"Oh no. Oh no, no, no. You can't be serious."
I look between the both of them and my mind goes blank before I respond.
"That's why you seemed so familiar..." my eyes snap on his again. "Where did you go?! Four months?!"
Alec opens his mouth to say something but Alaric interrupts him.
"Quiet now. This actually isn't your little boyfriend."
He waves his hand through him before looking back at me slyly.
My face contorts in confusion.
"But the footsteps—"
"Were fake. He is fake. Still my brother though."
"You're acting like we didn't just find out about each other two hours ago."
"Shut up." He looks back at me with a sort of crazed grin. "I'll tell you where he is...hell...I'll even bring you to him, you just have to do one thing for me. Both of you."
Alec's hologram sits there, looking between us.
"If he isn't real...how the hell is he talking?!"
"I am real, I'm a person, Aiden. It's just a hologram of me. I'm in—"
Alaric turns off the hologram and Alec disappears.
I look back at him.
"Where is he?! And where's my necklace?! You better give that shit back."
"I'm afraid I can't do that, honeybun...not until you return the favor."
"Return the favor...? You did nothing."
"Oh really? I can name a few. Saved you and your friend from Lethe, got your friend's memory back, saved little Althea from a little someone in the bathroom, and hmm...protected you and your friends from that monster?"
"Monster?! What the fuck?!"
He leans against the wall nonchalantly.
"Your hot sister saw it. The thing behind Elias? I put a protective circle around you guys because I'm just so amazing."
"I know you didn't just call Hazel hot. Creep!"
"We're the same age, babe! Come on."
"Yeah. Maybe in human years...who knows how old you are in non-human years."
"What the hell?! You think I'm classified in cat years like Alec?!"
"Cat years...?"
"I'm just kidding. If he was nineteen in cat years he'd be 92 in human. And we all know he doesn't look that old. But enough of that...you keep distracting me, sweet pea. And when people distract me with their blabber mouths I feel forced to shut them myself."
He appears in front of the bed I'm tied down on, then teleporting above me.
"Just imagine what I could do to you..."
He takes my chin in his hand, lifting my face up before running his thumb down my lips.
I stare at him wide eyed and he produces a needle and thread out of thin air, grinning.
"...when I have a needle and thread. Sew your little mouth shut. Then you won't talk back to me anymore."
"You wouldn't. Now let me go!"
"We didn't even get to the deal yet, child! But very well then."
*******
I regret it.
Now me and Althea are stuck chained against the wall instead.
"Is this better for you two? Little brats."
Althea groans.
"This hurts my wrists! Let me go! Let us go!"
"I don't know how many times I have to tell you no for it to get into your thick skull! The answer's no!"
Althea's eye twitches and she sighs.
"What is it?! We're trying to get to a witch, and you're making it way harder than it should be."
"Awww...I come to think I'm making this much more interesting for you!"
We both give him a look.
"No."
"Don't tell me you're bothering them, Alaric."
Both of our eyes snap on a girl with long, dark violet hair.
Her eyes glow purple before she frowns.
"What the hell did you do to them?! They look awful."
I roll my eyes.
"Thanks a lot, grape."
Her eyes snap on mine and she glares daggers at me.
"Call me that again and I'll slit your throat with my claws."
Alaric guides the girl backwards.
"This is Raven, my other little shapeshifter friend."
He rests his arm on her head and her eyes speak purple before she electrocutes him.
"Ow! Bitch!"
She hisses before looking back at us.
"They're useless. And you're planning for them—"
"Shh! Shut it! Don't ruin everything! Get everyone else so I can explain."
Raven nods, morphing into a bird before flying away.
Alaric turns back to us with a large grin.
"Now that Miss Feathers is gone,"
Alaric smirks as his eyes start to glow again.
"The real fun can start."
********
(ALEC'S POV)
You get used to pitch black darkness after awhile.
I should've listened to my gut about going into that fucking portal.
Now I'm trapped.
Proves why I should've went to college instead of the underworld.
I still can't use my critical thinking.
Of course Athena was teaming up with my twin brother.
Never even knew I had one.
The people I'm related to just seem to come out of nowhere.
And you know what fucking sucks?!
They're both plain evil.
Athena didn't even give me a third of her powers like she said she would...bitch.
"Oh Alec!"
I move my eyes from the corner to the cell door, looking at her.
