Chapter 35

KHLOE GILES

The moment we stepped off of the elevators we were greeted by chaos. Bodies, blood, and gun fire were going everywhere. I tried to keep up with Sara, but it was impossible with all of the movement. We were already separated by several yards.

“Meet at Hades office!” I shouted, gaining her attention.

“See you there!” She agreed, dodging two inquisition officers who made a grab for her. I scanned the crowd and see several familiar faces fighting their way through the mess of Inquisition Officers. I crossed the array of cubicles, seeing my destination. Ahead of me there was a door that leads to a service room and had a back door I could use to slip into the hallway leading to Hades office. I made my way there, fighting my way through the confusion. Some bodies dropped unconscious, and some just dropped dead when there was no choice. The progress was slow and when I reached the silence of the service room I took a breath to recover, jumping as the door opened and Sara walked through.

"Dear god, scare someone." I hissed, glaring at her. She rolled her eyes.

"Don't be so over dramatic. We’re getting ready to battle a god." She informed me.

I rolled my eyes right back.

"And we're down a sister! We need all three of us to make this happen."

"Keith said himself, not all prophecies fall out the way they are supposed to."

"But they do most of the time." I quoted Keith's statement, letting her know I hadn't forgotten as we made our way to the back of the service room and opened the door to the last hallway. Out here people were still fighting, but nowhere near as bad as the main office.

"Now, where's Hades office?" She asked.

"Down the hall and up a flight of stairs." I told her, already moving in that direction and meeting very little resistance.

"We can't take the elevators?" Sara whined.

"They'll make too much noise." I shook my head.

"I'm pretty sure hades already knows we're here."

"Still, we don't want to wave a flag in front of his face and scream, 'Yo, Hades here we are! Kill us now!’"

"I didn't say that." Sara glared at me.

“Shut up, will you?” I made my way into the stairwell and was surprised when I met no one. With Excalibur out in front of me, I began ascending the stairs, the sounds of the battle now seemed distant and unimportant.

“Any idea how we’re actually going to stop him?” Sara asked.

“Not particularly.” I rounded the first corner of the staircase and started the second ascend.

“That’s so promising. Months of research and we have absolutely no idea how to kill Hades. We’re so dead.”

“Sorry, the information highway isn’t exactly swimming in ways to kill gods.”

“Did you try to google it?” I stopped walking and turned to look at her.

“Really? Like that worked out so well the last time we did that?” I asked, continuing to ascend the staircase.

“Right. Point taken.” Sara snorted as we ascended the staircase.

“Can you please shut up now? Hades probably already knows we’re on our way because of your loud mouth.” I snapped, rounding the second corner platform. One more flight of stairs and we would be there. Sara shut up and I took a breath, setting sights on the door way at the top of the stair case. The sight in front of me blurred and I swayed.

“Hey now, don’t pass out on me now. I have no idea what in the hell we’re doing.” Sara said, her hand resting on my back.

“Is it just me or is the room spinning?” I asked, feeling the swaying worsen as the room began to spin.

“It’s not just you. We need to leave now.” Sara said, starting to tug me backwards. It was too late. Hades must’ve put some sort of spell on the door. We were going to die. I struggled to fight for consciousness as everything went black, but just as quickly as the blackness began, it faded into bright arrays of color. Sara shifted next to me, moaning.

“We’re not dead?”

“Ah, I might rethink that question if I were you.” I said, looking down at my own unconscious form. My sleeping form still cradled the sword in her right hand. I could feel the heaviness of it in my own. I examined the ghost shape of Excalibur in amazement.

“Oh my god, we’re dead!” She screamed, “I swear as soon as we’re done kicking Hades butt, you are so dead.”

“Oh please, you’re not dead. Stop trying to be so over dramatic.” Abbey’s voice made us both jump.

“How in the hell are you here?” I asked, wide eyed, reaching over to hug her, but my hands went straight through her.

“Ew. That feels weird and awkward. Don’t do that again.” She made a face.

“Agreed.” I pulled my hands back and dropped them to my side.

“So if we aren’t dead then what are we?” Sara asked curiously.

“Astral projections.” She looked down at mine and Sara’s bodies. “Guess my casting needs a little work. We were supposed to have our bodies intact.”

“Astral projection is like an upper-level spell cast. Where did you learn to do it?” Sara asked.

“I googled it.” She shrugged. Sara and I exchanged looks.

