Chapter 6
Inside the cabin the air was heavy with tension. Hebe was in the kitchen, drawing out a jug from the shelves, along with three cups. The whole time her gaze darted over to Andromeda, quietly assessing. The girl may have been the daughter of Zeus, heralded for her famously obedient role as cup bearer, but there was fire in her eyes. She watched Andromeda closely, as if the goddess might kill Hercules at any moment. Andromeda, sitting on a chair by the dining table, pretended not to notice and focused her attention on the god in front of her.
Hercules was not what she imagined. He bore the same face as Zeus, the same ancient eyes, yet there was something mortal about him. There was no electric presence, like what Zeus commanded, though Andromeda made no mistake that, if needed, Hercules would manage it.
“I’d ask what you’ve come for but given the rumours I’ve heard, I can hazard a guess,” he said with a smile. “Hades, really?”
Andromeda gave the smallest of smiles. “He was sitting in my chair.”
“And Zeus? Do you seek his throne?”
Her lip curled in disgust. “Far too sunny up there.” She waved a hand, dismissing the thought. “He struck a deal with me to defeat his father and he not only didn’t uphold his end of the deal, he stole my family and used their power for his own gain.”
He rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully. “So, you seek me as an ally in this war?”
“Ideally, yes, though the main person I seek is actually Hebe,” she said slowly.
Hebe stopped dead in her tracks as she walked over. Surprise etched her face. After a moment she closed the distance and set the jug, along with the cups, on the table. Her gaze never strayed from Andromeda.
“Me? Whatever for?”
Andromeda fished out a small medallion from the pocket in her dress and set it on the table. “I stole this when I broke into Olympus, along with a few other things. Unfortunately, this doesn’t respond to me – it bears your mark.”
Hebe strode over to the medallion and plucked it off the table, marvelling at it. She ran her thumb over the polished edge and then looked to Andromeda, cautiously.
“You know what this is, don’t you?”
“A key to Olympus,” she said. “One only you can use.”
“And you want me to march your army onto Olympus?” She set the medallion down and stepped back from the table, behind Hercules, one hand resting on his shoulder. “I may loathe my father for what he did but I do not know you, truly. I won’t betray Olympus.”
Andromeda stood, looking between Hercules and Hebe. “I know that.”
Hebe frowned, her hand tightening suspiciously on Hercules shoulder. “Then why-“
“Because you’re sure we will,” said Hercules.
Andromeda merely smiled and went to the door. As she opened it she half turned back.
“I gave you a choice. That’s why I came. War is coming and I offer you a chance to join my side,” she said softly, her voice a quiet storm, full of power. It sang of the promise of death and bloodshed. “I will not offer this again.”
“Without that medallion you won’t get anywhere near Olympus,” said Hebe stubbornly.
“We won’t betray my father,” added Hercules.
Andromeda’s dark eyes glittered with knowledge. “Goodbye.”
Then, with a mocking bow, she stepped outside.
Despite her promise, Andromeda didn’t immediately return to the Underworld. By her count, she still had an hour and she didn’t want to waste what was probably her last moment of real peace. She exited the portal on a distant beach, far from any city or town, where she was alone with the forest behind her and the ocean stretched out in glittering promise. The sea breeze rolled off the ocean, whispering to her and closed her eyes, momentarily enjoying the song in her ear. As she opened her eyes she stepped onto the sand and headed to the water.
Small waves lapped at her feet as she walked into the ocean. The icy water bit into her skin, tiny fangs burrowing deep. She relished it, enjoying each small wave that lapped over her feet. It had taken her thousands of years but she’d made it – whole and true, standing at the ocean for the first time as Andromeda.
“Hell of a view, isn’t it?”
Andromeda spun around, magic bursting to life at her hands, shadows darkening around her. Standing at the water’s edge was Persephone, armoured and looking like a war queen. Her black hair was braided down her back in a single braid, swept clean from her striking face. She gave a slight bow.
“Nebiru said you went topside,” she said. “We need to talk.”
“How did you even find me?”
She gestured to the trees behind her. “They told me.”
It was a discussion for another time. Andromeda gestured for her to continue. With a slight incline of her head Persephone waited until Andromeda joined her on the shore. The goddess cast her gaze out across the ocean, seeming troubled to Andromeda.
“Demeter is imprisoned,” she said quietly. “I tried to reach her but Athena beat me to it. It seems any who don’t swear immediate loyalty are imprisoned in the dungeons of Olympus. He plans to execute her.”
