Derek had wanted to know where the dungeons were at but because he'd looked each cranny of the castle with Zander to search for Queen Annabeth, he knew there weren't any dungeons in the castle to begin with.

Or maybe there was but it was hidden.

It was Layla's residence. If anyone knew about it, it'd be Layla. She wasn't there anymore but there would be some clue in. . . .

Without another thought, Derek made a mad dash up the stairs and towards Layla's room in the west wing.

In a hurry, he pushed open the door only to hear a rushed voice speak from inside the room,

"You're finally here, Lys! There's a bad news. Ursula-" Laira paused dead the moment she looked towards the door and found her brother standing there.

Her eyes widened, mouth falling agape before she shut it, "Derek. . ."

Derek couldn't believe his eyes. She was indeed alive. His little sister. Layla was right. She hadn't killed Laira.

His eyes brimmed with tears. He'd thought she was dead.

"Laira." He spoke the name in a whisper.

Laira just stared like a fool. Shit. Busted. What was she going to tell Layla now? Not that Layla hadn't suggested already that she meet her brother but. . .wouldn't it cause problems in Layla's mission? What-

Before Laira could go along with her train of thoughts, she found Derek dart towards her and pull her into a warm fuzzy embrace, crushing her very bones.

"You annoying bitch! You were alive and pretended to be dead!" Derek hollered tightening his hold around her dwarf like short self, "Do you have any idea how horrified I was, you moron?!"

Laira's heart softened at that and she put her arms around her brothers overly large torso, "What's with the curses?!"

Derek pulled back a little to look down at his sister's identical eyes as his, "I'm mad." He exhaled through his nose.

Laira rolled her eyes even though warmth seeped at her being to finally be able to talk to him, "Hello, Mad. I'm Laira. Nice to meet you."

This time, Derek rolled his eyes, "You still speak that dumb shit?"

"You still curse like it's your daily anthem?" Laira shot back.

Derek cast a playful glare at her and Laira returned it before both of them pulled apart, laughing their asses off.

"I missed you." Derek said once they were sated from their laughter.

"Me too, brother. Me too." Laira retorted.

"You look perfectly fine. Charlotte or Layla didn't do anything wrong to you?" He inquired, doing a quick sweep over his sister's frame.

Laira sighed, "Charlotte wanted to kill me but Layla saved me. I've been with Layla for a decade in hiding. I didn't come to you as soon as I was spared because I wanted to help Layla in any way I could. She's amazing, Derek. She wouldn't ever hurt me. You're all wrong about her."

Derek knew. He knew that when he saw Layla express those heartbreaking words just before she. . .died.

Laira's eyes widened as she suddenly realized why she was in this room in the first place, "Have you seen Layla?"

Derek felt his heart squeeze to the size of a pea. His sister seemed close to Layla. How she'd take the news of Layla's death, he couldn't fathom.

He had to let her know though. He wouldn't keep it from her. She had the right to know. But first. . .

"Can you tell me where Avyanna is? Then I'll tell you about Layla." Derek hoped with all his might his sister didn't object.

Laira narrowed her eyes at him. He might be her brother but her loyalty was to Layla.

"Avyanna is my mate." Derek prodded desperately sensing the conflict in his sister's face.

Laira's eyes widened but then she let out a sigh. Avyanna wasn't a threat if let out either ways. The only reason Layla had abducted her was so that Laira could ask the purple haired nymph about something. Layla wouldn't mind if Avyanna was out, even if she would still be asleep due to that slumber spell gone wrong.

Her decision solidifying, "Come, I'll take you to her." Laira gestured her brother to follow her.

****

Zander's brain hurt as he tried to navigate his way through the black slimy path of the cave.

He'd slammed into stone walls thrice already and he still hadn't reached the portal opening despite using three times faster speed than the last time while walking.

He wished he could just teleport into the Forest of Lethe but one couldn't teleport to a God territory without invitation.

Screw Gods and their end number of rules.

Wait, not all Gods. Wasn't Marilla a half God too since she's a God's daughter?

'Okay, all Gods except Marilla.' He decided finally.

Shaking himself out of his stupor, he ran through the cave walls, using his teleportation to move to the end of the path as fast as he could.

While last time it'd taken an hour to reach the opening, this time it took about fifteen to twenty minutes until he was finally at that opening.

He let out an exagerated sigh of relief when he noticed that there wasn't any 'moving wall' aka Cerberus' body covering the entrance this time.

Without another thought, Zander darted out of the opening and into the dreary forest of Lethe.

Unlike in the Black Sea Isle where it had been afternoon, the forest of Lethe was shrouded in darkness just as the rest of the Underworld.

His eyes scanned the woods—the tall canopy trees, the dried crunchy stretch of land, the eerie surrounding—with a rapid urgency, his steps faltering deeper and deeper into the Forest of the lost spirits.

He knew it wouldn't be minutes before Marilla would lift the curse off and if things really did burst, then he was going to be stuck over here forever. He could just hope Marilla and Poseidon were preparing themselves thoroughly and hence it would take time for them to undo the curse. Enough time till he returned back.

