章節 33: Origins: Chamber of Hades

Fury 1 waltzed her way in the corridor to the master's room, bringing with her a long tray containing an array of various Pomegranate-inspired cuisine. She should be honored to do this serving, however, it was contrary to what she is really feeling. Because the truth is, she isn't sure if these Underworld-ly special will tickle the taste buds of their guest. Moreover, she's serving this alone, since her sistah was off to where the distress call was issued by her other sistah. What if the Lord of the Dead will be mad? No monthly bonus for her again?

'Weeekekek! If only we have a labor or monster resource department….' She thought. 'No sick leaves, no filed leaves, no holidays! It's busy here all-year and we don't even get the chance to go out and relax – wekek!'

She continued to scowl as she got closer to the door. Then, a noise from somewhere near her caught her attention. She threw a glance to the side, but there was no one there. After all, who would come close to this chamber? Anyone who isn't invited to come here will automatically earn a place in the Lord's eternal screamers in his Cloak of Invincibility.

She shuddered again when she remembered being tasked to wash it one time, and the damned souls trapped inside it keep on yelling 'Yo ugly! Quit scrubbing there, it hurts!' or "Can you wash us outta here? Pretty please?' She hated their insults and sarcasm, so she ended up throwing the Cloak out of spite. And that's her first month without the feast bonus. She really starved that time.

Going back to the corridor, because she saw nothing unusual after that disturbance, she just proceeded on her duty and continued on her way to the master's chamber.

Four meters of pure glistening obsidian – that's what the door to the chamber looks. A golden knocker begs to be used, for you to alert anyone inside that you're coming in. She grabbed on to that knocker and drabbled it thrice, and then said, "Weeekekek! Room service – wekek!"

She knows this will take forever. She knows that the Lord of the Underworld has no patience but, ironically, he also loves to make others wait. She hid her resting-bitch face behind a fake smile in case the door opens.

Julius grabbed the front of his shirt after that close call. He accidentally knocked over Rexis, which made a little noise that almost brought them on a very bad situation with that Fury. Corinna looked like she wanted to kick him out but can barely hold on to that plan. "You idiot!" She whispered angrily.

However, this really puzzled him….'Why is there a fourth Fury? I thought there are only three?'

"Hey guys, doesn't that ugly bat look familiar to you?" Rexis asked in a low tone. "She looks like the one I beat up, no?"

Corinna did not answer, because she found it quite odd too. When she saw the Erinyes the first time after waking up, they were dressed in tatters and dark clothes. But the ones they fought earlier clearly had more fashion. Furthermore, if she remembered correctly the tales told by her scribe when she was still living as a princess in Chios, she was educated that there were only three Erinyes born from Ouranos' blood. And those fashionable bats they beat up earlier already sufficed that number. So who were those two she met earlier? And this one too in front of the door? Are there more than three Erinyes?

"I thought so too. Maybe there are more than three of them?" Julius said, although unsure of that too.

"How do you plan for us to get in?" Corinna asked.

Julius actually thought about it before, so he already had an answer for that. "Using teleport space magic." He finally used that term he's been trying to remember the entire time. The two raised their brows at him.

"I only need to get a glimpse of what's inside the room. I reckon I can transport us inside or something once I can visualize its interior. It feels like my magic works that way. I can't teleport to a place where I haven't been. I also can't teleport or go to a place which I haven't seen. So when that door opens, tell me everything you saw, and I'll incorporate it to what I saw as well. That way, I can get a vivid imagination of what's inside. And who knows, maybe I can transport us there, right?" Somehow, he makes sense.

They stayed hidden behind the shadows of the rocks and pillars leading the way to the room. After a few more minutes, they felt that the Fury at the door was beginning to lose her patience as her claws started to make uncomfortable scraping noises from gliding it on the covered trolley buffet tray she was carrying.

Rexis: "Why isn't the door opening?"

Julius: "Wrong room, maybe?"

Corinna: "I think – Someone's coming to open it. I'm hearing footsteps."

She stood up from her position. Her ears were actually glued to the ground ever since a few minutes ago. The Fury straightened her posture. Now, all of their eyes were fixed in the door, curious if Hades himself will pry it. But no, it was opened by no one. The doors unlocked and opened on their own.

They saw a glimpse of what's inside. Pure darkness…..and as soon as you open the door, a carpet similar to the color of blood leads to an obsidian throne that was placed atop a dais. The fancy chair had gold linings, and encrusted with rubies and garnets as large as baseballs. Overhead, a huge chandelier of many different jewels were hanging – a piece worthy of being placed in a zillionaire's room, an envy of every treasure hunter and seeker. Hades isn't just the Lord of the Underworld. He's not also called the God of Wealth for nothing.

