"Demigod?! You've gotta be kidding me."
I back away from Harley and the others, who all stare at me.
Harley with that smirk on his face and everyone else just watching me.
"It's true, Aiden—"
"Oh no. I think you guys are just as psychotic as I thought..."
Harley grins.
"I put the hot in psychotic."
"Shut up you swollen-headed, egotistical pig! I'm done! Why is there a fucking Greek goddess talking to me in my head and why the hell did his eyes glow?! Am I missing something?!"
"Sweetheart," Porter takes my wrist, spinning me to face him. "Isn't it obvious?"
His eyes glow blue before turning back to normal.
I stare at him blankly.
"Oh my fucking god. His eyes glow too."
Porter rolls his eyes, and Harley laughs.
"Aww, she's so stupid."
"Hey! She's right in front of your ass!"
They all turn their heads to look at me, and I shut up instantly when I realize all of their eyes are glowing.
I hear footsteps coming down the stairs, and Althea pushes through the rest of them.
"Guys. Guys we need to go now."
"Why?! What?! You can't abduct me!"
I stare incredulously at her as four loud knocks are heard on the door.
"Aiden?! Aiden are you in here?!"
I snap my head from them to the door.
"You aren't saying—"
"That your parents are the ones we're trying to get away from? That's exactly what I'm saying. And if you couldn't tell already, Aiden, we aren't from here."
Hediya nods before adding on to what Althea was saying.
"I wasn't joking when I said Hera was going to kill me. She is my mom."
"Whaaat? I must be not processing something you're saying."
"Aiden!?"
I turn my head back to them as Harley grabs my wrist, pulling me back right when the door flies open, actually flying off its hinges and ramming into the wall.
"What the—"
My eyes widen and Harley pushes me behind the rest of them.
I contain my horror as who I thought were my parents, my mom and dad, turn into two different girls, and another one appears.
"The Furies."
Althea glares at them.
"What do you want?!"
"Isn't it simple?!"
The woman in the middle's eyes snap on mine and she grins.
"The girl."
"We aren't just going to hand her over! That's just death waiting to happen, Megaera!" Lex exclaims, and I take in the three of them.
I've learned about the furies in one of my history classes a while back.
The one in the middle, she must be Megaera, the Fury of jealousy.
The one on her right must be Tisiphone, the avenger.
The one of her left must then be Alecto, the Fury of anger.
I frown.
Why do they want me?
Megaera laughs solemnly.
"You act as though you have a choice, Alexia! The girl belongs to us."
She moves her eyes to mine and cocks her head slightly to the side.
"Her father would like to meet her."
"My...my father?!"
I try to move past them, but Harley grabs my wrist from behind him, pushing me back.
He turns his head over his shoulder.
"Stay there."
"But...it's my father, Harley! I...I want to see him!"
Zen smiles awkwardly.
"Love the guy and all, but I don't think you want to meet him."
"Why?!"
I move my eyes to Megaera again.
"Bring me to him!"
"Why of course, dear. Just come a little closer...we'll help you...we aren't here to hurt you."
The Furies smile at me.
"I'm not letting her go with you, Megaera. You're crazy if you think I am."
"Oh I'm aware that I'm crazy...but you're going to have to deal with it. He wants to meet his lovely daughter, Althea. Never saw the girl, and she's eighteen! The ripe age where any demigod should return to their rightful parents in Mount Olympus. Or for her the Underworld."
"We know you hate him, Megaera. You're taking her for yourself and It's not gonna happen!"
They all start laughing and I stand there in shock.
Underworld?! What the fuck?!
As they continue talking I discreetly make a run for it, bolting out the back door and into the trees, hoping they didn't see me.
I jinxed myself.
"Hey! The girl's gone! What're you waiting for, idiots?! Get her!"
The Furies teleport out of the house, running after me.
Althea and the rest follow, and I start to smell the scent of burning flesh.
I hear a small scream and snap my head around, my eyes catching on a black hole forming on Alecto's stomach that soon molds back together, and then Harley.
With fire coming from his hands.
Oh hell no.
I run faster, sprinting as fast as my out-of-shape self can take me until I trip over a big ass stick, flying into the dirt in front of me with a loud thump.
