Aphrodite's Daughter

Chapter 10

Amphitheater, City-State of Sparta

I hadn’t expected a festival held in honor of Apollo to turn into a drama-filled wrestling match between childhood friends that would determine the fate of a princess. There was no anger in Iliana’s eyes, only grim determination as we all made our way outside to the area. Given the stakes of the match, it became a spectacle to the revelers, drawing the disrobed denizens of Sparta from whatever it was they’d been doing before, flocking into the stands above. As honored guests of royalty, Flash and I got front row seats right next to Queen Amaltheia.

The great hulking matron reclined on a pile of pillows in surly silence while she nursed yet another goblet full of expensive wine, her expression dour as ever. Seriously! What was it with these Spartans and their aversion to enjoying all the pleasantries life had to offer? Ok, so MAYBE she had a valid reason to be pissed off at Iliana right now, but it wouldn’t have killed Amaltheia to show some enthusiasm in front of her subjects. I shrugged and continued to nibble on a leg of roasted chicken (why let good food go to waste?) while watching Theophilus enter the ring.

I must admit, Theophilus was well-built and well-proportioned. One of the perks of this whole Gymnopaedia thing. What you see is what you get~ I licked my lips and grinned. And no, it wasn’t just because they were covered in grease. Appreciating the male form was still fair game, in my opinion. The old Dagi would’ve jumped the captain’s bones in a heartbeat. With a body like that, I’d wager he has the stamina of an alpha bull. His veiny member dangled—get ahold of yourself, girl. It’s best not to drink Iliana’s beau in for too long. Lest Flash become jealous.

Speaking of drink, I took advantage of the wine being served just as much as the queen did. To make sure Flash didn’t feel left out, I slid my hand along his thigh and grasped his manhood, stroking it in a languid, casual manner. To my amusement, this caused his cheeks to flush red like a tomato. When he began to chastise me for being so shameless, I scoffed, then moved my hand away from his cock, wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him closer to me.

“Enjoying the show so far?” I whispered into his ear.

“The match hasn’t even begun yet! Already you’re drunk and lustful.” He deadpanned.

“I’m slightly buzzed; not puking my guts out onto the ground. There’s a distinct difference, Flash.” I didn’t bother denying the last part. Let’s chalk that up to the atmosphere of the festival.

Flash rolled his eyes. “Fine. Just don’t get carried away. This is important to Iliana.”

I huffed in annoyance. “I know! That’s why I’m here to support her. Mother Siren! You’re just as bad as that sourpuss queen skulking over there. Loosen up a little and enjoy the show.”

Flash tensed up suddenly. “I can’t, Dagi. Not with all that’s at stake. She might lose to Captain Theophilus and have to stay here in Sparta for the rest of her days. Aren’t you wor—”

I placed my finger on his lips. “The best thing I can do for Iliana is place my confidence in her. She’s a strong, capable warrior. I’ve no reason to doubt that she’ll leave Theophilus in the dust.”

“You don’t think that’s why the queen looks so… uh… irritated?”

I laughed after standing up to walk around and stretch my legs a bit. Flash continued to recline on the pillow pile, sipping some beer. “Queens and mothers alike aren’t keen on having their authority challenged. Especially by their own daughter. I’m sure she’s even more pissed off at the fact that denying the challenge would’ve meant going against ancient Spartan traditions.”

He didn’t respond to my comment, merely nodding in agreement while I sauntered over to the Queen of Sparta. My usual tactic for getting someone to loosen up was to… loosen up their muscles with a friendly massage first. Just the shoulders, mind you. Nothing untoward. For a moment, I was worried that she might take my invasion of her personal space the wrong way. But she didn’t give me much of a reaction at all beyond a single grunt of appreciation.

Massaging the densely packed muscles along her shoulder blades was like trying to knead a block of solid granite. No give at all, and the tension was unmistakable. Eventually, my fingers grew sore and I was forced to cease my ministrations. Unsure how to break the awkward silence between us while Iliana & Theophilus were being anointed in oil, I clapped my hands together.

“Regardless of how you feel about the terms of this wrestling match, your highness, I wanted to let you know that I think your daughter is a capable warrior and a stalwart ally. Iliana and I may disagree about things from time to time, but I wouldn’t have anyone else traveling by my side.”

Queen Amaltheia raised her brow after popping a grape into her mouth. “You continue to surprise me, priestess of Aphrodite. I suppose my ire is somewhat misplaced. By all rights, Iliana has become a woman. I simply wish for my daughter to live a happy, healthy life. One on the road, fraught with danger and uncertainty causes me to worry about her. It drives me to drink.”

I let out an awkward chuckle, rubbing the back of my neck. “Ah—well—the wine is tasty.”

“One of the few things those milk-drinking Athenians are good for.”

This conversation was headed nowhere fast, so I decided that an abrupt change of subject was in order. Damn those Spartans and their succinct nature! I had no desire for relationship talk either, be it romantic or familial. “Forgive me, your majesty, I couldn’t help but notice that the king has been conspicuously absent since our arrival in Sparta. May I ask where he is?”

