22. Another Crisis: Alex

CHAPTER 22

ANOTHER CRISIS

ALEX

B efore he could second-guess himself any further, Alex rapped his knuckles against the ornate Asgardian door. A muffled "Come in!" greeted him, and he pushed the door open.

The sight that met him was surprisingly normal, all things considered. Zac was perched on the edge of his bed, fully dressed and in the process of tying his shoes. The kid looked up as Alex entered, a smile breaking across his face that made something in Alex's chest tighten.

"Hey," Zac said, straightening up. "I was just about to come find you guys."

Alex nodded, taking in the kid's appearance. The dark circles under his eyes were less pronounced, and there was a spark of energy in his movements that had been missing after their showdown with Hel.

"You're looking better," Alex observed, aiming for casual and probably missing by a mile. "How're you feeling?"

Zac shrugged, but the smile didn't leave his face. "Better. Still feel like I went ten rounds with a particularly pissed-off minotaur, but I'll live."

Alex snorted, moving to sit next to Zac on the bed. The mattress dipped under his weight, and he marveled for a moment at the sheer opulence of Asgardian furnishings. Even their guest rooms put most mortal palaces to shame.

"Where's Eryx?" Zac asked, glancing towards the door as if expecting Alex's other half to materialize at any moment.

"Checking on Fenrir and the others," Alex replied, unable to keep a hint of grumpiness from his tone. "Better him than me, honestly. Eryx is more of a people person."

Zac's laugh was warm and genuine, and Alex felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. "That's one way of putting it. I'm pretty sure Eryx could charm the scales off a dragon if he put his mind to it."

"Don't give him any ideas," Alex grumbled, but there was no heat in it.

As their chuckles faded, Alex found himself really looking at Zac. The kid had come a long way since they'd first found him, half-dead and terrified, in that vampire coven's lair. The memory of it still made Alex's blood boil. The experiments they'd done, the way they'd tried to twist Zac's innate magical talent into something dark and unnatural.

"So," Zac said, his tone shifting to something more serious. "Not that I don't appreciate the wake-up call, but I'm guessing this isn't just a social visit. What's up?"

Alex took a deep breath, steeling himself. "We found something. When you were out. A way to maybe track Loki."

Zac's eyebrows shot up, interest and wariness warring for dominance on his face. "Okay. That sounds like good news. So why do you look like someone just told you Cerberus ate your favorite soul-reaping shoes?"

Despite himself, Alex felt a snort of laughter escape him. The kid's ability to find humor in even the tensest situations never failed to impress him. "Because it's potentially dangerous. And I'm not sure if we should even be considering it, but we're kind of out of options, and?— "

"Alex," Zac cut him off, his voice gentle but firm. "You're rambling. Just tell me what happened."

Right. Rip the bandaid off. Alex could do that. He was Hades, for fuck's sake. He'd delivered worse news to millions of souls over the centuries.

So Alex told him. About Fenrir's blood, about the scrying well, about Loki's taunting message. As he spoke, he watched Zac's expression carefully, looking for any sign of fear or hesitation.

But Zac's face remained thoughtful, his brow furrowed in concentration. And as Alex finished his explanation, he saw the moment when it all clicked into place for the kid.

"You want me to try tracking Loki," Zac said. It wasn't a question. "With my magic. My connection to Absalom."

Alex nodded, a sigh escaping him that felt like it came from the very depths of his immortal soul. "Yeah. That's the idea. But kid, I want you to know that you don't have to do this. We're not trying to take advantage of you. If you're not comfortable with it, we'll find another way."

Zac was quiet for a long moment, his gaze fixed on some point in the middle distance. When he finally spoke, his voice was soft but steady. "You're worried about Absalom. About whether we can trust him."

It wasn't a question, but Alex answered anyway. "Yeah. I am. We don't know enough about what he wants. And after everything you've been through I don't want to put you in a position where you might be used or manipulated again."

