Page 60 of Hades

With a shove, the door falls back and hits the ground with a loud thud as it splinters into hundreds of pieces. It takes me a moment to gather myself before I enter. I swore that I would never again don the armor that cursed my family to the Underworld. My father’s signet was embossed proudly on the chest, worn only to conquer and destroy. It’s a power far older than anything Themis could hope to wield.

Stepping over my family seal on the floor binds my fate and allows the armor to become part of me, just as it had been part of my father and his father before him. Was this the crossroads the new Fate had seen? The dawn of a new empire?

Turning, I grab my bident from the wall and head back into the office. Reaver stands at the entrance, his mouth agape as he takes in my new appearance. Flaming horns rise from my head, and the reflection of souls crossing the Styx mirror in my eyes. This is the true form of the one who rules the Underworld.

“Care to explain?” he asks as I pass him. “And did you just speak Klingon?”

“Just going to see my mother-in-law,” I jest. “The bar is yours,” I inform him.

“Need a hand?” he asks.

“Nope.”

“I didn’t think so. But it would have been rude of me not to offer.”

Shaking my head, I have to laugh. “You’re all right, Reaver,” I admit, giving him a pat on the shoulder as I leave.

In my true form, I don’t need a secret passage to enter the Heavens. My family’s power is far older and therefore more powerful than anyone here today. Themis may rule her small section of the Heavens, thinking she is the last word of judgment, but I rule all the Underworld, and my word is law.

I don’t waste any time skulking around her temple, I emerge in the one place she thinks she is infallible: her judgment chamber. The only time I was here, I allowed her to cast judgment on Aradia and myself. My fear of being the one thing she accused me of, my father’s son, doomed us to a vicious cycle for thousands of years.

Now, I wear my family’s signet on my chest for all to see, including Themis.

The chamber is just as I recalled it. White marble pillars rise into the Heavens, and a throne where she can sit and pretend to rule resides at one end.

Sitting on the throne, I slam my bident into the marble floor. A fissure crack spreads from the hole it creates, and just as I predicted, Themis’ guards come running into the chamber, flaming swords drawn, ready for battle.

Leaning back, I throw one leg over the arm of the throne and dare them to come closer.

“Who are you, and why have you invaded Themis’ most holy chamber?” one of the guards demands. I take a moment to size him up. He’s barely a man, probably only a few months out of training.

“Do you even have your wings yet?” I ask, throwing out the insult that he is no more than a child.

“State your business here, demon,” he sputters out, and I can practically taste the fear in his voice.

“I have no quarrel with you, boy. Go and tell your employer she has a guest,” I snarl. “Now!” I bellow out when no one attempts to move. The structure around us shakes, and one of the marble pillars topples over, nearly missing the young Arc, who stands his ground while his young company behind him flees.

Rising from the throne, I grab my bident and walk over to the Arc, who is nearly shaking in fear yet holding his ground.

“You should never confuse stupidity with bravery,” I inform him as I circle. “And you should know your enemy before engaging. What is your name?” I demand.

“Ez…Ezra,” he stutters yet still holding his sword battle-ready.

“You should know that Themis would have no issue judging you for any crime she sees fit,” I tell him as I round his position and head back to the throne. “You should never serve someone blindly. It never ends well for those in service,” I add as I take my seat on the throne. “But I appreciate your tenacity. Should you ever find yourself in the Underworld, come look me up. My army could use someone like you, but you should probably go before Themis arrives.”

He takes a moment to look behind him and not seeing anyone, he lowers his flaming sword. “Who are you?” he asks before he turns to leave.

“I am Hades, Ruler of the Underworld, and not someone you would have won against.”

He gives me a courteous bow before leaving. Thankfully, I don’t have long to wait before I hear Themis’ hollering coming from beyond the door.

“Who dares invade my chamber?” she yells as the door bursts open, and she steps inside. Her signature green gown billows and flows around her like riding on an unfelt wind. Her eyes are aflame with fury, and it takes her a moment to see me relaxing on her throne. “You,” she snarls and flicks her wrist as if her power has any effect on me.

Narrowing her eyes, she takes in my new appearance and my bident embedded in her marble floor. “I see you’ve finally embraced your family’s legacy. So why are you here?”

“As a courtesy to your daughter,” I snap, but I do not attempt to move from her throne. “She is still human.”

“And?”

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