Chapter 29
My triumphal entrance was muted somewhat by a nearly entirely empty palace. Dionysus had disappeared into his room without answering and Crowley, according to his secretary was on some sort of trip with Gabriel which was too adorable for me to be really upset about, but I did not really enjoy coming home to an empty palace.
I dropped off my armor in its stand and carefully deposited my blood in a locking case. I sighed roughly and, pulling on a comfortable pair of pants and a loose shirt, I trudged out of the room. I was met by my handmaiden who gasped at me, "My lady!" she exclaimed, "Did I not provide adequate clothing, I'm sorry, my lady, I did not know you would be returning."
I waved her away, "No no, there's clothes, this is fine."
She looked ready to argue then backed down, "As you wish, my lady."
In my absence I had forgotten this sort of thing. I could play a good game of dressing up and frowning down at people like a good cold hearted queen, but it wasn't my instinct. It made me almost yearn for my years alone in the bunker, it made me realize how much I had loved adventuring with Achilles and Patroclus.
Yawning and rounding a corner I nearly ran into someone, I put out my arm and stepped aside to keep from bowling them over, "Oh, excuse me."
"My lady!" it was Xed, he smiled openly at me, "You're back. How was your trip? Did the chariot work well? Was it easy to control a hellhound? Was the mission successful?" He asked all of these things very quickly without taking a breath.
"Yeah, Xed, I got everything done, made some new friends. The chariot was great."
He beamed, "Congratulations, my lady- uh sorry - Persephone. I've mi-oh um. Glad you were...successful."
"You want to get a drink or something, Xed?"
His body went weirdly stiff. This was my least favorite part of being the Queen of Hell, I really just wanted to hang out with this guy and he was getting all weird.
"Sorry, Xed, I didn't - look I'll talk to you later."
"No, I'd um. I'd love to get a drink with you."
I grinned at him, "Great, come on." I led him to the sitting room and poured him a drink before pouring one for myself. "So, how's the Underworld been while I was gone?"
He took the drink and settled across the room from me. Preferring him to be a little uncomfortable than to yell all the way across the room, I sat on the other side of the couch he had chosen, leaning against its arm.
He was sitting stiffly, "Oh, the underworld was alright, Lord Hades kept everything under command, although he doesn't seem to get along with Dionysus very well. There has been some tension. And um...there has been...um..."
He trailed off, I let him, he was nervous enough without me badgering him. I laughed, "Yeah, I really want to like him but he does that thing…"
Xed took a drink of his wine and frowned, "What thing?"
"You know," I hedged, "That madness violence sex….thing. Has he not done that to you?"
He went brilliantly red and shoved himself harder against the sofa arm, "No I -um...what? That sounds...uncomfortable. um. No. This is wine. Good wine. This wine is good."
I was getting uncomfortable with how uncomfortable Xed was, I couldn't really figure out why he was so tense. I refilled his cup and sat back down, "So have you been working on any projects?"
"Oh, yes, I have actually. I am working on this armor for Hellhounds, to make them more effective in battle."
Really, I stood and pulled him up by the hand, "Show me!"
He went pink again, "Oh - Alright." he set down his glass and led me through the palace to his workshop. I followed him, shuffling my feet, I was more tired than I really had thought I would be. I drank my wine as I walked, I wasn't about to abandon that just to see some Hellhound armor.
I yawned, as I followed him and he glanced back at me coloring again before stumbling on. I was not sure what was wrong with him. "So," he said, peering back at me, "What did you do on earth? You said you made friends? Who?"
"Um, these two guys, Achilles and Patroclus, they taught me how to fight better."
"Oh," he said with surprise, "You, um, you wandered around with two um, two men? Warriors?"
"...yes."
"Oh, so did you um, I mean, were they, uh, nevermind. I'm um… I'm glad that you met friends. Does Lord Hades know?"
"No, I haven't seen him yet." I took another swig of wine. Crowley was right to miss liquor, whisky would have been preferable to this.
