Chapter 28:
From the Journal of Bobby Winchester
Ruling Hell was fun. Slogging through dead Earth with Crowley was fun. But careening across an ancient landscape on a hellhound driven chariot was the best time I had ever had. I stopped occasionally to check my maps and reorient myself.
To be perfectly honest, I didn't have all that much experience following a map and it was harder than I had anticipated. I had just followed old road signs and mostly broken highways in my years traveling dead Earth. Or just wherever Crowley wanted to go, he had always seemed to know where he was going. This was completely different, there were almost no roads, definitely no signs and the handdrawn map really only corresponded to the real landmarks eight percent of the time. Mostly it was just Bones trying to chase deer and me trying to get him to calm down.
The frustrations aside though, I got to spend my afternoons napping against a snoozing Bones, his warm furred chest moving rhythmically. I had missed napping in the sunshine. Hell had sort of a general lighting, not that direct warm sunspots you get on Earth. I had, though, resigned myself to the idea that I would have to ask someone where I was supposed to be going. And then find a way to make them immortal and hide them in a cave because I Crowley could not find out that I didn't know how to read a map.
"What'dyou think, Bones," I said, ruffling his right head and giving him a kiss. He reciprocated aggressively nuzzling my face and covering it in Hellslober, "should we take one more nap then find a town and ask where we are supposed to be going?"
He had learned the word 'nap' and obediently curled up, whapping his tail happily against the ground while both of his heads panted up at me. I dropped to the ground and nuzzled inside the curl of his body. He was almost twice my size and made a very cozy cushion. The sun beat down on my eyelids and I shivered, the warmth settling into my skin. I reached back to lazily scratch Bones behind the ear. It was easy to remember when I was here under the human sun, that I was made for this world. Crafted for the land of the living under the sun and stars. I could smell the grass, it was not quite like home but it was closer than Hell, which tended to smell too sweet or far too burnt.
I curled up tighter into Bones and let myself drift close to sleep. Bones didn't sleep. He would wake me if there were something I needed to be awake for. That I was prolonging asking someone how to continue in order to keep myself above ground for a bit longer was something I had thought of but refused to really acknowledge. I just liked the sun. Who didn't like the sun?
I was just slipping away when Bones growled deep in his rumbling chest. My eyes flashed open and I slid gracefully into a crouch, spear appearing in my hand. I would not be snuck up on.
There was a patter of noise coming from over the knoll I had been laying beneath. I pointed my spear at it. I lanky and uncoordinated body spilled over it, tripping at its crest and tumbling unceremoniously down toward me in a kerfuffle. I raised an eyebrow at it.
The bundle of knees and elbows looked up from the ground at me, startled. He was a teenager. Older than a teenager perhaps, maybe twenty. Young. His hair was a floppy black tangle and his armor fit his barely muscled body quite poorly, although it looked expensively crafted.
"Oh, who are you?" he asked rather timidly, standing up. He looked even more knobbly on his feet.
"I'm not going to hurt you," he continued reassuringly, "You can put down your husband's spear. I don't want you to hurt yourself."
I did try to keep in mind that he was not being malicious, that this was how he thought giving the time and place of his birth. But still, I thwacked him on the head with the shaft of my spear. I was the Queen of Hell. I thought it within my right to thwack this sort of thing.
"Ow" he shouted, grabbing the top of his head.
"You talk to me like that again and I'll show you how well I can use my spear."
A sharp growl from behind me alerted me to a forthcoming danger and I spun in time to knock the spear butt that was sailing toward me. The bearer of said spear pulled it back expertly and faced off, grinning madly. He was...the most beautiful human I had ever seen. He was barechested and undeniably golden. He grinned a playful grin at me.
"I see the lady has some skill," he laughed.
Considering I had a two headed Hellhound to back me up, I wasn't particularly worried, and thought that I might as well try to spare these two from a vicious end, wherein they would die and….become my subjects.
"Look, kid," I said. He tilted his head in confusion and I remembered that I had to try to speak in Greek. I had been learning.
"Look, kid," I repeated in the correct language, "I don't have any reason to fight you. Put your spear down."
He laughed again and did just that, leaning casually on it, "Is this your chariot? Are you out here alone?"
"Yeah, I am."
He tilted up an eyebrow, "You know it can be dangerous, out here alone for a woman as handsome as you."
I ignored that, "Hey, I'm looking for Argos, any idea which way I should be going?"
The dark hair boy spoke up, "That's… a long way off. Are you going to walk that whole way?"
I scoffed at him, "I have a chariot, its right in front of you."
