Amari412: Your on the right track. =') Thank you for the review, sorry this chapter took some time to make an appearance.
I am Hades
"Stop it!"
Reaching forward with trembling hands, grabbing onto heaving shoulders, a young adult yanked a male from the ground. His knuckles blistered. Blood trickling down the back of his hands. Eyes hollow. Dark. Sleep didn't take kindly to troubled minds. Sitting on the back of his haunches like a dog waiting for a treat, he bowed his head as he howled in agony. In the back ground, others huddled together. Gripping tightly onto what little clothing covered their wrecked bodies. The room stunk of sweat, blood, tears even despair. Howling turned into laughter. Rolling his head backwards, blood shot eyes looked towards the heaving female who stopped his prayer.
"We're going to die... We're all going to die.."
Salvia dribbled down his chin. A spine chilling grin stretched across chapped lips. Walking forward a risen hand, the female slapped him. The noise echoed. Others who watched on, turned away, hiding away in the crocks of their trembling bodies.
"We might die. But we won't ask a god to do a mortals job."
Hissing with pride, the young female turned walking slowly towards a poorly designed window. Pressing her face against the bars, not even hissing when the heat burnt her already olive tanned flesh. Watching as the sun began to set behind calm waves. She rapped her knuckles against the bars, lips curled in an attempt to hide away any laughter from escaping. Poseidon was far from innocent. Though he helped to give mortals such as herself a second chance in life. Without the storm to tear them from the prison nick named a boat, it was almost to innocent.
Watching the back of the female, the male turned around, cutting his knees in the process. His blood travelled through the cracks of the floor boards, before seeping up against the door. Resting his sweat covered body against the mound of hay, lazily tossed for them to use as bedding, the male curled tightly. He had his own reasons for praying to Hades for death. Closing his eyes tightly in a bid to hide his tears, he couldn't muffle the sob which escaped.
Twisting around sharply hands risen to banish whatever comfort rested upon his head, he was taken back by the gentle look of the woman who slapped him just moments before. Her lips pursed. She began to hush him, fingers running soothingly through his hair. She didn't even grimace when her finger nails became lodge with his vomit. Leaning forward, pressing a kiss upon his forehead, her eyes rolled up towards the window, noticing to her fearful realisation that they were coming closer to the docks. The docks of Crete.
Melinoe felt like she was being swallowed whole. Sitting upon her mothers throne. Legs crossed hands resting upon her lap, so that her fingers over lapped, she looked unblinking down the steps to where two trembling shades stood. The outline of their bodies showed them to be women. Leaning forward in an attempt to hear their faint whispers, Melinoe felt her heart twist in despair.
"The winter was so very cold my lord... I tried to save my daughter. But death swept over us like the blankets of frozen rain.."
Turning her head, Melinoe watched her father sitting with a stone expression. There was no sign of pity. Even as the shades begged for a chance of happiness in their afterlife. Melinoe knew they weren't worthy enough of the Elysian Fields. They'd lived normal lives. Neither doing a sin so great, that their names would be carved on the rock of the decaying Tartarus. Nibbling on her lower lip, as a sudden wave of nerves took Melinoe forcing her back against the throne, Melinoe watched as her father rose from the throne, walking calmly down towards the shades. His black cloak rippled against the stairs. Hand out stretched, the taller shade clung onto her daughter, before they both fell onto their knees.
Rising his hand, Hades placed it first upon the mothers darkened head before doing the same to her daughter.
"Asphodel Meadows."
Looking up with a tearful expression, it wasn't the mother shade, but the daughter. Her gaze nothing more than darkness, but Hades could see the gratitude. Nodding his head, flashing a small smile, Hades watched as two subjects entered the throne room before escorting the shades away. Only when the door shut, did Hades turn around walking back up the steps towards Melinoe who had stretched out her legs and began to gently sway them back and forth.
"Why did you send them to the Asphodel Meadows father? Isn't there another place they could be sent to?"
