20. Angela

Every time someone faded me, my stomach felt like it was trying to exit my body through my asshole and my legs turned into jello. Dead serious, It was an awful way to travel, but it got the job done. It wasn't even the weirdest thing I had experienced since moving to the compound. The Weirdest Experience award went to getting stuck in a panic room for baby vampires for six hours.

After I caught my balance, I realized we were not in southern California–or any earthbound place–anymore. This must have been another realm or something. Everything seemed vibrant to the point of being an illusion, like a fever dream. The sky was a striking neon blue and the clouds were pink and fluffy like cotton candy. Everything from the ground we stood on to the palm trees to the swanky vacation home further down the river appeared to be almost 4-D in how insanely brilliant and detailed they looked. I wasn't a poetic soul by far, but even if I was, I doubt there were even words to describe this place.

"Welcome to the River Styx, everyone. Please, don't touch the water. Don't go into the river. If you see any bodies in there, they belong there. If you hear any screams, no you didn't. Any creepy eyes peering out, just ignore them. I'm serious, act like it's not even there," Ares announced.

More powerful supernatural beings could mindlink, and I always knew when he was linking with my sister because they'd lock eyes and she'd get this dopey expression on her face. And when he was saying something flirty to her, she'd blush redder than a San Marzano tomato. Of all her boyfriends, I'd say he and Mal were tied for most adorable.

Yes, and please, for the love of all things Hellish, please do not piss off Hades. If the rumors are true, he's a very sensitive soul and I do not want this fucked up because your temper flared, Lucifer's voice filled my mind.

Fuck off, you bossy, arrogant asshole.

It pissed me off to no end that he could invade my mind whenever he wanted, and I couldn't do the same. I was sure my hate-glare got the message across though, because he returned it tenfold. Sometimes I liked Lucifer, and sometimes I didn't. It all depended on which Lucifer he decided to be that day.

"Come on, dear, let's go," Michael said, offering me a hand in traversing the rocky terrain on the way to the house.

I linked my arm through his, and we brought up the rear of the group. Ever since Michael and Di worked their issues out and I let him in, I realized how amazing and interesting Michael is as a person. It's unfathomable that he ended up with someone like Lucifer, but I guess even a scrub can get lucky sometimes.

"Ugh, none of these Greek Gods can make it easy and live in a historic walk-up in Queens, huh?" I jokingly lamented. "They all have to live in crazy fifth dimensions."

"Not true. Some of the gods live on earth, in LA. A couple others live there part time, like Dionysius," Ares commented. "Hades got duped into taking this job and got stuck with it."

Azazel took his shirt off and stuffed it in his back pocket. His marbled wings sprang from his back before he took to the sky like a giant bird; it still blew my mind every time he or Di freed their wings. He flew ahead of us, his head on a swivel as he took notice of everything. I was happy to see his wings back in working order. Judas faded me out right after the fighting started, but I heard his injury was very touch-and-go for the first couple of days afterward.

"Azazel linked that everything looks safe, and that aside from a force field he can feel around the house, we shouldn't have an issue," Diana relayed. He came down and immediately linked their hands together. My little cannoli would never be alone again with her five boyfriends around.

Sigh. I wish I had someone like that. Not three over-the-top stalkers who wouldn't know the definition of personal space even if it bit them in the ass. At least they're decent to look at and can eat pussy though. Small mercies.

We were several hundred feet from the house when I felt a barrier and an urge to go the other way. The magic on this ward felt subtle, but was very effective.

"Hades!" Ares boomed, his voice magically enhanced. He knocked on what I guessed was the barrier, but it appeared as if he was banging on thin air. "Your favorite nephew came to visit!"

A large, surly looking man popped out of nowhere next to him, scaring me half to death. He resembled Zeus somewhat, but where Zeus had a strong corporate silver fox vibe, this man gave off hot, rugged MC enforcer vibes. He wore worn black jeans, a band tee, and a leather jacket over it. His brown and silver hair was slicked back into a top knot with a shaggy, matching beard. He gave me a once over and I felt my cheeks heat. He was handsome.

"Um… Hades?" Ares asked, as if this man wasn't his uncle.

"Yeah?" the man in question replied in a scratchy voice straight from my wildest fantasies. "What brings you around? You haven't visited in centuries, so I'm assuming this isn't a social call…"

"No, it's not. But just to clarify, you are Hades, right?" Lucifer questioned him. "I'm not sure if you remember me? We met a long time ago. Lucifer Morningstar." He held out his hand, and they shook.

Hades' hard, cold expression didn't change at all, giving nothing away. He seemed emotionally unavailable, and I had to remind myself that I wasn't touching this incredibly sexy man with a ten foot pole. I had enough men back at the compound to beat away with a stick, and didn't need the extra headache.

Plus, he was technically Apollo's uncle… which should be a deal breaker. Fuck me, I read too many dark, twisted romances.

"I know you," he curtly replied. "Ares, what did you get yourself into?"

"How about you let me come inside. I'll explain everything and introduce you to my adelfí psychí, Diana, and our boyfriend Azazel. Then we can catch up…maybe you can explain your new look, which is very motorcycle chic. I love it."

He grunted, motioning for us to follow him into his home. It was just as beautiful on the inside as it was on the outside. Fancy didn't even begin to describe how luxurious this place felt. It gave off beach home vibes, which was in direct opposition to how the man dressed, acted, and generally existed. Either he hired someone to decorate, or he had a woman who had very different tastes than his.

I peered around the walls and tables, spotting no pictures of a woman. He didn't have any pictures at all, actually. The closer I examined his extravagant, movie-worthy home, the more I realized how impersonal it seemed. No pictures, nick-knacks, or decorations. The throw pillows were crammed into one side of the couch and no evidence of a pet or even another person living here. Call me spoiled, but after living with Feta, I needed a dog in my life. They were so much better than cats–or half-brothers pretending to be cats, I guess.

