Chapter 3 The meeting

3 years ago

The god of the underworld and his daughter were on a thin, long boat, down the murky waters of the underworld. The boat was steered by Charon, his wooden paddle gliding in and out of the water smoothly on each side of the boat. They rode in silence. Henris sat in front, she tried not to fidget her hands and legs in the boat, her eyes darting to the sound of the moans coming from everywhere as souls pushed machinery and worked in the mountains of bones for the rest of eternity. She tried to breathe out of her mouth, the smell of burning too strong. Her father, Hades, sat back, watching how she reacted, if she was capable for her next mission.

The boat glided to a smooth stop at the edge of a muddy bank that led to a grey, decrepit temple. The colosseums crumbling, half the rood caved in. Medussa's lair, mimicking Athena's temple in the mortal lands, where she was punished.

Henris looked to her father, worried. He stepped out onto the bank, she followed. He turned around and handed Charon three coins, one gold and two silver, for Charon's return. Hades turned back to the temple as Henris watched Charon row away on the river styx. Hades begins his walk to the temple, with long strides, standing tall, Henris has to practically run to keep up with him. They walk up crumbling stairs, through the fallen colosseums to a set of two stone doors that still remain in tact. Hades raises his hand, covering it over the brass knocker, he pounds it one, two, three times. The knocks echo over the temple, there's silence as they wait. Henris squirms after standing for so long, she looks to her father who is composed, patiently waiting. Her eyes move to the door as it creaks, sliding over the floor. It opens to a dimly lit foyer, to a boy, just in his teens like Henris. He's wearing scuffed black shoes that cover his ankles, torn grey pants, a white shirt torn at the shoulders. He has dull brown hair, the most remarkable feature about him are his vivid green eyes, circled in gold. Henris sucks in a breath, she stills at the sight of him.

Hades smiles warmly to the child, "Deuce I'm so glad to finally meet you." The boy looks up to him in a stone cold expression, "I'm Hades, god of the underworld, this is my daughter Henris." Deuce's striking green eyes look down from Hades to Henris, almost completely standing behind her father. His eyes narrow on her as she leans out, copying her father she smiles. "We have something very important to talk to you about," Hades declares. Deuce's eyes move quickly from Henris to Hades, then back to Henris for confirmation, she nods. He opens the door wider and steps aside, Hades nods to him in approval as he takes one big step inside, he smiles as he looks around, moving forward. Henris follows after her father, as her and Deuce watch each other. He moves behind her as he closes the marble door. She finally drags her eyes up to ceiling where orange light seeps in through the hall, parts of the stone ceiling have fallen to the floor. That's the only source of light in the dim foyer, in the middle of the room is a square stone table with a green vase detailed with flowers sitting atop. Along the walls are paintings of gods and goddesses with their eyes scratched out. Between some painting are mirrors, cracked and shattered. Henris looks worried as she turns her head to Deuce, he's beside her, watching her. She smiles again.

Hades clears his throat, Deuce looks to him, speaking for the first time, "This way." He leads them through a doorway to the left. The room is lit by candles, there's a dusty, velvet green couch in the center of the room. Next to two mismatching dark green chairs. In the middle is a small, round brown coffee table, sitting on a dull green rug that has begun to fade. Along the walls is a dark green wallpaper, tree branches painted on, wrapping the room. There's a white marble fireplace in front of the couches and chairs, full of ashes and burnt wood. On the mantle of the fireplace are small gold figurines of gods and goddesses, missing limbs and heads.

Deuce moves to the doorway as Hades walks to the mantle, picking up a golden figurine of Artemis, she's standing, missing a leg, as she shoots her bow and arrow. Henris moves to the light green velvet couch, dusting off an area and sitting. Deuce watches her as she sits uncomfortably, "I'm here in regards of your rent," Hades announces. Deuce looks to him confused, he crosses his arms pushing himself off the doorway, "My rent?" Hades sets down the figurine, turning to Deuce, "Yes your rent." Deuce begins to fall to pieces, "I haven't had to pay for the last six years, why do I have to pay now?" Hades moves from the mantle, "Because you're of age, you're going to be a man soon." Deuce questions him, "I'm fourteen, I won't be a man for some time," he sighs, "how am I going to pay?" Hades walks in front of him, clasping his shoulder, smiling again, "I'm glad you asked that." He removes his hand from Deuce's shoulder, walks over to the couch where Henris is sitting, "I think it's time for you to fulfill your duties, like your mother used to." Deuce tilts his head, "Like my mother used to? I'm confused." Hades answers, "She'd go on missions for me, solve matters I was unable to solve." Deuce asks, "Like turn people to stone?" Hades moves to sit on the chair across from Deuce, its made of snake skin, "She did that, among other things." Deuce shakes his head, "I can't do that." Hades sighs, "You can and you will," he turns his head to Henris, "you know my daughter goes on missions for me to, she has just begun to learn to use her powers." Henris looks from her father to Deuce, she smiles nodding, Deuce turns back to Hades, "For how long?" Hades stands, "Until you're rent is paid, until you no longer wish to do so." Deuce begins to nod, he uncrosses his arms walking over to Hades to meet him in the middle of the room, Henris stands, "Ok," he looks to Henris, "I'll do it." He looks back to Hades, "What do I have to do?"