CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN-The Underworld
Colette sighed as she leaned against the table that held Hades' map. She had lost all sense of time, and was growing rather bored waiting for something to happen. She desperately wished she had thought ahead and had grabbed a few books from the library before Hades snatched her.
Not for the first time, she wished she had Kendra's teleportation power. Kendra, she thought, I wonder how she's doing? She must have realized I'm missing by now. Oh, I dearly hope she's kept it together.
She knew how easily Kendra could become consumed by her emotions. One time, when they were both very little and Colette had only just discovered that she had magic, she had refused to see Kendra for fear of her own magic. Kendra had thrown one of the worst tantrums in recorded history, and senselessly got not only her father's crew but the entirety of the Royal Navy to bring Colette back to the palace. From that point on, Colette not only kept a permanent room at the palace, but she had tried to become her friend's emotional grounding point. It had worked well so far, but now…she was afraid of what Kendra might do alone in Storybrooke.
She sighed again. She found herself wishing for the blue-haired mongrel to return so she might actually have something to do.
Suddenly, a burst of hoarse, cackling laughter echoed through the room. Colette spun around, and shouted "Who's there?"
The cackling continued, but as she turned around again, she saw three short, grotesque women swathed in draping cloaks of black in the far side of the room. One had a large eyeball, while the others only had empty sockets where their eyes should have been. They had string strewn around them, and one carried a pair of dented metal scissors. She gasped. It was the Fates.
"Don't worry, dear, we don't bite."
"We knew you'd be afraid."
"We know everything!"
"Past, present, and future. Come closer," they all said in unison.
Hesitantly, Colette came their way, but made sure there was a still a good three feet between them and her.
"Oooo, she's a lovely lass, isn't she?" The middle one said, reaching forward and grabbing Colette's wrist.
"Wish I could look like that again."
"You never looked like that!"
"Um…" Colette was getting more freaked out by the second. From the vague myths she had read about the three Fates, she knew that having them here was not a good sign. Then again, neither was being trapped in the Underworld. "Excuse me, but, um, what exactly are you doing here?"
"We're supposed to have a meeting with Hades but-"
"He's late, as expected."
"But we wanted to see how you were doing, dear."
"We've taken an interest in your little Storybrooke."
"And since we know how things will unfold-"
"Shh! We're not supposed to reveal the future!"
"But she's from the future!"
"But she doesn't know about the near future, or Kendra-"
"SHH!"
As they spoke, they kept passing the eyeball from one sister to the other. Colette had to stop herself from retching, as they still had a hold of her wrist. This little bit about Kendra concerned her though. What was happening with her? "Could you please tell me what's happening with my friend? And maybe even my fiancée?"
"Sorry dear, but we're not supposed to tell."
Colette kept trying. "Not even what's happening currently?"
The three Fates looked at each other, or, well, turned to each other as if they were, and the one who seemed to be in charge sighed. "Oh all right. It could do no harm for you to know what's happening currently."
"But we warn you dear," said the short plump one, "you may not like what you hear."
"That's alright. I believe it would be better to know than being stuck in the dark."
"Very well."
The tall one plucked the eyeball from her sister's face, and held it up. The eyeball suddenly glowed, and became a large glowing series of images as the Fates spoke.
"In the Enchanted Forest, boys worry about the two girls they had to wish farewell.
One has a promise, one has a crown, one has a wish, and one has a secret never to tell.
In Storybrooke, a young lass finds dark magic within,
She has kept it hidden, but soon she will lose control and the darkness will win.
Unless reunited with her friend she be –"
"Ladies! Looking as lovely as ever. Did you do something new with your hair?" Hades said as he appeared and sauntered across the room. "See you met my guest. Cute little thing, actually picked her up from-"
"Storybrooke. We know!"
"Not this again…" Hades muttered to himself.
Colette meanwhile, was silently fuming. He interrupted the Fates just when they were about to provide the last piece of information! From what she could piece together, something was happening with the boys, and Kendra had dark magic? Where had that come from? And what will happen when she loses control, will she end up hurting the town? Has she hurt someone already? Thoughts swirled around her head, but she snapped herself out of it. Get it together, Colette! Hear what he has to ask them, and maybe you can use it against him in some way and get out of here!
"Alright, ladies, sorry I'm late, but I just have a little question that needs answering. I was wondering if this little issue of Miss Almighty Savior can be resolved by using sweetheart over there." Hades said, gesturing to Colette.
"We've told you enough."
"Remember the prophecy we've given!"
"But the girl does know valuable things."
"Things are happening in Storybrooke that you have not planned for –"
"But you can use this to your advantage if you're clever!"
"Ask the girl."
"Do so nicely!"
"And perhaps she will reveal all."
They cackled, then swirled around the still floating eyeball and disappeared.
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