(WARNING: the first POV of Aiden contains gore and a somewhat graphic depiction of something. some people may feel uncomfortable with that. It isn't that much but just in case!)
(PANDORA'S POV)
"Uhh...what do you mean that's the wendigo, Pandora?! It's gonna slaughter us!"
I slap my hand over her mouth as the thing lets out a monstrous roar, shaking the labyrinth walls.
We're going to fucking die in here...aren't we?
I see it through the small opening, passing by.
"What do we do?"
Aiden whispers, and I shake my head.
"I don't know."
"I have an idea. As soon as it gets far enough we make a run for it!"
"Aiden...it'll rip us both to shreds. Or stomp on us. Did you see its foot size?! That thing would be able to catch us before we could round the corner. And there's absolutely no where to go."
"Maybe if I call Alec he'll come."
I give her a look at the corner of my eye.
"Alec?! What is he gonna do?! He's no better than us! The dude can only turn into animals."
Aiden rolls her eyes.
"No, Pandora. He's a god. The son of Nyx and Thanatos."
I blink a few times.
"Well shit then. We can't call him now...the thing will eat us before he can even get over here."
I pause for a second.
Wait a minute...
My mind flashes back to his golden eyes...the large grin on his face.
On death himself.
Pierce.
"I have someone in mind. But we have to distract the wendigo first."
"What do you mean, Pandora?! Who the fuck are you thinking of?!"
"A guy named Pierce."
"And how are you so sure that Pierce can help us?!"
"Because Pierce is death himself."
*******
(AIDEN'S POV)
"So...we just go out there?"
"Yeah...I guess. You know how to use your powers...right?"
I make a face.
"I mean...not really...but okay."
"Aiden. You have to not get killed, okay? Please don't. If you don't know how to use your powers stay here."
"But—"
"Stay."
Pandora slides out of the small nook easily, and I watch through the cracks as she stands up, lifting her head up to look at the wendigo.
"Hey! I'm down here you big animal!"
The thing jerks around, a toothy and bloody grin spreading across its demonic face.
Chunks of human flesh fall from its mouth, and I resist the urge to barf.
Ugh.
Horrid.
A smell worse than rotten flesh fills the air, and I slap my hand over my nose and mouth as Pandora's eyes radiate a vivid green similar to the vibrant shade of her irises.
Her palms start to glow too, and she shoots the wendigo with a blast of her own powers.
My eyes widen a little.
I wasn't aware she had powers.
Everything was going well until Pandora started to slow down, her powers flickering before going out completely.
She collapses onto the floor, trying to hold herself up when the wendigo grabs her limp body in its clawed hand, squeezing her.
Oh no...I have to do something!
I slide out from underneath it, trying to manifest my powers.
As soon as I start to get small sparks of blue and black out of my fingertips the thing roars, throwing me back a good five feet.
I slam into the floor, cursing myself in my head as the floor vibrates underneath me from its footsteps.
As soon as it bends down to grab me, it goes completely still, and I watch in horror as a large arrow shoots through its heart, and it starts to fall forward.
"Oh shit."
I say as I start to run away from it falling, almost getting smushed when a hand grips onto my wrist, swiftly pulling me out of the way and into their arms as the wendigo falls with a loud thump that reverberates through my body.
The person covers us as a cloud of dust rises, wafting through the thick air of the labyrinth.
"You okay?"
The man sits me down, standing up himself as the thing starts to twitch again, its chest now slowly heaving up and down.
"I-I'm fine, thank you—uh—"
"Pierce. I'm Pierce."
He turns his head over his shoulder for a split second, all his face covered besides his mouth.
"Where are you going?"
Pierce holds a large blade—no—a large, pure silver scythe that glints in the dim moonshine.
"To finish this thing off. It only does with pure silver."
He pulls off the cloak, which includes the hood, handing it to me.
"You must be cold."
My eyes catch on his, radiant and yellow like a full moon.
I take it in my shaking hands, smiling softly.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
I frown.
"But...is she okay?! Pandora?!"
"That's what I'm going to find out."
*******
(PANDORA'S POV)
It's dark...and I'm cold.
Where am I?
There's a weight on me...and a horrible stench.
I only woke up because I can barely breathe down here anymore.
I try to pull myself up, only for my foot to be jammed.
I grimace, an intense headache coming on.
I overworked myself again.
Hopefully Aiden's at least okay.
I wouldn't forgive myself if the girl had died.
I rest my head down again, my eyes drifting shut.
