Chapter 12
We spend the next few hours planning and talking everything over.
I dig out some snacks and bottles of water from our car for mum and me.
It’s not much but it’ll have to do. Alistair doesn’t show any inclination of being hungry of thirsty.
I assume he just doesn't need to eat. He stays pretty silent the whole time, whist my mum and I go over possible solutions to problems that might come up. At this point he doesn’t really have many options and he knows it.
He’s in no better position than my dad right now.
I definitely feel a bit of poetic justice about that.
“This seems like a pretty solid plan but I don’t think simply having Alistair pinned to the tree is going to cut it.” Mum furrows her brow.
“So, what do you suggest?” I ask.
“Well… we have a lot of reason to want Alistair seriously hurt. Dead even. Hades needs to see that we’re not messing around. He needs to believe we will follow through with our threat. There can be no doubt in his mind that this is a bluff.” She says severely.
The severity of what she’s meaning fills me with dread. Simply holding a knife to his throat isn’t going to be convincing enough. I look up at Alistair and he’s looking at me as if that fact was obvious.
He raises a brow. “You're finally going to get the blood shed you’ve been waiting for. You better enjoy it because I can guarantee, you won’t get another chance.”
I know I wanted revenge. I wanted to hurt him.
To make him rue the day he ever came close to my family.
Now that he’s offered up to me on a silver platter, I don’t want it.
Despite what he’s done. Its Hades I want to punish not Alistair.
Alistair has been a pawn in Hades games, I think.
Maybe it’s this stupid bond we have. No, it definitely is. I don’t want to hurt him.
I look up at Mum gravely.
“Can’t you do it?”
She shakes her head.
“I’m not strong enough. You will need to do what must be done this time baby.”
I take a deep breath as I nod. I need to remember that this is what I want. Alistair will be out of my life and I will finally meet my Dad. Things will be the way they should be. Except one thing is still leaving me uneasy.
I stand up and face Alistair.
“Why are you being so helpful? Yesterday you were hunting us and now you’re helping us. I don’t think this change of heart has anything to do with us being fated.” I say sternly.
He watches me and doesn’t break eye contact.
“If going along with this plan gets me out of this.” He pulls at his restraints. “I’m all in.”
I narrow my eyes at him. Then a thought springs to mind.
I open my mind and I can feel an instant connection to his.
Immediately I force my way in. Exploding through his mental walls and into his psyche.
I don’t see images but I feel pain and frustration.
Lonesomeness, emptiness, anger. Even hatred.
Above all so much insecurity and aggravation.
The feeling of not being in control. Degraded.
I get swallowed into the intensity of his emotions.
Mere seconds pass of this torture before I’m barricaded out.
“STOP!”
I’m thrown out and stumble as I look up at him. The echo of his emotions is harrowing. We’re both breathing deeply. He glares at me wounded.
“Get enough from that, did you? Satisfied?” He says void of emotion.
I study him. I’m still shaken but I try to hide it. I need to stay strong if I’m to do what must be done. I turn without replying. Honestly, I just don’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting that. On the outside he’s cocky and confident but on the inside he’s… almost broken. It doesn’t make sense.
I push it from my mind to focus on the task at hand. So much is riding on me to make this convincing. I can’t fuck this up.
I take out Alistair’s phone. It’s heavy with trepidation.
I can’t show an ounce of fear to Hades. I really wish I’d paid more attention in drama class.
Alistair’s words echo in my head. ‘bluffing the devil.’ It seems an impossible task but I’ve got to do it.
For my Dad. For his pack. I remember Alistair’s memory of their cells.
Displayed like animals at a zoo for him and his fathers’ enjoyment.
Tortured for information. Anger rises in my chest, filling me with resolve.
I will free them. I dread to think of the dark places I will need to go too to achieve that, but I will do it.
I focus on the terrible things Alistair has done to try and make this easier.
I feel my mums’ hand on my shoulder.
“Sweetheart we need to get this done.” Her desperation to have my dad back is all-consuming.
I want so much to see my family whole. Something that I thought would never happen.
“I know. I’m ready.”
The look she gives me tells me I have no idea what I’m getting myself into.
“Just a warning. I don’t know how strong your bond is, but you could feel some of his pain as your own.
You cannot show it. Hades can’t know of your bond.
Also, Alistair is almost as ancient as his father.
There is much he can withstand and survive.
His body may even heal wounds as soon as you cause them.
The only way to kill him is decapitation or ripping out his heart.
Anything less he will eventually recover from. ” She says in a matter-of-fact tone.
I shudder at the thought of either of those things happening to him.
But if this is going to be convincing, I’m going to be damn near close to doing it.
My stomach suddenly feels queasy. I swallow the bile in my throat.
Some deep breaths help it to pass. I think again of my dad and the pack.
My fear is eclipsed by determination. I look to Alistair and see him leaning his head back with his eyes closed.
His mouth is set in a hard line and his fists are clenched.
He’s preparing himself for what is coming.
I go to him and hold out his phone. He opens his eyes at my approach.
