Page 55 of His in the Dark

“Is that so?” I question lowly and listen to the sharp whip in the air followed by the strangled cry. The noise seems to become mute as Minox confirms Zeus knows I’ve acquired Persephone.

I take in Minox’s words against the backdrop of my life.

There are 166,000 deaths per day and each of those souls enter the Underworld. Morally righteous souls. Evil souls. Innocent souls. Pained and sorrowful souls filled with regret. Those who welcome death after a life of agony. And those who are at peace and simply accepted what was to come.

I oversee all of them, because both hell and paradise fall underneath my rule. They are both here in the Underworld, which makes them my responsibility. Every soul. Every heaven. Every hell. There are protocols and ease of placement for most.Some require my talent of torture. Those who lived especially heinous lives.

Even those who simply witnessed and did nothing. A thousand years reliving every moment they could have lived a righteous life.

The boundary between paradise and eternal suffering is far less firm than most would suspect. There is grey as far as the eye can see. One’s lifetime of a hero is another’s view of a villain. The balance is what is necessary. And I provide that.

Paradise exists in the Underworld.Elysiumexists in the realms of the dead.

Persephone is my Elysium.

Drawing myself out of my thoughts, I survey the realms around me. The whip rises and falls in a steady rhythm, just as it should. Souls enter from across the river and await judgment. Once judgement has been passed by the three demigod ministers Rhadamanthys, Minos, and Aiakos appointed by myself, those souls take their rightful places. Whether they reside in paradise or suffer in hell or return to mortal life again, theyallfind a place.

If I am required they will inform me. Both of these men deserved special treatment.

I turn away and fall into step beside Minox. I find it difficult to think when I am standing still, so we set a brisk pace.

Zeus knows.

“How exactly did he come to his conclusion?” I ask. I’m not so naive as to think he wouldn’t suspect that I would steal her in the night given our talks. But to know - to know is a very different thing.

“I believe word may have gotten to Hekate,” Minox says calmly. “The army of the dead has her gratitude. If she were to ask, they would not lie, my Lord. And Persephone’s scream washeard clearly. She has ventured down the halls as you wished which has lead to whispers.”

A grunt of acknowledgement leaves me as I clench my fist at my side, turning the thin skin on my knuckles white.

Anger rises, hot as the fires of hell. I crave to rain it down on the armies of the dead. I want to find the soul who whispered in Hecate’s ear and make them regret it for all eternity.

But I cannot punish them for such acts. For she is a Titan and the mother to all. Their obedience to her is necessary. Although it is very much like a betrayal to myself, if I chose to disregard Hekate.

I made the decision long ago that Hekate would not suffer as the other Titans did. She is the first witch, capable of both good and evil. But like I, she recognizes balance and cycles. She sided with myself and Zeus in the battle against the Titans. Standing strong, a single Titan against the rest. She freed all realms from the damned reality. We could not have won without her on our side.

The army of the dead is made up of spirits of the unavenged or wrongfully killed who long for retribution. Hecate leads them from the Underworld back to the Earth realm on Deipnon, which is the last sliver of the moon before it begins anew. A single night the army of the dead return for justice. She aids in terror but also peace.

Ishouldnot punish them for such acts. Not those souls. Not those who have already fallen under another’s hands and guidance.

For I also knew granting Persephone freedom would lead to knowledge. It is of my own doing that she is here and of my own doing that Zeus became aware.

“And Demeter?” I question.

“It appears it is only Zeus and Hekate for the moment, my Lord.”

“And does he send word?” I ask.

“For her immediate return or else war will ensue and death of a scale unknown before will come.”

My heart races in my chest. My pulse shoots to my temples and pounds there, too. Minox’s words are finally sinking in. This is a threat I cannot ignore.

And yet…

I cannot let it cloud my judgement. It isalreadydoing so, and it cannot gain any more ground.

“My Lord?—”

“Leave,” I snap at Minox. The anger cannot be quelled. It rises within me to a dangerous degree. How dare he threaten me. How dare he insist she leave me!

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