The Daughter Of Hades

Chapter 3

A month later

"I don't understand. It's been a month. A whole freaking month and still I have nothing to show for it" She said to herself, stabbing at the river killing three fishes in one move. "How can this be?" She says to herself, referring to her mission, throwing the raw fishes to Achlys and Desdemona, who was now in their true form, since they were away from the public eyes.

After leaving Nyx house to find her father, Melinoë soon realized that even with her training and combat skills, she didn't know where to look or start. Her first and only clue was easy to find out after remembering the day that she overheard Nyx and Zagreus talk about the garden where their dad met their mom.

She staked it out for weeks, but as the days went on she realised that he was not coming here. She realized that thought because it would be an obvious spot for the Gods or anyone, who had known this knowledge would look for him. So she stayed here instead as a campground for the three of them.

"Who's there?" She said, grabbing the blade, ready to fight, after hearing wrestling coming from a nearby shrub. "I'm armed and more dangerous than you could ever imagine"

For a moment she didn't hear anything, slowly about to put her weapon away, till she saw a young woman no younger than herself, that is if she was a real mortal, running her way. Achlys and Desdemona then changed in their dog form but were still on alert barking and growling at the woman.

"Please" the woman begged, falling over herself. "Please, you have to help me. They're chasing after me" she said falling at the feet of Melinoë. "I tried to fight them off, but they are too strong for me alone" she then passed out.

Melinoë attention was ripped from the young lady as Achlys and Desdemona began to start howling before growling again, stalking around both Melinoë and the unknown woman, keeping them both safe in the small circle, as their attention stayed where the woman had entered from.

Just then seven big muscular men came out of the clearing. Some of them had their pants loosened indicating the agenda of what they were trying to accomplish with the woman.

"Well, fellas looks like we got ourselves a two for one deal" one of the guys spoke, eyeing her up and down.

"If I were you, idiots, I would turn and leave while I'm still able to walk properly. I do not have time to spare with you, meatheads" She says eyeing them all as they slowly began to spread out.

"Now why is a pretty girl such as yourself talking in such a vile matter with that pretty mouth of yours?" one guy on her left asked.

"Trust me I'm not one to be messed with" She declared, trying to give them another chance to leave on their own. "Now, I said to leave as nicely as I possibly could. If I have to say it again, I won't be so nice"

They took a moment, obviously contemplating the offer and their fear due to the two dogs circling her.

"Screw this! They're just women!" A man behind her yelled to his men. "I ain't afraid of no woman" He protested, running towards her.

"Your death is on you" she mumbled to herself. "Desdemona! Achlys! Attack!"

At the mention of the word alone the two Cerberus went on a rampage attacking two men out of the seven leaving five men for Melinoë.

Due to the fact, that they are not actual dogs, Cerberus are larger than any man, with power to match their size, with great strength, allowing to prevent souls from leaving the Underworld, but in this case to not leave the area. They have a powerful sense of both smell and hearing, making it hard for anyone to escape, even if a person tried their hardest. Having multiple heads enables it to look in several places at once, and attack different opponents simultaneously, and not to mention that they are immortal.

"I will not take pleasure in any of this" Melinoë says looking at their frightened faces, as she shape-shifted into her true appearance.

Although she is a skilled fighter, Melinoë thought to not waste much energy on fighting them. Being that one of her abilities is necromancy, but having a somewhat lesser extent, she instead rose a few ghosts from the underworld, since using ghosts was more her speed.

"What the-" before the man could finish his statement, Melinoë drove her blade into his chest, using the ghosts as a distraction.

"Why you little bitch" one guy screamed to her charging at her, wrapping his arm around her neck from behind.

"Daddy, stop it's me" She cried to the man. "Daddy, please you're hurting me"

Appearing as a little girl, she cried. Thanks to her emotional shapeshifting ability she could take on the appearance of the dead people in a person's life, using guilt and anger from the person as an advantage in battle.

"Apolla?" the man said letting go of her. "Baby what are you doing out here? Your mother and I thought we lost you" he says hugging his daughter.

"Oh, daddy" she smiled, looking at him. "You will be joining me now" before the man could answer, Melinoë sliced his throat.

"Ok that one was oddly satisfying" she laughed to herself.

"Help! Someone anyone!! Help us!" A man shouted out, trying to run away, making her take a glance his way.

"Achlys! Desdemona a soul is leaving!" she announces to them, while she fought the two other guys, knowing they would run after the man not letting him get far. "Alright, let's see if you can see what I see" she challenged before using her umbrakinesis ability to engulf them all in darkness.

"I can't see! Please, I can't see anything. I'm sorry. Ok please miss, I'm sorry. Don't kill me, I have a family" one man begged and pleaded for his life.

"I made a mistake. Please just let me go. Ok, I'm sorry damn it. Just let me go" the other one said, not sounding very sincere with his words.

Without a moment of hesitation and second thought, Melinoë held the edge of her blade to the second man's throat, releasing them all from the darkness, letting the other guy, who was praying, finally see the light of day.

"The difference I see between the two of you" She spoke calmly, making the man on his knees open his eyes. "is that while this man made his mistake and apologised and is right now begging for forgiveness. You stand here tall and powerful as if you are the one who doesn't have guilt" she speaks up not once letting the blade leave his throat.

"I have guilt," he says through gritted teeth, being mindful of the blade since it was below his Adam's apple. "But I ain't go dwell on it, I have a life to live"

"Your retribution is paid by your honesty," she says with a smile, putting away her blade. The man coughed rubbing at his throat. "And your death. Eat!" she demanded of her Cerberus.

"Wait! Wait!" was his last words before his screams were the next and only thing to be heard.

Melinoë changed back into her human form being going by the praying man. Grabbing him by the collar, she stood him up.

"Don't kill me, don't kill me..." The man cries and begs, as his voice twitches.

"I didn't wanna do this, to begin with," She says not having this be something enjoyable or validating, for her. "It was business and I don't personally like having loose ends but this one time I'll let it happen," she says letting her grip on his collar go. "My dogs have an excellent sense of smell so now that they have your scent, make the right choices unless you want us to pay you a nightly visit"

Shaking his head in understanding the man ran away in a hurry. Melinoë then turned her attention on the woman, who was still passed out on the ground.

"Ugh, this is gonna derail my mission" She groans to herself knowing she can't leave the woman for dead here.

"Was your mission to kill six people?" A familiar voice said from behind her. She gave out a humourless laugh, not daring to turn around.