Landing back in the underworld was much easier and less trying this time. Although there was an obstacle in their way in the form of Hermes with a message for Hades from Mount Olympus. He had sent Persephone to hide away Leodocus deep in the bowels in the palace because should the messenger catch a whiff of the young prince everything would fall to a million pieces.
Hades never wanted to leave but denying an audience with his big brother would have only raised suspicion. This frustrated Leodocus so much because it meant yet another delay but his sister had convinced him to get some rest. Gods did not need sleep as mortals do but taking rest after a mission to recover and recuperate was nothing to turn ones' nose to.
So after Hades left he retreated to his chambers where he thought he could be alone but Persephone had other ideas as she slipped into the room like a thief in the night.
"You killed Empusa?"
"No lady Pythia did. My only objective was to get the amulet. She did it out of pure enjoyment." He leaned his head back shutting his tired eyes.
"Of course." She nodded as she took a seat at the end of the chaise. With a thoughtful expression, she turned to her brother, putting her hand on his leg.
"What is it Perse?" he asked her, eyes on the fire casting the only light in the large room. She seemed apprehensive but she was never one to bottle up her thoughts and feelings for anyone, especially those she loved.
"I fear for you, you and the others I mean."
"None of us are the ones who might be giving our lives for this Perse." He tried to reassure her.
"Wrong!" she abruptly stood up, the tension building the once quiet room. "Should you fail and father--- Zeus discovers your plans, he will show no mercy to any of you, Leo!"
At her words, Leodocus could feel a small bit of guilt at the thought of Persephone being in pain if he and his brothers get hurt or worse. He could see how in her perspective that at least as prisoners of Dynodes she knew her father wouldn't touch them. But the danger of being out in their world and the mortal world put them at more risk of being discovered.
"I have been careful Perse, nothing will happen."
"And should the girl die? Then what?"
"Then the threat is eliminated and father will----"
"Leo please do not be so naïve." She shook her head and turned back to him with pleading eyes.
"I am not being naïve Persephone, this has been thought through. Without her in the picture, what reason would he have to keep our exile? None."
Persephone looked at her brother and she could have shed a tear for him. She could see how badly he desired to be back home with his family and not be seen as a pariah anymore. She could see that Leodocus was hanging on by a thread for his sense of belonging, that everything he was had been put into this plan. She was only relieved to see that he was still the brother she remembered after all these years apart.
"I know you would never do anything without being thorough Leo, but I fear that by the end of it all, the outcome you get might not be anything you wanted. Zeus is who he is and this might not change anything where he is concerned. I want your happiness and prosperity brother but I can't help but worry for you all."
"I understand but it will work out…it has to."
After that Persephone left him to rest with both fear and hope cemented firmly within her but now Leodocus was as restless as ever. Being in this world meant that he could not send or receive mind messages with his brothers to know how they fared with everything. He had faith in them of course but not being there proved quite difficult for the god who in the past has had issues with relinquishing control.
*In Dynodes*
"Hey! Let me out of here!" Xanthippeia hollered whilst banging a chalice at the bars that held her prisoner but her screams fell on deaf ears.
For hours she had sat in the cave-like room, perched on the surprisingly comfortable chair contemplating what the man from before, Methios had said. The thought that she was somehow like them, a god was completely asinine and she was inclined to just believe that these men were clinically insane. But with that came the question of her sanity. She remembered making the water move, she remembered the epic show-down where they had beaten her. Until he had left her with those words she had fully convinced herself that she hit her head badly at that crater or even her drowning in the ocean and this all had been a vivid vision in the afterlife made more sense than her being a god.
Xanthippeia had always stood for anyone who stood in their own beliefs where things like religion and spirituality are concerned. But there is a difference between kneeling and praying to an entity to bestow your life with their blessings and them being real people walking around in the world. And now they expected her to believe she was some deity in the flesh. Ridiculous.
"Hey is anyone gonna come and give me a REAL explanation why I'm here?!" she shouted again to get the same result. Finally deciding she had enough, Xan looked over at the food laid out on the table in front of her. She had been instructed to eat as much as she could. She remembered cringing in disgust that perhaps they were trying to fatten her up before they cut her into pieces and throw a feast with her as the main course. As she picked up a leg of lamb she put aside her apprehension of it possibly poisoned and satisfied her growling stomach. She looked over to see a couple of decanters with wine and water side by side. What did they expect, that she eats like a glutton and drink herself into a stupor so her inhibitions were lowered and she can't fight back? Fat chance.
Xanthippeia was filling up with food, tasting everything that was in front of her and even in these circumstances she could silently admit that every morsel was delicious. She felt that if she was really about to die tonight or whatever time in the company of men then at least she had a brilliant last meal.
