Henry made his way further into the temple a chilling cold wind passing him by as he moved down the long corridor. "Hello". He called out into the darkness hoping to see some kind of light soon. There was a eery silence that hung in the air that almost made you want to turn back and leave whatever was waiting in the darkness.
A couple of rocks scraping across the hard stone ground caught his attention straight away causing him to stop. Henry glanced over his shoulder peering into the darkness trying to spot any movement behind him. He frowned contemplating whether it was a good idea to continue on or go back if it wasn't too late already. It would be easy to act like nothing had happened plus Snow and David probably hadn't finished exploring that other temple.
With his mind made up Henry went to turn around and leave when suddenly a bright light lit up the whole corridor. He whirled around to see a man in a long black cloak a sneer on his lips. "I'm afraid there isn't anywhere to run unless you want my pet to get you". At the mention of the beast somewhere behind it gave an almighty roar echoing off the walls. The man smiled pleasantly his fiery hair blowing like flames in a fire.
"Shall we go somewhere less dark?" Before Henry could answer the man had already clicked his fingers and a cloud of red smoke enveloped him. A bright open room with a throne positioned in the middle appeared with a chest standing beside it. The two boys scurried into the room each holding some kind of weapon a sneer on their faces.
"What's going on?" Henry frowned confused at the sudden change in mood an what was going to happen. The man strode across the room to a small table with a crystal decanter filled with a strange coloured liquid and two goblets.
"I'm in need of your help Henry, how rude I forgot to introduce myself". He lifted the large top of the decanter and poured himself a glass of the liquid turning on the heels of his sandals. "Hades". To add extra effect the hair on his head turned to red flames in an instant.
"God of the underworld?" Henry stared in shock having of course read the many stories about the ancient legend. Hades smiled taking a sip of his drink and going to sit on his throne.
"Brilliant". He rubbed his hands together relaxing back in his chair.
"Why do you need my help when your so powerful anyways?" Henry stuttered trying not to show how nervous he really was at the minute thinking about how he had faced bigger problems.
"We all need help sometimes, now do you think you'll be up to it, I've heard many stories about your adventures". The two boys sniggered holding their weapons up a puff of coloured smoke appearing around them both. Henry squared his shoulders and glared at the god not falling for his tricks or games.
"So what do you want from me?" Hades side glanced at his two minions warning them to keep quiet for the minute.
"You helped break a curse on the land above so I was hoping you will be able to solve the puzzle that keeps me down". A high pitched laugh broke out from beside the lord of the underworld obviously knowing more then they were all letting on. The smaller rounder creature joined in nudging the taller one with his elbow. Henry took a step back nervously reaching his hand behind him to feel for the door handle.
"I'm afraid there is no way out unless you agree to help". Hades smirked clicking his fingers for his two minions to capture the boy and take him away. "Let us not do this the hard way". He sighed dramatically pushing himself up to his feet and striding across the room to one of the windows.
"No". Henry shouted pulled at the door madly trying to get away before the two creatures reached him.
"I'm afraid that isn't the correct answer, take him away maybe a stint in one of the cells will change his mind". Hades waved his hand through the air already bored of the conversation. It would only be a matter of time before the boy broke and agreed to help him with victory.
The time was almost upon him when once again he could walk on the earth and set his titans free to reek havoc on the people. He had waited too long for this to go wrong now and the new arrivals were not going to stop him. Pain and Panic grabbed Henry by the arms and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
The large wooden doors opened to reveal the two witches arguing among themselves. "This better be good news". Hades sighed feeling a headache coming on already from all the stress this day had brought. The two sisters smiled and came to a stop in the middle of the room a eery smile on their faces.
"We thought you might want to see this". He nodded silently striding forward and stopping in front of the two women waiting eagerly. The bolding sister snatched the eye out of her sisters bony hand and popped it into her eye socket. She dipped her own hand into the black robe that covered her body and produced a crystal ball.