We sat down in his sitting room, and despite the coldly decorated state of his home, the couch was pure comfort.

"Where's Persephone?" Ares asked.

"Gone. Apparently I wasn't the right man for her, and she left me to find someone better. I don't want to talk about it." Hades' eyes glowed, then dimmed. Whatever happened, he must have felt some sort of way about it.

"And Cerberus…" Ares hedged.

"She took him. And the boat, too. Look, why don't you just explain why you're here, so we can get this over with," he groused.

I got the sudden feeling that this man wouldn't be inclined to revive my sister.

Ares went into an abridged retelling of his life since he left his Hades' place. How he met the guys, the business they built and how they got recruited by Red as his personal assassins and fixer team. Then how they met Diana and somehow ended up in a war against Red, living in a vampire compound in SoCal. The whole ordeal of his life was epic, and one day, I'd ask him to tell me the whole story, with a big bottle of vino and a cheese board.

His uncle attentively listened, nodding here and there to show he was listening. "So, you're in a poly relationship with five other people?" he questioned.

"Yeah," Ares shamelessly said around a face-splitting grin.

"And this obviously makes you happy," he stated.

"Ares is the happiest, most boisterous and hilarious man I've ever met," Diana cut in, a smile on her face. "He makes us all laugh every day, even Bash."

Azazel nodded, a shy smile on his face as he glanced at Ares. "Yeah, he's very smart, too. Doesn't give himself enough credit, really."

"Well, it sounds like you've come a long way since you landed here after getting exiled. Proud of you. If you're happy, then I'm happy for you. Love is tough to come by, and even tougher to keep. I pissed it away and acted like a smacked ass… to her and to you. Glad to see you happy."

He smacked Ares on the back, and I had the feeling something private passed between them, like maybe they reached some kind of understanding? I'd have to ask Diana for the full story later.

"So, what brings you here? I'm happy to see you, but no one comes down here unless they want something." Hades crossed his arms, scanning all of us.

"Hades, it's a long story, but my mom is stuck in equilibrium. She'll die if we take her out. We consulted the best necromancer in the world, and he said that he can't guarantee he'll be able to revive her because of the length of time she's been suspended. I miss her terribly, and Ares thought of asking you to revive her," Diana summarized in her sweetest voice. It was the same one she'd used to get cookies or take a ride on the back of Pop's motorcycle when we were growing up.

"I understand this is a lot to ask of you, uncle, but I'd do anything for my Little Goddess. It's not her mother's fault that she's in this circumstance, and this war is integral to the world's survival."

Hades leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard in thought. Silence fell over the room like an oppressive, stifling heat as we awaited his answer on pins and needles. I thought he wasn't going to answer.

"I won't do it for free," he stated. "I've been pushed around by your father and the other gods for too long, and as much as I like you, nephew, there'll be a price to pay."

"I have a deal I can make you," Lucifer said in a deep, tempting voice, as if he was offering Hades the world on a silver platter. "Join us–be part of the new order we're creating. Come live at the compound and take a seat at my inner table. We need someone with your intelligence and abilities."

"Think of all the power you'd have, and the impact you can make. You can be part of something, instead of being pushed to the side," Ares added on. "I'd love to see you more often, and you can help me train the soldiers."

"I can't leave. Who'll watch over all the souls?" This was the first time I heard any emotion from this beautiful, stone-faced man. He seemed scandalized that they would even suggest such a thing.

"Um, I hate to break it to you, uncle, but when was the last time you got a new soul? No one believes in the old gods anymore… most of these souls are dormant, and you can appoint someone to watch over them in your absence," Ares suggested.

"Yeah, you can visit whenever you want," Azazel added on.

"I'll need someone to manage my underworld when I come back into power. Who better than Hades, himself? The job is yours." Lucifer offered his hand, and Hades stared at it, not taking it right away.

"Will I have to see Zeus?" Hades picked at some invisible lint on his leather jacket, but that didn't fool any of us.

"Not really, aside from a few odd times here and there. He won't be living on the compound, and you'd be in a higher position than him. If you want to see him more than that, it's on you." Lucifer glanced from Hades' face to his outstretched hand, waiting for the man to shake.

"Alright." He shook Lucifer's hand. Sparks flew from where their hands connected, and it felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

I'd finally see my sister after all these years. I started crying, and Hades handed me a handkerchief from the inside of his jacket. "What's wrong, gorgeous? Beauties like you shouldn't cry."

Oh lord, this man was going to be trouble. He's Apollo"s uncle, I reminded myself–again. Couldn't say for sure if that reminder helped or made this whole thing worse.

"I'm just so happy to see my sister again. Thank you so much," I cried into his borrowed handkerchief, suddenly embarrassed by how emotional I acted. "Ugh, I swear I'll clean this and get it back to you soon."

"No worries, keep it as a way to remember me," he said, tossing me a wink.

Diana discreetly elbowed me, and I wished for the second time today that we could mindlink. Maybe if I asked Lucifer, he'd be able to make it happen.

Hades got up, then stretched, extending his arms over his head. For fuck's sake, he had a six pack?! Fuck my life.

"Give me a few minutes to pack a bag, then I'll come with you and revive her." He walked into another part of the house.

I hugged Diana, and we cried together. We had cried over Marilyn so many times in the past, but this time felt different. They weren't tears of sadness—they were hope. We'd finally get her back after all these years.

Soon enough, Ares joined in. He may have been a bloodthirsty lunatic, but he had such a gentleness underneath it all. Then Azazel and Michael hugged us too. Lucifer patted Diana on her shoulder, ditching his emotionless bastard facade as a tear wet his cheek.

"It's happening, Di. She's coming home."