“Unlock it.” My voice is strangely empty.
He holds his thumb to the bottom of the phone without a word. I watch him as he brings up a number from the contacts.
“Ready when you are.” His cockiness is back but the tightness in his tone betrays his unease.
I give the phone to my mum as I prepare myself. Extending my connection to the earth, I tighten Alistair’s’ bonds, pulling his arms back to an excruciating point. The branches around his legs and chest tighten also. His discomfort is obvious from the tensing of his jaw.
I look at my mum.
“Call him.”
She taps the screen then turns it to face me.
I see myself standing in the frame of the phone and the beep-beep of the dialling tone is the only sound.
The seconds seem like years but in a moment the call is answered and I’m looking at the coldest, most piercing silver eyes I’ve ever seen.
His face is mostly in shadow. The dark room he must be in is making it hard to see him.
I can barely make out the shape of his face.
His eyes are pretty much all I can see and they terrify me.
They widen in a split second of surprise before freezing over in calm enjoyment.
Like he’s watching his favourite TV show.
I force myself to keep eye contact as his gaze threatens to shatter all of my resolve. He’s silent. Daring me to speak first.
“My name is Krista Lambros and I want to make a deal.” My voice miraculously holds steady.
His eyes study me. His teeth shine out in the darkness in a mocking smile. Like a monster lurking in the dark. Just eyes and teeth. That’s all I can see of him. Of Hades. The devil himself. When he speaks it’s soft and honeyed, like a malicious lullaby.
“And what deal would that be Nymph? How did you come by my sons’ phone?”
I smirk. “By acquisition.”
My mum angles the phone to Alistair. I move next to him in the frame and swiftly raise one hand into the air. Shards of razor-sharp rock hover in the air pointing directly at Alistair.
Hades’s white teeth disappear but his eyes smile still. “My son.” He says calmly. “You seem to be out powered?”
Alistair’s voice is tight. “Undeniably so.”
Hades laughs. It sends chills down my spine. I step in front and his attention turns to me.
“I will let Alistair live on the condition that you let my father and his pack go free.” I challenge.
This time his laugh is a roar. Unconvinced and mocking.
“Not a chance. Alistair end this foolish game.”
Before Alistair can respond, I send the shards of rock shooting though the short empty space.
They go straight through him and cleanly out the other side painted crimson.
One goes through his neck. The rest through his torso.
One only just misses his heart. He clenches his teeth in pain.
His groan vibrates in my ears. In a moment the wounds knit back together and Hades's expression is no less amused.
How can that not have affected him?!
“So, you can throw a few pebbles my dear. You are no murderer.” He chuckles.
“You have no idea.” I respond hollowly.
With just a thought, three sharp tendrils slither down from the tree poised to strike.
I release the branches wrapped around his neck and as soon as the reddened skin is revealed the tendrils dart towards him.
Impaling his throat in three places. He lets out a gargled cry as blood spits from his mouth.
They remain in place pinning his neck to the tree.
Alistair’s breathing is ragged and I become aware of a tightness in my throat.
I swallow to try and clear it but as Alistair coughs making blood run down his chin the tightness becomes an ache.
I manage to keep my expression blank as I turn back to Hades.
“Free my father and his pack.” I command. “Or would you like to see your son choke on his own blood before I rip his throat apart?”
“Gaia will not grant you the power to kill him. Your threats are meaningless.” His callous tone would be convincing if not for the slight narrowing of his eyes.
“Gaia has given me more than enough power. She will not stand for your sick games any longer!” My desperation is fuelled by anger and frustration. I don’t want to torture Alistair further but I have no choice. The quicker this is done the quicker I can let him go.
The tendril going through the centre of his neck pulls out and points at his chest. He takes a desperate breath in as his airways clear and winces as he pulls at the two spines still embedded through him. The wound in his neck starts to heal again but slightly slower than before.
I encourage the thin tendril to grow into a branch. Strengthening it. Then smaller branches grow from the very end creating a claw. Alistair’s eyes widen when he sees it reaching towards him. I glance past Hades face to my mum and she is white as a sheet but stoic.
Turning my back on Hades, I look at Alistair and slowly move the clawed branch towards him.
It reaches his chest directly over his heart.
He stiffens as he strains his eyes to watch it.
I pull open his shirt revealing his bare chest. I can’t look him in the eyes as it pierces his skin.
He groans in anguish and the sound resonates in my ears.
Once its deep enough to almost touch his heart, I strengthen it as much as I can.
It hooks under his skin, bone and muscle.
I force it to pull apart, ripping a hole in his chest. His shouts become deafening screams as tears leak from the corners of his eyes.
Its blood-curdling and debilitating. Blood spits from his mouth and nose and joins with the cascade pouring from his mangled chest. The ground at his feet turns crimson.
The pain in my chest makes me want to double over in agony but somehow, I keep myself standing straight.
I feel a spray of blood hit my face and bile swirls in my gut.
I wince as bones pop and crack as the branch rips his ribs in half.
I feel sick and my head spins at the immense power I’m pulling from the earth.
