Page 181 of Hekate: The Witch (Goddesses of the Underworld #1)

I Sensed It Before I Saw It

The thing that protected these halls.

It was less of a presence and more

of a feeling. A fear and then

a hollowing of your spirit.

It liked to toy with its prey

before it appeared, or so

I had heard. When it had fed

enough on my dread,

a hooded creature with long robes,

clawed hands that hung

with decayed flesh,

appeared before us.

Red eyes glowing

like ominous lanterns

in its hood.

This was a God in Grey.

And it stood

massive and unforgiving before us.

Thanatos cleared his throat.

‘Let us pass. We are here to see the Fates.’

It lifted its huge monster claw

and pointed at me. ‘She should not

be here,’ it whispered in an old, unused voice.

‘She is here with me.’ Thanatos was quiet,

but his voice was forceful. The thing did not move.

‘You can pass, but leave her here with me.’

I did not want to be left here.

Not with this thing.

Thanatos shook his head,

‘I am on a duty for Nyx.’

The creature let out a rasp and I realized

it was laughing. ‘Your mother

has no sway in Hades’ halls,

Godling. Give the child to me.’

I froze, my eyes wide.

Thanatos and I had just met properly.

He had no reason to fight for me,

especially at great risk to himself.

I took a step back, cursing

my own naivety, and the creature

advanced towards me.

But Thanatos raised his scythe

and blocked its way.

‘Do not go any closer to her.’

The words were soft,

but even I recognized

the cold edges of danger,

a challenge, threatened fury.

Eager to dispel the situation,

I wracked my brains

as the God in Grey growled,

and then I remembered it:

the golden apple I stole

from Elysium. It was still

inside my bag of simples.

Even Gods weren’t meant to eat it.

I knew these creatures loved Hades’ orchards.

Perhaps it was because of the fruit?

‘Wait! I have come with offerings!’

I said, opening my satchel and removing

the golden apple, ‘A gift for you.

And in return, please let us through.’

The creature glared down

at the offering in my hands.

For a moment, the air felt

suffocating as Thanatos and I

waited to see what this terrifying

being would do.

Finally, I felt the air clear

as my trick worked,

and the thing snatched

the apple from my hand,

slowly moving to give us way.

Thanatos looked at me

as we walked past

the strange beast-God.

‘Did you steal that from

the Hesperides?’ he asked,

and I could hear the laughter

tucked in the corners of his question.

He was referring to his four sisters,

named after the setting colours of the sun,

who guarded a garden full

of golden apples with untold secrets.

I decided I liked the sound

of his amusement.

‘Promise me you will not tell Hermes.

I stole it from the Elysian Fields.’

And this made his amusement

turn into a deep, warm laugh.