Chapter Five, Part Two
Did she really want to risk it all on one date? She said as much to Aunt Zelda. She just laughed.
“He won’t just kill you on a first date. Hades is much more subtle than that. He’d make you think that it couldn’t possibly be Mark, first. Then he’d have Mark torture you. Then he’d have Mark take you to him, and then he’d kill you personally. One date won’t really hurt in the long run.”
“Thanks,” Lexie said to herself. “That makes me feel so much better.” Actually, it made her feel like hiding under the bed for a few years, but she didn’t even want to admit that to herself. She got ready quickly, trying to convince herself that she didn’t care what Mark thought, because he was evil, anyway. Funny, when I took that online quiz, it said I went for the tame, nice guys, not the spawns of Satan, she thought wryly. You’d think they’d be right.
Aunt Zelda and Lexie were finally ready, and she went over to pick up Damon first. She also picked up David. Damon and Lexie grinned at each other as Lexie moved to the back seat. Aunt Zelda hadn’t said anything about it until she got there and asked him, but David was still ready. They picked up Amanda next. She lived nearby. Lexie was sitting in the back, bench seat of the minivan so that Amanda could sit next to Damon. She smiled, and they began to chat about unimportant things, like the new movies that had come out, celebrities, fashion, and music.
The last person to be picked up was Mark. Lexie had a feeling that Aunt Zelda had planned it that way, so Lexie would be more comfortable by the time he got in the car. She was, but she was still nervous. Very much so.
“Hi, Mark,” she said quietly to him after he was sitting next to her. “You look nice.”
“Yeah,” he said nervously. “So do you. You’re gorgeous.” Lexie blushed, even though she was trying not to. I don’t want to like him, she thought furiously. I want to get over him so I don’t have to worry about the dark child anymore. If I can get him to not like me- if I could get me to stop liking him would be more truthful. She fidgeted nervously.
“So, how are you?” she asked. She couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“I’m pretty good? You?” he answered casually.
“Fine.” I wish I knew for sure if he were bad or not! she screamed in her head. I don’t want to lose him, but if he’s going to kill me or worse, I don’t really have a choice. Aunt Zelda said he wouldn’t do anything tonight anyway. I guess I’m pretty safe. Aunt Zelda wouldn’t lie to me.
“So, what movie are we going to see?” he asked, trying to start a conversation. Lexie immediately felt bad for not talking to him, and thinking so much about if he was trying to kill her or not. Was she crazy? Mark was just a guy, and her first boyfriend at that. She certainly didn’t want to blemish her first relationship with stupid suspicions like she was. She decided to just have a good time, and not worry. Aunt Zelda could do all the worrying.
“Oh, the new Debby Hawkins one. Paris, I think. It’s supposed to be really good. Do you mind?”
“No, that sounds really good. I was just curious. Is Debby your favorite actress?”
“No, not really. I like Martha Williams better. Have you ever heard her sing?” Mark made a face.
“I can’t stand her. No offence, or anything, but I just don’t like anything I’ve seen her in.” He looked at her closely.
“I don’t mind. I’m just glad you didn’t mind telling me. I’d hate to have a boyfriend that couldn’t tell me how he really feels. So, who’s your favorite actor?”
“John Barry. He’s played so many different roles, it’s crazy!” He spread his arms out wide, and shook his head. “I don’t know how so much talent can fit into one guy!”
“I like him, too. He’s pretty cool. I haven’t seen all of his movies, though.” They continued to chat like this for the rest of the ride. Pretty soon Lexie had forgotten all about her fears. Aunt Zelda looked back at them through the rear view mirror every once in a while, and smiled.
I knew she’d calm down after a little while, she thought smugly, and chatted with David about books. David shared her love of ancient mythology (which was why he took her class) but Aunt Zelda didn’t think it was for the same reason. He was currently trying to convince her that she should write a book on the subject.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said laughing. “I could never write a whole book. I’m not even that much of an expert. I’m not well known at all!”
“How do you think writers get well known? They don’t just sit around and wait for it,” he argued.
“I just don’t think I could do it. I just don’t know that much about it. Not enough to fill a whole book, anyway.”
“You know more than you think you do. That’s the way it always is. Besides, you’ve written enough lectures to fill a huge book. Just try.” He looked pleadingly at her. How can I turn down that face? she thought, Oh, what the heck? I’ll do it.
“Well, okay. I’ll try. But don’t say I didn’t warn you! Because I have been trying to tell you that it’s going to be the worst book you’ll ever read.”
“If it’s written by you, it won’t. I’ll just stare at the picture of you in the back of it. That’ll never get old.” He put his hand on his heart, and sighed dramatically. She pushed him gently, and laughed.
“You’re lovesick and hopeless,” she said, shaking her head.
”Ah well. But so are you. And don’t try to deny it.”
“Who said I was going to, crazy head?”
“I could just tell. It was that look in your eye.” He smirked. “I can read you like a book.”
“Read this,” she said, and punched him in the arm. He looked at his arm.
“According to this bruise that’s currently forming in my arm, you love me dearly, but are too tough to admit it. Go on, just try and deny it.” She looked down in mock humility. She sighed.
“It’s true,” she said, in a fake wispy, dreamy voice. “I’m deeply and totally in love with you. There will never be another man in my life. Say you love me, or I shall kill myself by throwing myself into the sea!” He tried to embrace her, continuing on with the play, but she pushed him away.
“Quit it,” she said quickly, “I’m trying to drive. If you keep distracting me, we’re all going to be killed, Romeo.”
“Only if you say that you’ll be my Juliet.” He pushed closer. She held one hand out.
“You’re going to get us all laid out on the pavement with white sheets covering us up!” He laughed.
“Say it, and I will.”
“Fine. I’m your Juliet. Now leave me alone.” She tossed her head carelessly. He caught some in hid hand, and rubbed it.
“Your hair smells good,” he said with surprise.
“I’m so flattered,” she said flatly. “I do try and keep clean, you know. Unlike you.”
“I didn’t mean that,” she said swiftly, thinking she was really miffed at him. “I only meant that I didn’t think hair usually smelled good. Mine just smells like hair.”
“I use coconut shampoo. It’s what hair should smell like, in my opinion.”
“I’m converted to your opinion. All hair should smell like yours.”
“Thank you. Now let go, before you accidentally pull it. I have a sensitive scalp.” He grinned widely.
“You mean like this?” he asked, and tugged lightly. Aunt Zelda squealed, and swerved her car. He laughed.
“Stop it, you madman! Do you want to kill not only me and my niece, but your own son and his girlfriend as well? And Mark,” she said as an afterthought.
“Well, when you put it that way…” he trailed off. She jerked her hair out of his hands with one hand. Luckily, he wasn’t holding on very tight.
“You have lost the privilege to touch any part of me ever again. Not even my toenail.” He pretended to gag.
“Why would I ever want to touch your toenail.”
“When you’re desperate for me, you’ll want to,” she said regally, and sniffed. He wrung his hands together.
“Please, please let me kiss your ugly, rotten toenail! I’ll do anything for you, just let me kiss it.”
“Fine,” she sighed, “When we park, you can kiss my toenail, but in return you have to shut up.” He thought for a moment.
“To dear a price,” he said briskly. “I want to talk your ear off, that way you can’t hear me telling you that my little brother is in love.”
“Duh,” Aunt Zelda said scornfully. “He’s only been in love with her for the past three months!”
“Hey, don’t make fun of me because I’m slow on the uptake!”
“I’m not. I’m making fun of you because you’re dumb.” She nudged him in the ribs. “Hey, do you have any change? There’s a toll coming up that I forgot about. I don’t have any.”
“Got you covered,” he said, and reached into his pocket, pulling out some lint covered coins. Aunt Zelda looked at them dubiously. “Will these work?”
“How long have they been in there?” David shrugged.
“Dunno. I think they went through the wash a few times though, so they’re clean.” She shrugged, and said, “I’ll take what I can get.” She took them from him. “Thanks.”
“No prob, Bob. I’ve been saving them for just such a moment.” He smiled charmingly.
“Don’t do that anymore,” she said. “It makes me like you.” He smiled again. She stopped at the toll, and put the coins in the machine.
“Thank you!” a mechanical voice chirped. Aunt Zelda jumped, but David nudged her.
“Hey, the thing went up. You can go now.”
“Oh, right. Do those things usually talk?”
“No, they’re just a novelty. They have trash cans like that too, in some restaurants.” He shrugged. “They’re just kind of weird, and the little kids love them. They fight over who gets to throw the trash away.”
“It creeps me out. Inanimate objects should stay that way.”
“You’re paranoid, Zelda.”
“I might be,” she answered, “But that doesn’t mean no one’s out to get me.”
“Sure, whatever you say.” He sat back in his seat.
“Are we almost there?” he whined. Aunt Zelda glared threateningly at him.
“Don’t even start.”
“Too late. I did. Are we?”
“Yes. Shut up. I’m trying to drive.” David was silent. Aunt Zelda waited for him to make some wisecrack. He didn’t. She could hear her keys jingling, and murmurs of conversation going on in the back seats. She could hear the wind whistling against the car. “Okay, go back to talking,” she said after a few minutes. “I can’t concentrate with you not talking, either.” David smiled smugly, and went back to talking. They finally arrived at the restaurant.
Lexie was seated between Mark and Amanda when they sat down to the meal at the round table. Aunt Zelda sat across from her, between David and Damon. She didn’t feel nervous at all, which surprised her. She’d been on dates before, but not serious ones with people she really liked. This was Mark, and she’d been expecting the worst case of the jitters ever. In actuality, other than the usual Mark jitters, they were talking as if they’d gone on thousands of dates together.
“What are you getting?” Mark asked her. She looked at the menu, and shrugged.
“I’m not really sure. I think I’m going to get a hamburger and fries. I just can’t help loving fries.”
“Most people are like that,” Aunt Zelda put in. “I would die without my French fries. I guess I’ll just have to clog my arteries, and die happy.” They all ordered their food.
The dinner went off without a hitch. They ate, drank, and were merry. Then they piled into the car, and headed for the movies.
