hi thanks for reading. I'm sorry I have not updated in so long. I am so busy at collage and work that I can barely write anything. I was going to post earlier but then I decided to just combine a couple chapters. Also I am going to be taking a bit of a break because the person who helps me with the plot is unable to continue so I am kind of alone. I hope to continue the work in the near future but I will need some time.

P.S. Adding another OC, please don't kill me. I couldn't figure out quite how to explain his clothes but here is a link to what his clothes look like. JUST TAKE OUT THE BOLD PRINT BEFORE USING IT.

dresslily.SPACEcom/turndown-collar-pu-leather-jacket-product899943.SPACEhtml

RIGHT AFTER

AMATERASU'S POV

I felt a chill in the air, The air was cold with a foggy mist hanging over the land. I walked past a dead tree, everything here was dead, the grass, the trees, the animals, even the air felt dead. There was no sun, the only colors were black, grey, and over on the edge of my sight I saw a glimmer of red. Nothing stirred and after what felt like miles of aimless walking, I saw a dark castle rise in the horizon.

It was a castle that looked like the decorator was a gothic soldier. The castle was made out of what looked like obsidian and steel and was armed to the teeth with weaponry and defenses.

I approached the castle slowly. On my way there, I noticed the angels kids seemed to have disappeared. I wondered how long they have been missing. I couldn't remember where I last saw them. I shrug my shoulder knowing they will pop up sooner or later.

As I walk towards the castle I notice movement. Skeletons marched around in front of the front entrance. Almost twenty of them were there, patrolling the grounds. I noticed that there was another entrance over on the far side of the castle.

I snuck closer to the back entrance and scouted the area. It had a single guard of a lower level than the rest. The skeleton seemed to pay little attention to the outside of the castle and only glanced from time to time out to the dead plains beyond the castle. It seemed to be keeping something in other than keeping everything out.

I quietly crept over to the skeleton. Hoping that my sneak skill level was high enough. I made it to about two hundred yards away when the skeleton noticed me.

It charged with what appeared to be its ribs in its hands. I pulled out my bow and charged a shot. The aiming interface came up.

Right now my archery skill is at 100.

at level 1 you can shoot arrows.
at level 50 you get crosshairs to see where the arrow will go.
at level 100 I can finally judge distance and see the amount the arrow will drop.
at level 200 I will finally be able to read the weather patterns and adjust my shot accordingly.
at level 400 you can shoot specialized arrows
at level 600you can pinpoint weak spots and disable or stun enemies
at level 800 you can fire multiple arrows at a time
and at the maximum level of 1000 you can shoot even while you have debuffs like paralysis, sleep, or blindness.

I had to make this shot count. Remembering from my last encounter from skeletons, I aimed for the head. It was about one hundred fifty yards now, well within striking distance. I released my shot, it flew straight and true.

It went right between the holes where the eye would have been. The skull shattered into crystals, its body crumpling then bursting into shards. I then sneaked into the garden.

What I found amazed me. It was a lush and vibrant garden paradise that totally contrasted with the lands outside. There were beautiful flowers and tree filled with fruit. I saw some apples, some cherries, a couple pomegranates, and even pears.

The fruit looked so good and I started to feel slightly hungry. I walked over to the trees and inspected the fruit. The fruit looked ripe and juicy, but by far the best looking was the pomegranates. I reached out for the biggest pomegranates and plucked it when I heard a soft growl.

A giant creature was right behind me. It looked like what would happen if you mixed a rhino and a Doberman. Add in a stench that would make a dumpster hobo run for the hills and blood red eyes and you might just have an idea of what it looks like. It was growling slightly but it didn't look very aggressive just frightening.

I set down the pomegranate and equipped my bow. It then sat down like everything was right in the world. Confused I put my bow away. the hellhound just tilted its head at me. I bent down and touched the pomegranate. It immediately started to growl softly. I moved my hand away and it calmed down.

OK, don't touch the fruit. I thought to myself.

