Dark Goddess (24 page)

Isaak whistled.  “I guess this means you really are the goddess of the Underworld.”

My eyes narrowed and jaw clenched hard picturing the psycho thief that thought he could keep Hayden and me apart. “Yep and I’m about to end Ixion’s reign.”

Reese’s impenetrable gaze glittered with caution as he looked from the noticeable improvement of the Underworld to me.  “You better hurry.  Ixion might not be connected to the Underworld like you and Hayden, but I’m sure he can sense something different, if not see it.”  He motioned toward the restored navy sky.

Zeke, who had remained quiet since I showed up, stepped closer, putting a hand on my cheek.  His movements were slow enough, offering me time to draw away.  I didn’t.  Electricity emanated from his palm while the pad of his thumb stroked the length of my jaw, his eyes unreadable.  “Go get my brother back.”

I had expected him to praise me in a very uncomfortably way or remind me of his feelings and the feelings he was certain I had.  In very least I expected some kind of flirtation. 

It left me speechless and the only response I could give was a nod.

Zeke released me and without any further ado, I turned heel and marched toward the dry dirt road that lead to Tartarus and Hayden.

My feet crunch on the parched gravel, kicking up dust with every step.  Tartarus was close, the deep crimson flames dancing ominously unlike the rest of the fires in the Underworld.  These didn’t hold the warmth the ones around the castle did.  I could feel the wickedness floating in the air and smell the stench of rotting death and evil permeating the atmosphere.  I’d never been this far in the Underworld.  Hayden had forbid it.  I scoffed at him, but in reality I never wanted to be anywhere near Tartarus.  Coming into contact with the dark souls when Hayden first arrived in Northwood was enough.

Once I arrived at the boarder lined in fire several souls converged and leered, fear and trepidation cooling my blood.  Images of them possessing my friends and trying the same with me flickered through my mind.  I remembered the foul essence of one trying to force its way into my mouth and another unleashed by Hercules actually succeeding for a few minutes.

Beads of cold sweat formed on my forehead.  I wiped it away with the back of my hand, causing the souls to grin at my clear discomfort.

This was harder than I thought.

A familiar growl echoed through the malevolent blaze, squeezing my heart with enough force to crush it.  I recognized Hayden’s outburst of anger, the sound feeding my determination and quelling my fears.  His presence so near ignited the Underworld power inside me full force.  Without knowing exactly how I suddenly burst into flames.  A layer of crimson fire covered my entire body and stretched out toward my hair, curling it in the wind it created.

Identifying my power for what it was, the souls moved away and bowed their heads.  I held mine high and passed through the burning border. 

The world around me was a desolate wasteland with ash and scarlet fire burning infinitely.  Souls writhed on the ground, screaming while others restlessly shuffled about.  I wanted to cover my ears at the horrific sounds and plug my nose at the awful, gaging smell.  Hell, I’d prefer to shut my eyes.

But I couldn’t.  I was the dark goddess of the Underworld now.  Tartarus was a part of my world just as much as the palace, courtyard, Asphodel Meadows, and Elysium.   I couldn’t shy away from it.  I especially couldn’t let the souls sense my fear.

I pushed on, marching in the direction I was being pulled and realizing my power leading me toward Hayden.  My breath nearly ceased when I saw him in the mouth of a cave, agony gripping my chest at his bedraggled, injured appearance.   My eyes watered with tears and a lump formed in my throat. 

My Hayden.

A female dark soul rushed him.  He easily tossed her aside, but missed the chance to block a second one.  The male soul delivered a punch to Hayden’s face, causing another split in his lip.

Anger rushed forward, exploding through my chest.  With a snarl I sent a flame toward the soul, hitting him in the side and sending him sailing across the plains with a scream.  The female took one look at me and scurried away from the cave, crouching behind a crimson flame as if it could protect her.

A gasp caught my ears and I shifted my attention back to Hayden who was staring at me with a stunned expression, his silver eyes wide and mouth open.  “Hartley?”  I could hear his unnaturally quiet voice through the chaos of purgatory.  He remained frozen in shock as if afraid I was a mere hallucination.   

“Hayden,” I breathed, my lungs truly taking in oxygen for the first time in weeks.  “I’m really here baby.”  I slowly make my way over, absentmindedly noticing souls in my periphery scurrying away.

