Lyla wasn’t surprised by his voice in her mind. In fact she rather liked it because then she didn’t have to do the tedious thing of writing or signing. “It’s alright, misunderstandings happen.” She thought to him as she heard Jessica moving about in the other room. A slight frown appeared as she read his hands. Her green eyes followed him as he put his armor back on. She didn’t want to see him leave, but when he held his hand out to her she couldn’t hide the shock.
No one had ever really been this nice to her. Most for the longest time thought her mute and didn’t give any more attention to it. Men had tried taking advantage and found out the hard way of her powers. Respect and kindness were two things she never really had been accustomed to. At hearing his voice in her mind she couldn’t keep the red tint from her cheeks. Her heart hammered in her chest, beating so loud she was sure Hades could hear it. She stood from her seat and with no hesitation took his hand. She did want to know more.
As she took his hand she watched as the darkness encased them and felt herself sinking. At first it startled her, but staring at his smiling face again she calmed. Feeling them being pushed up she watched as obsidian walls welcomed her. Her eyes fell over every detail as she turned. ‘Holy crap...this is so...AMAZING!’ She thought as excitement overcame her.
Her hand left his as she looked over the different armors. Wonder and amazement glinting in her eyes. Her fingers brushed against the metal studs, the leather straps. The rubber soles of her sneakers barely echoed against the smooth floor. Stepping up to it her hand laid on the arm of it, looking over the intricate stone. There was so much she wanted to see all at once. But only being able to take it in one at a time she didn’t want to rush things. ‘I gotta say… I was skeptical. But this… this is… I have no other word than amazing. This just blows my mind!’
Her attention turned upwards looking at the lit chandelier. She’d only been here a few seconds and she already didn’t want to leave it. She wanted to explore more of this place. Learn of everything she possibly can. On the outside Lyla to most portrayed someone that didn’t like learning, that didn’t like interactions with people. She knew from experience it brought mostly hurt, pain. So she spent her time divulging into history, learning from past mistakes people have made. Trying to turn into an unfeeling person to protect others and herself. And yet, here she was with a man she only dreamed of meeting, never once thinking it would ever be true. Her heart beating anxiously, like a hummingbird’s wing.
Walking down the sidewalks near Chelsea Market, Sarah couldn't shake off the feeling that someone - maybe another scanner, perhaps? she thought - was purposefully playing with her, toying with her mind and her sanity in ways that no one - not even that scared cur of a twin sister, she scowled to herself - had ever done in her life and it was absolutely driving her batty. Keeping her thoughts - and her scanning - to herself, Sarah continued to walk down the sidewalk when, up behind her... Behind Sarah, a black mass on the ground began to form and grew in diameter until it was six feet in diameter. Two hefty arms, ones that made body builders jealous of came forth from the darkness as it was pulling itself up. Then two long bull like horns came sliding out of it like two spears piercing a persons body. Then the head of the sound came emerging through and was looking right at Sarah. Pulling itself fully out, it’s legs were that of a bull’s much like the head of the creature. Sarah would be seeing if she turned around a minotaur was looking st her as it snorted again. Jets of steam visible as it came forth from its snout. It’s hooves thudded a dull sound as it stepped closer towards her.
Standing there, transfixed to the sidewalk, Sarah Lyell watched in mind-curdling horror as this creature from Hell's Pit, this beast from the underworld, began charging towards her while, as clear as day, the same man that had been toying with her spoke, his voice echoing through her brain as if coming from the Ages itself...“Oh Sarah...Sarah...Sarah....it amuses me to see you think that You are in charge.” The Minotaur let out it’s roar that was a call signature of bull to state it was going to charge soon. It lowered its head as Hades made it sound like he was whispering right next to her right ear. “You are sadly....Mistaken.”
"Who are you?" she said telepathically, with equal parts fear and anger in her telepathic voice. "Why are you doing this to....oh no, no....no, no, no, no!" her voice mentally screamed... The minatour aimed its horns for center mass and full on charged her. It’s heavy hooves on the cement sidewalk echoed down each of the ally ways it past, sounding almost like thunfpder as it ran towards her at a fast pace of speed. As it came upon her, it dispersed into a black cloud sweeping past Sarah harmlessly. Him laughing was heard in the depths of her mind as he learned all he needed to know. Then, there was silence for Sarah.
For several agonizing seconds Sarah stood there, her breath hitched and silent, as the black cloud that had been the minotaur disappeared around her, as if it had all been her imagination....yet, she was shaking all over from fright, a fright she'd never known in all her life. It shook her right to her blackened up, seared soul but what really shook her inside was that man's laughter - loud, piercing, soul-crunching - as if he'd weighed her, found her wanting and dealt with her the way she herself dealt with others. It frightened her, but as she stood there, she send the man - Hades, she thought dismissively -a very blunt telepathic message: Tamara put you up to this, didn't she? Well, when I deal with her, we are having that conversation that I spoke of earlier and I - I! - will be the last one standing, understood? I am a god amongst these puny, pathetic people...they run their tiny, pathetic lives as if they're the ones in charge well, no, no no, they're not in charge, I am! I, Sarah Lyell, am in charge....not them, not Tamara, and not you, Hades!