The dog got up and walked down a path then sat down. It looked like it wanted me to follow it. I felt a little weird. Wasn't this a monster that I would usually have to fight not follow. I equipped my bow just in case. I then walked carefully towards the hellhound. It then stood up and continued down the path.

We continued for about two minutes before I saw a table and a girl sitting there. The hellhound walked up to the girl and curled up and fell asleep.

I approached the girl carefully. When I was almost ten feet away she said "Hello, are you here to speak with my husband?"

"Who are you?" I asked

"Ahh, so you don't know. I wondered why my pet led you here, I still do." The girl said looking at the hellhound

"Wait, what do you mean your pet? You mean that that thing is your pet. Who are you anyways?" I ask again

She sighs then says "Welcome to hell, I am it's queen. This is my pet." She points to her hellhound

"Wait, do you mean I'm dead." I asked

"I would assume so." "she replied

"but I don't remember dying" I said trying prove I wasn't dead

"Some do, some don't." She said

"Then maybe I could meet him." I mutter to myself

"Who might you meet?" She inquired

"Oh sorry, lost in thought. It's just a guy that died to save me." I said not really wanting to talk about him to her

"Ah, so he was a hero?" She asked intrigued

"I think so" I said honestly

"Well then, what was his name. maybe I know it" she said

"It's Klein" I said

"Hmmm, I think I might recognize it, but I can't remember. Lets ask my husband, he will know." She said as she stood up and walked towards the castle.

We walk into the castle. It winds and turns into a slight maze before long. Then we walk into a large room. The room could easily hold five hundred people and have each one sit at their own private dining table. She walked through this room and took a left. She came upon another room, this one much smaller. The room was filled with musical instruments and games of varying sizes and shapes.

She walked past these rooms and into the next room which looked like a grand bedroom. The queen of the dead rang a bell and a girl came running in. The queen smiled and said "Helen would you please find a nice outfit for this young girl."

Helen curtsied and said "As you wish but if I may know, What occasion would this outfit be needed."

"She has an audience with his majesty." The queen said

"So is she a mass murderer or a maiden of love." Helen said questioningly

"Well I'm not sure about a mass murder but the second one is right." the queen said

"I don't know why you are encouraging him. But as you wish milady, I will find a suitable dress for the occasion." Helen said with a curtsy

"Thank you Helen." the queen said with a nice smile.

Helen turned to me and motioned for me to come. I followed her to a large walk in closet filled with dresses and outfits of every kind. She took a few measurements and walked over to the nearest dress rack.

"So your names Helen" I said trying to break the silence.

"Yes, I used to live in a beautiful city, I was then kidnapped by a handsome prince and taken to his home in troy."

"Wait, troy as in the Trojans? You're that Helen" I asked

She nodded then asked me "What color would you like?"

I think for a moment. "Could I get a red and white dress."

She turns back to the rack and walks further back she then picks out a dress and walks over to me and hands it to me.

"Will this do." she asked

"Wow this dress is awesome." I said

The dress was a red strapless dress that hugged my body a little. The dress stopped at my knees and had a white underskirt flow to my feet. Around my hips a pattern of silver snowflakes curled around my hips.

Helen looked me up and down and said "Yes that will do. You look nice. Lets go see the queen."

We walked out of the closet and out of the queens chambers, past a few skeleton guards, and soon we were in a large room. at the far end of the room sat two thrones both of them were occupied.

"I don't care if he doesn't want to, he needs to do it." The man on the throne said not noticing our arrival.

"Well, you shouldn't force it upon him. He needs to make his own choices." The queen said also not noticing us

"It needs to be done so I shall have it done. End of discussion." He said with a forceful voice.

"Dear, would you listen to me. I have a..." The queen said before being cut off by the man

"I said we were done, unless the answer to our problems walks through that door we shall not talk about it again." The man said

The two of them then noticed our arrival and the queen said "Dear, let me introduce you to the answer to our problems.

