SON OF HADES: The Army of Hypnos

3. DIRE DELUSION

It was a no-brainer. Queen and I joined Bryce to stand down.

My scepter could give a nastier death than their guns ever could. It even had the power to set whoever it stabbed on fire. But something about their guns and scowling faces made me think I wouldn't come out of this alive if I didn't cooperate.

"Wise choice," the man with the skull-headed cane remarked before pointing at my scepter. "Now, pass that artifact you've got there and get in the car."

Rage boiled inside me. I could toss the scepter alright--with its points facing this guy's chest.

Considering that we were under duress, I didn't carry on with that plan. Instead, I silently wished Queen brought her glimmering crossbow which was stowed away at my family mansion. A weapon that could generate multiple bolts of pure light would come in handy right about now.

"Damn," Queen cursed under her breath. "If only I had my crossbow."

The brooding man barked. "Did I speak French? Toss the artifact!"

Come on father, I mentally prayed. If there's a better time to show you have my back, it's now.

Nothing. Just a spike of impatience in 'Mr. Grey and black hair.' His lips parted to issue a command which was cut short by my weapon flying vertically through the air.

The henchman closest to me caught it and a smirk tugged on their boss's lips.

"Now, into the car."

As we ducked inside, the henchman slammed the door shut. It was just us and a driver wearing some sort of gas mask.

"Night, night, kids." He whipped around, spraying the content of a black unlabelled spray can in front of our faces. I frantically reached for the door but to my dismay, it was locked.

Nothing sucked like unexpected misfortune. My vision became blurry, my mind foggy. Bryce and Queen were already knocked out. I clenched my fist, intending to swing at the driver but darkness washed over me.

***
"Ugh..." I stirred awake in a dimly lit room. Flaming torches on the walls barely did much to dispel the darkness.

Beside me on the oxblood sofa were Bryce and Queen, still unconscious.

"Guys," I shook Queen's shoulder. "Guys, wake up."

"You're awake already." A voice commented from across me. Shifting my gaze, I saw a man rise from the opposite sofa. Low-cut hairstyle,  scruffy beard, clad in a crimson cloak. "Master!" He faced an arching doorway by the corner. "They're up!"

My hands and legs are free. Free to run, fight, or wield my....

With a squeeze of my fist,  realization dawned on me. I surrendered my greatest weapon.

"Ahh..."  A raspy voice came from the darkness beyond the doorway. The 'master' emerged. He was middle-aged,  with grey streaks mingled in his side-parted black hair. Five other men came in after him, all clad in red robes. The leading one carried a tray with two black ceramic cups.

The man who reported my awakening bowed and took a new position behind the couch.

"Fascinating," their leader eased into the couch taking up as much space as he possibly could.  "The chemical that you inhaled was potent enough to knock an average person out for hours." He frowned. "Yet here you are, awake after barely half an hour. Perhaps you too have tasted of divinity."

Pissed, confused,  restless, these were but a few words that encapsulated how I was feeling. "What's your deal with us? Who are you?"

He snapped his fingers and the henchman with the teacups stepped forward. He held the cups under the noses of Queen and Bryce. Instantly,  their eyes snapped open, and their faces contorted in disgust.