“Redemption is something you have to fight for in a very personal, down-dirty way. Some of us lose that, some stray from that, and some regain it.” ― Joss Whedon
When she was looking over all of the armor, he watched her with a smile. He was glad that she was enjoying what she saw so far and wondered how far that curiosity went. In his mind, he had heard what Sarah Lyell had stated to him. Just smiling at the thought, he sent that laughter once more, but this time, it echoed heavily and it had the tone of what one would think as the devils. Turning his head, he watched as she walked over to the throne and touched the arm of it. “I must admit, it is nice to have someone here that still has a heart beat...you are the only living soul to come here not being judged by me Lyla.” He walked up behind her. “If you want to know more of the time I came from..” He began explaining and turned, walking towards a hallway off towards her left. “...then you would want to come to the hall of records. I’ve written all the history in that room myself.” Leading the way, he would take her down three different halls that were made that a full army could stand in it. Stopping at a massive double doors, he placed his hands on them and pushed them open with ease as the doors creaked and groaned as they opened. Inside the room were thousands upon thousands of scrolls all in shelves and each dated by year. The room had three massive walls and and had shelving that split up the room so that all Years was documented and they were neatly ordered. In the center of the room, he had an old fashion desk with two chairs. The ceiling, it was domed. There was etchings and engravings into the obsidian that showed the images of all the gods and goddesses standing on top of Mount Olympus and humans bowing to them in a praying manner at the base of the mountain.
“The castle, it took 38 months to complete. Carved, shaped, sewed, crafted everything by my two hands. My siblings didn’t feel that I needed any help nor did they offer it.” Thinking of something as he turned to look at the door as he had seen some of the Scrolls start to vibrate a bit. “Stand still...and whatever you do Lyla...remain calm. There is someone you need to meet before you start to read from the Scrolls. Lifting his right hand up to his mouth, he let out a long high pitch whistle note. When he ended it sharply, the ground began to vibrate harder and harder as the sound of something huge and massive was charging towards their direction. From the massive door they walked in from, six red glowing eyes were seen looking in. Then all three heads came appearing into the light and Cerberus stood inside of the record room. With a hand up, Hades didn’t say anything, but Cerberus first sat down, but when he turned his head at them, Cerberus then laid down with all three heads laying down on their massive paws. “Don’t worry, he won’t eat you. But you do need to let them sniff you so that they recognize you instead of seeing you from a guest to a snack.” Taking a side step, he reached his hand out to her. When she would take his hand, he would gently guide her to Cerberus. All three kanine heads lifted up a bit and sniffed her with intakes that made her hair to go into the one nostril and caused it to sneeze off to the side. Laying their heads back down, Hades would say. “Cerberus would like you to scratch behind the center heads ears.” The giant dog looked at him as it knew he explained what they wanted.
“You all are nothing but dust compared to a god, for a god is an idea and ideas...are...immortal!”
Lyla turned her head towards Hades as he told her she was the only living person to be there not being judged. The eagerness in her eyes as he offered her to read about the history shone even brighter. Jogging to catch up to him the smile on her face seemed to be permanent. Inside and out she was so excited as she walked next to Hades. ‘This feels like a dream…… if it is I don’t ever wanna wake up.’ She thought as they walked down the halls.
Her eyes followed every detail as they came up on the large doors of the record room. Everything was so intricate and delicate in detail. Like a master craftsmen had made it. When Hades opened the door her mouth gaped some taking in the large room of scrolls. Stepping in she felt like a kid in her favorite toy store, or candy store. Looking up at the ceiling she moved further into the room to get a better look at it.
Turning to look at Hades her smile dimmed hearing that his siblings hadn’t helped him at all with building this magnificent place. ‘Well, they sound like selfish pricks…’ She thought. ‘Family is supposed to help, but this place is a work of art. You have very talented hands.’ She blushed trying to keep her brain from going down a “wrong” path. Turning back to Hades as he spoke she didn’t know what to think. It was weird, but she stood as still as possible, her smile turning down some as he gave a whistle.
Holding her breath she heard and felt the shaking of the ground as something large bounded down the hall. At first seeing those red eyes she did feel some fear, but as they came into full view a smile took her lips again. ‘Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod!’ She screamed in her mind. ‘Cerberus!’ Another favorite beast of myth stood before her. She just wanted to run over and pet him right away, but she resisted, as hard as that was. Taking Hades’ hand she walked with him and stood there as the heads sniffed her.
She laughed as one of the heads sneezed and they laid back down. ‘He is so much bigger than I imagined…’ Looking between Hades and Cerberus she was astonished, bewildered. She thought she had died and gone to heaven. Stepping up a little closer she reached a hand out and pet the soft fur behind the center heads ears. Her scratches became a little more firm as she saw his ear move to a relaxed position down against his head. She felt like a giddy child around an extremely large puppy. ‘So cute!’