He gave her a look of half annoyance, half amusement. "So this girl is it. Why would she help us?" he questioned

"To find her dead lover." The queen said

He looked at me and thought for a couple seconds.

He then sighed and said "Fine, I will step down this once and let you take over. I am a man of my word."

He then turned to me and said "So you came here to find someone. That person must be very important."

"He saved my life twice and all I did was get him killed." I said

"You do know that I wont allow you to bring a dead man back to life right." he said

"I want to apologize to him. The only reason he died is because of me. I was the one who wanted to go on this quest. I need to tell him something at least." I said

His mighty laugh boomed across the throne room. When he stopped he looked at me and with a grand gesture said "Well you might just be crazy and pitiful enough to pull it off. I Lord Hades, if you complete my quest will grant you whatever you want that is within my power and doesn't break the law of death."

A screen popped up in my face. it said "Do you wish to accept the side quest 'The Young Lord of Death'."

I pressed the accept button and the screen disappeared. I looked up and the queen and king were smiling. the king was one of triumph and humor; the queen's smile was cunning and compassionate.

"My queen would you please have her taken to her quest." The king said

"Yes my dear Hades, but remember I came up with this plan. And its almost Christmas, you better get me something nice." she said smiling devilishly

"Don't push it. I will get you what I get you." He said gruffly trying to hide a small smile.

The queen smiled and walked with me out the door of the throne room and back into the maze of corridors until we came upon a blue door. It seemed out of place in this dark and gloomy fortress of a castle.

"I will tell you what I want from you now. This is my sons room, I would like you to help my son. He has a terrible case of wander lust, and will not change his mind no matter what me and hades say. We need an outside help, and you look like you might be the right person to do it." she said

She knocked on the door twice then said softly "Hey I'm coming in and I'm bringing in someone." She then opened the door and walked in.

What was on the inside was amazing. The floor looked like grass and the walls were slightly sloped and had the most artistic and beautiful landscapes painted on them. Which then transitioned amazingly well into a night sky on the ceiling. The room had a bed that looked like it could sleep four people and a desk piled with junk. there was also some music posters hanging around. nothing newer than 2010 though.

On the other side of the room stood a kid with midnight hair and a silver jacket that looked around sixteen or seventeen. He was standing at a window that over looked the garden. His shoulders were slumped like he was expecting bad news.

When we walked in he turned around and said "Hello mother. Have you thought of my request." He said sounding dejected but having a slight bit of hope in his voice.

"We have discussed it and we think that it would be unwise and badly suited to our plans. We shall not let you go a gallivanting around the country side just because you feel like it."she said

He sighed and said "Please mother. I hate being stuck in this palace. I want to.."

"No. That is our answer. Now onto the other matter. Your father wishes for you coronation to be early but I have talked him into waiting until your eighteen. he however insists that you are to be married. I thought you should know. On another subject entirely i brought this nice young girl to see you."

"She's not my type. and I thought you were more cunning than that." he said quickly.

"I have done nothing wrong. now I must be off. I will return in three hours." She said before she turned and walked out the door.

Now I was stuck in this room with that kid. Sure he was kinda good looking but he was a jerk of a prince who had no taste in women and was spoiled rotten.

"I'm sorry, but I would rather not be here either your highness" I said the last part with a sneer.

"Well at least you got to experience freedom before coming here. I never had that opportunity, I have been stuck here all my life. I haven't even been outside of the castle." he said

"Lucky? Me? I had to watch as the guy I liked died right in front of me. I wish we never played this stupid game."

"I'm sorry. Watching one person die is hard. I would hate to live in a place where that happens everyday. Oh wait, I already do. Welcome to hell."

Several long minutes pass in silence. the silence grew until it became almost unbearable. I finally sighed and said "I'm sorry, I am having one of the worst days of my life, and I'm sure you don't have it so easy either. Could we just start over? My name is Amaterasu, what is yours?" I reached out my hand

He looked at me for a couple second then said "It's nice to meet you, my name is Octavius."