Zander didn't trust Hades enough to think the God would be generous to let him go merrily after he'd invaded his territory twice without invitation.

Zander came to a clearing, his palms resting on his knees as he huffed out a breath after his desperate searching. He hadn't found a cent of his mother's sight anywhere.

"Looking for someone, Princeling?" Came the lazy deep tone of Hades' voice.

Zander cursed himself inside his mind being sure he'd be shashayed out of the territory with a snap of the God's fingers within seconds.

Bracing himself, Zander averted his gaze up to Hades only for his eyes to widen at what he saw in front of him.

His mother stood beside Hades. Dressed in a dark medieval gown that matched the charcoal colour of her hair, her grey wings were flared wide open behind her and a warm smile lit on her lips as she gazed at her son.

Zander froze not being able to make sense of his own sight. Heck, he couldn't even move his body. She looked like. . . .

Queen Annabeth crossed her arms, raising a questioning brow at her son who stared at her as if she were a ghost.

Zander continued staring at his mother, stone still on his spot, eyes wide as an owl.

Annabeth's smile turned amused before she extended her arms open towards her son, "Won't you hug me, son? I assure you I do not prey on immortal souls. Amidst my stay among the soul-eaters the last decade here, I still prefer mortal food. So you have nothing to worry about. Your soul shall remain safe."

Zander snapped out of his stupor at that. Right, it really is his mother. People always thought Zander got his conceited sarcasm from his father but it was his mother who was the true culprit.

Without wasting a second, he ran towards his mother in a quick movement and hugged her as tears trailed down his eyes.

"Mom." He croaked out as he weren't a centuries old demon but a five-year-old clinging to his mother.

"My, what an old crybaby." Annabeth patted his head affectionately, smiling.

Zander simply hugged her firmer.

Till that moment he hadn't realized how much he'd missed his mother. She was like his best friend.

There wasn't a single moment she hadn't stuck by his side. She'd supported him in every decision of his life. Even if she didn't agree to something, she'd always considered his happiness above everything. Even with Layla when she'd wanted him to wait for his mate, she'd still gave her blessings wholeheartedly for their marriage because she'd considered his happiness above all.

His mother was also the reason that even when in the beginning Zander had thought Marilla was responsible for his supposed wife's death and his mother's abduction, he hadn't ever tried to hurt her. Because he knew his mother wouldn't like him treating his mate badly despite what she'd presumably done. And how glad he was she cared so much about the mate bond and thought him to respect it.

Because if he hadn't, he would've killed Marilla out of the grief of his loss. He'd have never gotten to know Marilla, never found out she was never the culprit, never realized his feelings before for Layla had been a result of a spell and most of all, he'd have never fallen for Marilla if she'd been. . .

Even the thought hurt him now. He loved Marilla to no end. It was all thanks to his mother's dedication to the mate bond that he'd fought against his grief, given Marilla a chance and gotten a chance to know his mate. And how glad he was.

"Thank you, Mom. I love you." Zander murmured, his heart souring with gratitude.

Annabeth didn't know what he was thanking her for but she stepped back to kiss her son's forehead, "Love you too, son."

Hades stared at the mother-son pair, his expression unreadable but a flicker of envy made its way through his soul at the bond they shared. He couldn't remember anyone who'd ever cared for him half as such.

Not that he needed anyone or wanted to experience cheesy stuff. Yeah, he certainly didn't. He would rather have a obtusely bland feast with his four moody Archangels.

And he was going to do exactly that. He don't need nobody.

As if sensing its master's gloomy mood, Cerberus turned its three heads towards Hades and flicked its trio tongue over the God's face as if to console him.

Hades grinned despite himself and patted the dog's three heads one by one with a soft look in his eyes.

"How did you end up here in Lethe?" Hades shifted his gaze to Annabeth curiously as the queen stepped back from her son.

Annabeth's brows furrowed as she thought, "I was put into a slumber by the witch. The last I remember was Laira, she was a liar," Her eyes blazed with anger, "She had helped Charlotte take me out of the castle. Then Charlotte had taken me away alone somewhere, chanted some spells of a blood ritual and transported my powers to her. That's the last I remember before my consciousness had slipped and ever since, I've been sleeping until today. Out of nowhere, I awoke few minutes ago and felt my powers fueled in me again. Had the witch died?"

"Charlotte had died a year ago. And that was Layla, not Laira. Layla had all of Charlotte's powers in her after the witch's death. That's probably why Charlotte's spell on you still remained. Layla died today though while saving Marilla-" At the mention of hid mate's name, he paused and realization sank like a splash of water about how he needed to hurry back to the isle, "I'll explain everything later. But right now, we need to go." Zander said urgently and grabbed his mother's hand.

Hades didn't ponder to bid them a farewell. He simply turned around, gestured Cerberus to follow then strode away with a parting, "See you never."

Queen Annabeth and Zander stared at the God's retreating silhouette like hawks before quickly snapping out of it and turning to the cave opening.

Then Zander was leading his mother through the portal and towards the Black Sea Isle.

***

Hades was at the Yale.