It’s almost too much to contain. My entire body feels like it’s shaking from the effort.
I can’t let myself feel anything about what I’m putting him through.
The only way I can continue is if I try not to care.
I wipe the sweat and blood from my face.
Alistair’s cries bring tears to my eyes. There’s so much blood pouring from the giant, gaping wound held open by dripping, bloodstained wood. Through it, beating frantically in the sunlight is his heart. I stare at it transfixed and horrified at what I am capable off.
As Alistair’s cries turn to strained moans, I force my poker face back on and turn back to Hades. His eyes are wide and frozen with blackness swirling around the icy silver. His laughs are gone and, in their place, utter shocked silence. His mouth is a grim, tight line.
I reach my arm into the cavity of Alistair’s mangled chest and wrap my fist around his heart.
It’s hot, wet and strong as a rock, yet smooth, slippery and soft at the same time.
The constant rapid thumps pulse against my hand.
Alistair’s head lolls as he fades in and out of consciousness.
Exhausted from the torture I’ve enacted upon him.
“Free my father and his pack.” I repeat. “Or I swear I will end his putrid life.” My voice is empty and calm. Void of any remorse or sympathy. The beats of Alistair’s heart weaken in my hand. Please let this be over soon.
There is a heavy silence between us as I stare unblinking into the eyes of the God of the Underworld. Bluffing the Devil. Daring him to call me a liar. Will he risk it? Will he risk his sons’ life? Surely my father and his pack can’t be worth it to him? Or is his pride too much to give up?
“Dad… Please...” Alistair’s plea is a faint whisper. Desperate and scared.
Those two words are almost my undoing. His barely beating heart thuds feebly in my hand.
I never imagined Alistair could be this vulnerable.
One move of my hand and I could end his long, heinous life.
I realise that it would destroy me. Whether I wish it or not our lives are welded together.
If he were to die, I would never be the same.
I would never forgive myself. I don’t think I could do it if I tried.
If this doesn’t convince Hades then I don’t know what will.
I’m done. I can’t do anything more. I can’t bear to hurt him anymore, or ever again for that matter.
Please don’t let what I’ve put him through be in vain.
Hades voice penetrates the deafening silence. “Fine. Deal.” He looks past the phone and nods at someone unseen. “Your father and his pathetic pack will walk out of here free. Unharmed and unfollowed.” His eyes narrow threateningly. “You will do the same with my son.”
I nod but don’t move my hand. “I will let him go as soon as we have confirmation of their release.”
“If you harm him further, I will kill everyone you love. That I promise.” He snarls before ending the call.
I release a shaky breath through the bile in my throat. Then I gently remove my hand from Alistair’s chest. The tendrils slowly slide out from his flesh and I release all his constraints.
His body slumps away from the trunk. We deftly catch him, but the wreckage of his chest makes it hard to know where to hold him.
He moans in pain as we try to lower him to the floor, but it’s drenched in a pool of glistening blood.
We manage to get him to his car and lay him across the back seat.
He’s unconscious but his face is still twisted in pain.
I look at his neck and the three wounds there have stopped bleeding, but I can’t see them knitting together the way I’ve seen him heal before.
I hazard a glance at his destroyed chest and instantly feel sick.
I run to a nearby bush before bringing up what little food I have eaten. Even once there’s nothing left but bile I still heave and gag. There’s a ringing in my ears and as the minuets pass my stomach settles.
I did that to him. Me. It’s terrifying what I’m capable of doing now.
I hated doing it, but I did it all the same.
For my father. For his pack. It was worth it, wasn’t it?
I didn’t kill him and he will heal from it.
The images of the pain on his face and his agonised screams are on repeat in my mind.
There was so much blood. I shiver and try to push it from my mind.
Though I think this is something that will tarnish my soul forever.
I go back to the car and see my mum a little way away lost in thought.
Her shoulders visibly relax. I guess that means my dad and the pack are free.
We did it! I look at Alistair and all joy and celebration leaves me.
Am I a monster too? Seeing his body struggling to heal itself makes me feel like I am. Will he ever forgive me?
He lays there perfectly still. Too still… His heart isn’t beating. There is no rise and fall of his chest, just a mangled, gaping hole into the centre of his body. Panic wraps around me as I lean in closer to him.
“Alistair?” I hold his face and it feels as cold as ice. “Alistair, wake up!” I don’t know what to do. Have I killed him?! “Mum!”
She’s there in a second. “What is it?” She assesses his shredded body. Her eyes linger on his still heart and her brow furrows. “His heart isn’t damaged, he’ll heal. Now we need to go. Hades’ forces could be here any minute.”
I stare at her in shock. “We can’t leave him like this!”
“We must.” She’s scanning the sky around us. “We can’t delay. We’ll leave him for Hades to find. You can’t heal him. They’ll see the sympathy and it’ll open up questions we don’t want to answer.” She gets up and goes to the car. Starting the engine. I don’t move. “Krista now!”
I look at him one last time. “I’m sorry.” I whisper, before closing his car door and joining my mum.