"This room is amazing." I said in amazement

"Yeah I thought that if I couldn't leave, I could at least bring the outside in. what's it like to explore the world?" he asked

what do you mean?" I asked not sure of what to say

"well tell me what led to your death?" he suggested

"im not dead" I protested

"impossible. only the dead can be here. Charon doesn't let living souls onto his ferry. how exactly did you get here?" He questioned

"Well I kinda fell down this hole where Klein saved me then I met this shadow man who saved me from thanatos, I then followed these little angel babies through some sort of underground maze and jumped down another hole, I then talked to three judges who sent me through this door where I walked for what felt like miles when I saw this castle I then met your mother and father then I was brought here."

"ok I only got half of that could you please say that a bit slower. And could you be a little more clear."

I nodded then repeated my story. Every so often he would interject with a question which I would answer then continue. This took about an hour to retell.

When I was done he said "Ahh that would explain a few things. You came through the Labyrinth."

"The Labyrinth?" I said questioningly

He nodded and said "In simple terms it is a giant living maze that connects the realm of the living and the dead. It also can be used to travel to any part of the world in an instant because time run differently in there. But its really dangerous because its always changing and it devises traps to ensnare people who wander into it."

"It trys to trap people? Why?" I asked

"I don't know. No one really does. Maybe it was to protect its creator or maybe it absorbs its lost souls into it to make it stronger. Who knows." he shrugged his shoulders

"So I came through that labyrinth, you said that explained some things. What did it explain." I asked

"How you are here with out being dead. And your total lack of respect." He said with a smile.

"ha ha. Please for give me your highness. I am but a lowly soul. It would be a honor to grovel at your boots." I said in a playful voice.

"wow, straight to the gut. You don't have any mercy do you?" he said pretending to be offended

"nope" I said with a smile

"so what was the name of the guy you were traveling with?" He said his tone getting more serious

"His name is Klein. Why do you ask?" I asked curiously

"I want to see if we can find him." he said

"What!" I shouted in surprise

"Well you said he only died a few hours ago. He should be in the list still." he said

"the list?" I asked

"yeah. It's this list of the dead. It list all those that die in it. Although it also list all monsters that were killed. It also lists where they ended up so it helps to track people. Though its a real bother to find anyone that has been dead longer than a day. So lets go look." He said as he turned and walked out the door.

"ok" I said as I followed him

So Octavius and I walked down through the castle and down to the main hall where we then walked into a room that had what looked like an alter in the center. On the alter was a book. It was bound in black leather and was about the large as a laptop and as thick as a soda can.

Octavius walked over to the book and said "Ahh here we go."

"So that book lists all of the dead" I said in wonder

"Huh, oh no. This book is just todays deaths, if you want to find a death further back you have to go to the archives." he answered mildly

"What this is just today's deaths" I said in surprise

"Well it does have all of the killed and despawned monsters, player deaths and the very rare NPC death." he said

"Wait you know this is a game." I asked

"Yeah. You see Hades is basically the one who runs the monsters respawn and despawn along with monster loot and drops. You see my family are kind of like AIs. We don't have the full capabilities as AI but we are more advanced than normal computer programs. We have certain limitations but we could generally pass for human. We have a couple rule that we have to follow, like we cant leave our assigned areas, or how we cannot interfere with the system."

"Wow" I said

"Lets get back to the list. Ok, I don't really like talking about this." he said changing the conversation

"Sure" I said

Octavius flipped through a couple pages then said "so about how long ago did he die."

"Ummm, I'm not sure. Three hours maybe. I was kind of in shock then later knocked unconscious. So I can't really be sure." I answered

"well that makes it harder. Lets see" with that he started flipping through the pages.

one hour later

"I cant find his name anywhere. I'm probably just missing it and going right past it but I cant find it." he said

"I gave you his avatar name. Do you need his real name instead?" I asked

"No. This uses his avatars name and his real name." He sighs while scratching the back of his neck. "I guess I have to ask her. I was hoping to avoid this." He said

"Ask who? Avoid what?" I asked

"Oh just my sister and her slightly shocking appearance and her high and mighty attitude. Well no point worrying now. Come on." he said rushing out of the room.

