SHE ;

❧

Persephone noticed quickly that she actually knew the female and it was none other than Megara. She felt for the girl, knowing Hades was as prickly as a cactus and had a hobby for manipulation. Meg, Percy, and Perry were his favorite puppets. None of them particularly bothered her, though she had the softest spot for Meg. To give it all up for love was such a beautiful thought until reality set in that not everyone was that kind. Persephone felt for her, a sympathy, and always tried to do what she could to help her even though she was also a captive herself. 

At her question Persephone immediately shook her head, a quicker answer than explaining but she assured her anyway. “No, not at all. I could ask you the same thing.” A small smile formed before fading as quickly as it appeared. “Just enjoying the sunlight. Find anything good?” She asked, nodding towards the records. 

🥀

Megara let out a sigh of relief. Persephone was right. They were both bound to Hades but in different ways. Even Meg couldn’t help but to feel sorry for the god. Ruling the underworld was a lonesome one,  finding her own family within the graveyard full of souls. It wasn’t conventional or rational even but she had to work with what she was dealt. Hades was finicky but usually she paid no mind to his schemes or deals outside of her contract. It wasn’t her place nor business. But wanting to kill an innocent man? That was something she couldn’t agree with. Hercules was...sweet. What could he possibly do?

“I’m sorry, slipped my mind. I won’t tell if you won’t?” Meg offered a small smile. “Yeah, actually. Mostly oldies but they’re my favorite. Can’t go wrong with classic rock. How about you? This place is straight out of a horror film, doom and gloom doesn’t seem to fit you.” Megara commented in reference to her affinity for spring. Prentiss was dreary, foggy, and not so full of sunshine.

HERCULES had been in America how many years now, ten? He’d spent almost six years travelling around the globe training with Phil, putting himself in every scenario, doing the impossible in search of finding his way back home. America had felt like the beginning of the end to his journey, he had arrived in Prentiss looking for trouble and boy did he find it. Hercules had somehow known this place would be where he crossed the finish line.. and so he never left. But something about today was different in a way he couldn’t describe, like he was meeting with destiny–like Zeus was really sending him a message; today mattered and he was going to make the most of it. 

Despite the giddy sensation of excitement in his stomach Hercules tried to go on with his day as best he could. Wandering the streets from errand to errand he looked everywhere for a sign– repetitive numbers or words, anything to guide him. He had been so caught up in his own fantasy he didn’t see what was right in front of him until it was too late. With an oomph escaping his lips Hercules stopped in his tracks, arms instinctively stretching out to help balance the individual. Upon seeing her smile his body stilled, the wind was knocked from his chest as he mouth hung open like an idiot. 

“I–I—” he stammered, not quite able to believe what was happening. “I’m so sorry m’am– are you okay? Are you hurt? I know first aid!”

That wasn’t the reaction she had been expecting, especially from a man of his stature. His concern and apology seemed genuine enough, even if he was stammering over his words like a toddler in trouble. It was kind of cute though. “Whoa, calm down there steamboat. Don’t want you revving your engines too hard now.” Megara kept a small smile at her lips, still using his chest to keep balance. “I’ll be alright, I’m a big girl after all. I can handle myself for the most part.” Megara chuckled, looking down at her now broken heel that was barely hanging on. “No first aid is needed, though would it be asking you too much if you had a spare pair of shoes? Preferably flat ones.” Considering she hadn’t sustained any major injury she needed something else to keep him near. She wouldn’t be able to get any intel if this was the end. Besides the faster she got this over with the faster she could get her soul back. Her freedom.

She had the face, the name, and the cherry on top was the plan. Hades instructions were clear, he wanted this guy dead. However Megara wasn’t the cold blooded killer type, she’d leave that up to one of his other minions. Instead she’d gather intel. Find a weakness. Megara knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Seeing only a few pictures it looked like the man could crush anything in his way with his biceps alone. Though if he was  like any other man he’d be easy to seduce into coercion. If he was anything like the man she traded her soul for. So instead of her usual casual attire she chose something more sultry and appealing to the male gaze. A knee-length cotton purple summer dress and some strappy lavender heels. It was the most effort she had put into her appearance in some time. She watched him from afar at first, trying to find the proper moment to strike and make her move. Which was a tad bit difficult since this man seemed to be about his business. 

