Daughter of Death - Trip to Hell

VII ⚜️

          Jay and I were feeling very uncomfortable in the train car we were in. It was completely empty except from the two of us and the ticket collector. Jay looked more anxious than me, which is understandable, but it was as if he was caught by this lady before.
         I decided to speak first. "Okay, so, about the tickets? We lost them"
         The lady looked at me with her black eyes and gave me a devilish smile. "Oh, this is not about the tickets"
          I was half relieved. "Really? So why are we here?"
          She ignored me and turned to Jay. "Jay, it was unwise for you to run. I advise that you return it immediately"
          Jay's expression changed. "Show yourself, Tisiphone. You know I'm not fooled by that appearance"
          I was sure I should have known the name Tisiphone, but I couldn't place where I found it from. Tisiphone just grinned, and said, "As you wish"
         She shimmered, and she began to transform. Her clothes changed to a tattered leathery black dress. Her very nice fingernails changed to talons, and her hands withered to an old hag's. Her face became one of an old woman.
I figured she didn't look so pretty anymore.
         "Return the helmet, prince", she rasped. "My lord is furious"
         She looked like a grandma that wore rags and had wings. Her glowing red eyes were almost too bright for me to look at. She was suddenly holding a whip in her hand that crackled with fire and lightning.
          "Where are your sisters?", Jay demanded.
          Sisters? I would literally be crying if I found out there were more of these demon ladies.
          "They have other things to do", Tisiphone snarled. "Lord Hades has sent me here to retrieve the Helm!"
          "Really? Then how about I use it?"
          He brought out a bronze helmet from his bag.
         Hag Tisiphone's eyes widened. "Oh no, Jaden, don't you dare!"
         Jay put on the helmet. Instantly, he disappeared, and the car we were in became darker.
         There was no sign of him. Tisphone started shrieking, "Where has he gone?"
         Then she turned to me as if I just appeared. She glared at me and raised her whip.
         "Where is he?", she asked me.
         "Lady", although I soon realized that was a wrong title for her, "we both saw him disappear.  How do you expect me to know?"
         She was just about to hit me with that scary whip when someone dragged me away. It dragged me towards the wall of the car, but to my surprise, I went right through it.
         I looked back at the train. It was still moving very fast, and yet I had not been hurt. The invisible monster was still holding me.
         "Aahh!", I cried. "Help me!"
         But nobody was around to help me. I still didn't know what held me.
         "Leave me alone, you monster!"
         Whatever it was, left me alone. Jay materialized in front of me.
         "Monster?", he asked. "Do I look like a monster?"
         "Jay! What happened to you?"
         "Nothing. I'm fine". He just walked away from me.
         "Jay?"
         "WHAT?!". Jay turned back to me. He had an expression I couldn't decipher - it was between hate, anger, and resentment.
         "How did you turn invisible? Who was that lady? And how did we get here?"
         I looked down at his hands. He was holding that helmet again.
         "This...", he raised his hands a little. "is the Helm of Darkness"
         I was confused for a while. Then I understood what Jay said. "Wait, you mean Hades' Helm of Darkness? But...how?"
         "Well...I sort of stole it"
         I stared at him in disbelief. "You stole...that?". I pointed at his hands and the object in it. "When?"
         "The last time I went to the underworld", he replied, "I took it then. I guess I was desperate for him to see my mom, so...I stole the helmet"
          Jay told me he met Hades twice. He had only told me about the first time. The second must have been the last time he went to the underworld. He stole the helmet, and ran. He probably wouldn't want see his dad again because he would have to return it.
          "Did he come for it?", I asked.
          "No. That's where I didn't think it through", he said. "I forgot what he would do. He sent all sorts from the underworld to find me. All the Furies have been chasing me since then"
           "Furies?". I remembered where I had heard Tisiphone before, and that she had sisters. Two sisters. "Was Tisiphone a Fury?"
           "Yes, not the point. Hades never came. Instead, I'm the one running". He sighed. "I guess I was foolish to think he would ever come back"
           Jay walked ahead of me. He didn't seem to be walking in any particular direction.
           "Jay?  Do you know where you're going?"
           "No". He didn't look at me, instead, he continued walking. "I just know we'll have to get to the underworld, and trade the helmet for Lina's soul"
         "The underworld? I thought we were looking for my dad?"
