The large three-headed dog called Cerberus moved through the room towards Lillian's bedroom. Napoleon was thinking fast. He had to protect Lillian. He leaped out from behind the couch and changed into his regent form and slammed into Cerberus, smashing him into the kitchen counter knocking him unconscious.
He pushed the beast away and looked up at the man, who stood staring with a frown. "So the heart isn't as helpless as it seems." He said.
"Leave. Now." Napoleon ordered.
"Stand aside beast. Hand me the heart and I won't throw you into Tartarus." The man coldly said.
"Never." Napoleon answered.
"So be it." The man said as he raised his hand and throws a fire ball at Napoleon who dived to the side.
"Elyon followed Cedric into the portal leaving the Guar…" Matt stopped his story as a loud and sudden crash sounded outside.
"What was that?" Lillian asked jumping at the sound.
"Stay here I'll go and check." Matt said as he cautiously approached the door. He grasped the handle and opened the door slightly. He heard voices, one of them was Napoleon's. He vigilantly exited the room and closed the door behind him. He turned towards the voices only to duck as a ball of fire flew over his head burning the wall behind.
He looked back in shock to see a tall man standing in a ring of fire and smoke and a large three-headed black dog lying unconscious on the floor next to a smashed kitchen cabinet. The man throws two more fireballs into the kitchen. "Come on beast. Fight me." He said before noticing Matt. "You! Human! Help me deal with his monstrosity." He ordered pointing from matt to Napoleon who was still in his regent form hiding in the kitchen.
"Matt! Go keep Lill…" Napoleon began to say but was cut off as tow more fireballs landed near him.
"Who are you?" Matt demanded. The man turned to him with an expression of pure anger.
"I am Hades, god of the underworld. Kneel before me and you will be spared from an eternity of endless suffering." Hades said as he stood in a growing swirl of black smoke and fire.
"No. Now get lost!" Matt simply answered.
"Mattie, I would…" Napoleon again didn't finish as a wall of fire flew towards Matt. He couldn't avoid it in the narrow corridor. He panicked and raised his hands in front of him defensively. Everyone in the room was suppressed when the fire hit a green bubble and flowed around him.
Hades scowled and prepaid another attack only for him to be pounced on by Napoleon. Throwing him to the ground and beating him with clawed fists. "Matt. Look after Lillian!" Napoleon called. Matt nodded and ran back to the bedroom, quickly opening the door and closing it behind him.
"What's going on?" Lillian asked as she sat with a worried look on her face.
"Nothing Lillian! Napoleon was just playing with the TV remote." Matt panted out with a large fake smile as he leaned against the door attempting to keep it closed.
"He's never done that before." Lillian said. Matt just smiled and nodded. Mr Huggles approached and looked up at him.
"Well he did now. Huggles, why don't you go and play with him." He said and quickly shoved the dormouse out of the door who squeaked in shock and annoyance.
"So where were we?" Matt nervously said as he sat on the bead to continue the story, creating a small glamour zone around them to hide the fight outside. He wished he could help but he must watch Lillian.
Mr Huggles squeaked angrily at the door only to then squeak in surprise as a large black fluff ball flew over and crashed into Cornelia's bedroom. He quickly looked in the outer direction to see a furious bearded man surrounded by flames and black smoke.
Mr Huggles screech angrily and charged the man. He leaped of the floor and transformed into his regent form and smashed him back into the living room. "Huggles! Keep him busy! I'll call for help." Napoleon called as he picked himself from the ruins of Cornelia's room and made a run for the phone what was laying on the kitchen floor.
Mr Huggles found himself dogging repeated fire balls that were smashing through the windows behind. He grabbed the couch and lobed it towards Hades who blasted the couch in half and both sides fell beside him.
Napoleon was again hiding on the floor of the smouldering kitchen, desperately trying to remember the numbers and then attempting to type them with his large regent hands. "Come on…" He was suddenly interrupted by a snarl next to him. He shot his head around to see three bloodthirsty heads staring at him. "Oh boy!"
