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Chapter Forty-Two

Hebe

“H -Hades . . .” I stare in horror at the god of the dead, not because of his presence— though it is fearsome— but because of his words.

Surely Prometheus has not entered Hades’ realm. Surely not . . .

“Stay away from her,” Atum hisses, edging toward Hades despite his weakness.

Hades rolls his eyes. “I am not here to hurt anyone, Repeller. And you cannot banish me back to the Underworld until I have what I came for. Not even you are powerful enough to intervene in a bargain between two Primordials.” He takes in the limp that makes it obvious Atum has no power at all anymore. Hades smirks.

“You speak of a bargain between two Primordials,” I whisper. “Is the other Primordial my husband?”

“Apparently.” Wrinkling his nose, Hades turns back to me. “Why our kind would wed creatures who are only a step above corpses is beyond me, though. Evidently, all manner of degeneracy has been released upon the surface since my new appointment.”

“Well, what else did you expect after we had to do without your stringent moral compass?” Atum asks dryly.

“Exactly.” Hades’ gaze falls to the urn.

I reach for it, but it’s already gone. Smoke has wrapped around the urn and carried it into Hades’ hand.

“No!” I scream, lunging for it.

Hades simply side-steps me. “This is my bargained prize, little mortal. Your husband promised this to me.”

I whirl around to face him again. “For what?”

A smirk stretches on the corner of his lips. “His death.”

“No!” I scream despite myself.

Dionysus glances at me with a raised brow.

Atum staggers forward. “Say you didn’t. Tell me honestly—”

“Of course, I didn’t.” Hades stares at us like he doesn’t know how to utilize his face to properly convey his expressions. “You were there when the Creator gave His vow, same as me. Since Prometheus has no heir to his bloodline, he cannot perish. Even if he breaks a vow, he will merely suffer until he has an heir. Prometheus is already in enough agony, so I will ensure his vow is kept.” Hades pats the urn.

“He’s suffering?” I whisper. Prometheus avoided that more than anything. Have his schemes have somehow backfired on him? But how? Prometheus is too clever for that.

Hades turns to me, his smirk still in place. Because he is amused or because he doesn’t know how to retire smiles he’s finished with? “He is suffering— more any soul in Tartarus. Zeus was always . . . creative .”

“ Zeus ? What has he done to Prometheus?” I charge forward, hoping Hades won’t realize I’m coming for the urn as well as for answers. “ Why would Zeus do anything to him? Prometheus chose Zeus over me!”

“What a ridiculous decision. As disgusting as you are, mortal maid, you are much preferable to my fellow Firstborn.” Hades shakes his head. “My so-called brother has your wretch of a husband chained to some mountain where he is slowly being devoured by animals.”

I do my best to muffle my horrified scream.

Dionysus must think I am ready to faint, because he is suddenly behind me, steadying me by my shoulders.

Atum takes several stumbling steps toward Hades before straightening. “A bargain. You mentioned a bargain. What was it for, and how do you have the ability to honor it?”

“He gave me this back, of course.” Hades gestures to the urn.

Sia frowns. “How can he give you what isn’t his?”

I also want to know, but I’m still screaming into my hands, so I can’t add to his question.

“It was in the possession of his wife. I understand enough about marriage customs to know that makes it his .” Hades spins the urn. “Not to worry; neither Zeus nor any other living soul ever touch this. All trace of what that annoyance thought he could steal from me shall be consumed by the greater fires of Tartarus.”

“Very well,” Atum says, like he can speak for the stolen urn. Perhaps I ought to let him, since I apparently can’t. “But what did you give Prometheus in return? You said yourself that you cannot kill him despite his request.”

My knees give out, and only Dionysus keeps me from collapsing.

Hades runs strangely long fingers over the urn. “We negotiated until the bargain could be resolved, as is standard. Your former servant’s next request was his freedom from his chains, but I also could not grant it.”

“Wh-why not?” I gasp.

“Because those chains are spelled. To touch them is to take on the agony of their captive.”

“So, you could have freed him, but you didn’t.”