She sniffed then proceeded to scratch her frizzy tuft of pubic hair. “My husband’s duty is to lead the ceremonial worship of Apollo within the sacred halls of his temple. We would not be welcome there. Ergo, my place is here, to greet the common folk and officiate competitions.”

“Is there any chance we might meet him?”

The Queen drank deeply from her goblet and smacked her lips. “Perhaps. I do not know how long the ceremony shall last. Tradition cannot be rushed. Surely, you know this.”

I waved my hand. “Of, course! How silly of me. It looks like they’re about to begin.”

Theia stood up and addressed the competitors. “This is to be an honorable match. No hair pulling, biting, eye gouging, or maiming of the sex. In the name of Apollo, you may start!”

To be honest, I was more than happy to focus my undivided attention on them instead since the queen didn’t seem to be in a talkative mood. While the captain had a height and weight advantage over Iliana, she had more practical experience fighting opponents that were much bigger than her. Granted, I was no expert when it came to the ancient sport of wrestling, but I knew that in situations such as this, leverage was far more important than brute strength alone.

The two of them walked around in a circle, legs spread slightly apart, arms wide, eyeing each other. It was almost like watching a dance. Theophilus made the first move by lowering his head and lunging forward towards Iliana’s stomach. However, she side-stepped out of the way and placed him in a chokehold far faster than I thought possible for a mere human. For a moment, it appeared that she had the advantage… until he dug in his feet and flipped her onto the ground.

Iliana cried out in pain as a cloud of dust was kicked up in the arena. Theophilus sought to press his advantage as she laid flat on her back, only for Iliana to wrap her legs around his waist and flip him onto the ground with her. They struggled for a time, rising to their feet occasionally, neither gaining an advantage over the other. Both grunting like animals. Muscles straining. Teeth grit in sheer determination. Their skin became caked in a mixture of sweat, oil, and dust from head to toe. Poor Iliana would need a bath after this. And a good massage too, I bet.

Somehow, Iliana had managed to jump on top of his shoulders. The added weight made Theophilus stagger for a few steps while he tried to find his balance again. Unfortunately for him, Iliana was just too strong. With a meaty thump, she sent her opponent to the ground. Iliana coiled her thick, chiseled thighs around his head while she used her legs to keep him pinned down. The captain struggled for a while, limbs flailing in a desperate attempt to fight back… but it was to no avail. He passed out only a few moments later. Iliana released him from her hold and stood up to face her mother. Naked as she was born, covered in grime, but prideful all the same.

Queen Amaltheia stood up and placed her hands on her hips. “By my right as Queen of Sparta, I hereby declare: Princess Iliana of Sparta the victor of this match. Let the gods bear witness to her triumph. Let none contest it. Honor to he who brings light and victory in battle.”

The crowd intoned the same line afterwards, and cheered wildly, praising their princess. She was showered with gifts, mostly flowers and food. I’m sure there were even a few proposals, given the sheepish smile on her face and the blush that colored her cheeks. I thought Iliana’s reaction was rather adorable despite her ragged appearance. A well-deserved victory indeed.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted what I thought was the tip of a certain gorgon’s tail poking out from behind a boulder in the distance. So, Medusa had been watching the match. I suspect she’d been aware of everything we’d been doing from the start. You have to admire skills like that. She managed to evade an entire city-state worth of Spartans using stealth alone. Not that I blame her for sticking to the shadows, of course. In the back of my mind, I made a mental note to save her some wine and food for the road. If such luxuries interested her anymore…

Not one to stand on ceremony, I made my way down to the field and greeted Iliana with my friendliest smile. “You sure showed Captain Muscles who’s boss. I’d give you a hug but—ah—not until you’ve had a proper bath first. Ready to become the master of your own destiny?”

In a rare show of emotion, Iliana embraced me before I had a chance to react or voice my concerns. Figures. I wanted to take another bath at some point anyway. Might as well be sooner rather than later. “Thank you, Adagio. Discussing my feelings has always proven to be a difficult task… I want you to know that your support meant a great deal to me. The same goes for Flash.”

Now, I found myself blushing, twirling a strand of my newly shortened hair. “Don’t worry. I’m sure your mother will come around eventually. Just give her some time to process your—erm—new status in society. It’s funny because I can tell that’s where you get your stubbornness from.”

Iliana sighed. “I fear that it may take quite some time. Come. Let us bathe together and relax.”

Everyone was decidedly more perky after a good soak. Iliana still seemed a little uncomfortable being waited on hand and foot by a host of comely nude servant girls, but got used to their presence after a while. I’d had plenty of wine and food during the match, so I was content to cuddle with Flash on a recliner. This time around, I refrained from teasing him. However, it felt good to simply enjoy the warmth of his body pressed against my own, to breathe in his scent.

I was just about to doze off when a palace guard abruptly burst through the door. “Pardon the intrusion, Princess Iliana, honored guests. Your presence is required in the throne room at once! Queen’s orders.”

