Chapter 48: Hell Hound

Hades grabbed Parisa around the waist, his lips touching the top of her head as she held Lillith close to her chest. Taking the chariot ride up to the Celestial Heavens had been a difficult one.

The once smooth wind through the darkness between worlds had become rough and uneasy. Causing the carriage to toss and turn while Hades’ hell horses screamed into the blackness.

Hades’ grip became tighter, rocking his mate and his daughter back and forth. This was to be a quick trip to speak with Zeus, to understand the plans he had for Hera and Michael, who were indeed still missing. There were no signs of the goddess and angel to return to the Celestial Heavens to be put on trial. Their time was almost up and soon there would be no time for redemption.

Hades had hoped to talk some sense into his young brother. This ruling for the trial was going by the laws of the high gods. But with Hera being the most trustworthy goddess for him, one that he had loved for so long and lost, he had hoped a lesser punishment could be persuaded.

As the carriage finally landed on the pearly streets, Parisa pushed the carriage door open, not even waiting for the footmen to help her down. Lillith grumbled, feeling her mother let out a harsh breath.

“Why was the ride so terrible?” she muttered until she looked up at the sky. Hades put his arm around Parisa, who was now stunned, and watched what she was witnessing. The skys were black, lightening weaving in and out of the darkened clouds. Rain dared to fall but always evaporated before landing on the god and goddess’ head.

“Let’s hurry inside,” Hades urged, trailing down the pearled stones. The overall brightness of the Celestial Kingdom had left and now all that remained were dark, greyed clouds that hovered to the left and right of the walkway.

Angels were donned in their armor, sharpening their swords and daggers. Hades shook his head as they finally arrived at the once bright white doors. Now they hang on the hinges, certainly not shutting to keep out the weather. The servants open the doors with a loud crack and whines as the hinges barely held onto them.

Parisa stayed quiet, gripping Lillith that had been lulled back to sleep with the rumbling thunder, her thumb slipping into her mouth, suckling as if it was her mother. “Stay close to me,” Hades ordered. Parisa dared not question her mate, she knew what was best for her and her child.

They both walked down the once golden carpet, now struck with black marks from lightning. Some pieces of the carpet were still on fire as they walked. Rubble, pieces of the ceiling now laid on the marbled floor close to them. Servants tried to clean as quickly as they could only for more of the palace to shake, leaving dust falling.

Angels with their head armor held spears, rows and rows of them before Zeus’ throne. All ready to attack even Hades himself. Hades chuckled, thinking what could those useless angels do to him? Hades was undoubtedly stronger, but the thought of his mate being helpless only had him seething inside.

How dare that Zeus would have so many guards ready to attack him, of all people? He was here to help Zeus. Why would he do such a thing? Holding onto his mate, they approached the bottom of the steps. In reverence, trying to uphold the peace, Hades bowed along with Parisa.

For the first time in thousands of years, Zeus sat on his throne instead of greeting his guests when they first arrive. His mood ever brooding as he now wore dark grey robes instead of his pristine white ones. His white hair was disheveled and his beard had grown. The once blue eyes now held deep embers of fury.

“What is it?” Zeus’ voice was eerily calm for the atmosphere that surrounded the palace. Angels and servants were nervous before the High God.

Hades stepped forward, still not letting his hand go from his mate. “I’ve come to speak with you about the treason against another goddess, Uriel. About her mother and father’s wrongdoings.”

Zeus had a sparkle in his eye as he leaned forward, taking one elbow to prop his head up in amusement. “Right,” he hummed. “Do, pray tell, why you wish to speak with me about it?”

Hades, taken aback but Zeus’ normally playful behavior raise a brow. “I think we need to hold a meeting with The Twelve to see if we can come to some sort of agreement. We both know why Hera did it, to save her daughter. She was scared and…” Hades was cut off by a mighty red lightning strike that struck right behind his mate.

Lillith cried out, holding onto her mother as Parisa buried her head into Hades’ arms. “That is enough!” Hades growled. “I’m trying to be diplomatic about this, but you are being unreasonable!” Zeus only gave a smirk, leaning back on his throne. His finger motioned for one of the Celestial Fairies to grace him with a platter of grapes and cheeses.

Popping one purple grape into his mouth, he let the juice flow down his lips and onto his robe. “Is that so?” He chuckled, now rising from his throne. Sulking down the stairs he flares his robes in a prissy manner as he reached the bottom. He was now nose to nose with Hades.

Hades would not back down. His nose touched his younger brothers and let out a huff. “If one god deems it necessary to call upon the twelve, then it should be granted. You know this. My reasonings should be heard. You are bias in all this still harboring feelings against Hera,” Hades growled.

Zeus squinted his eyes. The loud roars of the thunder had Gabriel that stood in the background shutter. His feet shuffling foot to foot as he waited for what the two gods had to say.

Gabriel thought of his mate Persephone, who was at home with this youngest, hoping that she was alright. Persephone was no stranger to thunder, lightning, and rain when she grew up with her mother on the Earth and Bergarian realms. It was the thoughts that may plague her mind, reminding her of her mother’s absence he was more worried about.

“Are you saying I am unfit to rule over judgement?” Zeus dared Hades to say another word.

Hades tutted, not backing down. “That is exactly what I’m saying. Your close relationship with Hera will impede your judgment. You could be doing this out of spite of not having her, not having a mate, being jealous that Uriel is not your daughter.”

