Asphodel (The Underworld Trilogy)

“Hades! You let me out! You can’t keep me locked up like some prisoner!”

“But you’re not a prisoner at all.” His voice is slightly muffled as it wafts through the solid oak. “You’re the Queen of the Dead. And the last thing I want is something bad happening to you because you let your curiosity get the best of you. No pun intended.”

I don’t care what he says. I still feel like a prisoner. He might as well have shackled me to my bed. “Hades!” I kick the door. “Let me out!”

No answer.

I kick the door again. “Damn it! Let me out of here!”

Still no answer.

Fury mounts inside of me like Old Faithful. I’m a geyser full of hot water and steam and I’m about to blow. I storm over to my bed and plant my face into the one of the soft pillows and scream. I scream for seconds. Minutes. If I scream any longer I’m certain I’ll make it to the hour mark. Balling up my fists I beat my pillows like I’m heavyweight boxer. I’m the world champion with my gold encrusted belt hanging over my shoulder. Even though my pillow is a lowly underdog, clearly incapable of a victory, I feel better after releasing some of my pent up anger on it.

Rolling over, I let out all the air I’d been holding in. I’m calm. I’m calm, a serene river with flecks of sunlight dancing along my surface. Coldness surges through me and the heat in my cheeks freezes over. What I’ve realized is that I need to go about this in a different way. What if instead of fighting Hades I start cooperating? I bolt upright as the plot in my head unravels. That’s it! I will pretend to be obedient. Then when he least expects it…Bam! I’ll make my escape.

All I have to do is make it through tomorrow. If I can do that, then I’ll be home free. But in a world like this one, you never know what it will have in store for you. Who knows what the next day will bring? And Hades never drops his guard. I guess when you command the dead it’s always best to sleep with one eye open and I guess that that means I should too.

Persephone

A moist, sticky residue drips onto my face. I swat at my cheek, roll over, and wipe the moisture onto my pillow. But that doesn’t help. Now I’m lying in wetness and it makes me uncomfortable. More fluid drips down onto my opposite cheek and every time I wipe it away more magically appears.

Has Hades sent someone in here to wash my face? Does he have servants? Besides Charon I hadn’t seen another actual person. And if he did send someone in here to aid me, couldn’t they wait until I wake up? I haven’t even opened my eyes yet.

I lift my hand and fling it at an invisible person. “Stop it!” Turning my head, I create an even bigger wet spot on my pillow. Where is all the wetness coming from? My eyelids flutter and open. Dangling next to me is a giant glob of slobber. Clear and thick and its seconds away from falling onto my face. I scoot over and follow the drool with my eyes to its source.

My eyes bug out and I suck a large gulp of air, holding my breath. There is a large beast in my bed. With a shiny coat of short black fur so shiny it seems like it’s been greased up with a can of Pam. Three massive heads loom above me. And the beast’s beady black eyes slit at me. Don’t move I tell myself and my spine stiffens. I’ve seen and read stories about animal attacks where you’re supposed to be completely still. A person is also supposed to seem fearless because the attacking animal can sense the fear inside of you. And by the way this beast-like animal is eyeing me; I know it can tell I’m petrified.

The beast lowers its middle head, showing its long pointy teeth and lets out a low, menacing growl. More large sticky globs of drool hang down from its jowls, unfurling and breaking off like plaster in an abandoned building. I can feel my whole body shaking my bed. Like one of those vibrating mattresses in a cheap motel room. All I need is two more quarters and I’ll be able to move the dial from gentle massage to hyper speed.

Then it starts barking and I yelp, “Help me!”

Not even a second later my door flies open and Hades eyes the beast, his Aegean eyes narrowed. “Cerberus! Heel!” he commands.

I slide back slowly, fall off my bed, and scramble over to the corner cowering. “That thing has a name,” I gasp finally able to breathe.

“That thing is not a thing. He’s a unique type of dog, guardian, and he’s my pet.” The dog-beast hops off my bed, strolls over to Hades, and rubs his head against the top of Hades thigh. “Cerberus has been the most obedient servant and loyal companion for the last five thousand years.” He crouches down and roughly scratches all three heads. “Haven’t you boy?”

“Your pet?” I squawk. “That thing is a monstrosity and belongs in a freak-show. It shouldn’t be anyone’s pet.”

He stares into each set of the dog’s six black eyes. “You hear that Cerberus? The queen isn’t fond of you. But tell her, she’ll have plenty of time to get to know you, won’t she?” Cerberus howls out and Hades stands up. “Okay, enough play-time.” He points out the open door. “Cerberus! Out!” And just like that, the beast drops its three heads, lets out a muffled whimper, and struts out my door.

I stand and place my hands on hips. “How did he get in my room?”

Hades vanishes from the doorway and reappears on my bed. “I came to check on you earlier to see if you were awake. I left the door open and wasn’t even gone for ten minutes and Cerberus must have come in then.”

“That dog is terrifying and revolting.”

“You will learn to love him. He can be quite the gentle giant once he gets used to you.”

“I will never learn to love that…that…thing!” I shudder and wipe my cheek again, hoping that the drool is gone.

Hades leans back on my bed, both of his arms behind his head and the short sleeves on his black t-shirt rise up revealing bulging muscles in his forearms. “So,” he begins, “I was thinking you and I could come to some sort of arrangement.”

I walk closer. “What kind of arrangement?”

“You want to go back to earth, right?”

“Yes.” Last night I had divulged my own plan on how to get back to earth, but if his idea sounds better I am open for suggestions. “What do you have in mind?”