Sure, I was a little annoyed at having my cuddle time interrupted. Yet, I could sense that this was a potentially urgent situation. After all, Spartans weren’t known for practical jokes. We made our way to the throne room where Queen Amaltheia was seated, looking quite distressed. Beside her stood two men, clad in full sets of battle armor, equal to her height. One had long, flowing blonde hair that went all the way down to his chest. His armor was silver and polished so fine that I could clearly see my reflection in it. I swear, I could see a halo above his head.

The other man was decidedly less fabulous. His blood red hair was cropped short like many of the men I’d seen in Sparta. His armor was far less ornate and appeared to have the same shade as Ebon wood. The constant glower on his bearded face made me want to avoid talking to him altogether. Just looking at him sent shivers down my spine and gave me a sense of impending dread, as if he intended to kill me on the spot. Iliana and Flash immediately knelt on one knee before them, prompting me to do the same. Ah, so they must have been VIPs. I must admit the whole situation was a little awkward, given that the two strangers were the only ones clothed.

Blondie smiled, his pearly whites glittering in the glow of the torchlight. “All may rise. Let us not stand on ceremony. There is important business to discuss.”

Iliana was the first to speak. “Lord Apollo. To what honor do we owe your presence this day?”

“Is it not fitting for a god to attend his own festival?”

“I suppose so, milord. It is not my place to question—” Iliana stammered.

Apollo held up his hand. “Fret not; Princess Iliana. I am pleased by Sparta’s reverence. As is my brother. Although, he may not express his gratitude directly. I’m afraid I come bearing bad news. It is in regards to your father, King Demaratus. During the sacred ceremony within my temple, he was abducted by Hades and taken prisoner. Absconded to the bowels of Tartarus no doubt.”

While she remained quiet out of respect for the gods standing before her, Iliana’s entire body tensed with simmering rage. The look in her eyes alone could have melted solid stone into a puddle of goo. “May I ask the reason why the god of the underworld would do such a thing?”

The red-haired man scoffed. “In all likelihood, your father forgot to make an appropriate sacrifice to Persephone. Hades can’t stand when his wife is slighted by mortals.”

Apollo wagged his finger and clicked his tongue. “Mind your manners, Ares. One always attracts more flies with honey than vinegar. Please excuse my brother. He’s not the most tactful god. Hades captured your father to mock my festival and, by extension, the citizens of Sparta.

“Hades is jealous, you see. Jealous that you should be allowed to bask in the sun and celebrate my glory while he broods in the underworld. Should you be up to the task of rescuing King Demaratus, I shall grant you my boon. A fitting reward for a devout follower, is it not?”

Iliana bowed. “It would be my honor, Lord Apollo.”

“Indeed,” Apollo agreed while patting her head, “simply hold out your hand, princess.”

With a flash of blinding yellow light, an ornate golden tube inlaid with ivory and carved with majestic winged horses on either side appeared in Iliana’s hand. Unsure what exactly the artifact did, Iliana stared at it, brow furrowed in confusion.

“That, dear child, is Illuminus. A legendary spear crafted by Olympian hands and imbued with the power of the sun. All you need do is project your will and the weapon shall respond to your desire for justice. Go ahead. Try it out.”

Iliana held the tube in front of her and closed her eyes. She gasped in awe when a shaft of pure sunlight burst forth from both ends, illuminating the room in its radiance. “The spear is magnificent, milord. I do not feel as though I am deserving of such a treasure.”

Apollo smiled like a father would and placed his hand on her bare shoulder. “Humility. A refreshing trait amongst mortals. All the more reason you deserve to wield Illuminus.”

Ares cracked his knuckles, an odd expression on his face. He’d directed his attention towards Flash for some reason. Their eyes met for a brief moment, then the god of war nodded slightly. Why would Ares be interested in him? “Alright, brother. You’ve given the Spartan princess your toy. Let’s head back to Olympus. Spending too much time down here stokes my bloodlust.”

“Good luck on your journey to Tartarus, Princess Iliana. We expect great things from you!” Apollo said as they vanished in a mystical flash of sunlight.

Queen Amaltheia was the first to speak. Instead of showing pride, she sighed and rubbed her temples. “Just like the gods to leave us with a challenge then disappear. Iliana, I am afraid that I cannot help you when it comes to navigating Tartarus. But I can equip you for it. Guards! Escort her party to the armory. I want them adorned with the finest weapons and armor we possess.”

Unlike Iliana and Flash, I declined to wear Spartan armor; my reasoning, the same as when I arrived in this world. Rather than offend our hosts, they seemed to respect my decision, and dare I say, admire it as I had stuck to my oath as a devout priestess of Aphrodite. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Iliana didn’t berate me for traveling to one of the most dangerous places known to humankind, nude like the legendary hero Heracles. Technically speaking, Medusa was doing the same. But she was a gorgon. I didn’t feel like pointing that particular caveat out to my companions, lest my good mood be spoiled by an argument.

As for their new armor, it was finely crafted. Fit for the most elite soldiers in the Spartan army. A layer of dark, boiled leather for comfort and waterproofing, the outer layer composed of treated steel. Based on what Iliana said, the technique for working such metal was considered a state secret. What the armor lacked in fashion, it more than made up for in function. Very Spartan.

