Chapter 5
Baylan, Blake and Maddy arrived in the Adams’ garden. Blake sighed happily, as, for a few hours he could throw off the weight of being Alpha King and Alpha of the Fortuna Pack. Here he could just be Baylan’s mate and Maddy’s dad.
“Come on,” Maddy said, grabbing their hands. “Let’s go and play in the stream. I want to chase the water.”
Blake and Baylan laughed as they let themselves be pulled to the waterside. They sat on the bank and took their shoes, boots and socks off, and Baylan and Blake rolled their trousers up, then the three of them walked into the water.
“Sheesh, that’s cold,” Blake said, shuddering. “Somehow I wasn’t expecting that.”
Baylan laughed. “Yeah, the water goes cold and warm, mirroring normal streams.”
The stream was a stunning oasis. The water was crystal clear with soft ground underneath to walk upon, and willow trees growing at the water’s edge with their long limbs moving lazily in the water.
Maddy moved away from them, and the water, like always, got shallower.
When she was about six feet away, she turned and looked back and saw the water was still higher with Baylan and Blake.
She ran as fast as she could to try and catch the higher water but couldn’t.
Baylan and Blake ran around, making it higher for her to try and catch.
Blake stopped running and looked at them. “You know what we need?”
“What?” Maddy asked, flicking water at Baylan, who laughed and jumped back.
“Water pistols,” he said, with a massive grin.
“Really?” Baylan asked, still laughing.
“Yeah, it will be fun. Plus, we have the whole of this area to play water war in.”
“Come on, Baylan, it will be fun,” Maddy begged.
“It will be,” and suddenly in his hands were three large water pistols. “Fill them up and let’s get out of the water and play.”
Hades and Frederick appeared in the underworld. Frederick looked around and saw nothing but sand and a large structure that seemed to go on for miles. “Where are we?”
“Inside there is Tartarus. The back entrance is just down here.”
“So, how do you protect the door? I’m guessing piling boulders up outside wouldn’t work.”
“Unfortunately not. I’m going to station some hounds here to guard the door. They will attack first and ask questions later.”
Suddenly, four large black hounds appeared.
“Holy hell,” Frederick said, looking at them.
The hounds were massive. Frederick’s head didn’t even reach the top of their legs. They were easily eight feet tall, with large bodies and fiery red eyes.
Hades went to each one and stroked them. “This is my mate, Frederick Barbuda.”
The hounds, as one turned to him and bowed.
Welcome, Consort Frederick he heard in his head.
“Thank you,” Frederick said, moving closer. “You all look amazing.”
“Frederick, this is Shadow, Smokey, Storm and Wally,” Hades introduced.
“It’s lovely to meet you all,” Frederick replied, smiling and nodding at each one.
Shadow stepped forward and nudged his head into Frederick’s chest.
Frederick laughed as he was knocked over and stroked the hound’s head. “Yes, you’re lovely,” Frederick told him, and soon all the hounds were surrounding him, looking for head rubs, wagging their tails happily.
Hades laughed as he watched his hounds; they had never taken to anyone so quickly, except once before, to Persephone. He must remember to tell his mate about her as she pops in from time to time.
“Alright, you lot, let my mate go,” Hades said after a few minutes.
As one, the hounds stepped back and let out a long, loud howl of happiness. More howls joined in from other areas of the underworld.
Frederick stood up and looked at Hades, who was looking shocked. “What’s wrong?”
Hades shook his head. “Nothing, I’m just surprised.”
“That your hounds like me?” he enquired, stroking the closest one.
“No, my darling,” Hades replied, stepping closer to Frederick and taking his free hand. “They have declared you their Alpha.”
Frederick looked stunned for a moment before looking at the hounds still around him.
It’s true, Alpha. You are now the Alpha of the hounds of hell.
“Wow, thank you for the honour,” Frederick said to them.
