A little bit of humor in this chapter from my personal favourite, Charon. Thank you for the reviews!
i: Always a pleasure to see you gracing the review board. I have quite a few chapters saved up and I'm actually trying to pace myself. I only try to update once each calendar day that way I can sort through and write out the following chapters. I refuse to have people willing to read this story wait weeks between each tidbit.
madam thome: Your quick reviews are greatly appreciated, any recognition from a reader is more than I hope for and glad you've stuck with me!
Now, onto the chapter that was my favourite to write so far.
As always, I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 7:
Hades paces about his chambers furiously, muttering to himself as his movements become more and more erratic, his madness causing the waters of Styx to roar and become turbulent. Soon the walls finish rebuilding themselves and the bed reforms, settling back into its proper place. He storms out into the hallway and to the coastline. Once there, he stops and his voice booms and rings through the entire Underworld.
"Orphnaeus, Aethon, Nyctaeus, Alastor!" he calls. Reins appear in the god's hands and he grips them tightly as four black horses materialize, yoked to a golden chariot that he quickly climbs aboard.
"You know where to head; we're going to reclaim what is ours," Hades commands, snapping the reins hard and sending the horses forward. The entire Underworld shakes; the river, earth and the palace cleave in twain as he races forward. He passes by Charon, the wind caused by the violent departure whipping the ferryman's robes; the man seemingly unperturbed and remaining steady on his feet while still petting and stroking the resting Cerberus' fur, grinning wickedly.
"Why, Cerberus… it seems we will gain a queen this day. What are your feelings about this?" Charon pats one of the noses and all three heads lift slightly, giving small chuffing sounds of indifference.
"Well then, let's be prepared to greet her upon arrival. Sound good?" Charon inquires, hood tilting back when he regards the canine and receiving a low groan from all three of the beast's heads in return.
The ferryman turns back to watch the god depart, the entire Underworld shifting itself back into place as he continues his ascension. Soon, the river resumes its flow as if it were never disturbed. Every piece of gold, column of marble and every speck of dust fall back into their original place behind Hades' chariot.
"I won't waste this chance. This will be the last attempt." Hades mutters to himself, eye alit with centuries of frustration and anger.
Snapping the reins again, the horses bolt forward; the earth splits and opens before them as they reach the mortal realm. Upon spotting the sun in the sky, Hades pulls back on the reins and the horses immediately halt. Promptly stepping down from his chariot, he weaves his way through the forest until he finds the familiar field. The sun is setting at a quickened pace and leaves a foreboding feeling in the air. Soon, he spots what he was searching for: his Persephone, under the same tree he could never manage to grow. A pomegranate weighs heavily in her small hands as she grips and tears at its flesh with her dull and ineffective nails.
"Allow me to assist you," says Hades in a hushed tone, smirking to himself as he sidles up behind the girl.
Quickly, he slips an arm around her waist and pulls her back to his body; his free hand covering her mouth to quell any screaming. He pauses for a moment, burying his face against the crook of her neck and inhaling the familiar scent that she has carried through every life, both mortal and immortal. It was the scent of sun and flowers, sweet fruits and vanilla; his control slips as he presses her harder into him until she lets out a squeak of pain.
Coming back to his senses, he pulls her back into the darkness of the woods. Soon enough, his four horses appear beside them. Hades drags her into his chariot and with a quick crack of the reins, the earth once again cleaving in two to swallow the chariot and lead its passengers back into the Underworld. He feels the weight of the girl grow slightly heavier, the thrum and beating of her heart pounding hard against his forearm as he realizes she had fainted, most likely from the adrenaline.
"In my excitement, I have forgotten that you are still but a mortal." Hades clicks his tongue, clutching the girl a bit tighter, shifting her in his grip. He slows the horses as they approach the gate, which opens upon recognizing its master and allows them to pass. Dismounting the chariot, he gathers the girl in his arms and awaits Charon who has yet to bring in the boat from his last ferry of souls. As her scent drifts through the Underworld and to the noses of Cerberus, all three heads lift to inspect Hades' mortal parcel; nostrils flaring as they whiff the air while staring at the girl intensely. Suddenly, the beast rights itself and trots over, nose pushing at Hades in order to better sniff; the girl remaining unconscious despite the jostling. Giving the dog a sneer of irritation, he allows the heads to inspect the source of the familiar smell, but pulls away the moment Charon reaches the shore. He steps into the boat before it's even fully docked.
"She looks much different from how I remember our queen," Charon comments offhandedly.
The ferryman steps back into the boat after Hades and pushes off from the dock without another word being shared between the two. After a short while, the girl begins stirring in the god's arms, the cold temperature of his skin and the chilled air that surrounds them speeding her recovery. With her head lolling over the side of his arm, the first things Paige sees upon opening her eyes are Charon's rotting hands, tight around the pole as he guides the boat along the river. A gasp becomes caught in her throat as she lets her gaze travel upward, taking in his hooded appearance. The ferryman looks over at her and gives her a toothy grin, one side of his cheek rotted and hollow as he gives her a solitary wink from his good eye. Paige lets out a short scream before her fear overcomes her and she quiets, brought into another faint.
"She is much more flighty, unsure and weak-kneed, or so it seems." Charon mutters quietly.
"She is, was, and forever shall be queen of this realm. I suggest you remember that," Hades replies coldly as Charon hides a smirk.
"I do not doubt for a moment that she is my queen. How you act proves it far more than she has," replies the ferryman, letting the pole drag along the riverbed to slow the boat as they approach the palace.
Hades disembarks onto the bank and follows the marble steps upwards, making a beeline for his chambers. He lays the girl down upon his bed, the cold sheets making her shift and stir but not awakening her. He slowly closes the doors and retreats to the Room of Judgement to contemplate his next move as his mind torments him with darker things. Lurid thoughts of his new Persephone ebb at his control. Thinking of these things draw his body taut; stirrings of heat and desire coil low in his belly. He lets out an exasperated sigh that does little to relieve his tension as he resigns himself to his throne, fingers drumming against the armrests once again; a pensive expression resting across his face. Finally, he plucks his list of those awaiting judgement out of the air and devotes himself to his work while his queen recovers.