“You googled it?” We asked together. I sighed and stalked up the last flight of stairs.

“Since when do you practice magic?”

“Hey, just because I don’t want to practice magic doesn’t mean I don’t want to know how to control my powers.” Abbey rolled her eyes, “Y’know I almost destroyed Neal Lucha’s mother’s fine china. How embarrassing. Luckily, I knew I replacement spell.”

“What are your powers anyway?” I asked curiously.

“From what I’ve been able to figure out? Telekinesis and astral projection. FYI that makes me a bad ass witch.” She gave me a wink.

“Who the hell are you and what’ve you have done with my sister?” I asked, narrowing my eyes suspiciously.

“That’s kind of another down side to the spell. I’m not actually your sister. I’m just a projection of one of your sisters. The side she doesn’t let out a whole lot, the fun side.”

“I’ve got to admit, I do like this side.” I agreed.

“What does that make us?” Sara asked curiously.

“Oh same thing. Khloe here is warrior princess Khloe-“

“That’s Queen Khloe to you.” I corrected automatically.

“Point taken. What does that make me?” Sara asked.

“Pretty much you Just more dramatic.” Abbey shrugged. Sara rolled her eyes.

“Of course. You two get bad ass personalities and I’m just me.” She huffed and stalked off. Abbey shook her head.

“So over dramatic.” She complained.

“We actually agree one something.” I laughed and she giggled.

“How about we agree on killing one sick god?” She stuck out her hand.

“Deal.” I agreed and our hands brush together. We giggled as sparks flew from our connection. We turned together and head toward the door to Hades office, ready for the final battle.

"Watch this." Abbey said, and she ran at the door. My breath hitched, thinking that she’d hit the door until I remembered that we are in our astral projection forms. So instead, she flew right through it. Sara and I exchanged looks.

"Definitely better version." Sara said, before jumping through the wall. I nodded in agreement and followed suite. We were standing in Hades office, but there was no sign of him. Papers and things were tossed about like he had a fit of some kind.

"Anger much?" Sara asked, looking around, making a face. I made a noise of agreement.

"Doesn't look like he's here." Abbey said, frowning. "We need to find him and fast. We don't have long before the spell wears off.

"How long?" I asked, looking over at her, but before she could answer there is a loud scream. Hades charged us from the corner of the room.

"You did this to me!" He shouted, pointing his finger at us.

"Well technically, yeah, but you kind of brought this on yourself." I told him, dodging his grasp.

"So Abbey, any brilliant plans?" I asked as we dodged to the left corner of the room.

"Uh yeah. We chant, you stab." She answered, flying to floor and rolling under Hades grasp.

"Stab what with what?" I asked as Sara sent Hades flying with a flick of her wrists. Then I remembered I was holding the sword of Excalibur in my hand. The ghost version.

"Oh. Right. But we don't want to kill Maxx." I said, exploding a lamp above Hades head and watching the shards cut into his skin.

"It won't. You're in astral projection form. It'll only kill a sprit. And if it does do something to Maxx we can heal him later." Abbey said, slamming her fist into Hades face as he rages, "Hurry!" Sara and Abbey duck behind Hades desk and I could hear them chanting in the background. Hades was raging like a wild animal; his eyes were wide and angry, and he snarled. Literally snarled, I lifted the sword in my hand, and he eyed it with surprise.

"No! This can't be!" He shouted, "You can't be!"

"You know exactly what I am." I said, grinning as I charged forward. He charged as well, and the spirit sword slammed directly into his chest. He let out a cry so painful I had to cover my ears and cringe. The room shook and when I looked up, there was blackness pouring from Maxx Evergreen's body.

The black smoke gathered and dimmed the lights of the room, bouncing around like it was searching for a place to escape before it pushed open the large bay window and filtered out. The shaking stopped and Maxx was unconscious on the floor. I rushed over to his side, Sara and Abbey peeked out from behind a desk.

"Did we just kill a god?" Sara asked, standing a stretching.

"Technically we just broke his spirit. He'll be back." Abbey said.

"And we'll be ready, for now we need to send our troops home. Retreat." I told them. "How do we get out of this projection spell?" I looked at Abbey.

"Should be over about-" She looks at the watch on her hand, "Now." As soon as she said the words, I felt my body tugging and the room around me blurred just like before. When it cleared again, I was back out in the hallway in my body. I cringed as pain fills my body and I stretched a little, sitting up.

