The Main Library.
Terry walked into what served as the Castle's library, wall to wall bookshelves with three layers, Terry saw that Darius, Mina, and Amaya had spread books and papers on one of the tables in the second floor. He walked up to the stairs and saw that the three of them were all looking at one overlarge book their heads as close as can be. Terry stifled a laugh, he could already tell that Darius was every bit the ladies man that Lauri claimed him to be. "I hope you guys found something, by now." Terry said as he walked closer to them. "The Skyphos is mentioned in several of these texts, but the location is kind of sketchy." Mina said. "Here," she said pointing to one of the books that laid open on the table talks about how the Skyphos, can only be held by someone pure of heart. But if they have to be pure of heart how can the Skyphos be on Vemos at all? The Kingdom is one of the darkest kingdoms in all of the nine realms."
"The Skyphos does not reside in this realm." Simeon said as he joined the group. "It doesn't? Then where do we have to go?" Terry asked with furrowed brows. "The place of eternal torment." Simeon said his smile wide. "We have to go to the realm of Hades."
"Why is that making you smile." Amaya said with a raised eyebrow. "Because I happen to know the ferryman." Simeon said waggling his eyebrows. "You know Charon?" Amaya said, in surprise. "Yup. And it just so happens that he owes me money." Simeon said. "how do you even know that the Skyphos is in that realm?" Darius asked. "Because I called Charon. He told me where it is, and how to get there. He even said that one of Hade's sons are willing to help us to get to the place." Simeon said. Leaning against one of the balcony rails. "Charon is one of the oldest people in all the realms, if anyone knew where this mythical object was it would've been him. Which is why I called him in the first place." Simeon said. Terry glanced at Darius, then once at Amaya and Mina. "The realm of Hades is real?" Terry said with surprise. Terry of course being born of earth had heard many stories of the Greek myths of old. Of the beautiful Aphrodite, the cunning Athena, the might of Zeus. But none was as deadly as the Dark overlord of the underworld. Where chaos reigned, and all kinds of creatures of the dark called the Underworld their home. And now, Terry hears this horrible place is real.
"Hades realm is real, but Hades is no longer there. All the Greek gods have fallen long ago, now what remains are the creatures of the dark and those few that call themselves Hades Heirs. There is five of them. Three daughters and two sons. It is one of those sons, the youngest of the brood that has volunteered to help any soul who still wishes to embark on a journey or quest into the underworld." Simeon said, he sat straighter glancing at Mina and Amaya, before at last letting his gaze drop onto Darius.
"While Hades craved the souls of the many to fill the Underworld's rivers. His children, knew that not everyone deserved the might of the underworld, but sometimes they had no choice but to seek out the underworld for some journey or other. It was then between the five of them they decided that they would monitor the evil of the earth and guard the doors of the underworld, for whoever should seek to enter, to warn them against it, or help them on their journey or quest."
"Does Charon still serve as the ferry man to the underworld, then?" Terry asked. "Yes, but he complains every day about it." Simeon said grinning. "Complains about it? To you?" Amaya asked. "To me, to the children of Hades, to anyone who will listen to him at the bar."
"The bar? What bar?" Mina asked scrunching her eyebrows. "Silas bar. The one in New Orleans. The only one that any supernatural creature can go to without fear of being attacked." Simeon said licking his lips. "And their Gumbo is the stuff of legends." He said clapping his hands. "Well when the cook is currently in the facility." Simeon said. "Come on. Charon said he'll meet us by the Lake."
"In the forest?" Amaya asked.
"Yeah, get what you need and meet me there. Come on Terry." Simeon said pulling Terry along with him. "Don't I need to get anything?" Terry asked raising his eyebrows. "Nope I got what you need." Simeon said leading away from the library. "As they headed to the foyer, they heard a shuffling sound and then saw Dorian pacing up and down the corridor just before the main doors. "Are you okay?" Simeon asked as he and Terry approached Dorian.
"Am I okay? No, because the King has lost his freaking mind!" Dorian said throwing his hands up in the air. "Lauri and Cassie are all ready to go into back to the Vampire cave, to search for the Necklace of the Strigoi. "Dorian said his eyes slightly manic. "For the record, I always told you, girls would be the death of you." Simeon said. Dorian rolled his eyes, "Here." He said to Terry handing him a sword sheath. Terry took it and pulled out a silver looking sword. "What is this?"
"It's a sword we got from one of the Heroes of Olympus. There's not a lot of them still around." Dorian said crossing his arms, "but that specific sword was given to me by one of Hercules's descendants, I'm not coming with you but hopefully that will protect you in my stead." He finished solemnly. "I'll protect him too." Simeon said scowling. "And I'll protect you with your charge." Dorian said dodging the punch that Simeon sent him as he walked past him. Terry clapped a hand on Dorian's shoulder, "Keep yourself safe." He said as he passed by. Terry walked past the few court people that stayed in the castle looking for gossip of the coming days. Terry walked away from the castle for the second time in as many days and wondered if this in fact was the actual meaning of living in the castle. That you were bound to constantly leave it for the sake of saving the castle and its occupants. He watched as Simeon left his side to go towards his tower, Terry didn't bother. He knew where he was going.
