The Underworld Crown (Series)

Chapter 15

Gasps flooded the room when the candle lights went out. The darkness was so black that I couldn't even see my arms or hands. I looked around wildly, but it was helpless. I could hear Plutus saying something by my side, but I was unable to hear him through my panic. It was as though I was stuck in a nightmare. The darkness could be due to anyone here, anyone who wanted to kill me–

Goosebumps spread over my skin as a deep, booming voice cut through the air, slicing through the murmuring crowd. Hades. "Ladies and gentlemen do not panic. I have merely decided to commence tonight's announcements with a rather appropriate visual storytelling experience."

The darkness around me shifted, and it slithered against my skin before it zoomed back towards Hades. The darkness amassed into a ball in the palm of his hand, akin to the appearance of a black hole. The candles flickered back to life, but they were weak and only provided the smallest amount of light. It was enough for us to see Hades though, and he had everyone's attention with his wicked display of power.

And when Hades talked, his shadows did his bidding. The darkness formed puppet-like shapes as he delved deep into a story, forming its visual counterpart.

"As some of you will know, the tournament began hundreds of centuries ago as a means of ensuring not one person held power over the Underworld and its cities for too long." The corners of Hades' lips twitched as he soaked in his enraptured crowd. One glance around the room told me he had everyone in his thrall. I also froze when I saw that Alek had managed to fight his way through the room and was now standing a few metres from me.

Hades continued, "Legend states that the original ruler of the Underworld, the Black Queen, was forced out from her role." The shadows took the form of a woman, standing by his side. "She began to lose her powers and immortality as wild weathers wrecked her lands. As the years grew on, the Black Queen refused to resign as Queen of the Underworld, despite the pleas of her people. Hundreds of thousands of lives were sacrificed by her own selfish desires." The shadows danced around Hades. Then, emphasising the story, a cacophony of screams filtered through the darkness. I flinched.

Hades swallowed thickly as silence once again blanketed the room.

"The Underworld took its revenge in the form of the Three Sisters of Fate, who were empowered to absorb the Black Queen's immortality and gift it to another more deserving. When the Sisters reached into the Black Queen and seized her most prized possession, the Black Queen shrivelled up and died of old age. Her immortality was passed onto the next ruler, who seized control over the following centuries." He paused. "As most of you are aware, the Sisters' giving and taking of immortality is how each city passes on its rulership through its lineage," he said, undoubtedly for my own benefit.

"Our royal predecessors were selected based on survival of the fittest. Every demigod and demigoddess were keen to rule the Underworld and took it upon themselves over the coming centuries to eliminate any competition to the throne. This then formed the most barbaric and savage part of our history. Demigods and demigoddesses dedicated their lives to hunting down their like kind." The shadows twisted until they depicted a person stabbing another. The base of my spine tingled. "When the time came for the Underworld to select its next ruler, it was forced to select from the one demigod or demigoddess left standing, being the only eligible person for rulership.

"As a result of this reckless slaughter, the cities became divided. There was a significant death toll, and there was no one to adopt the rulership of each city of Greed, Sloth, Lust, Gluttony, Wrath, Envy and Pride. The Underworld did not appreciate the behaviour of our forefathers and worsened the weather until the demigods and demigoddesses were threatened into submission."

"It took thousands of years for our kind to replenish our numbers and properly govern the relationships between cities. In part, this is thanks to the Three Sisters of Fate who ensured thee tournament became much more regulated." The shadows formed three, solitary figures, hovering in mid-air.

With a flick of his wrist, Hades summoned the shadows back to him. Full light returned to the room, and my anxiety lessened. Murmurs broke out throughout the crowd.

I leaned in closer to Plutus. "Who are the Three Sisters of Fate?" I whispered.

He kept his gaze on Hades as he answered my question. "They're the goddesses of destiny and revered amongst us all. They are responsible for making major decisions for all mortals and gods–including when someone is to be born, saved, or put to death. They determine the lifespan of everyone, including you and I, and select the manner in which we die."

I sucked in a breath.

He glanced at me. "I bet you're rethinking your stance on soulmates now."

"Perhaps I will if I actually see the Three Sisters of Fate in person," I muttered back. "For all I know, they're an old wives' tale."

"I haven't seen them myself. The Sisters do the Underworld's bidding and so have a lot of work to be done," he paused and frowned. "Though, I have heard rumours they may make an appearance in this tournament."

"Do they live nearby?"

"I believe so. From my understanding, Hades likes to keep them close."

Raising his voice to be heard Hades said, "The Three Sisters, while not present, are omnipresent and all-knowing. They have asked me to implore you to act civilly throughout the tournament, for the sake of the Underworld. No one will act unkindly without experiencing their wrath." His dark, menacing gaze roamed through the crowd, promising harm for those who dared to disobey him.

Someone cleared their throat softly nearby, only loud enough for me to catch. Himeros stood casually beside me, one hand in the pockets of his dress pants, the image of relaxation despite the threatening atmosphere.

Still looking towards Hades, he murmured jokingly under his breath, "I wonder if the all-knowing Sisters are all-knowing about your lust-filled escapade last night."

A tingle formed in my stomach.

Hades raised his voice even louder, "I now speak directly to the demigods and demigoddesses: You are all aware of the stakes of this tournament, and of the fact that there will be three trials which you must pass to be eligible for the throne. You will therefore want to listen closely when I say the Sisters have informed me that your first trial will take place in one week's time."

Murmurs broke out in the crowd, but Hades reigned everyone back into silence.

"They wanted me to inform you that the first test will occur exactly one week from today and will be predicated on whether you can face and defeat some of your greatest fears." Hades' eyes swept over the room and briefly made contact with mine. He smirked as the colour left my face. The pit in my stomach was growing and threatening to swallow me whole.

Hades must have revelled from the tension in the room because his mouth widened into an infuriating grin. "Each demigod and demigoddess will be given a half an hour time slot to meet with the Sisters and complete the first trial," he announced. "I'll be in contact with each of you in due course to provide you with the specifics of your trial times. Oh, and I will save you all the trouble by saying there is no way in which you can prepare for this trial. You are either ready to face your fears, or you are not worthy of the Crown."

With a dangerous glint in his eye, Hades raised a glass of champagne. "I wish you the best of luck."