"Fuck, that hurt."
I feel warm liquid running down the front of my head, grimacing.
I wipe some of it with my hand, seeing bright red coating my palm.
Great. Just great.
Now I'm bleeding.
I hear a small whistling and freeze, grabbing a stick off the floor.
I stand up, looking around.
"Who's there?!"
"Me!"
"Ahh!"
I let out a small screech, and hear more footsteps.
"There! Tisiphone, I heard her!"
"Shit." I mutter, looking around for a place to hide.
"Where are you?! I heard you whistling!"
"I'm up here! Come and get me!"
I look above me and throw my hand over my mouth, masking another scream.
"Who the hell—why the hell—you're on the tree branch?!"
"It's not that hard."
He grins and I wince.
He's like the Cheshire Cat.
He holds out his hand as I see a glimpse of blonde.
Tisiphone.
I grab it and he lifts me up, just as The Furies round the corner.
He puts his finger over his lip.
"Tis! You said she was here!"
Tisiphone looks at Megaera and Alecto.
"I thought she was too. Come on, we have to keep looking."
They run off in a different direction, and when I look to my side the guy is gone again.
"Hey?! Cheshire Cat?! You here?"
An apple falls on my head and I almost topple over.
"Jesus!"
I look up and he's above me again.
"Who the hell are you and how the hell do you keep doing that?!"
"I can do this because that's my power, darling."
"Being a cat?"
"I'm not a cat, bitch. I mean...I can be but that's not the point. I'm a shapeshifter."
He turns into a black cat and jumps down next to me, morphing easily back into a human.
"I'm scared."
"Don't be, Aiden."
"How does everyone know my name?!"
"You're quite popular in the Olympian world, or the supernatural world. Most likely associated with the gods, you are."
"What?! Why?!"
"Girl. Why are you so fucking clueless?!"
"Because I don't know what's going on? First of all, twelve weirdos became my neighbors. They also have glowing eyes. Second of all my "parents" turned into three fucking girls who then tried to kidnap me! What's happening!?"
"I don't wanna tell you. I want to make it more suspenseful, Aiden."
"Will you stop saying my name like that?"
"Like what, Aiden?"
An even scarier grin stretches across his face, and I almost swear it'll keep growing until it stops.
"Like...like that! It's fucking creepy."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Aiden. I didn't mean to be creepy..."
"Well you are! Quit it, cat! Do you want some kibble or something?! Then will you stop!?"
"Kibble!? If you keep insulting me I'm going to throw you off the tree and pee on your dead body, you hear me?! I'm not a fucking animal!"
"Fine, dude! At least tell me your name!"
"I can't tell people my name."
"Why not?"
"It's against the rules, sweetheart."
"What rules? Cat rules?"
"No. Shapeshifter rules, bitch. If you continue on yapping about me being a cat I will turn into a lion and eat you alive. How does that sound?"
He grins again and I smile back.
"Great! Fantabulous!"
I blink a few times.
"But really. What shapeshifter rules?! You have a deal with the devil or some shit?!"
"More like a deal with Hades but he's basically the devil. Don't tell him I said that."
I make a face.
"Am I mistaken or did you just say Hades?"
"I did. And shapeshifter rules that if I tell you my name, you'll get full control over me. And I don't like that at all."
"Oh. That stinks. I'd love to control my little cat friend."
"I'm not a cat nor your friend, bitch. I'd just rather be the one to eat you for dinner then The Furies."
My mouth drops open.
"You're not eating me, cat! You're not!"
I grip the stick tighter in my hand and point it at him.
"Don't come any closer! I'm not afraid to—"
He takes the stick and snaps it in half, throwing it off the tree.
"How's that? Now what're you gonna do?"
"Push you!"
"Sweetie, I'm afraid I'm a little too—"
I push him off, but the guy turns into a bird before he can hit the ground.
"Bitch! I could've ruined my hair!"
"Screw your hair! You're too much like Harley! But worse!"
"Harley, you say? The fire boy?"
"Yes! You are a Chad! Or a fucking Brad for all I care! That's your name isn't it?!"
"Hmm...interesting. Do you want control over me? My powers? My actions?"
I blink a few times.
"That sounds interesting."
"I'll tell you my name, Aiden."
