Between Worlds (TEMP HOLD)

Fourteen: Help Has Arrived

        The morning came much too quickly, and Xavier kisses me awake, a sad look in his eyes that told me it was time to go. His knife was gone from the table, and he was now dressed again in his black work suit, gloves on his hands, not a dark brown hair out of place. There was a watch around his wrist already, and fear clouds over every thought. I feel tears in my eyes, and I push them back, not wanting to cry in front of him, not wanting to make our situation even worse.

           My clothes are already laid out at the edge of the bed. They are entirely black, but there was no watch waiting for me, yet. But I dressed in the clothes, slip my boots on, and put the knife and Knox's card in my back pocket.

          Poseidon is waiting for us outside the door, and he's nursing a headache. He guides us past the women waiting to be kissed, guides us both in the direction of Hera's office. Xavier holds my hand, and we will face this and whatever else that comes our way. There is fear in my husband's eyes, a fear that I will never forget. We are guided silently past Hera's office, and brought to another door at the end of the corridor.

           Poseidon unlocks the door, and allows us in first.

            "Mrs Reyes, you'll have a few minutes to say your goodbyes. Then, you must come up to the ledge with the rest of us and watch. If you follow or attempt to follow Mr Reyes, your punishment will be Tartarus for fleeing your duty. Do we have an understanding?"

            Xavier looks like he wants to say something. But he doesn't. I recover quickly. I don't let my tears spill over, yet. I hold myself together and nod. "Yes, sir."

         We have walked into a beautiful old room. The carpet is red and gold, and there are stairs that lead to a second floor. There's a balcony, and all four walls are surrounded with expensive mahogany wood and books. There were two leather couches, and a television built into the bookshelf. On the stairs, Xander waited for us; Ares, and Hera walk in after us. But Poseidon's wife is not I'm attendance this morning. She was still organizing the ladies upstairs.

           "Are you sure you want to refuse my offer? There's no guarantee of work waiting for you in the underworld." Ares narrows his eyes at Xavier. "Castiel will no longer tolerate your disobedience. Punishments will be longer and harsher for anyone who disobey's direct orders. Your fate in the underworld is unknown. You could - "

          Xavier shakes his head. "I can't. The underworld is my home, and I've been away for far too long. I refuse to accept our deal knowing what Ariel's fate would have been."

            "I suppose this is goodbye, then. Goodluck." Ares moves up the stairwell, nodding at Xander as he goes.

           Hera embraces both boys. "Give this letter to my husband. It will keep the two of you safe." Hera produces a thick envelop from the pocket of her beige coat.

          "Thank you very much." Xavier says. "I never knew the gods would be so kind to me. Thank you for everything that you've done. For me. For us."

       She looks at me sadly, "I'll be waiting for you on the balcony, dear." Then, she hugs Xavier once more. "It's been a pleasure . . . Not all gods will show you both mercy. Give Zeus my love." She joins Ares on two balcony, and so does Poseidon.

           "Why does this feel like goodbye?" Xavier asks, his hands touching my face. His gloves feel softer than his hands, and it makes me sad that he's returned to his uniform, returned to his old life. He could have done something - anything - to change who is he. If he wanted to. But he belongs in the Underworld, and so do I. We knew that we would eventually have to return.