Back to the Hall, We Go...

He wanted to come with her?

"You don't even know where I'm going," Dark teased, letting Tantalus pull her into a half hug, wrapping his arm around her waist so she could smell his scent, "How do you know you even want to tag along?" Leaning in so his breath kissed the tips of her ears, he tightened his grip around her. It had morphed from a quick hug to a heavy embrace. Somehow they'd become wrapped up in one another.

"If you're going, I want to, trust me," he mused. How did he manage to make every statement sound flirty? Her blood was already running hotter just from his touch on her elbow, the press of his chest against hers. She felt fiery sensations crawling under her clothes, along her most sensitive spots--

"Stop tempting me," she snapped, swatting at him in indignation, "I was wondering why my pulse kicked up." She leaned further into his suit jacket, ghosting a caress across his open collar as she pushed a bit of temptation back down on him. The vocal hitch of his breathing, the subtle jump of his heartrate, the low rumble in his chest, told her he could feel it. He likely felt her ghost touches now, moving under his waistband, roaming up his lean thighs.

"It's typically frowned upon to tempt people without their consent," her eyes were forges, molten and deep, focused entirely on her actual finger trailing his collar as her ghost fingers explored much, much more. He flashed her a wicked smile, barely composed against the heat in his eyes, "Fine. We'll finish that later."

He cleared his throat and took a step back, though she could see the effort it took, "But again... I am coming with you, wherever you're going. I haven't had a minute alone with you since you brought me here and I will have that audience with you."

Dark gave him a careful once over, and quirked her brow, "Fine. But behave yourself." She turned away then snapped back as if she'd forgotten something, "Behave yourself with others *and* with me, Tali."

His answering chuckle was the only response she needed as she resumed scanning the crowd until she found who she was looking for, "Apollo! Apollo wait up!"

He paused, looking back with that reserved expression he so often wore now, as if everyone was a threat, "Dark, how can I help you?" He pointedly avoided looking at or acknowledging Tantalus. In return, Tantalus watched as hellraisers walked out of the room, ignoring Apollo completely.

"I'd like permission to enter the Hall of Records at will. I have something to research that's potentially crucial for the war effort."

"Like what? I'm not often inclined to make the hall of records public. I already had a long talk with Thia about permitting you the first time. You're... reaction to your past had the entire place in an uproar."

"What?" Dark paused, trying to think back to what Hades had told Angel about those lost days.

"Hades didn't tell you were in a blind wave of rage and grief after Dona forced out your memories? You barely let him help you. Attacked three or four other oracles who tried. I had to send all the uninjured oracles away until Dona could get you stable again. Nearly brought down the whole hall of records on everyone's head," Apollo said matter-of-factly, the edge of a reprimand in his tone, "Of course that's the risk you run when you open suppressed trauma. If I've told her that once, I've told her that a million times. Don't know what you remembered but I'm sure you wish you could forget it."

Dark could feel Tantalus' stare moving to study her and she subtly shifted so she was facing away from him, "I'm sorry for causing a disturbance but I don't have any more repressed memories to conjure up. " She forced a laugh that sounded hollow, "So I should be fine. And Angel was the more fragile one anyway. You don't need to worry about me and my emotions, Apollo. And to answer your question, I need access to the records of what's in Tartarus."

Apollo raised his brows, "Why?"

"You asked what I wanted to know, not why..."

"Well I'm asking now," he gave her a hard stare, as if he were yelling because I don't trust you, "Why?"

"There might be something else down there that could help in a fight. You know, like the Titans were there... so what if there are other things..."

Apollo seemed to ponder it for a moment before snapping his fingers, "Why not ask Hades?"

"Because we both know he will say it's too dangerous for me to go. And we also know, Asteria did not tell him everything."

"Fine. Access granted. Don't make me regret it. And don't overstay your welcome." His eyes darkened once as he turned but Dark gripped his arm.

"Oh... and Tantalus too," Dark shrugged like it was nothing, knowing by their body language, it was not. "He's helping me with research. He promises to behave, right?!" Tantalus rolled his eyes.