Hayden’s stormy eyes took me in, his gaze lingering questioningly over the crimson flames encasing me.  “H-How is this possible?”

I reined my power in, letting the flames dissipate and easily blinking the crimson from my eyes.  I held up my own onyx ring.  “I’m the dark goddess of the Underworld.”

Realization crossed Hayden’s face followed by a mixture of awe and reverence.  “How?”

“It offered up its power to me like it did you.  I chose to take it.”

Without warning Hayden strode toward me and crushed his lips to mine, claiming me all over again.  My fire ignited around us both, encasing him as he once did me.  I could taste his love, hunger, desire, and even the bitter agony of our separation. 

This would be the last time we were ripped apart.  No one would do this to us again.  No one
could
. 

Hayden pulled back, my crimson eyes reflecting in his as if his powers had returned.  He tenderly kissed my cheeks, my chin, my forehead, ears, and neck before resting his forehead on mine, breathing me in.

“Hartley, baby, I missed you so much.”  Pain laced his voice, fueling my anger for Ixion.

I nodded, drawing the fire back within me.  “Me too.”  My hands traveled over his bloodied and bruised face, my vision blurring with unshed tears. 

“Hey, don’t cry.”  His finger trailed across my chin to keep my head from dipping.  “I’ll heal.”

Ixion was probably aware something was going on, making his way toward Tartarus.  Good. That would make it easier to rip the stolen powers away and return them to Hayden.

Hayden sensed the change in my mood, his dark brow disappearing into his hair.  “What is it?”

My jaw clenched hard.  “Let’s get your powers back,” I growled, salivating at confronting Ixion.

Hayden

Ixion’s figure was already visible through the fiery boarder of Tartarus as we approached.  Hartley gripped my hand and parted the flames for us to step through.  I could feel her powers around her, vibrating and electric.  They were similar to mine, but so pure and untainted by the years I’d spent brooding and stewing in my own self-hatred.

My chest ached simply looking at her.  No one but me had been able to inherit the Underworld power.  I never thought it possible.  Hartley had been taking on some of it, but I never imagined she would be able or willing to take in all the fire and darkness.

I should have known better.

Now Hartley wasn’t simply my soul mate, but my partner in every way.  We would share this world together.

Ixion’s dark eyes widened when he spotted us, specifically Hartley.  “W-What the hell is going on!”  He motioned toward Tartarus.  “You can’t just walk in there and take Hades out.  Only the god of the Underworld can.”

A smirk curled my lips despite the pain it brought.  Nothing could beat this.  It would forever live on as one of the best fuck-you moments in my life.  “Ixion, I’d like you to meet Hartley,
goddess
of the Underworld.”

He froze a few feet away, his gaze wondering over Hartley and taking in the changes in her including the mystical onyx ring glimmering on her index finger.  “Not possible,” he whispered more to himself than us.

Flames ignited in Hartley’s eyes as she released my hand.  “Oh, it’s possible.”  Without warning she raised her palm and slammed Ixion in the chest with an invisible force.  He was lifted in the air and crashed to the ground so fast he probably got whiplash. 

He scrambled up, his expression a mixture of anger and disbelief as he dusted himself off and sprinted toward her.  I fought my nature to step forward and protect her.  Clearly she was the one protecting me.  It didn’t make me like it though.  My skin crawled watching that psycho race toward her.

Seconds before they collided Hartley burst into flames and held Ixion inches away, frozen.  His dark eyes ignited in flames as he uselessly wriggled in her grasp.  “H-How?” he snarled.  “I’ve had these powers for weeks!  I should be able to crush you.”

Her eyes narrowed.  “You
stole
those powers.  This world offered them to me.  I’m stronger.”  She tossed him on the ground so hard fissures branched out from the impact.

Yes! 
That’s my girl—or rather goddess.

Pain visibly morphed Ixion face and he struggled to stand, but Hartley’s boot smashed into his chest, holding him down.  She sneered at him like he was scrum off the bottom of her shoe.  “You’re a thief and a maniac.  You not only stole his powers, but you stole
him
.”  She leaned forward, easily keeping her grasp in place.  “Several much stronger than you have failed at keeping us apart.”  Danger laced her voice while tiny scarlet flames licked her shoulders and played with her hair.

Goose bumps puckered my skin and excitement shot through my bloodstream.  This power truly suited her and I could see why the Underworld wanted her as badly as I did.

