Disclaimer: Property of A&E and ABC. Not Mine.
Adrenaline is surging through Hades' veins like lightning. It's the same restless energy he felt the morning he met Rumplestiltskin and Pan at the diner in the Underworld. But this time, it isn't just Zelena's life hanging in the balance. It's Henry's, too. Hades knows confronting Hyde and the Evil Queen will put them all in danger. Those demons aren't looking for a deal. They'll kill without question. He swallows hard, choking back the dual combination of rage and fear rising in his gut. If anything happens to Zelena or Henry… he doesn't know what he'll do. He can't live without them.
Regina is at the kitchen sink, disposing of the soured formula and rinsing out the bottles. Her spine stiffens when she finally speaks. "First, we need to get these things to Robyn at the convent and tell them what's happened, so they can keep her safe." She grabs the white waffle towel edged in green. "Then we'll meet up with the others. If we're lucky, we'll take Hyde and the Queen by surprise."
"Regina, where are they?"
Her shoulders sag. "A place I hoped to never set foot in again."
No… she can't mean there. That's not a good omen.
"I'll explain it later, once we meet up with the others." She glances over at him. "Where's the death sword?"
"On the bike." The sword is irrelevant. They're going to need magic. Powerful magic. Hades has no intention of entering that room without it. "Regina, I couldn't find the wand."
"Oh. Well, let me do a quick check, just in case. My sister always has a few tricks up her sleeves." She heads towards the living room, pausing in front of Hades' bouquet of flowers. They are resting on top of the chest of drawers, and they haven't aged a day.
"Those are new." Hades can see her irritation in the tightness of her scowl. "Are they your handiwork?"
"Yes."
"Hmm… I've seen better." She strides off and he studies her from behind, curious. If he didn't know better, he'd say Regina was jealous. He huffs softly in amusement, following her into the living room. She stops at the fireplace, scanning it with her hand.
"Um… careful with that. Protection spell."
"I'm well aware, thank you," she snaps. "You aren't the only one who visits her, you know."
My, my - how times have changed. It seems Madame Mayor is just a teensy bit jealous of her sister. Feeling slightly victorious on Zelena's behalf, Hades observes Regina in silence as she searches the rest of the room. "It's not in here," she tells him.
Dammit. If the Evil Queen has the wand, their odds of success just disappeared into a puff of indigo smoke. Opposing that kind of power would be synonymous with facing a firing squad, sans the blindfold and cigarette.
Regina must know this, but she doggedly pushes forward, nonplussed. "Oh well, we'll have to make due. Go get that sword and I'll meet you out there."
How can she be so optimistic? Hades reins in his uncertainty as he nods and heads out the door. He stops short at the edge of the porch when reality crashes into him. He's on the side of the heroes now. That's why Regina isn't worried. He's seen enough of history to know that even though the odds are stacked against them, there's always a way. The heroes always find a way. Hope and a new emotion pour through him, an unidentifiable combination of passion and courage. The instant he straps the scabbard to his belt, it all becomes clear. What he feels is valor. Dear Gods, has he actually turned into a White Knight? He has the sword. He has the damsel in distress. Holy Hell, his life is a bona fide fairy tale.
The spark of vengeance returns, fueled by newfound confidence. He knows exactly how fairy tales end. It's like Henry says, all he has to do is believe.
"You ready?" the brunette asks as she hurries down the farmhouse stairs, the pink diaper bag bouncing against her thigh.
Hades takes a deep breath. "I am."
She peers up at him. "You are, aren't you…?" She shakes her head, flipping her hair back over her shoulders. "Good. Let's go get our family back."
Hades' head whirls in surprise, but the tug of teleportation cloaks him in a swirling cloud of scarlet before he can respond. Immediately he feels the awkward 'pop' as they appear a few feet from the front porch of the convent.
Regina is already parading up the steps, and Hades hesitantly follows her, distressed. That wasn't a slip of her tongue. Regina meant it when she said family, and his damned mortal conscience is screaming, the message loud and clear. Once this is all over - he, Henry and Zelena are going to need to sit down with Regina and tell her who he really is.
A stern-looking woman dressed in a deep blue, utilitarian outfit marches out the front door with Robyn perched solidly on her hip. "What is going on? I just got a panicked telephone call from Emma Swan. She wants me to lock down the convent."
"She's right. The Evil Queen has returned," Regina says firmly. "Need I say more?"
The dark eyes widen. "But you're…"
"Not her," Regina finishes. Baby Robyn gurgles, leaning towards her aunt in recognition. The brunette caresses her head. "Hello, sweetie. I've missed you too. But I can't stay." Regina is all business as she drops the diaper bag on the porch. "You know the routine already, but this should keep her for a few days. Now, here's what you'll need to do about the Queen…"
Robyn is wriggling in the austere woman's arms, starting to fuss. Hades steps in. "Here, I'll hold her."
"And just who are you?" she replies coldly, one eyebrow arched high as she scrutinizes him from head to toe.
"He's okay," Regina says, smiling at him. "He's a friend."
Robyn's face lights up the instant she and Hades make eye contact. She remembers me. She reaches for him and he takes her in his arms. "Hi, little one." She waves her chubby fists in the air and squeals, and Hades' heart melts. "Sorry, story time will have to wait until later, okay?"
Both women are gaping at him like he's grown another head. He ignores them and squats down, gripping Robyn firmly as she wiggles and squirms. "Let's see if your mom packed you any toys, hmm?" He positions her on his lap as he folds himself cross-legged on the porch in front of the diaper bag. Robyn is grasping one of the straps firmly and shaking it, clearly delighted with herself. She's such a happy, confident thing, and Hades is certain that's her mother's influence. Goddammit, if anything happened to Zelena...
He sighs heavily and Robyn ceases her play, twisting her tiny head around, curious about the sound. "Your momma is in trouble," he whispers softly. "But I promise, I'm going to do everything I can to save her."
The baby deliberately blinks and then looks at the diaper bag. With a short cry she reaches for the pocket with the powdered formula in it. Hades unzips it for her. "Sorry sweetie, no toys in there." Robyn shakes her fist and reaches again, tiny fingers scraping at a flap of material along the inseam of the side pocket. Intrigued, Hades folds it up, revealing a thin zipper.
Hades peers down at the child. "In there, huh?"
Robyn's bright blue eyes meet his and… did she just nod?
"Okay, if you say so." Hades' fingers trace the zipper and find the pull. He unzips it and the whole pocket falls forward, revealing another compartment and the small, pink toy that Robyn favors. Aha… that it explains it. Hades grins and pulls it out for her. As he does, the tan knob of the Apprentice's Wand pokes free and slides down the side of the bag, landing on the porch with a 'plunk'.