Zeus threw his head back and laughed. The roaring thunder ceased and for but a moment, the skys parted and let what little light was allowed to shine on Parisa. Zeus’ finger pointed straight at Parisa. “If anything, I should blame your mate, don’t you think? She is the one who paired her with Michael.” Parisa held her child to her chest, stepping back.

“You keep my mate out of this,” Hades put his hand in front of his mate. “It isn’t so simple to find your soul mate. You know this. Maybe the fates don’t want you to have one for your foolishness of cheating on someone who dared to love you.”

Zeus rubbed his beard, smirking. Shaking his head, he stepped back to Hades, who still did not back away. Hades was ready for a fight, knowing this maybe the time where he has to replace the Sky God.

“I don’t give a flying fuck about Hera,” he sneered. “I am ready to seek the judgement the parents who dared to mess with the Goddess of Innocence. What is it to say that they are the evils that have tried to taint her?” Zeus backed away, heading back up to the throne.

“No, they are not.” Parisa stood up for Hera and Michael. As much as she despised what they did, they only did it to protect their only daughter. If something ever came to pass where such a prophecy hung in the air for their own children, who is to say she wouldn’t do the same?

Hades was powerful. Everyone knew just that. She would hide her children from such a fate, especially when they did not know what evil sought them out. Hera had every right to be afraid of Zeus.

“Zeus, what happened to you?” Parisa pleaded. Putting Lillith in Hades arms, Parisa walked halfway up to the throne. “Uriel calmed you just the other day, you seemed so happy once she relieved the burden you had. I felt the warmth in your heart that soon, one day you would have a mate and feel the love. Uriel gave you hope.” Parisa’s lip wobbled.

The empathy power she held was so strong now she could feel the roaring waves of turmoil of every soul with in a one hundred foot radius. Once she learned to block them out with Athena’s help, but now, the walls were crumbling to feel what Zeus was feeling.

There was something different.

Parisa tried to break down the walls she could so easily do with all the gods. To dig deep within their souls to feel what they feel. This time, she couldn’t. She could break the barrier that surrounded his heart.

“Something is wrong,” Parisa mind-linked Hades. “Something, so very wrong.” Parisa grasped her chest, walking backwards, her eyes not leaving Zeus.

The skepticism in Zeus’ eyebrow raise had Hades stewing in his stance. Handing his daughter back to Parisa, he stood in front of her to protect her. “A trial, Zeus. You still have the final say.” Hades taunted. “You are the most High God correct?” Zeus’ head ticked higher, liking the sound of it.

“Yes, I am. Glad you didn’t forget.” Zeus sat back down in his seat, thrumming his fingers against the arm of his chairs. Appearing beside him was an hourglass, the sand almost running out completely.

“Their time is up,” he muttered. “But I will grant you your request. I am most merciful in that regard.” Hades grit his teeth, his smoke tendrils leaving his body.

“But I have a request of my own,” he taunted. “Uriel must be here for the gathering of the twelve, along with the trial.” Silence sat between the two, Parisa shaking her head.

“Is that such a terrible request? To have the victim present for the gathering?” Zeus’ voice was still eerily calm, a calm you see right before the biggest of storms.

“His mate won’t like that,” Parisa whispered to herself. Covering her mouth at her mistake. Zeus stood again, his fist clenched.

“A mate?” Zeus growled lowly. “Since when did the Goddess of Innocence get a mate and I was not informed?” Zeus tapped his fingers again on the arm of the chair, the wind picking up to blow his beard.

“It just happened recently. With Uriel being so sheltered, we have taken it slow with her. She just found out what mates are…” Parisa was interrupted by a bolt of lightning gathering striking at her feet.

Parisa screamed in fright, holding onto Hades, who had now lost his temper. Smoke filled around them, his mate now completely covered in the blackness until the smoke lifted her and his daughter from his presence and taken to the other side of the room.

Hades sprouted his hair, using the ability he had gained from his mate’s genetics to shift into the most ferocious wolf. It had only been a handful of times he had shifted, but when he did; he was unstoppable.

Zeus stared at him in disbelief, watching the acidic saliva drip and burn the once perfect carpet. Claws crushed the steps heading towards the High God. The burn marks from the padded feet caught the entire area on fire as Hades, the Hell Hound, growled in Zeus’ face.

“You forget who is more powerful.” the sulfuric breath had Zeus leaning back in his throne. Lightening struck beside the throne but Hades did not flinch. “You forget how powerful a mated pair can be, now you listen here…” Hades licked his maw, the left over spit dripping and burning holes in Zeus’s robes.

“You straighten up your act or I will take back what is rightfully mine. Your days of bullshitting are over, Zeus.” Zeus nodded his head, zipping his lips while Hades backed away, his eyes never leaving Zeus.

“Prepare a room for the pair,” Zeus waved his hand, wiping his forehead. Hades continued to stare at Zeus while he gathered his mate and daughter from the protective smokes. “And send invitations to the twelve,” Zeus commanded again as Hades the Hell Hound and Parisa left the room.

The doors shut, the servants fled the room to take care of the infamous guests. The light dimmed, thunder rolling above Zeus’ head. He chuckled, planting his fingertips against one another as he strummed them.

His chuckled turned into laughter, his teeth turned into sharp fangs and his eyes glowed red. “This will be most interesting.” Black sludge encased the corner of his lips. Wiping it away gleefully, he sat back on his throne, waiting for the fun to begin.