JASON

Emma's gasp alerts me, and I tense only to relax and smile when I see him.

"Nestor. I'm very glad to see you, my friend. Perséphone told you all what happened then."

"Yes. She also told us of Hades’ interest and his security. I tried to get here in the flesh, but his power is blocking me. He didn't plan on my astral form though."

"You must be careful. He can trap you here, even in this form, and his powers can summon your body. You have to tell the others not to come or bargain with him. Their emotions will only intrigue him more. I will get us out of here somehow."

I realize it's gotten quiet. Arias is no longer screaming. Emma's shoulders slump in relief, her eyes red from her crying. Nestor looks at her and smiles at me. Shaking my head, I'm about to speak when she sits up straight, her eyes flying to the door. Her eyes move between me and then Nestor.

"Tell Aislin I love her and ask her to check on my mom and dad," she whispers to Nestor as she walks around him straight to the door. Her body blocks us from view for a few second as the door opens.

Go! I mouth at Nestor, and he is gone in a flash. Turning back, I see Hades staring down at Emma, breathtaking in her anger and defiance. Flaming hair a disheveled mess around her head, green eyes darkening in her anger to an emerald green, and I wonder if she realizes she had moved into a fighting stance, her fists hanging loosely at her sides. Aislin was right; she is fierce.

I realize I was staring, lost in her, when I see Hades’ face. A hint of a smile curves his cruel lips, and I wish I had been paying attention. His hand reaches out and takes her elbow, so I step toward them, moving to stop him. She looks back at me and shakes her head a tiny bit.

"You should come also, Jason. You need to see the one who wished to be you." He leads her out the door and I follow. Perséphone meets us in the hall, and I'm again unable to understand how she is with him. We all walk in silence down the hall. Emma's eyes scan, and I realize she is looking for a way to escape, assessing for weakness. I hate to tell her, but there are none.

We stop in front of a stainless steel door. It glistens in the fluorescent lights. Everyone thinks hell is dark and filled with fire. Nope, it is bright and filled with cages and machines. Machines designed to dissect you to your very soul. Machines ran by a man who is obsessed with his idea of perfection, who is so confused by even his own emotions that he takes people apart to try to understand. Hades waves his hand, and the door slides open, while Emma and Perséphone gasp at what we see.

Arias is strapped in a chair wires running from his head, where they disappear inside of it. Blood is running down his face, his teeth are clenched against the pain. His eyes widen as Emma is pulled forward.

"Emma." His voice is pleading and desperate. He truly cared for her, his delusional version of love shining in his eyes. His eyes that looked so much like Hades. Maybe he is his father's son, in more ways than one. She looks at him, and fresh tears begin to fall.

"Why do you cry for him after everything he did?" Hades’ confusion is apparent.

Emma turns, looking Hades in the eyes and drawing her five foot two inch frame up as tall as she can. Pride swells my heart when she speaks. "You made him. Everything that he is… You created. You took a baby who knew nothing of what he was meant to be and you tortured him. And when he couldn’t be what you wanted, you threw him away to another monster where he was tortured for many more years. Anything he did is on you."

I think I fall in love with her in that moment. She stands there and faces the God of the Underworld, her body vibrating with her indignation. She looks beyond whatever Arias had done to her, her empathy shining through. I also felt great fear for her in that moment, for us both. My beast howls and every eye in the room flies to me, I know my eyes are shining bright. 'Mate'

This is so fucking bad. Hades's eyes are narrowed on me, and he nods. I feel hands clamp down on my arms, and Emma cries out. I fight and try to release the hellhound, who wants out.

"You would try to use my own creation, my hunter, on me?" Anger is one of the few emotions Hades understands. Perséphone moves to his side, trying to calm him. He looks at her, and I can almost see love in his face. It is gone when he looks back at me. "Take him back to the other room."

I fight harder but soon realize he locked my beast away and I am no match for those that hold me. Still I fight. I am bleeding and have several broken bones when they throw me into the room, shutting me in. Forcing my way to my feet, I pound on the door, screaming her name. Deep down, I know this will only fuel his fire.

Orpheus comes in, closing the door behind him. "Let me heal you. You know better than to fight them. Why did you do it?"

"It wasn't just me. My hound fights. He fights for her... " I look at him wondering how much to trust him with. "I'm trusting you." He looks at me and lowers his head, waiting. "The hound claims her as mate."