Regina's POV
I could not believe that I was back in Hades after so long. Moreso, I could not believe that I had returned to the underworld just because of Nydia. She had been the reason I had come here in the first place. She had kidnapped my twins and so I had made the journey here convinced that they were here somewhere and now I was back because somehow she had managed to cheat the transformation. She was still Nydia and not Queen Euphrates.
“I'm just pleased to have you here,” said Hades (formerly Lucian) with a smile I did not return.
This time when I did come to Hades things were different for me. I had not had to go through the horrendous journey I had to endure the last time on Captain Thomas's ship or go through a bunch of illusion tests. I had magical powers that allowed me to teleport to Hades with little stress. I didn't even have to create a portal to get to the underworld.
“I am not pleased to be here,” I said and I made it obvious with a frown on my face. He only smiled at my frown.
“I am assuming that you have come here for something very important?”
“Why else will I come here, Lucian? This place creeps me out,” he was still Lucian to me. I could never get around to calling him Hades all the time.
“You know, I thought you would like this place because of your father. You don't even come to visit your old man,” cried Hades, “after helping the Faes get settled on earth you just abandoned me here, not fair, Regina.”
“Speaking about my father, Roland. Do you think there's any way he can return to Earth? The twins miss him,” I said in a sweet voice. I had asked him the question many times in the past and his answer has always been a firm no but who knew what consistency could do. My hope was to wear him out eventually until he said yes.
“Your father's body is no longer material, Gina. I have told you this several times already,” he said in an exasperated tone.
“But you're Hades, you can do anything,” I said to him.
“Perhaps, I will be more amenable to your request if we shared a stronger bond,” he said and I laughed at his attempt at suggesting that we get married.
“I am here for serious business, Lucian.”
“What is it?”
“It's Nydia.”
“What about her?”
“She's back.”
“Nydia? Who is she and why should I care about her existence?” he asked me.
“She is now Queen Euphrates, ruler of the Faes. She was formerly Nydia, the lady who plotted with George to kidnap my twins.”
“Nydia, why should I be worried about her?”
“She remembers her past,” Lucian looked at my face for a while. It was clear he did not believe a word I was saying.
“I'm being serious, Lucian.”
“And you are certain this is not a ploy to get revenge on her?” he asked me.
“It is not a ploy to get revenge. I watched her burn at her execution and I know that after her reign as queen, she would be tortured for a thousand years,” that last part stung Lucian who knew that his mother's soul would be languishing in that way now and even though he was Hades and he ruled Hell, there was nothing he could do about it.
“My mother did not remember her last life even when she was dying. She cannot be the Fae Queen if she can remember her past,” said Lucian, making me see why my claim was preposterous.
“I'm telling you she remembers. She asked me if I was trying to take away Caephas from her just like I had taken Dagen,” I explained to Lucian.
“Caephas? She has her sights on Caephas?” Lucian burst out laughing just then.
“Lucian! I'm being serious here.”
“I'm sorry, I just… Caephas and her, that was funny.”
“Focus, will you? If she does remember, it will be bad for all of us,” I said. It would be bad because she has unbelievable power and could wreak a lot of havoc on earth. She could go to extreme lengths in order to get her revenge on everyone she felt had wronged her.
“You have to be sure of what you're saying. I cannot recall her soul to hell if she has no memory of her past,” Lucian's tone was serious. I realised that I would need evidence to prove that Nydia was really evil and remembered her past if I wanted to get Lucian involved.
“What if it's too late?” I asked Lucian.
“Let's hope not.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“You need to bring proof that she is misusing her power or trying to attain more power than she needs.”
I thought about her plans to marry Caephas. Was it because she was in love with the man or had it been to attain power for her selfish gain?
“When your mother married Hades, was it because of love? or for political reasons?” I asked Lucian.
“I was very little so I do not know the details but I know that they loved each other very much. My father was especially in love with my mother. He only showed his soft side to her.”
I had gathered that much when I had first come down here.
“However, I understand that my father chased relentlessly after my mother because she was a young queen. She did not return the favour until many years later.”
“So it is unusual that Queen Euphrates is doing the chasing in this case?”
“Not at all. It could be that she truly loves Caephas.”
“And if Caephas happens to love someone else what would the Queen of Faes do about it?”