ENTRAPPED ₂

120

MADELEINE AETOS WAS, AT THE MOMENT, MORE DEAD THAN SHE HAD EVER BEEN IN HER LIFE.

She knew because she was sitting in the Underworld on Persephone's throne.

Glancing to the side, she saw Hades. He was tapping his fingers on the arm of his chair, looking impatient and pale, his dark hair slicked back. He, like all the gods, was unfairly beautiful; but she felt no attraction. She liked Ethan too much to like anyone else.

"Oh, gods," Madeleine said. "Please don't tell me you're going to wed me."

Her voice had a slightly echo to it, as if she were underwater. She wondered if this was how Percy felt when he was speaking to sea creatures.

Hades turned to look at her. "Absolutely not. I have no idea why you're in my wife's throne."

"Oh," Madeleine said. "Good." She tried to move, but found she had no control over her body. Somehow, she could only move her mouth.

"So," Hades said. "Here you are again, for the third time. I don't think any of us gods know what to make of you."

Madeleine just stared at him, partially because she could not move her head. Hades seemed to take this as a sign that he should continue.

"Zeus would have me make you a god, you know," he told her.

"Really?" Madeleine asked.

Hades nodded curtly. "You could be the new Asclepius. The goddess of good health and mischief. Zeus just wants you under his thumb." Hades studied her. "But you wouldn't have that, would you?"

"I turned you down once," Madeleine said. "I will keep turning you down."

Hades shifted, as if uncomfortable. "What is so unappealing about immortality, Madeleine Aetos? You would have your father forever. You already have Apollo in the palm of your hand. Even Thanatos likes you. You could be without suffering."

Madeleine tried to shake her head, then remembered she couldn't. "I don't want to be a god, Hades. I don't want the power. And I certainly don't want to leave my friends. I would rather die with them."

Hades looked at her for a long time. "So what happens if I let you live, and you return to the world, and everyone you loved is dead and gone?"

Madeleine tried to swallow, and found that she could. "Then I'll kill myself."

"You are an odd mortal," Hades decided. "I can see why Thanatos liked you." He sighed heavily, as if shedding weight. "Madeleine Aetos, I need you to know that in the future, you and I will need to make an exchange, much like the one I made with Percy Jackson when he wanted his mother back, or like the one my son wanted to make for his sister's soul. I need a soul for a soul."

Madeleine paused. "You need my soul?"

"No," Hades said. "Not yours. You will understand later."

"I'm not giving up my friends," Madeleine told him. 

Hades almost smiled. It was grim. "I won't ask you for a friend." He flicked his hand. "Go on. I'm done with you. I miss my wife."

Black dots started to encroach upon Madeleine's vision. She tried to move and still couldn't.

"Hades, wait," she said. "Wait. Charlie Beckendorf―is he still here?"

The question seemed to surprise Hades. The smile was wiped from his face.

"Yes," he said quietly. "He is here. In Elysium."

"Will you tell him I'm sorry?" Madeleine asked. "And tell him his siblings are going to be alright."