Chapter 14

Back when I first met Hades, he looked like a withered tree, its branches falling off one by one. His voice was aged, like his throat was as dry as a piece of toast in a desert. His long hair was grey, chalked in some sort of black powder and it reached to his back. His eyes told another story, but I'll get back to that later. He had blackened hands that seemed to have been smothered in coal or something.

His armor was rotting and cruelly mistreated, molded and torn by a fierce battle or something worse, making an equal level with his expression. It was his face, his expression. He was pale and weak. Almost dying a slow, slow death. His grey, almost blue eyes, were…so sad. Maybe this was being done out of pity when I decided that I will kiss him, but mostly because that was a little attracted to him.

There was a few things I figured out.

I realized that it was his voice I heard when I first came to the palace of Romptus, and to be totally truthful, I was attracted to him completely.

This was before I met Aric.

But at Hades' display of cruelty, I didn't feel as much as attraction as I did with him before.

He was horrible.

He had cruel intentions.

I felt a little bit of fear. But mixed with that fear, was excitement. It was a small thrill to kiss Hades, the Lord of the Underworld, and live in the end and taste death on the lips. I don't even know why Hades would do this to me, but it had to be his punishment for mistrust.

But it didn't feel like… torture.

I placed my hands on his shoulders, inching forward on my toes towards his huge figure. The man seriously towered over me. Perhaps over 6 ft tall, and even if I wore high heels I still would be shorter than him. His armor was cold and rough, but a little smooth, considering it was rotting. My heart was racing. I felt the adrenaline. There was goose bumps all over my arms.

Upon my fingers, black dust was imprinted, and the black dust was being tucked in under my fingernails. This man needed to take a bath, or a shower would be best. My palms spread out, and held him a little bit more steady. I had my balance, so I was ready. I had to do this. Aric couldn't know about this kiss!

Hades stood there, looking impressed and amused. There was a handsome musk of ash and smoke around his shoulders and hair. His face didn't tell much, but he put his hands on both sides of my waist, ready to make some magic happen. I leaned up, placing the softest, simplest, tiniest, smallest, graceful, and most fragile kiss I could possibly conjure up in my entire lifetime.

My lips softly brushed upon his, slowly taking him into it. Coming a little closer, and being extremely careful about this situation.

But something felt different. It wasn't him, but it was me. I was a little astounded, but I felt that I had to kiss him a little bit longer.

During the kiss, I would flutter my eyes to look at him once more, and press in a little deeper.

After a few seconds of contact, he took some control, and placed me closer to his body.

With instinct, I pulled on his shoulders a bit more.

Without even realizing it, I glided my tongue across his bottom lip, making him jump a little in surprise. These people don't know how to kiss like we did back in my time. Ha! His hands were on the side of my cheek, carefully pressing my face a little closer, making the kiss not delicate but… passionate.

It was over, when he pulled away, and I was there completely stunned. It was a little heartbreakingly… amazing. My eyes slowly looked up at him, and he looked back at me. He picked me up bridle style again.

"Whore…" he whispered.

With that, we flew off, and I wasn't afraid of heights anymore.

Zeus' POV:

The King of the Heavens was absolutely outraged, and the other gods trembled under his booming voice.

His fury was terrifying.

"WHO! Who I ask you! It was on my throne chair and now it's gone!"

"Father, no one here could have poss-"

"Our nerves have been shaken TOO much! By the end of this day, I want this 'miracle child' found! I don't care how much it takes! We had her possessions and it's disappeared! The thief shall suffer the consequences."

"But the mortals, can't we-"

Zeus stood from his chair!

"NO! We must search for the girl. FIND the girl and we earn our immortality!"

"We've looked for days. If we look for her now, where will we look first?"

"Ask the kings. Ask the peasants! ANYONE!" Zeus demanded.

"Father! The mortals…!"

"Think of reason, Zeus…"

"Why not think of our immortality first and then the child?"

"We must reach out to the mortals-"

Zeus clenched his fists.

"Did no one hear me? Are you all questioning me! Are you all defying me! Are you all challenging me! Go! NOW! Anyone who says otherwise, get out of my sight! And stay out of my way! GO!"

The gods and goddesses all disappeared in golden orbs, and Zeus sat back down on his throne.

"Why such trouble?" he asked himself.

His nerves were wracked, but that's now what bothered him. It was this newcomer. This 'miracle child' that everyone's been talking about.

They all pray to her and not him?

She wasn't even one of them. She wasn't a goddess and she receives their love!

