that in the past I've been a nasty,
They weren't kidding when they called me,
Well, a witch.
But you'll find that nowadays,
I've mended all my ways,
Repented, seen the light and made a switch
True? Yes.
And I fortunately have a little power,
It's a talent that I always will possess,
And here lately,
Please don't laugh.
I use it on behalf
Of the miserable, lonely and depressed."
"Pathetic." Selene whispered to herself as she observed the scene that was unfolding before her eyes.
"Poor unfortunate souls.
In pain,
In need.
Someone longing to be richer,
Someone wants to get the girl,
And do I help them?
Yes, indeed.
Those poor unfortunate souls!"
"So sad." Gomez remarked quietly.
"So true." Morticia agreed softly with him.
"They come flocking to my cauldron,
Cring, 'Spells, Your Majesty, please!'
And I help them?
Yes, I do.
Now,
It's happened once or twice,
Someone couldn't pay the price.
And I'm afraid,
I had to rake 'em cross the coals.
Yes, I've had the odd complaint.
But on the whole,
I've been a saint!
To those poor unfortunate souls!"
"Now, here's the deal. I will give you a potion that will allow you to bear your last child." She stopped from the song, apprising them of her plan.
"Got that?" Atё asked, gaining their nods.
"The child will be a form of light just like the other two you have, however," She paused. "It will be a symbol for the dark forces."
"What do you mean by that?" Hyperion asked, clearly against the idea for his child to be a part of the dark forces.
"The dark world will look to this child, rather than Helios or Eos. It will become the light for darkness, except admired by evil services." The woman explained.
"So, what will our child be able to do for us?" Theia asked, almost certain that she was about to follow through with her.
"The child will be born with a power, no immortal will have." She answered quietly, pausing to raise their anxiety.
"The power to kill an immortal." She whispered in their ears.
"What? Are you sure?" Hyperion questioned, unsure whether this woman was even in her right mind.
"Of course I'm sure." Atё reassured him impatiently.
"How is it the child will obtain this power, but no one else?" He asked.
"The potion is the essence of darkness. In order for the child to possess this power, it must be born of one of light for the balance of powers." The cunning woman revealed.
"So then, it will be able to get rid of Zeus?" Theia concluded.
"Correct. Oh and there's one more thing." Atё said, the couple's ears perking to her attention.
"We haven't discussed the subject of payment."
"But we don't have—"They protested, but were cut off.
"The child will be your payment." She stated firmly, horror coursing through the couple's eyes.
"What?!" Hyperion exclaimed, earning him a smile from the woman.
"You heard me."
"But…" Theia stuttered at the mere thought of giving up her child to a woman she knew could not be trusted.
"You will be able to tend to it for its primary state. However," Atё dropped her smile. "When her true potential peaks, she belongs to me."
"I don't think—"Hyperion began to speak, but immediately was cut off by her again.
"It did seem like you were willing to destroy Zeus, was it not?" She asked, coming closer to them.
Theia and Hyperion glanced at each other, reevaluating if this was something they were really going to follow through with. Atё began to sense them rejecting her offer, so she continued on with her song. A gold scroll appeared before them with the agreement of disowning their own child in exchange for the destruction of their nephew.
"Come on you poor unfortunate souls!
Go ahead!
Make your choice!
I'm a very busy woman,
And I haven't got all day.
It won't cost much,
Just your child!
You poor unfortunate souls!
It's sad,
But true.
If you want to cross the bride,
My sweets,
You've got to pay the toll,
Take a gulp and take a breath,
Now go ahead and sign the scroll!
"Hyperion and Theia, now I've got them both." She whispered on the side and continued on.
"The boss is on a roll!
These poor,
Unfortunate.
Souls!"
She finished the last note, and at that moment, the couple signed the dreadful contract, a gleam of evil and satisfaction pulsing through Atё's eyes.
The flashback finished and Selene's parents disappeared. A look of horror, disbelief and shock clearly in Selene's eyes as the events that had unfolded before were still being processed within her mind. She was almost speechless. This was so sublime, so beyond what she had ever experienced in life.
As for the Addams, they had found that they adored Selene once again, well, more of her history. Who wouldn't want to be a part of the dark forces? There couldn't have been a clearer explanation as to why there was something dark lurking within her almost innocent visage. She was so devious, yet so naïve and charming. Whatever it was, she had regained part of their adoration.
Atё pulled up the golden contract with Hyperion and Theia's signatures clearly signed upon the scroll. A smile curling at her lips.
"So Selene, how does it feel knowing that you belong to me?"
A.N. The song I used and changed was Poor Unfortunate Souls from The Little Mermaid. Ursula's song was just too perfect for this. I couldn't have imagined this scene without it. Literally. As soon as I saw this on my playlist, I knew it would become a part of this story. So I hope this was a more unexpected plot twist than what I was leading all of you. So a review about this chapter would be lovely! Thank you.