The Yale was the name of the bridge without any supprotive railing that led immortal souls to the afterworld. Souls had to walk through it to reach the other side. The one who'd been approved as worthy—the people who's good deeds or sufferings outlawed their bad deeds—would be able to cross without a hazard and attain peace in Nirvana, the afterworld. The ones who were deemed unworthy—the people who's bad deeds or sufferings outlawed their good deeds—would fall off the bridge into the endless pits of the Underworld, to Hell's flames below. To Tartarus.

For mortals, the pathway was the ominous River Styx with its obsidian dark water. The worthy ones would make the row to the other side of the river on a boat. The unworthy's boat would tip and they would fall into the river of Hell's flames.

Where River Styx ended was where the kingdom of Helvon was situated. The souls that hand done equal bad and good or the souls who had done some deed that jostled their judgement are sent to Helvon for trials. They had to serve for a period of time as lower demons—the delfs—then it will be reconsidered whether they should be allowed to enter Nirvana or should remain as a delf for the rest of their lives. That was how un-born demons came to reside aside the blood born ones.

While Charon guided the souls as a ferryman through River Styx, Azriel guided the souls through the Yale bridge.

Hades waited for the grim reaper's arrival with Cerebus obediently at his side licking his face once in a while.

"Cerby, fancy a treat?" Hades delivered an affectionate pat to the dog's head as it nodded its heads vigorously at the mention of a treat.

Hades then turned towards the mist that gathered around the cliff where the bridge begun as he spotted Azriel approaching with a soul of a girl following silently behind him.

Hades eyes squinted as he tried to mull where'd he'd seen those silver hair and eyes before but he shrug the thought aside thinking he had no business here.

"Guide the soul across the bridge and come to the castle. Cerby wishes for a feast. So you can ditch work to tomorrow and have the rest of your day off today," Hades shrugged dismissively before adding, "Get along the others too."

The God didn't need to mention that others meant the other three archangels, Azriel understood and gave a brief nod without uttering a word.

"On to sweet business now, Comrade." Hades did a salute with a grin towards Azriel who bowed in respect before gesturing the soul girl to follow him to the Yale.

Hades had just turned to head towards his castle, when he heard a pair of heavy footsteps thud through the mist making him look at who it was.

Hades raised a brow in curiosity at the man who emerged. More like the God.

"HADES! I NEED YOU TO STOP AZRIEL!" Apollo yelled, his steps thundering towards the God of the Underworld.

Hades brows quirked higher in surprise as he saw Apollo hold the body of the same girl in his arms who's soul Azriel was guiding.

Azriel, at the sound of his name, stopped on his track right in front of the bridge and glanced towards Apollo. Layla halted behind the grim reaper and followed Azriel's sight.

All the eyes were trained on Apollo as he approached Hades, "See, I want you to let her live." He began softly.

Hades features remained unreadable, "Wrong God, my friend. Her soul is already taken. I can't help anymore."

"No, just let her soul into her body. I'll take care of the rest." Apollo insisted in a rush.

Hades gaze softened slightly at the desperacy in Apollo's eyes, "Isn't she a merfolk? Poseidon could revive her. I'm sure he'd do it if you asked."

Apollo shook his head, "He can't. He'd revived her once. If he does it again, she'll dissapear into nothingness. I want her to truly live before dying, Hades. She'd suffered enough. She deserves to experience happiness before death takes her."

Hades furrowed his brows then glanced towards Layla who stared at them in confusion. Immortally mortal souls were always confused. He didn't even get it. But she'd remember all of this.

"What do you plan to do if I do let the soul back to its body? You can't take her back to her realm since she'd been revived once already." Hades then fixed his gaze on Apollo, "And I'd rather suggest you don't leave her in the mortal realm where she'd have to hide herself being a siren for the rest of her life. If humans of mortal realm found out what she is, it'd be another form of Hell. They'd think of her as some sort of evil let out on their realm. The fae realm isn't any better. If she'd suffered a lot already, spare her that extra sufference and let her find peace in Nirvana."

"But what about happiness? Isn't Nirvana just endless quiet and peace. I want her to be happy, Hades. For once atleast before she seeks peace. Please. Grant me this." Apollo pleaded than gave Hades a firm look, "You owe me this in return of every fiasco I and Poseidon do for you."

Hades sighed considering, "What do you intend to do afterwards anyways? Let me know that, atleast."

"I wouldn't leave her on either realms. I'll take her along with me." Apollo glanced down at the Layla in his arms then at her soul standing a few feet away before retorting, "To Mount Olympus."

Hades brows shooted up at that. He passed Apollo a sarcastic smile, "And what are you going to tell Zeus, your wonderful father? Why do you have her with you? For gardening? For taking care of hens?"

"All the Gods in Mount Olympus take dead souls with them for different reasons. For either their skills or to be permanent part of their court instead of Nirvana." Apollo filled in with a bland look.

"And you're going to pretend you've taken her as your what exactly?" Hades wanted to know to make sure he wasn't disturbing a soul's peace by agreeing to Apollo's whims.

Apollo's golden eyes fixed on Hades with determination, "I'll take her as. . ." He glanced down at Layla, his eyes softening and his decision solidifying, "My consort."

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