         "Lina died, Heidi. I sensed her death. That's another thing I can do. If there's anywhere she would be, it would be the underworld"
         I stopped walking. "Jay?"
         "What now?"
         "Do you ever imagine we could be siblings?"
         He froze. I could tell he didn't like that idea. He turned around and stared at me. He looked up and down at me several times, which made me feel uncomfortable.
          "No. I mean, I don't know Heidi. But I don't think so. Your hair isn't like my dad's"
          I frowned. "Meaning?"
          "Your hair looks a little purple in the light. His is just plain black"
          "Oh come on, just a little difference in color can't tell. And besides, your hair is blond"
          "Alright. Your eyes are black"
          I raised one eyebrow. "Hades' eyes are black too"
         "Wrong. Blue"
         "Blue? Why would his eyes be blue"
         "Why wouldn't his eyes be blue? You think his eyes would be black just because he took over the underworld?"
         I did not give an answer. Mainly because my answer was yes.
        "None of these actually matter, do they?", I asked Jay. "Aren't there other ways to tell?"
        "Hm. Maybe by your godly powers"
        "Hey...I don't even know what powers I have!"
        Jay rolled his eyes. He turned around and continued walking. He walked a short distance and stopped again.
        "What do you want to say to me now?", I asked.
        "It's not that. I hear something"
        His hands went straight to his belt. He pulled out his sword out of its camouflaging sheath. It shone quite dull, and it was black. Stygian iron, Jay told me.
         "What's wrong?"
         "I don't know"
         I tried to listen to whatever was hiding in the woods. We stood very still until something came out of the shadows.
         "Clara"
         "Jay!". The creature was a girl about our age. She had brown hair and eyes, and she was wearing a red dress, black leggings and shoes. She was quite pretty. So pretty I started to feel self conscious, which was not something I was known for.
         "I've missed you so much. Too bad we aren't here for those reasons"
         I looked at Jay. Those reasons?
         "So, Clara, why are you here?", he asked.
         More girls, like, ten of them who looked similar to Clara, came out of the woods.
         "Lord Hades demands you return his helmet". She grinned. "We're only here to make sure you quickly return it"
         Jay frowned. "I thought you served Hecate"
         Clara shrugged. "Hades promised us a lot. And besides, I would do anything to see you"
         Jay's expression did not change. The girl turned to me. She glared at me like she knew I was cursing at her. She looked back at Jay.
         "Is this human your new girlfriend, Jay?"
         Huh?
         "Why would you care if she is?"
         Huh?!
         Clara's eyes widened. "So you rejected me for this...worthless nimrod?"
         What?!  "Hey!"
         "She's not worthless. Or a nimrod. She's ten times better than you"
         "Oh of course", she said. "I can see that. Which is why you chose this ugly human girl over me!"
         "Really? This conversation? Now?"
         "Shut up, human". She pointed at Jay's hands. "I'm just here for the helmet, Jaden. Give it back!"
         "No. I have plans for it. Giving it to you would be a mistake"
         Clara snarled. "Fine then. I'll just have to take it from you. I think I'll start with killing the girl"
          I stared at her fingers as they grew into claws. She bared her teeth at me. They were long and pointy - no, they weren't teeth. They were fangs. Her hair changed from brown to fiery red. And I do mean fiery.
         "Vampire!", I screamed.
         She smiled, which was rather creepy. "No, I'm not a vampire. People normally confuse me for that. I'm an empousa"
         Empousa. Bloodthirsty followers of Hecate, goddess of magic and crossroads. Lina and I had always joked that we wanted to meet one. I immediately changed my mind.
         She lunged at me. Jay stepped right in front of me and smacked her in the face. Clara slid back and stared at us in shock.
         "Don't you dare"
         She let out a loud screech. She ran towards Jay. Jay swung his sword and it went right through her stomach. Clara looked at us one last time before she exploded into dust. The rest of her vampire gang stared at us in horror probably thinking, Oh my gods, he actually killed Clara!
         "Are any of you coming?", Jay asked.
         They shrieked as they charged towards us. They seemed to be multiplying- Clara's screech must have been a cry for reinforcements. Jay held his sword, ready for battle.
          "I think you should get out that sword, Heidi"
          Jay had some sort of magic. His hands had black mist in his hands. It slowly crept up to his sword. As the creatures attacked them, he swung and slashed with his sword. He fought like he'd been in battle before.
         "Oh my gosh where is that sword when you need it?". I searched my belt, even searched my backpack.
