Page 40 of Hades

“And Ares?” I ask, because the Arcs are ruled by him, not Themis.

“I didn’t stick around to look for him. But she’s up to something, and I don’t think going in guns blazing is the right choice. Usually, I’d be all about it, but not his time. We need to get in, get Aradia, and get the fuck out.”

I give him a curt nod. “But once she’s out, I’m going back, with an army or by myself, it doesn’t matter. But she will pay for what she’s taken from her daughter and me.”

Reaver looks out at the growing crowd. “What about these guys?”

“Fuck them. I just needed the space in Treachery,” I whisper to Reaver before returning my attention to the horde. “You’re all free!” I yell, and they each disperse into the depths. “I was never one for consorting with demons I don’t already know, anyway.” I laugh. “Alastor should be here any moment. He’ll have Astaroth and his armies waiting.”

“Why would you need space in Treachery?” he asks, giving me a raised eyebrow.

“When I went down into the depths of Treachery, I found others who remembered Themis had a daughter. Whatever magic or god power she used couldn’t reach there. So that’s where we’ll head once I have her.”

Reaver stands stoic, looking me in the eyes. “Are you fucking crazy? You can’t take her to Treachery. They’ll smell fresh blood and riot just to get to her.”

“Did you forget who I am?” I snarl, ready to go to blows with Reaver where we stand. “This place is what I make it, and if she wants green fucking grass and blue skies, I’ll fucking give them to her. But Treachery is the only place Themis’ reach can’t touch. So that’s where we’re going. End of discussion.”

He gives me the same look I’ve been giving myself. I know how crazy the idea is, I know what it sounds like. She’s human, and if she’s not, it’s even worse—she’s a goddess in Treachery. I’ve thought about every possible area we could go to. I’ve even enlisted the help of Acheron and his Timber Cove wolves, should this fight take us to ground. But each time I laid out every possible outcome, the only one that had any measure of success was taking her to the only known place Themis couldn’t reach and beg Aradia to forgive me.

We both hear the crackle of the Dimmu gate, and our heads whip in its direction. We are both on heightened alert, not knowing who can and can’t come through the dual gate. But this time, it’s a familiar face, followed by several more. Alastor steps through, followed by Cain and Asher directly behind him.

“How the fuck?” Reaver exclaims.

I give Reaver a sideways grin. “And the banished shall rise again!,” I exclaim as I walk up to meet them. “Welcome to my little slice of Hell, gentlemen.”

“Holy shit!” Asher proclaims, taking in the dual reality. “What the fuck is going on here?”

“Welcome to Themis’ first of many fuck-ups in trying to create. This is the world as it would have been before Garbriel destroyed it,” I say with a bit of flair to my voice, and Alastor gives me a sneer. He’s only part of this fallen crew because of his role in helping Gabriel. After the fact or not, he still helped him, and the Heavens have a pretty solid no-treason policy.

“So, what’s the fucking plan? And we better be able to get fucking back,” Cain grumbles as he walks past me and heads to The Inferno. “Good to see you again, brother,” he adds as he pats Reaver on the back.

Asher follows but stops when he gets to his brother. “You can’t keep doing this shit. Like it or not, we’re fucking family,” he growls before following Cain.

“Well, that wasn’t awkward at all,” I joke, but Reaver has none of it.

“Did you tell him your brilliant plan?” Reaver asks as he motions toward Alastor. “He plans on taking her to Treachery,” he continues before I have a chance to explain.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? You can’t take my sister to fucking Treachery. Are you insane? She’s a fucking goddess, not your last demon whore.”

I can feel the last of my resolve disappear, and in two steps, my hand is wrapped around Alastor’s neck. I can feel the fire blazing behind my eyes. It has been so long since I released the demon that has always resided in me. Aradia wasn’t too far off when she thought I would look like the Devil. My hand around his neck glows a fiery red, and I can smell the singe of his flesh.

“Aradia is my life, and I haveneverforsaken her.” The ground beneath me begins to shake as my anger flows off me in waves. “She will go where I take her,” I add as I release him. “The two of you can either stand with me, or you can leave now,” I bark out, because I don’t have time to waste coddling anyone who isn’t ready to fight by my side.

“There has to be a better option than Treachery Prison,” Alastor says after a moment of catching his breath.

“I am so fucking sick of everyone thinking I haven’t gone over every possible scenario and weighed every option. Treachery is the only place Themis’ reach can’t touch. Aradia’s safety is the only thing I care about. I don’t care if Themis is having a fucking gala or if the Arcs are missing. I only care about Aradia!” I bellow, my anger seeping out of me and into the ground below, shaking and cracking the desolate landscape.

“And if she doesn’t want to go?” Alastor asks.

“She doesn’t have a fucking choice!” I shriek. “But you do, so I suggest you fucking make it,” I add as I head toward The Inferno.

Cain and Asher are sitting at the bar enjoying the sweet taste of Ambrosia when I burst through the front door, sending glass and wood across the floor. So much for it being reinforced.

“Everyone out,” I command, and for a moment, no one attempts to move because The Inferno has never been closed. “Now!” I roar, causing the entire structure to shimmy.

It only takes a few minutes for the entire place to empty, everyone except for Ash and Cain, who remain unfazed by my outburst.

“Don’t the two of you want to high-tail it out of here too?” I ask both as I slide behind the bar to pour myself a drink.

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