He furrowed his dark brow, he already looked a bit like a puppy, and the confusion didn't help him, "You um… you don't have a horse. That chariot doesn't even look big enough for a horse."
I considered telling him I had a Hellhound who was at this moment stalking around them, with bared teeth, but I decided to let them keep their dignity. "Don't worry about that, I'm have to get there. I have no idea where it is."
He beautiful blonde had maneuvered until he was right next to his friend and elbowed him, "Come on, Prince Patroclus, this is an adventure. A beautiful matron out here alone on a quest. This is what we've been waiting for!"
I scowled at matron but didn't pursue it, I could use the help.
The dark haired boy, Patroclus, apparently, where had I heard that before, bit his lip, "I don't know...I mean." He scowled at me, "Where is your husband? Why did he let you go alone?"
I wasn't really sure how to answer this. I mean, as far as their custom, I sort of did have a husband. I mean, I didn't think that I would be incredibly successful describing a relationship of a King and Queen of the same place who lived and slept together but weren't married because that seemed a little premature and to be honest what was the fucking point.
"He didn't let me go anywhere, I just went. Ok, I am done discussing my business, do you know where Argos is or not?"
They had brief and vicious conversation via facial expressions, before the blond grinned boldly at me, "Sure, we'll lead you."
He bowed grandly, "Achilles, at your service, my lady."
I very nearly choked, oh...this was...Achilles. I nodded my head back to him, "Persephone."
They gaped, Patroclus took a step back. I smiled, gratified. I had no been enitrely sure that they would recognize the name, I had had even, a bit of a hope that they wouldn't, so I could continue in anonymity. I almost started laughing at that thought: remaining anonymous of my assumed name. For Hell's sake I could have told them my namewas Bobby Winchester and been more anonymous. Bobby Winchester was a creature of a different time. I wondered if she and Persephone were even the same person or if she waited in wings for her time to come back, or if she was dead.
I refocused on the startled men in front of me. "Right, so I'm the Queen of the Dead and if you could just show me how to find Argos that would be perfect." They took a moment to respond and I feel that I should remind you that I am recording what I thought I said, but then, I wasn't particularly great at Greek yet and it may have taken them a moment to figure out what I was trying to say.
Achilles beamed at me, his smile was beautiful and infection, I grinned back. "Of course, my Queen." He elbowed Patroclus, "Come on Patroclus, the Queen of the Underworld need the help of two strong warriors."
Patroclus was taking much longer to come to terms with this than Achilles. I reminded myself that Achilles' mother was a goddess, we gods were real and living to him. I imagined that, Achilles' best friend though he might be, the gods probably lived much farther away in the mind of Patroclus.
In slow and deliberate speech, Patroclus said, "Argos is a long way off. It will take a long time. There are many dangers."
It was much easier to follow Patroclus' short and well enunciated sentences and I realized they were for my benefit, I smiled at him. "Are you up for the challenge? You'll be rewarded."
Achilles looked all for tramping off at once, Patroclus looked worried, "I appologize, Queen Persephone. I do not want you to think I am being unhelpful. But I do not wish to anger Hades."
I furrowed my brow, "How would heping me anger lord Hades?"
He fidgeted uncomfortably and I thought that I understood. He didn't expect him to be thrilled two hearty young warriors, although Patroclus' heartiness was up for debate, were alone, travelling with his wife. "It will be fine" I promised, "It's not as though I'm unprotected. Bones, let them know you're here."
Bones growled and shoved one of his heads up against Patroclus, who flinched badly. Achilles dropped into a fighting stance, which Bones quirked his head at. I laughed, "He won't hurt you if you don't hurt me, if you do, he'll drag your souls off the Hades personally. So, should I be on my way or do I have two young guides?" Personally I was rather hoping they would come. I had always doted over stories of Achilles and was tenderly hoping he would teach me how to fight better with a spear.
Think of that, Dad, your little girl trained by Achilles.
XXXXX
From the Journal of Bobby Winchester
We traveled primarily by foot. The chariot wasn't big enough for three, but we had loaded it full of our equipment and the boys' provisions, I had found I didn't really have to eat if I wasn't inclined. Bones wasn't particularly thrilled with being a pack mule but enough belly rubbing soothed his wounded ego.
Halfway to Argos we had gotten bored, or Achilles had gotten bored. He had myriad skills and virtues, but the ability to keep himself entertained was not among them. He had spent the last hour pestering Patroclus and irritated himself when Patroclus would not rise to his challenge.