******
"Pandora?"
Is someone calling my name?
"Pandora?"
My eyebrows furrow, and I frown.
"Pandora?! Are you okay?"
I eyes shoot open, and I see two faces.
Aiden's and—
"Pierce?! What're you doing here? And Aiden..." I grimace. "What the hell happened to you?"
Aiden rolls her eyes, a large slash lining her pale and supple cheeks.
"Just a little slash from the wendigo. Not a big deal."
"Are you sure? It looks infected..."
Aiden looks at Pierce.
"It doesn't look infected, right? Please say right."
Pierce makes a face.
"I don't know about infected...but it doesn't look good..."
Aiden sighs, standing up and looking at her reflection in Pierce's scythe.
"What do you mean not infected?! Pierce, it looks like it's growing! My beautiful face!"
Pierce gives me a look before glancing back at Aiden.
"Aiden, I wouldn't—"
"Ow!"
"Touch it. Never a good idea. Let me help Pandora then I'll help you."
"Aren't you a fucking ray of sunshine. You're supposed to be the Grim Reaper, not a nurse!"
Pierce rolls his eyes before looking back at me.
"How are you feeling?"
"Well...pooped...but I'm doing well...ish. It's my fault. I should've known I'd pass out if I used too much of that damn power. I'm not that powerful that I can just blast magic from my hands and feel like I'm on the top of the world after."
He shrugs.
"I dressed the wounds on your stomach and legs..." he grins mischievously. "I hope you don't mind too much."
My cheeks flush at the thought of him touching me.
"Oh, no, not at all."
Aiden leans nonchalantly against his scythe, her arms crossed with a small grin on her face.
"How lovey dovey, bitches. Now quit the helpless flirting and help a girl out. There's an amoeba growing on my face."
Pierce looks at her then the scythe.
"Why the hell are you leaning against my scythe, Aiden? That thing can slice your head off."
"Then let it. Who likes living anyways."
She sits down, and Pierce takes the side of her face.
"This is going to be weird, but stick with it. It's how being the Grim Reaper works."
He leans in, planting a kiss right next to where the cut is.
When he pulls away Aiden's skin begins to morph back to normal until her cheek just looks like it did before.
Me and Aiden look at him in shock.
"I know you did not just kiss me. And I know that big ass cut did not just disappear when you kissed me. Screw the Grim Reaper! This bitch is some sort of warlock from the Wizard of Oz! No. Sorry. I meant Harry Potter."
Pierce and I both look at Aiden strangely.
"I don't know what a wizard of oz or a Harry Potter is."
Aiden gives us a tight smile.
"Yeah...right. I forgot you people are idiots."
We both glare at her.
"Rude."
I stand up with the help of Pierce's hand, brushing myself off.
My clothes are covered in dirt and dried blood.
I guess we're just gonna have to stick with it.
Pierce smiles at us both, taking his scythe and cloak thing.
"It was nice talking to y'all, but I've got souls to reap and people to kill."
"Wow. How sweet of you. Slaughtering people."
Pierce gives Aiden a sarcastic smirk.
"Keep up the sarcasm, Miss, and you'll be my next target."
He disappears into thin air, and me and Aiden look at each other.
"Where the hell are we meant to go?"
I shrug.
"I don't know Aiden...you tell me."
******
(AIDEN'S POV)
We're now walking randomly in the labyrinth again, Pandora slowly dragging herself along with me.
"You're sure you aren't going to pass out on me, Pandora?! I don't know how to summon your boyfriend if you do so you'd be pretty much stuck."
"I'm sure, Aiden...just a little light headed. The more you talk the worse it gets."
"Wow. Thanks for that, honey."
The sun now starts to rise, and I roll my eyes.
"I'm so down with this...where the hell is the exit?! Pandora?!"
I look behind me, seeing Pandora passed out on the ground.
"Oh come on."
*******
(ALTHEA'S POV)
We venture through the labyrinth, me getting more and more scared the deeper and deeper we go.
I swear I'm hearing things.
"Harley. You heard that, right? Lex? Arachne? You guys must I've heard that."
Arachne holds the bridge of her nose.
"Althea. How many times do I have to tell you you're hearing shit?! You make me want to rip my teeth out one by one! Just shut up already!"
I clamp my mouth shut, and Arachne's shoulders drop.
"Thank you. Now the exit should be just around the corner, so—oh shit."
She halts, backing up.
She pushes us with her, snapping her head around and pushing her finger against her lips.
"Wha—"
"Shh!"