Hades does a double take. Robyn gurgles happily when Hades mutely hands her the toy. Well whaddaya know. He places a kiss on Robyn's fuzzy head. "Thank you." She squeezes her toy and coos, oblivious to what she's done.
"Regina," he calls softly.
Regina is still lecturing the other woman on protection spells and ways to test if people are lying. The other woman does not look pleased.
"Regina," he says louder. "I found the wand."
"What?"
He holds it aloft. "I found the wand." Robyn squeals, waving her toy in the air. "Okay, we found the wand."
oooooooooooooooooo
Twenty minutes later, Hades is standing in the shadows outside of the Town Hall. His valiant optimism from earlier is fading with each passing second as the heroes mutter and bicker amongst themselves. The third floor windows of the Mayor's office are dark, but somehow he can sense they're in there. Memories of an evening like this one send a chill up his spine, but he quickly dismisses it. He can't make this about him. This is about saving Zelena and Henry.
"Explain it again, Regina?" Snow asks in a harsh whisper. "You did what to your office?"
"Bypassed it." The brunette fingers fidget with the seam of her coat. "I couldn't work in there... not after what happened."
Snow White rests her hand lightly on Regina's shoulder. "It's okay. We understand. But we've all been in your office. I was just there three days ago. If that's not where we were… then where were we?"
Regina's frown curls upward into a lopsided grin. "A back room of my house. I made it look like my office. I actually got the idea from Hyde. It's a modified teleportation spell. You open the door and voila...! It's not rocket science, you know."
"No, it's magic." The Savior's tone is bitter; Hades suspects she's still upset he hung up on her. Then again, she might be missing her pirate. Hook drew the short straw and is back at the diner with Granny and the second string heroes. They are all keeping an eye on the town, just in case this whole expedition turns out to be a wild goose chase. Emma's sour tone sheds light on where her true opinions lie. "And you think the Evil Queen figured this out… how?"
"I don't really know," Regina murmurs. She gestures to Hades. "Godric told him that's where they were."
Hades shoots her a dark look. "Godric wasn't that specific. He said they were 'in the one place we haven't looked'. Since I'm certain you've scoured this town from top to bottom, Regina's theory makes sense. How they figured it out is irrelevant. All that matters now is getting Zelena and Henry back safely."
"If they're really in there," Charming mutters, his eyes scanning the darkened building. Hades tallies David as Vote #2 for the wild goose chase theory in today's opinion poll.
"There's no harm in checking," Snow says abruptly. "Besides, we've taken on the Evil Queen hundreds of times before, remember? She's got nothing on us."
Regina snorts.
"That's enough," Emma snaps. "I think we all know not to underestimate the Queen or Hyde. We've discussed this. The plan is to sneak in, and if Henry and Zelena are there, we get them out. That's it. No epic showdowns. Mom, you and I will distract the Queen. Dad, you've got Hyde."
Charming pats the modified pistol at his side, obviously thrilled to finally use his fancy weapon. Hades hopes it surpasses his expectations. The mental image of Hyde exploding in a bloody smear against the black and white wallpaper is incredibly satisfying. He grasps the hilt of his sword in its scabbard. Then again, he wouldn't want David to have all the fun.
"Regina, you find our son," the Savior continues. "The minute you have him, pop out of there. Rhye will find Zelena and she can get them both to safety. Once you're gone, I'll get the rest of us out. We regroup back at the station and that'll be that."
Hades nods along with the others, attempting to draw on Emma's confidence. It isn't easy; the holes in this plan are a mile wide. But these are the heroes, right? They never fail. He stuffs his hands deep into the pockets of his new leather jacket and follows Regina as she leads them all through the rear-facing bulkhead doors and into the bowels of the Town Hall. Heat from the rattling pipes overhead has made the air dry and stale.
Regina's demeanor changes with each step they take. Her thick heels are echoing a syncopated cadence that increases and decreases at random as she makes her way down the corridor. Both Snow and Emma glance at one another but opt to leave the brunette alone, trailing quietly behind her. David whispers softly to Hades, "She lost someone here."
He knows. Regina's off tempo gait is echoing his own irregular heartbeat. The thought of entering into that room is weighing on him like the sky on Atlas' shoulders. When they reach a doorway to a flight of stairs, Regina stops. Her complexion is pale, and her right hand is trembling, but her voice carries the confident resonance of authority.
"My office is on level three – you'll see the number painted on the walls. This stairwell echoes so tread carefully. I'll go first and open the door into the main hallway. We'll have to make our way to my office without a sound – the walls up there are paper thin. Once we're at the door, I'll remove the gateway spell. We won't have much time after that." She points to the Savior and Snow. "You two are first. Charming, you're next. Rhye and I will follow you."
The heroes move with the stealth of a S.W.A.T. team as they pad their way silently up the concrete and metal stairs. Hades trails behind them, mired in a swirl of emotions he is struggling to control. A part of him desperately wants to come clean with Regina before they walk in that room together. To tell her that he has her back, and he'd do anything for Henry and her sister. An equally vocal part vetoes that idea, as it would throw Regina completely off her already brittle game. A third voice is demanding Hyde and the Queen's blood, seething with rage that he can't take them down permanently. And yet another is terrified that three seconds into it all, the Queen will spear him with a fireball and he'll evaporate into nothingness.
He tiptoes into the hallway with his mind clamoring in discord. "Enough," he snarls under his breath, shaking his head. He is Hades. He was a god. Ruler of the Underworld. God of Death. He feared nothing then, and he should fear nothing now. He is surrounded by heroes, and heroes always win.
He thinks of Henry and what he represents. He imagines himself entering into that office and seeing Zelena. He will save her. Neither of them will die today. None of them will die today. All I have to do is believe.
Hades silently takes his place at Regina's side, noting the tightness in her jaw and the set of her shoulders. Emma and her parents are off to her left, all three with steel in their spines and determination in their gaze. Regina glances at them and Snow replies with a quick nod. Raising her hands, Regina spreads them out in front of the closed double doors. The thin gap along the top, sides and bottom starts to glow red. She lifts her hands higher and then makes a twisting motion, as if wringing out a towel. The red glow starts to splinter and crackle, yellow rays breaking through as they shatter the spell. Regina yanks her hands apart, and the door flashes white before returning to normal.
The brunette tosses her head to clear it, shaking out her hands. "If they're in there, they know we're here. It's now or never." She looks to Emma, whose fingertips are already sparking with light magic. "Ready?"
"Ready," the Savior replies.
Regina waves both hands and the double doors fly open. The Charming family darts inside, a flash of light immediately following Emma's entry as she cries, "Get the hell away from my son!"
Hades draws his sword and follows Regina as she darts into the room. His mind instantly starts categorizing everything as quickly as he can process it.