         "Looks like I'm left with that stupid pocket knife". I sighed as I brought it out. As I flicked up its blade, it transformed into a sword - the same one I used when I fought the hellhound. No wonder my mother never gave it to me. My knife was a sword.
         "No way..."
         "Um, Heidi, when you're done admiring your weapon, could you come help me?!"
         Jay had a lot of the monsters on top of him. They were biting and yapping like angry chihuahuas.
          "Oh. Right"
          I swung my sword and vaporized like three of the monsters at once. They screamed as they exploded into dust.
          We continued to slice through them. Even though we were outnumbered, we still had the upper hand. Jay and I fought through the wave.
         Jay occasionally flung razor sharp crystals at the girls. At first I wondered were he got gems from, because they looked very valuable, but then, I saw that they rose from the ground. They pierced through the girls, killing them immediately, which was how I knew they were sharp.
         Soon enough, we had destroyed all the empousas. The diamonds and rubies Jay threw sunk into the ground.
         "How did you do that?", I asked.
         "Do what?"
         "That crystal...thingy"
         Jay grinned. "Just something we underworld kids have"
         "It's pretty cool"
         "Thanks. Anyways, we have to keep moving. It's getting dark"    
         "Yeah" 
         We continued walking deeper into the woods. We reached a few fast food spots, but Jay didn't even stop there. And I was hungry. But I had to follow him. I was starting to get tired, but Jay didn't even stop for a minute. Finally I couldn't take it anymore. As soon as sunset fell, I stopped walking and fell to my knees.
         "Heidi? What are you doing? Get up"
         "No", I whimpered. I dropped to the soft earth beneath me. "I'm tired"
         "We have to keep going. We don't know what other monsters could be out here"
         "We can just fight them. Right now, I need to sleep"
         "Come on, Di, get up". Jay tried to pull me up but to no avail. I managed to look up at his face.
         "Listen, I'm tired. Even my feet are complaining"
         "So you think I'm not tired?"
         Jay stared at me. I stared back at him. I tried to use my eyes to convince him to let us rest.
         "Di, get up"
         "No"
         "Get up"
         "No"
         "GET UP!"
         "No. Ugh..."
          Jay raised an eyebrow. He glared at me for a while before he finally sat down.
         "Fine. We'll rest here. But we'll leave first thing in the morning. Do not make me wake you"
         "Geez, fine. You're acting like my mom now"
         He scoffed, "I'm not your mom. Ew"
         I laughed at him. Jay looked really disgusted. I guess he was feeling a little embarrassed too, so he said,
         "Ok, go to sleep. I'll take first watch"
         "You sure you don't want me to?"
         "You're literally the one who pestered me all because you were tired. Please, go to sleep". Jay zipped open his backpack and tossed me a sleeping bag.
         "Use that"
         "Thank you"
         As I wriggled myself into the bag, I glanced at Jay. He just sat on the ground, staring at the stars. Honestly, I was extremely glad he came with me. He was the one who helped me find out what I was (Even though I didn't believe him entirely), and helped me stay alive several times. I immediately wished Lina was still rescuable so we didn't have to go through all this for nothing.
         I muttered a silent prayer as I closed my eyes.
                          🔸️🔸️🔸️
         I was back. Back in the fields with no sky or ground. I started to shout my friend's name. I wasn't leaving without an explanation this time.
         "Lina!", I called.
         The hooded figure from the last dream appeared to me again. She lifted her head up, and again I saw her face.
         "Heidi?"
         "Lina! Oh, thank goodness you're still here!"
         Her ghastly face looked at me in confusion.
         "No, no I don't mean it like that, I mean you're still here so I can get you out"
         "Speaking of here, where am I again?"
         "I'm...not so sure. Jay thinks you're in the underworld, so we're heading there right now"
         "Jay...wait, is Jay with you?"
         "Um...", I wasn't sure whether I could blush in a dream, but I was sure I just did. "Yes, he is. He joined me on the way"
         "What about Eni?"
         "No, she's not with us. We met in a train, but then we separated again"
         Lina made a sound that was probably a sigh.
         "Oh", Lina said. "You mentioned the underworld. You mean..."
         "Erebos. The underworld of the Greek myths. Yeah, I'm surprised too. Jay and I are heading there to get you"
         She didn't seem at all surprised. It was as if she had already suspected where she was and I had just told her the truth.