Silence stretches over us all, and then I hear a voice.
"You heard that right?"
"I mean, duh, Ariadne. I'm not deaf."
My heart jumps.
Ariadne?!
The Cretan princess?!
And she's talking to...to Alec?!
*******
(AIDEN'S POV)
I now pick up Pandora to the best of my ability, I'm pretty damn weak if I'm being honest, carrying her around another corner.
I swear. I shouldn't have done this.
If I couldn't pass the darn corn maze in fifth grade...what made my dumbass think I'd be able to go through a whole labyrinth by myself?!
Holy shit I'm an idiot.
An out of shape idiot.
Where's the cat when I need him. Oh, right.
I drove away the cat yesterday and now I'm by myself.
With Pandora who's out like a damn brick.
Don't ask why I used a brick as an example.
I don't even know.
I continue walking, until I see an opening.
Holy shit...did I make it?!
I run forwards with Pandora still in my arms, running into the open space.
Oh wait.
Now there's a big ass flight of stairs.
******
(ALTHEA'S POV)
I sneak in front of Arachne, peaking my head out from the aide for a split second before pulling it back.
My face goes pale.
Arachne gives me a look.
"Who's there?"
"Ariadne. And Alec."
"What're they talking about?"
Lex asks, and I frown.
"I don't know...let's see."
*****
We all sit there, listening to what they're saying.
"What do you suggest we do, Alec? If Minos finds out I'm talking to you, he'll—"
"Kill me. I'm aware, sweet pea. But don't you worry. You've got yourself a god friend."
"God?! Alec, you said you were a fairy!"
"And you believed that?! You can't tell me I look like a fairy to you."
Ariadne pauses.
"Well...you don't...but I didn't know what to believe!"
"I can tell...you're such a naive little princess. Getting involved with Thanatos's son, the personification of death...you're quite stupid if I do say so myself."
"Rude!"
"But I'm gonna need you to do me a favor, babycakes."
"Well...okay then."
"Great...so you know Aiden?"
"I've heard of her, yes."
"I thought so. I need her for something, and I believe the only way for that is to be in your body. I'm sure the girl wouldn't trust me at all."
"You sure? I thought you had like two make out sessions with her. Aren't you guys like...a thing?"
Alec's eye twitches.
"A thing?! Fuck no, Ariadne. I don't do goth girls. I mean...sure...she's hot...but that'd ruin my whole image. Imagine someone saying: oh, look! It's Thanatos's son who's dating a goth chick! Ew. No. I'm a hot bad boy I can't be seen dating someone emo."
"Exactly something you would say if you didn't like her, Alec. Don't lie to me. Especially don't lie to yourself."
Alec gives Ariadne the death stare.
"Fine. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a little sympathy or have a soft spot for her, but the rest is true. Now stop distracting me."
"Okay then."
"Good, my fateful and dainty princess. Aiden wouldn't trust me with what I'm doing because it sounds sketchy as hell. But if she's hearing it from a cute little Cretan princess then maybe she'll listen."
"And what are you expecting me to say, Alec...?"
"Oh. That the world is going to burn and you need to possess her to save it."
********
(AIDEN'S POV)
I sit down for a rest, setting Pandora down on the floor, her head in my lap.
"Hey, bitch, you up?"
Pandora stirs, her catlike, viridescent eyes fluttering open.
"I know you aren't calling me a bitch, Aiden."
"Just a joke, boo. But you're up from your two hour cat nap?! My fat ass had to carry your fat ass all the way to this staircase. I'm almost one hundred percent sure the exit is up there. And you better not pass out halfway up those stairs because if you fall down I'm not going back to pick you up."
"Well thanks, Aiden. I really appreciate it."
Pandora stands up, rubbing her head before looking at the bright staircase.
"I swear...why the hell are these stairs so freaking steep?! One wrong step and you tumble down to your death."
I look up at her with a frown.
"Did I even complete the trials?! I didn't come across Medusa or Arachne once. That was a complete fail and waste of time. There's much more I lost then earned from whatever the fuck I just did."
"Same here. At this point I'd much rather be sitting in my box." Pandora shrugs. "But perhaps we can go visit your dad...he'll tell us what to do. I'm sure no one up there has actually seen me in ages. They probably don't even remember me."
Pandora pulls me off the ground, and we both look up at the staircase with a frown.
"Are we going up this shit?"
I turn my head towards Pandora.
"Yes. And we better start now if we want to make it before night."