He entered the forest, wishing suddenly that he had his horse. Then he suddenly felt that maybe it wouldn't have been wise after all, as he was suddenly surrounded by the wolves of war on every side. "Oh." Terry said, uneasily watching the wolves that trotted closer, their noses sniffing the air around them. Some of the wolves came closer, making Terry's eyes go wide as the wolves brushed his body, he lifted his hand letting their bodies walk against it.
"They like you." Terry turned and saw Mina walking around the wolves, she was still clad in her red leather pants, and tunic but also now wore a knee length black leather jacket. Terry assumed that underneath all that leather, was many weapons.
"The wolves don't often care for much. But they do seem fond of you." Mina said cheekily. Terry walked towards her, trying not to bother the wolves or step on their tails. He could not see them liking him very much if he were to step on any of their tails her rather large paws.
"Do you know where you are going?" Terry asked. "Or for that matter, how on earth did you get here before me?" Mina grinned, "Silas already knew what I would need. I predict the last person we will see is the lady Amaya. She does seem like one that does take her time."
"She and Darius seem to be getting along." Terry mused.
"Is that jealousy I hear?" Mina said.
"I would never be jealous of Amaya. I just met her."
"Who said I was speaking about Amaya?"
Terry's eyes widened. "You can't mean Darius." Terry said narrowing his eyes. "Love doesn't always mean the passionate kind. Sometimes you can love someone because they have qualities that remind you of other people you are fond of," Mina explained. "Who does Darius remind you, of?" Mina asked curiously.
"Back on earth, I had this best friend. He was my partner in everything. We fought together, we played together. That's who Darius reminds me of." Terry explained.
"And surprisingly he's here already." Mina said narrowing her eyes. Darius turned as he heard them approach, and immediately turned red.
"Sorry. I've never seen Charon before. I wanted to see how he was going to appear." Darius explained bashfully. "Hopefully by boat." Mina said.
"I should hope so. Seeing as this is the Lake that is said to swallow your soul and feed it to the river Styx." Terry said, watching the glowing green figures that ghosted underneath the water. "That may be true, but don't worry Charon always has a way around those type of things." Simeon said. Darius narrowed his eyes as he turned and realized that his sister was with Simeon. "Helena." He said warningly his eyes flashing. "You are about to go to the Underworld, are you really going to ask me to stay behind?" She asked reproachfully. Darius sighed glancing at the lake once before he walked to his sister grabbing her arm and pulling her away from the others who all respectfully turned to look at the Lake rather at them.
"I know that we have been parted before." Darius began. "But not before the start of a war." Helena said sullenly. "What if you need me and I'm not there? I'm your older sister, I'm allowed to be worried about you." She said.
"Which is why I would prefer, to see you in the North. That way I'll know at least one person when we get to the North ourselves." Darius said. He glanced at Terry first, and then Simeon. "Anyways it's not like I won't be in good company." He said. There was a splash behind them and they both turned around and was surprised to see that the water in the lake was churning. "I don't think that's a good sign." Darius said walking forward as both Terry and Amaya cautiously took a step back from the lake. The churning made a whirlpool that turned the normally green-blue water a dark violet color. Out of the whirlpool a ship with overly large black sails rose from the depths.
"SIMEON." Charon bellowed as he spun the wheel of the ship and the bow of the ship dropped just over the lake, a large bridge rolling down from the top of the ship, landing at Simeon's feet.
"Late as usual." Simeon said as he gestured everyone to follow him on the bridge.
"You better not be late." Helena whispered, as she backed away from Darius her arms crossed as she watched the boat darkly.
"Is she not coming?" Simeon asked his eyes narrowing as Darius joined their ranks on the boat. "No, I asked her to stay behind and meet us at the North." Darius replied. "I'm surprised that she didn't deck you for that." Simeon said. "There's always tomorrow." Darius said.
Simeon shook his head, "I've met my share of siblings, but you and your sister are another story altogether." He said.
"How does this even work?" Terry whispered.
"By hurricane." Charon said his dark voice echoing behind them. Terry turned extremely confused. "What do you mean, by that?" He asked. "I hope you guys don't get queasy easily." Charon said, as he pushed a button by the wheel and the ship lurched forward, and the water that had been beneath them churned, and started to circle around the ship. Everyone looked up surprised to see the sky above them disappear into water, water that surrounded them all. The ship didn't move on the water but through it, like they were traveling down a tunnel of water, straight to the underworld.
"Now that's not something you see every day."