Invictus

Chapter 26

LYANNA

"Okay, so Tartarus is like the basement of Hades and since you've searched Elysium that means we have to go through the left. Past the dog and past Rhadamanthus, somehow we go past the Furies and jump down into Tartarus, we find Ms. Watts...how do we get back?"

"I'll give you my pearls" she said.

"What of Aikos? " April asked, adjusting her sword in its sheath.

"Good question" I say.

"Today! People" Ares says " these are tips: Your suits are fireproof,Flame, you can control the lava. Earthquake,you can move rocks and You can make yourselves invisible, Snowflake "

"Okay" Persephone said, putting her hand in her pocket and withdrew a black shiny ball. "Liu take it."

As soon as Liu touched the pearl, we were alone. In Had es.

DENISE

It is dark and smoky. I almost cough but Liu spreads out her arms and we are enveloped in fresh air. We are by the shores of a river I can only assume to be The Styx,alongside a host of souls. The boat man, Charon was slowly paddling the thin boat across the dark waters. A single lamp lit his way and  a  scruffy looking crow perched above it.

A couple of souls slowly passed us and I shuddered. Lyanna didn't notice, she  turned instead and looked past me, down the shoreline.

"He's kinda distracted, so we walk a bit down the shoreline and then we see how we can get across to the other bank"

"Water or air? " April asked.

"Water" Lyanna said looking at me " Liu is busy".

I nodded tersely, unsure of myself.

I've lifted myself off before but...

"The pearl" Lyanna said, hand outstretched. Liu placed it in her palm and it flattened. She placed in the bodice of her suit.

April led us warily,  I walked behind her while Liu gave air from the center and Lyanna covered us. Once we got far enough, I went to the waters edge and knelt. I closed my eyes and placed my palm above the black liquid. It swirled away from my hand then swirled back as I opened my eyes.

APRIL

I gasped as Denise turned back to face us. Her eyes were as black as the water. Her arms stretched over the water, palms to the dark sky and the water moved about until it was raised in a platform-like structure.

"Let's go" she turned back to the water, stepping on the water platform then off it. She floated above the dark liquid, a small ledge dividing her from the river.  I got on the platform and helped Liu on. Lyanna gave the area a searching look before she jumped on it softly.

"I can't see the other shore " I say " should I light up?"

"No" Liu said "we can't risk detection this early."

Lyanna looked about us, her forehead wrinkled in tension  " Funny how I'm not even close to dying yet here I am prowling the wastelands of the dead."

The beginnings of a smile tugged at the edge of my lips and I turned to face her. " Funny how I didn't recognize anyone"

She looked at me, a mix of confusion and concern on her face. "Anyone you know die recently? "

I shook my head, my hand tightening over the hilt of my sword.

"I'm just wondering how it's gonna be when all this is over" Liu said. " will we still be friends? I mean, Denise barely knew me a couple of weeks ago."

"It won't be the same that's for sure." Lyanna said, her back to me again.

"Shore " Denise said, making us turn. I noticed the ripples beneath us were becoming wider and more disturbed.

We crash landed on the dark sand, the water receding and Denise's eyes returning to their natural color.

"What now?" She asked.
Lyanna looked up and down the cursed shore. Nothing in sight except souls walking in our direction. A big door which led to a room that was dimly lit sat at the edge of the little shoreline and a huge dog baring its teeth with all its heads. A faint hissing filled the atmosphere.

Liu pointed, "That's where we're going."

"Okay. Let's test your invisibility" Denise said.

Liu straightened and closed her eyes. She kept one arm stretched out in front of her and her brow knit in concentration.

"She's fading" Denise gasped, making Lyanna and I whip our heads back. Sure enough, she was fading. She had one full arm and an elbow.

"Could you speed it up a bit?" Lyanna asked. Liu swallowed and frowned, her bangs covering her eyes, her other arm ending with a fist which vanished along with the rest of her body.

There was nothing in front of us.

"Guys?" The disembodied voice whispered.