One with the Gods

Chapter Eleven: Baby of Cerberus

Chapter eleven:

Baby of Cerberus

"What did it want with us?" Aeros asked looking at the dead fury. "Whatever it wanted it had a mean to kill us." Andromeda answered.

"That's for sure."

"Do you know anything about furies Aeros?"

"They are the guardians of Tartarus."

"Do you know if any go rogue and escape?"

"It happens on rare occasions. When one of the furies goes crazy it can't handle the voices of Tartarus."

"We might have witnessed a rogue fury."



Andromeda knelt by it and looked at it. Its eyes had turned the color of ash and its mouth was dry of saliva. A question nagged at the back of her head. "What if Hades sent it?" She questioned aloud. Aeros shrugged, "It could be. They cater to all of Hades need." Andromeda still puzzled over the thought as they set up camp. Hercules returned as the sunset. The rams had survived the horrific endure and were very happy to trot around the ledge. Andromeda sat by a fire Aeros made by gathering sticks on the main ground below. The fury body now lay below them on the ground to be discovered by mortals. She wrapped herself in a blanket. One of the rams curled up under the blanket and fell asleep. "What if Hades knew that the next challenge was in the underworld? And the fury was sent to stop us." She said breaking the silence. "It could be possible but there is one way to find out." Aeros said. He stared at the saddle bags that sat on the ground. Andromeda nodded and Aeros reached for the bag.

He rummaged through the bag and pulled the golden scroll out. He sat next to Andromeda and opened the scroll flat on the ground. The words appear on the page.

Capture the puppy whose father is Cerberus

"I didn't know Cerberus was a father." Andromeda exclaimed. "Neither did I know. I always thought he was alone and never had a family. I guess I was wrong. No wonder he is so protective." Aeros exclaimed. "We better get to the underworld the first thing in the morning." Andromeda said. Aeros went to the other side of the fire and lay down on a mat. Andromeda watched as he covered his muscled body with his wool blanket. Andromeda lay down and had her back face the fire. Andromeda shook the warmth in her cheeks away.

The ram slid from the bottom of the blanket and beside her chest. It nuzzled close to her keeping warm. She could feel it breathe in and out slowly. She closed her eyes and fell into a peaceful dream. She dreamed of her and Aeros. They were on Mount Olympus hand in hand. He wore a red tunic and a blue and white silk dress for her. The people cheered as they walked down the steps of the meeting pavilion. She looked at him and they shared a sweet kiss. She then woke. She sat up and saw the first gleams of light. Aeros still slept and his ram had settled on his chest. The ram slept soundly as Aeros chest went up and down.

She got up and found the other ram looking at the sun at the edge of the cliff. She laughed and picked him up and set him in the saddlebag. She placed the saddle and the bags on Hercules who was awake. Everything was packed including Aeros things. She went over to him and gently kicked his side. He awoke and looked up at Andromeda. He smiled brightly and got up. "How long have you been awake?" He asked. "Long enough to pack all of our belongings." She answered. She mounted Hercules as Aeros placed his ram and blanket in his pack.

He mounted just as Andromeda flew off to the entrance of the underworld.





Castolla watched as Andromeda killed the fury. "Dian everything we throw at her she defeats how are we going to get her!" She yelled angrily. "Well if you weren't so busy watching and waiting then we would have them by now." Dian snapped back. Castolla groaned in frustration and watched Andromeda and Aeros fix camp. "What makes me curious is I didn't plant the fury. Did you?" Dian asked. Castolla shook her head, "Only hades has control of furies." As the day turned to night they carefully watched them go to sleep. "When they leave the underworld we will catch them." Castolla said. Dian nodded and watched Aeros and Andromeda.