As she took a small sip of water she felt like she was being watched. Perverts probably had cameras everywhere in this place. She was about to ignore it but then she heard someone stumble, her head turned in the direction of the man who caught himself on the bars as he tripped. Xan immediately stood up ready for anything but looking at his face he shared the same if not worse frantic expression.
"W-Who are you? Are you one of them?" she asked backing herself into a nearby wall. He opened and closed his mouth several times before he stood straight behind the bars.
"You do not remember? I was there when you were awakened." His voice, though smooth was still shaky in a way.
"No I don't, a lot was happening you know from the creepy red eyes and being carried off down here." She explained as she pushed off the wall and stepped forward a bit. There was something about him that didn't immediately scream 'threat' to her as insane as that sounds. With the others, she could feel their intentions from a mile off. They wanted something from her and made it clear but with this one, there was a kind of resistance, a reluctance that made her feel hopeful that she could convince him to help her escape whatever this is.
"I understand…are you sufficiently fed?" he pointed to the table of food.
"I am.
"Good, that is good to hear." He nodded and even appeared to have something resembling the tiniest smile on the corner of his mouth. Xanthippeia took her chance.
"What is your name?"
"I am Arcus."
"Nice to meet you Arcus, you, I mean all of you I have had the pleasure to meet have strange names."
"As do you Xanthippeia. Though your name is not entirely unheard of where we are from." He informed and she tensed up at the mention of the ridiculous theory of her being one of them.
"I am not a god, you and your brothers are fucking crazy!" she snapped and he was none too shocked to see her reaction. The girl had been through enough.
"You were raised in the mortal world Xanthippeia, their world and their reality are all you know. I do not blame you for being untrusting."
"There is no such thing as--- look I know who I am and what I am. I am human with a life and normal family and friends."
"That is what is you have been made to believe but in truth, you are what is referred to as a descendant."
"Descendant of who, of what?"
"My brothers would not appreciate me speaking on this before Leo arrives." He hesitated as he backed away from the bars. He had already said too much. He had only been sent down here to check up on her and that is it, he shouldn't be talking to her especially about their heritage because even though he knew what she was, no one knew for sure where she came from.
Xanthippeia could feel him retreating and she sprung into action desperately changing the subject so he wouldn't leave her alone.
"I have a little sister, Luna is her name and she's four." She said and he turned to look at her with sympathy.
"I know. I saw the photographs on the walls of your home." He admitted and she bit her lip to prevent herself from crying. She missed her family terribly and since she's been here, she's been trying to stay strong and not think too much about them.
"You know when she was little she…she used to crawl into my bed at night. She was scared of monsters and instead of going to my parents, she came to me every time. Do you know why?" she hugged herself at the memory of being cuddled up with her external heart.
"Why?"
"Because she trusted me, she does trust me to chase the monsters away, to comfort her and to be there for her. All my life I've tried to be the support she needed and wanted because well…I'm her big sister and it's what we do for our siblings. Do you know what that's like?" she hoped she would touch some kind of nerve with that last bit.
When Arcus had been told what had to be done for all their plans to be accomplished, a seed of guilt had been planted and now with each word falling from her lips about the pure love Xanthippeia possessed for her family, the seed was growing. This was a girl who had been pulled into something she did not understand and there was an extraordinary;y high chance of her dying. He thought about how her family would feel about her death. None of this was fair on her, on them and anyone involved.
"I know what it means to love and support your siblings. This entire plan, it is not something had it only been me would have wanted."
"Then help me! Please Arcus I can tell you don't want this so help get out of here!" She rushed to the bars, not quite touching them because the last time she did even the slightest touch sent a spark of pain in her hands.
"We are trying to help you, you will not be able to see it but this will help you." He backed away from her slightly, still trying to reassure her.
"By kidnapping me? Taking me away from my family? How can you possibly see that as helping anything."
"I-I can't…I am sorry Xanthippeia." He looked down and before she could say anything else he quickly walked away leaving her standing there in her frustration and anxiety. She had failed in convincing him and now she was out of options because he seemed to be most soft-hearted out of all of them, there was no point in trying with the others.
For the first time since everything had gone down, she sunk to the floor, her body was wracked with hysterics. She thought about Luna, how she must be feeling, how her parents are dealing with her disappearance and them making peace with know they will never see her again.
Dying was not the part that she feared, it was the aftermath, the pain of mourning and not even knowing if the people she loved would be able to grieve her. For the first time Xanthippeia looked up at the dark ceiling, the immense amount of hope she had before was now running on empty.