Free at last!

Haze raised the bloodied hand and smiled at Elena.

He walked over to her with the smile still on his face. Mission complete. He said.

Elena looked at the dismembered hand, she looked at Haze. You're a sadist. She said simply.

Haze smirked. Oh come on, you know I had no choice.

Elena rolled her eyes and started to walk towards the door. Whatever, let's get out of here.

Wait. Haze said and he went back to the pile of jewelry on the table and picked a few, dumping them into his pocket. Souvenir. He said to her when she looked at him.

Haze put the hand in his pocket and walked out of the door with her.

When they were in the hallway, Elena looked back at him. What do we do now? She asked.

Escape this hellhole and go back home. Haze replied.

Right, this place is the hellhole, not Hades' castle. Elena replied sarcastically.

Haze shrugged. We have different definitions of hell. He said and began to walk.

Elena jogged slightly to catch up to him. Where are you going?

You mean where are we going? Haze said.

Don't be smart. Elena replied.

Haze smirked. We're going downstairs, to the kitchen.

Elena frowned. The kitchen?

Haze nodded.

Is this really the time to think about food. Elena asked him in confusion.

Haze stopped walking and looked at her. We're not going to get food, I have a few friends there that will help us find our way out of this place.

Friends? Elena muttered but she kept following him anyway.

When they got to the bottom floor, Hade turned right and headed straight for the kitchen door. The pitiful sounds and sight were no longer new to him so he ignored them and walked straight ahead, Elena on the other hand stared in surpise and fascination at the cells and the prisoners they contained.

They soon got to the door and Haze placed his hand on the doorknob, with a look back and a smile to Elena, he pushed the door open.

The maids were still there, working, shaking with fright just as they had been when he first met them. Haze smiled and closed the door on all of them.

The women looked at him and their fear increased.

He looked around and noticed the little girl from earlier was nowhere to be found.

He smiled. Where's my little friend, the little darling?

The women said nothing but there was a sort of stony resolve in their eyes, as if they were ready to lose their lives rather than let him come anywhere close to the girl again.

Elena looked at the scene unfolding in front of her curiously, she looked at Haze and whispered. What's going on?

Haze's shook his head at her, he faced the women again and his smirk deepened. You hid her then?

The women said nothing, only stared at him in stony insolence.

Haze shrugged. I guess any of you will do. He said and pointed to one of them. You, come.

The maid a girl that looked not much older than him stepped forward, she quivered in fear as she walked towards him. Haze smiled at her and then at the others.

Here's what will happen, you guys will give me the directions to get out of this place. He drew out his sword. If it turns out to be wrong like the first time, she gets it, then I'll come back here and finish the rest of you off.

The oldest of the ladies spoke up. We don't know the way out, no one does.

Haze looked at Elena, he supposed it made sense that they didn't know the way out of the palace, if not they would have escaped.

His eyes glittered as he looked back at the maid who spoke. You're telling me there's no way out of this place? He asked.

She nodded. There's no way out of here, except through the palace, and you won't make it out of the palace alive. Her eyes held his gaze disrespectfully as she said the last sentence.

Haze laughed. Tell me the directions to the palace then. He said.

She nodded glumly and told him how he was to get to the palace.

When she was done, Haze nodded and sheathed his sword, he turned to Elena. Let's go. He said and stepped out of the door.

The woman made to follow him but Haze shook his head. Stay.

The woman seemed shocked and something like gratitude crossed her face as she hurried back to meet the others.

Elena was quiet as they walked back to the palace.

Haze noticed this and stared at her from the side of his eye.

Why are your eyes burning a hole in my head. Elena said to him.

Haze rubbed the back of his neck. I don't know, you're just unusually quiet.

I don't have anything to say. Elena said tightly.

Haze stared at her and shook his head but he kept quiet.

They were soon at the entrance to the palace and Haze looked at Elena.

Goodluck. He said and drew his sword.

[Enemy presence detected]

[Intiation battle mode]

[You have a new mission]

[Mission: survive enemy attack]

There were two guards at the door, both with their backs to them, Haze descended on the first before the first one before he could react and slashed his arm down, the guard struck at him but Haze dodged it and slashed the other arm off.

The guard now armless and unarmed, stared at Haze who raised his sword to slice his head off.

Haze was mid swing when he remembered how displeased Elena had been with his beheading the guard at the queen's chambers, he changed his aim and slashed at the air instead.

Elena was beside him, she had blasted fire at the guard and the force slammed him into the wall, knocking him unconscious.

She stared at Haze and the now handicapped guard, Haze smiled at her before pushing the guard through the door and into the palace.

The queen was in the middle of giving a speech when the three of them stumbled into the palace.

The guests gasped at the sight of them and Haze looked at the queen with a triumphant smile on his face before he burst into a run to the door.

Haze ran past the guards at the door before they could recover from the shock, he looked back to see Elena closely behind him.

As he ran, a giggle began to build in his chest and by the time he got outside the castle, it erupted into maniacal laughter.

Haze laughed like a mad man as he and Elena ran out of the Red Mountain.