The Journey to Mount Soho

Elena was waiting for him outside the palace. She uncrossed her arms when he came outside.

"What did he want to see you for?", She asked, her eyes flickered to the chain around his neck.

"None of your business", Haze replied and continued walking.

Elena shrugged and walked beside him, her arms swung with each step.

Haze was tired, he had a headache and his spirit itself was dampened. He had been in the underworld for almost a week and he had gotten no real rest since he arrived.

I've gotten stronger, i'm powerful than i ever expected i could be, in my wildest dreams , yet what is the point?

He had been scared when he woke up to meet Gatti but a part of him had been excited at the potential power he could get but now it seemed to be more of a curse than a blessing.

I have all these powers but I can't enjoy it. Must I fight all day to keep powers I gained by fighting? Is this the life of the powerful? Constant labour to get and even more labour to keep?

"Penny for your thoughts" Elena's tiny voice broke into his soliloquy.

"I'm not talking to you", Haze replied firmly.

"Why does it seem like you don't like me?", Elena asked.

"I wonder why", The sacarsm dripped off Haze's words.

"Is this about the kissing thing?", Elena asked. "Look it's a normal thing here, many people kiss or marry their cousins, siblings, nephews, nieces, even parents".

Haze sqrunched up his face in revolt.

"Oh don't be like that", She continued. "We're gods, morality is for humans, we create our own morality"

We're gods, The words floated in Haze's mind.

He hadn't really thought about it but he supposed it made sense that he was a god or at least not human, seeing as Hades was his actual father.

"Are we really gods?", Haze didn't know when the question came out of his mouth.

Elena paused, taken off guard. "Well, since we have both human and god parents, we're actually semi gods. But it's basically the same thing. We exist on a plane different from humans, we don't follow their rules or morality, we don't have a conscience", she explained.

They had no conscience, that explained why Haze had been able to be so ruthless. He nodded, that could only be the reason.

Something else Elena said stood out to Haze. She had said "we".

"You're a demigod too?", He asked her.

"Of course I am", Elena said with a roll of her eyes. "How else would I be your cousin?"

"I just needed to make sure", Haze said. "That means you're dead too".

"Dead?", Elena said quizzically.

"Yeah, I had to die for Hades to properly claim me. Isn't that how it works here?", Haze replied.

"No, Hades is just a saddist with an unfortunate curse", Elena explained with a chuckle. "The rest of the gods don't need death to claim their offsprings".

Haze shook his head lightly, he wasn't surprised at all.

Later that evening, Haze sat outside the palace waiting for Elena to join him. At the request of the servant, he had packed a little bag of food that would last them the night.

Haze didn't know how long he would spend on the mission and didn't see the point of taking food but if it made her happy, he didn't see the harm in obliging her.

The gates broke open and Gatti walked in, looking unkempt and unshaven. A reek seemed to follow him as if he hadn't taken a shower in days. He walked briskly, his eyes didn't even pick up Haze.

"Gatti", Haze called as he walked past.

Gatti stopped moving, he looked towards Haze and blinked as if he was unsure of his eyes. His face broke into a smile. "Young master, how are you?"

"Can you not call me young master? I preferred when you called me Haze".

Gatti's smile grew wider. "Ah but you were Haze then, now you're young master", He looked at Haze's dressing and the bag slung on his shoulder.

"I guess you're going on the mission".

"Yes", Haze replied. "I'm just waiting for a certain latecomer".

Gatti nodded. In the light, Haze could see that his face looked weary, like he had aged ten years since he last saw him.

"Are you alright Gatti?", Haze couldn't keep the concern out of his voice. "Hades said you were on a mission for him".

That seemed to snap Gatti out of his docility. "Ah yes, a mission, I'm very fine young master. I'm afraid I have to go now", He smiled again and left.

Elena showed up then, a small bag similar to Haze's hung from her side.

"Took you long enough", Haze snapped.

"A lady needs her time to prepare", She replied. "I'm not a savage like you", She turned up her nose at his clothes.

"I don't have time for idle talk", Haze said. "I'm worried about Gatti, he looks unwell".

"He deals with Hades' most difficult issues, I think it's normal for him to be roughed up every now and then",

Haze thought about it, he decided he would press Gatti for more detail when he came from the mission.

If you come back, The voice in his head taunted.

Haze shook his head. I will come back, not even death can stop me.

"Let's go", He told Elena and he started walking out the gate.

At exactly nightfall, Haze and Elena left Hades' palace and headed for the mountain of Soho.

After two hours of walking,Haze felt tired, he was out of breath and his headache had worsened. They were in the forest now and the air was serenaded was the calls of various animals and insects.

Haze took a look behind him and saw Elena had a grimace on her face, it was almost like walking with Qimona again.

He felt a sharp pang shoot through his chest as he remembered Qimona, he wondered what it was that he felt.

It couldn't have been pain could it? The prince of the underworld should not feel pain. He thought.

Elena suddenly stopped walking. "I can't go any further", She said, panting slightly.

Haze halted and looked at her. "We're barely at the edge of the forest".

Elena didn't reply, she staggered to the root of tree and plopped down.

Haze looked her. "Fine, slow us down, have it your way".

"We need to build a fire", Elena said quietly. "Get some sticks, I'll light it".

"How are you going to light it?", Haze asked.

"I'm the daughter of Zeus remember?", Elena said and a flame appeared at her fingertip.

Haze looked at the flame and cursed before wandering off to gather sticks.

He kept walking but there were no broken sticks lying around, when he tried to break off sticks, they simply crumpled to dust as they touched the ground.

Haze searched and searched, wandering deeper into the forest but he still couldn't find a stick.

He gave up with slight irritation and turned back to tell Elena they'd have no fires that night when he realized the path he followed has disappeared. He spun in a circle trying to find it but to no avail.

Then he heard a low grating sound.

[You have a new mission]

[Mission: survive the two headed wolf]

[Reward: 10 Exp]

"You have got to be kidding me".