Chapter 19

The next morning, loud banging startled me awake. Sitting upright in my bed as the covers pooled around my waist, I blinked in confusion at the gloom that hung over the room.

Bang. Bang. BANG.

The insistent knocking started again. It echoed through the house, reverberating off of the walls after the banging had stopped. For a long second, I just blinked at the intrusive noise before I startled out of my daze and forced myself from my bed.

I tiptoed my way down the hall and again down the stairs in an attempt to remain unnoticed but the continual knocking easily covered any sound I might have made. I shot an anxious glance back up the stairs when I reach the bottom, only just remembering my house guest and the precarious situation we have found ourselves in.

Trouble always seems to follow me, I muttered under my breath all the while I was getting closer and closer to the front door. I could see the structure shuddered with each pounding that it took and I idly wondered whether it would actually fly off its hinges if the person kept on banging as hard as they were.

Not wanting to take the risk, I cleared my throat and squared my shoulders with the front door like I was having a standoff with the person on the other side of the door.

“WHO IS IT?” I questioned, shouting loud enough to be heard over the din.

One more bang hit the door though with less force than before as if my words had startled them enough that they couldn’t stop themselves from finishing the movement.

“Savannah, is that you?” A voice asked. It was muffled by the door but even then I could recognise that voice anywhere. It wasn’t anywhere near as attuned to me as Lucius’ was but the brief time I had spent with him only two days ago was enough to know him from just a few words.

“Hades?”

Stepping forwards, I put the door on the chair before undoing the many bolts and locks that held it shut. And then finally I opened it only to come face to face with the man mountain.

“Hades, what are you doing here?”

Unclasping the chain, I held the door wide and beckoned him inside, taking not of his sopping wet attire which did nothing to diminish his large stature.

“I got a call and I see they really weren’t kidding.” His eyes travelled past me and for a moment I thought perhaps someone was standing behind me only to remember the wings when they flexed on my back.

“Oh yeah, those.” I added lamely giving a shrug. It caused me to wince as the added weight on my back caused the extra strain to my aching back. “I wanted to know how to get rid of them but how you can help, I don’t know.”

Hades chuckled at me, the sound filling the sleepy silence of my house as I carefully closed the door behind him.

“It’s fine, I can understand why you think I wouldn’t know. But I was around when all of the angels were born so to speak. It took them many decades to learn subtlety which is why there are so many statues around.” He paused and sent me a wink. “Not that the human race needs any encouragement.”

“Hey, I’m human.”

He raised his brow at my petulant tone.

Folding my arms, I shrugged once more and held off on the wince that wanted to come. “Well I am – mostly.”

He snorted and walked himself further into my house, taking the time to take note of the furnishings and the pictures upon the walls. Most of them contained Danny and unsurprisingly Lucius. He had become a major part of my life since I started working at Satani media and even though there was much unresolved tension between the two of us at time, we had become best friends. I couldn’t even image life without him now.

“Nice place. Human life has always fascinated me.” Hades spoke with a  softness that was displayed clearly upon his features as he turned to face me. “I was even tempted to give up my dominion years ago for a mortal.” He sighed and turned away. “But who could fall in love with death.”

My heart broke at that and on instinct, I stepped forwards and placed a consoling hand on his shoulder.

“I know I don’t know you well. But the way I see it, she must not have been worth it if neither of you could take the risks. You’ll find someone Hades. They may be mortal and you decide to hand over to Lucius or they may even be something else and could join you in ruling the underworld. Just keep hoping because that is what makes life worth living. Hope for something more – something better.”

He nodded and turned his face from mine which caused a shiver to course through me. The intensity of his gaze while I had spoken had been so all consuming and warm that it actually left me a little bereft when it left me. I supposed it had something to do with being a god and shrugged it off.

“Anyways, can you help with the wings or not?” I asked when a silence fell over the two of us. I just wanted to walk up the stairs and return to the  warmth of my bed but I knew that it was unlikely, especially if the tension holding Hades’ body so taut was anything to go by.

“Huh? Oh yeah, that’s no problem. It’s pretty simple in most cases though your wings are rather incredible. Just wait until Luce see’s them.” The hulking mass of man before me shook his head back and forth before slumping down on to the sofa. “It’s all about visualisation. Usually Angels and Demons can leave their wings out but alter humanity’s perception so they do not see them. However when in a building or close quarters that can be a little difficult as the wings are still they, even if no one can really see them.”