It was when he had finally stopped at an intersection of a crosswalk she was finally able to make her move. Walking towards him she knew what the plan was and immediately put it into action. She would wait until they were only a few feet apart then she’d put a large amount of pressure onto one heel until it finally snapped. As planned she crashed right into her target’s chest. Looking up at him with doe eyes and a sheepish smile. “Sorry, weak ankles.”

-

“And we all know how much I like comedy,” Hades quipped sarcastically, “Dantes Inferno Divine Comedy? Rated it 10/10 on goodreads. I especially liked the part where the heretics are burned. That part was absolute hilarious - and surprisingly an accurate interpretation of the Underworld.”

“Maybe people would care more about living their lives if they were reminded how very, very short it is,” the god commented before he shut off his phone, setting it down on the table before he turned to look over at Megara.  “A little fear in me can really get the living to… Well, live. Except for you, though. You’re my special little exception.” He grinned, extending his hand to reach over and graze her jawline with his hand in an act of faux affection to make his point.

“Better get your bikini ready then,” Hades snickered before he flicked the phone screen on again. “I don’t need you for that - yet - but I do have a job for you to do. There’s a guy here that’s a real big thorn in my side, and I’m gonna need your help to pluck it out.” A few quick swipes of his phone brought up a picture of a large, muscular-looking asian man with a big, goofy smile. “Look at him. Doesn’t he just rub you the wrong way? I actually hate him. The world will be a whole lot better - for me - if he was wiped off the face of it. Ya feel me?” He paused, getting the impression that she didn’t ‘feel’ him. “Okay, do this for me, give it your all, your best acting performance to help me find his weakness - and you know what? I might just give you your freedom back. That’s how much I need this guy dead.”

🥀

“I figured you’d like that book.” Megara had read it years before she came to Hades and offered her soul up on a silver platter. She was too timid to read it now knowing exactly how the Underworld worked. It would made her too squeamish to make the comparisons.

He wasn’t wrong. Life was short, and even shorter for others. “For once I would have to agree with you. Too many people have misconceptions when it comes to death and the hereafter.” Instead of rolling her eyes she offered a smug smile at his touch. “That’s me.” She hummed softly, knowing good and well his affection was not genuine. However she never denied it, she was stuck in limbo with him after all. It was best for everyone if she made the most of it.

Megara’s eyebrows knitted together in interest at the mention of a job. “What did he do? Steal your toys on the playground?” She teased, leaning in to get a better look at the man. “I mean he looks like a regular dude, maybe even handsome.” She added, then looking up to notice Hades sour expression. It was too much information to process in that moment that Meg had a rather dumbfounded look across her face. “My freedom?” She paused, not sure if this was another a game he was playing or not. “Why would you do that? You’d be so bored without me.” Which wasn’t entirely true, he’d probably already have his hands full with Percy and Perry alone. It just felt weird being anything other than Hades assistant after all these years.

“I’ll do it, I mean I don’t really have much of a choice do I?” She asked, scanning the picture of the stranger once more. “Can you tell me why you need this guy dead so bad at least?”

-

“Boo, bad joke,” Hades said curtly, pulling out his new mobile device to explore it, “I’ve been too busy for the last few thousand years. It’s not my fault I fell behind in the trends. One moment the catapult is the latest and greatest thing – then I blink and now apparently people can’t get enough of watching cute animal videos on a tiny screen for hours when their time is already so limited.” A laugh escaped the god. He flashed the screen to Megara, showing her a viral cat video of a dog spazzing out over an alpaca interaction. “I mean, look at this. Can’t say I blame them, but boy, it makes sense why so many souls with meaningless lives have flooded into the Underworld in the last 100 years. Ever since the damn TV was invented.”

“Twitter? What, people can’t get enough of pigeons fighting over bread that they had to make an entire platform for it?”