Zelena is in the right corner near the window, trapped behind dark grey bars that run from floor to ceiling. Her face is layered in a mixture of surprise and vengeance as she leaps from a studded black leather club chair, looking a little worse for wear but otherwise unharmed. In front of her is the long dining table, now overflowing with a myriad of vials and jars, all cobbled together amidst snarls of glass piping. It can only be described as chemist's wet dream. There are piles of papers stacked high in each of the chairs closest to the wall, and Henry's storybook is resting on the corner of the table nearest to the door. Hades can see the full-page graphic of Zelena's time portal, with muted figures of Emma and Hook dangling at its edge, the image depicting the moment right before they fell through.
Regina's marble desk is barren except for a large, old-fashioned brass scale stationed in the center. Twin plates dangle from finely linked chains, both equally balanced and equally empty. Standing proudly behind it is Hyde, and Hades is pleased to see a pinkish-grey scar running from his left brow down to his cheek. The mousy man Jekyll is wringing his hands anxiously at Hyde's right, his light eyes watery and unfocused behind his wire-rimmed glasses. Beyond him, in the far corner near the fireplace, is the Evil Queen, regally clad in a shimmering black gown, her dark eyes glittering as she calls forth a red fireball into her gloved right hand.
The fireplace is lit, an odd blue-grey fire burning within it. In front of the fireplace, opposite the queen and strapped to a second leather club chair, is a struggling Henry. He is also a tad rumpled, particularly his hair.
The Queen hurls her fireball towards Snow White but the Savior's light magic flashes and absorbs it as Emma steps forward to protect her mother. Regina leaves Hades' side and rushes to Henry, evaporating his bindings with a flick of her wrist. Hades is at Zelena's cage an instant later, sword poised to strike through the iron bars.
"Don't!" she cries. "It's enchanted."
Regina turns to Hades, desperation in her gaze. She has her arms around Henry, but their plan to save Zelena has hit an unquestionable roadblock.
"Let my sister go," Regina growls at her doppelgänger.
Charming is standing sideways in front of the desk, the picture of a modern-day hero, his gun pointed directly at the space between Hyde's dead eyes. "Feel free to move," he taunts. "I've been itching to try this for months."
Snow is now beside Emma, her bow drawn towards the Queen, the tip of her arrow glistening with a sickly orange light. "Same here. You know you can't win. Let them go and we'll let you live."
Hyde's chuckle is raw and deep as it rumbles out of his chest. "Such foolishness. We have nothing to fear from you. In fact, you've arrived just in time to see my grand plan come to fruition." He turns to the Queen. "At your leisure, milady."
The Queen throws her hand upward, the intensity of her power evident as her spell ripples over them, coating the entire room in a murky, immobilizing indigo. Hades feels his muscles jolt against the sealing magical bond as it snaps into place. The others are in the same predicament, Henry and Zelena included. Only Hyde, the Queen and the bewildered Dr. Jekyll remain unfrozen.
"Fight it, Regina," Hades hollers to her through the dark haze surrounding him. "Your magic is the same as hers."
The Queen laughs, cold and hollow. "By all means try, but we both know where your power came from." She parades over to Regina, and tugs on Henry's arm despite his entrapment. "He's mine, you know. My son."
Emma shouts, "He is my son! If you hurt him I'll…"
"Do nothing, Miss Swan. Unless your fledgling powers are able to break you and your annoying family free. But don't fret," she purrs. "I'm not going to hurt him… much. We just need some of his blood." A sharp knife appears in her hand and Henry bellows in pain as she slices it deep down his forearm. An instant later she waves her glittering glove over the wound and it heals.
Henry glares at her. "You were never my mother. My mother would never use me."
"Keep thinking that," the Queen says, patting his head. "It'll help you sleep at night." Carrying the dripping blade over to the scale, she tilts it over the left plate, letting Henry's blood dribble downward until it coats the bottom completely. "There," she tells Hyde. "That's the first ingredient." Hades notes the sensual smile on her face and her posture of deference towards the tall, dark man. His suspicions are confirmed when Hyde murmurs, "Thank you, my enchantress."
He's certain he wears a duplicate expression to the heroes' horrified grimaces of disgust. The Savior cries out, "Are you kidding me?" Regina's cheeks flush when Zelena adds, "Imagine four hours of it. Non-stop 'my darling', 'my dearest'. It's been positively dreadful." Her tone shifts from snarly to serious. "Regina, they want my heart."
"That's right," the Queen says toothily as she stomps towards Zelena's cage, heels clicking against the tile. She waves her hand and the bars forming Zelena's prison evaporate. "I am truly sorry about this, my dear sister, but our spell calls for an immortal heart, and Rumple wasn't quite ready to part with his. That leaves you, so…" The Queen halts in front of the frozen Zelena, the latter's eyes flickering with fear.
Hades' intellect shifts into overdrive. Hyde and the Queen are playing with some serious magic if the spell they found requires an immortal heart. But… Zelena is mortal. The open pages of the storybook are just beyond his line of sight. Are they thinking she isn't, because she survived Rumplestiltskin's attack?
"My heart still has a protection spell on it," the redhead sneers, defiant. "A powerful one."
"Yes, yes, I'm sure it does. But the spell doesn't say it has to be a living heart, now does it?" The Queen's fireball flares to life. "I'm not sure how many of these it'll take to do you in, but since he and I need this spell in order to survive, I'm more than willing to find out."
Hades chuckles low in his throat, drawing her attention as well as the attention of all the others in the room. "You're both wasting your time," he states. "She's not immortal."
The Queen's head tilts towards him. "And just how do you know that?"
"Your theory is wrong," he says, finding he can turn his head slightly in either direction. The Queen's spell must be weakening. Maybe he can buy the heroes some time. "I saw the book on the table. You're both terrible with research, you know that?" This elicits a snarl from the Queen, which is exactly what Hades had in mind. "Rumple didn't kill her. Her soul was in the pendant she wore. It protected her. The magic was complex – I wouldn't expect the two of you to have the brainpower to comprehend it all. His dagger did two things - it transformed her body and it freed her soul from the pendant. Once the two were reunited, she was able to return to her true form." He shifts his gaze another millimeter towards Zelena. "It was a one-time thing, you know. You won't be able to do that again."
The Queen clomps over to him. "You're a new addition to this party. Who the hell are you?"
"He's no one, my love," Hyde intones. "That's Godric's second. A knight from the lost realm."
The Queen's eyes burrow deep into his, and Hades flinches at the lack of a soul behind Regina's brown depths. "No, there's more to him than that."
Hyde swipes a forefinger along the scar on his left brow. "He's clever, that's all. He is the resident librarian and guardian to the boy."