Zac's eyes met Alex's then, and there was a depth of understanding there that made Alex's chest ache. This kid had seen too much, been through too much. And yet here he was, still standing, still fighting.

Zac spoke again, his voice soft but steady. "After becoming Absalom's vessel... he's been nothing but kind to me, Alex. Patient, even."

Alex felt his hackles rise, a protest forming on his lips. But Zac held up a hand, his expression resolute. "Let me finish, please. I know you and the others have a history with Absalom. I get it, I do. But he's been trying to prove himself. To show that he's not the bad guy here. He genuinely wants to help."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with implication. Alex found himself torn between his instinctive distrust of Absalom and his growing respect for Zac's judgment. The kid had been through hell—literally, in some cases—and come out the other side stronger. Maybe it was time to start trusting his instincts.

"Well, would you look at that," Alex muttered, shaking his head with a wry smile. "The student becomes the master. When did you get so mature, kid?"

Zac's answering grin was equal parts sheepish and proud. "Probably somewhere between the vampire den and the showdown with Hel. Turns out, cosmic peril is great for personal growth."

Despite himself, Alex felt a bark of laughter escape him. "Don't let Eryx hear you say that. He'll start marketing 'Near-Death Experiences for Self-Improvement' or some New Age bullshit."

As they stood, preparing to join the others, Alex found himself marveling at the strange turns his immortal life had taken. Here he was, getting life lessons from a teenager who hosted the consciousness of an ancient vampire god. Just another Tuesday for the Shadowguards, he supposed.

"Alright, oh wise one," Alex said, clapping a hand on Zac's shoulder. "Let's go find the others before they decide to start the apocalypse without us."

They made their way through the winding corridors of Asgard's palace, the opulence of their surroundings a stark contrast to the weight of their conversation. As they neared the main hall, a commotion caught Alex's attention. The sound of clashing metal and was that howling ?

"What the fuck?" Alex muttered, picking up the pace. Zac matched his stride, curiosity and concern warring on his face.

They burst out into one of Asgard's vast courtyards, and Alex felt his jaw drop at the scene before him. There, in the center of what could only be described as a divine battleground, was Eryx who's currently fighting Fenrir.

But it wasn't like any fight Alex had ever seen. Eryx moved with a grace that seemed almost supernatural, waves of golden light pulsing from his hands. And Fenrir, in his massive wolf form, was countering with howls that shook the very air around them.

"Quite the spectacle, isn't it?" a familiar voice drawled from beside them.

Alex whirled, instinctively pushing Zac behind him as he came face to face with Thor. The thunder god looked annoyingly unperturbed by the chaos unfolding before them.

"What the hell is going on?" Alex demanded, his voice a low growl. "Why is my boyfriend trying to get himself eaten by your overgrown guard dog?"

Thor's booming laugh did nothing to soothe Alex's frayed nerves. "Peace, Hades. This is no battle to the death. It is training."

"Training," Alex repeated flatly. "Of course. Because when I think 'productive learning environment,' I definitely picture 'giant wolf versus demigod smackdown.'"

Zac, who had been watching the 'fight' with rapt attention, finally tore his gaze away. "What are they even doing? It looks like Eryx is using sound somehow."

Thor's expression softened as he looked at Zac, a hint of pride in his eyes that made something in Alex's chest twist. "Perceptive as always, young one. Indeed, Eryx is learning to harness a different aspect of Apollo's power. Sound and vibration, linked intimately with music."

Alex blinked, his mind racing to catch up. "Okay, but why? I mean, Eryx has the whole 'Bow of Divine Light' thing going for him. Why start messing with sound all of a sudden?"

"Versatility," Fenrir's voice rumbled as he padded over, having apparently called a time-out on the sparring session. Eryx followed, looking exhausted but exhilarated. "In battle, one must never rely on a single strategy. The bow is powerful, yes, but it has limitations. Sound can reach places light cannot."

Alex opened his mouth, then closed it again. He hated to admit it, but the overgrown furball had a point. "And how exactly did you become an expert on Apollo's powers? Last I checked, you weren't exactly buddies with the Olympian crowd."

