4. Bring in the Fates: Alex

CHAPTER 4

brING IN THE FATES

ALEX

T he rhythmic thud of fists against the punching bag echoed through the Shadowguards Training Facility, a staccato beat punctuated by Alex controlled breathing. Sweat glistened on his brow, tracing paths down his face and neck before disappearing into the fabric of his already damp shirt. The bag swayed with each impact, a dance partner in this solitary waltz of violence.

Alex's world had narrowed to this singular focus - the next punch, the next combination, the burn in his muscles as he pushed himself harder. The facility around him faded into a blur of muted colors and indistinct shapes. Not that there was much to look at anyway. The place was utilitarian to the core, all exposed pipes and stark lighting. It wasn't pretty, but it got the job done. Kind of like Alex himself, if he was being honest.

A particularly vicious right hook sent the bag swinging wildly, chains creaking in protest. Alex stepped back, chest heaving, and ran a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. He couldn't remember the last time he'd pushed himself this hard in training. Then again, they'd never faced a threat quite like this before. The Order was playing for keeps, and Alex would be damned if he'd let them catch the Shadowguards unprepared .

"Your form is slipping, Lord Hades. Perhaps your time among mortals has dulled your edge."

The voice, smooth as silk and cold as the grave, cut through Alex's thoughts like a knife. He whirled around, fists clenched, only to find himself face to face with Thanatos. The messenger of the Fates stood mere inches away, impeccable as always in his tailored black suit. Not a hair out of place, not a wrinkle in sight. It was downright irritating.

"For fuck's sake, Thanatos," Alex growled, forcing his hands to unclench. "We've talked about this. Knock or something next time. I could've taken your head off."

Thanatos's lips quirked in what might have been amusement. On anyone else, it would have been a full-blown smirk. "I think not, old friend. But your concern is touching."

Alex rolled his eyes, grabbing a towel from a nearby bench and wiping his face. "What do you want? I'm kind of in the middle of something here."

"I'm afraid your training session will have to wait," Thanatos replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. "They wish to speak with you. Urgently."

Alex's jaw clenched. He didn't need to ask who "they" were. "The Fates? Seriously? What do those meddling sisters want now?"

Before he could protest further, the world around him began to blur and shift. The solid concrete floor beneath his feet gave way to something far less substantial. The harsh fluorescent lights of the training facility faded, replaced by a soft, otherworldly glow. The familiar scents of sweat and leather disappeared, overtaken by an aroma that defied description - ancient and new all at once, like time itself given fragrance.

As his vision cleared, Alex found himself in the vast, ethereal space he knew all too well. Mist swirled around his feet, obscuring the ground - if there even was ground here. Above, the 'sky' was a tapestry of stars and cosmic dust, constellations shifting and reforming in patterns that made his eyes water if he looked too long.

And there, at the center of it all, were the Fates. Three women - if you could call them that - sat before a loom of impossible size and complexity. Threads of every color imaginable, and some Alex's mind couldn't quite grasp, wove in and out of the tapestry. Lives beginning, intertwining, ending. The scope of it was enough to make even a former god feel small.

Clotho, the youngest-looking of the sisters (which wasn't saying much), looked up from her spindle. Her eyes, milky white and yet all-seeing, fixed on Alex with unnerving intensity.

"Alexander Knight," she said, her voice carrying the weight of eons. "Former Lord of the Underworld. How kind of you to join us."

Alex crossed his arms, his posture defensive. "Not like you gave me much choice. What's this about? I was in the middle of something important."

Lachesis, she of the measuring rod, clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "Always so confrontational, Alex. One would think you'd have learned some patience in your time among mortals."

"Yeah, well, one would think you'd have learned to mind your own business after all these millennia," Alex retorted. "But here we are. So why don't we skip the pleasantries and get to the point?"

Atropos, the eldest, looked up from her shears. The snip of her blades echoed ominously in the vast space. "Watch your tone, young one. You may no longer rule the Underworld, but we are still the Fates. Show some respect."

Alex felt his temper flare, but he bit back the harsh retort on the tip of his tongue. As much as he disliked these three, they weren't beings to be trifled with. "Fine. I'm here. I'm listening. What's so urgent that you had to drag me away from my training?"

Clotho spoke again, her fingers never ceasing their endless spinning. "A battle looms on the horizon, Alex. One that will shake the foundations of both the mortal and divine realms. You and your companions will be tested as never before."

"Tell me something I don't know," Alex said, trying to mask his unease with sarcasm. "That's kind of why I was training. So we can, you know, win this thing and save the world. Again."

The sisters exchanged a look that made Alex's stomach drop. Lachesis answered, her voice uncharacteristically gentle. "The outcome is uncertain. Many threads converge at this point. The choices made in the coming days will ripple outward, affecting far more than you can imagine."

Alex ran a hand through his hair, frustration building. "Any chance you could be a little more specific? Give a guy something to work with here?"

Atropos fixed him with a stern gaze. "You know we cannot dictate the future, Alex. We merely observe and record. The choices that shape destiny must be made freely, without our interference."

