An unusual day

Chapter I

Hades. Lord of the Underworld. So sad…So lonely…So…bored.

Hades sighed out loudly as he shooed the 153th spirit away who had some terribly important issue to report. The god buried his face in his hand, his mind numb, his eyes stinging and his mood sinking from 'don't care' to 'leave me alone'. Of course, being the God of the Underworld, that was not an option. And he knew it well. And hated it, a lot. Not the fact that he had to listen to hundreds of spirits a day or that he had to manage thousands of them. Or the fact that it had been weeks since he saw the sunlight. Or the fact that he had not rested for years.

The only thing bothering him was that he was the only one in his throne room. Alone. Always alone.

Hades rubbed his forehead before taking a deep breath. He lifted his gaze as another spirit, wearing a white tunic, stomped into the chamber with an annoyingly serious expression. The god rolled his eyes, expecting another trivial issue to be presented to him.

'What now?' – He demanded before the spirit had the chance to get close enough to see the features of his Lord.

'Lord Hades, I bring dire news! We have another one!' – The spirit gasped, his eyes wide as if not believing what he himself was saying.

"It's been a while…hasn't it?" – Hades turned his gaze on the smaller throne next to his, the spirit's words like an echo in the back of his mind, faded quickly away. There it was, the throne that belonged to his wife, Lady Persephone. She was not there. Even though it was winter Persephone was not in the Underworld. After the war, Zeus asked his brother to let the goddess spend more time on Olympus with her mother. Hades agreed. How could he say no? Even when Persephone was with him, all she did was ignore him, avoid him or, if they met by chance, argued with him. He was so tired of it all. He thought he would feel worse without her presence, but he sadly admitted: he actually felt relieved. She was not there to remind him of his 'unforgivable deed', she did not harass him, did not scold him. Hades blinked the thoughts out of his mind and turned his eyes back on the spirit.

'Another one?' – He raised an eyebrow, his face reflecting absolutely nothing, just boredom.

'Another living hero!' – The spirit's tone was urgent, if not panicky.

'Living, you say?' – That piqued his interest. He straightened in his throne, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. – 'Another hero, popping down here to save a loved one? Now, that's been a while. Unless….'

His interest evaporated just as quickly as it came.

'Unless it is Perseus Jackson, yet again!'

He could not hide his annoyance even if he tried. The fact that Percy was his brother's son was just one thing that insulted him. The fact that his son, Nico, was tortured for so long because of his emotions he had for him angered him even more. The fact that… His swirling thoughts were interrupted by the spirits high-pitched tone.

'It's a female, my Lord!' – The messenger looked excited, like he was expecting the god to get pumped up at hearing that information. He was so wrong.

'Just say a girl, or woman, not female…Oh, gods, whatever.' – Hades waved his hand dismissingly. – 'Whatever, throw her out or whatever…'

Hades stood from his throne, stretched long, his bones cracking.

'But….but my Lord, the female…'

'Don't say female! Girl! Woman!—

'Lady?' – Hades was interrupted by an unknown voice that rang out from behind him. The god tilted his head to the side with a slightly puzzled look on his face.

'Lady…is a fine choice. Definitely better than 'female'.' – He turned slowly, the curious look melting away, his piercing pitch-black eyes fixed on the figure that slowly walked out of the shadow of his throne.

The woman who appeared before the Lord of the dead looked around seventeen, maybe eighteen. At least, Hades guessed so. Without taking his eyes off his guest he waved his hand, signaling the messenger that he was free to leave. It took a few seconds for the spirit to realize that he was ordered to exit the chamber. He, then, rushed out glancing back again and again feeling ecstatic. His Lord finally showed interest in something.

Soon as the spirit left, Hades focused on the woman again.

'I am impressed. Not many get this close to me without being detected. How did you do that?'

The stranger just shrugged her shoulders, her face reflecting confusion.

'I have no idea.' – She pouted softly. She was weird, Hades thought. She showed no sign of fear, regret or at least fierce hatred towards him. This was unusual. In normal cases, those who stood before the Lord of the Underworld, usually felt at least one thing. Fear of him, of his final judgement. Regret of living the way they lived, regret of asking to be brought in front of him to argue their case. Hatred for him for taking a loved one or something else. They always blamed him for something. However, the woman in front of him showed no sign of any of those emotions. She look slightly confused, but otherwise curious, interested even.

'What do you mean exactly?' – He circled around the strange visitor, observing her. He saw two daggers resting in their sheaths that were attached to the lower back of the woman. Other than that, nothing particular. Plain clothes, regular jeans, regular shirt, with a regular vest…No…armor. Interesting.

'I went to sleep last night on Santa Monica Beach. I lit a fire, snuggled up in my sleeping bag. Then fell asleep. Next thing I know, I wake up in a damp cave, all dark, nothing to see, no way to see! The only light I saw was coming, as it turns out, from this chamber.' – She pointed up behind herself, up at the ceiling of the throne room. At first Hades saw nothing, but he squinted his eyes and saw a narrow crack, like the ceiling had split slightly.

'Hmph…Interesting.'

'I know, right?!' – The woman snickered then sighed softly. – 'Did you do it? Can I go now?'

Hades shook his head.

'No, and again no.'

'Thought so and again thought so.' – The woman frowned, wrinkling her nose which the god actually found amusing.

'You do know who I am, right?' – He was not so sure by then. The woman seemed weird, crazy even, acting like she did not read her situation very well. Thus, she was either a very good actress or mad to the bone.

'Pff, of course! Lord Hades, God of the Underworld and the dead and all the riches of the Earth blah, blah, blah…' – The woman glanced at the god. He was handsome, his features so fine, but his gaze so deadly. His eyes a bottomless pit filled with madness, threat, but also curiosity, ancient knowledge and even kindness. She was drawn strongly to those eyes. She tried not to stare. The god's cape freaked her out, all the faces in agony forming then disappearing giving place to newer faces to appear. Creepy. Message noted! Do not anger the God of the dead. He was tall, he was in his human size and human form, but still he was tall and his build reflected strength. She imagined a muscular body hidden in those black robes he was wearing. She knew very well who he was. And she had no freaking clue how she ended up in front of him.

'What's your name, heroine?' – The god asked in his deep, but smooth voice. The woman felt like her chest resonated with each sound the god uttered.

'My name is Camilla.' – Camilla's voice slowly faded as she answered the question. Hades noticed the hesitation in her tone. He remained silent, he sensed the other had something to add. – 'At least, that's what I was told.'

The woman raised her gaze and looked straight into the god's eyes. The Lord of the Underworld furred his brows ever so slightly, his guest's answer forcing him to rearrange his set of questions he wanted to ask her.

'Told…you say?' – A faint smile lurked in the corner of his thin lips, his thoughts were in a frantic state, like a thunderstorm raging through his mind. Finally, he forgot his boredom. Finally, an unusual day!