“You should have known we’d find a way back to each other.  We always do.”

“This is not over little girl.”  Ixion gritted his teeth and grabbed Hartley’s foot, tossing her into the air.

My heart shuttered to a stop as I helplessly watched her fly up.  My fear was for nothing because once she saw Ixion’s gaze shift maliciously toward me, she snapped back into control.  Her feet hit the ground in front of me, shoving Ixion back to the ground with the flick of her little hand. 

“It is over,” she growled, capturing him with invisible binds.  Hartley glanced over her shoulder at me.  “Time to get your powers back.”

I flashed her a proud smile before strolling over to a struggling Ixion.  “You really shouldn’t piss her off.”  I knelt down beside him and snatched my ring off his finger.  I was its true owner and only I could remove it from someone else against their will. 

“No!”  Ixion twisted and writhed, fighting against Hartley’s iron grip in vein. 

Once the silver and onyx ring was slipped onto my finger my powers drained away from Ixion and poured into me, finding their rightful home.  My head tilted back as fire and darkness rushed through my bloodstream, intertwining with every fiber of my being.  It was wonderful and made even sweeter when I could truly sense the twin power emanating from Hartley behind me.

With the influx of power my wounds healed instantly.  I took a moment to clean and rid myself of the ripped, blood soaked clothes, donning a new pair of jeans and a black t-shirt.

When I opened my god eyes again I saw Ixion cowering below me, his skin sallow and a sickly shade of pale green.  His dark curls were matted with dirt and soot, no longer polished and perfect.  He suddenly appeared ten pounds lighter without the backing of my stolen power.  I leaned over, my flaming eyes reflecting in his wide, pitch ones. 

“Now Ixion, I’m not so much mad about you stealing my powers.  That I can handle.  As evil villains go it was pretty masterful.”  My jaw flexed hard thinking about the time he visited me in Tartarus.  The time he threatened me—the thing that really pissed me off.  I leaned down so close I could smell his fear soaked cold sweat.  “It’s that you threatened Hartley.”  My voice had dropped several octaves while my powers kicked up an ominous wind around me.

A tiny whimper escaped Ixion’s mouth.  “I-I only did what I did for love Hades.  You can understand that.”

“If it involves screwing with
my
love—then fuck no.”  I gripped his shirt and hauled him to his feet.  “I’m the one putting you in Tartarus this time.  There’s no getting out again.”

Terror lit his face.  “No.  Hades please.  Anything but that.”

My gaze met Hartley’s, silently questioning her.  She motioned her chin toward the burning boarder of Tartarus.

A smile twitched my lips as I started dragged him behind me.  “Just look on the bright side Ixion.  You won’t be spinning on the wheel anymore.”

He uselessly dug his heels into the dry ground, kicking up gray dirt.  “Please no.”

“Make yourself a nice little home in one of the caves,” I told him.  “The souls stay out.  Mostly.”

“NO!” he yelled as I thrust him through the wall of flames into Tartarus.

When I turned back around part of me was expecting Hartley to be sporting a look of disapproval or even disgust.  Instead she jumped into my arms and buried her face in my chest. 

“Hades,” she whispered, clinging to me, her body trembling.

I shivered every time she said my real name.  My arms squeezed until I was afraid she’d suffocate.  “I love you Hartley.”  My lips were in her hair, breathing in her roses and pine scent.

She pulled back and looked up at me with shimmering eyes.  “Let’s go home.”

I nodded and took her hand, leading her away from purgatory.

On the way Hartley told me about the Underworld falling into darkness and Tartarus growing.  I was amazed she was able to fix it, but certainly not surprised.  She was
Hartley
after all—daughter of the queen of gods, part siren, my soul mate, and now goddess of the Underworld.  If the heavens began to fall she could probably stop it.

As we neared Asphodel Meadows Hartley started pulling me toward it.  “Come on.  We have to say hello.”

I complied even though I was uneasy about interacting with the souls.  They didn’t love my company like hers.  Once a few caught sight of us they pointed, huge smiles grew on their faces, and they marched toward the boarder to meet us. 

Who wouldn’t be happy at the sight of Hartley? They were chanting her name and I couldn’t have been prouder.  She was their hero.

My eyes blinked as I thought I heard something different—another name.  I shook myself, thinking it impossible.