The Queen glances at Zelena, who is doing a poor impression of casual nonchalance. "You're rather quiet all of a sudden. Do you agree with his theory?"
"I already told you I wasn't immortal. About a thousand bloody times."
"Yes, but you didn't explain why. No one has ever been able to explain what happened with you… until now." The Queen tilts her head in the exact angle of the infamous RCA dog before flicking her wrist to the ceiling. Hades' feet fumble beneath him as he is released from the immobilization spell. He shares a quick glance with Zelena, her anxiety and confusion prevalent. His eyes dart quickly to his sword, and her lips curve up in a slow grin.
"Why free him?" Hyde asks as Hades casually flexes his fingers, securing his grip. "He is nothing. An outcast. Useless."
The dark head straightens. "No… I don't think he is."
Just as Hades raises his sword to strike her down, the Queen plunges her fingers into his ribcage and with a searing slash, rips his heart free. Hades coughs and sputters, his sword clattering loudly onto the tile as his hands instinctively fly to his chest. Seconds later he hears the shocked gasps of everyone around him.
His heart is glowing, pulsing with the same blue and white light the Fate's declared was his new thread of life.
"Well now," the Queen murmurs, "isn't this interesting." She squeezes it and Hades coughs as his breath catches in his throat. It's like nothing he's ever felt - a crushing vice clamping down on his soul.
"Leave him alone!" Henry cries.
Zelena has a different approach, as she has succeeded in overpowering the Queen's spell. Her green fireball bursts into life in her palm. "Your stamina with magic is pathetic," Zelena taunts. "And a simple freezing spell, too. So very sad…" The flames in her hand soar higher, indicative of Zelena's wrath. "Now, I recommend you return that to him," she snarls. "We both know you aren't strong enough to face me."
"I'm more than capable of taking you down," the Queen says, dead eyes sparking with defiance. "I already did it once today. The real question is - are you willing to risk damaging this in the process?" She squeezes Hades' heart again, and he groans at the onslaught, desperate to fight back but unable to do so.
Zelena halts, eyes narrowed. Hades hopes she can't see the fear rising within him. His mind is struggling to fend off the Queen's control; her subtle and alien commands of compliance and submission are seeping through his thoughts and clouding his will in a deep, cloying fog.
The Queen spins on her heel and faces the rest of the heroes, holding his heart aloft. "As you can see, your new friend has a rather unique heart. I don't think any of you know what he is. I'm not certain either, but I'd be willing to bet what I hold in my hand is the heart of an immortal." She turns to Hyde. "Isn't that convenient?"
Hyde bolts from behind the table and runs to her side, reaching for it. "Please. Give it to me."
The Queen yanks it away from him. "I beg your pardon?"
"My dearest, I fear…"
"You fear what… I'll break it?" She bangs on it with the balled fist of her other hand, and Hades winces at each blow. "Crush it before we can use it?" She squeezes it and Hades moans. "It's the heart of an immortal. I'm fairly certain it can stand up to whatever I dish out."
Hyde's opaque eyes simmer with suppressed rage as he points to Hades. "That man is not immortal. I wounded him – severely." He faces the Queen, voice firm but pleading. "You recall the details of the spell. The rarity of what we seek. It clearly states an immortal heart that death spun awry. An immortal that died."
The Queen's features curl into a sneer. "There is another immortal that died." Hades grunts in pain as she rakes a razor-sharp fingernail along the side of his arm. She blinks as she examines her hand, the nail dripping with blood.
Her face softens, and for an instant, she looks exactly like Regina did on that day. "Is it really you?"
Hades doesn't answer. He can't answer. He looks across to the heroes, and they all wear the same expression of horror and disbelief. Henry is twisting against his mom, muttering softly to her. Regina is still frozen, but Hades can see the flickers of red arching between her fingertips. He turns to Zelena, and the Queen whips her head to her as well.
"You would know. Is it him?"
"I have no idea," she replies casually.
The Queen digs her nails into his heart and Hades screams, dropping to his knees. Dammit! He can't even defend himself. All he feels is her will overpowering his, forcing him into mute obedience.
Zelena's gaze turns murderous, and the Queen chuckles. "Fine, we'll get it straight from the horse's mouth." She brings his heart close to her lips and murmurs over it. He can hear her voice resonating in his mind. "Tell me who you really are."
"I am Sir Zacharias, former Knight Templar. I work as the town librarian…" he replies, throwing the full weight of his will against hers.
She feels it and digs her nails deeper. "Tell me," she growls.
Hades chokes, his words breathy and labored. "Rhye…my name is Rhye…"
She squeezes hard and something cracks deep in his soul as he collapses in agony onto the floor. Hyde places a firm hand on her shoulder, his meaty fingers digging deep into her pale flesh. "Give the heart to me. Now."
The Queen seems oblivious to the pain as she jerks free of his grip, the red welts proof of how tightly one demon held the other. "No!" she rages. "I will have my answer!" She clasps Hades' heart in both hands and twists. "Tell me! Now!"
He cannot fight it any longer. The word leaves his mouth unbidden. "Hades."
"I knew it!" the Queen yowls, her frenzied roar merging with the discordant chorus of shock from the heroes. No fool, Hyde yanks Hades' heart from her grip before she can crush it. And then all hell breaks loose.
The red fireball hits the Queen square in the back, and the green one from Zelena knocks her to the floor. Zelena rushes to stand in front of him as Regina charges towards them, free of the freezing spell.
"Is it true?" she cries. "You let that monster back into your life, into our lives? The life of my son?"
"I didn't know Regina. Not until recently. He was in your lives way before he was in mine."
The other heroes are also free, but they remain still. Hades can almost sense their disbelief and disgust as he struggles to right himself from the cold floor. He's not alone down here; the Evil Queen is also lying prone in the center of the room, stunned by the dual blasts. Her ornate dress is bundled around her, the singed and crushed crinoline creating unflattering peaks and valleys beneath the shimmering black fabric.
The Savior's words are ice as she and her mother calmly approach the fallen Queen. "He tricked us all. I can't believe we fell for it."
"Mom…please listen." Henry pleads to Regina, running from across the room to stand beside Zelena. To defend him. "He's changed. He's different."
Regina's whirls to her son, the sting of betrayal piercing each word. "How can you say that?"
"Because it's true and you know it." Henry kneels and loops Hades' arm over his shoulder, helping Hades to his feet. "He almost died saving me."
Hades feels a tad lightheaded, but is unsure why. His entire soul feels numb, and with a start he realizes this is the same way he felt when his heart was stopped. Only this time around, it seems the lack of emotion is much more pronounced. There is no rage, no vengeance. There is only emptiness.