At about the middle of the movie, Lexie felt something on her hand. She looked down, all of her fears about Hades remembered, and saw that it was only Mark’s hand. He was looking at her questioningly. She nodded, smiled, and he left his hand there. It was comforting.
They were all pretty tired out by the time they got home. They’d visited an arcade after the movie was over, and it was 12:00 by the time they got home, a half an hour after Lexie’s curfew. Her parents were worried about her, but Aunt Zelda took the blame, saying that she lost track of time, and she had been the one driving. Her parents calmed down, and Lexie headed off to bed. After she was in her pajamas and her teeth were brushed, she heard a knock on the door.
“Who is it?” she asked, looking up from her journal, lugs tucked underneath her.
“It’s me, your mother. May I come in?”
“Sure,” Lexie said. Cybele poked her head in.
“Are you going to sleep, or can we talk?”
“I’m awake. What’s up?” Her mother came over, and sat on Lexie’s bed.
“I just wanted to ask you how your date went. Did you have a good time?”
“Yeah! It was great. I beat everyone at Dance Dance Revolution and razzed Damon about it. He was second place. Then he came back and kicked my butt at the clown game.”
“What’s the clown game?”
“The one where there’s those fuzzy clown guys that you have to knock over with the balls. He was really good. He got a prize for Amanda with his tickets. It was a teddy bear. She kept throwing it at him, and calling it the Teddy Bear Wars. She’s nice.” Her face clouded for a second, thinking of what Kiho would think about Lexie calling Amanda nice. She’d think Lexie was just saying that to prove her wrong. I’m not, though. I really do think Amanda is nice.
“What else happened?”
“Oh, nothing much. We went to an arcade, saw a movie, and ate dinner. You know, the usual.” Cybele nodded, and stood up.
“If that’s all, I guess I’ll be going off to bed. We have a lot to do tomorrow, and it’s late.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow. Good night.”
“Good night. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom.” Cybele left the room, and Lexie shut her journal, slid the pen into the spiral binding, and set it on her nightstand. She got out of bed and switched her desk lamp off. She stubbed her toe on the way back, and hurriedly sat down on the bed. She made a face and squeezed her toe. She stubbed it almost every night, and it hurt every single time. She slid under her covers, loving the swishy sound they made against her pajamas. She fluffed up her pillow and sank her head into it. She thought about Mark, and before she left the shores of wakefulness, she thought there is no way he’s the dark child. I think he loves me.
Kiho was wide-awake, reading one of her books on mythology, and thinking about how she hated Hades. She didn’t really want to bring anyone to him, but she didn’t want any of her friends to get hurt. She was pretty sure, however, that if Hades got a hold of Amanda, he would do things that were a lot worse than anything Amanda could do to Damon or Lexie. There was still the idea of treasure, however. Kiho looked out her window thoughtfully. When she had first started being mad a Lexie, it was an indignant, hurt feeling that was reserved only for when she thought of Lexie. It had somehow changed without her notice or leave. She had a burning feeling in her stomach all the time, and didn’t seem to care for anyone but herself anymore. She didn’t really like the feeling, but when she tried to get rid of it, she didn’t want to let it go. I have a right to be angry with her. She yelled at me for no reason whatsoever. I was trying to protect her. She was arguing with herself. You had no real proof about Amanda, though, her reasonable side said. I had plenty of proof. So shut up. She clamped down hard on the arguing side of her mind, and it went out like a candle, with a puff of smoke. The burning feeling in her stomach grew hotter, but she no longer minded. In fact, she fueled it, making it hotter. She liked it.
“I will take Amanda to Hades. I don’t really care about Damon or Lexie, I just want to reward,” she said to herself forcefully. The words sunk into her mind, making them true. “I might even watch to see what he does to her. It’ll be fun.” She grinned, but all the good-natured ness that had been a part of that grin before was gone. Only malice remained. “I don’t even care if Lexie and Damon get hurt. I might let her do something to them before I turn her in.” She paused, thinking. “Yes, that sounds good. They’ll pay for ignoring me.”
She woke up the next morning with the fire still in her belly, waiting to lash out at someone. She frowned, and bared her teeth. She went downstairs to eat.
“Good morning!” her mother said cheerfully. Kiho snarled, and grabbed the milk from her mother’s hands. Her mother looked confused. “I know you don’t enjoy mornings, Kiho, but you don’t have to be so hostile towards everyone.”
“Get off my back.” Kiho poured her cereal. Her mother looked shocked, but said nothing about it. She left the room to get Kiho’s schoolbooks. She plopped them in front of her.
“This if your work for today. You need to finish your report.” Kiho gulped down what was left in her cereal bowl, grabbed an orange from the bowl of fruit that was sitting on the table, and walked out the door, pulling on her coat as she went. “Kiho Braeden! You get right back here this instant.”
“Bite me,” Kiho called over her shoulder, and peeled her orange. Her mother stood in the doorway, too stunned to say anything else.
Kiho went to Lexie’s front door. She stood there, arms crossed, wondering why she was even coming here. Maybe it was the last of her reasonable side, trying to get control again. Maybe it was her cruel self, wanting one more reason to hate Lexie. Either way, she was here, and she was going to see what Lexie had wanted to talk about. Lexie opened the door.
“Kiho! I’m so glad you’re here! Come on in.” She took Kiho’s coat while Kiho slipped off her shoes. “Let’s go up to my room. I have a few things to tell you.” Kiho obliged willingly, and smiled. Her smile was still merciless, and more about her curiosity being quenched than Lexie wanting to still be friends.
They arrived in Lexie’s room, and Kiho was disgusted. Pink. She had almost forgotten how shallow Lexie was. Everything had to be pretty and perfect. Kiho wasn’t either, so Lexie had dropped her like a hot banana.
“I’m really sorry that I got mad at you. I didn’t understand why you were interrupting me over something that I thought was so stupid. I’m sorry.” Kiho’s reasonable side got a foothold. “I have something else to tell you. The gods have blessed me. I’m here to protect something; I don’t know what, from Hades, and his servant. I only know his servant by the Dark Child. I’m the Light Child, according to Zeus. I think that maybe Zeus was warning you, and you didn’t know it. That’s why you got so upset about Amanda.”
“You believe me then?” Kiho said hopefully. Lexie was the Light Child. The one that Kiho was supposed to bring to Hades. She was starting to not be mad at Lexie anymore. Maybe Lexie would be so grateful to her for saving her from Hades; she’d stop being so mean. The raging lava in her middle had subdued to only a bit of boiling water. Lexie hesitated.
“No, I don’t believe you. I am sorry about getting mad, though.” The heat came right back. Kiho tossed her head proudly, and said,
“There’s nothing I need to discuss with you anymore.” She turned on her heel, and left. Lexie looked shocked.
I’ll show her. I’ll get Amanda, and- The realization of what Lexie had said sunk in. Lexie was the Light Child. That meant that Lexie was the one who Kiho had to bring to Hades. All she had to do was…
What did she have to do? She didn’t know how to get to the underworld, and she highly doubted that it was someplace that you could just get a map to. She’d read the stories. She knew that the only ways to get to the underworld were to die, or for Hades to call you down. Besides that, a lot of times when Hades called you down, he ended up killing you anyway. Am I supposed to kill her? she wondered. She didn’t think so. Hades had seemed like he’d wanted to kill her himself. Besides, Kiho didn’t think she was capable of actually killing Lexie. First of all, she didn’t know how. Second, Lexie was bigger, and probably stronger than Kiho was, even though Kiho was decidedly tougher. She went home, and pulled her laptop off of her desk, lugged it over to her bed, and plugged the Internet connection into the wall. She booted her computer up and opened Internet explorer. Google came up. She thought for a moment, and then typed into the search engine “summoning demons.” She gulped, knowing that demons were dangerous if they were actually real, and hit the enter key.
Several sites came up. She viewed them, and wrinkled her nose. Badly done, and rather dubious as sources. She finally hit the jackpot. She didn’t pay much attention to the name of the site, or it’s many sections, but went straight for the part she wanted.
“Summoning Your Demon!
It’s easy to do, and the rewards are great! First, choose which demon you wish to summon. Since you are probably a beginner, we’ll give you a list of demons that are easy to summon.
Lamia,
Primarily used for kidnapping, or eating people, this demon isn’t one you should try first. She’s not very powerful, but she is tricky.
Scylla,
A not very powerful demon, Scylla is usually used for such things as destroying houses, furniture, and other large objects. She usually only wants a small sacrifice, and often not even that.
Aglaope
Used to seduce men, this demon is fairly harmless to females. Her condition will probably be that she has to keep the man she seduces.
Cairbre
Usually used to transport people, he will take you anywhere you wish to go. He may ask for a high price to serve you, however, so be prepared.”
Kiho stopped, and reread the last one. The others all seemed very appealing indeed, but Cairbre was the one she needed first. She figured that she couldn’t continue to live a normal life after she went down to Hades to deliver Lexie. Maybe Hades will hire me as an errand girl, or something. A traitorous voice whispered in her ear. Yeah, and errand girl, just like that chained up girl next to him. She shuddered, and squelched the thought. She clicked on the link below Cairbre’s name, and waited impatiently for it to load. Finally, a black screen with red text came up.
“If you wish to call up Cairbre, you must do the following.
Draw a chalk circle around the area you are sitting around. Prick each of your fingers. Put blood on your forehead, then type in the name of the people you wish to transport, and where you wish to go. As soon as you hit enter, the person(s) you entered will be drawn into a place where Cairbre will decide what you have to give him. If you give him what he wishes, he will take you to the area you indicated. Be specific.”
Kiho shuddered slightly. She pinched herself. This can’t actually work she scoffed. She wondered what the person who designed this website had for the people who entered in the information. Most likely some weird prank. She decided, since the chalk line and blood weren’t difficult, she’d do it anyway. What she wasn’t admitting to herself was that something about the web page freaked her out. She didn’t admit it, even to herself, but her fingers were shaking as she drew the circle, and pricked herself. She smeared a little of the blood on her forehead, and laughed at herself for being such a fool. She started to type into one of the boxes. Her blood smeared the white keys, and she couldn’t see the letters.
