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He didn't reply, but I knew he was on his way. His obsession with my Samantha had never been a secret. He probably thought he was in love with her, which meant that I needed to make sure he didn't kidnap her and take her back to Tartus. He would do it if he thought it would protect her.
Maybe calling him was a bad idea. But I needed to know if he made any progress. Instead of waiting in Fantasia, I made my way through the thickening crowd. Even on a Sunday night, we were still busy. It was an amazing feeling.
I leaned against the brick wall as I waited for my old best friend. Memories assaulted me, and not the good ones, no these were the reason I came to the mortal world and opened this club. I wasn't sure if Hades didn't know I was there, or if he was purposefully mean. Either was possible in my experience. Sure, he could be kind and everything nice. But he had a horrible streak. How else could he be the King of the Underworld? He'd have to be a bit of both.
As soon as I heard his voice, I slowed. Slinking along the wall, I listened to the conversation. It wasn't like he was being quiet. His angry words carried to me.
"I don't want that demigod in my home. You are meant for great things, Alastor. Nyx's son is not part of them."
I couldn't make out Alastor's low response, but whatever it was, Hades' next words shook the very walls.
"Cut off your association or I will end it for you."
My hands shook and hurt filled my chest before spreading throughout my entire body. I backed away from the doorway and hurried back to the game room we had been hanging out in. The room closed in on me as I paced it, trying to think about what to do. Should I go? That would probably be for the best. I knew that whatever Hades said, Alastor would do. He had always done exactly what he was told. It had even been a running joke between us. Under the thumb of the ruler of the Underworld, what a place to be.
A low growl yanked me back to the industrial street. A slow sweep of the area revealed Cerberus, followed by Alastor. His hands in his pockets, shoulders relaxed, the very picture of sophistication. He looked like his father now, only younger. He no longer wore the chains or the spiked gothic necklace that was around one of Cerberus' necks, the kohl that once spread along the bottom of his eyelid was missing. All the changes made him someone I barely even recognized.
The only thing that was the same was the annoying self-important attitude. He was still a prick. Only now he wasn't someone I considered a friend.
"Welcoming me at the door." He smirked as he approached.
Without a word, I nodded at the bouncer and went back into the smoky darkness of the club. I knew he followed because I could hear Cerberus sniffing the ground or the air, maybe both. As soon as the door closed behind us, blocking out most of the music in the other room, I turned back to him.
"So?" He arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow and strolled around the room.
"Did you close the portal?" Why did we need niceties? It wasn't like we liked each other. I crossed the room and sat back down on the couch I had been pretending to relax on earlier.
"The dragon's blood didn't work. I can't find Bellamy."
"You can't find Bellamy?" I repeated, slowly.
"That is what I just said." He sounded annoyed. Well, that made two of us. He sniffed and ran his finger along the windowsill, inspecting his fingers when he pulled them away. Was he actually looking for dust? Asshole. He cast his gaze around the room, judging it and me in the same swoop of his eyes. "What have you been doing to help?"
I licked my lips and bit down on them so I didn't say what I wanted to say.
"Nothing? Typical."
Anger boiled in my veins, and it surprised me steam didn't flow from my ears. He was pushing my buttons on purpose, trying to get a rise out of me. If I didn't have to work with him, I wouldn't.
"You can't put this on me. I don't recall you reaching out." I crossed my arms and glared at him. Cerberus let out a low warning growl I dismissed. The animal wouldn't do anything to me without a command from its master.
He ran his tongue over his teeth and sneered. "Sorry, I forgot who I'm dealing with."
"I called you, remember?" Technically texted, but it was the same thing.
"Yeah, to talk, so talk." He leaned against the window, near the only open area that didn't have the bench seat running under it. It also happened to be as far away from me as he could be.
"The demons kidnapped Samantha and—"
"What!" he exploded as he pushed off the window. Cerberus also uncurled from near his feet, ready to protect him. "What the fuck are we doing heretalking, if they have kidnapped her?"
"If you would let me finish without interrupting, you would know the complete story." I leaned back and took my time to get to my point. Sam was safe at the moment. And taking the long way around the tale would irritate the shit out of Alastor.
A single eyebrow elevated on his face as he leaned back against the window again. A tendon in his jaw betrayed his calm as it jumped and tensed. "Well?" He finally bit out the single word.
"The demons kidnapped her," I repeated myself, starting from the beginning. "The dragon and her brother found her, beaten and half dead, tied to a tree. That was a few days ago. Probably the night we searched for them."
"It sounds like we have some demons to kill," Alastor said, cracking his knuckles.