His eyes watched as Cerberus was taking to her rather well. The dog of hell’s one hind leg began to pat the ground as she had found a spot that was itchy to him. “He’s taken a liking to you Lyla.” Cerberus stopped and rolled carefully onto his back with his paws sticking upwards. Laughing a bit, Hades would say to her what Cerberus wanted. “He wants you to scratch his belly. Don’t worry, he can handle your weight. So you can crawl up onto him without an issue.” The one red eye looked at her, then at its belly, then back at her waiting. Hades looked at Cerberus. “Not to demanding are you old boy?” A groan came from all three heads to answer Hades question. It caused him to laugh a bit. Moving away from the two, he began to walk through the room looking for something until he reached what he was looking for. On an armor rack, he was looking at his old helmet. The Helmet of Shadows. Beside it, leaning against the wall was his old weapon of choice, the two pointed prong fork. Picking up the helmet, he placed it under his left arm as he then picked up the fork. It had been ages since he held both of them, but it felt like yesterday since he wore the helmet. Still remembering the feeling of the fork’s two points piercing through the bodies of his enemies. Spinning the fork with his hand, he heard the prongs cutting the air with a slight vibration coming from them. Hades didn’t put on the helmet because it would stop him from being able to hear Lyla’s thoughts and stop him from talking into her mind.
He could feel that this was like a dream come true to her. To be able to meet the god that she could relate to and studied rather hard on, to seeing his Palace. To getting the chance to meet the creature she loved the most and to pet his fur. It made him smile to know that he had made her day. The nineteen year old who had helped save his life. She didn’t have to do such a thing, but she did anyways, even if it meant coming out of her she’ll to do so. But as he felt her mind, there was something there, something he had once thought he had felt ever so long ago. When he realized what it was, his eyes slowly turned to look in the direction of where Lyla and Cerberus was. Did she find him...attractive? Then he realized, he had been looking and smiling at her a lot. Was he falling for her? Were They falling for each other on the same night. Taking in a deep breath, he let it out slowly. Walking back over to them, he saw how much that Cerberus was enjoying it because his eyes were all shut and his tongues were hanging out of their mouths. “Yeah, he really likes you now. You just made yourself a new best friend my dear Lyla.”
“You all are nothing but dust compared to a god, for a god is an idea and ideas...are...immortal!”
Lyla was happy to see this great creature enjoying the scratches she provided. When he turned to his back she looked at Hades. ‘I can...oh Hell yes!’ She watched as Cerberus looked to his belly then back to her and she couldn’t contain her laughter. ‘Silly doggy, of course I’ll scratch your belly!’ She didn’t even pretend restraint as she made a mad dash to climb up onto his belly.
Being up there was so weird but so thrilling as she started rubbing the soft downy fur on his chest. But her eyes watched as Hades walked further into the room to a rack of armor. He looked so much better in person than in those pictures in her history books. A blush took over her cheeks as she thought this and tried to push it back. Her hands moved a little slower as they grew tired and her mind grew distracted with other thoughts.
She couldn’t be falling for someone seeing them for the first time… love at first sight wasn’t really a thing...was it? He’s amazed her so much, been so...open with her. Unlike anyone else she really talked to besides her teachers at the school, and her one friend Daydream who was part of the X-team. A melancholy smile made its way to her lips as she laid down and kept scratching Cerberus’s belly. It was mostly to keep her face from being too obvious.
Her chest swelled with hope and possibilities. A chuckle left her as she sat back up to see how happy Cerberus was with her. ‘I guess I have some magic hands myself.’ She thought with a cheeky smile. ‘So much excitement in one day, this has been...great, amazing, awesome, superb! None of them match for how excited I am!!’ Again she laid back on Cerberus and closed her eyes for a moment before kissing the soft fur and sitting back up and sliding down to give Hades a hug. ‘Thank you.’
Sarah Lyell's residence in the Marble Hill section of ManhattanAhh, its' good to be home, Sarah thought as the Uber pulled up to the front of her modest - well, modest to her! - Marble Hill residence, outwardly calm but still feeling shaken up inside and simply wanting to go right to bed, get some sleep and then begin organizing her plans for dealing with Tamara once and for all. When I'm through with her, she mused, stepping out of the Uber and turning towards the estate, she's either going to be at my right hand or-- In his mind, he had heard what Sarah Lyell had stated to him. Just smiling at the thought, he sent that laughter once more, but this time, it echoed heavily and it had the tone of what one would think as the devils.