First person being transported? The text box was labeled. Alexandria Athena Dulcinia, she typed hesitantly.
Second person being transported? Kiho Rory Braeden.
Place to be taken? The Realms of the Dead, Hades chambers. She hit enter, and held her breath. A tiny pop up came up, and Kiho only had time to read, “You cannot turn back, you are doomed to failure,” before the screen crackled with energy, and went black. Kiho swore loudly, thinking that the site had some sort of virus, but looked up from the screen when she felt all the light being sucked out of the room, and the phone began to ring. Kiho was irritated at the ringing of the phone, but entranced with the circle she had drawn. Slowly, on the same line that she had traced with her chalk, a red light began to grow. A huge flash of fear engulfed her, and she tried to get out of the circle. She felt like she was pushing against a glass wall, and soon the red light reached her ceiling. She calmed herself down, thinking, This is what I wanted. It’s okay. The light grew stronger and stronger, until it hurt her eyes. She looked away, and suddenly, and great pain exploded in her mind, and a pressure slammed down onto her body. She vaguely heard the answering machine pick up, and Lexie’s voice began to speak impatiently, and a little aggressively.
“Listen, I’m really sorry about you being mad at me, but I really need your help right now. I already tried to apologize about the dance, but you wouldn’t listen. I want to talk to you. I know you’re ignoring me. Please just pick up the-“ There was a small squeal, and there was a sound of a phone hitting the floor. I shouldn’t have done this! Kiho cried out in her mind involuntarily. I don’t want her to die! She pushed against the red light, trying to get out, but it was too late.
Everything went black, but Kiho didn’t know if that was because the light was sucked out of the room again, or if it was because she had fainted.
Lexie sat down on the floor with surprise and disappointment. Kiho had seemed so ready to forgive, and go back to being friends. She had been wrong, but didn’t know why Kiho had even bothered to come at all if she was hardly even going to give Lexie a chance. She sat there for a little while, thinking. She stood up, and went over to her phone. She dialed Kiho’s number. Just as she did so, the lights went out. She figured that the snow had drifted over something, and since her phone ran on batteries, it still worked. She pushed the talk button, and put the phone up to her ear. Just as she had said her first few sentences, Aunt Zelda rushed into the room. As the door opened, red light flooded over Lexie, and she yelped as it burned her skin. Aunt Zelda made a leap for her, and yelled, but her hands closed on air. She lay face down on the bed, unable to move because of shock. She started to cry silently, and slowly disappeared, called up to Mount Olympia by the other gods and goddesses.
Kiho and Lexie lay on a grey, cold, hard floor. It was perfectly smooth, Lexie noticed as she awoke, but bone chillingly frigid. She shivered as she stood, and coughed. The cough woke Kiho up, and she rubbed her head. Lexie looked at her, worried, but Kiho didn’t seem to be hurt at all. In fact, she didn’t even seem to be surprised about where she was. She looked at Lexie, and grinned to herself, but it didn’t seem like she was completely happy. She muttered to herself.
“This is what I want to do…” was all that Lexie caught, but Kiho didn’t seem to believe what she was saying at all.
Lexie rubbed her hands against her arms briskly, and peered at the place she was in. The only light seemed to be some kind of spotlight, centered on her and Kiho. It was pale, and hardly light at all. She walked over to the edge of where the light was, and shuddered. There seemed to be a clear line where the light disappeared, and beyond that was total darkness, She put a hand out, and it grew even colder. She started to step out, but her foot touched nothing but air. She gulped, and went back to the center of the circle of light.
“Why are you here?” Lexie asked. She was certain that she was here because she was captured by Hades, but was confused as to why Kiho would be with her.
“I called you here. Well, the demon did, actually. He’s going to demand something of me, and then we’re going to see Hades in the Underworld.” She looked more frightened now.
“What?” Lexie wasn’t sure she heard right.
“I am the Dark Child.” Kiho said it with such finality that Lexie felt a chill sink into her bones. It was deeper still than the one she was already experiencing. Kiho seemed to feel hesitant about her part in Lexie’s probable death, however. “What else were you going to say on the phone?” Lexie figured it was either a sadistic ploy to make her feel worse, or Kiho’s natural curiosity coming into play. It didn’t really matter. Lexie was as good as dead already.
“I was going to say that I trust you, and wanted you to help me.” She laughed, but it was painful for her. “I guess I was wrong, huh?” She sat down on the ground, put her head into her knees, and began to cry. Kiho was touched, and all of her uncertainty came back to her. The boiling feeling was gone, and Kiho felt unclean. She knelt down next to Lexie.
“I’m so sorry, Lexie. I don’t know what came over me. At first I was just going to take Amanda to Hades to protect you, but then I didn’t really care about you, and kept getting madder and madder. I lost it, and when I found out that you were the Light Child, I thought, “Good, now I can do something bad to her, and I don’t need an excuse.” I just… I’m really sorry.” A tear dripped from her face, and fizzed into the cold surface beneath them. It continued to fizz, and neither of them noticed a figure coming out of the ground.
“YOU MAY THINK THAT ALL IS WELL.” It bellowed, and both of them jumped. Lexie looked at Kiho, terrified. Kiho looked sheepish.
“What the heck is this?” Lexie asked Kiho quietly, hoping that the whatever-it-was wouldn’t notice. No such luck. It was steadily growing. When it had bellowed at them, it had been about half as tall as Kiho. Now it was as tall as Lexie, and still growing.
“I AM CIARBRE, DEMON CHARIOTEER. THE LITTLE DARK ONE HAS CALLED ME TO TAKE YOU BOTH TO HADES, MY LORD, AND THE LORD OF THE UNDERWORLD. OR THE REALMS OF THE DEAD, AS THEY ARE KNOWN. BEFORE I CAN TAKE YOU, I NEED PAYMENT.” As it said this, it spread swiftly to it’s full size, about 10 feet tall. It beat the leathery wings growing out of it’s back, and it’s red eyes glowed dangerously. It was overall black, and few features could be seen, all but a craggy profile, and an aquiline nose that jutted out dangerously. He was standing in a deep black chariot driven by two wicked looking horses. They were antsy and rearing, but he would flick his whip at their rumps every few seconds to make them settle. They looked nervously at him. Kiho puffed herself up in the way only Kiho could.
Unlike the demon, who could actually grow or shrink, Kiho could make it seem like she was 20,000,000 feet tall, and you were about .1 inches tall just by looking the right way at you. She did this now, and the demon seemed taken aback, which was as it should be.
“Listen, we want to go back to where we were. I don’t have anything to give you, so you’re just going to have to transport us back home.”
Unfortunately, even with her supreme puffing up skills, Kiho was no match for the demon.
“YOU MUST PAY, OR I WILL TAKE YOUR LIVES. GIVE ME YOUR SOUL.” Kiho was puzzled. How the heck was she supposed to give her soul to this demon, anyway? It wasn’t like it was something she could just take out of her pocket, like a glove, or money. She was pretty sure it was buried deep inside her, if it was even tangible at all.
“I don’t have one,” Kiho stalled. She lied without batting an eyelash, but the demon only laughed a terrible laugh.
“YOU CANNOT LIE TO A DEMON. WE ARE SKILLED IN THE WAYS OF FALSEHOODS.”
“Okay,” Kiho admitted. “Okay, I can’t lie to you. Here’s the truth. I wouldn’t know how to give you my soul, even if I wanted to, which I don’t. So you see, my hands are tied.” She stopped as the demon began to laugh again. His laugh was a very scary thing to have to hear once, let alone twice.
“YOU CAN VERY EASILY GIVE ME YOUR SOUL. OR I CAN TAKE IT.” He reached out a hand, and touched her chest. His hand burned, and even though Kiho didn’t really have anything up in the chest area to speak of, she felt terribly violated. She pushed his hand away.
“I’ll do it, then,” she said irritably and, plunging her hand into her chest, felt a most curious sensation.
Her hand went into her chest like a hand would usually go through water. There wasn’t really a hole, but it just molded around her hand. She stubbed her finger on something hard, and winced. She drew it out, and looked down at her chest. I looked exactly the same. After her curiosity had been appeased on that matter, she looked at what she held in her hand.
It looked to be a jewel of some sort. It was very odd, if it was a jewel. It was primarily dark blue and purple, with swirls of blood red, but in some places it was almost entirely golden. The demon cringed away from it.
“PUT IT BACK,” he said wearily. “IT IS OF NO USE TO ME.” Kiho shrugged, and tossed it back into her chest. “I WILL NEED SOMETHING ELSE. I WILL SPEAK TO MY MASTER ABOUT IT, AND PERHAPS HE WILL REWARD ME.” He looked at them skeptically. “GET IN.” He motioned to the chariot. Kiho backed away slowly.
“No, really. We’d rather just go back home.”
“I CANNOT TAKE YOU HOME. IF I WISHED TO, I COULD NOT. I MUST TAKE YOU TO THE PLACE YOU ASKED ME TO FIRST, NO WHERE ELSE. I ALSO WISH TO HAVE A REWARD FOR MY TROUBLES, AND IF I TAKE YOU HOME, I WILL BE LEFT WITH NOTHING. IF YOU DO NOT WISH FOR ME TO FORCE YOU IN, I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU ENTER ON YOUR OWN ACCORD.” Lexie and Kiho looked at each other, and took a deep breath. Kiho entered the abyss that was Cairbre’s chariot, and felt nothing.
It wasn’t the sort of nothing you feel when you’re asleep, or the nothing you feel when you get hurt badly. It was more like the nothing you feel when you’ve been sitting in one position for too long, and you can’t feel any part of the lower half of your body, and when you try to get up and walk like a normal human being, you trip and fall flat on your face, because you don’t know that your falling until it’s too late, because you couldn’t feel if your feet were hitting the ground anyway. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling in the slightest. Lexie stumbled in after her. The horses took off. They could really only tell because they could hear the horses tack jingling. They couldn’t see anything, and they couldn’t feel anything.
