HADES

I stand behind the wall, shocked when Jason's clear beautiful tenor rings out. It only takes Orpheus moments to appear, grinning like a fool, and Hermes and Hecate join soon, all of their faces shining with pride. Jason doesn't know it, but he carries gift from them all.

I pin the others with a glare. "I want the one who thought to kill my hunter."

My rage breaks free for a moment and my power leaks out. The Underworld is filled with screams and even those that are used to them cringe at the cacophony. Jason jerks up in the other room, shielding the girl with his body. The three sift away as Perséphone appears.

"What happened, my love?" She lays her hand on my chest. I nod at the wall, and she gasps when she sees Jason.

"Why didn't you call to me? Tell me he was here? Is that the girl? Emma?" She asks.

"Maybe I should ask you why didn't you tell me he had been in contact and was in trouble." She cringes at my soft tone. I am most vicious when I’m quiet.

Straightening, she stares into my eyes. "He didn't want me to; hell, he didn't want to speak to me. It was the watcher that let me know he was here. You're right though. I should've told you about the trouble. I had hoped that he and his new friends could handle it. But you know Jason, he tried to exchange himself for the girl. I don't know anything more than that, but I was looking for him."

"He had been locked in his hellhound form and shot with a poison arrow while being locked in my temple." My rage and voice rise with each word. "It was almost too late when I heard her call out. She sacrificed herself for him, slitting her wrist with the arrow."

"Oh, the sweet girl. Will she live?"

"If her will is strong enough." My gaze travels back to the girl with flaming hair and she watches as my interest flares to life. Dread fills Perséphone. She knows she must get them away from me soon or they will remain here forever. "He called me Father."

She wraps her arms around me, hugging me tight hiding her face from my view. "How did it make you feel?"

"I don't know." My hand runs over her hair and down her back. "Proud, maybe."

* * *

The goddess looked at her son and the woman she hoped was the one, praying they heal quickly. Hades hand came up to her face and drew her lips up to his. She kisses him passionately, drawing his attention away from the others. She learned long ago that he loved her in his own way, and through that love, she could protect Jason.

He could be a good man, but his need for knowledge overroad everything else in him. They were still wrapped around each other when Hermes strode into the room.

"We found him and a woman. They are down the hall."

Hades stiffens, his anger pushing his love down. Stepping away from Perséphone, he glances back at Jason, curled around the human girl.

"Who did you find?" Perséphone voice quivers.

"Arias and some girl from the Norse clan. I didn't think he had lived after he was sent to the humans." Hermes shrugs like the death of a child meant nothing. Hades strides out of the room and they trail after him. Perséphone stops in the doorway. Arias and the woman are strapped in two chairs which are reclined back. Arias is staring at Hades, his hatred palpable. The woman is angry, but her fear is overriding it. Her gaze flies around the room, falling on Perséphone, pleading with her.

"You motherfucker!" Arias jerks at his bindings.

Hades walk closer, stopping beside him and staring at him. "You almost killed my hunter. Almost." His voice is deadly quiet.

The woman's eyes widen and she struggles, understanding the dire situation. Arias' rage fills the room. "He lives."

"Oh, yes. Interestingly, the girl that was locked with him made an offering." Arias' eyes lock with Hades. "She offered blood, cutting her wrist with the arrow you shot into Jason."

Arias shakes his head in denial; she sacrificed herself for him. The last tiny flame of humanity sputtered and died out. He jerks against the restraints, fighting them. He knows he can't break free but can't stop. He wants to kill all of them. He wants their blood coating his hands. He doesn't know how much time passed by the time he is tired, blood dripping from his wrists and neck from the restraints. Others have come into the room, but Hades hasn't moved; he stands studying Arias. A memory surfaces of the same expression on Hades’ face as they tried to force his tiny body to change, and Arias can't stop the shiver of revulsion.

"She lives still, at least for now." Arias turns to study the woman in the doorway. She is beautiful, even in her sadness. Perséphone. He heard of her saving those she could over the years, but she had never tried to save him. Hades turns his head to peer at her disapprovingly and motions her away. Arias hears Ericka fighting beside him and turns his head toward her. Any hope she had left with Perséphone. He had no hope, so he had nothing to lose. No one will save him now. He will not obtain his revenge.

Perséphone glides down the hall, stopping outside the door to the room where her son waits with the girl that can save him. Now would be the time to take them from here. Hades will be busy with that poor soul for a long while. Reaching for the door, she jumps back when it hits her with a bolt of power. She looks down at her hand; it is burnt, the flesh blistering already. Orpheus appears and takes her hand, sending his healing power into it. It is better but not completely heal in seconds.

"He guarded against you stealing them away from him. He knows Jason holds your heart. He doesn't forget you only agreed to your marriage to save the boy. He will never forget."

"I love him now; it should be enough." Her sadness fills her voice. "I understand him now. I know he studies the emotions in others because he doesn't understand them. We need to get them out of here. Love has long been the great mystery. He doesn't understand his love for me. If they do love each other, he will want to test it."

"It is already too late. When they sacrificed themselves for the other, his interest was drawn." Orpheus draws her away from the door back into the viewing room. Jason's beautiful tenor whispers through the room. "Never have I heard him use my gift before. Good god, what is he singing?"

Perséphone smiles at the 80's love song coming from Jason. She only knew it because of one of her guilty pleasure movies, Rock of Ages. A shrill scream causes her to flinch and Jason leaps off the bed, eyes glowing ready to fight, placing himself between the door and Emma. Even in her sleep, Emma's hand reaches for him. Sensing his distress, her fingers close around his wrist. Orpheus takes note and smiles, glancing at Perséphone.

"She is the one. I know it."

"The one the Fates spoke of?" He asks. She had only told Orpheus of the prophecy, as he sometimes helped her save those deemed failures.

"Yes, see his eyes." Jason's eye had bled back to his normal chocolate brown. He was looking down at Emma's still form, his body between her and the door. From their place on the other side of the wall, the two gods could see her shivering. "Can you go in and take her a warmer cover, at least?"

Orpheus nods, manifesting a fur blanket as he walks toward the door. When the door opens, Jason tenses, ready to fight again. He relaxes when he sees Orpheus.