Hades' Huntress

Chapter 23 - "Your hair is down."

MAKARIA

WE STAYED IN GLORIA'S ROOM for one hour. We told her everything that had happened, from Melinoe busting us to Chimera's infatuation with Ares, which made Gloria die laughing.

She was too stunned and couldn't believe that Chimera; a true evil, had gone soft on Ares.

Ares insisted that she liked him for being a handsome man, but we all knew why she was glued to him like that.

"Don't tell anyone what you did, not even your friends. No one can be trusted." Gloria warned us.

After that, we went on our separate ways. Ares gave me the scarf, and I kept it hidden in my room. Now I needed to find a witch, most probably Helen, to help me do a location spell.

Just to refresh your memory, Ares's half-werewolf, half-angel, Alexander's a werewolf, Penelope's a fairy, Maia's a mermaid, George's a vampire, Phoebe's an angel, and finally the drama queen, who you probably never forgot, was Hector, the centaur.

That's the friend group who most likely hated me.

The next day, I took the scarf and the compass with me before leaving my room. I didn't trust in keeping them unsupervised anymore, especially when I couldn't trust anyone.

The hallways were packed as exams were by the corner. I didn't understand what they were studying for when none of them could leave this place.

I spot Ares standing with Alexander and a bunch of guys that I had never seen before, probably from their pack. I could sense some of their wolves a mile away.

As I walked closer, Ares and Alexander turned their heads toward me. Ares' eyes shifted from my face yo my body, examining what I am wearing as his eyes lingered for a few seconds.

I was wearing a black skirt and a black tank top with high-knee boots.

All black of course.

Before I reach them, Ares walked toward me, leaving his friends.

I was confused at what he did, but let it go.

"Hey, any news?" I asked as soon as he stood in front of me.

"Your hair is down." Was his answer.

"Yeah, so?" I raised my brow.

What is wrong with him?

"Nothing—no news yet. I haven't spoken to Helen."

"What are you waiting for?" I hissed.

"Why don't you ask her?!" He got angry.

He had a death wish.

"You know she doesn't like me that much."

He sighed before looking around the hallway. "Fine, I'll speak to her after the exam."

He looked handsome.

I mean nice.

He wore a white shirt with black pants. His hair was sleeked back neatly.

We were kind of matching.

"Okay." I shrugged. "I wanted her in my room in three hours, Ares."

"Sure, any more orders, princess?"

I rolled my eyes as a smile stretched on my lips, but I scowled as soon as I noticed.

"Who knew you could smile..."

"Shut up, Ares."

After that, everyone went to their classes to take the exam. Not bothering with my grades, I skipped the exam and waited in Gloria's room.

Surprisingly, Zeus was there.

"Why aren't you in your class, Makaria?" Gloria asked.

I glared at Zeus before answering her. "Why should I? I am not even a real student."

"And who said that?" She raised her eyebrow like a mother would scolding her child.

"Hades and Zeus. I am a soldier on a quest, aren't I, uncle?"

He huffed and didn't answer me.

Good, I was getting on his nerves.

Gloria didn't further comment.

I noticed the trident with Zeus and somehow, I was relived that he didn't give it to Hades. I knew Hades was playing a game like he always did and for the first time, I couldn't let him win.

Yes, I was loyal to him, but to a certain extent. The trident was special to me because it was the first thing Zeus taught me about and it meant so much to both of us.

It was the first item I had held.

"Makaria!" Zeus' voice echoed in the room.

"I have been calling you for a while now. Surely, you heard."

"What do you want?"

"That is no way to speak to me, child!" He yelled at me.

"I am no one's child." I scowled at him.

He glared at me before letting it slide. "Why did you stop me from giving the trident away now?"

"You're too stupid for a god." I spat without realizing.

Widening my eyes, I quickly added, "What I meant to say was that I sense a hypocrisy from Hades, and you know how much this handheld means to me."

"What are you saying?"

I sighed. He is really stupid.

"What I am saying is that Theseus wasn't the one killing these students from the beginning. There's someone else. He was only here to look for my mother."

"What?! Why would your mother even be here."

"I am not sure, but she left me a couple of black roses. I know it's her, but I can't find her without a locater spell. Hence, my trip to the underworld to retrieve one of her items."

"That's why you dragged that boy with you?" He asked.

"Ares, yes."

"I am surprised he agreed to come in the first place—Ares is a very stubborn man." Gloria commented.

"I am sure Makaria convinced him in her way." Zeus replied, knowing well how persuasive I could be.

"Don't you have things to do in Olympus? What are you doing here?" I said, getting tired to see him everywhere.

"Believe it or not, I care about my people."

I snorted. "Yeah, care about your family first at least."

With that, I turned around and left, just in time as the bell rang.