“For now, we need you all to guard this secret entrance into Tartarus. If anyone comes to try and release any inhabitants, stop them.” Hades commanded.
One of the hounds looked at Frederick. Can we eat them?
Frederick laughed. “If you want to. Stop them however you want as long as no one escapes Tartarus, and when this is all over, I’ll come and run with you.”
Thank you, Alpha, he heard them all say.
With a final stroke for all four hounds from both Frederick and Hades, the two left them to their guard duty and reappeared somewhere else.
“This path leads to the main entrance of Tartarus,” Hades said as Frederick looked around.
In front of them were solid-looking gates that seemed to reach up into the sky and away into the distance sideways.
Four hounds suddenly appeared in front of them, wagging their tails happily at Hades and Frederick.
Alpha, Frederick heard in his head.
“Yes, this is my consort, Frederick Barbuda. Frederick, this is Lightning, Spot, Grey and Maxwell.”
“Hello, it’s very nice to meet you all,” he said, stroking each of them. “Can you protect this entrance for us?”
We can, Alpha. They replied, surrounding and playfully nudging him.
“I see, I’m not needed for this conversation then,” Hades teased.
Maxwell turned around and looked at Hades with puppy eyes. He’s new and shiny and our Alpha.
Hades and Frederick laughed.
“I am indeed. I’ll come and run with you all soon,” Frederick said, stroking each of them again.
Their tails wagged happily.
“Alright, you lot, my consort and I are leaving,” Hades said, stroking the closest one.
Come back soon, Alpha.
“Promise, see you all soon.”
They vanished and reappeared in Hades’ home.
Frederick looked at Hades. “So, Alpha of the hounds of hell then.”
Hades laughed and pulled him closer. “That was unexpected, but do you mind?”
Frederick shook his head. “No, why would I?”
Hades leaned in and kissed him. “Then you’ll have no issue having some or maybe demons living in the Fortuna Pack.”
Frederick laughed. “Nope, I don’t think Blake will have an issue either. It must be nearly dinner time. Shall we invite your brother, my cousin and Han and have a family dinner?”
Dinner in the underworld was fun. Frederick and Battle were happily sharing embarrassing stories about each other, trying to see who could embarrass the other the most.
“I wish I had known you both when you were younger,” Han said, laughing at the cousins.
“Well, we’re the same now as we were when we were younger, just a bit more mature,” Frederick said.
Battle snorted. “Yeah, so mature.”
Zeus grabbed his hand. “You make me feel young again. I was beginning to feel old.”
Battle nudged his shoulder. “That’s what you get for being as old as time.”
Frederick looked at Hades and Han. “What about you two?”
“I’m too busy to feel old,” Hades replied.
“I don’t think about it,” Han said, although he felt lonely more than old.
“I have some news that is a bit shocking and amazing,” Frederick announced.
“Is it something strange but good?” Battle asked.
“Don’t tell me you are suddenly the Alpha of the hounds of hell,” Zeus commented.
Frederick nodded. “I am indeed. I’ve promised to run with them soon as well.”
“That’s amazing. I’ll be joining you on that run,” Battle said. “No way am I missing out on running with hell hounds.”
“Just to warn you, they’re massive. I just about reached the top of their thighs,” he cautioned.
“How did that happen?” Han asked.
“Tudor mentioned earlier that Barnabus might try and break demons out of Tartarus, so Freddy and I came down to post hounds around the outside. Some of the pack met Freddy, and liked him so much, they made him their Alpha,” Hades boasted proudly.
“Congratulations, Frederick,” Zeus said, smiling. “It will be interesting to see if you received any of their abilities.”
“Abilities?” Frederick asked, stunned.
Hades laughed. “Super strength, enhanced senses, things like that.”
“I had them already, via my mating with you.”
“Double exposure cuz, nice,” Battle said laughingly, joined by the others
“It will be interesting to see what happens in our next shift,” Zeus said.
Battle laughed. “I can’t wait for the next Fortuna Pack run.”