Chapter Sixteen:

Tartarus...

"Hello again, Emma," Kronos said, propping his fork against his plate and dabbing at the corners of his mouth with a cloth napkin as the two Furies marched me into the dining room. "It's so good to see you."

"You're such an asshat. Where's Sam?"

"Safe, for now. Why don't you join me for dinner?" He pulled out the chair next to him, patting the seat invitingly and I felt my feet drag along the flagstone floor as the Furies pushed me towards it. "You'll have to forgive them for being so rough with you. When they heard it was you I wanted kidnapped, well, the line of volunteers was practically out the door." He steepled his hands together in front of him. "After all, you were the one who sent them to Tartarus in the first place."

"And then you turned them into Furies. Goddess, this is such a Wizard of Oz moment."

He smiled as he snapped his fingers, summoning a waiter who placed a dish of food in front of me. "Not poisoned, I promise."

"If you have to say that, it's most definitely poisoned, and I'm not touching it."

He snorted, spinning my plate around as he grabbed his fork, shoveling some potato salad into his mouth. I waited, tensed, as he quirked an eyebrow at me.

"Does that address your concerns?"

"You're immortal - of course it wouldn't kill you."

"If I wanted you dead right now, you'd be dead. Now, please eat. You look famished."

"Why am I here?"

He glared back at me until I sighed, biting into a piece of garlic bread. "And why are you feeding me like some exalted guest? You kidnapped me - I'm your prisoner - so why the niceties at all?"

He picked food out of his teeth, lounging back in his chair. "What's the fun in jumping straight to torture? I'd rather my victims be happy, full, and unaware."

I choked and he frowned, leaning over to whack me on the back.

"I'm kidding."

"No, you're not," I wheezed, gulping some water as I struggled to dislodge the chicken from my throat. It was like swallowing knives. "You're going to torture me?"

What an absolutely idiotic thing to say, Emma. Good job.

Kronos shrugged, nonchalant. "I don't have to, if you give me what I want."

"What makes you think that I have anything to offer you?"

"Do you recognize this?" He held up a red and white polka-dot USB drive, and I felt my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth. "You should really keep your things more closely guarded, Emma. It was way too easy for Terpsicore here," he gestured to the woman standing off to one side of the dining room, "to steal it. Do you want to guess what we found?"

He's so calm, like all of this is just a game to him.

"You have no right to that - it's mine." I surged forward and he smiled, holding it just out of reach.

"So many personal details about Hades and his life in the Underworld. What should I do with it?"

"I don't care." I did though, more than I'd admit to him. That little device contained my entire story until a few months ago, and if Hades knew who had it now and what he could do with it...I shuddered at the thought. 'Hell to pay' was an understatement. "Why do you need to do anything at all? He promised that he'd leave you alone, and that should've been enough for you."

"As you've so poetically stated several times throughout your story, things between us are complicated. The Underworld should've been mine, but when my idiotic sons banished me here, I lost my leverage on them. Knowing how much he's struggling for control of his kingdom gives me a certain amount of pleasure."

"You're sadistic."

He laughed aloud, standing. "Yes, I am, and right now I'd remember that if I were you. It wasn't your place to meddle in the affairs of the gods, but because you did, I can use your information to take him down."

It felt like an ice cube was slowly sliding its way down my spine. "Why?"

"Power, Emma. He doesn't deserve what he has."

"But you're talking about war." I felt myself go hot and then cold, fingers clutching the edges of my seat.

Hades, if you're listening right now, you're in more trouble than you know.

Kronos smiled. "He can't hear you, unfortunately. See, I've learned a little something from your last visit. The connection you have with him is like a two-way radio, right? And I've bajanxed your signal. You're completely alone here." He gestured to Terpsicore, motioning her over.

"When?" I heard my voice crack over the word.

"Oh, my Furies are already there and soon, I'll join them. Make your peace with this because the next time you see your beloved Hades, it'll be to watch as I kill him."

I felt my heart clench at his words as I fought the rising panic. It won't happen, Emma. It won't happen.

"What are you planning to do with me?" I almost didn't want to know...almost. The possibilities made my stomach clench.

"You? You're just the lure that I need to draw him here, away from his castle, right where I want him."

"He won't do that, not even for me. He would never abandon his kingdom when it needs him, and I told him to stay away."

"You actually think he'll listen? You have him wrapped firmly around your finger, and he knows you're here, which means he'll come, by any means necessary. In the meantime, I need you out of my way."

Terpsicore grabbed my arm in a vice-like grip, yanking me up and away from the table as Kronos bowed.

"It's been a pleasure, Emma, and I look forward to our next meeting. Oh! Before I forget," he added, pausing in the doorway. "I had planned on killing you as soon as I take my rightful place in the Underworld, but I think that I'll continue this little power trip I'm on and take everything that belongs to Hades. After all, you're already bound to that infernal place, so why not? You'll be a useful pet to me. Toodles."