Henry props him up against one of the dining chairs, the teen's green eyes peeking up at him from under his arm. "It'll be all right," he murmurs, placing the sword back in Hades' hand before returning to stand next to Zelena. Hades fumbles as he sheaths it back into its scabbard. Movements to his left draw his attention back to the Queen. She is struggling to stand, hands and knees planted awkwardly around her on the slick tile floor. Snow White plants her feet and taps the jeweled headpiece atop the dark woman's head with her arrow. "I wouldn't get up if I were you."
Emma's fingers flick outward as her light magic swirls and surrounds the dark woman. There is a flash and the Queen is now on her knees, hands pinned behind her back in thick silver shackles. Her ankles wear the same adornments, and Hades breathes a sigh of relief. One threat has been nullified… for now.
Hades' focus turns to Hyde – the remaining demon. He sees David standing five feet from the marble desk, trapped in indecision. His eyes are darting repeatedly from Hyde to Hades, the gun dangling from his hand. Dammit Charming, I'm not the threat – Hyde is.
The consummate opportunist, Hyde has moved forward with his plan and now has the complacent Dr. Jekyll at his side, the smaller man cradling a grey-tinged hollow shell of a heart in both hands. Hades' own heart rests on the left plate, coated in Henry's blood. The weight of it has unbalanced the scales, and a ripple of trepidation flows through him as Jekyll places the shell of the heart on the corresponding empty plate. The scale doesn't move.
"Now, my ally," Hyde says calmly to Jekyll. "Enact the spell."
"As you wish," the smaller man mutters. He takes Hyde's left hand and positions it over the sharp spike of the top spire in the center of the scale. "This may hurt a bit," he mumbles as he drives the pale hand down, impaling it. Hyde roars as the black ichor of his blood drips down the center beam and flows outwards along the side arms of the scale.
Jekyll nods, oblivious to his mutant self's discomfort, and retrieves a thin glass bottle from his vest pocket. Uncorking it, he pours a deep, iridescent liquid over Hyde's hand. The scale pulses with a deep violet light and Hyde's eyes glaze over as the spell takes effect. Hades has seen that glow before. That vial contains squid ink.
Two seconds later, Hades feels a rending deep within him, an aching suction that immediately saps his strength. He leans heavily against the chair, a sense of dread rippling through him as he watches the blue-white glow surrounding his heart climb up the delicate chains. It travels along the bloodied top rail and then down the other side, pooling into the smoky, hollow heart.
Charming also watches the spell being cast. With one final glance to Hades, he walks over to his wife, placing his hand on her shoulder. Hades cannot hear what he says, but Snow's head turns and her doe eyes meet his. There are raw embers of hatred there, and Hades looks away.
He shouldn't be surprised, but he is. Zelena and Henry have shown where their loyalties lie, and the other heroes have done the same. He was right to think that it would be war between them. He wonders now how he ever thought their dynamic could be different. They hate him. Regardless of all the good he's accomplished since he arrived in Storybrooke – they will never forgive him for the evil he's done. The rejection is crushing, despite his dulled emotions, and the depth of his loss drops him to his knees. His days of masquerading as Rhye the Knight are over. They all know the truth now.
Evidence confirming the heroes' inability to accept him is all around him. Regina is still raging at Zelena, but now Emma is beside her, her sharp voice adding to the accusatory din. Henry is clearly pleading with both of them, but the older adults are drowning him out. Zelena's voice is in the mix as well, her tone wavering between defensive and contrite.
"You hid this from me," Regina cries, her words choked with emotion. "You hid this from us. Henry, I can't believe you would do this."
"We wanted to tell you," Zelena says, her hand reaching for the teen's in support. "We didn't know how."
"Moms, please listen. I swear to you, he's changed. He even knows he's changed. He was rather unhappy about it… but he knows he's good now."
"Kid," Emma sighs, "he has you under some kind of spell. Gods like him can't change."
"He doesn't have any magic," Zelena barks in retort. "Do you really think he'd let her tear his heart out if he did?" She points a gloved finger at the trussed-up Queen, who is muttering under her breath.
Charming pokes the charred glittering gown with his gun. "Don't try anything. I'm still looking for a reason to use this."
Emma's angry roar nearly drowns out Charming's threat. "I don't know what the hell he'll do! He can't be trusted!"
"You trusted him before," Henry argues. "You both trusted him with my life."
"That was different," Regina snaps.
"No, it wasn't," Zelena counters. "Regina, the only difference is your point of view. You are judging him for who he was, rather than who he is now."
Regina stabs her finger in accusation. "You both stand here defending him but neither of you know for certain. I can see it in your eyes. This whole thing could be another lie – some game he's playing with us. He could be in league with Hyde."
"Um… I actually doubt that Regina," Emma says hesitantly, pointing to the glowing scales on the marble desk. "Look."
Hades watches this all play out in front of him, lacking the strength to move, unwilling to speak. He is kneeling on the floor, leaning against the side of a dining chair as slivers of his life force are siphoned away. The hollow heart is now one-third full; the liquid-like contents a sparkling gold. Holy Hell. Hyde's heart is turning into the heart of a god. He'll be immortal and invincible. A true demon.
The soul-crushing reality slams into Hades, and he knows how this story will end. Of course the Fates would be cruel. They always are. They probably find it hysterical.
The Evil Queen confirms it seconds later. "It's about time you all started paying attention," she sneers from the center of the room, still tightly bound by Emma's magic. "All of your arguing is moot. Nothing can stop that spell once it's started. The squid ink sealed that deal. Hades is a goner." She scoots forward and her cold eyes meet his. "Serves you right, you bastard."
Zelena is on her knees at his side an instant later, wrapping a gloved hand around his. "Is it true?"
"Yes. Don't worry about me. Get the heart." His voice is faint to his ears, strained. "Don't let Hyde have that heart."
Charming and Snow White finally decide to join the party. "We took care of the Queen," Snow says softly, "but we forgot about Hyde."
"I didn't," Charming states. "I just didn't see any point in stopping him."
"David… how could you..." Snow peers down at Hades. "That spell is killing him. Do you really want him to die? He was our friend."
Hades smiles weakly. "Thank you, Snow." He looks towards Charming, but the blonde man shifts his gaze to the floor.
Regina steps forward, blocking Hades' view of the Charmings as she glares down at him, deep brown eyes finally willing to meet his own. Her anguish and rage is palpable… hatred boiling over into the tears hovering along her lashes. She hisses his name. "Hades."
"Hello Regina," he replies softly. "I did want to tell you. I don't expect you to understand, or forgive, but I do regret what I did. Robin… everything that's happened to you… I caused that." He takes a ragged breath. "I'm sorry." Her lips part in surprise before he looks away, returning his head to the cool wooden leg of the chair. He doesn't want to deal with the aftermath of his guilt, his shame. He just doesn't have it in him.