Unsurprisingly, Medusa knew how to access Tartarus. I was under the impression that a spell or incantation was required to do so, but apparently the entrance was just a cave. She went on to explain that the cave led to the river Styx, guarded by an immortal boatman, Charon. The journey through the cave itself wasn’t anything special. I’d seen plenty of those throughout my lifetime as a siren. Iliana’s spear provided more than enough light to navigate its vast darkness.

Traveling on foot within a cave is a vastly different experience than swimming through one. Not only was the surface FAR MORE unpleasant to walk on (I didn’t complain aloud, otherwise Iliana would have lectured me about wearing sandals), but it seemed like we weren’t making much progress at all, simply because the cave system was so vast. I suppose the Olympians didn’t want to make it easy for mortals to access the underworld, or something like that.

When we finally neared the lowermost portion of the cave, an eerie green glow lit up the path before us. I shivered, not only because it had become noticeably colder, but an all-encompassing presence that I couldn’t even begin to describe was giving me a serious case of the willies. After witnessing the massive, undulating river of mortal souls, I realized what I’d felt was death.

Medusa paused, holding up her hand. “Under no circumstances are any of you to touch the river Styx. To do so would be your death. Hence, why we need Charon’s help in crossing it.”

Iliana furrowed her brow in concern. “How do you propose we pay the boatman? Drachma alone will not suffice; we are not deceased. Does he even allow living beings to cross the river at all?”

“I have something that might pique Charon’s interest,” Medusa answered while fishing around in the animal skin sack she’d slung over her shoulder, “a golden owl statue with rubies for eyes. One of the offerings made by artisans to Athena when I was head priestess of the temple.”

I placed my hands on my hips and scowled. “You had that thing the entire time?!”

Medusa rolled her eyes and flicked her tongue. “For your information, Adagio, the statue is a sacred relic. I couldn’t very well pawn it off. Despite my disdain for Athena, I always got the sense that this statue would come in handy someday. It seems my intuition was correct.”

“Fine,” I huffed, “let’s hope it’s enough to convince Charon to grant us passage.”

We proceeded to walk towards a rather plain looking dock that wouldn’t have looked out of place next to your average, run-of-the-mill fishing village on the surface. The boat moored there wasn’t extraordinary in any way either. Save for the fact that it was floating on a river composed entirely of human souls. The whole situation made my skin crawl, only made worse by the unpleasant clamminess of cold sweat leaking from every single one of my pores, it seemed.

A tall, gangly man wearing a black robe with skin as pale as an iceberg pulled back his hood, revealing a terrifying visage. It was as though he barely had any meat on his bones. A living skeleton, if you will. Sunken yellow eyes observed us with curiosity, bordering on lechery. He smiled when his gaze shifted towards me. Ugh! What a creep. Did he just wink at me? With a raspy chuckle, he stroked his greasy black beard and introduced himself with a bow.

“Charon, ferryman of the river Styx. To whom do I owe the pleasure?”

Asshole puckered tight; I tried my best to offer our only means of transportation a friendly smile. “My name is Adagio. These are my companions: Princess Iliana of Sparta, Flash Magnus, and Medusa. We seek an audience with Lord Hades. I heard that you’re the man for the job.”

Charon grinned, his jagged teeth reminding me of a shark. I wanted to throw up. Or slap him. “Indeed, I am, Miss Adagio. Might I say, you’re a sight for sore eyes. Don’t see too many beauties like you down here. Heh. Living ones anyway~ Seems a bit suspicious if you ask me. What business does a band of merry mortals and a gorgon have with Lord Hades?”

Iliana stepped forward and glowered at him, pointing the tip of Illuminus at his throat. “My father was kidnapped. We’ve come to retrieve him. Do you have issue with that, boatman?”

Charon waved his hands in a submissive manner. “Not at all, Princess Iliana. However, I should point out that passage along the river Styx always comes at a price. So long as you’re willing to pay the fee, I’ve no quarrel with transporting your party. Even though you’re all still alive…”

Medusa let out an annoyed hiss and slithered forward, presenting the golden owl statue to Charon. He whistled in response, carefully inspecting the artifact with a greedy twinkle in his eye. “How’d you manage to get your claws on a temple offering and live to tell the tale? Athena ain’t exactly the forgiving type. Takes after her father in that regard.”

“No, she is not. I’m living proof of how Athena treats those who fall out of favor.”

Charon shrugged. “I imagine there’s a story behind that, but I won’t ask. None of my business.”

Medusa flicked her tongue. “Indeed. Will the artifact suffice as payment?”

“Like I said before: special passengers, special payment. I’ll allow it this one time. Just—uh—don’t make this a regular arrangement. Otherwise, Lord Hades is bound to punish me for it.”

Much to our surprise, Charon liked to sing while he captained the boat. The strangest part of it all was that he had a beautiful baritone voice, despite his sleazy appearance and manner of speech. It provided a slight distraction from the depressingly dark façade of Tartarus. Eventually, we came to a massive obsidian gate, guarded by a monstrous three-headed demon hound. Charon allowed us to disembark and without so much as a goodbye, he started heading back up the river Styx.

