Chapter 27 Hades
Hades
Ihad to get to her.
Cronos was the strongest being still in existence in Olympus, and only my power over Tartarus gave me dominion over him.
Persephone didn't stand a chance. Fury swept through me, my head pounding with pain.
“You'll pay for this, Ankhiale! When I've got my power back, you'll fucking pay!” I bellowed. She stepped from the flames, shaking her head.
“Hades, you won't get your powers back, you fucking moron. You'll be consumed by them instead.”
“What if I offer you a deal?” I tried, changing tactics. “What if I give you more than he can?” She laughed.
“More than Cronos can? Please. You're half as strong as him. What could you possibly—” she cut off abruptly, screwing her face up as a small flash of light sparked behind her.
I frowned, then struggled to my feet as a shimmering burgundy powder appeared from nowhere, showering her whole body.
A slow, easy smile spread across her face, then she giggled.
“There's six of you,” she slurred, then slumped to the ground.
“What the—” I started, then squinted as a small, naked gnome ran towards me. “Skop?”
“Hedone thought she'd charmed me, but despite her being hot as holy hell, I am immune to such powers,” he said, talking fast as he reached me. I thrust the manacle out to him, one desperate hope left in me.
“Get my trident into the keyhole,” I said urgently. The trident could only be wielded by me, so it should be enough to unlock the manacle.
“I pretended she was in control, but secretly told Dionysus everything. He couldn't send me into Tartarus with Persephone, so he sent me to you instead. Armed with wine powder, but it won't last long. Ankhiale will come round in five minutes.”
“Zeus is behind all this,” I told the kobaloi, as he dragged the Trident toward me. It must have weighted three times what he did, and his bearded face showed the strain. Energy was building inside me, hope coursing through my veins.
“Dionysus worked that out when I told him you weren't really with Persephone. Zeus took the other gods to Leo to give you two some time alone. I believe Dionysus and Poseidon are confronting him now.” He had dragged the Trident to my feet and I ducked into a crouch, scooping it up with one hand.
“Help me,” I said, and together we wrestled the end of the long weapon into the manacle. With a roar, I forced the trident into the metal, and with a loud crack, the cuff opened.
Power flooded my body, the monster rearing loud and white-hot inside me, screaming up my chest, ready to end anyone or anything that stood between me and my Queen.