She was a total mystery to him, and there was only one way to find out who she is, where she came from, and why she was here. A thought came to his head, and maybe the search would be quicker with their help.

Zeus set out to find the witches of wisdom.

With the all seeing Eye.

Zeus knew the gods and goddesses were gone, so no one would know of his small trip. His arms spread out, zapping him to earth and to the witches lair. The three sisters with their wisdom just had to know about this 'miracle child' with their Eye.

Their lair consisted of black water, steam and charcoal black earth that formed into a clawed hand holding their lair together.

He looked around and saw no one.

Fire bubbled from the black water and the steamed mixed in the fire, creating tremendous heat.

"A visitor most special…" crowed an ugly voice.

Zeus turned and saw the sisters crawl toward him on their knees with one sister holding the all seeing Eye in her hand. They came out of nowhere. Their skin was awful, ugly and wrinkled.

"The scent of a god."

"But not just any god. The King of gods."

"Sisters," Zeus addressed," You already know what question I need answering…"

The sisters calmly walked down the black rock stone steps and circled Zeus in a prey-like manner. Their mouths making hissing noises of something worst than snakes. The sisters touched his cloak and his armor, but did not cling on very long.

"Awww… There you are. A King that does not have everything he wants."

"Is the King confused? Is the King of the Heavens exhausted?"

"No. The King is in trouble. Isn't he?"

"Your question is of a newcomer in the universe?"

"The universe was shaken. A newcomer, yes?"

The sisters let out an ugly laugh.

"A girl wanders through your every thought. Who is she?"

"Ah! Who is she? She is a Princess. She is a healer. She is loved by all."

The three of them let out another cackling laugh, slowly turning into giggles.

"Is Zeus in love once again? Is Zeus enraged?"

"But it is nothing but a thought and a shadow that he loves."

"But why does Zeus fear one he loves? The one he loves…"

"The one he loves is, yet, untraceable… The Eye has no sight of it."

Zeus winced, he had never thought of it that way.

Was he in love?

If so, he had no realized it until now.

Unless these witches were only teasing him, since they were, no less, letting out horrible cackling laughter through their black rotting teeth.

He had no reason to it.

The sisters slithered around.

"It is a girl you seek. The Eye has seen your searches throughout the land."

"Awww. This girl has sent you into a frenzy, but we shall not talk. Unless…"

"Payment! Unless you give us payment, we shall say a word more!"

Zeus had no time for this.

He took out gold coins and held it up.

"For a few simple questions I need answering, I shall give each of you sisters a piece of gold. There is no other great payment."

The sisters let out another laughter that was unattractive to the ears. One sister pointed her finger to his head.

"We have no desire for gold. But we will ask you this."

"We ask for a strand. Upon your head."

"One strand of your hair. That's the payment we ask for."

Without question, Zeus plucked a strand of hair from his hair and gave it to the sisters. Giggling and spitting black liquid through their laughter, the sisters gave Zeus their full attention.

"For your thoughts of love, we will say this…"

"This girl is your savior and your messenger of death..."

"This 'miracle child' will save your world…"

"This 'miracle child' will be the death of you…"

"This 'miracle child' will devour your world…"

"Devour your world with magic and dust… So be cautious when dealing with her… Make her furious, and she will harm you. Fatally…"

"Make her fear you, she will defend herself. Both ruthlessly and precisely…"

"Make her hate you… one lift of a finger, and you will die…"

Zeus scratched his chin.

"And my thoughts of love?" Zeus asked.

Bewildered and annoyed.

"Have you not noticed, King of the Gods? Your lust? Your infatuation…?"

"How easy it is for this 'miracle child' to tear at your soul…"

"Even when you both have never known the other's name…"

"To not know eachother and still you love her with every inch you have…"

Zeus wasn't appalled, he was just shocked.

Utterly speechless.

"I am not in love with her… I just need to know what she can do and how she does it. I have no time to have infatuations now. We, gods, are in a state of emergency. She is mortal and she is very, very powerful."

"We know…"

"But to add to your dismay, this 'miracle child' is unlike no other. For the Eye can see her."

That shocked Zeus! His eyes widened.

That was impossible!

The Eye… the all powerful Eye not see one little mortal being in this entire world?

"So you can tell me NOTHING!" Zeus yelled.

