Book of Hades
The Furies, Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone were placed under my care in the Underworld. They are just a little too unsavoury for anywhere else, so now they are my problem. All the darkness from the world and beyond is brought to me. How lovely, more murderers to watch over.
I made my way back to Earth and got into my car. I had no idea where to start looking for them. They could be anywhere by now. My new phone had quite a few things that were very helpful, like the internet. Maybe someone had seen something… I did a search for weird sightings and got a hit. Some guy had seen what he described as a giant bat, and a woman said she saw a griffin. Those people were not far.
I looked for landmarks or anything that might be significant in the area, and the answer was obvious when I saw the prison. They were going after incarcerated murderers. I had no issues with that in truth, let them torture the scum, but they had a funny way of looking at things. They could see the prison as a sanctuary for these individuals and burn the place to the ground with everyone inside. The simplistic logic was understandable for the Furies, but nothing was ever as simple as it appeared. Try telling them that.
I started my car and sped off towards the prison. If they could not get to the prisoners easily, they could lose their temper. Then the fun and games would start, and I would have to clean up the mess. Bloody crazy creatures, why could they not actually be mythical instead of a pain in my arse?
I was still figuring out the area and how to make my way around, so I had a satellite navigation system put in my car. Humans do love satellite stuff. I punched in the destination, and a computerized map showed the way. A female voice directed me to where I needed to go, and she sounded like a lady very close to me. Hope she returns soon. It was a love-hate relationship. I loved her, and she hated me. Details, details.
I reached my destination and got out of my car. I looked along the rooftop of the prison and at some nearby trees. I heard nothing but the wind, which I expected. Birds are afraid of the Furies. Who isn’t? Except me. It was an isolated building and the surrounding area was barren. Looks like Asphodel Fields. Home sweet bloody home.
I made my way towards the entrance of the prison and walked through the revolving doors. Is there a point to doors that spin? Going round in bloody circles before entering somewhere? No point, I can see. I walked up to a desk where a pretty young lady sat. She had red-rimmed glasses, and brown hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. Her long silky legs were crossed and her red shoes went very nicely with her black suit jacket and skirt.
“Excuse me, dear,” I said to her as she sat filling her long red nails. “I need to speak to the boss if I may?” I flashed her one of my dashing smiles, and it caught her attention instantly.
“Oh…err…do you have an appointment, sir?” She quickly put down her file and straightened her clothes.
“No, afraid not, this is all very last minute.” I leaned on her desk and spoke to her at eye level. Her breath caught in her throat, and her lips parted. She swept her hand across her hair to make sure it was perfect. That’s right, my dear, give in to the charm.
“You need an appointment, sir,” she said, finally letting out the breath. I gave her a disappointed look and pet lip. “But I can make you one right now,” she added quickly as she began tapping away at her keyboard to find a time and date.
“I really need to see the boss now.” I used my powers of suggestion to push her into making this happen. “I would be eternally grateful.” I looked into her eyes and could see them glazing over, the mist of the mind going under, and now she was mine.
“I can fit you in right now, but only for a few minutes.” Her voice became sweeter and slightly needy. She was under my power completely and I loved it.
“Thank you, my dear,” I reached over and took her hand, “you will be going to Elysium, I’m sure.” I kissed her hand gently and could hear her heart beating hard and fast. Still got it, Hades. Still got it.
She handed me a visitor’s pass and an appointment card before I was escorted through a gate and into the prison by a guard. I looked at the card to see she had written her phone number down. Well, having a contact in prison could be helpful one day. I put it into my pocket and was led to the Governor’s office. The officer knocked twice before opening the door.
“Yes, what is it?” An older chap with a balding head sat hunched over a desk surrounded by a small mountain of papers.
“Visitor, sir,” the guard answered.
“I have no appointments, get rid of them.” He waved his hand without even looking up as he shuffled through documents.
“This is quite urgent,” I said, losing my patience.
“Tough,” he said, still not looking up. I hated ignorance and snapped at him.
“Look at me when I am speaking!” I stepped forward, and the officer fell back against the door we had just entered. The balding boss man fell out of his seat with a start. “You have a big problem in this prison, and I need you to cooperate with me, or things will turn rather nasty.” It was a threat, but not the way they thought. I wasn’t threatening anyone. I was warning them of the threat of Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone, the Furies. The officer suddenly came to his senses and grabbed me by the arms to restrain me. I just rolled my eyes and flipped him over my shoulder, slamming him into the thin blue carpet. I could tell by the dull thud it was stone. He was out cold but not permanently damaged. I think.
“What do you want?” the governor asked with fear.
“Answers,” I replied. “May I?” I motioned to the seat opposite his so that I could sit down. He looked at me without speaking. “Thank you,” I said, taking his silence for permission. Not that it mattered. I was going to sit anyway, but manners cost nothing.
“Answers about what? If you are here because your brother or father is locked up and apparently innocent, then you needn’t bother,” he spoke forcefully, and I smiled.
“My father is indeed locked away, and my brothers are…well, let’s not get into that. I am here because three women are here, and you are going to show me where they are. They are either pretending to be visitors or they snuck in.” He looked at me curiously, like he was weighing up my words.
“What do you want with them?” he asked.
“They are escapees. I am in charge of…a private establishment,” I explained.
