Worlds Beyond: Shattered (ON HOLD)

Chapter Twelve

"The Underworld?"

"Yup. Well, we ain't there yet. That's why I'm here. I am Cerberus, guardian of the gates of the horrible and scary realm of Hades, where souls suffer in agonizing pain, misery and woe for the rest of eternity," Cerberus drawled in a low voice, trying to sound fearsome as he spoke of the realm of Hades, but by the way he wiggled his fingers at us it was anything but. He gave us a cheeky smile as he lowered his hands when he noticed we were looking at him with arched brows.

"It's not really that bad. Maybe. Not all of it. Anyways, I'm here to take you through the woods and into the portal that will take us to home, sweet home."

"Are you saying the entrance to the Underworld is in Pennsylvania? Cuz that's the dumbest thing I've heard all week." Cain drawled, making Cerberus wrink his nose up at him.

"Hades likes to visit Pennsy so we moved the portal here a few centuries ago. Complain to him, not me." He returned, holding his hands up in surrender. He gestured for us to follow him through the woods and I strangely had no problem seeing in the dark night, but Cain seemed to trip every so often with rocks and tree trunks. Cecil walked close to me with the same swift as me, and that made me curious. Maybe he was used to walking in the dark.

"Oh, you're both still wearing your swim trucks." I told them as I saw both Cerberus and Cecil shiver slightly due to the cold. Cerberus blinked as if just noticing and he gave me a light smile.

"Thanks, bunny. I completely forgot." He added, snapping his fingers together and his outfit changed magically. He dressed himself in black leather from head to toe, buckled boots finishing off his intimidating attire that added a few inches to his height. Cecil's clothes changed immediately as well, dressing him in a tight knitted navy sweater accompanied by his usual pair of snug faded jeans and dress shoes. I stared between both of them back and forth in awe, my eyes wide as saucers.

"How did you do that?"

"What? This? It's magic, buns. Supernatural powers, ya could say. You have them too, all immortals do." He informed me, making me frown a little.

Immortal? I'm immortal now? What did that even mean? Could I make things appear out of nowhere? Heal like Prometheus could? How long will I live? Will I grow old? Or stop aging somewhere?

"I still have issues wrapping my head around this. How am I a goddess? My mother is a human, and... well, I guess my other half must be godly or something then. My mother always ignored me when I asked about my father, maybe that's why." I muttered, reaching down to fiddle with the key hanging from my neck. Cerberus glanced at me out the corner of his eye and I could feel he was worried about something, but he looked away before I could study his eyes.

"Well, that would make ya a demigod and clearly you're not one. An ancient dragon wouldn't tear down a mortal university just to get his hands on a simple demigod. You're a full-fledged goddess, from two god parents."

"But, my mother is human--"

"What if she isn't your mother?" Cecil suggested.

"No way," I returned immediately, frowning down at him, "My mother Ahne birthed me and raised me on her own all my life, my father left us when I was a baby. I'm not a goddess, Cerby. It makes no sense." Cerberus smiled faintly at the new nickname I've given him, before he frowned again, raking a hand through his inky hair in frustration.

"I dunno buns, we can ask more to Hades when we get there. I'm sure he can confirm if you're or not. He knows pretty much everythin'."

"We're going to meet Hades?" I asked, completely baffled. Python did teach us about Greek mythology, even if he was pretending, but I guess... those stories were real. Hades did exist. Gods existed. Not just one God, but many. How many more, I wondered. I still refused to believe I was one of them, though.