He held the door open and let me walk in. In the middle of the workshop was a giant dog sized set of twisted dark metal armor, "Wow, Xed, that's really excellent, you're a really good blacksmith, no I mean like you're a really good blacksmith." I turned and clapped him on the shoulder jovially.
I went closer and peered around at the armor, running my hands over it. I turned back to grin at Xed and found that he was already staring at me. "These are great, Xed, when can you have more done, we'll have to have some of the soldiers train with the dogs, really integrate them."
"You think so? I mean, you think its a good idea? Really?"
"Yeah, yeah Xed," I grinned at him, "Do these shoulder parts move?"
"Oh, yes," he said coming toward me, he took the large shoulder plate and showed me how it bent up and down. His bare biceps flexed when he did, he was more well muscled than I had noticed and had sort of a musky masculine smell.
"So," I asked, furrowing my brow at the metal, "When we were in battle, they mostly got attacked in the sternum, is there a front plate to protect them there?"
"Yes," he said with excitement, I had them spar with some soldiers and watched them."
"Right, so this part," I said, lifting a large plate, "Is this what goes across the sternum?" I tried to lift it into place so I could visualize it but, with a single hand, the other holding my wine, I wasn't really strong enough.
"Let me help you," he reached around me and lifted the plate into place.
I bent to inspect it, looking at the flat planes of the front plate. "You should put in some ridges to displace spear strikes.
"That is a good, um, can I put it down, uh… It's just...heavy."
From the doorway came a deep voice, "You're home."
I turned to see Crowley leaning in the doorway, dropping the armor Xed about leapt back from me. I smiled at Crowley and walked toward him, "Yeah, you were gone, off with Gabe?"
His gaze was a little darker and more intense than I thought it should be for a welcome-home-greeting. "What? Oh- yes, Gabriel. Come have a drink with me, although, it seems you have already started with the blacksmith."
"I'd love more," I said finishing my cup, I looked over my shoulder, "Good job with the armor, Xed, see you later." I looked expectantly at Crowley.
"Oh, is it my turn now?" he said under his breath.
I wrinkled my nose in confusion and went back to our chambers, letting the door close before I turned on him, "Oh is it my turn now? What the hell does that mean?"
He glowered, "You're gone for months and when you come back I find you wrapped in the arms of some blacksmith?"
"...really? Is that why you're mad, because he was showing me armor...for the military...that I run?"
Crowley stepped toward me, a danger in his eyes meant to intimidate but I found kind of silly, "A well muscled boy who ogles you whenever you walk by, and can't speak properly in your presence was 'showing you armor' with his arms around your waist, whispering in your ear?"
I was taken aback, "I mean...he doesn't...ogle me. And besides, I'm going to have to speak with him, he's the blacksmith, and he's really good."
He crossed his arms and turned away, looking uncomfortable. "What the hell, Crow? Why are you so irate about this? I'm home again, I got the blood, I thought you'd be happy."
"Do you imagine I paced around the palace just waiting for you to come back?"
"Uh no I-"
"Perhaps laying in the bed at night smelling your scent on the pillows?"
"Crow, what the fu-"
"While you run off with handsome men I just wait for you with a hollow heart?"
I shoved him backward a step, which effectively stopped him, "Crowley, you need to settle down. Did you finally go crazy? Did Gabriel ruin you?"
He stopped and turned away, walking aggressively across the room then turned and snarled over his shoulder at me, "How was your trip across Greece with the famously handsome Achilles?"
I laughed, "You're really mad about that, well first, he's really young, second, I'm pretty sure he's in love with Patroclus. But while we're talking about it," my voice dropped from a jovial laugh to a sharp and biting snarl, "I get to spend time with men without you losing your mind."
He charged back toward me, "Oh, is that right? Then you plan on galavanting frequently with men famed for their looks?"
"If I damn well please!"
I thought for a moment that he was going to strike me, but he did not. He just pressed his face right up into mine and leered, "What, then were you doing with Achilles that took you so long?"