Patroclus, himself, had been helping my hone my Greek, holding a slow moving conversation with me and gently correcting my grammar, he really was quite the gentleman. Achilles was walking backwards regarding the two of us unhappily.
Sighing, I picked up my gear from my chariot and handed Patroclus' to him. "Why don't you take Bones and scout ahead, Achilles?"
He looked taken aback, "Really?"
"Yes, just get out of here before you start yourself on fire."
Without hesitation he flipped himself sideways into the chariot, "Will he listen to me?"
I petted Bones on the top of his right head, "Ok, Bones, you listen to what Achilles says for a little while, alright?"
Achilles shrugged and steadied himself on the chariot bed before commanding, "Bones, forward."
As expected, Bones, also bored at keeping at a walking pace, took off in blurring speed. Achilles nearly toppling out, though, as he was Achilles, managing to keep balance, whooping in excitement.
Patroclus watched him go with soft eyes, "He's beautiful isn't he."
He had muttered it quickly and under his breath, I'm not sure I was intended to hear it, I grinned and, although I did try, I didn't hide it quick enough to fool Patroclus.
He went very pink and stammered an explanation.
I shrugged, "He's sort of pretty for my tastes, but I see what you mean."
Desperately Patroclus swayed the conversation away from how attractive he found his friend, "What's Hades like?"
I laughed, "Um, sort of mean?" That had come out harsh but I wasn't sure how to say surly and gruff in Greek, "Um…" I compromised by making an angry bear sort of noise with claws. "But, you know, he's funny." I didn't feel like I was doing a great job and felt more like I had just described the Beast from Beauty and the Beast than any facsimile of Crowley.
Patroclus was looking at me softly, "Are you going to go back?"
"Back to Hell?" I asked with confusion, "Well...yeah…."
His brow knitted together, "Don't you think Zeus would welcome you back?"
At the mention of Zeus my stomach clenched and I felt drenched in cold, I attempted to keep my voice in check but as I spoke it broke, "What the Hell does that mean, welcome me back? Why would I ever go back there?"
He tilted his head in confusion, "You lived there, didn't you, before Hades snatched you from a field? I've heard stories about you, you know, that you were dancing in a field and Hades rose up from the pits to seize you, that Zeus rode down Mount Olympus to rescue you but could not reach you in time. That you were locked in Hades' palace until you succumbed to hunger and ate of the food of death and now you can't leave."
I was breathing hard in a fury, the well sequestered memories of my imprisonment filtering back, "I wasn't" I struggled to breathe, "I was captured by Zeus. I've always been with Hades, we were friends...before...Zeus came to take Hell and I fought him and he took me. He kept me for weeks before I could escape. I was running from him on that field and Hades came to bring me home."
We had stopped walking and he was looking at me with a degree of confusion mixed with his careful softness, "Hades took you back? But...didn't Zeus…." uncomfortably he made a swaying sort of motion with his head.
Deadpanned, forcing my breath into some sort of rhythm I answered, "Yeah, Patroclus, many times. But of course Hades took me back. What do you even mean by that, why wouldn't he."
Patroclus now looked petrified and in extreme discomfort, I didn't, however, have much sympathy for him, "Well….." he stammered, "You were…." he seemed to be fishing around for a soft way of saying it, "...tainted by Zeus...I mean...just….most men would have left you with Zeus rather than have you back after that….they would prefer, I mean...men like my father...I mean….would prefer a woman who was...clean."
His discomfort was doing something to calm me, "Hades and I…" I started, without really knowing how to explain it to him, "Hades didn't see it like that, he just wants to kill Zeus. We're...you know…" somehow explaining the nature of our relationship felt almost like betrayal, "We're partners."
A tender smile spread warmly over Patroclus' face, he looked like such a kid, "He must really love you."
I squirmed, perhaps more uncomfortable with this than discussion my attack, I hedged for a few moments, glancing around in hopes that Achilles would reappear and distract him. He did not. Crowley and I did not really have an openly emotive relationship. We had never even solidly discussed what the terms of our relationship were. If I looked at how often he had risked his life for mine, or come back when he didn't have to, I guessed that history was in favor of him having real affection for me, but he wasn't going to go around announcing it.
I scratched the back of my head uncomfortably, "I guess."
Patroclus looked mystified, "You guess?" he gazed at me, his eyes all glimmery, "If my mother were...taken as you were, my father wouldn't hesitate, he would have her killed, at least dismissed. For Hades to overlook that-"
I frowned and cursed, in English, so Patroclus just tilted his head in confusion, "I lead the armies of the dead, I train them, I plan battles, I don't hang around weaving and making babies."
