Page 46 of Hades

“I’m sorry, I…” I trail off as I look at the creature with his head bowed down as if he’s sad or ashamed of his behavior.

Stepping around Hades, I go to the creature, Argos. There is no need for me to bend down, since we are nearly eye to eye, even with him lying down. “I’m sorry, buddy,” I tell him as I hold out my hand, doing my best to stop it from shaking. “I’m just not used to seeing you like this,” I say as I pat his massive head.

“How is this Argos,” I ask Hades without turning around. “What happened to him?”

I expect Hades to answer. Instead, the question is met with a whimper from Argos as he lays his head on the ground in a huff. My heart sinks as I look at the poor creature who used to be my dog. I’m about to apologize to Argos when he stands and shakes his body from his snout to his barbed tail. With my mouth agape, I watch his coarse black fur morph back to the beautiful Akita mix coat I’m used to.

With his tail wagging, he jumps up and licks my face like he’s done hundreds of times before. “Okay, okay, buddy,” I say as I laugh at his antics.

“He felt bad that he scared you,” Hades whispers in my ear, and I hate that the feel of his warm breath against my neck sends electric waves through my body.

Clearing my throat, I step away from Hades and shake my head to rid my mind of visions of him naked. Instead, I kneel before Argos and scratch him behind the ears.

“Can you actually understand him? Or is that just another thing you’ve made up to seem charming?” The last part is out of my mouth before I can think better.

“Sometimes, can’t you? He’ll keep you company and safe while I’m gone,” Hades reminds me.

Spinning on my heel, I turn to face him. He’s leaning back on the rock, looking as if he hasn’t a care in the world, and I have a sudden urge to kick his arm out from under him,

“Can’t I come with you?” I plead. “Even with Argos, this place is… it’s horrible,” I snap.

He’s up and standing only a few inches from me in one fluid motion. When he’s this close, I’m forced to strain my neck to look up at him. If I didn’t know better, I would say that he enjoys that I have to stand on my tiptoes to even come close to looking eye to eye with him.

“Please,” I add, trying not to sound like I’m begging. But I don’t want to stay here, even with Argos. “This place is terrifying, Hades. Please don’t make me stay here.” My voice cracks, and I look to the ground, trying to hide the tears that I know are about to fall. In the past few days, since meeting Mr. Charming, I have cried more than in the entire last year. “Ugh,” I hiss, because I am so not this girl. At least, I didn’t think I was the one who would cry at the drop of a hat.

Placing his fingers under my chin, he lifts my head so my teary eyes can see him. I can feel the moisture streaming down my cheeks, and I’m helpless to stop it. I’m not usually one to cry, but the enormity of the last few days suddenly crashes into me, and I can’t help it.

With his thumb, he gently wipes the tears from my cheeks. “Don’t cry,” he whispers.

“I don’t want to be here,” I manage to squeak out through my sobs, my bottom lip quivering as I try my hardest to keep the tears at bay.

“I know, but it’s the only safe place. I won’t be gone long, I promise. But I have to go and meet up with everyone at The Firehouse, so they know we made it safely, and then I’ll be straight back.”

Pushing him away, I sit back on the rock, and Argos quickly comes to my side. “Fine, go. There’s no point in you standing here,” I chastise.

“I won’t be gone long. It’s perfectly safe to walk around and explore. You might even find other parts to your liking,” he adds before he … disappears.

“Hades, you son-of-a-bitch!” I scream. But it’s too late. He’s gone. The very real fact that I have been abandoned in Hell has me grabbing Argos by the neck and pulling him in close to me. “I can’t believe he just left us,” I cry into his soft fur.

Argos gives me a huff, and I wish I could understand him. “I’m sorry, buddy. I didn’t mean to make you feel bad,” I tell him as I kiss his head.

We stay huddled up together for what seems like hours, however, I can’t be sure. There is no way to measure time here. There is no sun in the sky indicating the passing of an hour or a day. Although, some light sources must illuminate the clouds, because while it is gloomy, it isn’t as dark as night.

As I cuddle with Argos, I feel myself getting sleepy. Suddenly, he barks and scampers a short distance away. Normally, his playful behavior would be cute, but in this moment, I’m terrified by his unexpected barking.

Whipping my head from side to side, I take in my surroundings, trying to see what he’s barking at. Back home, I might think a squirrel or passing cat has gotten him riled up, but here, his barking has my heart beating in a panic at what might be out there.

“Hades said I’d be safe,” I say myself.“He said there was nothing to be afraid of.”Of course, he also said he wasn’t kidnapping me, so realistically, I shouldn’t believe anything he says.

Argos barks again and scampers off a few more yards before stopping and turning to me.

“Argos!” I yell for him. “Come on, boy. Come lay down,” I plead, my eyes continuing to dart around the landscape. My command for his return is met with another few yips as he runs another few feet and stops to look at me. “Argos,” I say more firmly, hoping he’ll understand my tone if not my words.

But again, he howls, runs a few feet, then returns. It’s as if I’m living some Lassie in Hell rerun. “Is Jimmy stuck in a well, boy?” I yell to him. Argos doesn’t understand the reference because my quip is met with a tilt of his head and an audible huff of displeasure before he resumes his barking.

“Ugh. Fine,” I say as I get up and head toward Argos. The ground is rocky, dusty, and horribly uneven, causing me to trip over the gown I’ve been wearing since Hades grabbed me. Bundling it up in my arms, I follow Argos to a wide fissure in the cliffside.

We are far from where we were, though I can still make out the rock we occupied. It dawns on me that this must be where Argos came running from when Hades whistled for him. I laugh, because somehow, I thought he had come out of thin air, not a den.

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