"Hey."
"Guess what I'm here for now!"
I throw a pebble at the wall, giving her the side eye.
"Let me guess...it's time for fucking execution."
"Nope! You're lucky boss doesn't want me to kill you yet...I could if I wanted to though...all I'd have to do is snap your neck...feel it crunch underneath my fingers."
A nasty grin spreads across my face.
"Kinky."
Her smile drops as she swings a knife around.
I appear at the cell door, resting my arms outside of it.
"I see you've been working on your knife skills...getting ready to slit my throat, babe?"
She looks up at me before looking away.
"I wish."
She backs away from the cell, throwing the knife into the wall next to me.
"You know it's almost time, right?"
"Time for me to die? Don't remind me how dear old Athena and my divine brother want me to get executed in T-minus two and a half days."
I give her a mock frown.
"I didn't even get to explore sinners realm! At least I'm a hot sinner."
"We all know, Alec."
A grin stretches across my face.
"Really? Everyone knows? Even you my blueberry muffin?"
She looks at her hair then back at me.
"I know you aren't calling me that because my hair is blue, Walker."
"Maybe I am. Would you be executing me? I'm sure when I died you would have some fun with my corpse."
"What the fuck—no! I'm not a necrophiliac!"
My eyes glow and I look away with a grin.
"Whatever makes you sleep at night, kitten."
She glares at me from the corner of her eye before walking through the cell door to the other side, grabbing the collar of my shirt.
"I don't like the way you're talking to me, Alec. I find it disrespectful."
"You know what I find disrespectful? The fact that you're kneeing my crotch."
She looks down, moving her knee before looking back up at me with a malevolent grin.
"I may not be a necrophiliac, Mr. Walker, but I am a masochist. I would find pleasure in stabbing you, slicing your beautiful skin. If I had my knife I'd get started."
I look down at her, into her dark blue eyes.
"Aren't you silly. I'd rip you to shreds with my teeth first."
I flash my teeth in a grin and she grimaces.
"Ugh. No."
She slowly lets go of me, taking a step back.
"And to answer your question, lover boy, I am going to be the one executing you." She smiles. "And I'll enjoy every single moment of it."
"I'm sure you will. But...would you ever kill your little stud muffin without getting a taste first?"
She looks at me.
"What the hell are you talking about?!"
I appear behind her, leaning down to whisper in her ear.
"A make out session."
I teleport back in front of her, this time without a shirt.
"You can't tell me you've never thought about it...my lips on your neck?"
I walk closer to her and she slowly backs away until she's against the wall, looking up at me.
Her eyes drop down to my chest and then my abs before back to my face, her hands bracing against my chest to make more distance.
"I wouldn't lie to you...but what are you doing? This isn't to—"
"Hmm...be quiet."
"What?"
I press my lips against hers and she lets out a small gasp, grabbing the side of my face.
"Ro?! Ro where are you?!"
She jumps, pulling away from me.
"Sia?"
"Yeah, it's me! They're looking for you!"
"Who?!"
"You forgot already?! Athena and Alaric. You should go now."
"Okay!"
She looks back at me before walking back through the solid cell door, and I grin at her.
"To be continued, babe."
"I don't know about that one. You just caught me off guard."
Sia, another one of the cute little vixens that guard me appears, taking her hand.
"Come on, Rowan. We don't have time for you to get caught up with this guy."
Her eyes drop to my chest as well before moving back to my face.
"Holy crap. Xena wasn't lying when she said he had muscles I mean holy guacamole..."
"Come on, Sia!"
Rowan shoves Sia forward before looking back at me.
"Next time I see you, expect to be brought to the execution room, deceiver. You know the price for playing with the boss's daughter."
"Oh Rowan, aren't you an innocent soul."
I grin at her.
"Thanatos wouldn't kill his favorite son."
********
(AIDEN'S POV)
My arms feel like they're going to completely snap off once everyone arrives.
Three more guys and three girls.
Alaric smirks.
"Now, now, friends...these are our new playthings! Althea and Aiden!"
A guy with charcoal colored hair looks confused.
"Isn't Aiden—"
"Alec's little slut? Yes."
I roll my eyes.
"I'm not anybody's slut. Whatever the fuck that's supposed to mean."
Elias smirks.
"I love her. Such an attitude."
"Thanks. I don't just sit and take people shit talking me."