"No. We can tell you that with unnatural unleashing forces, this 'miracle child' can strike a deathly blow…"

"This 'miracle child' will turn your heart…"

"If you allow her your heart…"

"But in this plight, one's journey does not end well…"

"Even we find her most unusual. She strikes us puzzled and confused…"

Zeus thought to himself for a moment. If she was not found on the earth, then there might be a chance that she is in the ocean. But his brother would have alerted him. Perhaps she was in the sky, hidden, but Helios must've saw her.

"Then tell me this. I am trying to look for her. How can I find her?"

"There is a solution. One solution…"

"One solution…"

"The solution is that she must come find you. But she must come on her own free will... If forced, trouble will arise…"

Zeus thought of plan, but it would be his most cruel and unusual one yet. Zeus did not want to be both cruel and unusual, for he loved Man too much. One cruel plan and they would lose the love of Man forever. But he must find her.

"What is your solution?" he asked.

The sisters gathered together and gave loud and clear instructions. They pointed in the South direction.

"You must first look for a string…"

"A string. It is located in a hollow withered tree beneath the ocean. The trunk of the tree is beneath the ocean..."

"But the branches are above the water, look for a spider web… The web is the string…"

"Once you have found the web, ask the spider to weave you her string..."

"Remember this. Once you have found this 'miracle child' of yours…"

"Tie the string around her neck, and the string will bind you two together as long as you wish…"

Two sisters laughed, spitting black liquid, and the sister that held the eye pointed towards the East.

Then she looked back at him, hissing.

"If you wish for her not to disappear from your sights again, tie the web around her ankles…"

"Be warned, Zeus, we do not know how powerful she is. The web is told to be unbreakable, even to gods. If she breaks free, there is no eye strong enough to see where she will be going next…"

Knowing that there will be a chance Zeus will lose the girl, the sisters laughed at his soon-to-be failure. They laughed and crawled back to their steam, fire, and black waters of their lair.

Zeus nodded his head in thanks to the sisters, then zoomed back up to Olympus. His power zapped him back to the throne room, and the gods had no returned from their search. This, he must press on alone, and Zeus spread his arms. Transforming into an eagle and down towards the ocean.

Treating the spider with kindness and appreciation, Zeus obtained the web.

The web was in his control now. All he had to do was find the girl and bind her to him forever if need be. But thinking back to what the sisters said… there was no way… it wasn't possible for him… it wasn't likely he would fall in love. To fall in love with someone he has never met.

"Nevertheless… she will be tied to me."

And he will have her.

Your POV:

Hades and I were still flying in the air. His cloaks were more like smoke than cloth. We've been flying for a long time, and this was so much more awesome than an airplane!

"Where are we going?" I asked.

He looked down at me.

"Somewhere to hide."

"From what?" I whispered, hoping he won't get angry from too many questions.

"My brother…" Hades seethed.

If I remembered correctly…Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades were all brothers. They ruled three different places. The Heavens, the Ocean, and the Underworld. Maybe those classes did pay off.

"Which brother?"

"Zeus… And all other matter of gods. You do not know this?"

"I don't… Why? Is he looking for me? I mean, for what?"

Hades finally landed somewhere I didn't recognize. He put my down and I was a little jetlagged, so I fell down to my knees and sat there for a while.

Just by his body language, he was going to interrogate me again.

I covered myself up, since the night was so cold.

"What forces keep you alive?"

He kneeled down infront me."What?"

"You are not a Princess. You not a healer. You are not a child of a god or goddess… But you…" Hades lowered his voice with a softened face.

"…What?"

He came closer.

"You have shaken our universe. The gods in Olympus fear you. Zeus questions you. Now, tell me what you can do…"

Hades grabbed my chin

"I can't do anything…"

"Lies! You posses some aura… some strange power."

"Wait. What do you want from me! I'm just a girl who likes to help out other people… Remember, I don't know how I got here. I just did."

Hades stood up again.

Pacing back and forth, he pondered to himself.

His hand was on his head.

"I can not take you to the Underworld. You would not survive there. I can not take you where they can find you… The gods are all out on a bounty hunt for you… I cannot take you to the mountains or valleys. Not the oceans, no. Certainly not the heavens. Apollo or even Helios will find you. That is how much you are special…"

"Well, is that a bad thing? I thought Zeus was suppose to be…nice and stuff. And the other gods too… Can't Zeus take care of me?"

Hades glared at me, hard.

Furious.

His eyes seemed to have glowed red.

I might've said the wrong thing.

It looked like he was about to slap me.

"He is not kind. He is not graceful. He shares no affection or compassion. He is not what you mortals think him to be. He is a trickster… A deceiver. Time heals all wounds…but revenge is quicker!"

