Seph and the Stranger (Queen of Hades Book 1) Page 4

  He let a smile stretch his lips, a private thing he rarely let anyone see. He had surprised himself smiling so freely with Seph today.

  After another moment of indulgence had passed, he brought back his mask of dour seriousness, which was harder to do than usual. He cloaked himself in the shadows he was so familiar with and made his way to the heavens where he would force a meeting with his “dearest” brother.

  He arrived outside the gates of Olympus. He would avoid going inside if possible. While he was somewhat used to the stares he received from his family of gods and goddesses, he didn’t relish it. He would much rather go as unnoticed as he could but walking into the palace of the gods meant he could not remain hidden.

  “Hermes,” he called.

  In an instant the winged irritation appeared before him. His face was cunning, and the smile untrustworthy. Hermes was mischief personified. He was a somewhat reliable messenger in that he would deliver a message, but not always in the way the sender might like. He liked to cause trouble, and somehow, always managed to get away with it.

  Not so with Hades.

  “Hades! The fabulous, magnanimous ruler of our beloved Underworld! It has been too long since you graced our treasured court with your glorious presence,” Hermes exclaimed with a smile that showed every single one of his teeth, but the glint in his eyes was cutting.

  “You’re only pleased to see me because you’re bored up here on the mountain with my brothers and sisters playing their harps and eating fruit,” Hades replied coolly.

  Hermes’s smile dropped theatrically into a frown. “True, my Lord, it is so much more exciting when you’re here to keep things churning. I do miss you when you’re away for so long.”

  “Stop your flattery. It doesn’t work on me, you wretch,” Hades glared. “Bring my brother here. It’s urgent.”

  Hermes had a sly grin on his face as he hovered at eye level with Hades. He was a good deal smaller and shorter than this dark counterpart.

  “Oh, I don’t know about that. After all, you do not command me, your majesty. I have half a mind to force you to go in and demand an audience with the god of all gods yourself. I do, after all, rather like my hide in its present state and location. A bolt to my sensitive skin would be unpleasant.”

  The glower Hades gave him should have been warning enough for Hermes to back away as quickly as possible, but the ingrate liked trouble. So, it would be given to him.

  Quick as the strike of a viper Hades shot out a strong hand to wrap around the little god’s throat and squeezed until his eyes began to pop. “Will you risk your hide against me, foul creature? I may not command the lightning, but I have things at my disposal that are much, much worse,” he growled, their noses touching.

  A strangled squeak managed to escape Hermes as his hands frantically clawed at the iron fist holding him. His winged feet were kicking helplessly up and away, as though they wanted to simply detach from the rest of him and hide away. His shoes were smarter than he was.

  With a violent thrust, Hades released him, and Hermes took off toward the mountain coughing and spluttering.

  A smirk curved his lips on one side. There is something intensely satisfying about that, he thought to himself.

  He knew when his message had been received because he heard the loud boom of thunder following a bright flash of light from the very peak of the mountain. His brother must be in a good mood. Wonderful.

  A dark cloud formed over his head, and he rolled his eyes at the drama Zeus was showcasing. With a twirl of his finger, a spear of dark shadow cut through the thunderhead and forced it to dissipate.

  That will really rile him up. I probably shouldn’t when I need something from him, but he makes it too easy. Why bother with the spectacle when he knows he can’t outmatch me?

  Chapter Eight

  Zeus landed as though from an impossible leap directly from his throne. The mountain shook with the impact.

  Hades merely looked at him with a bored expression, his posture relaxed and unthreatened.

  “You dare summon me, brother,” Zeus sneered, his eyes flashing with electricity waiting to be released. It wasn’t a question, it was an enraged statement.

  That brought a genuine, if small, smile to Hades lips. “Oh, dear brother, I dare.” He raised his eyebrows with defiance, his voice still indifferent.

  Zeus positively boiled.

  “Get off my mountain and back to the hole you came from,” he roared. “You don’t belong in the light.”

  Hades stepped up to him until they were toe to toe. He wrapped his power around his younger brother, fastening him in place. Zeus’s eyes widened slightly. This wasn’t the show of power Hades usually put on, but he was tired of playing games with the gods of Olympus. Tired of pretending to be lesser. It was time to remind them of what he really was.

  “You know as well as I do that this could very easily be my mountain. My power far outstrips yours. You are no more than an ant beneath my boot if I so choose. You would do well to be a touch more hospitable in the future,” he whispered into his brother’s face.

  His dark power squeezed the king of the gods ever so slightly, ever so menacingly. Then he was released without any outward sign that a threat had been issued.

  Zeus didn’t react any further than the widening of his eyes when he was first ensnared, but his eyes became suddenly much more wary.

  “Very well, Boot. What do you want?”

  Hades scoffed, looking at his brother with patient amusement. “I want to know why souls are missing from my realm,” he said evenly.

  Zeus’s face transformed from wary disdain into true unease. Whatever Zeus might be, he was still had some interest in the balance of the world. Without balance, without set limits on the power of the gods - gods like Hades, in particular - there was a chance their entire existence could be at risk. He was nothing if not interested in his own preservation.