Fenrir's lupine features twisted into what might have been a smirk. "I read," he said simply.

"He reads," Alex repeated, incredulity dripping from every syllable. "The big bad wolf is a bookworm. Fantastic. What's next, Cerberus starting a book club?"

Eryx, who had been catching his breath, let out a snort of laughter. "Don't give him ideas. You know how he gets when he's bored."

As the tension of the moment broke, Alex found himself swept up in a whirlwind of explanations and demonstrations. Eryx, practically vibrating with excitement, showed off his newfound ability to manipulate sound waves. Fenrir, in a display of patience Alex wouldn't have thought possible, explained the theory behind it all.

And through it all, Alex watched. He watched Zac's eyes light up with curiosity, asking questions that made even Thor look impressed. He watched Eryx grow more confident with each successful manipulation of sound. He even watched Fenrir, noting the way the wolf-god seemed to relax, bit by bit, as if teaching was helping him as much as it was helping Eryx.

But as the training session wore on, Alex couldn't shake the growing unease in his gut. Fenrir, for all his talk of teaching, seemed to be toying with Eryx. Each time Eryx would make progress, the wolf-god would up the ante, pushing him further and further.

"Come on, sunshine," Alex muttered under his breath, fists clenching at his sides. "Show this overgrown furball what you're made of."

As if in response to his silent urging, Eryx redoubled his efforts. Golden light pulsed from his hands, sound waves visibly distorting the air around him. But Fenrir just looked bored.

With a casual swipe of his massive paw, Fenrir sent Eryx flying. The sight of his partner hitting the ground hard made something in Alex snap. He surged forward, shadows writhing around his clenched fists, ready to teach this mangy mutt a lesson in manners.

But before he could take more than a step, a hand like an iron vise clamped down on his shoulder. "Peace, Hades," Thor's voice rumbled in his ear. "This is part of the training. Interference now would do more harm than good."

Alex whirled on the thunder god, ready to tell him exactly where he could shove his "peace." But the look in Thor's eyes—a mixture of understanding and steely resolve—made him pause.

"Trust in your mate's strength," Thor said, his voice low and serious. "And in Fenrir's wisdom as a teacher."

Wisdom? From the wolf prophesied to eat the sun? Alex wanted to laugh, but the sound died in his throat as he turned back to the battle.

Fenrir loomed over Eryx, who was struggling to his feet. "You rely too much on what you know," the wolf-god growled. "Trust your instincts. The bow is but one manifestation of your power. Will it to change, to become what you need in this moment."

Alex frowned. Change the bow? Was that even possible? As far as he knew, the Bow of Divine Light was just that—a bow.

Eryx's face lit up with understanding. "Of course," he breathed, and Alex could practically see the gears turning in that brilliant mind of his. "It's light. And light can be shaped. "

Fenrir's lupine features twisted into what might have been a smile. "Precisely. Now, show me what you can do, little godling."

Eryx closed his eyes, his face a mask of concentration. The bow materialized in his hands, glowing with its usual divine radiance. But then it began to change. The light twisted and flowed like liquid gold, reshaping itself under Eryx's will.

When Eryx opened his eyes, he held not a bow, but a flute. It shimmered with the same golden light, looking for all the world like it had been crafted from solidified sunbeams.

Eryx raised the flute to his lips and began to play. The melody that poured forth was like nothing Alex had ever heard before. It was beauty and power and raw creation all rolled into one. It was the song of the spheres, the music of the gods themselves.

And it was shaking Asgard to its very foundations.

The ground beneath their feet began to tremble. Cracks spider-webbed across the courtyard's pristine surface. In the distance, Alex could hear the sound of stone groaning, of buildings swaying.

Thor's eyes widened in alarm. "By the Norns," he exclaimed, his usual booming voice almost lost in the cacophony of Eryx's music. "This... this should not be possible. No magic should be able to shake the foundations of Asgard itself!"