Hades raised his hand and beckoned me closer. Not even thinking about it, I complied and edged closer while my hands trembled at my side with the need to scratch my shoulder blades that were currently hidden under the mass of feathers.

“Turn around.” He murmured to which I complied. I felt my wings being stretched out to their fullest extent and then being resettled against my back. It was soothing and  before the hem of my top was lifted causing me to gasp in surprise and spin on my heels.

“Just what do you think you are doing?” I yelled in indignation. My hands wrapped around my stomach in a protective gesture while I shuffled back a few steps.

Holding up both of his hands, Hades looked far from repentant with the twist of his lips and the glint of amusement in his eyes.

“As beautiful as you are Miss Holmes, I do not – how is it the mortals say it these days – make moves upon my friend’s girl.” He raised a brow which silenced any protests I was going to make. “You may not see it and he may not see it – but to everyone else it is obvious that you two are meant for one another. The when and where are just the things which are difficult to confirm.” Clapping his hands together, he then rubbed them together while nodding in my direction.

“Now turn around, I need to see just how real these wings are. There are ways to tell if they are temporary and in general see their origins.”

When I did nothing but stand there, he raised his brow in an action that was so like Lucius that I felt a smile tugging at my lips.

“Don’t just stand there woman, turn around. The sooner I see this, the sooner I can help you.”

Sighing, I slowly turned on my heel and tried not to flinch when he lifted up the back of my top. His fingers caressed along the seams, where the wings joined with the flesh of my back bring up a tender throb to the tender flesh.

“Extraordinary. I haven’t seen anything like you in a long time.” Lowering my top, Hades nudged me away so he had enough room to stand. “There are a few methods that would work but I think for you the best would be visualisation. Just close your eyes and see your winged back within your mind. Then simply think of the disappearing into your skin, like Lucius’ slide into his.”

I felt scepticism run rampant through my mind but I didn’t have a lot of options. Willing to give anything a try at that moment, I closed my eyes and tried to create a mental picture of my wings. First I saw Lucius’ black wings with its ribbons of black running through them, and then I thought of my bizarre wings that were neither angelic nor demonic. Cringing slightly as I did so, I imagined them sliding into my back, inch by inch, faster and faster until they disappeared completely beneath the surface. By the end of it, all I could see was the smooth skin if my back and the strange markings I hadn’t seen since that one time in the mirror.

The markings had always confused me but I knew they had a purpose. I was a part of all three worlds – unintentionally on my part  - but it seemed like fate had a lot in store for me and it would probably take its sweet time revealing it all to me.

“See, its simple when you know how.” Hades voice trailed off and I opened my eyes to see his gaze trained at the ceiling. “You have a guest?”

“My charge, she was in a bit of trouble back home.” At the questioning look I received, I shook my head and looked away. “Long story, but the main thing is the hellhounds are causing trouble again.” I frowned as the memory of the previous day’s life and death tussle came to the forefront in my mind. “I killed one. I don’t even want to know how but if you can find anything out about it I would really appreciate it.”

The concern on the Greek god’s face was clear to see but in a moment it was gone and he nodded his head while his eyes had taken on a distance.

“That’s fine, I can look into that. But I need you to start reading this.” He pulled a text seemingly out of thin air and plonked it on my sofa. The structure seemed to bow under the weight of it. “It’s a book of a prophet. It was one of the shadier ones that wrote it but it’s all we have to go on because he wrote about this. It mentions the apocalypse but not the standard bible version. I think this might be the one we are looking for and if so, it might be the clue to ending this mess.”

Shuffling sounded upstairs before a door squeaked open above. I felt my heart rate pick up and I wondered briefly if I could trust Hades with the truth about my charge and her unborn child but then shook it off. If Stone Henge was anything to go by, I knew that even the people we trusted the most could betray us.

“I’ve got to go. Underworld business to take care of.”

I had barely noticed the man edging towards the door until I heard the door being drawn open. Curiosity peaked, I sent him a questioning look.

“Long story.” He responded with a smile and then with a cheery smile, he disappeared back out onto the street leaving me smiling to myself long after he had gone.

“Who was that?” An inquisitive voice asked from behind me, which caused my eyes to fall upon the sleepy eyed figure that was standing at the top of the stairs.

“A Greek god.” Smiling sweetly, I turned swiftly on my heel and hummed as I made my way to the kitchen for a much needed cup of tea leaving a gaping teen in my wake.