*******
(ALTHEA'S POV)
"I'll be right back, okay Alec?"
Alec nods at Ariadne.
"Go on, princess. Don't leave me waiting for too long."
"I won't, Alec."
My heart jumps in my chest.
This isn't good. I have to warn Aiden! The exit is just past them...if I could just—screw it.
I start forward, and Arachne grabs my wrist.
"What the hell are you doing?! There's literally people over there that trapped you in the first place! And if you get yourself stuck again I'm not going to be the one to go back and save you!"
I wrench my hand free.
"I'll be fine."
I look at everyone else, who're giving me the same look that Arachne is.
"All you guys have to do is sneak by when I'm talking to him, okay?"
They nod and I release a breath.
I feel like this isn't a good idea.
But I'm gonna do it anyways.
Here goes literally everything.
I run forwards, attempting to run past them when someone grabs my arm, jerking me backwards and against the labyrinth wall, my breath catching in my throat.
Alec's hand is beside my head, the other keeping me against the wall by my shoulder.
His knee slides between my legs, so I'm completely and utterly stuck.
I gulp, focusing my gaze on his impossibly green eyes.
"Why don't you look who it is..."
His gaze drifts slowly from my chest back up to my eyes, lingering on my lips.
"My favorite little deity."
I roll my eyes.
"You're just a deity yourself, Alec. Perhaps just a more powerful one."
"You could say that again, sweetheart. I like the sound of my name coming from your soft, tempting lips."
I purse my lips, moving my eyes to the side for a split second as the rest of them sneak by.
He grins.
"You're friends are sneaking by behind me, aren't they, Althea?"
Alec begins to turn his head when I hastily grab the side of his face, kissing him torridly.
He pulls away after a few seconds, leaving me breathless.
"Holy shit...what was that for?"
My cheeks flush and I look slightly to the side.
"I don't know...I just really—"
He kisses me again, and I let out a small gasp against his lips, snaking my arms around his neck.
Oh no.
This isn't right.
This isn't right at all.
I kiss Alec long enough for him to be able to put me to sleep with his powers, slumping against him.
"Such a silly girl you are, Althea."
He lifts me up, just as Ariadne rounds the corner, jumping in shock at the sight of me unconscious in his arms.
He leans in to my ear, whispering huskily in it.
"But I must admit, darling, you are a good kisser."
*******
(AIDEN'S POV)
When me and Pandora finally reach the top of the darn stairs we're both extremely exhausted.
"Holy cow...how long did that freaking take us?! Four hours?!"
I look at Pandora from the corner of my eye.
"How are you even walking straight?! That was probably my workout for the rest of the year."
Pandora laughs as we exit a large room and into a smaller room.
"Why don't you look who it is?"
We both look up, and Xenodice comes towards us.
"Did you do it? You must've because Pandora is with you."
Xenodice smiles at Pandora.
"How have you been?"
"As well as a girl trapped in a life sized box could've been. Not too well."
Xenodice laughs before motioning for us to follow.
"Come with me now, guys. Hades needs to speak to both of you."
*******
(ALTHEA'S POV)
I wake up, my head throbbing.
"I feel weird...where am I?"
Ariadne peaks over me, her blonde hair falling down her back.
"Are you okay...?"
"Yeah, I feel weird...but okay."
"Good. Because Alec is kinda...inside of you?"
"What?!"
******
(ARACHNE'S POV)
I'm gonna be completely honest...I have no idea where Althea went.
And without Althea...how the fuck am I meant to take over the world?! Her friends are completely and utterly useless! Dumbass deities!
******
(ALTHEA'S POV)
"You can't be serious, Ariadne. How the hell is he inside of me?"
"Well...he kinda...possessed you."
"He's a pervert! What if he looked at my boobs when I didn't notice!"
"I didn't look at your non-existent boobs, bitch!"
I gasp, and look at Ariadne.
"Where did his voice come from?! And my boobs aren't non-existent!"
I hear a deep snicker in my head.
"Yeah right. You've got a nice ass though...babe. Did a little backside checking out session in the mirror, at least you got blessed in one place."
"You're repulsive! Get out of me!"
"Nope."
I hear him laughing again.
"Or at least not until we finish what I need to get done."
********
(AIDEN'S POV)
We approach the large cave like place again, and Xenodice smiles down at Cerberus.
"Hey, buddy. Know where your father is? Or Persephone?"
The three headed dog jumps and barks, licking Xenodice's hand.
Cerberus barks three times, and Persephone comes rambling out of the cave.