Suddenly, she twirled on a heel, looking around frantically once more as the demonic sounds of laughter began to die down, echoing in her mind as if they were thunderbolts sent from the fieriest pits of Hell itself. Where are you, you bastard? Sarah thought to herself as she quickly scanned everyone on the estate grounds quickly and quietly, wondering if any of them had done this just now....satisfied they weren't involved, Sarah sent another message to Hades....you can come after me if you want; I'm a big girl...but leave my people here out of it! They must be meaningless to you, just pawns in the Great Game of Life but no, you're using them like a general uses chess pieces, using and then tossing them aside when their worth is gone....then, suddenly, as she telepathically sent the message to Hades, it began to dawn on Sarah that there was something going on - what, she didn't know - that, if she could figure out what it was specifically, she might be able to use against Hades at some point....but what is it specifically? she wondered.....what's going on with Hades; what secrets could he be hiding.....those thoughts bounced around her mind as she entered her estate, setting them aside for the time being. Business first, then Hades next, she mused....
“Redemption is something you have to fight for in a very personal, down-dirty way. Some of us lose that, some stray from that, and some regain it.” ― Joss Whedon
Standing there, he watched her and heard her thoughts, (even when one other who was now annoying him with their high and mighty banter was intruding on their time.) said to her. “Yes, you must have some fine magical hands.” She kissed Cerberus and then slid down the massive dog, came up to Hades and hugged him. Taken a back a bit, he slowly wrapped his strong arms around her and held her softly against him. His blue eyes looked at Cerberus and gave the command to him. Rolling onto his stomach, the three headed dog stood up and walked out into the hall where Hades formed a massive portal for his pet. The portal closed as he looked down at Lyla. “You need not to thank me...you gave me a debt I cannot pay back. This is the lease I can do for you since I know how much you like learning about my time period...” Looking at the Scrolls, he said to her. “You can read these whenever you want...but it has to be here, I don’t want to change your peoples history. There could be...repercussions to such a thing. And if you get tired, I can take you to a bed so you can rest. Time has near no meaning here in my realm of solace.” Letting go of her slowly, he placed the fork against the wall next to him and stood there with Lyla. Not sure why, but he could t stop looking into those beautiful eyes of her’s until he forced himself to break the gaze. “You are allowed here whenever you want. The only thing you have to do is say my name three times. No matter where you are my dear, I’ll be there.” Walking around her, he went towards the massive doors and went to a spiral staircase that leads to the top of the Palace, where Hades personal chambers were at.
Walking up, he went to the top of it and opened the door to his chambers. There was statues of all of the mythological creatures on one side, paintings of Greece, Battles, wild life against the walls. In the center was his bed, in terms of modern day size was a California King, sitting in the center of a platform that is made of circular steps. Black silk blankets hung down from the bed as he walked towards it. Lifting the fork up, he threw it with all his might and caused his old weapon to pierce into the obsidian wall with the shaft bouncing up and down with a twang like sound until it stopped. With his helmet in hand, he simply dropped it to the floor as he ascended the six steps and reached his old resting place. Slowly turning around, he sat down on the edge of the bed. His elbows on his knees as he placed his face into his rough hands. He didn’t know what to think or feel, for he felt his heart pounding in his chest like an inmate hitting the bars of his cell. Hades was confused and didn’t know what do. They had just met and already he was falling for the lovely blonde. Closing his eyes, he let out a slow sigh. Rubbing his hands up and down his face, he slowly opened his eyes and saw the shadows within his hands were glowing red. His eyes were glowing red which he knew what it meant. He was happy...he was falling in love with her.
Meanwhile, at Sarah Lyell’s home
The Guards patrolled around the grounds of their mistress. All armed with firearms and body armor that was military standards that money could by on the open market. Each squad checking in as the area was secure and clear. As one patrol went by the Southwest corner of the property , a black hole formed up. Expanding outwards as two massive paws came into the physical realm. Then the rest of Cerberus came forth from the abyss. Smelling people had been there, the sixteen foot tall dog ran towards them. The ground shook violently and when the patrol turned around, it was to late. Their pain filled screams could be heard as gunshots rang out in automatic and semi auto fire. Crunching down onto their bodies, Cerberus didn’t fully devour the bodies. He just only left pieces of them everywhere p, but did get to snack on the parts they each bit down onto. Blood began to fill the air as all units began to converge at the location as they tried to raise the squad under distress. But when they came to the scene, they saw the carnage that was lift behind and saw the massive paw prints that dig into the ground. Following the trail, it led them to a tree line. Taking aim, they open fired into the wood line. Spent casings fell to the ground as their fire fight rang out into the night. A hold fire was ordered and a few men were sent in to investigate it. Whatever it was wasn’t there as they walked through the trees, going further and further from Sarah’s house.
