“Unthinkable!” he roared. “What message would that send?”
“It would send the message that you care what happens outside of the Underworld!”
I stopped listening. My plan was working. My depression was affecting the world. I felt sorry for the mortal world, sorry for the part I was playing in making them unhappy. But it was the only thing I could think of that might help.
So I drifted further away.
Through the black mists surrounding me, I heard voices sometimes, not voices standing next to my body, but voices echoing in my head.
Cadmus’ husky whisper, “I love you. Please hold on.”
Aphrodite murmured, “Harmonia, all will be fine. Continue with what you are doing. It is working. We love you.”
“We love you.”
“We love you.”
Those words echoed in my black thoughts and I pushed them away. I couldn’t dwell on positive things- I had to keep my energy black. It was against my nature and it was difficult, but I found that if I focused, I could do it.
At one point, I heard Ares. “You are strong, daughter. We love you.”
I knew I had to move away from the loving thoughts- past the point where I could hear them. I pushed myself further away, drifting on the depression. My surroundings turned blacker. Days passed.
Then weeks.
Time was nothing to me. It ran together like water. I had finally managed a way to suspend myself away from reality and I knew that I was in a strange, hypnotic state. I had tricked my own mind. It was unfathomable. But in my desperation, I had done it.
And then came his voice. The only voice that had mattered for thousands of years.
“We’re coming.”
I withdrew from the darkness in an instant, my eyes popping open.
Persephone sat by my bed, reading quietly. As I stirred, her eyes flew to my face.
“You’re back,” she breathed. “I must get Hades.”
I reached out a weak arm. Lying motionless in a bed had taken a toll.
“Don’t,” I pleaded in a whisper. “I need to get dressed. Please. Can you help me?”
She took one look at my face and relented.
“Of course,” she said kindly. “We can get Hades afterward. Come, let me help you up.”
She put her arms behind me and helped me sit. The room spun in a whirl, but after a moment, it stilled.
“How long have I been sleeping?” I asked.
“Two months,” she answered grimly. “You have no idea of the ramifications. Your sadness has affected the world.”
I didn’t tell her that I knew. I simply allowed her to help me into a loose tunic and sat calmly while she brushed my hair and braided it over my shoulder.
“I’m glad that you have returned to us,” she said quietly. “I was worried about you. I have never seen such a thing.”
“Neither have I,” I whispered. And I hoped to never again. It had left me feeling incredibly weak, absolutely drained of energy. I reached up and grasped my bloodstone. It wasn’t helping me now.
“If it helps, your family has been here several times,” she offered quietly. “Ares, Aphrodite and Cadmus. They came several times to see you, but the guards wouldn’t let them pass.”
“Was anyone hurt?” I asked quickly. She shook her head.
“No.”
Before I could say anything else, an amazingly loud bellow rang in my ears and vibrated the walls of the palace.
“HADES!”
It was so loud that it left my ears ringing.
Persephone and I stared at each other in alarm, before I got shakily to my feet. I remembered Cadmus’ words. We’re coming.
They were here.
“We should go,” I suggested. I took her arm and we hurried as fast as we could to the main floor of the palace. With each step, I felt stronger and by the time we arrived in the foyer, I was standing on my own. We arrived at the same time as Hades.
“Hades!” The voice resounded again and this time, I knew in my heart it was Zeus. He had come after all. Joy flooded my heart. He was here. “Open the gates!”
Hades sucked on his lip for a moment and then nodded, motioning to a guard. The guard disappeared outside and within moments, the drawbridge was lowered. I rushed to the window. The Olympians stood outside, along with my husband. They had truly come. It was a sight to behold.
Zeus stood in the front and he held Hades’ helm of darkness. His eyes flashed silver and were fierce and proud. He had returned to himself, I could see it in his expression. I had never felt so relieved.
On each of his sides, stood Hera and Poseidon. Lined up in a row were Demeter, Athena, Dionysus, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Ares and Aphrodite. On the far end was Hephaestus. They had apparently summoned him from the Spiritlands. On the other side, stood my husband, flanked by Hecate and Annen.
And my heart started beating again. It suddenly felt as though it had been silent the entire time I had been separated from Cadmus. But now that he was here, I could breathe again. He was tall and beautiful, gazing fiercely at the palace…ready to fight for me. Behind him, stood Ortrera and her warriors. Every single face was fierce and determined. A flicker lit inside of me and I dared to let myself hope.
