Time for Hades! I'm not the best with writing Hades, his mannerisms and speech patterns are pretty unique.
Sorry for the long delay... this has been a very difficult couple of months for me. This chapter isn't finished so I'll post part 2 once I finish it but I wanted to get SOMETHING up to prove I'm not dead. I hope you approve of this.
Hey, name is Hades, Lord of the Dead. No need for long introductions, I'll be seeing you soon enough. Anyways! It's time for my side of the story, y'know, the one no one listens to? Buckle up kids, it's time for a ride.
"Your freedom," two simple words that I knew would make the little doll turn to putty in my hands. She was so desperate to be free. She spun around, her eyes wide and skeptical. I had grown use to that look, even after three years she never learned to trust me. Not for lack of effort on my part; but then again she stopped trusting anyone. I would be remiss to say I wouldn't miss the dame once I took her collar off, but I had bigger fish to fry.
"My freedom?" The same skepticism marred her tone,
"Bingo! No strings attached to this one," For once she didn't have a sarcastic reply. "C'mon he's a guy they aren't hard to figure out. "
"Your right, they aren't. And you're a guy; your motivations are easy to figure out. There has to be a catch…" She crossed her arms, and was trying to look confident. But that was the last word I would use to describe her.
"No catch babe, promise. You scratch my back, I scratch yours,"
"With a dagger," She scoffed. I was in no mood to deal with her skepticism I had precious little time to get my last-minute plan into action,
"Enough!" I felt the flames ripple down my neck and across my arms, and the dame finally understood her place as she cowered away from the heat. She had been burned before. She knew I was far from a harmless little cuddly-wuddly teddy bear. "You don't have a choice so why don't you take this little treat and run off before I change my mind and make you do it because I own you!" Contempt crossed her features as she ran off. I guess she finally got the message.
I moved back over to one of my many earthbound thrones, enjoying the feel of the cool stone against my crackling skin, still tingling from my outburst. I'd never been all that great at reining in my temper, but hey being a hot-heat gets people to fear you. As Lord of the Dead, fear is good.
I massaged my temples, trying to regain my calm. I would give my dearest little Meg a couple hours to accomplish her task, warm up to that bumbling hero. My gaze shifted outside, to the stars above. I recognized the planets quickly, the glowing yellow Venus, the blood red Mars, Jupiter making a startlingly bright appearance. Of course those little balls were named after my lovely friends and relatives just thinking about those names was enough to make me want to set the entire country on fire. So I took Rome's pet-names for them. Roman Empire, cocky little puppets thinking they would own the world forever. I'd seen enough empires rise and fall that they would just be another mass of people to visit my river.
I enjoyed my final hours of relaxation before the real work would begin. While little nut-Meg sauntered off to have some fun those of use with a sense of purpose had to work. She never appreciated how hard I worked for her. Make her chamber more comfortable, provide her with every necessity, every comfort, give her company at night, someone to keep her warm. Ungrateful little! … But I'm getting off track.
I looked at the sky again, figuring I had given that little princess adequate time to seduce that lumbering bull in a china shop. Well, pottery. Semantics. I snapped my fingers and pried apart a statue, melting and molding it to my preference.
"Hey what's the buzz, eh Meg? What is the weak link in Wonderboy's chain?" I saw a flower in her hand, and knew her seduction was successful. For someone so determined to lay off man handling she knew how to work those curves. Sexy little seductress. My own little siren.
"Get yourself another girl, I'm through!" I beg your friggin' pardon little girl?
"I'm sorry, do you mind running that by me again? I must have a chunk of brimstone wedged in my hear or somethin-" One more chance to give me the correct answer you insolent little-!'
"Then read my lips! For-get it," She interrupted me, how I hated that. I forced back the flames that threatened to rise. She turned, tried to walk away from me, but I was not playing that little game. She was my minion and one petulant little woman was not ruining my plans to punish my brother. I had waited eons for this. I shifted off my stone throne, chasing after her, grasping her face in my hands,
"Meg Meg Meg my sweet deluded little minion… I think we're forgetting one teensy-weensy but ever-so-crucial, little tiny detail… I own you!" I felt the flames overtake my body, too enraged at her insolence to enjoy the sight of her cowering away from me. Even so, that pathetically stubborn woman refused to give me that obnoxious boy's weakness. She forgot her place. I was going to have to remind her. She was staring back at me with that look of defiance, her fear already gone. I admired it, but right now it was not something I could use to my advantage. She was carrying on like child with her first crush, infatuated with that blundering walking tornado. I was disappointed; she was normally smarter than this. But I looked, saw she had a flower in her hand; she's not the only infatuated one.