The black furred canine servant of Hades stood firm but did nothing to accost us, so long as we didn’t approach him. Iliana and Flash looked terrified and I honestly couldn’t blame them. Medusa’s tail coiled back and forth, a clear indication that she was trying to come up with a strategy to defeat the beast. It was at times like this that I felt utterly useless. I had no qualm against Cerberus. He was simply performing his duty as faithful guardian to the gates of Tartarus. Surely, we could come to an arrangement?

With nothing to lose, I stepped forward, heart thundering in my chest. Such was my fear that I nearly wet myself, but my desire to help my friends spurred me forward instead. I kept my arms spread wide, palms forward, to demonstrate that I wasn’t a threat. In this case, my nudity was an advantage, as it was obvious that I had nothing to hide and no weapons on my person. Cerberus lowered his three heads and took in a deep breath, analyzing my scent. His glowing red eyes pierced into the very fiber of my being. Mother siren! I could smell his putrid breath.

“Hello there,” I managed to squeak out, surprised that Cerberus would allow me to pet his coat, “I-I’m sure you’re a good dog. We’d all appreciate it if you’d allow us to pass. My friend, Iliana, has lost her father and we have reason to believe that he’s being held in Tartarus somewhere.”

Cerberus whuffed, tilting his head slightly as if expecting something from me.

I scampered back to our supply cache, nearly tripping over my own feet in clumsy desperation and fished out a wheel of cheese that I was planning on eating later. A tasty leftover from our time in Sparta, along with some wine, and dried meat. With cheese wheel in hand, I held it up to the massive demon hound, hoping that he would enjoy it as much as humans did. A bone-shattering bark echoed throughout Tartarus, causing me to fall flat on my ass.

Despite my sore posterior, I was relieved to see that Cerberus did indeed have a soft spot for dairy products. He proceeded to show his appreciation by licking me with all three of his heads, one at a time. Let’s just say I wasn’t too happy about being covered head to toe in a veritable bath of demon dog slobber. But at least I was still alive. My sacrifice was not in vain.

Medusa laughed aloud. “Looks like you made a new friend, Adagio.”

I glared at Iliana and Flash. “Not a WORD from either of you!”

Beyond our fight with Tirek and his band of mercenaries, I hadn’t tried to use harmonic magic since then. There wasn’t a real need to. Our lives had been surprisingly peaceful up to this point. My motivation to use said powers wasn’t heroic in the slightest, but I would rather practice them while solving a mundane problem than to have a spell, quite literally, blow up in my face during combat. Let’s be honest here: there’s no fucking way I was going to trapse around Tartarus covered in demon dog slobber. It was disgusting! My dignity and pride were on the line.

I took in a deep breath and concentrated on focusing my mana. Much to my surprise, it responded to my will immediately. Unlike my siren days, the harmonic energy I felt was pure and filled me with a pleasant warmth all over. Huh. I guess the ponies were onto something. A pink blush colored my cheeks when I let my (somewhat selfish) intent be known. In a flash of golden light, I hovered in the air for a few seconds, then gently touched down. My body didn’t feel all slimy and gross anymore. I gave my arm a sniff. My skin smelled like a summer day!

Iliana stood there, mouth agape. “What, in the name of Apollo, was that?!”

“Seeing as how there aren’t any places to bathe down here, I needed to get clean.”

Iliana shook her head. “I should have known that you would use powerful magics for such a mundane purpose. What’s done is done. I would advise being more discreet in the future.”

I shrugged. “Fair enough. But I’m going to have to train with harmonic magic at some point.”

Medusa slithered between us and held up her hand. “Let’s not get too distracted from our original goal. Iliana, do you happen to have something that belonged to your father?”

“What do you propose, gorgon?”

Medusa rubbed her chin in thought. “It stands to reason that Cerberus would have an excellent sense of smell, like all hounds do. Rather than wander around Tartarus aimlessly on our own, we could simply have the guardian track down your father’s scent. What say you, princess?”

“That is a sound plan. Adagio, do you agree?”

I ruffled the fur atop Cerberus’ middle head. “How’d you like to help us find Iliana’s father?”

Cerberus barked loudly once more, wagging his tail back and forth with glee. This time, the sound was not quite so frightening to us. He was essentially an oversized guard dog, after all. Iliana fished around in her rucksack and presented a small ivory figurine depicting a nude Heracles holding his fist aloft in triumph. For something so miniscule, it was exceptionally well crafted. She handed the figurine to me with the utmost care, cautioning me not to drop it.

“Am I supposed to use this?” I questioned.

Iliana nodded. “Indeed. Father gave me this figurine upon reaching my thirteenth season. He kept it upon his person as a charm of sorts, regaling me of how it brought him good fortune.”

I was afraid that the figurine wouldn’t have enough of her father’s scent for Cerberus to track, but I was proven wrong when he barked in acknowledgement, urging us to follow him. For a brief moment, I considered asking the massive dog if we could simply ride on his back to our destination instead, to which Medusa cautioned against as it might upset Hades.