Alaric rolls his eyes.
"What did I tell you?! Shut up or I'm going to make you! You won't like it because you'll never be able to kiss my twin brother again!"
I shut my mouth and he smiles.
"Just what I thought. Now...according to the people of the underworld, we're considered heathens. Monsters. And you know why? Because we refused to sell our souls!"
"Does that mean—"
"Alec sold his soul to who knows what? Totally! Now he has all sorts of demons chasing after him."
My eye twitches.
"That's a little horrifying."
"Mmhmm. We refused the deal so now we're just not excepted. But who wants to sell their soul?! And people say I'm the dumb one. We all know I'm the smarter brother."
Alaric smirks.
"You all know me. Alaric. Alec's more superior half."
A girl with turquoise hair waves awkwardly.
"I'm River."
"Raven. You already met me."
A girl with bright pink hair smiles.
"Hi, I'm Daphne!"
A seemingly goth guy rolls his eyes.
"Lars."
A guy with luminescent yellow eyes smiles.
"Ace."
The last guy blows me and Althea a kiss.
Althea blushes.
"Neo to you, ladies."
Alaric grins.
"Now that that's out of the way, and you know who everyone is...I'd say we can get to the fun stuff. Or non fun stuff. The explaining."
********
Althea and I look at all of them.
"Explain what?"
"What you have to do! First of all, you have to join our group."
"What?!" Me and Althea say at the same time.
"Join our group. Easy as pie. We need to make sure you won't turn on us...because if you do it'll be easier to find you and drink your blood."
Both of his eyes glow red for a second.
"And I must say your blood smells incredibly sweet, hot stuff."
My eyes widen.
"That's mortifying...but thanks for the info! I definitely won't cross you! No Aiden noodle soup here!"
Elias laughs.
"We won't bite you, honey." He winks. "Only if you ask."
"So if we join your group...what'll be the benefit of that?!"
"First of all, being in our group, duh. We're cool as fuck. Second of all, we'll grant you one of your deepest desires. And third of all, we'll tell you where wonder boy is."
"All of that...just for joining your group?!"
"Well of course not! You have to do some things for us first!"
"Like?"
Alaric shakes his head with a small smirk.
"We don't kiss and tell, babe. You'll just have to find out."
*******
(PANDORA'S POV)
"Have you seen Aiden or Althea at all?"
I turn my head around.
"Pierce?! Dude, where the fuck did you go?!"
I stand up, walking over to the hallway.
"I swear...if you're raiding my kitchen again I'll—AHHH!"
I jump back as Pierce jumps out from a corner, laughing as I fall onto the floor out of pure fear.
"Oh my god...what the hell?! Could've given me a heart attack!"
"Sorry, sweetness. I couldn't miss the opportunity."
"Opportunity to what?! Scare the living shit out of me?! Well good fucking job! You did it!"
He continues laughing and I lay on the floor, glaring up at him.
"Help me up."
"But—"
"Help me up you big potato!"
Pierce lifts me up off the floor before rubbing my head, messing up my hair.
"Eek!"
I smooth it back down before chasing after him.
"Where did you even go? And have you seen Aiden and Althea?"
"Aiden and Althea? No...I haven't seen her in like two weeks. I haven't visited her in a while."
"Oh...because we saw them both yesterday, me and the girls, and we never heard from them since then. It's been sixteen hours. They both or at least one of them reach out to us after a while."
"I'd ask Hazel. If anything she'd know where they are."
I nod, grabbing my black leather jacket before planting a kiss on his cheek.
"I'll be back, boo bear!"
"Oh no, Pandora...don't call me that again."
I turn my head over my shoulder with a sly grin as I pull the door shut.
"I can do what I want, and there's nothing you can do about it! See ya!"
*******
I approach Hades's place after a little bit and see Cerberus, ringing the bell before petting the three headed dog.
"Hi! Aren't you cute?"
"Pandora!"
I look up and see Hazel, smiling at her.
"Hey, Hazelnut!"
I walk past Cerberus and over to Hazel.
"I need to tell you something."
"Which is?"
"Well...more like ask."
I look at her worriedly.
"Have you seen Aiden or Althea the past sixteen or so hours?"
"Well...no...but we did send them both over Lethe to get to Tempest the witch. It was Hades and Bailey's idea, not mine. They're trying to get her a potion to forget Alec."