"C'mon sleepy head, we don't have all day." Sara said, already on her feet. Together Sara and I hurried down the stairs and down the hallway, to the service entrance and back into the main hall.

When I reached the rows of cubical with Sara, the fighting has stopped. I looked around in surprise to find everyone gathered around two figures in the middle. One is older with bright blue eyes. He was saying something that I couldn't hear. Beside them I was surprised to see two familiar faces I hadn't seen in the battle before. Favar and Ray are standing at their side, the two guards from the fairy kingdom.

"Ah, Queen Khloe!" Favar greeted me and then turned and bowed to Sara. "Miss Sara, pleasure to see you again." My sister practically gushed.

"Where's my father." I asked, looking between them. Before either of them could answer though, I saw him. A group of people had gathered around him, including my mother and Scotty. They were kneeling, whispering. I ignored the group of people and hurried over.

"What happened?"

"He jumped in front of a bullet for me." Mom said, she was crying. Enola's words came back to me at that moment. A life for a life.

"No!" I shouted, "No!" Arms wrapped around me and pulled me back.

"Khloe, baby, calm down." I Jumped, surprised at the sound of the voice.

"Wes?" I asked, turning around to look up at him.

"When did you get here?"

"Just in time to see what happened. I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, well, you're a little late." I snapped, anger filling me.

"We should release his spirit so that he may rest." Favar said, having joined us. My throat clenched.

"No, there has to be a way to bring him back!" I shouted, hearing my mother break into another round of sobbing.

"I am afraid not Khloe." The older man said, "Your father was marked by dark magic. The price of his death made it possible for this battle to be fought and won. I am truly sorry for your loss." The man said.

"And who the hell are you? How do you know we can't bring him back?" I demanded, standing to face the stranger.

"Because my name is Zeus. I am King of Olympus. High God. Your father will be well honored for his duty to his family, to his people and to Olympus as well. We would've been here sooner, but Hades managed to cut off the bridge between the Western world and Olympus. It took some fighting of our own to get through the boundaries sat by him and the fairy Queen. They will all be punished for the price they have paid in dark magic." Zeus said. Wes tried to pull me into his arms and console me, but I jerked away.

“Khloe I’m sorry.” He repeated. I look at Keith instead.

“Have everyone retreat to the entrance to Avalon. We will care for my father and join you there.”

“Yes ma’am.” Keith hurried off, shouting orders through the crowd. I felt my knees weaken and I fell to the ground beside my father, taking his hand in mine as tears rushed down my cheeks.

“I’m sorry daddy.” I whispered softly, kissing the back of his hand.

“Please allow me to release your father’s spirit.” The blond headed woman with Zeus requested. I looked at my mother, who nodded through her tears.

“It’s the right thing to do sweety.” She said, I looked up at my sister. Favar was holding her in his arms, soothing her as she sobbed. I look at the woman and nodded. The woman looked to Zeus.

“I give you permission Artemis.” He nodded. Artemis leaned in next to my father’s ear and whispers something I couldn’t hear. Above his body appeared a white-looking orb. She cupped it in her hand, whispers something else and then lifted the orb up. My father’s spirit rose to the ceiling and then burst through it, disappearing.

“Your father’s soul will now rest among the stars.” Artemis told me. It didn’t offer much comfort, but I said thank you anyway.

“Hades soul is broken, but he isn’t dead, and his factions are many. I will personally make sure that my brother is punished for his crimes. He will face the judgment of council. The war is not over for you yet and the gates of hell are yet to be sealed. Be warned that many will come for you and your people.”

“We know. We have a safe place to retain to until we can maintain peace among ourselves.” I explained, giving him a little nod.

“Yes, I am aware you are going to open the gates of Avalon. I am pleased to see its return and wish to visit when you have settled.” Zeus bowed. “Enjoy your kingdom. I believe you will make a fine Queen.”

“Thank you.” I offered and I turned back to the others.

“Are we ready to go?” I asked, staring at the space where my father’s body had been. My mom stood on shaky feet, Scotty holding most of her wait.

“Ready.” She whispered, her voice broken from tears. Favar was still holding Sara and nodded solemnly.

I turn to face Wes. “You coming?”” He looked, for a moment, between all of us and then offered a slow nod.

“I’m with you.”

* * *