Though the Asphodel Meadows held beauty along with hope, it was also dark. Melinoe began to worry that it would remind the shades of the cold winter weeks, where they fought to survive. Her vivid imagination already starting to think up strange ideas of a continuous darkness, where only the light of strange frozen water could be seen cutting through the chilled air. Smiling gently, Hades stroked his daughters soft hair, before lightly scratching the back of her ear, making her recoil as she giggled.
"Because, they haven't done anything worthy enough in life to be sent to the Elysian Fields. There isn't any other place for them to go."
The brief father daughter moment was interrupted by a large shade stumbling into the room. Turning around, with an arched brow Hades noticed the heavy chains wrapped tightly around quivering wrists. Without hearing the pleading or begging, Hades knew where this shade was bound. Peering around her fathers arm, Melinoe let out a faint gasp as she saw the hatred and cruelty shining in the unnamed shades eyes. What made Melinoe's body run cold with terror was that the shade was locking directly towards her.
Fingers began to curl as she gripped tightly onto her fathers armour platted sleeve. Tears burned the corners of her eyes, though Melinoe quickly blinked them away. No sense in letting a shade know he was scaring her. Though she was sure he could smell it.
"What is a little brat like you, doing on the throne of Persephone?"
Though laughter was heard on the end of the shades sentence it never came. Instead, a chocked gasp passed his lips, as the shade stumbled onto his knees, clawing towards the darkened throat as if trying to take something away. Even though he was dead, the shade still started to panic as he couldn't breathe. Walking down the steps. Fire burning in his eyes, Hades looked with disgust towards the pathetic shade, who'd rolled over onto his back, body tense, as legs began to quiver as if trying to stop himself from kicking out in distress. Pleasure seeped through Hades veins. No one was disrespectful towards his daughter.
"Don't ever speak to my daughter again."
Snarling like a beast, he flicked his hand. The shade slammed repeatedly against the wall. With every groan, Melinoe began to curl into herself, covering her ears with trembling hands as she closed her eyes tightly. Seeing her father was a rare occurrence. Seeing him angry was something she'd never been subject to. Falling onto his knees, the shade kept his head bowed. Defeat and misery washed over him. Clenching his jaws, Hades scowled as the same two subjects re entered the throne room, dragging away the shade to Tartarus, to find a fitting punishment. At the sound of Melinoe whimpering, Hades turned sharply as if he'd been struck across the face.
"Melinoe.."
Whispering her name Hades advanced, reaching his daughter in two strides. Stretching his hand he brushed, against her head, feeling the quiver of her body made his throat grow tight. Removing herself from the safety of her arms, Melinoe looked up towards her father. Though his eyes remained looking like two pieces of scorched coal, there was a look of concern hidden within the depths. Wiping away unshed tears, Melinoe smiled shakily as she rose her small hand, lightly patting his cheek. Hades felt his stomach glow. It was the same movement he would do with Melinoe when she used to tug at his beard.
"I'm alright father.."
Melinoe reassured her father, smiling when she noticed the sudden change in his mood. Looking over his shoulder, expecting with a heavy heart to find more shades awaiting judgment. He was correct. Glancing back towards Melinoe, knowing that she wished to spend time with him, Hades didn't want to exploit her to the cruelty of some shades. Looking towards one of the subjects who seemed unsure on what his lord wanted to happen.
"Charon. Please escort Melinoe, back to her mother."
Melinoe looked up towards her father. Eyes wide, confused. Had she done something to upset him? Hades seemed to sense this as he turned, back towards Melinoe, smiling almost sadly as he lightly cupped her cheek, before pressing a gently kiss upon her forehead. No words were spoken. Understanding, Melinoe slid from her mothers throne, quickly making her way down the stairs, though she wished to remain by her fathers side. Charon stood at the entrance, oar dripping wet after a recent trek across the river. Looking towards the young princess, Charon saw the conflicting emotions. Melinoe looked up towards Charon, flashing him a small smile, as she stretched her hand. Charon was always amazed by Melinoe's lack of selfishness.