It seemed to them like both a thousand years and a few seconds before they arrived in Hades’ chambers. He was sitting on his throne, but this time there was no queen, and the second throne sat empty. Kiho turned around and faced Cairbre.
“You may take us back, now.” Cairbre laughed again.
“NOT WITHOUT MY PAYMENT.” Hades looked both of the girls over and grinned.
“You may have the blonde one, after I am done with her, Cairbre. I want to keep the dark one for myself.” If there had been any doubt in Kiho’s mind about any sort of reward from Hades, it disappeared just then. Like my rational side thought, she thought bitterly, The only reward I will get is torture, and perhaps the privilege of becoming Hades’ new bed warmer. That thought did not appeal to her. It isn’t as if I didn’t get myself into this, she reminded herself. It’s completely my fault that this happened. If I could just think of some way to get out of this…Her thoughts were interrupted by Hades.
“As you’ve probably guessed, neither of you are going to be able to go back home. Partially because you are my prisoners, and partially because in a little while, you will have no home to return to. You should be grateful to me. I’m saving you from a rather nasty and messy death. Actually, you’ll live forever. Alexandria, your new life will most likely be filled with much more pain then your old life, but beggars can’t be choosers, as you mortals say. Kiho, I believe that after a while, you may learn to like my kind of life style. You’ll have much the same job Persephone has.” Kiho shuddered. He motioned for them to come closer. Lexie obeyed readily, and Kiho looked at her, shocked. Then she saw the blank look in Lexie’s eyes, and realized that Lexie had given up. She still wondered why she would e so eager, until she felt herself pulled by some strong invisible force. She struggled, but it was no use. Hades looked them both over carefully.
“I suppose you feel like a fool, Kiho. Don’t mind so much, I did force it on you a bit. Ever heard of a possession? That’s rather like what I did to you, to speed things up. You almost lost me a few times, but luckily enough, you have a temper. I like that in a girl. Persephone is far to compliant.” He rolled his eyes. “She needs to take some lessons from you. She has been with me a while, perhaps she’s given up hope, much like Alexandria has.” She smiled cruelly. “She’s smarter than you are, in that way. If she gives up, it’ll be easier, and she may not have to focus on real life. She’s already losing touch with reality so she doesn’t have to experience this so acutely. Sad, really.” He clucked his tongue. Kiho’s muscles tensed, but she realized that to fight him with her fists would prove unfortunate. It would really only make things worse. Hades smirked at her, guessing what she was thinking, and advanced on Lexie. Kiho’s leg twitched, and she almost let go of her calm and kicked him, but managed to hold back. He brushed Lexie’s hair away from her face, and considered it.
“She’s rather pretty for a mortal. Too bad she’s so dull, or you’d not have to deal with me another moment. I’m sure you’d prefer Cairbre any day.”
“Stop stalling, and just do what you have to do,” Kiho said through clenched teeth. Hades feigned surprise.
“You mean you didn’t know?” he asked her in a scathing tone. He did, of course, know that it was impossible for Kiho to know what was going on. Kiho shook her head, not able to trust her voice. “I’ve already done all I really must do. The rest is up to my Titans. They’ll take care of your world easily, now that I have your hope.” Kiho was confused, Lexie seemed to be waking up a little bit, not that there was a little chance that she might make it out unscathed. Everyone knew that as soon as the bad guy starts talking about how he was going to take over the world, he loses his concentration, and the heroes get away.
“What do you mean, our hope?” Kiho was actually curious, but she was also trying to lead him on.
“You don’t know about the story?” He really was shocked now. He looked at Lexie, who looked back at him back to her usual self for now. “Do you know what I mean? Surely, the chosen one of the gods will have been taught what she is, and is protecting.” Lexie shook her head. Hades chuckled to himself.
“So neither of you knows that this is the end of the mortal realm as you know it. You,” he gestured to Kiho, “Didn’t even know you were not only betraying Alexandria and the gods, but everyone you know? This will be the best fun I’ve had in a while. First, Kiho, sit here.” He patted the throne next to him, and Kiho went unwillingly, but of her own free will. She didn’t want him to think of her any more than he had to. As soon as she sat down, chains enveloped her, and she felt much like Persephone had looked before, on her last visit to the Underworld. Not good at all. He motioned Lexie to sit on the floor in front of him. She did, and he began to speak, in a low, intimate voice.
“A long time ago, I laid one of my best traps ever. I sent a beautiful box out into the world, filled with all the evil, horrible things that keep you mortals awake at night. Before then, there was nothing bad. Even when the box reached your world, nothing bad was released. I made sure that it said, quite clearly, on the top, “Do not open!”
Well, a man named Pandora found it and, in fear that someone else who wasn’t as careful as he might discover it, took it home. If only Pandora had hidden it better. Unfortunately, he trusted his wife far too much, and she took the box, and in curiosity opened it. All of the things rushed into the world, leaving only Hope in the box. They kept Hope tightly, not wanting it to get away. That is the only way mortals have survived. They hardly ever give up, and often create a way out of their difficulties where it seemed there was no way before. I’ve waited for a long time, and I finally have Hope in my grasp, and can crush it, making all mortals my slaves. I could do that, but I won’t. As long as I have this jewel in my hands, I can give Hope to only those I choose, meaning that I will have no lack of spirited partners and people to torture.” He looked at Kiho and Lexie, who looked back up. Lexie already looked hopeless, but Kiho looked back defiantly. He looked amused.
“So, let me take it,” he said, and reached towards Lexie. She fell away, knowing that he was probably going to take her soul, and he probably wouldn’t just reach into her chest and grab it, like Kiho had done to herself. Unlike Kiho’s, it would probably hurt, too. She scrabbled away from him. He jumped from his throne, a wild glint in his eye. Lexie got up to run to the doors that stood closed at the end of the large room. Since she was a mostly not an athletic girl, and Hades was a god, so obviously had muscles everywhere, he quickly overtook her. She made one last desperate lunge for the door, but Hades soon tackled her. She lay, gasping, underneath him, and he started to reach into her chest. Before he could even touch her, the door opened with a bang.
Hades’ head was right in line with the door, and it connected loudly with a sickening thud. His dead weight collapsed onto Lexie, and she had the wind knocked out of her. Kiho, her chains gone instantly, rushed over to pull the prostrate god off of her. Lexie was breathing hard, and seemed to have forgotten that someone had opened the door. Kiho had not. As soon as Hades was off Lexie, she looked to the door.
It was Apollo. He stood in the doorway, looking very surprised. “I came here to get you two, or at least try, but it seems you have things handled. Lexie looked up and sighed in relief. Kiho was puzzled. She didn’t know who the man was.
“Oh, no. We didn’t have it handled. Kiho was in chains, and he was…” She trailed off, looking pale, and sick to her stomach. “Kiho, this is Apollo. He’s a god.” Kiho nodded. Of course she’d known that he was a god, who else entered into the court of Hades without knocking? Obviously not a mortal.
“Is he dead?” Lexie asked. Kiho thought that was a stupid question.
“No. He’s immortal remember? Maybe Zeus could kill him, but I doubt even he has that kind of power. He’s only knocked out for a little while. Let’s get out of here.”
“What about that demon?” Lexie asked with some trepidation.
“What demon?” Apollo asked.
“Maybe he went away,” Kiho comforted her. Let’s get out of here.” As soon as the words had left her mouth, they were gone, and submerged in a flood of light. Kiho felt pale and waspish in this light, but was soon used to it. They were sitting down on a bed like piece of furniture. Apollo was sitting on his own chair. He was looking at Kiho distrustfully. Athena came up behind him.
“It wasn’t her fault, Apollo. It was her destiny, and she fought it bravely. Hades even said that he forced her to it.” She looked at Kiho pityingly. “It wasn’t as if she was going to be rewarded for what she did, anyway.” Apollo nodded, then looked at Lexie.
“Do you trust her?” Lexie was visibly shaken already, but sat up straight.
“Yes, I trust her. She did try, I know she did.” Apollo seemed to accept this, but it was clear that he still held reservations about Kiho. She couldn’t really blame him. She had done something awful. She couldn’t change that.
“Any questions, girls?” Athena asked. “Do you need me to explain anything?”
“I do,” Kiho said quietly. “Why did he need me at all? Why go to all the trouble, when he could have forced her with his mind. He did it to me, and to her, several times.”
“Several reasons. For one, his hold is stronger down there than in the mortal realm. Not that he couldn’t have done it anyway; it just would have been harder. Second, he cannot touch Hope. Only the Dark Child could. Only someone with a great capability for darkness, but who was still young and pure, can steal it. If Lexie were to give it to someone, anyone could hold it. Kiho, you are the only one who can steal it.” She looked gravely at her, as if to say, “Don’t make me regret bringing you here, and still trusting you.”
“So, why did Hades act like he was going to grab it, if he couldn’t?” Lexie asked. Apollo blushed suddenly. Athena glared at him, and answered frankly.
“He wasn’t trying to get Hope. I think he was trying for something a little closer to the surface.” Lexie looked down at her chest, and saw that her shirt was slightly ripped. It was her turn to blush. “Any other questions?” They shook their heads. “Then it’s time for us to go to the meeting of the Mythical Beasts and Deities. You have to go back home.”
“Isn’t the trouble all over?” Lexie asked confusedly.
“Hardly. I only wish it were.” She rubbed her eyes. “I’m getting sleepy already. These meetings are so dull.”
“Oh, is that all?” Lexie looked relieved. “I thought Hades was still going to try and get me.”
“He probably is,” Athena said. “The sleepiness is just the problem that I’m going to have to deal with first.” Lexie looked even more scared. Kiho started to pat her back comfortingly, but before she even touched Lexie, she was back in her bed, the chalk line gone, and all the power back on. She looked around.
“Weird. Really weird.” She was really tired, though. She fell asleep before she’d even realized just how tired she was.
Lexie fell asleep too, but hers was not a restful sleep at all. Her night was filled with nightmares, and Hades’ cold touch on her soft, bruised skin.