"Oh! I had thought something went wrong! It's just you, Xenodice."
Her eyes move over to me and she smiles brightly.
"Aiden! Oh, you're back, dearie! Are you okay?!"
She takes my shoulders gently, rotating me.
"Oh goodie! You're doing great! Is that who I think it is?! Pandora?"
Pandora slides from behind me, waving.
"Hi, Persephone."
"I haven't seen you in forever!"
She pulls Pandora into a hug, before pulling away.
"Hades is looking for you guys. Come on in."
We all head inside, into Hades's main room.
We see him sitting lazily in the throne, obviously not listening to someone who's rambling on.
"Hades? They're here."
He looks up, and nods before looking down at the person.
"Well, Brandon, I happen to think your idea is fucking stupid. Get out of my sight and come back when you have something good that doesn't make my ears bleed."
The dude runs away crying and Persephone's face scrunches up.
"That was really mean. He could've spent so much time making that idea for you!"
"Persephone, sometimes the truth hurts."
He moves his eyes torpidly to mine.
"Hello, Aiden. I see you've returned."
"Well you're seeing right. If you didn't or couldn't tell I'd have to send ya to the eye doctor for a check up."
Hades goes silent for a moment before rolling his eyes.
"Persephone you said I'd like the girl. I hate her."
"Thanks a lot, dad. I hate myself too. But it's just a sad reminder that I'm a loser, and coming from the god of the underworld it really hurts my feelings."
I start to fake cry, and his eyes widen a little.
"Don't cry. Please. I don't know how to deal with crying children."
"I'm faking crying, dude. Now what do you want?"
Hades opens his mouth to say something, but then his eyes drift to my pocket, where something is sticking out of.
"What's that, Aiden?"
I look down, shoving the note Alec gave me back into my pocket along with the chain of the key necklace.
"Uhh...nothing? There's nothing there?"
"You obviously saw it, child. You pushed it back into your pocket."
"I definitely didn't?"
"Stop speaking to me in questions and get over here."
I look at Xenodice, then Persephone, then Pandora who all look at me wide eyed.
"What the fuck do I do?"
I whisper, and Pandora pushes me forward.
"Go, obviously! He'll bash your head in if you don't...trust me."
"I'm trusting you."
I say as I walk a little closer to Hades.
"Come closer, doll. I don't bite."
I walk closer, until I'm standing right in front of the throne.
He holds out his hand with a forbidding smile.
"Hand it over."
"I feel like I'm being grounded."
"Hand it over, Aiden. I'm not playing with you today."
"Okay, okay. Now stop it. Please. I'm starting to get scared."
I rip all three things from my pocket, handing him the necklace, the powder, and the note.
Hades narrows his eyes at it, then looks back at me.
"This isn't some raunchy teenage smut letter, right?! Is this...what do you mortals call it...crack cocaine?!"
My eyes widen.
"Fuck no! I ain't a drug addict! It's—it's—ugh. Just read the darn note."
I drop my head down, and Hades gives me an odd look before opening it and scanning the words with his almost translucent silver eyes.
He drops the note down, looking at the key necklace before picking up the powder.
"Aiden, sweetie, you can't believe Alec when he tells you that this powder summons a god. That makes no fucking sense."
"Wait, dad, no—"
He throws the powder and it hits the floor, a cloud of dark blue forming around it.
We hear a yawn and when the dark blue cloud dies down, we see a guy.
Persephone gasps and Pandora and Xenodice's eyes widen.
"Holy shit..."
I mutter, and look at Hades.
"You can't tell me—"
"That that's Hypnos? It is."
We both turn, and the guy looks at all of us.
"What is this?! I'm not a genie! Why was I summoned?!"
He looks between us all, his eyes lingering on me, Persephone, and Hades.
His eyes loiter on me, and his eyes narrow.
"So you're one of them..."
He shakes his head, seemingly snapping back into reality before looking back at Hades.
"Hades, hello."
"Hi, Hypnos. You can't tell me you came from that powder."
"Well I did."
The guy turns to Persephone.
"Oh, hey!"
"Hi, Hypnos! How are you?"
"Good as always, dear. Didn't you have a glow up since the last time I saw you!?"
"Oh stop it...that's not true."
He grins before turning to me.
"And you...you must be Aiden. The girl my nephew, Alec, mentioned."
I nod.
"Yep, yeah. That's me? Aiden?"
Hypnos yawns again before cocking his head to the side.
"Well then, if that's all, what's your wish?"
******