"Huh? Really!?"
"Yeah. On one condition."
I stare at him blankly, and he grins.
"You come with me to the underworld."
******
I walk along side him, and I turn my head.
"Is this going to benefit me in some way?! Or are you going to kill me?"
"No! Well...I mean yes, but not for a good long while."
"I change my mind. I don't want to know your name anymore. I'll go back to fire boy and his group."
"I'm just kidding, sweetheart. Don't take it personally. I tend to eat anyone I befriend."
"So you're a cannibal."
"Not necessarily...because I'm not even human! So it isn't cannibalism, simply just eating a friend!"
"How reassuring."
He smiles and rubs my head, ruffling my hair.
"I'm just so nice, aren't I? I'm getting you into the underworld without the trouble of everyone else! Don't you love that!?"
I smooth my hair, looking uneasily into his extremely bright green eyes.
"Yeah...sure. How exactly are we meant to get there? And why do I have to come with you?"
"We get there with the boat of the dead, silly! That boat transports people in and out of the underworld. I use it often. And you're coming with me because there's a few people that want to see you."
"Me? That's concerning."
I grab his wrist.
"Wait. Before I go any further, I need to make sure I'm not getting scammed. What's your name?!"
He looks at my hand and plucks it off with a tight smile.
"First of all, don't touch me again with your cute little hands, Aiden. And second of all, my name's Alec."
"Alec?"
"Alec."
"So you're a stupid person?"
"What the fuck? No, bitch."
"Well Alec is a stupid person is Australian informal language so there."
"Shut up."
He glares at me before turning invisible, snaking around and tripping me.
I fall face first into the dirt again, and rub my head.
"Ow! Alec?! What the hell was that for!?"
"For calling me a stupid person, bitch."
He appears in front of me and smirks.
"You have a little something on your face, sweetie."
He wipes a stream of dirt from my forehead and I give him a blank look.
"Meanie."
We approach an ancient looking door, and I frown.
"What the hell is this?!"
"The door to get to the dock. That's where the boat will be, hon."
He hands me a golden coin with some sort of weird ass symbol on it.
"What the hell is this for!?"
"That's an obol, if you expect to get in there you're gonna need it."
He pulls the heavy door open with ease, smiling at me again.
"Ladies first."
"Okay then, Alec."
I jump when the door slams shut behind us, and Alec strides forward, shooting me a look.
"Now that you know my name, are you gonna keep mentioning it?"
"Well...yeah."
"Annoying rat."
I give him the death stare before running to catch up to him.
"What is this?! A death tunnel?! It's dark and scary."
"I mean...if you'd call it that. Dead people do come in here. Almost everyday, I'd say."
He smirks at me.
"Just like myself."
"You're dead?! This has to be another joke."
"Anyone who does go into the underworld is dead. Same for the people who come out. The only people that are alive that can travel in here is Persephone, Hades, The Furies, a god, or a demigod. Explaining why your little god friends can come in here."
Alec grins as we approach an opening that leads to a dock and a large boat.
"That's why you can too."
******
We approach the front of the line, and Alec smiles at the man.
"Charon, what's up?"
"Hey, Alec. Back already?"
"Yes! And guess who I found?"
He pulls me from behind him, and I wave awkwardly.
"Hi. I'm Aiden."
"Yes! I know. My boss knows you."
"Boss...?"
"Hades!"
My face pales.
"How does Hades know me!?"
Charon turns to Alec.
"You never told her!?"
"Not yet. Soon."
"Okay."
We both hand him our obols before climbing onto the boat.
I immediately get a bad feeling.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Something doesn't feel right, Alec. What exactly am I getting myself into?!"
"If I'm being honest not good stuff, darling. But you'll be fine with me."
He grins and I frown.
"I'm trusting you, cat. You better not let me die down here with these souls."
"Of course not!"
He walks away, leaving me standing there.
I almost fly forward again when the boat starts to move into the trench we call water, it's so deep and dark it looks black.
I'm scared.
I grip onto the edge, holding in my urge to vomit.
I forgot I get seasick.
If this even is the sea we're boating in I mean jeez, it's like if I touch it I'll get some horrid disease or something.
While I lean over the edge while gripping onto my stomach, I hear someone approach me.