Something about trivializing the guardian of Tartarus. I rolled my eyes, annoyed that we had to go out of our way to ingratiate ourselves with these Olympians. Regardless, I gave Cerberus some dried meat as a reward for being so helpful. He was a good dog, worthy of my respect.

It was difficult to discern how much time had passed. Such a concept in the underworld didn’t exist as we mortals understood it on the surface. Eventually, we reached our destination when Cerberus pointed his snouts towards a dungeon that had been hewn from the rocky wall. Sure enough, trapped inside was the King of Sparta. They hadn’t provided him with so much as a stitch of clothing. Even though he wasn’t bound, it was quite apparent that he was exhausted.

What little energy he had left was used to grip the bars and stare at us. “Iliana? Is that you?”

She didn’t hesitate to run over to the cell and take hold of her father’s hands. “Yes, father! I’ve come to rescue you. Along with my traveling companions. Are you injured?”

“Nay. Although proper sleep has since evaded me.” King Demaratus quipped.

Before we could figure out how to free him from his confinement, a specter emitting a brilliant golden glow materialized from the ether and challenged us. Judging by the elaborate armor and weapons he carried, the man must have been someone important back when he was still alive. I half expected the ghost to be a frail-looking creature, but he looked just as hale as King Demaratus, if not more so. Not that such things would matter for an incorporeal being. Speaking of, I’m not sure why Hades would choose a deceased mortal to guard a prisoner. There were plenty of more apt candidates, like Cerberus for example, who could do a much better job.

“State your business, trespassers.” The ghost warned while pointing his sword at us.

Iliana stepped forward to challenge him. “I am Princess Iliana of Sparta. We have come to rescue my father, King Demaratus of Sparta. Step aside and no harm shall come to you, specter.”

“Bold words for a woman made of flesh and bone. How do you intend to harm me?”

Rather than respond with words, Iliana summoned Illuminus, causing the specter to frown.

He stroked his ethereal beard. “Ah, a blessed treasure from the gods. You and I have that in common, princess. Back when I still roamed the earth, I was King Midas of Phrygia. Lord Dionysus bestowed upon me the gift of golden touch, a boon that has transcended death.”

Iliana scoffed. “Your tale is but a cautionary one. A children’s fable. Step aside or be destroyed.”

Midas chuckled. “Believe what you will. It makes little difference to me.”

I’m not sure if it was my new magic acting up or what, but something felt off about this guy. Given his golden aura, which was markedly different from the sickly green of the other souls, I was under the impression that Midas wasn’t lying about his “gift”. Iliana hadn’t even bothered to raise her shield to defend herself against the specter’s attack. Damn her cockiness! I scrambled forward to intercept Midas before he could touch her.

Did I ever mention how much it hurts to get stabbed in the shoulder by a sword? A lot. A WHOLE fucking lot. To add insult to injury, the spooky bastard grabbed me by the wrist and flung me to the floor, as if I were some minor inconvenience to him. In a pain-filled daze, I struggled to get back up, only to stumble again. How odd. I couldn’t feel my hand.

I let out a shriek of horror when I realized that from the wrist down, my arm had been turned into solid gold. FUCK! This was not good for any of us. Furthermore, I had no idea if Midas’ ability was reversible or if it would spread any further. I really didn’t want to cut off my own limb. “Iliana! Don’t let Midas touch you! He wasn’t lying about the gift he received.”

“Duly noted.” Iliana grunted while she sidestepped to avoid his attack.

Flash ran over to me, cradling me in his arms. “Adagio, are you ok? That wound looks nasty.”

I closed my eyes, using what little willpower I had left to summon harmonic magic. A warm, soothing sensation filled my body, easing the pain and healing my wound. Although I currently lacked the energy to do so, I squealed with joy (internally) when the gold became flesh once more. I wiggled my fingers experimentally, and what do you know, they responded. I could feel them again! I began laughing hysterically to the point of sobbing. This, of course, prompted Flash to worry even more about me. Apparently, men don’t seem to understand the concept of happy tears. Regardless, I embraced him and we kissed most passionately. Snot and all.

King Midas was unnaturally quick for a man of his size. Then again, he no longer had any physical mass to slow down his movements. As a result, Iliana had a difficult time dodging his attacks or getting in any blows of her own. From time to time, Midas would strike her with his elbow or hand, transforming the affected area into a patch of solid gold. Most of the transmutations were confined to her armor, since she was so adept at predicting his movements.

Despite her superb martial skills, it was clear that Iliana was losing the fight. Who could blame her? She was but a mortal woman. Several splotches of gold covered her arms, which I had no doubt caused her a great deal of pain. I wanted to help her but I was exhausted from using so much magic. Flash was in a similar position, as he had no weapons that could harm a specter.