Moments pass before a warm hand touches his arm. His eyes flutter open, and Regina is kneeling in front of him beside Zelena. "I will never forgive you," she tells him, her voice ragged, "but I do believe you've changed."
Hades manages a wry grin. "Blame your family. Particularly your son."
Zelena reaches for her sister's hand. "We have to save him. Regina, please… I can't lose him again."
"It's out of your control, greenie," the Queen scoffs. Hades glances up at the now evenly-balanced scale. Hyde is still impaled, frozen, his face a contorted mosaic of agony and ecstasy. Dr. Jekyll is off to the right, mouth open, mesmerized by the blue-white energy flowing from one side of the scale to the other. The hollow heart is half full, its golden glow casting a warm light over the entire desk. Hades' own heart has deflated and dimmed, now shriveled to half its size. "Looks like you are out of time anyway. He only has a few minutes left."
Zelena's whole face lights up. "Time. Regina, that's the answer."
"Zelena, no." Regina states, anxiety punctuating the negative.
"You know I can do this."
"This isn't flowers we're talking about here. You'll put us all at risk."
"No, I'm using it on me," Zelena replies, tugging off her gloves. "And not to stop. To go."
Regina's complexion blanches to white. "You can't. The consequences… you don't know what will happen."
The other heroes are gaping at the two sisters in obvious confusion. Hades' vision is starting to cloud, so if Zelena plans on doing something, she'd better do it soon.
"I'm not going to discuss it. I need the wand and my things." Zelena stands and plants her heel to teleport, but Regina rises and seizes her arm to stop her.
"Wait, I have the wand," she says, pulling it from inside her tailored suit jacket. "But…"
Zelena yanks the wand out of Regina's hand. "I'll take that, thank you!" She whirls and scans the glowing scales and the table behind Hades. "Ink. They had ink." Frantic, she blurts, "Where's the blasted ink?"
Dr. Jekyll pipes up from across the room, his eyes as unfocused as ever. "Well hello! I have some squid ink," he replies calmly, "if that's what you're looking for." His trembling hand offers up the vial from his vest pocket. "See? Here it is."
Zelena flicks the wand and the ink flies to her. She hands it to Henry. "Hold this for me, please. Now for the clock." Her blue eyes scour the walls. "Regina, where is your clock?"
"I don't have a clock."
"What do you mean, 'you don't have a clock'? This is an office. All offices have clocks."
Regina's lips curl. "Not mine."
"How the hell do you tell the time?"
"Well for twenty-six years I didn't need to tell the time, now did I?"
"Bloody hell sis, I need a damned clock!"
The ever-helpful Jekyll chimes in. "I have a pocket watch… would that suffice?" He dangles a large golden watch from a chain that trails back into the same vest pocket that contained the ink. Zelena flicks the wand and Jekyll's hips bump into the marble counter of the desk as the watch and the chain are ripped from his vest and fly across the room to her waiting hand. She flips it open and holds it in her left palm, circling the wand until the thin hands within it start to whirl and spin. She looks up at Dr. Jekyll. "Thank you. Once we're done today, I promise I'll help you get your heart back." She glares at the Queen. "I don't know where she has it, but we'll find it."
"That'd be nice," Jekyll replies airily.
Zelena holds out her hand to Henry. "Ink, please."
Regina and the heroes watch Zelena in fascination as she cradles the wand under her am and takes the ink from Henry, removing the stopper with her thumb. She pours the last drops of the dark iridescent liquid onto the watch, its spinning hands sucking it in, whirling faster and faster until suddenly they synchronize and stop at twelve o'clock. The watch face pulses with a deep inner light as each new second passes.
"Zelena," Regina warns as her sister tosses the vial to the floor, the glass miraculously skittering across the tile without shattering. "Don't do this."
"There is no other way. I won't lose him again." Zelena holds the wand firmly in her right hand and although Hades' vision is fading, he clearly sees the tip disappear as she stabs it directly into the center of the pocket watch.
And then… she's gone. She's now a foot to his right, long legs extended in full stride, her hair cascading out in crimson waves behind her, as if a breeze was blowing towards her. Her silhouette is fluid, shimmering along the edges with the same inner light of the watch. She is angelic, her skin a glowing alabaster against the muted darkness of her dress. The instant he sees her she disappears, shifting another two feet ahead, her body facing the desk, hair rippling out like flames in an unnatural wind.
Hades is amazed. He doesn't know how she figured it out, but like Regina said earlier, Zelena always has a few tricks up her ruffled sleeves. This is what she's been working on. This explains everything he saw at her house. Time spells are her specialty, after all. Still, seeing her manipulate the space-time continuum right in front of his eyes is absolutely astounding.
He's not alone. Everyone else is staring at her as well, duplicate expressions of astonishment plastered across their faces.
Mere seconds have passed but now she is blocking his view of Hyde. Ribbons of white are streaking through the tarnished copper of her hair, each widening and spreading, replacing and dimming the gorgeous red with grey.
Regina sees them too and moans softly. "Zelena…"
The price. Magic always comes with a price. Zelena is paying it, with her life.
"No…" he coughs. "Regina… stop her."
She kneels beside him, her hand hovering until it eventually grasps his. "I can't. This is her choice." Her voice lowers as she stares at her sister. "Her sacrifice."
No. "I never wanted her to…"
"I know." Her fingers tightens around his. "I didn't want Robin to, either."
Hyde's scream startles them both, but it is cut short milliseconds later. Zelena has disconnected him from the scale and used the curtains behind the desk to bind him in a mock straightjacket that extends to just above his knees. The white sheers are looped over him, effectively pinning him to the window. She even used his ruby ascot as a gag. His face is contorted in unholy rage as he struggles and twists in his bindings, an inky stain bleeding through the black and white fabric from the wound on his hand.
The shimmer of Zelena's outline shifts from side to side in front of the scale, the wand disappearing and reappearing in strobe-light flashes as she tries to break the spell. Her hair is nearly white and Hades knows the longer she's bypassing the normal flow of time, the more time she'll lose.
Suddenly, there is a murky flash of black that coats Zelena in darkness. When it clears, she is on her knees three feet away from the desk, gasping for air.
Regina runs to help her. "Zelena!"
"I'm all right," she snarls, her voice thick. She rises and turns, and the last remnants of Hades' emotions shatter into heartbreak. She's aged at least fifteen years, and although she'll always be beautiful, her eyes carry a weight he's never seen in a mortal before. That look alone is enough to tear his soul apart. Her hair is now plated in silver – only a few copper strands remain.
"Zelena," he says when she hurries to his side, his tattered heart clutched in her left hand, the wand still glowing slightly in her right. "You shouldn't have done it."
"I had to," she tells him.
He reaches for her hair as she kneels before him. "No, the price was too great."