“He won’t just kill you on a first date. Hades is much more subtle than that. He’d make you think that it couldn’t possibly be Mark, first. Then he’d have Mark torture you. Then he’d have Mark take you to him, and then he’d kill you personally. One date won’t really hurt in the long run.”
“Thanks,” Lexie said to herself. “That makes me feel so much better.” Actually, it made her feel like hiding under the bed for a few years, but she didn’t even want to admit that to herself. She got ready quickly, trying to convince herself that she didn’t care what Mark thought, because he was evil, anyway. Funny, when I took that online quiz, it said I went for the tame, nice guys, not the spawns of Satan, she thought wryly. You’d think they’d be right.
Aunt Zelda and Lexie were finally ready, and she went over to pick up Damon first. She also picked up David. Damon and Lexie grinned at each other as Lexie moved to the back seat. Aunt Zelda hadn’t said anything about it until she got there and asked him, but David was still ready. They picked up Amanda next. She lived nearby. Lexie was sitting in the back, bench seat of the minivan so that Amanda could sit next to Damon. She smiled, and they began to chat about unimportant things, like the new movies that had come out, celebrities, fashion, and music.
The last person to be picked up was Mark. Lexie had a feeling that Aunt Zelda had planned it that way, so Lexie would be more comfortable by the time he got in the car. She was, but she was still nervous. Very much so.
“Hi, Mark,” she said quietly to him after he was sitting next to her. “You look nice.”
“Yeah,” he said nervously. “So do you. You’re gorgeous.” Lexie blushed, even though she was trying not to. I don’t want to like him, she thought furiously. I want to get over him so I don’t have to worry about the dark child anymore. If I can get him to not like me- if I could get me to stop liking him would be more truthful. She fidgeted nervously.
“So, how are you?” she asked. She couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“I’m pretty good? You?” he answered casually.
“Fine.” I wish I knew for sure if he were bad or not! she screamed in her head. I don’t want to lose him, but if he’s going to kill me or worse, I don’t really have a choice. Aunt Zelda said he wouldn’t do anything tonight anyway. I guess I’m pretty safe. Aunt Zelda wouldn’t lie to me.
“So, what movie are we going to see?” he asked, trying to start a conversation. Lexie immediately felt bad for not talking to him, and thinking so much about if he was trying to kill her or not. Was she crazy? Mark was just a guy, and her first boyfriend at that. She certainly didn’t want to blemish her first relationship with stupid suspicions like she was. She decided to just have a good time, and not worry. Aunt Zelda could do all the worrying.
“Oh, the new Debby Hawkins one. Paris, I think. It’s supposed to be really good. Do you mind?”
“No, that sounds really good. I was just curious. Is Debby your favorite actress?”
“No, not really. I like Martha Williams better. Have you ever heard her sing?” Mark made a face.
“I can’t stand her. No offence, or anything, but I just don’t like anything I’ve seen her in.” He looked at her closely.
“I don’t mind. I’m just glad you didn’t mind telling me. I’d hate to have a boyfriend that couldn’t tell me how he really feels. So, who’s your favorite actor?”
“John Barry. He’s played so many different roles, it’s crazy!” He spread his arms out wide, and shook his head. “I don’t know how so much talent can fit into one guy!”
“I like him, too. He’s pretty cool. I haven’t seen all of his movies, though.” They continued to chat like this for the rest of the ride. Pretty soon Lexie had forgotten all about her fears. Aunt Zelda looked back at them through the rear view mirror every once in a while, and smiled.
I knew she’d calm down after a little while, she thought smugly, and chatted with David about books. David shared her love of ancient mythology (which was why he took her class) but Aunt Zelda didn’t think it was for the same reason. He was currently trying to convince her that she should write a book on the subject.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said laughing. “I could never write a whole book. I’m not even that much of an expert. I’m not well known at all!”
“How do you think writers get well known? They don’t just sit around and wait for it,” he argued.
“I just don’t think I could do it. I just don’t know that much about it. Not enough to fill a whole book, anyway.”
“You know more than you think you do. That’s the way it always is. Besides, you’ve written enough lectures to fill a huge book. Just try.” He looked pleadingly at her. How can I turn down that face? she thought, Oh, what the heck? I’ll do it.
“Well, okay. I’ll try. But don’t say I didn’t warn you! Because I have been trying to tell you that it’s going to be the worst book you’ll ever read.”
“If it’s written by you, it won’t. I’ll just stare at the picture of you in the back of it. That’ll never get old.” He put his hand on his heart, and sighed dramatically. She pushed him gently, and laughed.
“You’re lovesick and hopeless,” she said, shaking her head.
”Ah well. But so are you. And don’t try to deny it.”
“Who said I was going to, crazy head?”
“I could just tell. It was that look in your eye.” He smirked. “I can read you like a book.”
“Read this,” she said, and punched him in the arm. He looked at his arm.
“According to this bruise that’s currently forming in my arm, you love me dearly, but are too tough to admit it. Go on, just try and deny it.” She looked down in mock humility. She sighed.
“It’s true,” she said, in a fake wispy, dreamy voice. “I’m deeply and totally in love with you. There will never be another man in my life. Say you love me, or I shall kill myself by throwing myself into the sea!” He tried to embrace her, continuing on with the play, but she pushed him away.
“Quit it,” she said quickly, “I’m trying to drive. If you keep distracting me, we’re all going to be killed, Romeo.”
“Only if you say that you’ll be my Juliet.” He pushed closer. She held one hand out.
“You’re going to get us all laid out on the pavement with white sheets covering us up!” He laughed.
“Say it, and I will.”
“Fine. I’m your Juliet. Now leave me alone.” She tossed her head carelessly. He caught some in hid hand, and rubbed it.
“Your hair smells good,” he said with surprise.
“I’m so flattered,” she said flatly. “I do try and keep clean, you know. Unlike you.”
“I didn’t mean that,” she said swiftly, thinking she was really miffed at him. “I only meant that I didn’t think hair usually smelled good. Mine just smells like hair.”
“I use coconut shampoo. It’s what hair should smell like, in my opinion.”
“I’m converted to your opinion. All hair should smell like yours.”
“Thank you. Now let go, before you accidentally pull it. I have a sensitive scalp.” He grinned widely.
“You mean like this?” he asked, and tugged lightly. Aunt Zelda squealed, and swerved her car. He laughed.
“Stop it, you madman! Do you want to kill not only me and my niece, but your own son and his girlfriend as well? And Mark,” she said as an afterthought.
“Well, when you put it that way…” he trailed off. She jerked her hair out of his hands with one hand. Luckily, he wasn’t holding on very tight.
“You have lost the privilege to touch any part of me ever again. Not even my toenail.” He pretended to gag.
“Why would I ever want to touch your toenail.”
“When you’re desperate for me, you’ll want to,” she said regally, and sniffed. He wrung his hands together.
“Please, please let me kiss your ugly, rotten toenail! I’ll do anything for you, just let me kiss it.”
“Fine,” she sighed, “When we park, you can kiss my toenail, but in return you have to shut up.” He thought for a moment.
“To dear a price,” he said briskly. “I want to talk your ear off, that way you can’t hear me telling you that my little brother is in love.”
“Duh,” Aunt Zelda said scornfully. “He’s only been in love with her for the past three months!”
“Hey, don’t make fun of me because I’m slow on the uptake!”
“I’m not. I’m making fun of you because you’re dumb.” She nudged him in the ribs. “Hey, do you have any change? There’s a toll coming up that I forgot about. I don’t have any.”
“Got you covered,” he said, and reached into his pocket, pulling out some lint covered coins. Aunt Zelda looked at them dubiously. “Will these work?”
“How long have they been in there?” David shrugged.
“Dunno. I think they went through the wash a few times though, so they’re clean.” She shrugged, and said, “I’ll take what I can get.” She took them from him. “Thanks.”
“No prob, Bob. I’ve been saving them for just such a moment.” He smiled charmingly.
“Don’t do that anymore,” she said. “It makes me like you.” He smiled again. She stopped at the toll, and put the coins in the machine.
“Thank you!” a mechanical voice chirped. Aunt Zelda jumped, but David nudged her.
“Hey, the thing went up. You can go now.”
“Oh, right. Do those things usually talk?”
“No, they’re just a novelty. They have trash cans like that too, in some restaurants.” He shrugged. “They’re just kind of weird, and the little kids love them. They fight over who gets to throw the trash away.”
“It creeps me out. Inanimate objects should stay that way.”
“You’re paranoid, Zelda.”
“I might be,” she answered, “But that doesn’t mean no one’s out to get me.”
“Sure, whatever you say.” He sat back in his seat.
“Are we almost there?” he whined. Aunt Zelda glared threateningly at him.
“Don’t even start.”
“Too late. I did. Are we?”
“Yes. Shut up. I’m trying to drive.” David was silent. Aunt Zelda waited for him to make some wisecrack. He didn’t. She could hear her keys jingling, and murmurs of conversation going on in the back seats. She could hear the wind whistling against the car. “Okay, go back to talking,” she said after a few minutes. “I can’t concentrate with you not talking, either.” David smiled smugly, and went back to talking. They finally arrived at the restaurant.
Lexie was seated between Mark and Amanda when they sat down to the meal at the round table. Aunt Zelda sat across from her, between David and Damon. She didn’t feel nervous at all, which surprised her. She’d been on dates before, but not serious ones with people she really liked. This was Mark, and she’d been expecting the worst case of the jitters ever. In actuality, other than the usual Mark jitters, they were talking as if they’d gone on thousands of dates together.
“What are you getting?” Mark asked her. She looked at the menu, and shrugged.
“I’m not really sure. I think I’m going to get a hamburger and fries. I just can’t help loving fries.”
“Most people are like that,” Aunt Zelda put in. “I would die without my French fries. I guess I’ll just have to clog my arteries, and die happy.” They all ordered their food.
The dinner went off without a hitch. They ate, drank, and were merry. Then they piled into the car, and headed for the movies.