Maybe, just maybe.
“Come outside!” Zeus thundered. “Or I will take apart your palace brick by brick.”
Hades sighed, then straightened his shoulders. Stepping forward, he flung open the doors.
Cadmus’ gaze fixed on mine and he grinned a slow grin. I’m coming, he mouthed. I smiled back. It’s about time, I mouthed back. He grinned wider.
“What is the meaning of this?” Hades asked the Olympians. “I thought you were happy on the Isles. You seemed to be the last time I visited.”
“You had us deluded, brother,” Zeus admonished. “But no more. We have seen what you have done to the world. Unrest plagues the mortal world, all because you have separated the goddess of contentment from those that she loves. Until she is happy once more, discontent will plague the earth. Yet, you did not act. You are not the god to rule the world, Hades. You may keep the Underworld, but I am taking back the rest.”
Hades face clouded over.
“You think?” he growled. “You can do nothing, brother. You are condemned to stay here because you allowed yourself to be deceived. You have eaten here, so here you shall stay. Have you forgotten that small fact?”
Zeus smiled, a smile full of satisfaction and arrogance.
“There is one small thing that I should point out.” His gaze shifted to me. “Harmonia, dear. Step forward.”
Hades eyed me from his periphery. “Stay,” he growled to me.
“She is still on the palace grounds,” Zeus said. “She is not breaking her word.”
Frustration washed across Hades face. It was true. I was still on palace grounds, as agreed. I stepped forward.
“Closer,” Zeus instructed. I took a few more steps and he met me in the middle, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
“Do you see the pendant hanging around her neck?” Zeus inquired politely. Hades scowled.
“Of course, I see her bloodstone. Everyone knows of it. It brings her bad fortune.”
Zeus nodded. “Yes. I allowed Hephaestus to curse it so that no one else would want it. That way, it has always remained safe with Harmonia.”
Hades face grew instantly wary.
“Do you know why, brother?” Zeus asked, still polite.
Hades shook his head, clearly annoyed.
“Because it contains my blood,” Zeus explained, as though that cleared up the confusion. “I’m sure you are aware of the caveat… if any part of me remains in the Underworld, the rest of me is free to leave. A small vial of my blood is concealed in the center of the bloodstone. It is my key to freedom from your treachery.”
“No!” Hades cried. “That is impossible.”
“Oh, yes,” Zeus confirmed, shaking his large head. “Did you think that you are the only cunnin
g one in our family? I outsmarted you. My plan has taken years to unfold, but here we are. The key is now in my hands.”
With his words, he lifted the bloodstone from around my neck and gripped it tightly.
“As long as this bloodstone remains here in the Underworld, you cannot keep me here,” Zeus said needlessly. “I will return to Olympus.”
“Not Harmonia,” Hades snapped. “That may hold true for you, but Harmonia has eaten here, so here she shall remain. The others, also. Everyone but you shall remain.”
“Oh, Hades,” Zeus shook his head. “That isn’t true. Everyone shall leave. And do you know why? Because I know you want your helm back. Isn’t that true?”
There was a long pregnant pause. Of course Hades wanted his helm back. He needed it. Without it, he couldn’t access his full potential in the Underworld. The realization was written on his face.
“I will give you back your helm, in exchange for everyone’s freedom,” Zeus bargained. “You know it is not an option. You must have it. So, I’ll give it to you and we‘ll return to Olympus. We’ll let bygones be bygones and we’ll return to how we were before. Or, we can do it the hard way, if you prefer. I can retrieve my sword and return here to face you head to head.”
The air was thick and tense. Hades’ displeasure was evident, his frustration palpable. But Zeus was right. There was no other choice that Hades could make. We all waited in anticipation to hear him admit it.
“Fine,” he snapped. “We have a deal.”
We all exhaled sighs of relief. Joy flooded through me and my knees grew weak as I bounded down the line of gods into my husband’s arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down to kiss me. He had never tasted so good. Just being near him fed my spirit and I grew visibly stronger immediately. He held me tight and I inhaled him, his outdoorsy, Cadmus smell and I smiled.
“Don’t be so happy quite yet, Harmonia,” Hades said smoothly. “We have one minor thing left to discuss.”
“And what would that be?” I asked. I wasn’t worried now. If we were all free and I was back with my family, there was nothing else Hades could do to me that would matter.