"Alec? Is that you again?"
"Unfortunately. Come with me."
I follow him, getting queasier and queasier each step.
"Girl, are you okay? You look like you're gonna puke your guts out all over me."
"No, no. I'm fine. What is it?"
We go over a large wave and I lurch, almost regurgitating the mac and cheese I had for lunch.
"Yeah, right. Totally fine. Almost threw up on me."
He grimaces before sitting down.
"You're gonna need to sit down for this one, honey."
"What is it?! Story time?"
He grins.
"Is that's what you want to call it then go ahead."
I sit down in front of him, nodding.
"Go on."
"Alright. So once upon a time, there was a mortal girl named Bailey. She fell in love with who she thought was a mortal man named Henry and they had a daughter which they then named Aiden. But Henry soon left, and Bailey soon became so depressed that drowned herself in a lake."
I gasp.
"Jesus! That's terrible!"
"It gets worse. Henry soon found out, but he didn't know where the child was. Aiden was soon out in an adoption center, where Adam and Eve Ranger adopted her. But Adam and Eve were Megaera and Tisiphone in disguise. Two of the three Furies. And all along good old Henry was Hades in disguise, or the god of the underworld."
He smiles at me and I stare at him dumbfounded.
"Huh?"
"Are you not getting this...?"
I shake my head grimly.
"No."
"Dumb bitch."
"Hey!"
"Don't interrupt me! Since you're not getting it, Aiden, I clearly gave it away by saying your name, but your apparently too stupid to notice! Your real mother drowned in a lake, and your real father is the god of the underworld! Hades! H-A-D-E-S! Hades!? Get it now?"
I gawk at Alec with my mouth agape.
"You can't be serious."
"100%."
"Oh no. Oh no, no, no. I'm not a demigod! My father isn't a god! You're crazy!"
"I'm not."
"How are you...how are you so calm!?"
"Because I knew this for a while now. I'm bringing you so you can meet him."
"Oh hell no! Bring me back!"
Alec turns his head, and I do the same, letting out a small gasp.
We ride through some sort of barrier, and I get a hit of frigid air.
Alec grins.
"Too late."
*******
(ALTHEA'S POV)
"Guys!? Where the hell is she!?"
"Why do you think we know, Hediya?! For all we know she could be dead! Eaten alive by a pack of wolves!"
Hediya glares at Abriel.
"Thanks for the positivity, Abriel!"
He rolls his eyes.
I frown.
"Guys!?"
They all turn to me.
"What?!"
"Hecate. I feel her presence. She knows something. Hecate!? Hecate where are you?"
"Here, child."
We turn around and see Hecate, sitting on a bed of vines.
"Do you know where she is?!"
"Aiden?"
I nod.
"I can see through her eyes...the girl's with Alec."
"The shapeshifter!? Oh crap...she's in trouble."
She wags her finger at me.
"Uh, uh, darling. I'm not finished."
A slight smile spreads across her face.
"She's in the underworld."
*******
(AIDEN'S POV)
The boat starts to slow down, and we begin to drift slowly in some radioactive looking water.
"What the hell is with this water, Alec?"
"We're in Acheron. The River of Misery."
"The hell? How is that supposed to work?"
Alec shrugs and smiles as we come to a halt.
I watch all of the literal dead souls exit the boat, and me and Alec go last.
"Thanks, Charon."
"Any time, Alec. You have fun."
Alec rolls his eyes.
"As if the underworld's fun."
We hop off the boat, and my clumsy ass almost falls into the water.
"Ahh! Jesus!"
Alec laughs and drags me onwards, through the extremely creepy land of the underworld.
"This place is weird. And creepy."
"Try telling that to your father. He'll kick your ass."
I frown.
"I'm scared."
"Of Hades? Don't be."
I give him a look.
"Okay maybe he's a little off but that's alright...right?"
"Yeah...sure."
We approach some sort of building looking thing and Alec stops me in front, smiling down at me.
"Now if you don't mind I have to go visit someone real quick...don't get lost or die, okay?"
"Okay...please don't be long. I feel like I'm going to wither away or get eaten down here."
"You'll be fine...hopefully. I'll be back."
"You better be."
