Hades' Knight

Plotting deception

Hades palace

Throne room

1 week later

Xavier’s P.O.V

As the golden glow faded from my eyes, I stepped into Hades Throne Room to see him staring into a pit of fire. The flickering red of the fire licked at Hades face, but he did not seem to mind. His shadow covered the whole room and as I stepped into it, I could almost feel the flames burning their way into my heart. Hades turned to me with a look of anxiety spread across his face. I was about to open my mouth to protest once again against the teleportation, but Hades seemed to sense it and gave me a rock-hard stare. I decided it better to stand there and wait for him to speak first. When he spoke, it seemed as though the whole palace was being shaken by a violent earthquake.

“I have learnt that Zeus’s daughter is searching for you. I sense she has been sent by Zeus, but I fear her objective is much more…personal.” Hades words stuck to my skin like a coating of glue. Before I could reply, Hades stalked towards me and when he finally reached me, he bent down so his eyes bore deep into mine. When he opened his mouth, a sour stench erupted like a volcano that had been dormant for years. “She is going to try and turn you. She will take you to Zeus. I must know I have your full support. Your loyalty to me is one that if broken, will create unimaginable consequences.”

I gazed into Hades eyes and could tell he was deadly serious. I nodded in agreement and replied “Hades, you have granted me powers no mortal man could dream off. I am indebted to you.”

My words seemed to have reinforced Hades belief in me. His smile that was now on his face was cracked by his rotting teeth. “Good,” he whispered. He walked back to the pit of fire in the centre of the room and gestured for me to come and stand with him. When I reached him he grabbed my right hand and held it in his. His palm was rough and jagged compared to the still ‘human-like’ softness of mine. He smiled as he gently rubbed it between his two massive hands that were more like a lion’s paw.

“When she tries to convert you, follow her. Go to Olympus with her. Do what you must, but remember, when you get the chance, you must and you will kill Zeus!” His voice cracked like the pit of fire itself.

“I understand. When I get the perfect opportunity, you shall have one less brother to contend with.”

Hades laughed at my response. His cold, cruel laugh bounced off the walls and seemed to burst my ear drums. “Good my general. You will serve me well.”

In a split second, I saw Hades pull out a knife with one of his hands but before I could react, he had cut a large slice through my palm. “Don’t struggle. Let things take its course.” Hades said calmly as he saw the worried look across my face. I took a few breaths and watched Hades with a mix of fascination and nervousness. He seemed to be mesmerised by the blood that was quickly dripping off my hand. The deathly silence in the room forced me to think about the pain in my hand – which had grown from a dull throb to a shrill scream. As I was about to question him further, he thrust my hand into the pit of fire. I cried out in pain as the fire lapped at my hand, but realised that the ‘pain’ I was feeling was all in my imagination. As the fire kissed away at my hand, I felt a soothing sensation spread from my hand, up my arm until it had covered my whole body. The feeling lasted for a good minute until Hades released my hand from the fire and gave control of it back to me. When I looked at my palm, the scar where Hades had cut me a moment ago was gone. In fact, there was no scarring, no burning, not even a slight lump out of place. “What did you just do?” I asked in admiration. When I got my answer, my admiration quickly turned to a feeling of regret.

“It’s what you mortals call a ‘blood promise’. Except with my own little twist. You swore to me that you will kill Zeus when you get the chance, now you will with out any hesitation. For if you fail to do so, you will discover a very painful experience consume your life.” Hades growled at me as he returned to his throne that was consumed in the shadows. I was almost heart-broken by Hades answer. It was almost like he didn’t trust me completely. I could understand his anxiety, but to go to the extent he did? My thoughts were running wild throughout my head, but I managed to calm them down to request one more thing.

“Hades? May I have possession of one more sword. I fight better with two instead of one.” He waved off my request saying, “All will be provided when you require it.”

As I turned to walk out of his throne room, the glow consumed me again and I was teleported to the planning room, where I was to decide the meeting place between Zeus’s daughter and myself.