But possible or not, it was happening. Alex watched in equal parts awe and terror as Eryx played on, seemingly lost in the music. The power radiating from him was palpable, a force of nature given form.

"Fenrir!" Thor shouted over the din. "We must stop this before he brings the entire realm down around our ears!"

Fenrir looked pleased. Proud, even. As if this display of potentially realm-ending power was exactly what he'd been aiming for.

Fuck that, Alex thought. Realm-ending power or not, this was still Eryx. His Eryx. And he'd be damned if he was going to stand by and watch him accidentally destroy Asgard in some misguided training exercise.

Before Thor or Fenrir could stop him, Alex launched himself towards Eryx. He wrapped his arms around his partner, pulling him close. The moment they touched, Alex felt it—their soul bond, thrumming to life like a live wire.

It was indescribable. Like being plugged directly into the source of all creation. Alex could feel Eryx's heartbeat as if it were his own, could sense the ebb and flow of divine power coursing through him.

And just like that, the music stopped. The shaking ceased. The world around them settled back into its normal, non-apocalyptic state.

Eryx blinked, looking dazed. The flute in his hands shimmered and vanished, taking with it the overwhelming aura of power that had filled the air moments before.

"Alex?" Eryx said, his voice soft and confused. "Did I do something wrong?"

Alex couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up from his chest. It was either laugh or cry at this point, and he had a reputation to maintain. "Wrong? Sunshine, you nearly took down the entire fucking building. I'd say that's pretty spectacularly right, as far as godly power displays go."

Eryx's eyes widened as the implications of what he'd done sank in. "Oh," he said weakly. "Oops?"

"Oops, he says," Alex muttered, but he couldn't keep the fondness out of his voice. He pulled Eryx closer, reveling in the warm hum of their soul bond. "Next time you decide to remake reality with the power of music, maybe give a guy some warning, yeah?"

Fenrir padded over, looking far too smug for Alex's liking. "Well done, vessel," the wolf-god rumbled. "You've taken your first steps into a larger world of power. But know this—you still have much to learn about your soul bond and how to utilize it properly. "

Alex bristled at that. Their soul bond was... private. Special. The idea of it being used as some kind of cosmic power-up didn't sit well with him.

But Eryx was nodding, a familiar look of determination settling over his features. "You're right," he said. "We've only scratched the surface of what this connection means, what it can do."

We. The word sent a warmth spreading through Alex's chest. Because yeah, okay, maybe he wasn't thrilled about the idea of their bond being poked and prodded and studied. But if they were going to figure it out, at least they'd be doing it together.

Before Alex could fully process the implications of that thought, the sound of running footsteps echoed through the hallway. He tensed, instinctively pulling Eryx closer. Old habits die hard, especially when you've spent millennia as the god of the Underworld.

Brynhildr burst into the room, her usual stoic demeanor cracked by an urgency that set Alex's teeth on edge. "Lord Hades," she said, barely out of breath despite her sprint. "We have visitors. They're asking for you specifically."

Alex exchanged a glance with Eryx, raising an eyebrow in silent question. Eryx shrugged, looking as puzzled as Alex felt. Great. Because their day wasn't complicated enough already.

"Alright," Alex sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Let's go see what fresh hell has decided to grace us with its presence."

He waited impatiently as Eryx quickly changed out of his training gear, tapping his foot and muttering under his breath about the inconvenience of Asgardian fashion. Finally, they followed Brynhildr through the winding corridors of the palace, Alex's mind racing with possibilities. Who could be looking for him in Asgard, of all places?

As they entered the war room, Alex felt his jaw drop. There, gathered around the massive strategy table like they belonged there, were Julian, Marcus, Hermes, and Lily. It was like someone had taken a slice of their New York life and transplanted it into the heart of the Norse realm.

"What the actual fuck?" Alex blurted out, eloquent as always in the face of surprise.

Lily rolled her eyes, a fond exasperation in her voice as she said, "Nice to see you too, Alex. Miss us already?"

