The King of Darkness

Chapter 13

The second trial has come and I wasn't sure if I was ready. Hades gave us the choice to what we can wear for this trial. 

I chose to wear a tank top, some comfortable jeans and combat boots. I still have no idea what it is and this thing about keeping surprises was starting to get on my nerves. I went to the dining area and waited for the rest of the people to show up. 

I sat down at the dining table and then the dining doors was pushed open and in came the rest. Half of them wore dresses and some were smart to wear pants but decided to wear heels. 

I looked at their outfits and they looked at mine. 

"Well, someone is prepared for a fight." Tiffany said and her heels clicked towards me. I didn't even want to look at her but she was determined on pissing me off. I ignored her and waited for her to leave but she just stood there and stared down at me. 

"What do you want?" I asked bluntly and she just smiled. 

"Respect. You are looking at the new Queen of the Underworld." she said with so much pride in her voice and I just scoffed at her. 

She just puffed her cheeks and walked off. I was glad that she left because then she would of been in a puddle of blood. 

Hades finally decided to give us his presence but there was something different in his body language. 

"Welcome ladies. Today is the second trial and only two will pass this test and will move on to the final trial." he said and the girls faces fell. 

"Why only two?" one of the girls asked and Hades glared at her. 

"'Cause I'm tired of your presence!" he snapped and the girls went pale but I was curious to as to why he was in such a foul mood. 

"Now are you finished with all of the questions and that I can start explaining what the trial is about?" Hades said so seriously but I couldn't pin point who put the stick up his ass this morning.

"Now, you will be given a map and you will have to find certain items that I have decided to put away in the most deadly areas of the Underworld. Only two shall pass this test and only three will die. If you ladies have decided to study then you wouldn't find this trial difficult but if you haven't studied then you will die because of your own arrogance," Hades said and was scanning the room, until his eyes laid upon mine. "I hope that you will succeed."

But no one else heard that last part and Hades mouth didn't move an inch. He was telepathically talking to me and it felt weird. 

"Good luck ladies and let the challenge begin!" Hades exclaimed and everything went pitch black. 

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I woke up to the sounds of screaming and the roaring sound of fire. I sat up slowly and was looking at my surroundings. The fire surrounded me and sweat was dripping down my body but it didn't really help much because the sweat would evaporate before it could make it down my body. The colours of the fire was beautiful but deadly. 

"Where in the hell am I?" I asked myself and I stood up slowly but nearly fell to my knees. I felt weak and I didn't understand why I was weak. 

I watched the fires and listened to the screams. My head was thumping and I was trying to focus, and figure out on where I was. Smoke blurred my vision and the heat was making me see things.  I saw a shadow walking towards me but I think it is a shadow. 

I blinked a couple of times and then the shadow  disappeared. I looked at my surroundings again and then it hit me. I was near the River of Fire, Phlegethon. 

I took in a deep breath but was choking on the smoke that intoxicated my lungs and it burnt  as I was coughing the air out of my lungs. I tried to swallow my saliva but it was dry like the Sahara Desert. 

"Hades!" I screamed out his name but there was no answer. Why did he decide to put me here?

I slapped myself across the face and pulled myself together. I focused hard on getting my vision to normal and saw that there was a path that wasn't set on fire. I covered my mouth and started following the path. The flames were just kissing my skin but the heat still burnt. 

I was starting to think that Hades wanted me dead very quickly but then there was the shadow again but I still couldn't see who it was. 

"Wait!" I exclaimed, as the shadow started to disappear again. I ran towards the shadow and felt the heat starting to cool down. The shadow was leading me away from the burning flames. 

As soon as I felt the air cool, I took in a deep breath and it cooled down my burning flesh and insides. I was taking in deep breaths and it was like the most pleasant feeling in my life. I felt a cold hand touch my shoulder and I spun around. It was a man and he just smiled at me. 

"What are you doing here beautiful lady?" he asked but there was something wrong with this man. His clothes was ragged and torn. His skin was like ash, his teeth was razor sharp, his eyes pitch black and the smell of him was revolting. 

"I'm trying to find a way out and also a hidden object that Hades decided to hide here." I said and the man looked at me for a second and turned his head. He was looking at the River of Pain.

"You got to be kidding me?" I said and wanted to give up right there but decided to not do that.  
I looked at the man and he was still facing the river.

I started walking over to the river of pain and the screams and wails of the souls pierced my ears. I looked back at the man but he disappeared and I wanted to ask him if this was the right place.
But before I could look at the River of Pain again. Someone pushed me into the river and hands started to grab hold of me, dragging me down deep into the river and I couldn't break free from their grasps.

Is this how I am going to die?

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Thank you for reading and sorry for the long wait.

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