My eye twitches.
"What the fuck?! And she hasn't contacted any of you in sixteen hours?!"
"No?"
"Oh my god, Hazel! That's awful! We have to go find her."
Hazel opens her mouth to say something and I narrow my eyes.
"Now."
********
(ALEC'S POV)
I lean against the wall, throwing a bouncy ball back and forth as a form of entertainment.
It's been four hours since someone's came over here.
So depressing...I have feelings too!
I continue to throw the damn ball when I hear someone clear their throat.
"Umm...hello?"
I turn my head and grin.
"Why don't you look who it is? My favorite little gummy bear. Mabel."
She holds up a key.
"It's time."
"Time for what? Time to fuck? I haven't done that in a good two days because of y'all. Not a fan."
"Two what?! Fuck?! Oh no! It's time for you to see someone. They want to talk to you."
"Too bad. Though I knew you were too cute and innocent for so much action in one sitting, cupcake."
Mabel looks at me strangely before unlocking the cell door, motioning for me to come out.
"Come on now."
"Oh come on...not gonna come in and say hi?"
Mabel shakes her head.
"I wasn't planning on it Walker. Now get moving."
"Look who's showing some sass."
I teleport out of the cell, grinning.
"You make me want to rip out your tongue."
*******
Mabel drops me off in front of a door, and someone opens it.
"Another surprise. Hello, Rowan."
Rowan gives me a look.
"If you mention to anyone what happened I won't hesitate to get you executed tomorrow. Don't play with me, boy."
"I'm so scared, what're you gonna do? Tell them I kissed you?! No one fucking cares."
"You kissed Rowan?!"
We both turn around to see Sia.
"Well, I actually di—"
"Didn't! He's trying to say he didn't. I would never kiss him? He's not my type."
I pull her hand down, a grin stretching across my face.
"Yeah...yet you were full on checking me out and kissing me like there was no tomorrow. Don't try me, Ro."
Sia looks between the both of us.
"This is weird. But come with me. They want to see you."
She pulls me down a hallway, leaving Rowan standing there, rubbing her head.
"I'm so stupid. Goddamnit."
*******
Sia stops in front of a door and smiles.
"Go on in, bad boy."
"Yep. Totally, bubble butt."
"Bubble what?!" She looks at her ass then back at me. "Oh. I get it. I guess squats are doing me justice, Walker! Now quit distracting me!"
She opens the door and shoved me in, slamming it shut behind me.
"Hello? Where's my favorite wisdom goddess?"
"Over here, child."
I turn around, and grin.
"Hey."
"You better stop it with the flirty attitude around me, young man. You're way out of my league and I'm certainly too old."
"Out of your league? Bitch, if anything you're out of mine."
I lean against her desk, blowing a piece of hair from in front of my face before smiling.
"What is it now?"
"Well, Alec, you're aware we took you and lied for a reason, right?"
"Umm...yeah?"
"Well I never told you that reason."
"I'm aware, Miss Wisdom."
Athena motions I come closer, and I walk over to her, stopping in front of her.
"Hi."
"Hello, Alec. Tell me, who is this?"
My face pales as she points to a girl in a photo.
"That's my ex girlfriend Stella, why?"
"Well, Alec, she happened to go missing around the time you went into this portal. We have a good reason to believe you took her with you and hid her. Or killed her."
I blink a few times before staring at her.
"You can't be serious. I haven't seen her in two years! And that makes no fucking sense. How the hell am I meant to take a whole ass woman with me in here?! Shove her in my pocket?! That's absolute bullshit."
"Most definitely not. Just yesterday we found her dead body, and your exact leather jacket with it."
********
(PANDORA'S POV)
After continuous hours of sear going left and right me and Hazel just about give up.
"We have to go see Carden, Pandora. This is getting out of hand. They're obviously gone somewhere, because we can't track Aiden anymore. She either took the necklace off and left it somewhere or someone took her, and the necklace with it."
"What's Carden going to do?!"
"The girl's a witch, a prophet, and a fortune teller. She'll be able to help us."
I sigh.
"Okay...fine. Give me your hand."
I take Hazel's hand, teleporting us to the front of Carden's shop.
She knock on the door before opening it, hearing the jingle of doorbells.
"Fear not! I'm coming! Just let me get my coffee!"