Beside it was another throne similar to the first one, but they could not really get its intricate details, because sitting there, was none other than the person they came looking for – Persephone.

Hades is nowhere in sight.

When the Fury finally got in, the doors slowly began to close, and the three of them took in more details before it will shut right in front of them. And then, with a loud thud, they could no longer see what's inside.

The Chamber of Hades isn't a master's bedroom, after all. It's a freaking throne room.

Rexis then inquired, "So, Julius, was that enough?"

"I – I think so. Gra – grab on to me." Julius stuttered after seeing that vision. The last time he felt this overwhelming presence was when he found himself kneeling in front of the Lord of the Skies. Now, he found himself in a similar position with His counterpart two realms below. The only difference is, his presence is unsolicited this time. He swallowed his saliva as he tried to concentrate on transporting them inside there.

'It's okay.' He said to himself. 'Hades isn't in.' He tried to convince himself to forget his fear. They have to get Persephone out of here and stop whatever chaos is happening aboveground.

"Wait a minute – " Corinna interrupted his thoughts. He shot her a look, to which she replied, "I think we must wait for the servant to come out. It's better with her not around too when we barge in, isn't it?"

'Damn, she's right.' Julius thought. "Okay, let's wait for a while. We can try to eavesdrop though, right?"

Rexis nodded, and he was the first one to actually step out from the shadow and glue his ears on the doors of the Throne Room of the Dead.

Fury 1 doesn't see her master anywhere, but she's sure he's just around there, lurking somewhere in the shadows. So she have to keep up with the act of being two-faced with this ugly woman in front of her. 'Weeekekek! I mean, duh, her beauty is meh. I'm obviously prettier – wekek!'

She opened the cover of the food they prepared. It was composed of five courses – The soup (Juiced Pomegranate Sage Bisque), the appetizer (Dried Pomegranate Flakes in Lethe Sauce), the salad (Pomegranate Garden of Eden), the main course (Phlegethon Roasted Cerberus Dry Skin with Pomegranate Glaze), and the dessert (Seedless Pomegranate Tart).

Fury 1 explained the quirks of the dish to Persephone one by one. "Weeekekek! My Lady, the soup has antioxidant properties from the Pomegranate extracts, and I used the water from Cocytus, it makes you so sad you have to try it."

"The appetizer will make you forget your past, I swear."

"The salad is made with the finest ingredients that are grown only here in the Underworld. Surely, you'll find something moving – er, refreshing there."

"Cerberus skin is to die for! I mean, roasted in Phlegethon itself – with homemade glaze, what more could you ask for?"

"And finally, the dessert that will cleanse your palette. Made only from the sweetest fruit the Underworld prides itself for – wekek."

She finally finished her pitch, and bowed down to her guest. If she's right, this woman right here might be their future Queen, and she'll have to deal with two moody masters from now on.

"They – they are all very…. interesting." Persephone's face betrayed what she just said. She's obviously very wary of all these food. After all, one bite of anything from this course will bind your soul to the Underworld, making you unable to return to the Mortal Realm despite not being dead in the first place.

"Then take a bite of some, my dear." Hades stepped out from the shadows of the nearby pillar. His eyes were fixed only to his Persephone.

The first time she entered, she lost consciousness right after the shadow swallowed them – as all living beings do when they enter the Realm of the Dead. Strictly speaking, it's not that they lost consciousness - they really temporarily died, so that the entrance will admit them inside, because only the dead may enter the Domain of Hades.

When Persephone woke up, she was startled by the man who admitted to be the one who abducted her. But when he removed his Helm of Darkness, she thought that he is one of those men who age like fine wine. Then, without further ado, he introduced himself as Hades, and just confessed his feelings to her.

"My dearest, your beauty is beyond compare. And you bewitch me, body and soul. Please, be my Queen."

She saw it coming but it still surprised her. 'He's going too fast!' She thought. But Persephone was unsure of her feelings. So she only replied, " Uh - thanks."

But Hades won't give up. He will woe her until he gets the 'yes' from her. And he will start by serving her Underworld's best cuisine. He wanted to make it himself, but he's also a disaster at the kitchen. So, he had no choice but to leave this very important task to his Erinyes, hoping they won't screw up.

"I'm not…. hungry…. right now. Please just leave it here." Persephone politely said in refusal.

Hades looked disheartened, but the Fury was secretly happy because this gives her the permission to leave.

"Weeeekekek! As you wish, my lady – wekek!" She bowed lightly, and made her way towards the door. Hades willed the shadows to open it for her, and soon she was gone.

He approached Persephone and asked her, "Tell me, my dearest, what is it that you desire?"

"My mother." She began to sob. "I wish to see.... my mother."