I did not let my eyes waiver from his, there was no reason to lie, but he wasn't really endearing me to openness and honesty, "You'll have to trust me, Crowley." This might have been the Crowley that my father had hated, the one my he had warned me against. I realized for the first time that the man who was the last person on Earth and the reigning King of Hell might be two different men.
A knock on the door interrupted his reply, "Enter," he barked, turning away from me.
A hesitant servant poked his head in, "My Lord, Lady Aphrodite is awaiting you."
I stepped back from him, "Oh, Lady Aphrodite? You didn't tell me she had dropped by," I said this in my sweetest voice, "You had better go, you wouldn't want to keep her waiting."
His face was cold and stripped of emotion, and he bit back, "I am get to spend time with women without you losing your mind." I raised an eyebrow and he nearly fled out the door after the guard.
I did not follow him immediately. There was something wrong. Crowley did not flee. Even worse, Crowley didn't lose control, not over nothing, not over something so stupid like my being friends with a teenager. My heart skidded in my chest. Slipping on a real gown, doing something to my hair, now falling to my chin, and choosing my softest shoes. I intended to look the part when I met Aphrodite for the second time. I glanced at myself in the mirror. My crown tilted on my head, I righted it. No matter how long I was Queen I always surprised myself when I looked the part. In my head I was rough and leather clad.
Crowley and Aphrodite's enclave was not hard to find, he had met with her in the private sitting room off the throne room, as I had expected. Their backs were to the open door and, if I walked slowly and quietly enough, I could glimpse them before they knew I had entered.
They were sitting next to each other on the same couch, her shoulders bare in whatever dress she was wearing. I leaned against the doorway and listened to her purr in a soft whisper and watched his shoulder lean against hers. I could smell her perfume from here. It was intoxicating. I was neither obligated nor interested in seeing more. I shifted uncomfortably in my silk gown, I stepped back from the door and slipped down the hall.
I hardly made a noise as I clipped up the hallway for the door with vines poking out from underneath it. I knocked three times in quick succession. After a long wait Dionysus answered abruptly, eyes narrowed at me, he was in pajamas, loose pants and nothing else. I raised my eyebrows, he seemed less intimidated this way, more human. His dark eyes sunk into mine.
"Di," I addressed him, "I've got the blood, I know Hades will do the spell the second he has the chance, so come with me."
He raised a slender brow, "Come with you where?"
"Out and about, let's adventure, there are plenty of monsters to hunt." The idea was congealing in my head as I talked. The air in the palace was suffocating. I had to get out. To be in the sun again.
He frowned and tilted his head, then a slow smile crept up his face, "You're going on an adventure? The moment you return? And you would like me to come?"
"Yeah, we're friends."
"Not because Hades is sleeping with Aphrodite."
I stared at him and in a voice more distressed than I had anticipated I asked, "...is he?"
"I didn't concern myself with it. If they are, I had nothing to do with it." His voice was more serious that I had heard it, not laced with any of his usual slipperiness.
"Really?" I couldn't decide if I would rather devious Dionysus had forced his hand or take the opportunity as it presented itself.
He reached out hesitantly and put a long fingered hand on my shoulder, the gesture seemed foreign to him, "We are friends. I'll come with you."
I grinned, repressing my churning emotions, "Great, I'm bringing Xed too, and Gabe."
"I'll meet you-."
"Twenty minutes, in the workshop."
He nodded and fixed me with a smile that wasn't undercut by darkness.
My heart was pounding as I walked away from him. I knew Crowley would take care of capturing Zeus, he was more of a threat to Hell than Crowley could stand for. I wasn't, however, sure that I wanted to disappear. I knew I was running, but after my adventure the palace was stifling and Crowley was...was the first person I had ever met outside my family. That didn't make him necessarily the best. My father had hated him. He screamed at me for having a friend that wasn't him. I quickened my pace. He had saved me from Zeus. I touched my lips and for a moment I stopped walking. It wasn't often that he showed tenderness but he had. And he smelled...he smelled like home.