"He has no weaknesses, he is gonna-" She spun around, piercing me with her rage-filled gaze but it melted quickly enough when I approached her, standing close enough I could smell her. She always smelled of life, of the trees and the soil. Woodsy, yet floral. Even after living in my domain for years she still looked and smelled very much alive; a walking contrast to everything that was my world. I would miss that once I held up my end of the bargain. Hey I may be selfish, but I always hold up my end of the deal; unlike my brother. But that's a tale for another time.
"I think… he does Meg," I pulled the flower from her hand, looking at the delicate plant. A lotus, how romantic. "I truly think, he does," I smiled, igniting the flower and watching her expression change. Her rage, her determination, that smug look of victory, all vanished. Fear. That is what I prefer. As long as she still fears me, she'll obey me. But no matter, I don't need her compliance anymore.
"What, you think he's got allergies or something?" She lifted a curved brow at me, regaining control of herself. Mask your fear with sarcasm. I expected this much.
"Enough games Meg," I wasn't going to play along. "If you're willing to give up your freedom, forever, I might add, I'm sure I can convince Wonderbreath to give up something of his," I smirked, "Still sure you don't wanna bet on the winning horse?"
"Never," Heh guess I have to admire that spunk. Just wish she picked better timing. No matter. I got what I wanted.
"Geeze Loise one little date has you all riled up like a horny schoolgirl! Hmm… guess you didn't swear off man handling. Working those curves for Wonderboy huh?" I felt a twinge of jealousy momentarily cloud my judgment. What did that supernova of enthusiasm have that I didn't? I had wealth, power, immortality. I could give her everything yet she would betray me for him? I suppose in the end I did throw the right curves at him. Hers. The ones that belonged to me. My brother took everything from me, and now his son was taking her from me. I would make him suffer a fate to make Prometheus himself weep with joy at the mercy of his own. "Well it's been fun. But I've got work to do. Thanks for the help babe, couldn'ta done it without you!" I snapped my fingers, and was at the stadium, watching Hercules as his trainer walked out on him. Take away his allies. Take away everything. I'll even take her away from him. I'm taking everything! All of it!
"Geeze Louise what's got his goat, huh?" The boy turned, the usual idiotic look on his face. What did she see in him? I jumped down, pushing the thought away. I had more important things to do, like take over the Cosmos. One little mortal wasn't going to get in my way. Demigod, but again, semantics. "Name is Hades, Lord of the Dead, hi how ya doin?" I extended my hand, startled at how he seemed to have no idea who I was. Did my brother not tell his son about his uncle? Does he care about me so little? I'm making him pay…
"Look not now, okay?" So dismissive. How rude, I had to teach him some manners. He'd learn to fear me soon enough.
"Hey, hey, I only need a few seconds I'm a fast talker, right? See, I've got this major deal in the works… a real estate venture, if you will. And Herc – you little devil, you, may I call you Herc?" I have other names I'd have liked to call him, but I had to contain myself. Don't blow up too soon, you have your ace in the hole! He'll cave as soon as you play your cards. No need to scare him. Yet. "You seem to be constantly getting in the way of it,"
"You've got the wrong guy," He pushed me away and began to march away. Why that insolent!
"Hear me you out, ya little-" I grabbed him, feeling the prickle of fire the urge to explode, ignite everything. He walked away from as little nut-Meg had. When did these mortals learn to become so bold in the face of a God? Where were the days where the mere mention of your name rendered t them trembling. Calm down! You'll make him pay soon enough. "Just – hear me out, okay? So I would be… eternally grateful if you would just… take a day off from this hero business of yours. Geez, I mean monsters, natural disasters. Pssh. You wait a day, okay?" I put my arm around him, trying to lull him into a false sense of security. Let him think he was winning, like he always did. So the shock of his defeat would hurt even more.
"You're outta your mind," He pushed me away again and began to walk towards some equipment. Yes, soothe yourself with exercise, practice. Whenever you feel weak or cornered you make yourself feel strong again. You won't be feeling strong for long you walking natural disaster.
"Not so fast. Because you see, I do have a little leverage, you might want to know about," I flicked my fingers and Megara appeared. It was an easy enough trick, I just focused on something of mine, my property and it appeared at will.