Andromeda set a hand on Persephone’s shoulder. “We will get her back.”
Persephone nodded.
A cold feeling suddenly washed over them both. The feeling of death that whispered on their neck. Andromeda spun, instinct roaring. She threw up her hands, spinning up a net of shadow and spun to the side, catching something glowing in her net. It vanished before her eyes but she knew what it was immediately. She shadow jumped to Persephone, grabbed her arm, then stilled.
Thanatos stood before them; a glowing white arrow knocked loosely on a night black bow. A smug grin etched his face, full of satisfaction. For the grounds were now evenly matched between them. Andromeda kept her hand on Persephone, who stiffened beneath her touch. They both knew what that bow was – what it could do.
“Hello Andromeda, Persephone.”
Persephone scowled at him, saying nothing.
“Thanatos, charming as always. What a pretty little bow you have. Where ever did you find it? I’d like one myself,” said Andromeda coyly. “It matches my outfit.”
“Oh, this? The Epirus Bow surely is gorgeous, isn’t it? One of the few weapons that can strike down a Titan with a single blow,” he replied. “It was very hard to find but easier since you weren’t hunting me.”
Andromeda cursed internally. She knew he wasn’t done with her but she’d believed strongly he’d run to Zeus…not run off to find a lost bloody weapon. Let alone that he’d find it. Her heart hammered loudly in her chest. It was a mistake…and now if that arrow even scratched either of them, they’d be dead. A death even she couldn’t come back from. Her soul, like Hades, would be obliterated.
She swallowed hard. Every move had to be careful. She had to get them both out of there, spin back down to the Underworld without the arrow hitting them. Somehow.
“So, I’m to die on this beach?” Andromeda sighed. “Zeus won’t believe you did it unless he sees it.”
“He knows I have the bow, knows what it will do if it hits you,” he said.
Dammit. Thanatos had gone to Zeus, told him about the bow.
“And he’s letting you kill me? Frankly, I’m insulted. All this mess, the war and the fighting and this is how he defeats me?” Andromeda shrugged. “He always was a coward. Pathetic. Then again, you both share that.”
“Bold coming from you, since I have the bow and you do not,” he snapped.
“Bold assuming you can kill me,” she replied just as arrogantly. “I am Andromeda. My name strikes fear in the Gods – no one even cares about your name.”
To her annoyance, he remained calm, steady. The arrow didn’t even tremble. She dug three nails into Calypso’s arm, biting flesh. Then, slowly, she released a nail.
Then another.
A pause, the last one remained.
“Time to-“
Andromeda hurled shadow up and willed the ground to swallow them whole. They fell into darkness. Not before, however, Andromeda caught a flash of white shooting through the darkness. They fell onto the hard ground of the throne room, right in front of Nebiru, whom paced the ground. He looked up in alarm as they stood.
Persephone let out a cry.
Andromeda spun. Her heart froze in her chest. Persephone’s hand dropped from her upper arm, revealing a cut – and white light bleeding out. Persephone’s knees buckled. She crumpled to the ground, a spiderweb of cracks unfurling outwards. Andromeda caught her and without thinking, slammed her hands down over the wound. She closed her eyes, summoning every inch of power she had.
It wasn’t enough.
Down, down, down she went to the deepest pit of her power, calling on everything from the Underworld. It yielded to her, flooding her with so much darkness that it nearly swallowed her whole. Her body sang out….and still she summoned more. It started to burn her – tear at the edges of her already damaged soul. The seams that held her together went taught, ready to snap. She felt herself falling apart.
Not today, she thought. I am Death. I am the oncoming storm. The wrath, the vengeance, the end of all things. I yield to no one.
In the darkness of her own mind she saw Persephone’s soul splintering apart before her eyes. Andromeda hurled all her magic – the full force of the Underworld and her own ancient power – over the damaged soul. Wrapped around it like a blanket. No shard was going to slip through.
Then she squeezed, compressing the soul down, forcing the broken parts back together. She released a feral scream and surged again, forcing the parts to be remade, stitching every fragment back together herself. It fought against her, screamed to be released. She didn’t yield to it and pushed down even harder.
The soul stilled beneath her touch. She released her grip…and saw the soul before her, full of cracks but holding together. It was healing. She drew back…and crumpled backwards onto the stone floor, gasping as the energy rushed from her body.
Someone was looming over her, shouting but she didn’t care. Darkness beckoned her down and she welcomed its warm embrace.
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