Alex opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. "What are you all doing here? How did you even get here? Did someone start the apocalypse while we weren't looking?"

The humor faded from Lily's face, replaced by a seriousness that made Alex's stomach drop. "Not yet," she said grimly. "But we might not be far off."

Julian stepped forward then, his face pale and drawn in a way that Alex had learned to associate with his visions. Fuck. This couldn't be good.

"What's going on?" Alex demanded, his voice sharper than he'd intended. "Julian, what did you see?"

Marcus moved closer to his mate, a protective hand on Julian's shoulder. "Tell them," he said softly, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by a tense alertness.

Julian took a deep breath, his eyes unfocused as if seeing something beyond the room. "A portal," he said, his voice distant. "Opening where it shouldn't. Where it can't. But it will."

Alex felt a chill run down his spine.

"We looked into it," Hermes chimed in, uncharacteristically serious. "Checked all the usual hotspots, ran every detection spell we could think of. Nothing. No disturbances, no weak points in the veil between worlds. Nada."

"But Julian's visions have never been wrong," Lily added, her voice tight with worry. "So we decided to err on the side of caution and warn you."

Alex nodded, his mind racing. Julian's precognitive abilities were top-tier, rivaling even the Oracle of Delphi in her heyday. If he'd seen a portal opening, then a portal was damn well going to open. The question was where, when, and what kind of cosmic horror was going to come crawling out of it.

"What else?" Alex pressed, focusing on Julian. "You saw more than just a portal opening, didn't you?"

Julian's eyes met his, a depth of knowledge and fear in them that made Alex's chest tighten. "Chaos and death, but that's it"

He turned to Eryx, seeing his own concern mirrored in his partner's eyes. "We need to head back to New York," Alex said, the words coming out more like a growl than he'd intended. "Now."

Eryx nodded, already moving towards the door.

"Not so fast," Thor's voice boomed from the doorway. Alex bit back a groan. Of course the thunder god would choose now to make an appearance. "If a threat of this magnitude looms, Asgard cannot stand idly by. We will accompany you."

Great. Just what they needed. A divine entourage to complicate things further. But before Alex could voice his objections, another voice joined the fray.

"Count me in as well," Fenrir rumbled, padding into the room with a grace that belied his massive size. "This... intrigues me."

Alex pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache building behind his eyes. "Fantastic. The more the merrier. Why don't we invite the entire Norse pantheon while we're at it? I'm sure Hel would love a field trip to Midgard."

"Alex," Eryx's voice was soft but firm, a hand on his arm grounding him. "More allies isn't a bad thing. Especially if we're facing something big enough to warrant one of Julian's visions."

Damn it. Alex hated when Eryx was the voice of reason. It made it so much harder to indulge in a good old-fashioned fit of divine temper.

"Fine," he ground out. "But we're doing this our way. No godly grandstanding, no smiting civilians, and for fuck's sake, try to blend in. "

Thor had the audacity to look offended. "We are not without subtlety, Hades."

Alex snorted. "Right. And I'm the tooth fairy. Just try not to bring down any buildings with your 'subtlety,' okay?"

As the others began to make preparations for their departure, Alex pulled Eryx aside. "We still need to do the blood ritual," he said in a low voice. "To track Loki."

Eryx nodded, his expression serious. "We can do it in New York. Might be better that way, actually. Closer to our own power base."

Alex couldn't argue with that logic. As much as he hated to admit it, he felt... off-balance here in Asgard. Like he was playing by someone else's rules. At least in New York, they'd be on somewhat familiar ground.

Thor's voice cut through the din of preparations. "I will contact Heimdall, have him cover for our absence here in Asgard. We should be able to depart within the hour."

As the room erupted into a flurry of activity, Alex found himself standing still in the eye of the storm. In less than a week, a portal that shouldn't exist was going to open. Loki was still out there, plotting gods-knew-what. And now they were about to bring a bunch of Norse deities to the Big Apple.