At about the middle of the movie, Lexie felt something on her hand. She looked down, all of her fears about Hades remembered, and saw that it was only Mark’s hand. He was looking at her questioningly. She nodded, smiled, and he left his hand there. It was comforting.
They were all pretty tired out by the time they got home. They’d visited an arcade after the movie was over, and it was 12:00 by the time they got home, a half an hour after Lexie’s curfew. Her parents were worried about her, but Aunt Zelda took the blame, saying that she lost track of time, and she had been the one driving. Her parents calmed down, and Lexie headed off to bed. After she was in her pajamas and her teeth were brushed, she heard a knock on the door.
“Who is it?” she asked, looking up from her journal, lugs tucked underneath her.
“It’s me, your mother. May I come in?”
“Sure,” Lexie said. Cybele poked her head in.
“Are you going to sleep, or can we talk?”
“I’m awake. What’s up?” Her mother came over, and sat on Lexie’s bed.
“I just wanted to ask you how your date went. Did you have a good time?”
“Yeah! It was great. I beat everyone at Dance Dance Revolution and razzed Damon about it. He was second place. Then he came back and kicked my butt at the clown game.”
“What’s the clown game?”
“The one where there’s those fuzzy clown guys that you have to knock over with the balls. He was really good. He got a prize for Amanda with his tickets. It was a teddy bear. She kept throwing it at him, and calling it the Teddy Bear Wars. She’s nice.” Her face clouded for a second, thinking of what Kiho would think about Lexie calling Amanda nice. She’d think Lexie was just saying that to prove her wrong. I’m not, though. I really do think Amanda is nice.
“What else happened?”
“Oh, nothing much. We went to an arcade, saw a movie, and ate dinner. You know, the usual.” Cybele nodded, and stood up.
“If that’s all, I guess I’ll be going off to bed. We have a lot to do tomorrow, and it’s late.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow. Good night.”
“Good night. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom.” Cybele left the room, and Lexie shut her journal, slid the pen into the spiral binding, and set it on her nightstand. She got out of bed and switched her desk lamp off. She stubbed her toe on the way back, and hurriedly sat down on the bed. She made a face and squeezed her toe. She stubbed it almost every night, and it hurt every single time. She slid under her covers, loving the swishy sound they made against her pajamas. She fluffed up her pillow and sank her head into it. She thought about Mark, and before she left the shores of wakefulness, she thought there is no way he’s the dark child. I think he loves me.
Kiho was wide-awake, reading one of her books on mythology, and thinking about how she hated Hades. She didn’t really want to bring anyone to him, but she didn’t want any of her friends to get hurt. She was pretty sure, however, that if Hades got a hold of Amanda, he would do things that were a lot worse than anything Amanda could do to Damon or Lexie. There was still the idea of treasure, however. Kiho looked out her window thoughtfully. When she had first started being mad a Lexie, it was an indignant, hurt feeling that was reserved only for when she thought of Lexie. It had somehow changed without her notice or leave. She had a burning feeling in her stomach all the time, and didn’t seem to care for anyone but herself anymore. She didn’t really like the feeling, but when she tried to get rid of it, she didn’t want to let it go. I have a right to be angry with her. She yelled at me for no reason whatsoever. I was trying to protect her. She was arguing with herself. You had no real proof about Amanda, though, her reasonable side said. I had plenty of proof. So shut up. She clamped down hard on the arguing side of her mind, and it went out like a candle, with a puff of smoke. The burning feeling in her stomach grew hotter, but she no longer minded. In fact, she fueled it, making it hotter. She liked it.
“I will take Amanda to Hades. I don’t really care about Damon or Lexie, I just want to reward,” she said to herself forcefully. The words sunk into her mind, making them true. “I might even watch to see what he does to her. It’ll be fun.” She grinned, but all the good-natured ness that had been a part of that grin before was gone. Only malice remained. “I don’t even care if Lexie and Damon get hurt. I might let her do something to them before I turn her in.” She paused, thinking. “Yes, that sounds good. They’ll pay for ignoring me.”
She woke up the next morning with the fire still in her belly, waiting to lash out at someone. She frowned, and bared her teeth. She went downstairs to eat.
“Good morning!” her mother said cheerfully. Kiho snarled, and grabbed the milk from her mother’s hands. Her mother looked confused. “I know you don’t enjoy mornings, Kiho, but you don’t have to be so hostile towards everyone.”
“Get off my back.” Kiho poured her cereal. Her mother looked shocked, but said nothing about it. She left the room to get Kiho’s schoolbooks. She plopped them in front of her.
“This if your work for today. You need to finish your report.” Kiho gulped down what was left in her cereal bowl, grabbed an orange from the bowl of fruit that was sitting on the table, and walked out the door, pulling on her coat as she went. “Kiho Braeden! You get right back here this instant.”
“Bite me,” Kiho called over her shoulder, and peeled her orange. Her mother stood in the doorway, too stunned to say anything else.
Kiho went to Lexie’s front door. She stood there, arms crossed, wondering why she was even coming here. Maybe it was the last of her reasonable side, trying to get control again. Maybe it was her cruel self, wanting one more reason to hate Lexie. Either way, she was here, and she was going to see what Lexie had wanted to talk about. Lexie opened the door.
“Kiho! I’m so glad you’re here! Come on in.” She took Kiho’s coat while Kiho slipped off her shoes. “Let’s go up to my room. I have a few things to tell you.” Kiho obliged willingly, and smiled. Her smile was still merciless, and more about her curiosity being quenched than Lexie wanting to still be friends.
They arrived in Lexie’s room, and Kiho was disgusted. Pink. She had almost forgotten how shallow Lexie was. Everything had to be pretty and perfect. Kiho wasn’t either, so Lexie had dropped her like a hot banana.
“I’m really sorry that I got mad at you. I didn’t understand why you were interrupting me over something that I thought was so stupid. I’m sorry.” Kiho’s reasonable side got a foothold. “I have something else to tell you. The gods have blessed me. I’m here to protect something; I don’t know what, from Hades, and his servant. I only know his servant by the Dark Child. I’m the Light Child, according to Zeus. I think that maybe Zeus was warning you, and you didn’t know it. That’s why you got so upset about Amanda.”
“You believe me then?” Kiho said hopefully. Lexie was the Light Child. The one that Kiho was supposed to bring to Hades. She was starting to not be mad at Lexie anymore. Maybe Lexie would be so grateful to her for saving her from Hades; she’d stop being so mean. The raging lava in her middle had subdued to only a bit of boiling water. Lexie hesitated.
“No, I don’t believe you. I am sorry about getting mad, though.” The heat came right back. Kiho tossed her head proudly, and said,
“There’s nothing I need to discuss with you anymore.” She turned on her heel, and left. Lexie looked shocked.
I’ll show her. I’ll get Amanda, and- The realization of what Lexie had said sunk in. Lexie was the Light Child. That meant that Lexie was the one who Kiho had to bring to Hades. All she had to do was…
What did she have to do? She didn’t know how to get to the underworld, and she highly doubted that it was someplace that you could just get a map to. She’d read the stories. She knew that the only ways to get to the underworld were to die, or for Hades to call you down. Besides that, a lot of times when Hades called you down, he ended up killing you anyway. Am I supposed to kill her? she wondered. She didn’t think so. Hades had seemed like he’d wanted to kill her himself. Besides, Kiho didn’t think she was capable of actually killing Lexie. First of all, she didn’t know how. Second, Lexie was bigger, and probably stronger than Kiho was, even though Kiho was decidedly tougher. She went home, and pulled her laptop off of her desk, lugged it over to her bed, and plugged the Internet connection into the wall. She booted her computer up and opened Internet explorer. Google came up. She thought for a moment, and then typed into the search engine “summoning demons.” She gulped, knowing that demons were dangerous if they were actually real, and hit the enter key.
Several sites came up. She viewed them, and wrinkled her nose. Badly done, and rather dubious as sources. She finally hit the jackpot. She didn’t pay much attention to the name of the site, or it’s many sections, but went straight for the part she wanted.
“Summoning Your Demon!
It’s easy to do, and the rewards are great! First, choose which demon you wish to summon. Since you are probably a beginner, we’ll give you a list of demons that are easy to summon.
Lamia,
Primarily used for kidnapping, or eating people, this demon isn’t one you should try first. She’s not very powerful, but she is tricky.
Scylla,
A not very powerful demon, Scylla is usually used for such things as destroying houses, furniture, and other large objects. She usually only wants a small sacrifice, and often not even that.
Aglaope
Used to seduce men, this demon is fairly harmless to females. Her condition will probably be that she has to keep the man she seduces.
Cairbre
Usually used to transport people, he will take you anywhere you wish to go. He may ask for a high price to serve you, however, so be prepared.”
Kiho stopped, and reread the last one. The others all seemed very appealing indeed, but Cairbre was the one she needed first. She figured that she couldn’t continue to live a normal life after she went down to Hades to deliver Lexie. Maybe Hades will hire me as an errand girl, or something. A traitorous voice whispered in her ear. Yeah, and errand girl, just like that chained up girl next to him. She shuddered, and squelched the thought. She clicked on the link below Cairbre’s name, and waited impatiently for it to load. Finally, a black screen with red text came up.
“If you wish to call up Cairbre, you must do the following.
Draw a chalk circle around the area you are sitting around. Prick each of your fingers. Put blood on your forehead, then type in the name of the people you wish to transport, and where you wish to go. As soon as you hit enter, the person(s) you entered will be drawn into a place where Cairbre will decide what you have to give him. If you give him what he wishes, he will take you to the area you indicated. Be specific.”
Kiho shuddered slightly. She pinched herself. This can’t actually work she scoffed. She wondered what the person who designed this website had for the people who entered in the information. Most likely some weird prank. She decided, since the chalk line and blood weren’t difficult, she’d do it anyway. What she wasn’t admitting to herself was that something about the web page freaked her out. She didn’t admit it, even to herself, but her fingers were shaking as she drew the circle, and pricked herself. She smeared a little of the blood on her forehead, and laughed at herself for being such a fool. She started to type into one of the boxes. Her blood smeared the white keys, and she couldn’t see the letters.