Cerberus had run at full speed and turned around and charged the home from the Eastern section of the property. It ran up to the house triggering every alarm in the area. Charging up to the house, the three headed dog stopped at the house. Standing on its hind legs, he began to use his claws in the front to claw at the house and even bit into the roof of the home, ripping out and clawing away chunks of the home until all three heads saw the bedroom and was looking down at Sarah. Each head let out a massive roar where one could see the waves of the roars coming from them, causing her hair to sweep backwards. Blood mixed slobber came out from their mouths and splattered around the ruins the expensive bedroom with some even hitting Sarah on the face and in her body. Hearing it’s master’s voice, it jumped over the ruined house as gun fire was heard again, firing at the three headed dog of hell. Bullets zinged by, grazing and even hitting Cerberus as it ran for the portal that formed for him. Running up to it, it stopped for a moment and all three heads let out a massive howl before running into the darkness, closing behind Cerberus. It was a message left for Sarah written in blood and destruction. That no matter what, one is not safe from his wrath and fury.
“You all are nothing but dust compared to a god, for a god is an idea and ideas...are...immortal!”
'But still, I wanted to show my appreciation. This is a lot more than I ever expected.' Lyla thought as Hades hugged her back. Feeling his muscles arms encircling her even as softly as it was she couldn't help the heat that rose to her cheeks. Lyla nodded in understanding about keeping the scrolls here. Falling into the wrong hands especially with that GADEM organization it could be terrible. 'Guess that means this isn't the last time you'll be seeing me.’ Her glossy pink lips smiled and gave a playful wink as they pulled away from each other.
'Heh, like Beetlejuice…’ the thought of the movie came to mind and she watched as Hades turned and left. It made her sad to see him go, but after everything he probably needed more rest. The body is a fickle thing but not as fickle as the feelings pounding in her own heart. Shaking her head she went to the first shelf on her left and looked over the scrolls. Maybe reading would help her think.
Remembering her iPod she pulled the earbuds and placed them in her ears. Making sure that the volume was low enough to leave room for focus on the words. Adjusting her tank top she picked up a scroll and headed to the desk. Taking a seat at one of the chairs she bobbed her head to the music as she carefully opened the scroll and delved into the history on the pages. As the words of the music spoke to her it also felt the song was about her in some ways. Always the quiet voice that no one ever heard.
The fear of controlling people, breaking her own heart and her mother's. Although her mother never really understood that. She didn't blame her, but it was Lyla who blamed herself. It's why she kept so distant she didn't want to make mistakes and end up forcing people away. Kicking off her sneakers she shoved them under the chair to be out of the way. Moving she turned to her side resting her head against the back of the chair using the armrest at her back and crossing her legs over the other armrest.
Laying the scroll in her lap and she stared off. What was it that she was feeling at this moment? Her thoughts and feelings conflicted but everytime she thought of Hades, held his face in her mind she couldn't stop the jump of her heart, the butterflies in her stomach. Sure when she was just learning history she had idolized him, but it was much different than other kids who said they liked him. Most everyone liked him for his fierceness, the dealing with the dead and that Disney cartoon that was not accurate at all. She couldn't help but to laugh at the comparison though.
It was too damn funny. Someone so handsome portrayed by something so goofy. Then again it was a kids movie and no one really cared at that time. But Lyla had always felt he was misunderstood. From the books it had said that Zeus and Poseidon had chosen their domains before ever talking them over with Hades. She thought that was a shitty move on their parts. But then again a lot of the gods and goddesses of this time seemed to be selfish, ruling over humans that were weak and frail.
But Hades was so different in person over the things she’s read. Her theory of him being misunderstood was becoming more solidified as she turned back to reading. What felt like only a few minutes of reading her eyes started to droop as she looked over the words. Rubbing her eyes she couldn’t suppress the yawn clawing from her lungs. The worry and excitement that had her adrenaline pumping this whole time had slowly died down, leaving her exhausted. But she wanted to read more. Before she knew it though she had fallen into a peaceful slumber, the scroll still open in her hands.
"Why yes, Mr. Deripaska, I'm so pleased the shipments arrived intact and ready for use," Sarah said as she sat at a desk in her palatial bedroom, "and I think you'll enjoy your new possessions; they're all beautiful and quite supple," she said, discussing the trafficking of arms and human beings as if she were talking about the weather that day; to Sarah Lyell, they were all the same. After listening to him speaking in Russian, she added, "Well, thank you and I look forward to your next delivery; those Russian girls you sent me were so exquisitely malleable to my touch and I look forward to the next batch you send me. Ta ta," she said, hanging up the phone and thinking to herself, Yeah they're bodies were malleably beautiful but their minds were like lead weights...
Suddenly, her mind began to spin as if being stirred by some massive malevolent force; holding onto the desk with every ounce of her being, Sarah frantically looked around, not quiet afraid but definitely feeling, for the first time in her life, truly rattled... As one patrol went by the Southwest corner of the property , a black hole formed up. Expanding outwards as two massive paws came into the physical realm. Then the rest of Cerberus came forth from the abyss. Smelling people had been there, the sixteen foot tall dog ran towards them. The ground shook violently and when the patrol turned around, it was to late. Their pain filled screams could be heard as gunshots rang out in automatic and semi auto fire. Crunching down onto their bodies, Cerberus didn’t fully devour the bodies. He just only left pieces of them everywhere p, but did get to snack on the parts they each bit down onto...