He vanished and Terpsicore pulled me forward down a long, torch-lit corridor, souls flitting past my peripheral-too fast to catch but unmistakably there-and I felt myself shudder a little at their nearness. It was one thing dealing with the souls in the Underworld, but these beings were darker, sadder and angrier.

"Don't come out of this room unless summoned," she said, shoving me through a set of doors. "And if you even think of trying to escape, you'll regret it." She slammed them shut behind her and I slid down the wooden paneling, folding my knees up to my chest.

I couldn't stand the thought of Kronos attacking the Underworld-it was too much all at once to process without completely losing it-so instead, I tried to run through a typical day for me there, minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour conversations I'd have with Hades and Persephone, progress I'd make on my story, souls I'd help on the beach, mealtimes and alone time reading next to a flickering fire, walking Bailey through Persephone's gardens, begging Hermes to poof me back to Portland for a bit...everything I took for granted while I had it, and now...?

You beat the odds before and you'll do it again, so stop feeling so goddamned sorry for yourself and think!

I had a what-would-Hades-to moment where I considered every avenue and every possibility, eventually settling on the fact that I would see him again-hopefully soon-and we'd work out a plan together, just like last time.

If he survives the initial attack.

He will - he's tougher than you give him credit for.

I leaned my head back, watching the clock on the skull and crossbones mantel chime once every hour on the hour, listening for any signs of life on the other side of the door-any hints that Kronos had returned, or that the castle wasn't as empty as I assumed it was. It was difficult, though, to stay still for so long when I knew my future was uncertain and conditional on Hades and his men being able to defeat Kronos and his Furies...

"WHERE IS SHE?"

BOOM.

I scrambled to my feet as I heard Kronos thunder down the hall seconds before my doors burst to splinters, chunks of wood raining down on me and he surged forward, wrapping a hand around my throat as he tossed me onto the floor.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?"

"I don't understand the questi-"

He didn't wait for an explanation, just squeezed, until I saw little black dots dance across my vision, my hands pawing desperately at him, trying to dislodge him.

"You little bitch you warned him!"

Does that mean that Hades is...oh, thank goodness.

"No, I can't. You blocked-" It was incredibly difficult to breathe as his hold tightened and I kicked and thrashed against any soft part of him I could reach, desperate to hurt him like he was hurting me. He growled and picked me up, slamming me into the fireplace again and again, rocks and pieces of cement littering the floor, but it didn't matter because there was a small, indiscernible part of myself that knew I was moments from death, even as I felt my spine break under the pressure.

"They were READY FOR US-waiting for the right moment to ambush my men as we were setting up to ambush THEM! I should kill you where you stand, you pathetic piece of shit!" He slammed me one more time and I gasped, losing feeling in my arms and legs as he released me, letting me slither to the floor in a boneless heap.

"My men are dead BECAUSE OF YOU!"

As long as Hades and Persephone are okay, it doesn't matter what happens to me. He heard me...

A single tear escaped, sliding down my cheek as I watched Kronos grab the cedar mantelpiece, ripping it from the wall before standing next to me, holding it above his head.

Please, let this be painless.

"See you in Hell," he snarled.

I squeezed my eyes shut, heard the wood whistle through the air, then drifted into nothing.

***

"Is this going to become a habit, Emma?"

I jerked at the fingertips caressing my brow, sitting up too quickly.

"Ugh. My head."

"Duh, silly. That's bound to happen when you're killed by a solid piece of wood at immortal speeds."

Hera propped some pillows behind my back as I folded my hands in my lap, letting her continue to dab at my forehead with a damp cloth.

"It's nice to see you again, but I'm almost afraid to ask: where am I?"

She shrugged, dipping the cloth in a bowl of water again before wringing it out. "Olympus, of course. I couldn't take you back to the Underworld, not in its current state."

"Hades, Hermes, Persephone?"

"They're fine, Emma. A little unbearable right now, going on and on about their victory over Kronos, but no one is worse for wear. My brother owes you a great debt, by the way. We all do."

"All I did was think that it would be a shame if Hades died."

"Give yourself a little more credit than that, okay? He heard you when Kronos left. If the Underworld hadn't already been on alert after what happened on the beach, something might've been missed, but you were the catalyst."

I smiled weakly, pushing her hand away as she brought the cloth closer again. "Yay. One final act of bravery from me before Kronos surrendered my soul to the afterlife. At least everyone is safe and in one piece."

"You're not dead, silly girl! Well, not anymore. I saved you again."

I rolled my eyes at her proud, smug expression. "The amount of favors I owe you-"

"Oh, no, this one was free. Hades owes me now."

"Thank you, Hera, though Kronos is bound to be a little, well, peeved when he learns that I'm not dead and on my way to him for eternal damnation."

"Right, about that. Simone!"

A woman entered the room, blood covering one half of her face as I eeped and slid back against my pillows as far as I could.

