Chapter 60

Hades

It was my day for surprises. After escorting Persephone to Bliss, I headed home since I wasn’t scheduled to work in the detention areas. Normally, on my days off, I still checked in at a minimum of two prisons. I wasn’t good with idle time. Instead of working while Persephone was at Bliss, I’d decided to find a decorator to help me fix up my home. Persephone deserved better than a crumbling mausoleum.

When I got home, I found my second surprise of the day. Zeus was standing on my front porch babbling to himself.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded.

“Brother!” Zeus moved toward me with his arms out for a hug.

“Don’t even think about hugging me,” I warned. “Even when we were on good terms, we didn’t have a hugging type of relationship.”

Zeus frowned, looking oddly hurt by my rejection. In his lucid years, he would have simply challenged me to a fight, one he would have likely won. Those days were definitely in the past, and even a bastard like myself would feel guilty fighting him.

“Why are you here?” I asked, crossing my arms in front of my chest and waiting for his response.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?” he asked. “We can talk over a glass of wine.”

“I don’t entertain,” was my response.

“Since when?” Zeus asked. “I’ve always heard you throw wonderful parties.”

“It’s been a very long time since I’ve thrown a party,” I reminded him.

His brow scrunched as he concentrated on some thought that would likely piss me off. “It can’t have been that long ago. That would make us old.”

“We’re timeless beings,” I said in a tired voice. “We don’t get old. You act old because you refuse to live in the present. When are you going to stop letting your children talk you into idiotic plots to become a god again?”

For a moment, Zeus looked sane. His response was the most clear-headed he’d given in more than a thousand years. “The past is all I have. We were never fair to you, but we did you a favor. At least, you have a present. Have you broken your curse yet?”

My suspicions were raised when Zeus asked me about my curse. He wanted to hear about my relationship with Persephone, and I doubted he was simply making casual conversation.

“Why are you really here?” I asked, my eyes narrowed.

“To talk,” Zeus replied. “We’re brothers.”

“That doesn’t mean shit,” I snapped. “I’ll bet you don’t even know the real reason you’re here. Who suggested you visit me?”

Any plots on Olympus were of someone else’s making. I doubted Zeus could plot his way to the bathroom.

“I convinced him to come here,” Ares announced as he jumped down from my roof.

“You did not!” Zeus shouted. “This was my idea. I wanted to know if Hades is done with the pretty redhead. If he doesn’t want her, I’d like to have a go at her.”

I lunged at Zeus, taking him to the ground. “Don’t even think about going near her,” I hissed before slamming my fist into his face. I managed to get in three good punches before Zeus drew on his power and thrust a lightning bolt at me. The bolt singed my arm as I rolled to the side to avoid being hit.

Ares laughed as Zeus attempted to create another bolt of lightning.

I drew on my power, creating a sword that looked like black fire. “Try it and I’ll slice through you before you can throw the next bolt.”

His anger seemed to clear his mind some, and Zeus glared at me. “Are you going to fight me over a witch?”

“I would kill you for Persephone.” My low warning was met with silence from Zeus.

We stared at each other for several long moments before Zeus reined in his power. My sword faded away.

“No!” Ares shouted. “Kill him, Hades. Why are you letting him live after he threatened your woman? This isn’t even the first time he’s threatened her.”

My eyes were locked with Ares when I spoke. “Go, Zeus. I have too much shit to get done today without dealing with you.”

“This is what I get for trying to be a good brother,” Zeus sputtered.

I didn’t look to see if he’d left. Zeus wasn’t the real problem.

“What the fuck was that about?” I demanded of Ares.

“Why didn’t you kill him?” Ares asked. “You could have taken him. Zeus is no longer a match for you.”

“Let me get this straight,” I began as I stalked toward Ares. “You want me to kill Zeus for you? Since when does the god of war need help killing someone?”

“My reasons are my own,” Ares snapped. “Zeus is a threat to you.”

I let out of a bark of laughter before responding. “How exactly is he a threat to me? He’s no match for me in a fight. I doubt he’ll even remember we had a fight tomorrow. He pissed me off by mentioning Persephone, but I don’t think he’s a real threat to her either.”

“As long as Zeus can be used as a figurehead, the others on Olympus will come up with new plots to take over Hell,” Ares argued. “If you kill Zeus, there will be anarchy as the others fight to be the new leader of Olympus. They’ll be desperate for a strong leader, all trying to prove they’re up to the task.”

“Now, I see what you’re after,” I mused. “You want chaos and fighting. You’re hoping I’ll start a war for you to fight in. What I don’t get is why you can’t kill Zeus yourself. Don’t tell me you have some sentimental attachment to your dear old dad.”

“I’m not the sentimental type,” Ares scoffed. “If I was that sort, I wouldn’t have lured Zeus here to pick a fight with you.”

“Then what is your game?” I demanded before a thought occurred to me. “Was this a test to see how far I’d go?”

Ares blew out a frustrated breath. “I’m trying to help you.”

“That’s bullshit,” I scoffed. “You’re only looking out for yourself. This is about your war, and you’re hoping I’ll do the hardest part for you. If you kill Zeus, the others might turn on you. If I kill him, then you can pretend you’re innocent and play the others like your puppets.”

Ares looked surprisingly pissed off at my suggestion. I’d expected denials or fake indignation but not anger.

“You’re a fool,” Ares accused. “I’m trying to protect your witch.”

“Just like when you came to me with the latest plot on Olympus?” I asked. “You’ll have to forgive me for not believing you’ve suddenly made a huge about-face on this matter. One minute, you and your siblings are threatening Persephone to gain my help. The next, you’re professing your desire to keep her safe. Don’t come back here again, Ares, or I’ll make sure you end up in the darkest corner of one of the prisons. That’s a promise.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Ares bit out before flying off.

“I’m related to assholes and lunatics,” I muttered on my way into my home.