Welcome Back

[Aaron Shade]

The Underworld was in its usual morbid mood. Everything was dim. The wails from the Fields of Punishment could still be heard. To the boy walking down the pathway and parting the ghosts, they were like pop music that played in the mall. Shade slid off his black leather jacket, throwing it to the side. In a swoop of wings, the fury Alecto caught it. "Welcome back, my Lord." she sneered somewhat unceremoniously folding his jacket, "I see your habits still haven't gotten better. You almost threw your jacket into the lava pool."

Shade just glared at her once to show her he wasn't in the mood. The shade creature behind him jeered at the fury, and they argued the rest of the way down. Shade rolled his eyes. As he got down to the last step of the way, he opened the doors to his father's palace. "Shut up, Dark, Alecto." he addressed the two monsters behind him sharply. They did as he said, and the son of Hades proceeded into the throne room.

Hades was sitting there. The Lord of the Underworld was gazing at him with some degree of fondness, which Shade knew was fake. He knelt down, bowing his head. The monsters behind him followed his example.

"Stand, my son. I guess I should call you Shade now." The god's voice filled the whole hallway in a booming volume.

Shade obeyed, standing, but not replying. Dark followed, and Alecto took to the air after her two sisters. The son of Hades gazed at his father. "Our deal. Finish it, and I will return to your side and continue to serve you."

Hades smiled at his demand. It was a smile colder than icy steel. His son had really gotten his demanding and fearless personality back. He was glad that he wasn't that shy boy Dodge had raised him to be. "I was planning to do that all along, my boy."

[Kathrine Woods]

Kathrine had no clue where the hell Shade was. Figured he must be with that monster, but she never really thought he would go back to the Underworld. Her dreams becoming restless she shifted positions from the small sunlight streaming in and bouncing off her blonde hair. Eyes closed she took a deep breathe a woman sitting by a small window watching Hades speak to his son.

The woman was a goddess, a queen, and a prisoner. Stuck in hell, literally, and her daughter was probably next. The goddess of harvest shuddered, how could she help her daughter during the winter? Sure she could try but if it was the spring life would be less complex. Turning her back to the two males she looked at a small glass of water.

Maybe Demeter would help. Her mother pretty much protected her daughter and claimed her as her own for Persephone's sake. But how far would the goddess of harvest go? Feeling uneasy she began pacing. How could Kathrine stay safe? She would probably only last for a couple weeks of Hades fully recovers his son and sends him with more monsters at the girl. Actually the son of Hades had a good chance at killing her without help if he was fully recovered. Curse those children of the Big Three and their immense power.

[Aaron Shade]

Shade turned to feel another godly power nearby. Who would it be none other than Persephone? The goddess of springtime probably hated his guts now, not that he cared. Shade turned back to his father, netting his judging gaze.

"I will start." Hades declared, recognizing the desiring look in his eyes. The cold desire to get going and finish his job. Hades knew Persephone would be outraged if Shade ended her daughter. Almost as outraged as Hades was now about his wife having the daughter in the first place. Persephone would probably kill Shade in the end, and Hades would give the goddess a few years to adjust back t her normal self again. Demigods were insignificant in points of lives.

Shade nodded. Right as he did, a black flame began to surround him. Shade recognized the flame. He could create his very own as well. The flames of the Underworld that swallowed the living. What were they going to help him with? The moment it touched his skin, though, it began to flare with pain. Shade jerked back in surprise. It wasn't supposed to hurt. He turned his suspicious hazel gaze on his father. He opened his mouth to ask what he was going to do, but the flames whirled to life, spinning around him and engulfing him. It took all of Shade's will not to scream at the pain. He bit his lip and fell to his knees. He ended up curling into a tight ball, everything seemed to be burning away at him. The blazing fury of the fire held no mercy. For the first time, he began to remember. "Kat...Terry...Jasper....Matt..." He remembered it all now. It was being locked down, shut and sealed permanently in a protective ward in the back of his mind. If he tried to remember and become his former self, it would burn just as much as it did right now. Hades began to spin a web of fake memories. It was implanted into his brain. Terry was his enemy. Kat was dangerous. Matt was helping them. He was afraid of them. He hated them. He had to kill them.

The fire turned to wisps of smoke, floating away. Shade lay on the cold stone floor for a while. Then he stood back up shakily. He was very, very sore. Everywhere was still numb from the sensation of going up in flames. He looked alright, but felt unstable. He felt his back. The scar was gone. He felt like there was something that didn't belong in his memories, as if he had forgotten something. He ignored the feeling. He knew his mission. It was to kill the rest of the questers, anyone who protected Kathrine Woods. He looked up at his father. What was he doing here again?

Didn't it start out as a normal day living here in the underworld? Yeah, he had always been living here. He had gone up yesterday to fulfill one of his father's errands. He had been attacked by three questers. Terry, Matt and Kathrine. He needed to destroy Kathrine at all costs. That was his next job because she was the daughter of Persephone. That was what his memory of them was. That was what Hades had spun up into his mind. He didn't remember anything else.

"If you'll excuse me...I'm...tired..." Shade still couldn't shake the odd feeling. He bowed to his father. The god waved his hand in dismissal. "I'll call you when you need to finish that job." Hades ordered. Shade nodded in reply and left.

[Kathrine Woods]

Persephone watched Hades change his son memories weaving into the boys mind. Carefully she added a memory of her own without having her forced husband notice. This small memory of a soft gold flame the touch warm and friendly. The deep green grass around it homey as a remainder of one emotion, friendship and comfort.

Hopefully he would connect the dots when time came. But she doubted he would then. Touching a black rose it rose higher the dark room changing the color to a dark shade. Sighing she looked at the flowers, the strongest and hardheaded of all flowers. Whispering she said "Watch over her..."

And thus they faded into the shadows, the goddess crossed her arms across her chest as she looked at the river of the Sphinx. If she could toss her daughter in there to save her she would, but she didn't want to kill her by accident...