The former liege of Phrygia ducked when Iliana jabbed her spear at his torso, then proceeded to use his leg in a sweeping motion to knock her to the ground. With a loud clatter, her armored body hit the floor, knocking the wind out of her for a brief moment. That was all Midas needed. He cackled with glee while he grabbed her ankles. In that moment of arrogance, Iliana managed to plunge Illuminus straight through his stomach, causing Midas to shriek like a banshee before he was consumed by Apollo’s holy sunlight. However, the damage had already been done.

A gut-wrenching cry of agony escaped Iliana’s lips as the curse spread. Before long, everything below her knees had turned to solid gold. Unable to stand, she crawled towards us, face twisted in an expression of pain and despair. Panting, she rolled onto her back, her skin coated in a sheen of sweat while she struggled to catch her breath. We gathered around her wondering what to do.

I ran my fingers through her hair as a gesture of comfort. “I’m sorry, Iliana. My harmonic mana pool will take a while to recharge. And I’m not sure if it will work on anyone but me.”

Iliana grit her teeth. “Then you must dispatch me. I refuse to live as a legless invalid.”

Medusa slithered over to her and scoffed. “Stop being so melodramatic, your highness. Do you not recall that I am a master of petrification magic? Be still; I shall attempt to restore your flesh.”

“What other choice do I have,” Iliana countered, “work your magic gor—Medusa.”

The gorgon leaned forward and looked her straight into her eyes. “You must maintain eye contact with me for the spell to take hold properly. Flash, fetch her something to bite on. I shan’t lie; this will be quite painful. Unlike anything you’ve experienced before…”

Medusa’s eyes glowed red as a similar aura enveloped Iliana’s body. Her cries of anguish were difficult to listen to but I could see the gold beginning to recede. After a time, the pain became too great for Iliana and she passed out, her face pale from the exertion. Finally, her limbs were restored to flesh and bone once more. At this point, Medusa collapsed to the floor, muttering something about needing to rest for a moment. The spell must have taken a lot out of her.

While Iliana recovered, I felt well enough to stand on my own two feet. For some reason, Cerberus was wagging his tail, all three heads alert. The chamber suddenly felt icy cold, sending shivers down my spine. An imposing figure clad in a jet-black toga materialized through the floor. His hair, composed of bright blue flames, flickered as he approached Cerberus. The hound barked eagerly as the man ruffled his fur affectionately, a slight smile crept upon his lips. His smile remained while he strode towards us with his hands clasped behind his back. Oddly enough, when he came closer to me, I half expected a pale-skinned ghoul like him to smell like death itself, but his scent wasn’t offensive at all. If anything, it reminded me of flowers.

“Adagio Dazzle, I presume?” He intoned.

My asshole puckered up tight once again. “That’s me. Uh—to whom do I owe the pleasure?”

A dry melodious chuckle escaped his blackened lips. “Hades. Master of Tartarus. Guardian of the Dead. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?”

“Oh… w-well… I-I must say, it’s an honor to meet you!”

Hades raised his brow. “Fear is a natural reaction when mortals meet the god who presides over the dead. I am not angry with anyone just yet, so calm yourselves. But you’ll have to pardon my confusion, for all of you are still counted amongst the living. I can’t imagine why a motley band of misfits would desire to visit Tartarus of their own volition. Care to explain?”

King Demaratus decided to speak up. “Pardon the interruption, Lord Hades. My daughter was simply trying to rescue me after I was kidnapped and brought here. Spare them your wrath, I—”

Hades pointed his bony finger at the king. “My wrath? Do I appear wrathful to you, Spartan?”

“Milord, I wouldn’t dare presume—”

The flames that served as his hair erupted into an inferno as he responded in a booming voice. “INTERRUPT ME AGAIN AND I SHALL ROAST THY FLESH FROM BONE!!”

After a few moments of terrified silence, Hades continued. “Once again, I find myself questioning your motives. That golden tube the Spartan warrior has in her clutches, it is a weapon forged by my nephew. Adagio, if you would be so kind as to answer my questions…”

“That’s correct, Lord Hades. Apollo gave it to her during Gymnopaedia.”

Hades paced back and forth, stroking his fiery goatee. “To what end, my dear?”

“Apollo told us that you’d—erm—kidnapped King Demaratus. Hence, our rescue plan.”

“Then we’ve all been made fools of. Observe.”

Iliana was just starting to wake up when Hades engulfed her father in a cyclone of sapphire flames, causing her to scream like a tortured soul. It made me want to cry along with her. We’d expected a pile of charred bones to be left behind, yet in its place was a bronze statue instead. Only superficially did it resemble the shape of a man. I’d never seen the likes of such a complex automaton nor understood its purpose. What in all the oceans was going on?

Hades scowled. “A homunculus. Designed to mimic mankind in every way. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Princess Iliana of Sparta, but your father was never here in the first place.”

“Lord Hades, I… do not understand.” Iliana whimpered.

With a paternal expression, Hades patted her head. “I suspect that my nephews wished to earn your unwavering loyalty with this ploy. No doubt, they seek champions in their campaign to unseat Zeus as the true ruler of Olympus. For what it’s worth, I apologize for all the trouble they’ve caused. There is little I can do to make amends, other than offer everyone safe passage back to the mortal plane, no conditions attached.”