...while inside her bedroom, Sarah - hearing the frantic, blood-curdling sounds of her guards being mauled into pieces inside her mind - could all-but-feel her heart in her throat, the sounds of her breath echoing inside her mind when in an instant, the mental became the physical.... Cerberus had run at full speed and turned around and charged the home from the Eastern section of the property. It ran up to the house triggering every alarm in the area. Charging up to the house, the three headed dog stopped at the house.
Hearing telepathically the sounds of a beast outside, Sarah got up from her desk and scrambled around inside her bedroom, the walls and floor shaking as if caught in the giant maws of some infernal hellish beast when all of a sudden, an enormous piece of the estate suddenly was torn asunder... Standing on its hind legs, he began to use his claws in the front to claw at the house and even bit into the roof of the home, ripping out and clawing away chunks of the home until all three heads saw the bedroom and was looking down at Sarah. Looking up at the infernal creature, the one she had seen earlier that day, Sarah simply stood there, transfixed by the sight of it, only the sounds of her breath and her muttered, "No....no....no, no,, no..." Each head let out a massive roar where one could see the waves of the roars coming from them, causing her hair to sweep backwards. Blood mixed slobber came out from their mouths and splattered around the ruins the expensive bedroom with some even hitting Sarah on the face and in her body.
Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the hellish three-headed creature disappeared, vanishing into the night...and leaving Sarah standing there in and amongst the ruins of her now-formerly palatial estate, blood and gore covering her face and clothing, giving her the appearance of a high-brow Carrie and for what seemed like forever, Sarha just stood there, fixed in space, feeling as though she had just aged several centuries in the space of a minute and thinking that for the first time ever in her life, she now knew what fear - pure, unadulterated fear - felt like...and it scared her to within an inch of her life....
“Redemption is something you have to fight for in a very personal, down-dirty way. Some of us lose that, some stray from that, and some regain it.” ― Joss Whedon
From where he sat, he could feel that Cerberus had succeeded in his task, but he diverted away from the realm. His hound was tracking something familiar to it and wanted to see it in person. Nodding his head, he relaxed himself by sliding his hands down his throat and rested on the back of his neck as he tried to clear his own mind. Sighing to himself as he stood up, but stopped when he heard her thinking about him. But he stayed quiet as he felt her fall to sleep. Nodding his head, he took off his armor that covered his torso and tossed it off to the side. Kneeling down, he undid the sandals and slid them off to the armor. Standing up, he was seen in a Roman style loin cloth that looked sort of like a very short skirt with his black leather belt still on. Taking in a deep breath, he slowly let it out. Forming a portal in front of him, he stepped through the darkness and emerged from the abyss walking towards her. His feet lightly patting the floor until he stopped right next to her. Lowering himself down, he took the scroll and set it on the table. Sliding his arms under her knees and across her shoulder, he slowly lifted her up so that she was now against his bare chest. A smile on his face as the lighting in the palace dimmed until darkness was nearly encasing the whole dimension. His red eyes glowed like two burning rubies. Stepping back forth through th portal, they were in his chambers. Carrying her like she was a wife to him, he walked up each step until they were on the bed. Setting her gently down, he looked down at her, admiring the beauty she had.
Stepping back away from the bed a bit, he reached down and lifted her hand inside of his own. Lowering himself to a knee, he brought her knuckles to his mouth and kissed her hand softly. Slowly, he breathed in and took in her scent. Hades slowly exhaled his hot breath across her skin. Setting the hand back onto the bed, he stood up slowly and walked down the steps in reverse. Once he left the last step, he went and stood inside of the darkness, letting a cone of light to light her and the bed up in it’s dimness glow. Frowning, he began to use the darkness and walked up the wall and onto the ceiling. Walking over to the sky light on the top of the room, he laid down so that he was watching her from above, without disturbing her. While he watched her, he felt just how scared Sarah was. Smirking, he projected himself in front of her. Hades stood wearing his Helmet of Darkness. His Pitch fork being held in his hand as he appeared in Sarah’s view from the darkness of her ruins. His armor glistened in the moon light as his feet cracked material under them as he walked towards his prey. When he began to speak to her, his voice was deep, harsh and spoke heavy volumes of Authority. “You Dare address me, Hades, The lord of the Underworld as if I was a Peasant bowing at your filthy feet?!? I don’t make threats stupid child, I leave Promises! If I have to come back to this realm because of a single word that comes from your mouth...” He took his pitch fork and slid the two prongs on either side of her neck. It’s cold steel leaving stinging sensations in her body as he pressed the center of the fork against the center of her throat and pushed her against the wall. “I will make your worst nightmares come to life. I will devour your soul and you will be mine for all eternity. You played the dice with me and the devil is ready for his dues.” Yanking the fork away, he vanished in a cloud of smoke.
