11. Hades

" R emind me to maim Lainie later," I complained to Drevi. "How one person would want to get into all this lace and tulle is beyond me. This is torture, and I don't even give torture out this harsh."

Drevi tries to cover the grin on his lips, but he isn't fast enough.

"You're useless," I mutter.

"You are almost in the dress, calm down, and I'll help you get it straightened out. It will work out, you'll see."

"Thank you, Drevi, I just want the night to go perfect. It's my first Halloween with the four of you, and it's been some years since the mortals have laid eyes on my blue skin."

"It will all work out, you'll see," he promises me.

Pyro barges in the door, distress written on his face until he notices me in the flaming dress. "Holy fuck, you look amazing. But how many souls did we bring back?"

"Thank you, and I thought six, but there were only five when we got here. What's wrong?" I ask, crossing the room and taking his hand.

"Oh, when I was in the elevator, an older couple got off and there was a scream. I ran to the sound, thinking the worst, but when I got there, it was a frightened woman claiming that a ghost attacked her. So can you call Lainie and check the number of souls? We can't have one loose and roaming the hotel," Pyro explains.

"My money is on Seph, he probably loosened the binding of the wrists. I will maim him for centuries when I get a hold of him," I fume.

I push the button on my phone and tell it to call Lainie. She answers on the third ring.

"Hades, mistress, is everything all right? I expected you to be busy with the party tonight."

"No, Lainie, it hasn't started, but we have a soul loose. Was Seph anywhere near them before we came to pick them up?" I ask.

"Yes, mistress. He met me at the gates and walked me back to the palace. Do you think it was him?"

The anguish in her tone pangs my heart. "I can't prove it, but I'd say yes. I want to confirm that I brought six souls from the Underworld, correct?"

"Yes," is all she replies.

"Don't worry, I don't blame you. Looks like I have a soul to reap and send back to you. Good thing I have Death at my side." I smirk as I wink at Drevi.

"Oh, this will be fun. It's been years since I've had to hunt a soul." His eyes sparkle with delight.

"What floor did you get off on?" I question Pyro.

"Twelve, you think the soul is still there?"

"Doubt it, but it's the only lead we have for now. I'm going to be a sight traipsing around in this dress. I think I'll save the blue skin for the party. "

"Yes, I'm going to leave my scythe here. Got me in a black robe, I don't need them thinking that the grim reaper is coming for them," Drevi notes.

"You two are taking all the fun out of Halloween." Pyro laughs.

"The soul is already in the holiday spirit, but I'm not sure if it will harm anyone. I should've paid more attention when we picked them up. But with Seph there, I was trying to keep my temper in check. Lainie finally found someone, and I don't want to be the reason that he leaves. But if he thinks that he can fuck with me, he forgot who I am." I snap my fingers and change Pyro into a sexy doctor outfit. "Perfect."

Pyro smirks as he looks down. "These pants are a little tight, aren't they?"

"Just because you're taken, doesn't mean I can't show you off." I smile at him with a wink. "Now, Drevi and I are off to hunt a soul. We have our cells; if it's a soul from the fields, it won't be much of a hunt. Tartarus, on the other hand, is a different story."

Drevi takes my hand and leads me to the elevator. "Do you think the soul is from the depths?"

"I'm not sure, Pyro said it just scared the patrons. Most of the souls in Tartarus are the worst of the worst. Since it didn't try to harm anyone, I doubt that's what we are dealing with. Fingers crossed for an easy recovery, so we can party the night away."

"Let's not count our chickens before they hatch. Let's find this ghost and we can chain it back with the rest," Drevi states as he hits the button to take us to the floor underneath our current one.

"I'm sending it straight back to the Underworld. I won't risk it getting loose again," I tell him .

When the doors open, there is a young couple dressed up for the Halloween party. His face is painted white and he's wearing a black and white suit. The lady on his arm is wearing a colorful patchwork dress with long, bright-red hair, and the makeup on her joints looks like she has been sewn back together.

I don't ask Drevi until we are out of earshot who they are dressed as.

He holds back a chuckle. "I'll add it to our list of movies for you to watch, it's called The Nightmare Before Christmas. They are dressed as the main characters, Jack and Sally."

I playfully hit him. "Don't laugh at me. So, are we knocking on each door? Or just walking the floor listening for screams?"

"Let's just keep an ear out. I told Pyro to have the staff let me know if they see or hear anything out of the norm. We will find this soul soon," he promises.

"I still think you should have brought your scythe. It would've been funny to see the mortals scurry away from you," I tease.

"You are a naughty girl, aren't you?" He winks.

This time, I'm the one to chuckle. "Don't you know that by now?"

A buzz sounds from Drevi's hip, and he reaches for his phone. "The soul is in the casino. Let's go."

Hand-in-hand, we head back the way we came. Once we get back into the elevator, the ride down takes longer than normal.

Drevi turns to me. "How are you going to send the soul back?"

"Easy," I reply with a snap of my fingers, my scythe appears in my hands. It isn't much like his, it's silver with a bronze skull on the blade.