First person being transported? The text box was labeled. Alexandria Athena Dulcinia, she typed hesitantly.
Second person being transported? Kiho Rory Braeden.
Place to be taken? The Realms of the Dead, Hades chambers. She hit enter, and held her breath. A tiny pop up came up, and Kiho only had time to read, “You cannot turn back, you are doomed to failure,” before the screen crackled with energy, and went black. Kiho swore loudly, thinking that the site had some sort of virus, but looked up from the screen when she felt all the light being sucked out of the room, and the phone began to ring. Kiho was irritated at the ringing of the phone, but entranced with the circle she had drawn. Slowly, on the same line that she had traced with her chalk, a red light began to grow. A huge flash of fear engulfed her, and she tried to get out of the circle. She felt like she was pushing against a glass wall, and soon the red light reached her ceiling. She calmed herself down, thinking, This is what I wanted. It’s okay. The light grew stronger and stronger, until it hurt her eyes. She looked away, and suddenly, and great pain exploded in her mind, and a pressure slammed down onto her body. She vaguely heard the answering machine pick up, and Lexie’s voice began to speak impatiently, and a little aggressively.
“Listen, I’m really sorry about you being mad at me, but I really need your help right now. I already tried to apologize about the dance, but you wouldn’t listen. I want to talk to you. I know you’re ignoring me. Please just pick up the-“ There was a small squeal, and there was a sound of a phone hitting the floor. I shouldn’t have done this! Kiho cried out in her mind involuntarily. I don’t want her to die! She pushed against the red light, trying to get out, but it was too late.
Everything went black, but Kiho didn’t know if that was because the light was sucked out of the room again, or if it was because she had fainted.
Lexie sat down on the floor with surprise and disappointment. Kiho had seemed so ready to forgive, and go back to being friends. She had been wrong, but didn’t know why Kiho had even bothered to come at all if she was hardly even going to give Lexie a chance. She sat there for a little while, thinking. She stood up, and went over to her phone. She dialed Kiho’s number. Just as she did so, the lights went out. She figured that the snow had drifted over something, and since her phone ran on batteries, it still worked. She pushed the talk button, and put the phone up to her ear. Just as she had said her first few sentences, Aunt Zelda rushed into the room. As the door opened, red light flooded over Lexie, and she yelped as it burned her skin. Aunt Zelda made a leap for her, and yelled, but her hands closed on air. She lay face down on the bed, unable to move because of shock. She started to cry silently, and slowly disappeared, called up to Mount Olympia by the other gods and goddesses.
Kiho and Lexie lay on a grey, cold, hard floor. It was perfectly smooth, Lexie noticed as she awoke, but bone chillingly frigid. She shivered as she stood, and coughed. The cough woke Kiho up, and she rubbed her head. Lexie looked at her, worried, but Kiho didn’t seem to be hurt at all. In fact, she didn’t even seem to be surprised about where she was. She looked at Lexie, and grinned to herself, but it didn’t seem like she was completely happy. She muttered to herself.
“This is what I want to do…” was all that Lexie caught, but Kiho didn’t seem to believe what she was saying at all.
Lexie rubbed her hands against her arms briskly, and peered at the place she was in. The only light seemed to be some kind of spotlight, centered on her and Kiho. It was pale, and hardly light at all. She walked over to the edge of where the light was, and shuddered. There seemed to be a clear line where the light disappeared, and beyond that was total darkness, She put a hand out, and it grew even colder. She started to step out, but her foot touched nothing but air. She gulped, and went back to the center of the circle of light.
“Why are you here?” Lexie asked. She was certain that she was here because she was captured by Hades, but was confused as to why Kiho would be with her.
“I called you here. Well, the demon did, actually. He’s going to demand something of me, and then we’re going to see Hades in the Underworld.” She looked more frightened now.
“What?” Lexie wasn’t sure she heard right.
“I am the Dark Child.” Kiho said it with such finality that Lexie felt a chill sink into her bones. It was deeper still than the one she was already experiencing. Kiho seemed to feel hesitant about her part in Lexie’s probable death, however. “What else were you going to say on the phone?” Lexie figured it was either a sadistic ploy to make her feel worse, or Kiho’s natural curiosity coming into play. It didn’t really matter. Lexie was as good as dead already.
“I was going to say that I trust you, and wanted you to help me.” She laughed, but it was painful for her. “I guess I was wrong, huh?” She sat down on the ground, put her head into her knees, and began to cry. Kiho was touched, and all of her uncertainty came back to her. The boiling feeling was gone, and Kiho felt unclean. She knelt down next to Lexie.
“I’m so sorry, Lexie. I don’t know what came over me. At first I was just going to take Amanda to Hades to protect you, but then I didn’t really care about you, and kept getting madder and madder. I lost it, and when I found out that you were the Light Child, I thought, “Good, now I can do something bad to her, and I don’t need an excuse.” I just… I’m really sorry.” A tear dripped from her face, and fizzed into the cold surface beneath them. It continued to fizz, and neither of them noticed a figure coming out of the ground.
“YOU MAY THINK THAT ALL IS WELL.” It bellowed, and both of them jumped. Lexie looked at Kiho, terrified. Kiho looked sheepish.
“What the heck is this?” Lexie asked Kiho quietly, hoping that the whatever-it-was wouldn’t notice. No such luck. It was steadily growing. When it had bellowed at them, it had been about half as tall as Kiho. Now it was as tall as Lexie, and still growing.
“I AM CIARBRE, DEMON CHARIOTEER. THE LITTLE DARK ONE HAS CALLED ME TO TAKE YOU BOTH TO HADES, MY LORD, AND THE LORD OF THE UNDERWORLD. OR THE REALMS OF THE DEAD, AS THEY ARE KNOWN. BEFORE I CAN TAKE YOU, I NEED PAYMENT.” As it said this, it spread swiftly to it’s full size, about 10 feet tall. It beat the leathery wings growing out of it’s back, and it’s red eyes glowed dangerously. It was overall black, and few features could be seen, all but a craggy profile, and an aquiline nose that jutted out dangerously. He was standing in a deep black chariot driven by two wicked looking horses. They were antsy and rearing, but he would flick his whip at their rumps every few seconds to make them settle. They looked nervously at him. Kiho puffed herself up in the way only Kiho could.
Unlike the demon, who could actually grow or shrink, Kiho could make it seem like she was 20,000,000 feet tall, and you were about .1 inches tall just by looking the right way at you. She did this now, and the demon seemed taken aback, which was as it should be.
“Listen, we want to go back to where we were. I don’t have anything to give you, so you’re just going to have to transport us back home.”
Unfortunately, even with her supreme puffing up skills, Kiho was no match for the demon.
“YOU MUST PAY, OR I WILL TAKE YOUR LIVES. GIVE ME YOUR SOUL.” Kiho was puzzled. How the heck was she supposed to give her soul to this demon, anyway? It wasn’t like it was something she could just take out of her pocket, like a glove, or money. She was pretty sure it was buried deep inside her, if it was even tangible at all.
“I don’t have one,” Kiho stalled. She lied without batting an eyelash, but the demon only laughed a terrible laugh.
“YOU CANNOT LIE TO A DEMON. WE ARE SKILLED IN THE WAYS OF FALSEHOODS.”
“Okay,” Kiho admitted. “Okay, I can’t lie to you. Here’s the truth. I wouldn’t know how to give you my soul, even if I wanted to, which I don’t. So you see, my hands are tied.” She stopped as the demon began to laugh again. His laugh was a very scary thing to have to hear once, let alone twice.
“YOU CAN VERY EASILY GIVE ME YOUR SOUL. OR I CAN TAKE IT.” He reached out a hand, and touched her chest. His hand burned, and even though Kiho didn’t really have anything up in the chest area to speak of, she felt terribly violated. She pushed his hand away.
“I’ll do it, then,” she said irritably and, plunging her hand into her chest, felt a most curious sensation.
Her hand went into her chest like a hand would usually go through water. There wasn’t really a hole, but it just molded around her hand. She stubbed her finger on something hard, and winced. She drew it out, and looked down at her chest. I looked exactly the same. After her curiosity had been appeased on that matter, she looked at what she held in her hand.
It looked to be a jewel of some sort. It was very odd, if it was a jewel. It was primarily dark blue and purple, with swirls of blood red, but in some places it was almost entirely golden. The demon cringed away from it.
“PUT IT BACK,” he said wearily. “IT IS OF NO USE TO ME.” Kiho shrugged, and tossed it back into her chest. “I WILL NEED SOMETHING ELSE. I WILL SPEAK TO MY MASTER ABOUT IT, AND PERHAPS HE WILL REWARD ME.” He looked at them skeptically. “GET IN.” He motioned to the chariot. Kiho backed away slowly.
“No, really. We’d rather just go back home.”
“I CANNOT TAKE YOU HOME. IF I WISHED TO, I COULD NOT. I MUST TAKE YOU TO THE PLACE YOU ASKED ME TO FIRST, NO WHERE ELSE. I ALSO WISH TO HAVE A REWARD FOR MY TROUBLES, AND IF I TAKE YOU HOME, I WILL BE LEFT WITH NOTHING. IF YOU DO NOT WISH FOR ME TO FORCE YOU IN, I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU ENTER ON YOUR OWN ACCORD.” Lexie and Kiho looked at each other, and took a deep breath. Kiho entered the abyss that was Cairbre’s chariot, and felt nothing.
It wasn’t the sort of nothing you feel when you’re asleep, or the nothing you feel when you get hurt badly. It was more like the nothing you feel when you’ve been sitting in one position for too long, and you can’t feel any part of the lower half of your body, and when you try to get up and walk like a normal human being, you trip and fall flat on your face, because you don’t know that your falling until it’s too late, because you couldn’t feel if your feet were hitting the ground anyway. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling in the slightest. Lexie stumbled in after her. The horses took off. They could really only tell because they could hear the horses tack jingling. They couldn’t see anything, and they couldn’t feel anything.
