“As you know it?” He eyed Kore. “This is the deception I spoke of!”
Kore held up a hand. To Hades, it seemed the black lines in her marbled skin shifted with her anger. “Enough.”
“But—”
“Leave.”
The Daemon Queen’s voice shook the air, and though she looked poorly, power rolled off her.
For a moment, Hades swore the ice daemon would challenge Kore. He’d regret his decision, if he did. Murder flashed in Kore’s silver-tinted eyes, and she seemed an adversary great enough to topple Typhon single-handedly.
The ice daemon didn’t attack Kore.
Instead, he pushed the tip of his sword (which still rested against Hades’ throat), so it posed a greater threat, though didn’t wound the god. It was uncomfortable, but Hades’ expression didn’t change. Nothing the ice daemon could ever do would worry Hades, not with the past Hades had survived.
“Don’t harm my Queen.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Kakos!”
Kakos wrinkled his nose at Kore but sheathed his sword. He marched out of the tent and left a trail of bitter cold behind him. It helped ebb the heat of Kore’s stare as she regarded Hades.
“I thought Zeus had washed his hands of me,” she said.
“He has.”
“Then who sent you?”
“The Fates.”
Surprise contorted Kore’s features. “They don’t involve themselves with anything.”
“They have a... personal reason for not wanting Cronus to succeed.”
Hades expected the Daemon Queen to ask for more details. Few were aware of the Fates’ capture by the Titan King. Cronus hadn’t bragged of his feat. He had wanted no one believing they could take his position if they gained the power of the Fates.
Also, the Fates weren’t too keen on the populace discovering they could be imprisoned.
Kore nodded. “Don’t we all?”
Her response interested Hades.
What history did Kore have with his father?
Cronus had no doubt attempted a merger with the Underworld, either through force or a deal, but what were the specifics?
That Kore hadn’t succumbed to Cronus, impressed Hades. Few in existence could claim such as much.
“So, how have the Fates revealed you can win?” Kore continued. “Why does it matter to me?”
Hades explained all that had happened after Kore had left Zeus’ palace, though he skipped his time with Clotho. He didn’t think the Daemon Queen would find the entanglement disgusting, but he didn’t want to give her a cause to doubt the Fates’ words.
When he finished, Kore offered him a humorless grin. “You need me, eh?”
“Yes.” Hades sighed. “I wish there were another option that didn’t involve bothering you, but there isn’t one.”
The Daemon Queen returned her staff to its holster on her back and walked to a small table to Hades’ left. On it sat a pitcher and two wooden cups, and like the rest of the sparsely decorated tent, it seemed more commonplace for laborers than a queen.
From the fine cloth and intricate gold trimming of her peplos, it was clear Kore enjoyed luxury, but she didn’t flaunt it.
“Would you like a drink?” Kore pointed at the pitcher. “It’s pomegranate juice.”
“From the Underworld?”
“That’s where the best pomegranates are grown.”
“Won’t it...?” Embarrassment wouldn’t let Hades say the next words.
Kore sniggered. “Will consuming Underworld food trap you there?”
Hades looked at his sandals. “It’s a popular idea.”
“A ridiculous one, but you upper-dwellers hold many.”
Hades cleared his throat. “I’ll have some. Thank you.”
He didn’t agree to the drink just to prove that he wasn’t as backwards as other upper-dwellers. Hades was also parched. He’d wanted to gather more supplies before leaving Mount Olympus but hadn’t been able to do so without getting caught.
He hated being unprepared, yet he trusted the Fates. At any other time, he wouldn’t have. Like everyone, they had their own agendas, even Clotho.
Yet, this one time, he’d follow their orders. Hades wasn’t sure if the Fates could be killed, but Cronus wouldn’t rest until he crumbled them to dust. The Fates wouldn’t leave an opportunity for the Titan King to get his vengeance.
Kore filled both cups and passed one to Hades.
Hades examined the dark red liquid, even sniffed it.
“It’s not poisoned.”
“I didn’t think that. I’ve just never had it before.”
Kore smirked. “It’s far better than the wine you gods gorge yourselves on.”
“We’ll see.”
Hades took a sip. The tart, sweet flavor flooded his mouth, more intense than any of the wines he’d ever had (minus the sharp bite of alcohol). Hades loved it.
Kore had yet to drink her juice, and a knowing smile pulled at her lips. “How is it?”
Hades drained the cup and handed it back to her. “Fine.”
Kore’s smile widened. “I’d say more than fine.”
Surprised he could manage it, Hades flashed a grin of his own. “I may have some imported occasionally.” Then the reality of the situation broke through. “If we survive.”
Kore’s amusement vanished, and she placed the cups back on the table. “After how your brother treated me, I shouldn’t even consider helping you.”
“No, if I were you, I would laugh at the idea.”
“Yet...” Kore sighed. “I can’t allow Cronus to win.”
“So, you’ll help?”
“I’d like to, but I don’t think I can.”
“But the Fates said—”
“I’ve never heard of the Hecatoncheires. I can’t imagine where to look for them in Tartarus. Did the Fates give you any other clues?”
“No.”
“I’m sorry.”
Hades heart sank.
Why hadn’t the Fates offered more information? Why would they send him on this pointless mission? What were they —
“Though...”
Kore’s eyes sparkled.
“Yes?”
“I know of someone who would have the location. He’ll be difficult to track down.”
“You can, right?”
Kore glanced at her left hand’s four fingers. “Yes, I can.”
The being Kore spoke of demanded flesh for information. That unsettled Hades, but what concerned him more was that Kore had paid the price once already.
Had it been worth the sacrifice? What had she gained?
He went to ask, but Kore said, “I’ll help.”
“Really?”
Kore’s face hardened. “I don’t make it a habit to say one thing but do another.”
“I wasn’t implying that. I just... I thought I’d come to a dead end.”
The lines around Kore’s eyes softened, yet she still looked ready to wrestle him. “We’ll be heading to the Underworld, and no one will be happy about your presence.”
“I figured as much.”
“Yes, but some may be worse than Kakos. I’ll try to maintain the peace, though I can’t promise harm won’t come to you. Under no circumstances will you retaliate.”
“Even if they’re moments away from killing me?”
“One wrong move and my realm will descend into chaos. The progression of this war has exposed cracks in my rule, and I’ve wasted all my time trying to make an alliance with your brother and put minor effort into fixing my own problems.”
Her candid response astonished Hades.
How could a queen like her, so composed and worthy of her station, have difficultly sustaining her domain?
The realization soured Hades’ stomach.
What struggles was he heading toward?
“I’ll do my best.”
He could have lied and said he’d keep from lashing out, no matter what happened. Yet he wanted their partnership to start on a solid foundation of truth. For them to succeed, they had to have as few reservations about each other as possible.
Hades hoped the Daemon Queen agreed.
Kore smiled but didn’t comment. She didn’t appear any angrier, though, so Hades figured she’d accepted his answer.
For now.
She gestured to a raised cot behind Hades. “Please rest. Our journey will be short but rough, and you look like you need sleep.”
“As do you.”
“I’ll rest when my people are home.”
Hades’ admiration for the Daemon Queen grew. Zeus was insane for not having her as an ally.
“Anything I can do to make the process easier? I’d like to help. I’m not as tired as I look.”
Kore laughed, a rich, husky sound at odds with the cool tones and hard angles of her body. It didn’t last as long as Hades would have liked. “My people would rip you to shreds.”
Without another word, she left the tent.
Alone, Hades followed Kore’s orders and lied on the cot. His eyes closed on their own.
He hadn’t slept in days, and his body drifted off without coaxing.
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