         "The underworld...", she repeated. "If I'm really in the underworld, then... Hades is real?"
         I nodded.
         "If I remember correctly, he wouldn't allow any souls to leave. Which means it would be impossible to get me"
         "It's not impossible!", I retorted. "We're going to find you. We'll - I'll make this right. It's my fault all this happened anyway"
         "It's not your fault, Heidi.I don't know what exactly happened, but I know it wasn't your fault"
         I stared at her glumly. If only she knew...
         "It is my fault. I shouldn't have been so mad. I caused you to be here, and now..."
         Everywhere started to rumble. I had no idea what was going on.
         "You need to go. It's happening again"
         "What's going on? What's happening?"
         "Just go!"
         Lina pushed me. As I fell, I saw everywhere become brighter and clearer. I was awake. I saw Jay crouched beside me.
         "Oh, so I didn't need to wake you"
         "Why did you need to wake me?"
         "Two reasons", he replied. "One, you were screaming in your sleep"
         "Oh"
         "Yeah. Secondly, it's time to go"
         I looked up to the sky. It was dawn. I really wondered why Jay loved to get me up early. Then again, I remembered how hard it was to even convince him to let us rest here, so I decided to go with it.
         We were just about to pack up our stuff when we heard something splash in the water near us. We were so tired and besides, it was dark last night that we didn't even notice there was a creek.
         Something was obviously moving in the water. Jay got out his sword, and I got out my pocket knife, though I wasn't sure whether it would still transform into that very pretty, useful sword. The thing came out of the water and gave us both a splash.
         "Aahh! You guys are demigods! What are you two doing here?"
         It was a little girl, about ten or eleven years of age. She had long shimmering blue hair that matched the water behind her. She wore a plaid sleeveless dress, and her green eyes stared at us  in horror. Though she came out of the water, she was surprisingly dry.
        "How exactly do you know what we are?"
        "I've come across a few. But definitely not here. What are you doing here?"
        "We're on a rescue mission", Jay told her. "Are you supposed to be a water nymph?"
        "Yes, or you could say I'm a naiad. I'm Flo"
        "Oh". I was glad she wasn't so scared of us. "I'm Heidi, and this is my friend Jay"
         "Hi"
         "Nice to meet you guys!". I was also quite glad she wasn't as scary as Acacia.
         "Um, okay", said Flo. " Are you guys lost?"
         "No. We're heading somewhere. Georgia"
         "Oh. Then you'd probably need my help"
         Jay frowned. "We never said we needed your-"
         I kicked him in the shin.
         "OW! Yeah, yeah, we do"
         "Ooh, perfect. Follow me!"
         Flo jumped into the water. She gestured for us to follow her and then she swam away. Jay and I were having quite a hard time running after her. She finally stopped swimming as she reached the bank of a river. It looked too big to be called a river.
         "Welcome. This river will probably lead to where you're going"
         We stared at her in silence.
         "What are you guys waiting for? Jump in!"
         Jay and I looked at each other, and back at Flo.
         "Can't you guys swim?"
         "Yes", I answered. Jay looked like he wanted to speak, but kept shut. "But we can't breathe underwater for that long"
         "Oh". She sighed in disappointment. "I've always been used to being able to breathe in water. But, since you guys can't, we'll have to use this!"
         An enormous leaf glided towards us. It was shaped like a boat, and it was big enough to take the three of us.
         "Cool!", I exclaimed. "But won't it get stuck somewhere?"
         "No. The water is clean. It won't cause any problems"
         "Wow". I looked at the water. "It is pretty clear"
         "We naiads try to keep it that way. Especially as it's a personal route"
         "Personal route?"
         "Well, not really. It's safe though, hop in!"
        Flo got into the leaf-boat, and then I did. Jay was still standing on ground. He just stared at the water, his face as pale as paper.
         "Jay!", I called. "Get in!"
         "I...I'm...I can't get in"
         "Jay, you have to. This is probably the fastest way to Georgia"
         "I know, but..."
         "But what?!"
         "Let me guess", Flo said. "You're scared of water"
         Flo giggled. She turned her face away so we couldn't see her laughing.
         "No I'm not!", Jay snapped. "I-I just don't think this is practical"
       "It's safe, Jay. Flo says it is"
       "Yes", she said, still laughing. "Very safe"
       "Alright, fine. I'll get in"
       "Yay! Welcome aboard, demigods!"