Just by that, I could tell that Hades was just after revenge and not something selfish or greedy. But I didn't know the whole story. Whatever Zeus did, must've hurt him so bad that he would go too far just to get back what he wanted. It just involved me.

"So where do I play in this?"

"Zeus and the other gods of Olympus survive on Man's prayers. It feeds their immortality. But with cruel actions against the mortals, the mortals challenged and defied the gods. Without their prayers, the gods will perish."

"So you will die too?"

I covered my mouth, because I thought I said another wrong thing. Hades looked sad, possibly getting the intention I wanted him to die.

He looked the other way. His sad expression growing by each second.

I was too nice for my own good, so I got up and hooked my arm with his arm.

Comforting him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean I wanted you to… I mean I don't hope that you…go away… it's just that I'm not familiar with the whole issue of the gods and mortals. I am so sorry. I didn't mean anything by it."

He looked down at me, tightening his arm on mine.

"Well, to let you know, the gods survive on the love of mortals… While I… survive on their suffering. Their pain. I am the ruler of the Underworld. The Helm of Darkness. That is where I stay…"

Hades looked away from me.

"Oh… I don't know how that feels. But… I'm sorry it's like that… I mean, I would hate to live like that."

"That is where it began. I hate Zeus. I hate everything. I hate my brothers. I hate all of them. I despise Zeus, ever since he tricked me."

That's where our conversation was heated.

"Wait. Wait. Wait. He tricked you! That son of a… And what does he say about it?"

"I don't care what he says. He just had to receive their love and not me. The gods live luxuriously…"

"While you're stuck in the Underworld? That's totally unfair!"

Hades nodded in agreement, very content that I understood his side of the story. Then he held me by the shoulders.

"Out of hatred, I wanted to rule Olympus, so I made believe that I still served Zeus. Zeus let me loose upon the mortals. Forcing them through fear to pray to Zeus, but Zeus did not know that their fear fueled my immortality. Within 10 days, I the Kraken, to destroy their city and devour the Princess… The mortals fear fueled me instead of my brother. The gods were slowly dying. I was close to victory. Zeus had almost fallen. But then, the son of Zeus, Perseus struck me with his weapon of lightening. He had killed my Kraken. I was sent back to the Underworld."

"H-How did you survive?"

"Fate was on my side that day. But it left it's mark on me. Reminding me to never fail again."

"But w-why does that include me?" I asked.

"Do you remember… when you prayed for me?"

I thought for a minute.

"I do. Back when I first got here…"

"For curiosity's sake, why did you pray?"

"My dad. But what does that have to do with anything?"

"Remember? When a mortal prays for a god-"

"That god gets stronger… so when I prayed for you, you got stronger?"

"Yes. Think further into it…" Hades insisted.

"So that's… So THAT'S why! I'm from another world, so it's different from everyone else's prayers. The gods know that if I pray to them-"

"They get stronger. That's why your so precious. That's why they're trying so hard to get to you. If they find you. Who knows what they'll do to you. Force you to do their will. The gods have been known to be very cruel."

All this time…he's been helping me!

I felt relief!

"Wow! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You've been so good to me!" I hugged him tightly," you don't know how much this means to me!"

Hades lowered his head towards me with soft eyes.

"But there is no place here that I can hide you for long. It seems an impossible task. The gods are slowly dying, so they'll never stop hunting you. They need you. They want you to replenish them."

"Well if the gods are jerks, then I don't wanna help them. I saw villages that suffered their cruelty. Even King Romptus and even Andra and Adelio."

I thought to myself for a minute and had- an idea. I've one done it a few times, but it didn't mean I was an expert on it. But maybe…it could work. It's going to be totally crazy, but it can work! If the other gods knew that Hades was helping me, they'll come after him to. Maybe with some training and concentration, there was a chance I could transport us back to my time.

"Hades… hear me out for a minute. Ok, I'm no expert, but I can transport us back to my time! I'm like, not confident about it. But I'm hoping it'll work."

"Y-Your world?"

"Yea! Why not? I'm not thinking about myself, but I'm thinking of you to! If the other gods find out what you did… who knows what they'll do. We can hide in my world! The gods won't be there."

Hades thought for a moment, thinking about any loopholes that would appear in my plan.

"I want to help you," I said smiling at him," Please…?"

Hades was not strong enough to defend me with his godlike abilities, after his lightning strike. We would both be in trouble if Zeus discovered us. The gods would be merciless if they found us.