Cerberus sprang upon on him, throwing Napoleon to the ground. His three drooling heads were clenching at his throat as Napoleon held the beast back. They were struggling with each over. Cerberus' claws scratched away at Napoleons chest and his heads lunged at Napoleon's arms and head. The regent kicked the beast to the side. He landed with a yelp and tried to scamper back on to his feet when Napoleon grabbed him and hurled him towards his master.
Mr Huggles lay on the ground. His once white fur was now singed black. His tunic was burned and torn. Hades stood over him with a look of anger and annoyance. Wordlessly he raised a hand towards Mr Huggles. A black swirling cloud of black smoke started to form from Mr Huggles nose, mouth and eyes. He screeched in pain as the smoke flowed from him to Hades' hand and swirled around him.
A sudden and loud yelp distracted him. He turned his head to see Cerberus flying towards him. He didn't have time to react. The beast crashed into Hades and both tumbled out of the shattered window towards the street below.
Napoleon ran up to his friend and kneeled beside him. "Huggs! Are you ok?" he asked in panic.
Huggles eyes weakly half-opened and he let out a low moan before transforming back into his dormouse form, falling into Napoleons hands.
Matt was sweating as he quickly and nervously continued to try and get Lillian to fall asleep. "So the fairy's led the rebels through the portal into the castle and saved Elyon and Phobos was imprisoned in the Infinite City forever. The End."
Lillian who was lying in bed, almost asleep, peered up at Matt. "No, no. You tolled it wrong."
"Look Lillian. It's late and you should be asleep. I'll tell you the more next time. Ok?"
"Ok…" Lillian reluctantly and sleepily said before yawning.
Matt quickly sneaked out of the room and looked around in shock at the devastated apartment. "Mattie!" Napoleon called from the living room. Matt turned and ran into the room and saw Napoleon sitting by the empty windows cradling Mr Huggles in his arms.
"Huggles!" Matt cried as he slid next to Napoleon and took the dormouse into his arms. He checked his pet's pulse and breathing and sighed in relief. "He's still alive."
"Hades must have tried to steal his power and life force." Napoleon theorised.
"Where is he now?" Matt asked.
"He fell." Napoleon answered. Matt nodded.
"Take Huggles and go and watch Lillian. I'll call Will." Matt said.
Napoleon nodded and headed towards the bedroom with a sleeping Mr Huggles. Matt reached for his phone and began to dial Will.
Will groaned as she held her head in her hands. It was late, she was tired, and she still had a school project to finish. She felt as if she was going to collapse form boredom and tiredness. Her phone suddenly rung, jogging her from her sleepless trance. She reached for her phone only for it to be intercepted by another hand.
"Mom!" Will cried, looking up at her frowning mother who held the phone in her hand.
"You know the rules Will. You don't talk to anyone until you've finished." She said.
"But it could be an emergency." Will argued back.
"Well whatever it is it can wait until morning." Wills mother said as she left the room
"But…"
"No buts Will. Do you want to fail geography?" Her mother said as she closed the door behind.
Will groaned again and collapsed on her desk. "I hope it wasn't important…" She mumbled to herself.
"Come on… Come on…" Matt muttered to himself as the phone continued to ring. After what seemed to be an eternity it was finally answered. "Will!"
"Sorry Matt but Will can't talk at the moment. She'll speak to you tomorrow." Will's mother said.
"No! Mrs Va…" Matt tried to argue but was cut off.
"Goodnight Matt." She said and hung up.
Matt cursed. He thought of someone else to call. He looked down his contacts list and found Hay Lin. Before he could select 'call' a dark shadow loomed over him. Matt swiftly turned only to receive a large hand clenched around his throat.
"Did you really think I could be defeated that easily?" Hades said as he increased the pressure on Matt's throat. "I will have the Heart of Earth. Then none of the Olympians will be able to stop me. The Bolt of Zeus and the Trident of Poseidon will soon be mine and I'll be the king of Olympus. Not even the Guardians and Kandrakar will stand in my way."
Matt gasped for air only to find none; his vision began to blur and darken as he flailed around, kicking and punching, trying to escape. Hades smiled as Matt felt his life leaving him.