  “What spirits are missing? Missing how?” he demanded.

  “Spirits of every kind. Some regular mortal souls, others have the blood of the gods in them. Very watered down, but still enough to have some power. I have been to the Fates,” Zeus’s mouth twisted down at this, “and have seen the tapestry. When a soul is taken, its thread completely disappears from the weaving.”

  “They don’t see who or what is responsible?”

  Hades only shook his head.

  Zeus began to pace, his hand stroking his beard as was his custom when deep in thought. Not that that happened very often, from Hades’ point of view anyway.

  “I saw Lyssa, too. She said there was rumor of one of the gods preparing to take over the Underworld. Ousting me from my throne,” he added.

  Zeus looked up at that, his brow drawn down. This was even more concerning. Zeus was not fond of Hades. However, his placement was nonetheless important. With Hades in the Underworld, he knew it would be seen to. He knew the power of it would not be abused, at least not beyond the little stunt Hades had just pulled by tying him down. Zeus did, in fact, trust his brother. He just didn’t like him, and he certainly didn’t want to spend his own time in the deep dark that was the land of the dead.

  And Hades knew it.

  Having another player in charge could pose a threat to Zeus’s rule. With the wealth and power of the earth, combined with the numbers of the dead souls - many of which had power themselves - a lesser god could easily become a greater one. Possibly even the greatest.

  But who?

  The options were too many to count. They had made plenty of enemies within their own divine ranks. The gods were fickle. They all knew it, too.

  “You have no idea?” Hades queried, impatience growing and quickly turning to anger.

  Zeus looked at him shrewdly. “Not beyond the obvious choices. Nyx and her children. They tend to be the most malevolent. Certainly, they have reason to be power hungry and to hate me. I don’t exactly suffer their presence well,” he replied.

  “That was my thought, too. Have you seen any of them lately? Or noticed their movements? Have you heard of any particular disputes they might have with us recently?”

  “I can’t say I have, but I don’t generally keep track of them,” Zeus responded flippantly.

  Rage boiled just beneath the carefully constructed cool on Hades’ face.

  “You might do well to start keeping track of them. If they’re after my throne, it’s not because they’re after me. Their goal will be to move against you. If you want to rule the sky, the earth, and the gods, you should try paying some attention to them,” he snapped.

  Zeus bristled, electricity coating his arms. “I am still king here,” he growled.

  “You may not be for long,” Hades spat back.

  A long silence grew between them as they held back their ire for one another. Zeus knew Hades was right, which would have been even more annoying to him than the rest. To be humbled by Hades was indecent.

  “Keep an eye out, will you? My king?” Hades conceded. He didn’t have to. He had already won the fight and they both knew it. But he needed to placate his brother. He needed to let him know that he wasn’t interested in a power grab. Let Zeus do whatever it was he did. It kept him out of the way.

  Zeus gave a curt nod and launched himself back toward the peak of Olympus.

  Hades didn’t bother to watch him go. He simply vanished and reappeared in his home beneath the earth. His mind was even more troubled than it had been before his visit with Zeus.

  Chapter Nine

  Seph visited her meadow every day in the hopes that her Stranger would return. He said he would, and she believed him. It just felt like time stretched on forever while he was away.

  Her mother was loosening her grip a little more now. Seph could wander their lands a bit more freely
as long as she checked in with Demeter throughout the day. She usually sent a whisper of her whereabouts on the wind or in the song of a bird nearby that was willing to deliver the message.

  Now, she wandered close to the border of Demeter’s lands where she seldom explored. This part of their home was much sparser with very little fertile soil and more rocks than greenery. She decided she might try to test her power there and create a garden in the dust.

  As she touched the ground sending her power deep into the soil searching for anything she could coax to the surface, she saw a shadow dart across the border her mother had constructed.

  In a moment, a woman was before her, smiling and skipping over to her. At first Seph thought she was dark, raven haired, ebony skinned, with frighteningly sharp features. But as the woman approached, she saw something different. It confused her.

  The woman knelt down beside her as though they were friends. Her eyes were a bright amber, her face full and shining with deep russet skin, and shining black hair cascading in waves to her waist. Her figure was full and soft, nothing like the sharp angles she thought she had seen at first.

  “Good day to you,” said the woman in a breezy voice. “I am on my way to see Demeter to ask her blessing on my family. I have travelled a long way. I don’t suppose you have any food or water?”

  Seph was curious and rather taken aback by the strange woman. She had seen plenty of people cross their lands and visit her mother, but never like this. Never did they approach Seph and strike up a conversation or ask for anything at all.

  Turning she brought out a small pouch that she kept with her while she was exploring. She always kept a little something with her. She offered it to the woman with an inquiring smile. “I will be glad to share what I have with you,” she said. “What is your name? Where do you come from?”

  The woman found a biscuit, immediately took a large bite, and began to chew rather grossly with her mouth open, crumbs flying out. Seph tried not to react. Perhaps she was just so hungry she had forgotten her manners.