"One thing before I go, sweetheart. Don't talk to anyone. Don't help anyone if they need it. The people here are sketchy and will probably try and kill you. Good luck!"
I watch as Alec disappears into the place, leaving me propped against the wall.
I stand there for what feels like forever until I hear a cry.
"Ugh! My leg! Help!"
I jump at a woman's frail cries for help and flip around, seeing a woman on the floor with a large gash in her leg.
Oh no...poor old lady!
Alec told me not to...but that looks painful.
I have to help.
Going against everything I was told not to do, I run over, crouching down to the old woman's level.
"Ma'am?! Are you okay?!"
The old woman grips onto my wrist, her fingers straggly and ice cold.
I watch in horror as the gash molds back into her skin, and she turns more youthful.
I gasp as the hat of her costume falls off her face, and bright hazel eyes meet mine.
"Why don't you look who I found?"
"Megaera?!"
I gasp as a cold hand wraps around my throat, dragging me backwards.
I get thrown onto the floor, and Megaera, Tisiphone, and Alecto all look over me, grinning.
"We found you!"
"Now guess what?!"
"W-What?!"
"It's time for you to go!"
I feel myself go numb as they force something down my throat, fainting in their arms.
They pick me up and start in a different direction just as Alec runs out, slapping his forehead.
"Well fuck. That bitch is a real idiot."
******
(ALTHEA'S POV)
We approach the large door, and Harley pulls it open.
We run through, approaching the boat of the dead.
Haven't seen this boat in a while.
"Charon!"
Charon moves his eyes to us.
"Children...what're you doing by here?!"
"Have you by any chance seen a guy named Alec?"
"Yes! The boy's a good friend of mine...just gave him a ride not too long ago!"
"Good...was there by any chance...a girl with him?"
"Aiden Weiss?"
"Yes! Yes that's her!"
"She left the boat with him a while back...they were dropped off at Acheron, where The Furies and Hades live around."
My heart drops.
"How long will it take us to get there?!"
"If I was estimating correctly it'd be around five or six hours."
******
(AIDEN'S POV)
My eyes snap open, and my head feels like a big daze.
"Where...where am I?"
"The underworld."
My eyes snap on a woman in the far right.
She has dark hair that almost looks purple, with hazel eyes.
"What do you remember?"
My eyes then move over to a woman sitting in front of where I'm sitting, with platinum blonde hair and brown eyes.
"Nothing. I can't remember anything."
"Probably because you had a pretty large dose of Lethe."
"Lethe?"
My eyes move to the girl near a door, with long red hair and golden eyes.
"Yes, Lethe. The River of forgetfulness. Take a sip and you'll never remember anything."
"Who are you guys?!"
"Megaera."
"Tisiphone."
"Alecto."
I nod.
"Who am I?"
"Aiden. Aiden Weiss. Come with us."
They smile almost too sweetly, that it looks forced.
Tisiphone, the blonde, helps me up, and they guide me to a different room.
Some sort of main room.
They all stand in front of me, bowing slightly.
"Persephone, your majesty."
"Hello, you three! You must be tired. Go get some rest. Don't let him push you any further."
Persephone waves them goodbye, and my head starts to pound.
"Aiden?"
I hold my head upwards, looking at her.
"Yes?"
"Come closer."
I stumble a little closer and she catches me before I can fall, holding my head between her hands.
"Your forehead is hot! Do you have a fever?"
"I don't know."
"Can you not remember?"
"I don't know. Not really."
She frowns.
"Hmm...did they say they have you something? The Furies?"
"Yes. Lethe. Water from the river Lethe."
"Oh no...you don't remember anything from earth, do you?"
My eyebrows furrow.
"Earth?"
"I will fix this, don't worry, sweetie! Stay with your father for a second."
She runs away before I can even say something.
Father.
The word echos in my head.
I have one of those?
I hear a dark snickering, and feel a presence behind me.
"My dear child..."
He moves in front of me and sits on his throne, The Dark Throne, smirking down at me.
"After eighteen years and I only meet you now? I see you've already met Persephone."
"Yes...father."
"Already going an extra mile, sweetheart. Do you remember me?"
I bring my heavy head up to look at him, and my eyes widen.
"Hades?!"