Judgement went on longer than Hades would've liked. Every shade (apart from a scarce few) each died from the bitter cold. Most were young, while the majority were old. What kept Hades away from turning bitter, was that none blamed Persephone. Though she changed the seasons, as it was her goddess role, it didn't mean she would cause such havoc. The world, (Gaia) was unpractiable. Shaking his head gently, Hades paused at the sound of laughter, followed by hushed voices. It was rare for Hades, to watch mother and daughter. Pressing up against the large ebony oak door, Hades peered through the small crack, watching with a silent smile on his lips.
Melinoe sat on the ground, toys of various animals surrounded her. Persephone held onto a wooden horse, Melinoe had nick named Troy. Waving her hand in the air, dark mist travelled from Melinoe's finger tips, creating rippling waves, to which Persephone moved Troy, as if he was galloping across them, pausing every once in a while to make him rear and neigh. This brought endless delight from Melinoe.
They'd learnt that Melinoe was capable of powers long before her tenth birthday. They were easily handled. Most if not all seemed to be gained from Hades. Though Hades remembered when he was deeply upset about Persephone, leaving to deal with her Upper Land duties, Melinoe conjured him up a flower from the palm of her hand. It rested upon his bedside table.
"Did you have fun with your father today?"
Persephone asked, as she carefully placed Troy back onto the ground. Melinoe who was busy concentration, putting her toys back in order hummed her response, followed by a swift nod of her head.
Pushing open the door Hades stepped in. Melinoe was the first to notice her father. All concentration left her toy collection, as she beamed towards her father, who crouched down upon the ground. Moving forward, collecting Troy at the same time, Melinoe eagerly placed herself on her fathers lap. Persephone smiled, as she leaned forward placing a kiss upon Hades cheek.
"Father, taught me about judgement." - Melinoe spoke as she leant against her fathers armour - "He had to send one shade to Tartarus, after punishing him first.."
"Did he now?"
Persephone spoke, as she turned giving Hades a knowing look. Hades however was to busy holding onto Troy as Melinoe picked up one of the other horses. Though her movements were innocent, she didn't understand her words put her father at Persephone's wrath. They'd spoken about not subjecting Melinoe to judgment until she was older. Finding the horse which she thought suited Troy; a lighter wooden horse named Helen. Smiling with glee, Melinoe climbed from her fathers lap, going over towards the large stables, where she placed the two horses in the middle, before making Troy look as if he was galloping around Helen.
Moving a little closer towards Hades, Persephone arched a brow only for Hades to lightly chuckle.
"She was ready Persephone. Being a daughter of the Underworld, she needs to learn its ways quickly..."
Turning to look towards Persephone, Hades wasn't surprised to see the mixture of emotions swimming in her eyes, though he did feel grateful when she leaned forward placing a delicate kiss upon his lips. Moving back so that her lips hovered over his Persephone whispered.
"Don't think your off the hook that easily Hades."
Chuckling, Hades pushed a strand of hair from Persephone's face so that it tucked behind her ear. Resting his forehead against hers, he smiled as he starred into her eyes, until Persephone lightly slapped his shoulder, before laughing gently. Melinoe watched from a distance smiling at her parents affection. She knew what it meant, at least she thought she did. Tipping Troy forward so that he nuzzled Helen's wooden muzzle, she stretched out her legs conjuring up more of the black mist, to make it look like the wooden toy set was alive with flowers. As Hades watched, he lightly hummed. Soon Melinoe would be ready for training.
So it seems that Hades is in trouble. But at least he got to spend time with Melinoe. Another boat of sacrifices has been sent to Crete, which means that fate's warning is creeping closer towards Melinoe.
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please leave a review.
- Signed The Broken Ghost