"Meg!" He shouted her name. Terror, that was more like it. Fear me you pathetic fool. You father's blood won't save you now. I looked up at the sky. The conjunction was near, I had to hurry, clock ticking, sand running out. I was cutting it right down to the wire. He ran to her, and I heard her begin to say 'Don't listen' no no no, can't have this now. You have to realize she is mine and you can't save her this time. I flicked my fingers and bound her. Her legs tripped up and she fell, and with another flick of my fingers she vanished. "Let her go!"
"Here's the trade-off. You give up your strength for twenty-four hours… say the next twenty four hours…" Another snap and she was back in the stadium, looking utterly helpless bound and gagged at my mercy. "Meg here is free as a bird and safe from harm, we dance, we kiss, we schmooze, we carry on, we go home happy, what d'ya say, c'mon?" He still fought me. I was dangling Meg before him, and I began to wonder if instead of offering her freedom I had to threaten her life. With her dead, she'll be in the Underworld, with me, forever. The thought was tempting. And as I began to think of the more horrifying threats I could muster he began to cave, he asked for her safety.
"You have to swear she'll be safe from any harm," I glanced at Meg; she was still fervently trying to gesture to Hercules not to take this deal. Lucky for me he was oblivious, and didn't know how to ready body language to save his life. Or hers. I only have to keep her safe until my takeover is complete. Then I can show her what happens to those who cross me!
"Fine, okay, I'll give you that one. Meg is safe, otherwise you get your strength right back yadda yadda fine print boiler plate baboom we're done. What d'ya say we shake on it?" I held out my hand, nervously glancing at the sky. So little time. I should have cut Meg's little date sooner. "Look I don't really have, like, time, to bat this around I've got plans for August I kinda need an answer, like now." I could see him growing nervous, "Going once… going twice…"
"Alright!"
"Yes! We're there! Bam!" I grasped his hand, drawing the strength from him. I smiled, watching as he collapsed to the ground, clutching at my arm, I hope it hurts. I hope you suffer. I thought, grinning at him. "You might feel just a little queasy, it's kinda' natural why don't you sit down!" I hurled a set of barbells at him, lavishing in the sight of him collapsing beneath it. I rushed to him, wanting, needing, to tear him down off his pedestal. "Now you know how it feels to be just like everybody else," I wasn't oblivious; I had known those words he said to my Megara on their outing. I didn't need to be there to know how he felt about his demigod blood. "Isn't it just… peachy," But I wasn't done. I had to destroy his entire world. Megara, my minion, my companion, my property I had to teach her to never disobey me again. "Oh! You'll love this, one more thing…" He would never forgive her for what she had done to him, and without Wonderboy, who else did she have? Me. Not like she could go crawling back to her daddy-dearest. "Meg," I approached her, "babe, a deal's a deal. You're off the hook," I snapped my fingers to release her from her bonds, and grasped her wrist to pull her towards me. She fought me, struggling to get out of my embrace, "And by the way Herc, is she not like, a fabulous little actress?"
"Stop it," her voice was quiet, defeated. She knew I was going to oust her, and she couldn't stop me. She was willing to give up her freedom for him, and I was going to make sure she could never have him.
"What do you mean?" Fool.
"Your little chickie-poo here was working for me the whole time. Duh." Megara stopped fighting, and her shoulders slumped as she accepted total defeat. I could feel her shoulders begin to tremble beneath my hands. No sarcastic remarks, no more fighting.
"You're… you're lying!" His voice cracked, is the little boy gonna cry? I smiled, relishing this. I wanted to see him crushed; to see that Megara was mine that he never had her. That he was no hero, just another pathetic mortal who stood in my way. I waved a hand and my loyal imps pain and panic came rushing to him, guised as the boys he thought he had saved so many months ago.
"Jeepers mister, you're really strong!" They laughed, turning back into what they really are. Mine. I had finally done it. I had finally defeated Hercules, that impudent offspring of my petulant brother. My plans could finally come to fruition, the words of the fates no longer a mere prophecy but a part of history. No more 'if' but 'when' Hades took over the cosmos.
"Couldn't have done it without you sugar, sweetheart, babe." I taunted, wanting her to understand her role in this. She had to know she did this to him, she brought about the beginning of a new world, she helped me accomplished this long-lived dream. I wished I could have stayed to watch everything play out, to watch the fabled Hero and my little damsel weep as their worlds were torn apart. This will teach you to cross me Meg. She had run to him, begging, pleading, hoping he would forgive her. But of course, he wouldn't. "Well so much for the preliminaries, off to the main event!" I hurried to my chariot, and took to the sky.