I looked up, ready to turn and confront Crowley, to repair whatever needed repairing. Dark glass of a window stared back at me, with a glimmering reflection. I in my silken gown. Unfamiliar and regal. I proceeded to Gabriel's room.
Gabriel was in his room, passed out on the bed, face down. I shook him, "Gabey, Gabey wake up."
He sat up, bleary eyed. Then, seeing me, shot up and threw his arms around me, I hadn't noticed, he was taller than he had been when he came, his jaw was getting a little sharper. I looked down at him, unsure how he would react. "Gabe, I am going for a while...maybe for...a long while. I'm not- I'm not a -" this was harder than talking to Dionysus.
He looked up at me, and I could see stickiness around his mouth, a pastry hastily eaten. Glancing over his shoulder I saw a dinner sized plate with the remnants of a dessert left upon it. The room itself looked too lived in, I knew how a place looked if you had not left it. This hardened my heart against Crowley who had promised to take care of him, "I'm going on an adventure on earth, hunting."
He interrupted me, his voice harder than I had heard it, "You're leaving me? Again? Leaving me here?"
"No," I took him by the shoulders, "Come with me."
"Onto earth?"
"Yeah."
He licked some of the frosting from the corner of his mouth, and looked at me for a few seconds then said, in a serious voice I wasn't used to from him, "You want me to go with you?"
I kissed fiercely on the forehead, "You are my boy, as much as anybody who made you. I found you when you were hurt and I've harbored you in my castle. You are my son, Gabriel. My son. I will not abandon you somewhere you do not want to be. But you were made for open skies and a laughing sun. You were not made for the land of the dead. Come with me."
His eyes shimmered, "Bobby," he whispered, my real name, it burned brightly, hearing it from him, "Let's go now."
He came with me to the workshop. I didn't knock, Xed was standing over the armor muttering to himself.
"Xed." I called out. He jumped and turned.
"My..my lady. You're back."
"Yeah, look, uh….you know...uh..how long as Aphrodite been here?"
He glanced away, his face darkening, "A...a few weeks, my lady - uh..Persephone. My Lord Hades and she have been...working together closely. I wanted to tell you-"
"Right." I shrugged, cutting him off, as though this hadn't wounded me, "So, I am...going monster hunting and...I want you to come. This isn't an order. Just, as a friend, I want you to come."
He stared at me, "As a friend? You- uh - yes. Yes. When are we leaving?"
"Now."
He leapt into action, gathering things into a knapsack, "Right now? Oh - alright. I'll - um - be right there."
"I'll be back, Gabe, give me ten minutes."
I went alone to my room to retrieve my things, a small backpack of travel gear and weapons. My father's journal. I clipped myself back into my armor and hoisted the back. I penned a note and left it for him, weighed down on the bed by my crown.
C,
Hunting.
-B. Winchester
Dionysus was waiting in the workshop by the time I got there. The grown up thing to do would be talk to Crowley, fix whatever was or wasn't happening. But if I stayed it was an eternity of this. Of 'yes ma'am' and 'as you wish, my lady.' I was not made for it. I almost shook. It seemed like everything had collapsed with no warning with almost no reason. But I had built hell for him, had ruled hell for him, I had been playing his game for his sake. I was less concerned with whatever he might be doing with Aphrodite, she was, after all, Aphrodite, and if she wanted to set her claws into someone I could only assume they would hardly be able to resist. I wanted to play my own game. Live in the sun, on my feet. I wanted to do something that would make my father proud of me.
Bones was waiting there too, Xed had fitted him into the new armor. My gathered friends politely ignored my clenched shoulders and gnawed lip as they followed me through the portal, into the Grecian sun and away from the King of Hell.
"What will we be doing?" Gabriel asked as we stepped through the portal.
I shrugged, "Saving people. Hunting things."
AN: What do you think!
