Chapter Text
The population sign continued to click away as spirits filtered into the Underworld. Hades sat back in his throne, bored out of his mind. Poseidon sure knew how to wipe out a seaside city and now that nonsensical ringing won't stop for another couple hours. Hades groaned and hunched over, rubbing his temple.
"I swear, if one of those idiots go on another massacre, I will cave in this world faster than someone can say Cerberus." Hades growled.
"Sir."
"WHAT?!" Hades snapped, looking to his two lowly minions. Pain and Panic shrunk back in fear, before Panic stepped forward timidly.
"A mortal, it looks like they're sacrificing to you." Panic stated.
"A mortal? Why would they be sacrificing to me?" Hades scoffed, rising from his throne. "Do they want to be killed? Because that's not my forte. I rule over dead people, not make them."
"We didn't stay to listen, we just hurried off to tell you." Pain admitted, following after the Lord of Death. In the other room, the mist swirled and formed an image in the air. It showed a young woman kneeled by a fire that burned lowly. The girl sat on a mountainside, with snow that spiraled around her.
"What did she sacrifice?" Hades asked, stepping around the image. Interesting, he hadn't had a sacrifice from a mortal in centuries, much less a woman.
"Animal sacrifice, two rabbits from the look of it." Pain bluntly spoke.
"But she hasn't eaten and seems to be alone. Those could have been her meal, but for some reason she sacrificed to you." Panic added.
"Let's see what she has to say, shall we?" Hades dipped his hand into the mist and swirled the contents a bit. The image seemed to rewind to back to when the girl was burning the rabbits.
"There..." The girl said softly, as her breathe swirled out into the cold air. She placed the corpses of the rabbits she caught onto the fire and bowed her head. "Hades... God of the Underworld and the earth, please... Hear my plea... Please, bring back my sister... I beg of you..."
"Huh, case of the dead family member. Classic." Hades tapped his chin. There was something off about the girl.
"Should we just get rid of the message, sir?" Pain asked.
"Nah, nah. You know what? I'll pay her a little visit." Hades smirked. "Nutmeg just caught me on a day I was out. No gift for me to help her on her request. But a sacrifice? You know how much that spikes a god's power?"
"... A lot?" Panic hesitated.
"Yes, a lot." Hades rolled his eyes. "I'll entertain the girl. Play with her a little, before returning. Make sure none of the spirits get any funny ideas about escaping."
"Sir, yes sir!" The two chanted, before running off. Hades looked back at the image, before snapping his fingers, disappearing into the shadows.
~
You sighed and rose to your feet. It was pointless. Why would a god listen to your pitiful plea? And much less help you. Your father was never so kind.
You looked off down the mountain side to your small village, nestled in the valley. You frowned, not ready for the long trip back empty-handed. You were considering using your powers to travel back, when you suddenly heard the creak of a branch. As in, something large much be leaning on it.
You spun around looking for a presence, before looking up into the trees. You jumped and stepped back when you spotted someone sitting casually in the tree, watching you.
"Where you going, babe? I didn't think you had places to be." The figure dropped down from the tree and you gaped at their appearance. Fiery blue hair, skulls along their clothes, grey skin, pointed teeth, and a shadowy mist trailing at their feet. You knew who it was and gasped.
"Hades..." You covered your mouth in shock.
"How ya doing?" Hades chuckled, as he sauntered towards you. "Didn't think your little sacrifice went unnoticed, did you?"
"I... I didn't think you..."
"That I would show up?"
"Yeah, actually." You rubbed your neck and stepped back in intimidation. "I thought maybe at most I would get a small sign, like a message in the snow or symbol in the stars tonight. I wasn't expecting a personal appearance."
"You made a pretty hefty plea, kinda gutsy if you ask me."
"Are... Are you considering accepting my request?" Your interest peaked and you dropped to your knees, bowing your head. "Oh, please! Hades, if you can fulfill my wish, I would do anything."
"Anything, you say?" Hades smirked lightly and you felt a shiver run down your spine. But you were determined.
"I would do anything."
"Hm... Interesting. Alright, I want to hear this request. I'll see if there's something in exchange that you can give me that is of equal worth." Hades folded his arms as the ground behind shifted and formed a throne made of stone. He sat back in the seat and looked at you expectantly.
"Lord Hades, all I ask is that you bring my half-sister back to life."
"It might not seem like it, but reversing death is a big "No-No" in my book. Why do you need your dear sister back so badly? And why of all people do you deserve a family member back when others don't get that chance? Huh?" Hades looked at you, bored.
"I don't deserve her back..." You hung your head. "I need her back, because it's my fault that she's dead..."
"Wait, hold on. Back up. What?" Hades sat up in his chair and looked down at the girl. "You killed your sister?"
"I didn't mean to!" You began to tear up, as you held your shoulders. "My powers, I couldn't control them..."