“A joke nonetheless.” Megara replied swiftly, a small grin tugging at her lips. Listening to him talk she swirled her straw in circles around her blended margarita. Lifting her gaze when he shared his screen with her. Megara didn’t care much for social media, not much to flex about when your soul was already sold to the devil. She tried them all but the only one she really kept up with was Instagram. Meg could post a couple of pics and be as vague as she wanted to be and that's what she liked most about it. “I can’t either, animals are a good source of entertainment. I think most people use as it an escape. Either to get away from their lives or highly exaggerate it. But like everything else it can become an addiction.”

“No, not pigeons.” She laughed, proceeding to pull out her phone and pulled up the app so he could take a look at it. “It’s mostly people sharing their opinions or every little thought they have in their head...I guess it’s a lot like Facebook but more anonymous.” Megara paused, a snarky grin beginning to grace her lips as she spoke. “If you’re going to have me start taking pics for your social influence I think I’d rather throw myself into the River Styx first.”

-

‘I thought maybe there was a chance…’

Hades let out out an audible laugh, grinning from ear to ear at this mortal’s foolish attempts at clinging onto hope. “-Let me stop you right there, sweetheart. You’ve got a better chance of winning at a starring contest with Medusa than you do of seeing your boyfriend again,” he said, snarky in his tone.

“Trust me, I’m in no shortage of souls. Mortals drop like flies all year long. They’re literally dying to see me. I feel so popular,” he remarked sarcastically, an apathetic shrug flicked from his shoulders. “I’ve got more souls than I know what to do with - but I’m not exactly keen on losing a single number in my soul count. You can say a bit of a perfectionist.” Control freak, tyrant, authoritarian, monster. All valid labels.

A thought clicked in Hades head, making him raise it slightly while he starred at the woman. He was in no need of more dead, but he was sparse on the living.  “Look, I’m not about to let you walk into my kingdom just to experience what sudden death is like,” his grin chesire-like, his voice saccharine - too sweet as he spoke to her. “It’s not fun, I hear. People have been moaning about it - literally - for centuries.”  He waited, pausing for a moment for dramatic purposes to let his impeccable sense of humor set in. But then his good-humored disposition slid into a more stoic and charming demeanor. Smoothly, he maneuvered himself beside her, pulling her close by cupping her shoulder in his hand and drawing her in close.

“-but I can make you a deal. You give me your soul, and I’ll let your sugar boo walk out of here with a second chance to be a good boyfriend to you. I’ll just need you to do some things for me whenever I tell you. I could use some livelier help.”

Before her lovers accident Megara would’ve retorted with a snarky comment, maybe even challenge the god. However that was not the case here. Her heart was heavy. Feeling as if her little latern of heart would flicker out at any given moment. Instead she stood still as the weeping angels that guarded loved ones graves around them. His smug attitude was sickening especially since she felt at her absolute  lowest. There wasn’t much more she could do to convince him other than to beg--and well desperate times call for desperate measures.

“I’m not afraid to die.” Which was untrue, she was scared senseless of what lied hereafter. Though she didn’t see much of a point going on when he wasn’t with her to enjoy the world together. She didn’t have family, not blood anyway. Barely any friends, the people in her life were mainly acquaintances. All she had was him. “I’d trade places with him if I could.” That part was true.

-

“Adorable,” Hades snorted, laughing at the girl’s boldness. “But I’m afraid that’s going to be impossible,” he began, a condescending tone dripping from his lips. “You might be able to make it into the underworld if I’m feeling gracious, sure. Or you’ll get lost in the tunnels underground and stare to death. And I’m sure as hell not going to hand over a soul that’s rightfully mine.” 

“So, what exactly is your game plan, here? I don’t think it was very well thought through.”

She kept still--taking in his words. They were hefty but it’d be unlike her not to try. It all felt miniscule to what she was feeling inside. Even if she’d get lost or starve to death as he said it was something she’d willingly sacrifice.

He was right. She hadn’t planned it out. Megara was quite surprised she had gotten herself this far, but it wasn’t enough. “I didn’t really have one to begin with, but I heard of a god who overlooked souls of the dead--and I thought maybe there was a chance...”

Megara could feel the pain in her chest beginning to tighten again as she looked up at the man. “Just let me try--let me find him. I didn’t even get to say goodbye, his death was an unfair one. What have you got to lose? You could gain an extra soul by the end of this.” Megara knew the consequences, death being the most likely one, but she was confident that he would’ve done the same for her.