Lyla had felt warmth, the motions of being moved, but her mind was deep in sleep. At first it was peaceful. The music she had been listening to running through in the background of the field of gladiolus. Moving through she hummed to the lyrics, her outfit much different from before. A beautiful white toga, dazzled her form with accents of gold. Golden shoulder guards, a golden belt the hung loosely around her hips. It was a dream she had many times before, and she always loved it. Her hair blew in the warm breeze as it passed, a soft smile gracing her lips.
She had always felt she was born into the wrong time period, and her dream reflected it. There she felt comfortable, able to be herself. Walking through the field her palms brushed against every petal. The scent lingered in her mind as she moved about. Something about this though was different because she never had a real destination in mind. This time she could see something… someone in the distance. Their features hidden by the setting sun. Picking up her dress she decided to run for it.
Getting closer she could see the armor, the black hair, the beard, and those piercing blue eyes. In her dream he reached out for her, and she tried to reach out for him, but everything went black. Until she was back in her own clothes and she was on her knees. That’s when a door had opened and she was just a little girl of 10. Her father standing there, looking like he was ready to yell. When she tried signing that’s when he blew up, “Use your voice! You have one so use it! I’m tired of this signing around everyone. You ain’t mute!” Tears streamed down her face knowing where she was being taken to.
She tried prying his hand from around her wrist but it was no use. “STOP IT!” Came from her mouth and he stopped. Wriggling her hand from out of his hold she held it close and that’s when she realized she was just reliving her worst memory. A memory she never wanted to remember. “Why don’t you just leave us alone!? I just wish you would die! Just die and leave us alone forever!” She had been done with the beatings...she had been done with being forced to speak when she didn’t want to. It was just so much easier being in the background. He didn’t even say anything as he went to his bedroom. Sitting on the bed he pulled out his shotgun, placed it in his mouth and as the trigger was pulled doubts swirled about her like a dark slithering serpent.
In the physical world her body twitched some as her hands clenched tightly to the silk sheets. Her face scrunched in hurt and guilt. Inside the serpent slide around her leg, up her torso to whisper into her ear. Its forked tongue dripping with venom as it spoke. “How could anyone love a murderer? You killed your own father, and look where it has left you… alone, a martyr, a victim, when really your mother is.” Lyla shook her head, her heart was pounding in her chest. “You knew what would happen. You’ve known since you were little what you could do.” The snake showed vague memories of when she had used her powers to get things she wanted. But she was only a kid. “You think that excuses you?” The snake wriggled to her other ear as it wrapped around her throat. “It’s so cute of you.” She closed her eyes tight wanting out of this place. ‘Someone...help.’ She thought as tears streamed down her face.
The reason why he had to leave Sarah’s mind was because in the back of his own mind, he heard Lyla. She was calling for help. Opening his eyes, he saw that she was in distress and smelt the fear on her. A shiver went up his spine as it felt like ,Illinois of tiny Volta of Electricty had pulsed right through his body. Tendrils of darkness lowered him all the way down to the bed as he was now over her. Tapping into her mind, he could see wha was troubling her. It was a traumatic event in her life. There was one way to do this, but it was going to be a bit tricky to do, but he had to save her of the pain she was feeling. With his hands, he gently opened her mouth. Leaning down, he placed his open mouth against hers gently. Closing his eyes, he tapped into her mind so that he was there with her inside of the nightmare. When he appeared next to her, she would hear something landing that made the sound of rock cracking and breaking from the impact. The serpent that was plaguing her was a mutant of evil, one that works for what high religious folk called a Devil. In the Underworld, there was many dimensions and Devils were such a thing that plagued all realms. These snakes were tormentors, one that caused as much fear as humanly possible until the time was right to take the souls of its victims. Reaching for it, he quickly grabbed it by the neck and said in a voice that would make even the dead tomquiver. “You dare...enter my house and attack a guest of this realm?!?” It tried to coil it’s body around his arm. Lifting it up straight, he pulled it away from her and would slam his fist down onto ground. The sound of bones breaking was heard as the snake yelled out in pain. He could feel it’s fear growing and the fear it had consumed already. Opening his mouth, he began to devour the creature as parts of its serpent body looked as if it was being torn apart and went flying into his mouth. Once it was gone, he could see the memory trap was still in affect. This was the part he was hoping to avoid.