“Private establishment? Like a pimp? Then you certainly are not getting anywhere near them, and I suggest you leave before I call the police.” He picked up his phone, and I smashed my fists into the sides of my seat. I heard the wooden arms crack under the force of my anger.
“Put it down,” I growled. His face dropped and turned a dull shade of white. “I have no idea what a pimp is. I run a place much like this one, and they escaped. If I do not get them back, you will have a big problem on your hands,” I told him plainly, and he nodded his understanding. I didn’t think he understood anything, but he was going to do everything I asked of him, so it really didn’t matter.
“They came this morning, lawyers for three prisoners, Jones, Brown, and Carter,” he said.
“Murderers?” I asked, already knowing the answer. He nodded. “Where are they? Take me, now.” I pushed my seat away and stepped over the unconscious officer still lying on the floor. The boss man made his way to the door and pulled a few more of his men off their posts to follow us. There were now six of us, and we were walking into a serious situation.
I began to feel a little uneasy. My powers were significantly weaker on Earth. In the Underworld, I was unstoppable. Nothing and no one was more powerful, but here? I was slightly vulnerable. The Furies could do some damage. I was relying on my voice and personality to force them to obey me. They would not come quietly, but I wanted to make them think twice about defying me. That would give me valuable time to take them. I had my Bident in the inside pocket of my jacket, along with the lovely receptionist’s number. That would help to take them down. It was the size of a pen, but I could make it bigger easily enough, and then Lord Hades would be in full Underworld mode. We walked to what I supposed was an interrogation room. The boss was about to open the door, but I stopped him.
“Shhh,” I said, placing my forefinger to his lips to stop him from speaking. I listened intently outside the door. Everything was silent. I was unsure of myself for the first time in so long I barely remembered the feeling. I hesitated with my hand hovering over the door handle and felt a bead of sweat roll down the side of my face. I gritted my teeth and snarled. Bloody Furies think they can make me feel this way? They will pay the price. I opened the door swiftly and walked into the room. The furies sat at the table in the centre of the room, and the three prisoners were lying on the floor unconscious or dead.
I looked at each of them in turn. I could feel my lips curling at the edges with my spiking anger. They all looked back with slight smiles. They were completely normal-looking women. They had even acquired suits and looked like professionals. They were all very different, Alecto had blonde hair, Megaera had black hair, and Tisiphone had hair the colour of fire. Their personalities were all different, and they liked to torture in their own sick way. All with the mind, but Alecto would whisper to her victims, causing headaches that would push them to the limits of what they could stand. Megaera forced them to see horrifying images that caused such fear that the tortured party would vomit, pass out, or simply scream themselves to death. Tisiphone, in my opinion, was the worst of the three. She would do what the others did, as well as forcing the subject to harm themselves. She would make them think they were thirsty so they would drink so much water they almost drowned or have them imagine their arms were snakes trying to kill them. They would often take a knife and start hacking away. Sometimes the snakes would win and gouge their eyes out. Eventually, they went insane from the torture. Like I said, I didn’t mind punishing those that deserved it, but I took no pleasure in it, not anymore. I had become bored with such acts. They loved it. I preferred to dump the scum in Tartarus, and the misery of that dark pit did most of the work for me.
“Hello, Hades,” Tisiphone said in an amused tone, making the other two nod like she had told a joke.
“You will refer to me as King.” I took a menacing step forward, putting my hand inside my suit jacket, ready to pull out my weapon. “The fun is over. You are going back right now.” I spoke in a low tone, my voice bubbling at the back of my throat like I needed to cough, forcing the words out between gritted teeth.
“Umm…nah, I think we will stay.” Megaera pushed her chair away from the table, her voice rasping like a snake with the worst speech impediment ever known.
“Wait a minute,” the old boss man chimed in. “King? What kind of sick place you running where you force the women to call you king?” He spoke in an accusing manner. I knew he was about to order his officers to take me, so I needed to put an end to this now.
“You dare to disobey me?!” I took another step forward as my voice blasted the three of them in the face, making them lean sideways to escape the full brunt of my words. “And you shut up.” I turned and pointed at the boss. He backed up and stood against the wall, nodding his understanding.
Turning was a mistake. The three Furies burst from their seats and leapt over the table towards me. I may have been weaker on Earth, but my speed had not diminished. I whipped out my Bident, and grew it to 6 feet in length, smashing it into Megaera and Alecto, sending them crashing against the wall. Tisiphone dodged by leaning backwards and waiting for the swing to pass her. Her wings ripped through her clothes and used them to sweep my legs away. I hit the ground hard and felt the force. I forgot what pain felt like. Ouch. Reacting quickly, I picked up my Bident with my right hand and grabbed her wing with my left. I could see the fear in her face. She knew what was about to happen but was too late to stop it. The other two were slowly coming to their senses, but they would be too late to help. I drove my Bident through her wing, pinning it to the ground. The scream she released could break glass, I’m sure.
“Move, and she dies,” I snapped at Megaera and Alecto. “I wrapped my hand around her throat and squeezed.
“Alright, we will go back. Let her go.” Alecto looked afraid, and so she should have. I could have snapped her in half easily enough.
The boss and his men had left during the fight, smart of them. I let myself out with the Furies bound with the metal of the gods, unbreakable chains. I was taking them back to Tartarus. Lucky break for me.
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