Chapter 12: The Gods arrive
Hades POV
The throne hall lights up at that moment, Zeus steps in through the crack in sky, electricity crawls up the palace ceiling as he steps in. His eyes sweep the hall with a familiar coldness that I could never forget. He has that look in his eyes that screams I'm always right and everyone has to do as I say.
Poseidon follows behind him, equally as powerful, he moves like the ocean he commands, he looks calm on the surface but could be dangerous underneath. Water drips from her armor but quickly evaporates as he steps in.
They both stop at the base of my throne looking around, the last time they were here, it was to lock in our greatest enemy, it was the day I drew the shortest stick.
I straighten on my throne and then Zeus speaks up first.
“Hades,” he says his voice echoing across the great hall, “I hope the rumors are wrong.”
“They usually are,” I answer.
Poseidon watches me closely and Zues being Zues doesn’t bother to hide his irritation at me.
“You are harboring a mortal,” Zeus says, the throne room crackling with electricity again, the lights flicker and the room vibrates. “Do you understand what that means for the balance of our realm? Of all realms?”
My jaw tightens, I was expecting a visit from Anubis or even Osiris first before them but I know exactly what he wants, he wants me to admit something, to bow to him as our saviour and submit to him. Not happening.
Humans cannot survive here,” Zeus continues, talking to me like he's addressing a child that doesn't know and understand the rules of the realm.
“A mortal living in the underworld distrust the laws we built to keep the sealed evils asleep. If the balance shakes, the darkness we buried centuries ago will rise again Hades.” he snaps, his eyes narrowed at me.
I feel annoyance fill me, and I force my expression to stay flat.
“The mortal is not of your concern Zeus,” I say
Poseidon steps forward, his palms open, he will always choose the gentle path first, at least before temperamental Zeus over here starts a war.
“Hades,” he says, his voice lower, “We are not here to fight with you, we just need to understand. Who is she? Why is she here? What exactly does she mean to you?” he lifts a curious brow in my direction.
For a moment I don't speak and then I turn to them.
“As the lord of the underworld I have stayed in the underworld for centuries. I have always been alone, no goddess, no mortal can stay in my realm but yet only one person can” I pause
They turn to me as I speak.
“My soul-bound.” I pause, allowing them to suck in the shocking news. As gods we can't be soul-bound to anyone, it's too powerful, our powers could transfer, could be shared and anything can happen, it would be unstable and yet..
“Three days ago, the fates walked into this very room and told me about her” my fingers clench beside me, if only I knew about her for years, I would have protected her earlier.
“So what do you intend to do with her?” Zeus sparks off
“That is none of your business,” I say, I don't want them involved with Aria, I don't want them spoiling things before it even starts. I know she's dangerous right now but I'll figure it out..on my own.
Zeus scoffs, sparks dancing off his fingertips in annoyance.
“Enough of your lies of soul-bound Hades, release the mortal, return her soul to the damn or we will take her ourselves!” Zeus threatens
I step down from my throne, my shadows rising behind me, enveloping the better half of the room, the ground shakes under my feet but I refuse to look away from Zeus
“No,” I say, “I will not be handing her over, not now and not ever.”
A pulse of darkness sweeps through the hall and all the torches flicker. The palace trembles in response to my magic.
Zeus lightning collides with my shadows mid-air and the clash turns the room into a thunderstorm.
Poseidon tenses, always ready to fight on Zeus' side but he doesn't intervene between us yet.
Zeus steps closer, his jaw tight, “You dare defy me because of a mortal woman?”
Before I can answer him, we hear a loud bang through the hall. I whip around to look and the double doors open and Aria comes crashing through her eyes wild with fury. The Cerberus pup barrels after her like he thinks this is some game.
Shit. She must have broken out of the room, how did she break my shadow lock?
Damn it, I turn from her to Zeus who has turned his full attention to her. Not now, Aria.
All the gods in the hall turn to her and her gaze snaps to me anger boiling in them but with a hunt of confusion.
“What is going on?” she demands, her frown deepening, “You didn't have to lock me!! To hide me from your shenanigans!” she yells out.
“Everyone has to know you kidnapped me” she narrows her eyes at me.
Zeus' eyes settle on her slowly and his expression shifts to a dangerous look in his eyes mixed with curiosity.
Zeus steps towards her with a smile that leaves a chill in the air.
“So,” he says, his voice echoing, “This is the mortal woman Hades risks the balance of the realm for.”