Walking up to her, he reached down and cradled her as he lifted her up a bit so that she was In his arms, her back resting on his knee. Wiping her blonde bangs away from her face, he whispered gently to her. “Sssshhhh...it’s fine....everything will be fine. But there is something you will need to do. This memory...of your past, it’s only going to keep happening if you don’t stand up and fight it...I need you to face your deepest nightmare head on. Your soul seeks forgiveness for what you have done and I can feel it...Inthink you’ve been tormented long enough...” Looking up a bit from her, he saw the scene about to play over again. Nodding towards it, he was trying to get her to focus on the event for him to do this. As she was starting to relive the moment, he divided his attention to both the worlds. When he saw in one eye that her father was just about to go into his bedroom for the shotgun, he gently turned her to face him and when she was now looking up at him, he leaned down and kissed her straight forward. Both spirit and his actual body began to suck out the pain, the fear, the devastation she has been carrying for so many years. She would witness the nightmare begin to shatter around her as light was pouring through. It sounds like a whirlwind was going through the area. Everything began to disappear from her as he devoured the whole thing from her body and from her soul. Breaking the connection, he moved himself away from her as long black tendrils and waves of dark energy began to pour forth from his body. He had done something that increased his power. But he didn’t want to use this from a woman he cared about. Getting to his feet, he looked towards the window overlooking his make shift prison, he spwewed forth that creature and all of the darkness she had inside of herself. It looked like a fire hose was blasting out black water for a few seconds. When he was done, he lowered himself to his knees as he was trying to get his heart rate down from all of the excitement. “I have deemed you...pure...Lyla. You are no longer shackled to that memory no longer...you have been...forgiven.” He said lightly in between each pant he had done. “Are you ok?”
“You all are nothing but dust compared to a god, for a god is an idea and ideas...are...immortal!”
Watching everything happening around her without real use of her body made her feel so vulnerable, until Hades had appeared. Everything went so quickly as she watched him take care of the snake. Hearing Hades speak though had her even more vulnerable. When she was turned to face her nightmare, she stared dead on. The harsh wind whipped her hair around as she watched her father and the cracking. Watching it all shatter and break before her, felt relieving. As if a weight was off her shoulders and she could breathe easy again. As the light dimmed some she could see the light of the setting sun again from before.
The warm breeze blew her blonde hair back, her white toga fluttering around her. Turning around she saw Hades and got on her knees. The gladiolus bobbed in the wind as she placed both hands on his cheeks. Worry laced her gaze as she stared at him. “I’m fine. What about you?” She asked, concern weaved in her words.
Her fingers wiped at his brow seeing a few droplets of sweat. She hadn’t meant for him to see that. The deepest darkest secret of hers, and he shattered it like a piece of china. “Thank you… isn’t enough to say how grateful I am to you.” That’s when her eyes wandered over his features. Then down his body seeing his chest again she blushed and her eyes went back up to see the color of his eyes a beautiful ruby red. Being this close though she felt an urge she had always fought against.
She hadn’t wanted to make any forms of attachment, but Hades was swiftly crumbling every wall she had built. Lyla could feel herself leaning in, her eyes closed as she felt their lips connected.
Sitting down in the warm grass, he saw her move over towards him when she replied to his question. Her soft hands were on either of his cheeks. Placing one of his hands on top of hers, he held it gently. Her face showed as well did her eyes that she was worried about him as asked him if he was alright. “Yes Lyla...I’m fine. I haven’t devoured that much fear in ages.” Feeling the few drops of sweat being wiped away from his brow. Lyla’s touch was simply divine. Even in this world of fantasy and dreams, it sent tingles across his skin. The red eyes of the God began to look her over. Looking at every line of her figure and how stunning she looked in that Toga. Eventually, their eyes met at each other’s again. Lyla explained that saying thank you didn’t feel that it would cut it for what he had done for her in her time of need. Smiling, he said lightly to her. “You cried out for help Lyla...and I came to your beckoning call. Just glad you are safe...my dear.”
Hades watched her eyes, how she studied him like a book. Her face lit up in red as she looked at his bare torso and their eyes met again. It had felt like all of time had halted around them as they stared into each other’s eyes, down to a personal level as if they were staring into each of their souls. For a while, he tried to figure out something about her. He could feel that she thought of him before, but she tried to shut those thoughts out almost every time. His own thoughts were thrown out when she leaned towards him and their mouths pressed against each other. Being in shock was an understatement about what was going on, but he wasn’t going to deny what she wanted. Leaning into the kiss, he pressed his body against hers as he deepened the kiss between the two of them. He felt his heart beginning to pound hard in his chest as his soul ignited on fire out of passion. Lyla, the lovely Siren had stolen his heart. Gently, he pushed his body against hers until she was was laying on the ground he was was on top of her. Placing his hands on the ground by the sides of her head, he broke the kiss that they shared and looked down at her. Hades would speak to her lightly, but each time he spoke to her, his voice had an echo where she would hear it in her mind. “Are you sure you want this...want me, my dear Lyla?”
His power began to seep from the back of his body and spread forth across the dreamscape, consuming everything that it touched except for the both of them. With his telepathic powers, he severed their sleep and forced them to wake up. When Lyla would wake up, she would see above her Hades in the same position as he was in her sleep. His face was a couple of inches away from her face as he had a soft smile on his face. It wasn’t a dream now as he placed one of his strong hands on the side of her face. His thumb began to slowly slide across her cheek. Leaning down, he kissed her again. Taking air in through his nose, he took in her scent and found it alluring. She was a beautiful young blonde and felt his heart skipping a beat each time it thudded hard inside of his chest.
“You all are nothing but dust compared to a god, for a god is an idea and ideas...are...immortal!”