"I know, gory. She died in a car crash, but for our purposes, she'll do. Simone, what's your name?"

"Emma."

"And how did you die?"

"Kronos broke my spine and smashed my skull in with a wooden beam."

"And where do you deserve to go?"

"Tartarus."

"Hera..." She couldn't do this, not for me.

"She was going to go to Tartarus no matter what we did, and Kronos won't know it's not you. After a little makeover, that is." She waved her hand and the woman's features morphed, hair lengthening and darkening as her clothes changed to match mine. It was like looking into a macabre mirror. "What do you think?"

"It's weird, and I think I need to lay down again."

"You can go, Simone. Thank you."

Other-me exited and I drew the blankets up around my shoulders. "He'll see straight through it, you know."

She shook her head, curls bouncing around her shoulders. "No, he won't. Not at first at least, and by the time he does realize that the swap happened, you'll be safe in the Underworld where he can't touch you."

"You can't guarantee my safety, especially once he realizes that he's been deceived."

"But I can."

I turned my torso towards the speaker, who strolled towards me through shafts of sunlight filtering into the room from dozens of stained-glass windows. Hera smiled and excused herself as Hades gathered me in his arms, protesting when I tried to stand.

"I thought you couldn't be here because of Zeus-"

"Shh, it's alright, Emma. Hera pulled some strings with him so that I could be. It's temporary, of course, and I'm sure he's waiting anxiously for me to leave again, but I had to see you."

"Hades..." Fresh tears pooled in the corners of my eyes as he brushed them away, cupping my face in his hands. "I'm sorry for everything."

"As much as it pains me to say this, had you not gone to Tartarus, we could all be dead with Kronos sitting on my throne."

"It was my book that gave him the idea to attack you in the first place," I said miserably and saw him frown. I shifted, swinging my legs over the side of the chaise lounge.

"He found my USB-the one I was using to store my story and notes on. I knew I should've kept it in a more secure location, but that's why he kidnapped...Sam! Ohmygod no!" I dropped my head in my hands, tears dribbling between my fingers to splash to the tile floor below. "He was there because of me, and I just abandoned him! Hades, I have to go back-I have to get him."

"Love, stop crying," Hades said, trying to pry my hands away from my face. "He wasn't really there."

"What?" My gaze snapped to his as he handed me his handkerchief, pulling out a cellphone.

"Call him."

"I can't because he's in Tartarus. Probably dead now, because of me."

I'm so sorry, Sam. You didn't deserve that.

"You're not listening," he said, grabbing my shoulders in a vice-like grip. "Kronos tricked you into thinking he had Sam, but he never did. Now call him."

I watched him for a moment, running a shaky hand across my face. Could he be right? My fingers felt numb as I dialed the number, pressing the phone to my ear on the first ring.

Pick up, pick up...

"Hello?"

"Sam? Is that you?"

"Uh...yeah? Who else would it be? Did you need something? I'm kind of busy at the moment."

Oh thank GODDESS.

"I just needed to hear your voice, that's all."

"Are you - is everything okay? I haven't talked to you in months."

I glanced up at the ceiling, fighting a fresh wave of tears as Hades squeezed my shoulder in sympathy.

He's safe. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm sorry to bother you. See you 'round."

I handed the phone back to Hades and crumpled into a ball, rocking back and forth. "I went there for nothing."

"No, you did it because you thought your friend was in trouble, Emma. You showed more courage than all of my men put together and don't you dare forget that," he said, caressing a hand over my hair again and again as I relaxed into the touch.

"I'm ready to go home," I whispered, eyes drooping. It'd been one hell of a day.

"Home or...home?" Hades asked tentatively, helping me to my feet where I swayed once, but managed to remain mostly upright.

"I don't want to be alone right now."

"Home it is, then. I'll have Persephone make up the day bed for you in our room, just for tonight. Come on - let's go."

"Awe, leaving so soon?" Hera said, arms full of flowers.

"The sooner the better. Thank you, sister," he replied, leaning in to give her cheek a quick kiss.

"Hera..." I paused, embracing her. "I can't begin to thank you for saving my life again. You didn't have to do it, but did anyway, and I sincerely hope that it's the last time I'll ever need it."

She pursed her lips together, tapping a foot against the floor. "For a human, you're startlingly reckless. If you take one piece of advice from me before you leave, let it be this: if you're so desperate to die, there are other ways to go about it than...whatever it is you're currently trying. Please be more careful in the future or one of these days, your death will be permanent." She gave me one last squeeze and stepped back, eyes tight.

"As long as Kronos stays on his side of the Universe, I'll be fine. The rest is manageable."

"Let's hope that my little deception works, then."

"We're leaving," Hades said, wrapping an arm around my waist. I could feel the tension in his hold - he didn't appreciate what Hera said, not one bit.

"Just think about it, for your sake," Hera said, and I nodded, closing my eyes as Hades poofed us away.