He looked taken aback, "Queen Persephone," he said, falling back into formality, "I didn't mean to offend you. I just meant...that he must care for you a great deal."
"I'm sure he thinks I'm fine. He's okay also." I crossed my arms and frowned, "You're in love with Achilles."
He turned crimson, "Do not tell him. I mean...please...please don't say anything. I'm just a...clumsy prince."
I grinned, "Wouldn't dream of it, Pat. I get it though, I mean, he's pretty."
"Do you really lead the armies?"
"Yeah, I do."
He grinned at me, "So, if he didn't snatch you off of a field, how did you meet?"
"I saved him from the clutches of a monster."
He laughed, "Are you joking? Is that really what happened?"
I laughed with him, "He's not that good at defending himself, I mean, he's smart and conniving and everything, but you put a sword in his hand in the heat of battle and he's about as helpful as a ten year old."
Patroclus gave me a mock revering look, "So you're a hero. Saving attractive strangers from the jaws of beasts."Oh yeah, there should be odes about my heroics."
He shrugged, "Who taught you to fight? I beg pardon, but it is not often that women learn..."
I smiled and made an unsure sort of gesture, "My father, I guess, but he died when I was really young, I mostly learned myself. I mean...I grew up mostly on my own." It was relieving to tell someone this, for Bobby to continue on in story if not in name.
He touched my shoulder, "So did I." I knew that he meant he was ignored or left by himself and not that he was abandoned in an underground bunker in utter isolation, but the commiseration was appreciated.
He brightened, "You should train with Achilles, I'm sure he'd let you, you're a goddess! You should see him fight. It's a wonder to behold."
Achilles melodic voice rumbled from behind us, "What are you promising of me, Patroclus?"
He gave Achilles his most winning smile, looking quite a bit like a puppy when he did, ,"Will you teach her to fight, Achilles? She taught herself, she leads the legions of the Underworld and she is asking you to train her. Think of the honor in that."
Achilles crossed his arms and regarded me, his mouth turned down in a grimace, "You're asking this of me, Patroclus?"
"Yes, Achilles."
XXXXX
Sam was interrupted from his reading by a fervent knock on Crowley's office door. Dean and Sam both glowered at Crowley, who in turn was glowering at the door. It opened before he could admit whoever was knocking. He mouth twisted downward at the demon who was framed in the doorway, eyes wide and black.
Standing with his hands on the desk Crowley snarled, "You cannot traipse into my office unannounced, I am the -"
"Is it true?" The demon asked, interrupting Crowley, his voice shaking and soft, his eyes fell on the body and his body swayed, "She's…"
"Dead." Crowley finished for him, "Yes." He watched him hawkishly, eyes fixed on the demon's worried brow, his sloping shoulders and hands, clenching and unclenching. The demon took a few steps toward her body. Dean stood up aggressively, standing between Bobby and the intruder. Crowley too, had stepped out from behind his desk. Only Sam had remained in his seat, eyes lingering on his brother, rather than the intruder.
"I'm not going to hurt her...I just want to see her." He pushed his hair back out of his face, his eyes briefly squeezing shut.
Crowley tilted his head back in a snarl, "Who are you? What were you to her?"
He opened his eyes and looked at Crowley for the first time, "Did you find the book? I know...she meant to give it to you." He tilted his head back and blinked, eyes watering.
Dean barked at the newcomer, his voice deep but less angry than Crowley's, "You her boyfriend?"
Crowley snarled at him, "Hey."
Dean shrugged, "She's my kid, Crowley, she can move up from you."
The demon held up his hands, "No. She and I were not… We were friends, old friends." He held out his hand to Dean, "I've heard thousands of years of stories about you, it's nice, to have a face to go with the name. I don't know if you've read the book yet, Achilles."
Sam stood now, eyes wide, eyebrows nearly disappearing under his hair. "Achilles? Really...you're Achilles? But you're a...you're a demon."
He laughed, "Have you read that book about me? You think the angels wanted me?" He turned his attention back to Dean, "Sir, may I see her? She and I were very good friends for very many years."
Dean stepped aside, and Achilles walked slowly across the room. He looked down at the body and smiled sadly, "You stupid-" he drew a short and curved sword from his belt. He laid it across her chest and wrapped her hand around the hilt."
He straightened his back and nodded at her, "I would expect more visitors. She will be...greatly mourned."
"Visitors?" Dean rasped, "Who?" His voice sounded almost soft. Sam looked oddly at him.
Achilles shrugged, "Gabriel will come."
Sam scoffed, "Gabriel is dead."