Zelena touches the silver strands, tears welling within icy blue. "They make hair dyes. I'll be fine." She holds out his heart to him. It is faded and drained, but still pulsing with the dim blue and white glow. "I couldn't reverse it. But then I realized there might be another way…"
Henry's voice is steeped in worry when Regina returns to his side. "Mom, what's going to happen to him?"
Regina shakes her head, still staring at her sister. "I don't know."
Hades scans the room. All eyes are on Zelena, clearly stunned by what they see. Even the Queen's brows are buried into her scalp.
Zelena doesn't seem to notice the attention as she circles the wand in front of her. The black lacquered box from her mantle appears on the floor between them in a swirl of green smoke. Hades sees the tremor race through her as her newly wrinkled fingers clench tightly around the wand. She's tiring. This is too much for her. He places his hand atop hers, but she dismisses his concern, quickly sliding it away. Biting her bottom lip, she waves the wand again. The decaying flower he gave her in the Underworld immediately materializes directly on top of the box.
With a satisfied huff, she places the wand beside her on the tile floor. She flexes her fingers, as if they were numb, before picking up the flower between her thumb and forefinger. "I never thought… " Her lips tighten unhappily as she slowly twirls the stem. "Well, you'll just have to get me another." A whimper escapes her lips when she crushes it in her fist, the dark green dust trickling down over the black container. The golden band glows red and then disappears completely.
Zelena removes the lid, nodding at what she sees within. "Regina," she says over her shoulder, "now would be an excellent time for you and the others to take the Queen and Hyde to the station." She glances at Hades. "What I'm about to do might get a little intense."
Snow's screech surpasses high C. "You don't call what you just did intense?"
"Apparently not," Emma says, peering over Zelena's shoulder into the lacquered container. "Which is all the more reason why we should leave." The Savior turns to her son. "C'mon Henry, this is something the two of them need to do alone."
Henry doesn't move from his self-appointed station on the other side of Hades' chair. "I can't leave him."
"I've got the Queen," Charming replies from across the room, clasping his hands firmly over the scowling woman's shoulders.
The Evil Queen heaves and twists free of his grasp. "Get your grimy peasant hands off me." She shrugs her shoulders, causing the chains of her shackles to clang. "It's not like I can break out of these. Thanks for that, Miss Swan."
Emma snorts softly and extends her fingers. Glittering white bands of magic swirl around the Queen, doubling the size of her restraints. "My pleasure," she taunts as the dark woman glares daggers at her.
Snow is standing in front of the warped scales, brows furrowed. "Um… Zelena? You made Hyde part of the décor."
"Oops!" Zelena quips. "Right." She waves her hand and the white sheers release their prisoner. The pseudo-straightjacketed Hyde topples heavily to the floor, yelping with outrage. "Not sorry!" she hollers. "Do mind that heart," she advises Snow. "It's a bit charbroiled but still quite powerful. I don't recommend returning it to him."
Snow stares at Zelena like she's crazy, but picks up the blackened shell of Hyde's heart, still half-filled with gold. "It's warm," she whispers in quiet surprise. Hyde groans loudly from the floor and Snow grumbles, "Oh, be quiet." She nearly drops the heart when the moans suddenly cease. "Get up," she orders and the tall dark man flounders before he finally finds his balance and complies. Dead eyes glare at Snow from across the desk, Hyde's disdain evident on his scarred face. A glimmer of sheer wickedness flickers across Snow's features. "I can see why you liked this, Regina."
"Don't get used to it, Mom," Emma chides.
"Oh I won't. It's just for today." She grins down at Zelena and Hades as she saunters past them. "Thank you for capturing him, Zelena. Now, Mr. Hyde," Snow commands, "come with me." Hyde toddles over to her side, clearly unwilling but unable to resist. Hades knows exactly how he feels, and if he wasn't so weak, he'd spout something clever at him.
Instead he just watches as the Charmings shuffle the nullified demons out of the office. Emma is hovering in the doorway, pleading with Henry. "Kid, please come with us. You heard Zelena. What she's attempting is risky."
Regina echoes the sentiment. "Henry, this is serious magic. Let Zelena handle it. You can visit with him when she's done."
Henry's tone is defiant. "I am not leaving him."
Hades twists his neck to face the teen. "Kid, go. I'll be okay. I promise."
As expected, Henry's watery eyes see right through him. "You don't know that."
"Henry," Zelena says firmly, "I am going to do what I can. The best thing you can do for him now is to go with your mother. Please."
Henry's shoulders droop as Regina leads him away. "He'll be fine," she says soothingly. "Zelena will help him."
The teen's eyes meet his one last time at the doorway, and Hades wishes he could reassure him. But he can't, and they both know it.
Emma throws her arm over Henry's shoulder, comforting him as she and Regina guide him into the hallway. The Savior closes both doors quietly behind her, leaving Hades and Zelena alone - huddled together on the floor in front of the dining table.
"I hate this room," he tells her, voice raspy and weak. "It's like an art museum collided with a zebra's estate sale."
Zelena tries to laugh, but it comes out more like a sob. "I know, right? I can't believe I ever wanted this." She traces the side of lacquered box lightly with a finger. "Hades… what's in here is…"
"Ashes." His ashes. He suspected it before, but the Savior's wide-eyed expression gave it away.
"Just... don't ask how."
"I won't."
"Good. Because you don't want to know." She peers down at shriveled mess in her palm, the tattered remains that are struggling to keep him alive. His heart is dying; he can feel it weakening with every beat it tries to take. "This… oh Hades, it just won't do."
"I know."
Zelena's aged face is laced with worry, the white hair still a jarring shock to the permanent picture of her etched in Hades' mind. He's having a hard time comprehending it. She sacrificed herself for him. She didn't even hesitate. And now she is literally holding his life in her hands, trying to save him. Again.
He's never loved her more.
"It'll be okay," he whispers. "I trust you."
She smiles softly at him, her eyes weary. "In theory this is nothing more than a healing spell." She swirls the wand and Hades watches the grey ash spiral out of the black canister. "This might sting a bit," she says as she floats the ashes over his dying heart. Her eyes narrow and the heart glows white, rising from her hand to hover in the air between them. The ashes form into rings circling around it, like the electron shells of an atom. Hades can feel the heat and he winces at the intensity.
Zelena's eyes are on her work as she holds out her left hand, the green fire of her healing magic reaching out and coating his heart. It's cool and soothing, and he relaxes when his breathing grows easier. This is good. It's working.
The relaxation is short-lived as suddenly his chest feels tight. Zelena is merging the ashes into his heart, sending them in ring by ring, filling it and restoring it to a normal size. This should be helping, but the pressure on his chest is increasing with each passing second.
"Zelena…" he rasps.