We hear Carden's voice, and walk through the dark purple, blue, and silver room.
"It's just us, Carden! Pandora and Hazel!"
"Oh goodie!"
She hurries out from behind a curtain, motioning with her hand.
"Come now! And be careful...the floor's a little wet because I just cleaned it."
We walk carefully through the curtain and into her main office area, seeing a large oval shaped table with a large crystal ball in the middle.
"Have a seat! What can I do for you guys today? Palm reading? Future telling?"
"We need your help." I say, trying to ease into the subject that Althea and Aiden are missing.
Hazel completely disregards that.
"Aiden and Althea are missing." She says bluntly, and Carden gore completely silent.
"That's fucking terrible."
She sits down, pulling the ball closer.
"What exactly do you need me to do?"
I look at her uneasily as she rushes to get all of her things.
"Look into the ball! Perhaps it'll show where Aiden is! And tell us what'll happen in the near future...like in two or three days future."
Carden nods.
"Okay. Got it."
She holds her hands over the crystal ball, watching intently as it starts to glow and swirl, showing the moving image of a seemingly dark room.
There's two people tied up against a wall, and seven others in front of them.
Oh no.
That's Aiden and Althea against the wall.
Those other people are the heathens. That's not good. That's not good at all.
I grab Carden's wrist, shaking her slightly.
"Carden?! Where is that?!"
"Huh?"
Carden snaps her head around to look at us, her eyes dimming down.
"Where is that place?!"
She looks extremely confused, her eyes darting around.
"I don't know! I have no idea!"
Hazel sighs, before motioning with her hand.
"It's okay. We'll find out where it is. Just tell us what'll happen in the future."
"Okay."
She shuts her eyes, beginning to him a tube before she starts to say words.
"By the power of light, show no fright. Tell the future and what it beholds, as well as the lies that may be told."
Her hair starts to float up around her and her eyes shoot open, one a pure blue and the other a radiating purple.
"An execution, a betrayal, a battle, a mystery, one will not survive."
Her eyes go back to normal and she looks at us.
"So? Anything?"
Me and Hazel look at her in fear.
"Carden? You said there was going to be an execution."
*********
(ALEC'S POV)
"I swear Athena, I have nothing to do with this!"
I back away from her slightly, and Athena frowns.
"Everything points to you...and Stella was Selene's daughter. One of the most important people. Magnus?! Gunner?!"
Two chunky ass men come in the room, grabbing my arms.
I hiss, turning into a large black cobra before wrapping around one of their necks and squeezing.
The start to choke, and then fall onto the floor in a fit of coughs.
Weakling.
I start to slither away when the other grabs me, dragging me backwards.
I shift back into human form, kicking his face before throwing an orb of black magic at him and watching as he gets trapped in a cage made of dark matter.
Athena looks at me in horror, and I glare at her.
"You aren't going to just—"
I go stiff, feeling a needle go into the flesh of my neck.
I look at Athena one last time before falling on the floor, unconscious.
Rowan drops the needle in shaking hands, looking back at Athena.
"W-What did I do...? Oh no. Alec?! Are you okay?!"
Athena holds out her hand.
"You did the right thing. Now get Flash and Buster to get him out of here. I changed my mind. He's being executed right when he wakes up. Make sure his powers are disabled."
"But—"
"That's meant to weaken and hurt the person. Do it. He's way more dangerous then I thought."
********
I wake up with an awful pain everywhere in my body, opening my eyes to see a pit of fire, and a crowd of angry and worried supernaturals.
I see Athena, Sia, Mabel, and Rowan near the front, Rowan's face pale.
My face cracks into a grin.
This is funny.
Executing me already?
We love that.
"So here today we're executing Alec Walker for the murder and kidnapping of Stella Lunara, and the assault of Magnus Lennon and Gunner Green."
As soon as the person stops yapping, I start to get slowly lowered into the fire when I hear a familiar high pitched female voice.
"Wait! Stop! Don't hurt him, please!"
Athena's face contorts in anger and in confusion as two sets of footsteps are heard, and two black haired girls come running forward.
She throws a bucket of water over the fire, throwing a ball of electricity at the ropes around me.
I drop down and she runs over, grabbing my face between her pale and delicate hands.
"Alec...Alec listen to me! Are you okay?!"
My eyes snap on hers and my eyes widen.
"Aiden?!"