Hades leaned in close as the smoke in the crystal ball began to swirl forming an image. A small enclosed space appeared with three people sitting close to a burning fire. The voices soon became clear echoing around the room for all to hear. "So you've seen Killian?" Emma asked urgently moving closer to the fire to warm her cold frame.
Meg nodded offering them both a goblet to take the chill away from the cold. "I saw him down in the cells in a bad way but we didn't have much time to talk". She frowned taking a long sip of her drink from the goblet trying to avoid their eyes.
"Can you show us where he is?" Emma asked hopefully clutching the goblet close wanting some kind of answers. Meg waited a minute before answering not really caring about betrayal right now.
"Of course". She nodded getting to her feet to see if any food was in storage at the minute. It was time for somebody to finally find happiness in this dismal land instead of all hurt ad heartbreak. If she couldn't find happiness then helping somebody else could make a big difference.
"Do you not want to rest for the night?" Emma was keen to get moving and find Killian but the tiredness was surely catching up on her.
"Yeah maybe just for a little bit". She shrugged casting a glance at Regina who was staring at her suspiciously. Meg jumped up and moved around the small room gathering up things for them to be comfortable. Emma wrapped her arms around herself trying not to think too much into the situation and drive herself crazy.
"We need to go and find my mom, Dad and Henry". She stood placing the goblet down on the floor eager to find the rest of the group.
"I'll come with you". Regina also stood wondering where Zelena had gotten too knowing her tendency to find trouble or was it that it followed her around.
"Do you need any help?" Meg dropped the mats in the corner of the room and turned to face them eager to help.
"No its fine we will meet you back here". Regina cut in before Emma could answer there was something she didn't trust about this woman. It didn't sit well with her there was something this woman was holding back, maybe Emma had picked up on it too with her own judge of character.
"Wait there's something you should know". Meg called out just as they were about to pass through the open door. There was a brief moment of silence a slight awkwardness hung in the air as they waited for her to continue. "Be very careful there's all kinds of monsters out there". Regina and Emma exchanged a look then continued on without another word. Hades clenched his fists angrily feeling the temperature in the room raise dramatically.
"Did she just go to tell them the truth!" He shouted the blue flames of his hair quickly changing to red.
"It would seem Meg is unsure of where her loyalty lies these days my lord". The sister who was bolding spoke up slipping the ball back into her robes out of view.
"That is soon going to change". Hades sent a fiery bolt of magic across the room into one of the temple walls.
"I think we need to pay our friend a visit". He smiled widely and clicked his fingers disappearing in a puff of smoke. Meg paced back and forth across the dusty floor wringing her hands together. The decent thing to do would have been to tell them the truth that it was a trap. But at the very last minute she had stopped herself for some reason.
If the truth had actually been told these people might have been able to help with her situation freeing her once and for all. Meg cursed loudly making up her mind to go after the two woman and confess.
"Meg, Meg I thought we had an understanding". A chilling voice spoke causing her to freeze to the spot. She whirled around to face the lord of the underworld all her other plans going out of the window. "Please tell me your not going back on our little agreement?" Hades closed the distance between them and grabbed hod of her arm tightly.
"You should know by now what happens when people try to betray me, we wouldn't want something to happen to golden boy". He smirked moving closer into her line of vision to make sure she understood what he was saying. Meg glared at the god snatching her hand out of his tight grip. A million insults were already gathering on her tongue to fire at the man she had come to hate so much.
"You just make sure you stick to the plan and it'll all work out in the end". Hades glanced around the small room noticing the pile of mats off near the side of the room.
"They will be back soon so you better go". She spat with venom in her voice ready to see the back of the god. He waited a couple of minutes then disappeared in a puff of smoke. The fire flickered threatening to go out at the force of the wind circling the room. Meg leaned sideways against the stone wall with a sigh almost in defeat wishing for a more simpler time.
Maybe if Hades did succeed then he would keep his promise of setting her free once again in the world of the living. There could maybe be a chance of her finding love and if Hades was feeling generous he would spare golden boys life. That was something that was keeping her going for the time being if he kept his word.