Achilles laughed, "Sure." he looked back at Dean, "There should be funeral games. The very best."
"Games? Funeral games?"
Sam interrupted him, "Greeks had big celebrations to honor important dead, usually kings and heroes."
"She's not a king! She's a kid."
Achilles furrowed his brow, "Mr. Winchester...she was a goddess."
"Yeah...right."
Achilles reached out, handing a slip of paper to Dean.
"What's this?"
"My cellphone number. Call me before the funeral, I will be there. But I have things I have to do, people to tell."
Sam blinked, "You have a cellphone?"
Achilles shot him a look, "Obviously." He turned and reached for the door.
Sam asked, before he could disappear, "In her journal she is close to Patroclus too, where is he?"
Achilles froze, his body rigid, "In heaven as he should be." he said over his shoulder, then he slipped quickly through the door.
Dean turned and looked at Bobby's body, her hand clutched around Achilles' sword, the wounds in her chest a brilliant red.
Dean looked at Sam, "Why didn't she ask us to help her?"
Sam opened his mouth to answer but Dean interrupted him, "Just keep reading the book."
"Dean, you can't take this so personally?"
Dean rounded on Sam, "Personally? She's my kid, Sammy, and she got locked in the bunker at the end of the world, took over hell and hooked up with Crowley. Hell, I did a worse job than Dad. Sammy, she built Hell."
Sam stood and walked toward him, "But Dean, she didn't really make Hell, there were ghosts attacking people, she made a place for them to go, she made a haven, they loved her for it."
"She killed a kid, Sammy, she ate his heart."
Crowley laughed at his, "She chose to kill a single boy who would have died anyway so that she could save the world. Are you trying to say you've never killed an innocent person? Perhaps I should call Kevin to ask about that. Ah- right."
Dean turned at looked at Bobby again, "Just read the damn book."
Sam sat back down and picked up the book, Crowley seemed torn between wanting to continue berating Dean and wanting to hear the journal. He poured himself another drink and nodded at Sam to continue.
XXXXX
From the Journal of Bobby Winchester
With Achilles' and Patroclus' help it was not long until we had found our way to Argos, me a little battered from Achilles' fierce training. I was getting rather good, not as good as Achilles, but who could expect to be as good as Achilles?
I entered the town alone, leaving Achilles and Patroclus with the chariot. I had changed out of my armor and put on the gown that had thus far been stuffed in the bottom of my bag. It was...a little wrinkled, but elegant nonetheless.
I found her easily, she was older than I was, well, I wasn't sure how old I was, time seemed to move in Hell differently from on earth, but she looked older than I did, large eyed and beautiful. She was lounging at the fountain at the center of town. I sat down next to her and smiled, "Io."
She looked up at me, her dark brown eyes questioning, "I am not sure I know you, though you seem to know me, although, who doesn't."
"Persephone, it's a pleasure to finally find you, I've been looking for you for a long time."
She blinked, "Persephone?" Her gaze darkened brazenly, "I want nothing else to do with the gods."
I smiled more broadly, "I think you might be interested in this."
She bared her teeth, "I was turned into a cow, I was pursued across the world, I was dishonored, my father will not speak with me, I was a priestess and now I am nothing."
I responded in a soft voice to counter her harsh one, "I was snatched from the battlefield, locked in Olympus under guard of the hundred eyed dog, I only just escaped."
Her gaze softened, "What I would give to sink a knife in that dog."
I grinned at her, "I did. I left it cold on that prison pedestal."
She reached out and took my hand, "If there was ever a goddess that I might worship it would be the one who murdered that dog. Now why have you been searching for me."
I let the anger I felt Zeus to creep into my eyes and I clutched her hand back, her fingers were long and fierce, "I am fighting a war with Zeus, and I am going to trap him. I have a spell, Io, but I need you."
"Trap Zeus? What do you mean?"
"I mean locking him away, perhaps forever."
There was a light in her eyes, "What do you need from me? Anything."
"Just a little blood, willingly given."
XXXXX
From the Journal of Bobby Winchester
I left Achilles and Patroclus where I had met them, albeit a little sadly. It had been fun running around Greece with them, but I was needed below.
"Be on the look out for us, when we come down to meet you." Achilles laughed as I hugged him farewell.
"You're pretty good with a spear," I said to him cheekily.
"That's what I hear."
The doorway opened behind me and I grinned at both of them, barking to Bones to take me home. Blood willingly given in tow.
AN: Well, as a Classicist I had WAY too much fun writing this chapter, Patroclus is my baby. I hope you all liked it and I have the next one in the works already so maybe not so long a wait.
