R I C H • Stiles Stilinski BAMF

T U N N E L S

TUNNELS⎮CHAPTER NINETEEN

"You know-" he started as I followed his leaping figure, feeling hope fill me at the thought that at any moment we would pass through the arch and out of this claustrophobic dank, river-smelling darkness. "I might be able to get a body for you." 

Subconsciously my eyebrows rise cartoonishly, "A body," I humor and then narrow my eyes as he turns to face me, "I don't remember telling you I was a cannibal." I'm glad my humor isn't lost on him when he allows a small chuckle. 

The two of us come to a halt as he shrugs and leans against the perfectly arched sandstone walls, "I just assumed," he jokes and I found myself smiling down at my uncle. "But, this body is not for eating little one, I was more or so thinking you could wear its flesh." I made an 'o' with my lips before re-attaining control over my expression, forming a cool exterior.

"As much as I would appreciate that-" he cut me off with a raised hand, "Hear me out," he said and I stared at him patiently in response, "When we're not in our realms, Gods with powers such as Zeus and I, have to wear suits if you will. Seeing as you appear to possess too much power for your own suit this seems to be the most appropriate solution for the time being."

We stare at one another for a moment, "I don't think I can stomach taking over someone's body," I admit and he sighs, stating, "We do ask politely." I swallow loudly and cast my gaze elsewhere hearing the unnaturally loud, suck of the canal against the paving stones. 

"Yeah, that makes everything better," I mumble, "I know that you're trying to help me, but," sighing I look down at my bare feet, "Is it the only option?" He smiles slowly and sadly, and I know the answer. I meet his intense gaze and lick my lips in thought whilst carding a rough hand through my grimy locks. 

"I'll consider it," I relent and then motion for us to continue upwards and into the next dimension. He turns and continues his fast-paced march, me following his every step for fear of releasing the hounds of hell. Eventually, we find the tunnel caved in and work to dig. The wall isn't made of mud exactly but it's coated in a thick hot substance that resembles it, each scrape burns my flesh until its red and raw and finally I feel as though I am about to pass out from exhaustion. Hade's notices and noticeably swallows, "Don't even think about it," he warns even as I feel my legs buckle beneath me, "if you stop the wall will come right back down, and if you don't dig with me you'll be stuck here." I yawn tiredly and despite the exhaustion physically willing my body to collapse I use it to drag layers and layers of rock down to my feet. 

Hades watches me as more light spills onto me, fresh air filling my lungs with determination, and finally, he's climbing through the small hole, reaching his hand through to drag me out. I collapse onto my back breathing deeply as I stare up at a familiar sky. Beside me, Hade's wavers and then smiles down at me. "I'll be right back," and then he's nothing more than thick tendrils of crimson smoke. I shut my eyes falling into a deep slumber. 

When I wake up green eyes pierce me. "Hades?" I mumble, gripping his hand tightly as he hoists me up. He nods and smiles a brilliant white grin. I take in his appearance, the way he stands a good four inches taller than me, his broad shoulders intimidating me as he straightens his back and crosses his muscular arms across his chest. 

"Where are we going?" he asks, and I realize that I've been just staring at him. Which is quite inappropriate seeing as he is family. 

"Um, my house I guess," I mumble and rub my neck in embarrassment, "I don't suppose you have a car?" he laughs in amusement and mutters an 'of course', seemingly unaware of why I was blushing profusely as he leads the way out of the forest. We emerged from the brambles and climb into the awaiting sleek black sedan. "Where are we anyway?" I ask whilst buckling myself into the fine interior. I turn with my hands on the steering wheel to justly glare at the silent man. 

He shrugs, "Doorway three, I presume," he smiles in a sickly sentimental way, "it's my favorite door." 

I grimaced, "Doorway to hell?" he nods, "Right, I'll reiterate my earlier question. What state are we in, Hades." I'd begun to realize he had quite a short attention span, which made sense when you consider his supposed short-temper. He was in every sense of the word a loose-cannon. 

"Just outside of New Amsterdam," he finally answered after my glare had worn a hole in his face. 

"New Amsterdam? Oh wow, you haven't been on the surface since the 1600s huh," I realized, starting the car and navigating onto the road of which I presumed lead back to New York. He was silent again and I fought the urge to hit him. "Y'know the game plan involves you and I building our resources and then overthrowing my father in Olympus," I decide and catch his raised-eyebrow gaze. 

"I think you're missing a couple of steps, Nephew," he responds smugly and slightly amused. 

In response I roll my eyes, "Everything else will sort itself out, now do you have any contacts in New York." He nods loosely, "A few, none exceptionally powerful, a couple herds of unicorns, a few leviathans and I think I know where to find a Hydra and a cave of dragons." I blatantly stare at him in shock, before slowly dragging my eyes to the road. 

"You're crazy, but I want to meet the unicorns after we check my business," I state and then mumble, "yeah, I definitely want to see these unicorns."

He shakes his head with a small smile, "Unicorns are exceptionally dangerous creatures are you sure you're up to it," I was sure he was joking so I scoffed and rolled my eyes. It wasn't until later that I found out how wrong I was.