"Right, because that would be crossing a line," Alex muttered.

Clotho's lips twitched in what might have been a smile. "Your mortal sarcasm is refreshing, Alex. But do not mistake our summons for idle chatter. We called you here because the tapestry demands it. Because you, more than most, understand the delicate balance between fate and free will."

Alex felt a weight settle on his shoulders, heavier than any he'd borne in his long existence. "So what are you saying? That it's all riding on us? On the choices we make?"

"In part," Lachesis replied. "Your thread, and those of your companions, shine brightly in the tapestry. They are nexus points, places where many possibilities converge. The actions you take, the bonds you forge and test, will have far-reaching consequences."

Atropos nodded solemnly. "But remember, Alex, you do not stand alone. The strength of your team, the love you share with your mate, the trust you've built with those under your protection - these are your greatest weapons against the darkness that approaches."

Alex absorbed their words, his mind racing. He thought of Eryx, of Zac, of all the Shadowguards who looked to him for leadership. The responsibility was staggering, but he'd be damned if he'd let them down.

"Alright," he said, squaring his shoulders. "I hear you. But here's the thing - that doesn't change anything. We're still going to fight. We're still going to do everything in our power to stop the Order and protect our world. Because that's who we are. That's what we do."

The Fates regarded him silently for a long moment. Then, to Alex's surprise, all three sisters smiled. It was a sight both beautiful and terrifying.

Thanatos stepped forward, his pristine suit a stark contrast to the ethereal surroundings. "If I may," he said, his voice carrying its usual calm, "there's another matter we need to address."

Alex tensed, bracing himself for more bad news. As if the Order's plans weren't enough to deal with.

Turning to the Fates, Thanatos continued, "A significant absence has been noted in the divine realms. One that could have far-reaching consequences."

Alex's eyes narrowed. "Absence? What are you talking about? Who's missing?"

Clotho's fingers never ceased their endless spinning, but her milky eyes fixed on Alex with unnerving intensity. "Names have power, Alex Knight. Some things are better left unspoken."

Alex snapped, his patience wearing thin. "What's going on? How does this tie into what the Order's planning?"

Lachesis leaned forward, her measuring rod glinting in the otherworldly light. "The absence creates ripples. Disturbances in the cosmic order that may be exploited by those with nefarious intentions."

Alex ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in every line of his body. "Great. So not only are we dealing with the Order's plans, but now we've got some mystery disappearance to worry about too. Any other bombshells you'd like to drop?"

The sisters exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between them. Finally, Atropos spoke, her voice soft but carrying an undercurrent of steel. "We cannot reveal all, Alex Knight. The balance must be maintained."

"Balance?" Alex's voice rose, echoing in the vast space. "What good is balance if there's nothing left to balance?"

The Fates exchanged another of their inscrutable looks. Clotho spoke, her voice gentle but firm. "The threads of fate are complex, Alex Knight. This absence, the Order's plans, your own role - all are interwoven in ways even we cannot fully discern."

"Yeah, yeah," Alex waved off the ominous words. "I get it. Everything's connected, the butterfly effect on a divine scale. But we're dealing with real threats here. Real people's lives are on the line. So if you've got any actual, concrete information that might help us, now would be a great time to share it."

The silence that followed was heavy, charged with unspoken tensions. Alex could feel the weight of eons pressing down on him, the vast tapestry of fate and destiny stretching out in all directions. But beneath it all was a core of iron determination. He'd faced impossible odds before. He'd stood against gods and monsters, navigated the treacherous waters of divine politics and mortal scheming. This was just another challenge to overcome.

Atropos finally broke the silence, her ancient eyes fixed on Alex with an intensity that made him want to squirm. "Very well. We cannot tell you more about the missing one or how to stop the Order. But we can offer this: look to the places where the veil between worlds is thinnest. Some beings have always been drawn to such liminal spaces."

Alex's mind raced, trying to piece together the cryptic clue. "Thin veils?"

Lachesis nodded slowly. "Seek the crossroads, both literal and metaphorical. Places of transition and change. There, you may find traces of what you seek."

As the ethereal realm began to fade around him, signaling the end of this cosmic audience, Alex's mind was already racing with plans. They had a new lead, a potential game-changer in the fight against the Order. It wasn't much, but it was something.

The last thing he saw before reality reasserted itself was the enigmatic smile of the Fates, three faces that seemed to say, "The rest is up to you."

Then he was back in the training room, the punching bag swaying gently before him as if nothing had happened. But everything had changed. They had a new mission, a new purpose.

Unravel the mystery. Stop the Order. Save the world.

With a grunt, Alex turned back to the punching bag. There was work to be done, a team to brief, a seemingly impossible quest to plan. And he'd be damned if he'd let a little thing like fate, or missing deities, or the end of the world get in his way.

The rhythmic thud of fists against leather resumed, each impact a defiance against destiny itself. Whatever was coming, Alex Knight and the Shadowguards would be ready. They had to be. The fate of everything depended on it.