Chapter Thirty-Eight
Hades, God of the Underworld and one of the most powerful gods in the Greek Pantheon, sat sipping coffee out of a delicate teacup. His large hand turned the cup into a child's toy, making him look like a father having a tea party with his little girl.
“Cookie?” I asked and offered Hades the plate.
“Yes, thank you.” Hades took one of the chocolate chip cookies I had baked that morning.
We'd been expecting the divine visitor. Gage had gone to the Underworld to make his report the night before, and Hades told Gage that he'd come to speak with us today. Us, not just the hounds. When questioned on the Lord of the Underworld's mood, Gage only shrugged. I understood now. Hades was absolutely unreadable. The best poker face on the planet. He munched on his cookie, sipped his coffee, then set both down, angling the cookie onto the teacup's saucer.
“Silas is gone. I have alerted all the Cerberuses about possible Host infestations and passed on your theory that Dionysus is Silas. I don't think it's him, though.”
“Why not?” Gage asked.
“Dionysus doesn't have resurrection magic. If he did, he wouldn't have gotten into so much trouble when he was younger.”
“Oh, fuck. That's right,” Garret said. “I hadn't considered that.”
“What trouble?” I asked.
“As a child, Dionysus wasn't strong enough to control his magic,” Hades said. “The madness drove him to kill his playmates.”
“He killed children when he was a child?” I asked.
“Yes. Until Zeus stepped in and helped Dionysus get the magic under control. And as far as Ariadne is concerned, I did prevent Dionysus from taking her soul out of the Underworld. But he knows I did it to save her, not hurt him. I didn't know he planned on taking those souls to Zeus to be turned into goddesses. I assumed love blinded him and he had no body to put her in once he got her free.”
“Zeus would have made Ariadne a goddess?” Garret asked.
“Yes, but that's not what she wanted anyway,” Hades said. “Ariadne understood and appreciated the cycle of reincarnation. She wanted to be born again so her soul could grow. She explained it to Dionysus when he returned.”
“He returned?” Gage asked.
Hades nodded. “I invited him after I learned about Semele becoming a goddess. I would have released Ariadne into his keeping, but she refused to go. Dionysus didn't like it, but he understood. He vowed to find her in every incarnation, and he kept that vow. They have had many lifetimes together. So, I don't believe Dionysus holds a grudge against me. In fact, I've heard that he enjoys having a new version of his wife every century.”
“Rude,” I muttered.
Hades shrugged. “Or he's making the best of a situation he didn't want.”
“Oh,” I murmured. “Yes, all right.”
“Do you have any other suspects, my lord?” Gideon asked.
“Several. I agree that it's probably a relative. Apollo wouldn't go through so much trouble for a mere friend.” Hades scowled. “Unless that friend wasn't a friend at all.”
“Meaning?” Gage asked.
Hades grimaced at Gage. “What is the opposite of a friend, Gage?”
Gage cleared his throat and said, “An enemy?”
“And how might an enemy gain your allegiance?”
“Uh.” Gage glanced at me.
“Yes, precisely,” Hades said. “Silas may have something or someone Apollo treasures. He may be threatening that person or blackmailing Apollo. I don't know, but I can't assume anything. I shouldn't even assume it's Apollo who's backing Silas. This use of light magic may be a ploy to literally shine the blame on Apollo.”
“You don't have to assume anything to investigate,” I said.
Hades looked at me.
I swallowed past the dryness in my throat. Despite the similarities in appearance between him and my mates, Hades was difficult to look at. He oozed divinity. It was like sitting across from a very attractive celebrity who could kill you and get away with it. The only thing that kept me from bolting was the knowledge that Hades didn't want me dead.
“I'm already investigating Apollo's family,” Hades said. “The Greek Gods are tangled up in each other's family roots, but I'm starting with his immediate family.” He waved his hand, then swept up his cookie. “It doesn't matter. You are off the mission.”
“Wait. What?” Gage growled. “Lord Hades, please. We don't want to fail you. Give us another—”
“You have not failed me,” Hades said. He chewed a bite of cookie, swallowed, and said, “Not completely. But you know the rules. You need to monitor your territory, and Silas has fled the state.”
“We don't know that for sure. The guy is a god. He can leave the planet and then pop up wherever he wants,” Gideon said. “He could come back here.”
“There is nothing for him here,” Hades said. “He'd have to start from scratch, and maybe he will eventually. Which is why you are to maintain a vigil for him and all of Apollo's relatives. But I don't believe Silas will return anytime soon. Going by the intel you've gathered, I'm expecting him to launch several attacks at once, all over America, making him harder to pinpoint.”
“At least he doesn't have Michael helping him anymore,” I said, mainly to remind Hades that the hounds had at least succeeded in that regard.”
Hades smirked at me. “Yes, Indigo, that is one victory.” He looked at the men to add, “And three other teams failed at apprehending Michael before you. Take the win and be satisfied.” Hades stood up.
The rest of us hurried to our feet as well.
“That's it?” Gage asked. “Just keep an eye out for Silas and Apollo's relatives?”
“There's nothing more for you to do, Son.” Hades clapped a hand onto Gage's shoulder.
Gage blinked, then got a goofy expression on his face. “Okay. We'll keep watch and return to our usual duties.”
“And one more thing,” Hades said.
“Yes?” all of them asked in unison.
“Enjoy your mate. The four of you deserve to be happy.” Hades winked at us as his eyes started to glow, then he vanished.