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He obeyed, hitting the ground just as the wall behind him exploded. Debris flew, hitting Hades’ back as he crouched on the ground. The impact was harsh, and he groaned. He might heal easily, but that did not mean he could not feel pain.
Somewhere in the distance, Poseidon laughed.“You had better run, mortal, unless you wish to find yourself at the end of Hades’ claws.”
Hades looked up, and through the curling smoke, he saw Sisyphus climb to his feet. He was covered in dust, and his head was bleeding.
“No!” Hades growled. With his magic working to heal him fast, he had no time to teleport. Instead, he withdrew the small box Hephaestus had made and tossed it after the mortal. As he did, Thanatos moved to chase Sisyphus, the god blocking Hades’ aim. The box fell at Thanatos’feet, and the chains unfurled, trapping the God of Death in heavy manacles.
Sisyphus raced toward the gaping opening in Poseidon’s wall, and Hades growled as he got to his feet and followed, but when he made it outside, the mortal was gone and the street quiet.
A mortal could not have fled that fast; he’d had help.
“Magic,” Hecate said, appearing beside him.“The air smells of it. If I had to guess, a portal.”
Hades stood for a few moments in silence, glaring at the space where Sisyphus once stood before returning to the yard. Poseidon stood near his office, large arms crossed over his chest, a smug expression on his face.
“What’s the matter, brother? Evening not go quite as planned?”
Hades cast his arm out, and the spires that protruded from the tips of his fingers shot toward Poseidon like bullets. The god summoned a wall of magic, and the spikes halted inches from his face.
Hades turned his attention to Thanatos, whose lithe body bowed beneath the weight of Hephaestus’chains. Hecate stood aside, studying him, the corners of her lips turned up.
“Chains of Truth, Hades?” she asked, raising a brow. “Thanatos, what do you think of Hades’ hair?”
The God of Death’s eyes widened in fear, and when he spoke, it was like the words had been torn from his throat.
“It’s a mess. A complete contradiction to his pristine appearance.”
Hecate’s smile widened, and Hades glared at the two.
“Eleftherose ton,” he said, and as the Thanatos was released from the chains, he collapsed to his knees. Hecate helped him to his feet.
“I’m…so sorry, my lord.”
Hades said nothing, his hand clenched around the box, edges digging into his palm. He looked at Hecate.
“What was the creature that came in place of Sisyphus?” he asked.
“It was a golem,” Hecate said.
A golem was a creation made of clay and animated with magic. It could take on any form, so long as the potion included a piece of the person it was to imitate.
“Sisyphus had help creating that creature,” Hades said. “Can you trace the magic?”
“Of course I can trace the magic,” Hecate said. She seemed offended he would even ask.“Can you ask nicely?”
At that moment, his phone rang. Before Persephone, he had hardly used it, but it was that thought that had him drawing it out of his pocket to answer before he responded to Hecate.
“Yes?” he hissed as he answered his phone.
“Hades?” Aphrodite purred his name.
Hades sighed, frustrated. “What do you want, Aphrodite?”
If she was calling to goad him, he would torture Basil tonight. He swore it.
“I just thought you might like to know your goddess has come to my club for a visit.”
Something possessive reared its head at the mention of his goddess. It was a dark feeling, and it came out of his chest, a monster ready to fight, to protect, to claim.