She glances at him and her calm, focused expression fades. Scowling, she returns her attention to his heart, moving it closer to his chest. This only increases the tightness in his throat and he reaches for her, knowing that he'll only have a few more minutes before he blacks out from lack of oxygen.
"No," she tells him, panic prevalent. "It's working. It's healing."
He shakes his head, grey bands streaking his narrowing field of vision. It's okay, he wants to tell her. She did everything she could.
He blinks and sees the heart in her hands, fully formed and red, but the blue-white that should be present is almost nonexistent. She healed a mortal heart, and while he's sure she did it perfectly, his heart was not mortal. His was different, and the ashes from his prior body do not have enough power to sustain him.
He gasps in pain and surprise when she shoves his heart back into his chest. Instantly he can feel it straining, pumping with all its might, desperately trying to keep him alive. But it isn't enough and soon it will race into tachycardia before it fails completely.
Her hand hasn't left his ribcage, and he can feel her magic pouring into him, trying to slow his rapid pulse.
He lifts his eyes to hers, fierce determination flaring in those seas of blue. He shakes his head slowly and she sobs, her head tilting towards the floor. Her brows furrow for a moment and then she removes her hand from his chest, sending his heart skittering into overdrive without her magic to slow it down. His world dims as he watches her gesture and wave over the black container once again. He can see only her hands as she draws out something thin and grey. She centers it between her palms and it flickers with an inner light. A blue and white light.
It is a piece of the Crystal. A tiny fragment, a sliver really. He sees only its glow as she feeds it power and ignites it into life. How she has the strength left to do this is beyond him. One thing he's learned today, he clearly underestimated her power.
The next thing he feels is the Crystal piercing his heart. Its energy and her healing warmth surge through his body, every nerve ending starting to tingle and burn. The tension on his chest instantly releases and he gulps in air again and again. He feels his pulse pounding through his body, a white-hot current flowing through his veins with electrifying intensity.
His vision clears only to crackle and blur seconds later, overshadowed by the hissing blue-white flames of the Crystal. He's seen and felt this before – it's the same power overload that happened when he died the first time.
He hears her cry, a cry of anguish and horror. He reaches for her, just as he did then, and he can see the blue-white flames coating his hand. They start to fade, and within them he can see his fingers stretching, narrowing. The realization hits him like a freight train.
He is changing. Those are his fingers.
Hope and joy flares within him, sending more power coursing through him and igniting the flames further. His fingers start to burn again, and fear floods him. Is it too much? Is the power of the Crystal still too great for him to contain?
"Zelena!" he cries, still sensing her healing magic. His ears marvel. That was his voice.
"Hades!" He can see her hovering over him, distraught, and then suddenly she is kissing him and the light magic of True Love envelops him once again, surging through him and exploding out all around them. The burning ceases, the pain subsides, and he isn't quite sure if he's alive or dead.
If he is dead… well, that was one helluva way to go.
Moments pass, and he's still kissing her. In fact, he's fairly certain he has his hand on her ass. Gods, she has a nice ass. He squeezes it and she yelps in his mouth, peeling her lips off his. Bright blue eyes are staring down at him, and she's grinning from ear to ear.
"It worked," she says happily, and then she's kissing him again, her body warm and soft as she leans against his.
His body. Hades jolts upright, disrupting their kiss and causing Zelena to fumble in his lap. He laughs and helps settle her next to him. Her clothes are rumpled, her silver hair is fluffed, and she looks like she walked through the wrong side of Hell. But the darkness that loomed in her eyes is gone. They are bright, alight with pure joy.
He raises his hands in front of him. He still can't believe it. Those are definitely his fingers, although he is in dire need of a manicure. He runs them through his hair, delighted to again feel smooth softness and not those thick, wiry curls. The leather jacket and jeans Regina created for him are now baggy and sagging around him. He wiggles his toes, finding them tight against the black motorcycle boots.
"Zelena," he says in wonderment. "I'm… me."
She kisses him again. "Yes. Yes, you are."
He gathers her face in his palms. "I love you," he tells her. He caresses her hair, wishing so much that it was red. His jaw drops as it changes underneath his palm.
"What?"
"I… I have magic." He threads a lock of hair through his fingers and shows her as he turns the silvery white back into burnished copper.
They both jump as the doors of the office crash open with a loud bang. A strong male voice states, "And that, without a doubt, is completely unacceptable."
Hades leaps to his feet with newfound energy and finds himself in face to face with Godric, the knight's blue eyes burning with an icy inner fire.
"What in bloody hell are you doing here?" Zelena barks, struggling to stand. Hades bends and wraps his arms around her, helping her to her feet, protective instincts flaring.
Godric's gaze turns stormy, and Hades steps in front of her. She's done enough today. "Get behind me, Zelena."
She snorts and stubbornly moves to stand beside him. "I'm not helpless."
"No," Godric sneers, "but you are mortal. And weakened. Aged too, I see. You would do best to heed his warning. You are responsible for restoring his power, and that is something I cannot allow."
The hazy, nagging uncertainties that have been floating in Hades' mind finally sharpen into clarity. Of course. Those eyes. The arrogance. That casual nonchalance. How could he have been so blind? He even called him brother. Repeatedly.
"Zelena, get behind me. Now."
Her eyes widen, recognizing his tone for the seriousness it carries.
The burly man flicks his wrist and Zelena disappears from Hades' side in a sizzle of golden-white fire. She stumbles as she lands next to Godric, and Hades' scowl deepens.
"Let her go, brother."
"Ah, so you finally figured it out. It's about time. You know, I tried so hard to do right by you. I gave you a chance to start over. I made sure you had everything you needed at that mansion." He pulls Zelena close to him, and she fights and fails to free herself from his grasp. "I was even willing to let you have her… eventually. But no… you had to go and reject it. You partnered up with that boy and abandoned it all. He's equally responsible for this, you know. He turned you away from the life I planned for you, and I blame him for the half-god heart his blood helped create. He'll have to pay too. They both will."
Hades instinctively reaches for his sword, but his hand stops short when he realizes he can use magic now. He calls forth his power, but it is much weaker than he remembered. Still, the shimmering fireball is impressive, given that only hours ago he couldn't create one at all. "Leave them out of this. Our feud existed long before they did."
Zelena's eyes flash in terror. "Zeus."
Godric waves his hand and his broad body is enveloped in gold-and-white flames. When they fade, the shorter, thinner form of the King of Gods stands before him, his eternally young and cocky face leering down at Zelena. He raises cold, bitter eyes to Hades. "Let's have some fun, shall we?"
Hades rages as the superior strength of his brother's power smothers his own and drags him into the depths of teleportation. He blinks and finds himself shrouded in shadows, standing alone in the center of a vast, dark plain.