I quickly ran after him and tried not to get lost. We soon arrived at the door to her room. Octavius knocked lightly.

"Come in" I heard a beautiful voice say

He opened the door and we entered. the was a girl playing the harp.

"Ahh, it's you and who might this be?" the girl asked

"Clotho, this is Amaterasu, I am helping her find someone. I would like to talk to my sister please." Octavius said

"Fine, but I would be careful she seems to be in a bad mood." the girl named Clotho said

"That's unfortunate." he said

"Indeed." she said smiling as all of the sudden she starts to glow and shimmer and when she stops she changed into an old woman.

"What is it brother. Can't you leave an old women to herself." She said crankily

"Sorry sister. I was hoping you could help us. I brought the cards." he said

"ahh good, good. I will listen to what you have to say. Hold on let me get the table ready." the old lady said

The old lady stood up and changed the harp into a table. Then created a few chairs out of thin air.

"There we go its all ready" the old lady said

"Ok. So what shall we play today. How about old maid?" Octavius said

"Nah, that game is getting pretty old. How about solitaire" the old lady said

"Umm that's a bit to solitary for three players." Octavius said

"Ahh, I know how about a good old fashioned game of poker. Nice and simple." the old lady said

"Your bet against ours" Octavius asked

"Sure" she said

"ummm, am I the only one here who isn't quite sure what's going on." I asked

"Its fine dear. We decided on poker." she replied

"No, I meant on how you transformed from a young lady to you and why are we playing a card game." I said

"I apologize for not explaining earlier to you but we will talk while we play." Octavius said

We all sat down at the table and pick up our cards. I had terrible cards in my hand. The old lady cackled and said to me "Well who might you be." the old lady asked

"Her name is Amaterasu." He then turned to me and said "Amaterasu, this is Atropos. She is the third form of fate and cutter of the thread of life."

"Wait if she is your sister, why do you look like your seventeen." I asked

"because I prefer to look like this." he said bluntly

"so you could look like anyone." I questioned

"To an extent. I can only really change to look like a couple things. but anyway sis, I think I will win." he said as he discarded two and picked up two.

"Oh really? I doubt that." she said grinning. she decided not to discard any.

"I looked at my hand and didn't have a single thing. so I got rid of three of my cards and drew three more.

I looked at my cards and almost gasped. I had some how gotten a straight flush.

"well then i guess its time to see who wins. I will go first" Octavius said "full house" he said laying down his cards

"Nice try, but I've got you beat. four of a kind" Atropos said

I smiled "Straight flush. I win" I proclaimed loudly

"I lost, so i guess i have to help. what do you want" Atropos asked

"We're trying to find someone who died" Octavius said

"And you couldn't find them. Hmm, what the person's name" Atropos asked

"Klien" I said

"Hold on a second." She said as she waved her hand and the card table turned into this beautiful tapestry. "Nope. I didn't cut his thread yet. He's still alive."

"WHAT! That can't be he died in front of me." I said in disbelief

"How did he die?" she asked

"We were falling down a hole and he took the brunt of the fall" I answered

"No I meant when he died what happened to his body" she clarified

"He just faded away like he was being erased." I answered

"no no. He didn't die. If he were to die he would have shattered into a million pieces." she told me

"The tapestry is always right. And if I were to follow this thread." she mumbled to herself "ah ha, found it. He is somewhere down here but something is weird. It's like the tapestry is being obstructed." Atropos warned

"Something's blocking the tapestry? There is only two things that could do that down here. My father or..." Octavius trialed off

"it's best we not mention that." Atropos said

"Fine. We should start looking in the prisons" Octavius said

"a good place to start as any." Atropos said

And with that Octavius and I left the room and started heading towards the dungeons.