Apollo's face soured, "You do anything to my oracles and we'll have a fucking problem, tempter!" He cut Tantalus with his stare and he only nodded indifferently. There was so much venom in his refusal to call Tali by his name that Dark knew she'd be asking about it later.

Another snap and Apollo stormed off, mumbling something under his breath.

"Well, that went we-"

"What happened when you remembered--" Tantalus spun her around to face him, but words seemed to fail him as he looked in her eyes, "Rememb-bered w-what I... what I did?" His muscles were strained, eyes wide and unfocused as if he were the one remembering. Dark touched his cheek, "That probably requires a drink. Not for me, but for you. And we don't have time for one right now. Come with me to the hall of records and be helpful."

She hoped he could see the underlying words she didn't say *be helpful and you will feel better about being hurtful*. She hoped it wasn't a lie.

In a flash, she portaled them through and they arrived at the open-mouthed cave, cold and wet surrounding them like a blanket of misery. Dark assumed now that it was done so on purpose. If a visitor was unwelcome the chill was probably unbearable. Into the darkness they moved, scuttling and slipping over the craggy edges of the rock floor, as the souring odor of the place made Dark dizzy.

"You would think he'd at least make it dry for his welcome guests," Tantalus grumbled. She heard his foot slip, something hard scraping against a rock. Then his audible curse of frustration. She shouldn't laugh. Especially not when it was likely to happen to her if she kept getting distracted.

When the light at the end of the tunnel came, Dark found herself more grateful than Angel had been the last time. Maybe because Angel had been so scared and unsure, she hadn't allowed herself to fully experience the unpleasant journey. But Dark had. And every bit of her was slimy, smelly, and irritated as they finally walked through the doorway to the main desk.

Allowing herself a moment to marvel in the beauty of the books, Dark focused herself back on Pearl, who waved excitedly, "Hi Angel! Happy to see you again. I hope things are going better than the last time you visited with us." For once, the incorrect name didn't bother her.

Dark smiled, "Probably about the same."

Pearl frowned, "Sorry to hear it. Will you be heading back to Tantalus' section or is there another reason for your visit?"

Tantalus took that opportunity to skirt around Dark, bringing himself into view as he looked over at her. Of course, his eyes were lit with quiet surprise and amusement. Dark groaned at the thought that she would never hear the end of this.

"Oh! Tant- oh that's awkward... sorry," she gave a haphazard shrug, "I'll assume you're looking for another section then?"

"Yes, thank you, I'm looking for any information on Tartarus."

Pearl's eyes widened, shadowing for a moment, "O-of course, Apollo said you were to be granted full access... u-um follow me."

Pearl led them to a small doorway that opened into an elevator. They rose to the topmost floor and when the doors opened, Dark realized they were in a small attic space. Almost like an afterthought. Or like it wasn't meant to be used.

"Pick any volume, same as last time you ask the question and it produces the answer. Let me know if you need anything else, okay?"

Dark nodded, moving into the dimly lit area with only one small table. Did no one use these volumes? Did no one ever try to look at what was inside Tartarus?

Tantalus breezed into the first aisle and began reading the spines, tracing their texture with his finger.

"Just a word of advice before I go," Pearl whispered to Dark, almost cringing as if she really shouldn't say, "These volumes produce disturbing images. Things ancient and gruesome. I wouldn't suggest looking in them at the same time. It's best to have an anchor." She gave one last small smile and the elevator closed.

"Well that was ominous," Dark put her hands on her hips, "What do you think she meant? And what's with you and Apollo's oracles?"

She turned to face Tantalus, already finding him immersed in the memory of one of the volumes. His eyes twitched back and forth. His mouth went from wan to drawn in a tight grimace. She drew closer, noting the way his body shivered, his breathing turned ragged.

"Tali let go of the book," she urged, putting a hand on his elbow. His skin was ice, frosting underneath as his shivers deepened, "Shit, Tantalus let go!" She tugged at the volume but it wouldn't give, wouldn't budge from his cold, hard grip.

"Shit, shit, shit. Of course, you would go and get yourself in trouble," she groused, blowing out a frustrated breath, "We made it all of five minutes..." His knees buckled, dropping him to the hard stone ground. Breaking his fall, Dark laid his head in her lap. Now, what was she supposed to do?