It seemed to them like both a thousand years and a few seconds before they arrived in Hades’ chambers. He was sitting on his throne, but this time there was no queen, and the second throne sat empty. Kiho turned around and faced Cairbre.
“You may take us back, now.” Cairbre laughed again.
“NOT WITHOUT MY PAYMENT.” Hades looked both of the girls over and grinned.
“You may have the blonde one, after I am done with her, Cairbre. I want to keep the dark one for myself.” If there had been any doubt in Kiho’s mind about any sort of reward from Hades, it disappeared just then. Like my rational side thought, she thought bitterly, The only reward I will get is torture, and perhaps the privilege of becoming Hades’ new bed warmer. That thought did not appeal to her. It isn’t as if I didn’t get myself into this, she reminded herself. It’s completely my fault that this happened. If I could just think of some way to get out of this…Her thoughts were interrupted by Hades.
“As you’ve probably guessed, neither of you are going to be able to go back home. Partially because you are my prisoners, and partially because in a little while, you will have no home to return to. You should be grateful to me. I’m saving you from a rather nasty and messy death. Actually, you’ll live forever. Alexandria, your new life will most likely be filled with much more pain then your old life, but beggars can’t be choosers, as you mortals say. Kiho, I believe that after a while, you may learn to like my kind of life style. You’ll have much the same job Persephone has.” Kiho shuddered. He motioned for them to come closer. Lexie obeyed readily, and Kiho looked at her, shocked. Then she saw the blank look in Lexie’s eyes, and realized that Lexie had given up. She still wondered why she would e so eager, until she felt herself pulled by some strong invisible force. She struggled, but it was no use. Hades looked them both over carefully.
“I suppose you feel like a fool, Kiho. Don’t mind so much, I did force it on you a bit. Ever heard of a possession? That’s rather like what I did to you, to speed things up. You almost lost me a few times, but luckily enough, you have a temper. I like that in a girl. Persephone is far to compliant.” He rolled his eyes. “She needs to take some lessons from you. She has been with me a while, perhaps she’s given up hope, much like Alexandria has.” She smiled cruelly. “She’s smarter than you are, in that way. If she gives up, it’ll be easier, and she may not have to focus on real life. She’s already losing touch with reality so she doesn’t have to experience this so acutely. Sad, really.” He clucked his tongue. Kiho’s muscles tensed, but she realized that to fight him with her fists would prove unfortunate. It would really only make things worse. Hades smirked at her, guessing what she was thinking, and advanced on Lexie. Kiho’s leg twitched, and she almost let go of her calm and kicked him, but managed to hold back. He brushed Lexie’s hair away from her face, and considered it.
“She’s rather pretty for a mortal. Too bad she’s so dull, or you’d not have to deal with me another moment. I’m sure you’d prefer Cairbre any day.”
“Stop stalling, and just do what you have to do,” Kiho said through clenched teeth. Hades feigned surprise.
“You mean you didn’t know?” he asked her in a scathing tone. He did, of course, know that it was impossible for Kiho to know what was going on. Kiho shook her head, not able to trust her voice. “I’ve already done all I really must do. The rest is up to my Titans. They’ll take care of your world easily, now that I have your hope.” Kiho was confused, Lexie seemed to be waking up a little bit, not that there was a little chance that she might make it out unscathed. Everyone knew that as soon as the bad guy starts talking about how he was going to take over the world, he loses his concentration, and the heroes get away.
“What do you mean, our hope?” Kiho was actually curious, but she was also trying to lead him on.
“You don’t know about the story?” He really was shocked now. He looked at Lexie, who looked back at him back to her usual self for now. “Do you know what I mean? Surely, the chosen one of the gods will have been taught what she is, and is protecting.” Lexie shook her head. Hades chuckled to himself.
“So neither of you knows that this is the end of the mortal realm as you know it. You,” he gestured to Kiho, “Didn’t even know you were not only betraying Alexandria and the gods, but everyone you know? This will be the best fun I’ve had in a while. First, Kiho, sit here.” He patted the throne next to him, and Kiho went unwillingly, but of her own free will. She didn’t want him to think of her any more than he had to. As soon as she sat down, chains enveloped her, and she felt much like Persephone had looked before, on her last visit to the Underworld. Not good at all. He motioned Lexie to sit on the floor in front of him. She did, and he began to speak, in a low, intimate voice.
“A long time ago, I laid one of my best traps ever. I sent a beautiful box out into the world, filled with all the evil, horrible things that keep you mortals awake at night. Before then, there was nothing bad. Even when the box reached your world, nothing bad was released. I made sure that it said, quite clearly, on the top, “Do not open!”
Well, a man named Pandora found it and, in fear that someone else who wasn’t as careful as he might discover it, took it home. If only Pandora had hidden it better. Unfortunately, he trusted his wife far too much, and she took the box, and in curiosity opened it. All of the things rushed into the world, leaving only Hope in the box. They kept Hope tightly, not wanting it to get away. That is the only way mortals have survived. They hardly ever give up, and often create a way out of their difficulties where it seemed there was no way before. I’ve waited for a long time, and I finally have Hope in my grasp, and can crush it, making all mortals my slaves. I could do that, but I won’t. As long as I have this jewel in my hands, I can give Hope to only those I choose, meaning that I will have no lack of spirited partners and people to torture.” He looked at Kiho and Lexie, who looked back up. Lexie already looked hopeless, but Kiho looked back defiantly. He looked amused.
“So, let me take it,” he said, and reached towards Lexie. She fell away, knowing that he was probably going to take her soul, and he probably wouldn’t just reach into her chest and grab it, like Kiho had done to herself. Unlike Kiho’s, it would probably hurt, too. She scrabbled away from him. He jumped from his throne, a wild glint in his eye. Lexie got up to run to the doors that stood closed at the end of the large room. Since she was a mostly not an athletic girl, and Hades was a god, so obviously had muscles everywhere, he quickly overtook her. She made one last desperate lunge for the door, but Hades soon tackled her. She lay, gasping, underneath him, and he started to reach into her chest. Before he could even touch her, the door opened with a bang.
Hades’ head was right in line with the door, and it connected loudly with a sickening thud. His dead weight collapsed onto Lexie, and she had the wind knocked out of her. Kiho, her chains gone instantly, rushed over to pull the prostrate god off of her. Lexie was breathing hard, and seemed to have forgotten that someone had opened the door. Kiho had not. As soon as Hades was off Lexie, she looked to the door.
It was Apollo. He stood in the doorway, looking very surprised. “I came here to get you two, or at least try, but it seems you have things handled. Lexie looked up and sighed in relief. Kiho was puzzled. She didn’t know who the man was.
“Oh, no. We didn’t have it handled. Kiho was in chains, and he was…” She trailed off, looking pale, and sick to her stomach. “Kiho, this is Apollo. He’s a god.” Kiho nodded. Of course she’d known that he was a god, who else entered into the court of Hades without knocking? Obviously not a mortal.
“Is he dead?” Lexie asked. Kiho thought that was a stupid question.
“No. He’s immortal remember? Maybe Zeus could kill him, but I doubt even he has that kind of power. He’s only knocked out for a little while. Let’s get out of here.”
“What about that demon?” Lexie asked with some trepidation.
“What demon?” Apollo asked.
“Maybe he went away,” Kiho comforted her. Let’s get out of here.” As soon as the words had left her mouth, they were gone, and submerged in a flood of light. Kiho felt pale and waspish in this light, but was soon used to it. They were sitting down on a bed like piece of furniture. Apollo was sitting on his own chair. He was looking at Kiho distrustfully. Athena came up behind him.
“It wasn’t her fault, Apollo. It was her destiny, and she fought it bravely. Hades even said that he forced her to it.” She looked at Kiho pityingly. “It wasn’t as if she was going to be rewarded for what she did, anyway.” Apollo nodded, then looked at Lexie.
“Do you trust her?” Lexie was visibly shaken already, but sat up straight.
“Yes, I trust her. She did try, I know she did.” Apollo seemed to accept this, but it was clear that he still held reservations about Kiho. She couldn’t really blame him. She had done something awful. She couldn’t change that.
“Any questions, girls?” Athena asked. “Do you need me to explain anything?”
“I do,” Kiho said quietly. “Why did he need me at all? Why go to all the trouble, when he could have forced her with his mind. He did it to me, and to her, several times.”
“Several reasons. For one, his hold is stronger down there than in the mortal realm. Not that he couldn’t have done it anyway; it just would have been harder. Second, he cannot touch Hope. Only the Dark Child could. Only someone with a great capability for darkness, but who was still young and pure, can steal it. If Lexie were to give it to someone, anyone could hold it. Kiho, you are the only one who can steal it.” She looked gravely at her, as if to say, “Don’t make me regret bringing you here, and still trusting you.”
“So, why did Hades act like he was going to grab it, if he couldn’t?” Lexie asked. Apollo blushed suddenly. Athena glared at him, and answered frankly.
“He wasn’t trying to get Hope. I think he was trying for something a little closer to the surface.” Lexie looked down at her chest, and saw that her shirt was slightly ripped. It was her turn to blush. “Any other questions?” They shook their heads. “Then it’s time for us to go to the meeting of the Mythical Beasts and Deities. You have to go back home.”
“Isn’t the trouble all over?” Lexie asked confusedly.
“Hardly. I only wish it were.” She rubbed her eyes. “I’m getting sleepy already. These meetings are so dull.”
“Oh, is that all?” Lexie looked relieved. “I thought Hades was still going to try and get me.”
“He probably is,” Athena said. “The sleepiness is just the problem that I’m going to have to deal with first.” Lexie looked even more scared. Kiho started to pat her back comfortingly, but before she even touched Lexie, she was back in her bed, the chalk line gone, and all the power back on. She looked around.
“Weird. Really weird.” She was really tired, though. She fell asleep before she’d even realized just how tired she was.
Lexie fell asleep too, but hers was not a restful sleep at all. Her night was filled with nightmares, and Hades’ cold touch on her soft, bruised skin.
© 2004 by Bard
at 9:02 PM
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