Heartbroken and betrayed by the gods she once revered, Iliana collapsed to the floor and stared into the distance vacantly, her eyes glossy and unfocused. “I trusted them. All these years, I blindly obeyed their will, tried to be a devout warrior. Has my life been nothing but a lie?”

Hades knelt down beside her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. “No, sweet child. Hubris is their sin to bear, not your own. Though it may be difficult, please try your best to move on. Dwelling on the matter will only cause more grief. Trust me; I know the feeling quite well.”

“What do you mean, Milord?”

Hades stood up and took in a deep breath, blowing it out slowly through his nose. “Long ago, I desired more than the lot I was given. To me, ruling over Tartarus was a punishment, while my kin frolicked in the world above, mortals eager to please them. Over time, I came to realize the importance of my role. Dare I say, it became an honorable duty, despite the lack of worshipers. Truth be told, I have no desire to return to Olympus. I am content to remain in Tartarus.”

I raised my brow in surprise. So, there was an Olympian out there who wasn’t a manipulative, power hungry, self-absorbed prick. Perhaps there were more virtuous examples among their ranks, but first impressions being what they were, I would always be suspicious of their motives.

Iliana prostrated herself before Hades. “There is truth in your words, Lord Hades. If you would have me, I am willing to devote myself to your worship.”

“Are you certain, Princess Iliana of Sparta? My name has carried a stigma amongst mortals for ages. To worship me is akin to worshiping death itself. Once I bestow my boon upon your flesh, there is no going back. Hmm. I shall give you a moment to consider your oath of fealty.”

Iliana walked over to the river Styx and watched its ghostly green current flow by. In her hand, she grasped Illuminus, tracing her fingers along its intricate carvings. Flash was still tending to Medusa, who looked paler than usual. She would need to rest for a while longer in all likelihood. I wasn’t the greatest when it came to delivering motivational speeches or dealing with heavy emotions like honor, duty, love—you get the idea. However, it was apparent that Iliana was in desperate need of a friend. Someone she could trust to help steer her in the right direction.

Mother Siren. Was that me? Oh, how times have changed! In my previous life, I never would have considered doing such a thing. Slowly, I approached Iliana, my feet pattering against the stony floor. I paused for a moment, mustering the courage to say what needed to be said, to do what needed to be done. After letting out a short puff of air through my lips, I wrapped my arms around Iliana’s waist and pulled her closer to me, resting my head upon her shoulder.

The hug was terribly uncomfortable considering that all the metal studs from her armor prodded my bare skin. There was little warmth to be felt from her either. A princess that smelled of sweat, leather, and blood. Just like a Spartan. A crimson blush colored my cheeks, as the embrace seemed to drag on for an eternity. Iliana remained stoic like a statue, unmoving and unresponsive to my affection. My eyes widened in surprise when I felt her calloused hand grasp my own.

In a quiet voice she whispered, “Thank you, Adagio.”

Still blushing, I rubbed my thumb along the back of her hand. “Have you decided what to do?”

Iliana’s expression hardened. “Lord Hades is the only one worthy of my devotion. He is honorable and just. I sensed no deception in his words. He even went out of his way to help us, despite intruding upon his domain. For this day forth, I spit on those who sit atop Mt. Olympus!”

Without warning, she hurled Illuminus into the river Styx. The artifact was now lost to the ages in place that no mortal hand could reach. “A pity. Such a weapon of fine craftsmanship. Yet, I shall not sully my honor by wielding the boon of a traitor! I curse your name, Apollo!”

“Quite the bold declaration you made there,” Hades remarked in a dry tone, “come to my side, Princess Iliana of Sparta. Kneel and swear your allegiance to me.”

Iliana did as she was told without hesitation. The lord of the underworld was not one for flowery prose, so he kept the oath short and simple. When she accepted, Hades pressed his finger upon her forehead. Iliana gasped as Hades began to pull a black thread from her flesh as though it were but a loose hair. He held it before her and smiled, tracing his index finger along its length.

“This is your thread of life. Subject to the whims of fate like any mortal.”

Iliana remained stoic but I could tell she was putting on a brave face for the sake of appearances.

Hades took a moment to observe the thread. “How curious. I’m surprised by its length. Most warriors perish in battle well before they reach eighty-five seasons. No matter. You shan’t need to worry about such trifling matters anymore. Observe!”

A blue flame trickled from his fingers, setting her life thread alight. Iliana screamed in agony while it glowed with an intense heat that we could all feel as it washed over our skin. Hades let go of her thread after what seemed like an eternity, patiently waiting until it retreated back into her body and she regained her senses. When Iliana rose to her feet, she looked tired but no worse for wear. Uh—well—that is except for her skin taking on an ashen gray hue and her hair becoming like that of Hades: an undulating collection of sapphire flames.

“I have infused your body with my essence. For as long as you remain my loyal servant, death shall hold no sway over you. Injury, sickness, and decay are no longer your concern. Do you understand, sweet child? This is what it means to worship me. You are a part of Tartarus now.”

Iliana bowed in reverence. “As you command, Milord.”