They had made it to the entrance of the underworld but they needed passage from Charon across the river. They waited on the bank. Then a dark shadow appeared gliding across the water. "There he is. Do you have the drachmas'?" Andromeda asked. Aeros nodded and showed two gold drachmas to her in his palm. She picked one up and held it tight in her hand. Charon docked on the sandy beach and hopped out over the bow of the little boat. "We meet again." He said. It voice was raspy. He held out his palm. They each set the drachmas in his hand. Charon folded his long skeletal like fingers around the golden coins. He let the coins drop into his cloak pocket. "Climb aboard." He said. They held the hilts of their swords and climbed aboard. They sat close together away from the sides. Andromeda noticed scratch marks on the inside on the boat. Aeros noticed her gaze. "Souls that try to escape from the river. They grab on and dig their nails into the wood and try to escape." He whispered. Andromeda nodded and stared ahead. Up ahead was a dark cave.

The light disappeared as they entered the cave. They only light that shown was a little green lamp that hung from a pole on the stern of the little boat. The boat was black as charcoal and looked as fragile as a burned down tree. Suddenly a loud moaning sounded. Andromeda knew what it was. Souls. "Is this what Hades hears every day?" She asked. "Everyone hears it down here except for the people in Elysium. They hear nothing but music and laughter." Aeros whispered. Suddenly the water beneath the boat began to glow a pale green. Andromeda peaked over the side. She saw a man's face. Then the man's face shot up and screamed. She let a yelp out and hid her face in Aeros' chest. "This is a god's forsaken place." She said. The truth was Andromeda had always feared the Underworld. For years she had bad dreams of Hades dragging her down to the Underworld and locking her away in Tartarus.

She relaxed and looked ahead. The boat came to a stop on a black sandy bank. Black obsidian gates lay ahead of them. Standing in front of them was a giant three headed dog Cerberus. "Cerberus may be a blood thirsty dog but he is still a dog." Aeros said. Their sandals hit the sand and Cerberus began to growl. The growl made Andromeda's sword vibrate. Suddenly under all the growling Andromeda could hear a faint cry of a puppy. She looked off to the side of were Cerberus stood. She saw a red sheet. Something black on it lay. Andromeda pointed. Aeros followed her finger and nodded when he saw the puppy.

"I will distract him you get the puppy." She said. Charon watched as Aeros slowly walked to the right of Cerberus. As Andromeda came closer the dog growled louder. She tried to remember what dogs liked. Sticks, I have none. Bones don't have any to spare. She thought. She looked over her shoulder at Charon. He held the pole in his hand and a blank expression on his face. He stared at Cerberus. She noticed that Cerberus would take a loving glance at Charon every now and then. She stared at Charon then Cerberus, and then back at Charon. It clicked. Charon knows how to get the puppy. She ran back to the little boat. Aeros saw her move and ran after her. "What's wrong?" He asked. "Charon knows how to get the puppy, don't you?" She asked.

"Oh I don't, he does." He said. He jerked his head towards the gates. They shot their heads towards the gate and saw a man in a black tunic holding a helmet under his arm standing next to Cerberus. His black curly hair tied back in a braid. Cerberus was lying down and all three of his heads stared at Hades. "I see my brother has sent you on a quest." He said. Charon was kneeling, but Aeros and Andromeda didn't move. Andromeda felt a shiver of fear down her spine. She knew who stood before her the god of the dead, but he was also her uncle.

"Uncle" She said. "There is my little niece. I have watched you grow up for fourteen years. I dare not harm you for my brother's wrath, but I know about your nightmares." He said. Aeros looked at her confusing. "She has had nightmares about me for years." Hades said answering Aeros puzzling look. "No more about this nonsense we have come here for Cerberus' pup." Aeros demanded. "Ah you are a son of Ares I see. Ares always had a demanding presence." Hades said. Aeros face went red with embarrassment. "Uncle we need your pup. We will return it as soon as we are done." Andromeda said.



"Come on Hades she is your niece. I am sure it will not take long." Said a blonde haired woman. Hades took her hand in his and kissed her cheek. It was Andromeda's aunt, Persephone. "Hello Aunt Persephone." She said. Persephone did a single nod and watched Aeros and Andromeda. "I will give you Titan until you complete your tasks." Hades said giving in. "One more question. Did you send that fury after us?" She asked. "I don't have the slightest idea. All my furies are in Tartarus." Hades answered. She looked at Aeros and they thought the same question. Who did send it?