Hades narrows his eyes at me like he can tell I’m unhappy with him and doesn’t approve of the audacity. “Suffering might be part and parcel of your miserable mortal lifespan, but Primordials are removed from such things. Pain is . . . unnatural to us. So, Prometheus and I negotiated until we found more acceptable terms.”

“And what mercy could your offer, Hades, that Prometheus would accept?” Atum demands.

“Escape. Not in death or in freedom, but in delirium.”

“Delirium?” Dionysus purses his lips. “Did you give him wine?”

“No, I gave him the ability to dream despite the pain. It is a mortal trait— you can ask the woman in your arms, or else the only Firstborn who understands their weaknesses.” He nods toward Atum.

Atum frowns. “How do you have the ability to grant such a thing?”

“You will find that you haven’t stolen all the Tablets in my possession, old foe.” The other corner of Hades’ lips lifts. “I have learned a process to temporarily transfer abilities from one soul to another. Some of my citizens must face the reality of their fate for a time, but Prometheus can no something other than his pain.”

“I can rescue him completely,” I announce, pulling away from Dionysus.

Instead of collapsing, I stumble toward where Hades first appeared. I feel the pulsing power of a closed rift. “I’ll go to him!”

“That will lead back to my realm, little mortal.” Hades cocks his head in exaggerated amusement. “Mine was not a straightforward journey.”

“But how will I find him?” I whirl to face Hades. “Did you see where he was?”

“Yes, on a mountain, like I said. I couldn’t say which one since topography has changed considerably since my reassignment. And someone likes to ensure my visits here are few and far between.”

“And I will continue to do so,” Atum counters.

Hades shakes his head. “As though I am the threat and not the one who visits Prometheus to delight in his suffering.”

With that, Hades steps into a new rift so quickly, it is like he vanishes in an instant, Fire and all.

“We have to rescue him,” Atum whispers.

I nod. Prometheus is suffering, and even if he betrayed us, I cannot allow his agony to continue.

My husband, imperfect as he is, is all I truly have in this world. I was wealthy with his company and now I’m impoverished without it. And even if we can never truly reunite, I will deliver him from his greatest nightmare for the sake of our vows.

“Why?” Dionysus asks as he glances between Atum and me. “Did you forget the part where he betrayed you?”

“Well, you never fully allied yourself to my cause, either.”

Dionysus tosses his hands into the air. “Are you, or are you not, sheltering in my temple right now?”

“And I appreciate it, but I would love it even more if you provided sweet Hebe with a pair of spears.”

My “almost” bridegroom’s eyebrows nearly levitate off his head.

Sia turns to Atum. “If you wish, my master, I will again take to the skies to seek out Prometheus.”

Atum nods. “Thank you.”

“That will take too long,” I whisper. “Prometheus is already in too much pain.”

Dionysus winces. “Well, yes. But you heard the King of the Underworld— Prometheus can’t die.”

“But he wishes he could.” I close my eyes, trying to make sense of the gruesome picture Hades painted. “It’s because I stole the Fire, isn’t it? That’s why Zeus is punishing him.” First I drove my father to his death, and now I have condemned my husband to suffering.

“We can’t know for sure,” Atum offers softly.

I drag my fingers through my hair as I slowly lower myself to the ground. “When I went to steal that Fire, I knew I was likely sacrificing myself. But Prometheus wasn’t a price I was willing to pay.”

Dionysus gapes at him. “Even though he betrayed you, too?”

“That’s still not a fate I would wish on my worst enemy— especially since he’s my husband.” Except Prometheus isn’t my worst enemy. That role belongs to the monster Prometheus sacrificed everything to only to be consumed by his wrath anyway. The monster who even now may be visiting Prometheus for the sole purpose of tormenting him, if Hades is to be believed.

But if Zeus is paying visits to his prisoner . . .

I lift my head. “If I am to defy Zeus, I need you to teach me how to pray to the only God you all fear— the Creator.”

Dionysus gapes at me in horror. “You’re going to defy Zeus?”

Atum just grins. “What are you planning, sweet Hebe?”

Clenching my fists, I stand. “I’m stealing back my husband.”