  “My mother named me Ceres to honor Demeter for blessing her with a healthy child. Now I come to her to ask for the same. And, of course, to see her legendary gardens. I have heard she has every kind of plant in her garden, from healing herbs to deadly poisons. Is that true?” asked the woman.

  “Yes, she grows all kinds of plants, and nurtures all the animals that come our way. She certainly can give you something to help your child grow in addition to her blessing, which I’m sure she will gladly give. She loves children.”

  Ceres smiled at her in what seemed an awkward way to Seph. It was like she wasn’t used to using her face to make that expression, and it didn’t reach her eyes.

  “That’s amazing,” Ceres said, taking a mouthful of water. Some of it dribbled down her chin. “What of the poisons though? Surely, it’s dangerous to have the healing herbs next to the deadly ones? Can you imagine reaching for a plant to help you sleep only to never wake again?” she laughed.

  Seph was more and more bewildered by this woman. “Well, actually, many poisonous plants have medicinal functions if they are prepared the right way and in the correct amount.”

  “That’s fascinating,” Ceres responded excitedly, “tell me more! What sort of plants can be both helpful and harmful? How can you tell the difference between them? What about herbs that can cause forgetfulness or disrupt the senses like sight or sound? I’ve always been interested in the medicinal powers of flora, but no one is able to teach me where I live.”

  “Well, my mother is the best one to ask. I haven’t bothered much with how to use the plants. I just do what I can to help them grow. Certainly, she will teach you everything you want to know if you ask when you see her. She is always glad to show her garden to anyone who is interested,” Seph replied.

  “Does she designate the plants somehow? Mark the ground somehow so she can tell which is which?”

  “Yes, she separates many of them by their function or by the needs they have in the soil. Some are in separated sections with paths between them. Others she keeps in a single large bed, and then marks them with wooden stakes and colored string. Really, you should ask her. She would love to give you guidance,” Seph replied.

  The truth was, she could give Ceres all the answers she wanted herself. She knew as much, and sometimes more, than her mother did about their flourishing garden. She knew exactly which plants could do the things the woman had asked about. She knew how to describe them so they would be easy to identify, and she could give clear instructions on where to find them in the garden, as well as how to prepare them.

  Something held her back. Something wasn’t quite right with this girl. She couldn’t put her finger on what though. She certainly seemed innocent and curious enough. She was mostly disarming, but still, there was something…

  If she sent Ceres to Demeter, her mother would know what to do with her. She would see through any facade if there really was one. Perhaps Seph was just suspicious because of how protective her mother had been recently, and she was further from the cottage than usual. It was probably just insecurity.

  Ceres gave her that odd smile again. “Wonderful. I’ll do that,” she said. “Thank you for the food and water. I had best be on my way.”

  With that she flounced away. Her direction wasn’t quite directly to the cottage. “A bit more to the left, if you want to get to Demeter,” Seph called.

  Ceres just turned around and waved at her with a grin, barely correcting her course.

  Seph watched her disappear, an odd churning in her gut.

  Chapter Ten

  It wasn’t long after Hades made it back to his palace after confronting Zeus that he was met by one of the many who helped him reign in the deep.

  “Thanatos.” Hades greeted him warmly. The god of death had a poor reputation, which he didn’t deserve. He was feared, but he was the most gentle and kind of the death gods, even more so than Hades himself.

  “I am concerned, Hades,” he said, voice soft as they embraced.

  Hades’ head snapped up as he stared into the deep cowl of Death himself. “What has happened?”

  Slowly, Thanatos pulled his cowl back revealing a bald, androgynous face that was, nonetheless attractive, but alien. His cold white eyes met those of Hades, and he could see the anxiety deep within them.

  “I have gone to fetch the dying here, and they have been missing,” said Thanatos.

  “Missing how?”

  “Body and soul,” he replied gravely. “It is as though they never were. Yet I still feel the imprint of their being, the knowledge that they need to be collected.”

  “Our problem is getting worse then,” Hades said, running a hand through his dark hair. “Have you noticed the missing dead here?”

  Thanatos nodded his head slowly. “I thought at first they were simply wandering. It happens sometimes, but I haven’t been able to locate them at all. The Furies are out of sorts and angry that their victims are unavailable for them to torment.”

  “I can probably expect a visit from them soon then?” Hades was tired and frustrated. This didn’t add up.

  Thanatos nodded again. “I can try to hold them off,” he offered.

  “Please, do. I’m working on it. Have you seen anything else unusual? Have there been other gods here that don’t usually come our way?”

  “No, but I have seen more of the Night Children stalking on the surface. They don’t seem to be doing anything other than their normal torture of human minds, but they’ve been seen more frequently,” Thanatos replied.

  “Do you ever speak with them?”

  “Not unless I have to. They are difficult to work with. The Furies remain in good contact with them. Unsurprising, as they’re of a similar temperament.”

  “Then I’ll need to go and see them anyway. Keep me informed, please. I met Lyssa on my way to see the Fates, and she spoke of a rumor that there is a deity that wants to oust me.”

  A disturbance buffeted Hades and rattled his furniture.

  “No,” Thanatos said, the threat clear in his voice, his power expanding further around them shaking the earth.