"You're... A demigod." Hades frowned, realizing the threat the girl now posed. Demigods were a rare occurrence in this century. Monsters hunted them down like a pack of hyenas. "Who is your godly parent?"
"Boreas." You frowned, hating the thought of your father.
"The big boss of the North wind and winter, huh? No wonder you hate the guy, he's always giving everyone the cold shoulder." Hades scoffed. A minor god, he was worrying about nothing. The minor god children didn't stand a chance against him.
"Trust me, I have no fondness towards my father." You looked at Hades, pleadingly. "Please, Hades. What can I give in return for my sister back?"
"You know, in the underworld, there's a saying..." Hades rose from his throne and began to slowly circle around you. "A life for a life."
"Kill me then." You stood up, not afraid. "Take my life instead of hers."
"But see, killing someone is just too easy and not helpful in my case at all. No." Hades chuckled lowly, before walking up to you. He brushed some of your hair behind your ear and smirked. "I want you alive. If you want your sister back, you will sign your life over to me."
You gulped and averted your eyes to the ground. You needed to think this through. If you went through with this, you would be a slave to the king of the underworld. You would loose all free will and follow his every command. He was already giving you the chills.
But... You owed your sister her life. She didn't deserve to die so young. Not because of your mistake.
"Bring my sister back to life, no tricks, no loop-holes. You bring her back to life and she's completely normal, and she gets to live a normal life. And... I'll sign over my soul. That's the deal." You stated.
"I like it. You're bold, kid." Hades cackled lightly, before holding out his hand. "Let's shake on it and it will be official."
You hesitated, looking at the outstretched, bony hand. Once you decided there wouldn't be any turning back. You took the god of the dead's hand and shadowy shackles appeared on your wrists, before disappearing.
"You get a week left here in your little mortal village. Once time runs out, I'll come by to bring you to the Underworld." Hades slipped away his hand and looked amused. He brought his other hand up and cupped your face. "I'll see you then, snowflake."
And with that, he disappeared in a wave of shadows, leaving you alone on the mountainside. What did you just agree to?
~
A week flew by and during that time your younger half-sister regained life. Your mother was overjoyed and you were happy, despite a gloom hanging over you. You tried to spend as much time with your family as you could before the week was over. But finally it ended. You wrote a note that night, stating you were leaving and not returning.
You rather leave your family with broken hearts, rather than send them on a wild goose chase.
You walked outside and stepped into the fresh snow from this morning. You took a look up at the sky and wondered if it was the last you would see of it.
"Honey. Babe. I hope I didn't keep you waiting." You jumped and looked over to see Hades emerge from the shadows. "I'm glad you got all ready for me. Usually when I give someone a week they run and head into another country. But you're smart and must've figured that I could have found you wherever you gone."
"You kept your promise and I will keep mine." You stated, before offering your hands.
"And compliant, you're certainly more polite than my last servant." Hades chuckled and took your wrists, pulling you closer to him. "Hope you're not squeamish around ghosts and dead people, because there's gonna be a lot of that down below."
"I sort of figured... Let's go."
Hades released one of your wrists and snapped his fingers. Darkness filled you vision for moments, before a green light appeared in view. Greek Fire. It burned in torches along the walls of the chamber you stood in.
Hades released your other wrist and allowed you to look around. In the middle of the room was a table with Greece and Rome carved into it. Large holes in the walls acted as windows and when you looked out you found the river of Styx traveling on both sides of the tower you were in. You couldn't cross that sea of souls without a boat.
"You are free to travel the underworld as you please, just try not to get into trouble. If I ever need you, I will come to you." Hades stated, nonchalantly. "And since you're adjusting, if you ever need me... I don't know, call out my name or find one of my minions to come fetch me."
"This... Is awfully nice." You admitted. "I was expecting chains and dungeons, no free roam and awful food."
"Hey, I may be the lord of the dead, but I'm not evil." Hades huffed. "And I should lay down the ground rules before you go running around and sticking your hands where they shouldn't. Rule number one, do not eat any food you find or that is offered to you. If you eat food from the underworld, you may never leave and if I get bored of you that would be a problem. I will bring you food from the surface, do not accept food from anywhere else and don't go eating some random fruit you might find down here."
"Okay, no eating any strange food, unless it's from you."
"Next, don't go messing with any of the creatures down here. You're a demigod and there's nothing more a monster wants than to use you as a chew toy." Hades began to pace as he announced the rules. "Third, don't play by the edge of the Styx, you will be dragged and pulled in."
"Duly noted."
"And lastly, do not travel to the pit known as Tartarus. The worst of the worse lives in pieces down there. You wouldn't last five seconds standing around the pit, much less if you actually fell in." Hades tapped his chin in thought. "And I think that covers the ground rules.
"What about, "No escaping"?"
"Oh, sweetheart." Hades chuckled lowly, as he placed an arm around your shoulders. "You'll never be able to escape."