some internal twin, one that was the darker side of their soul who was constantly trying to consume them. It meant that for once, I finally understood the true nature of Hell’s beings and the daily battle they had to win, in order to suppress a terrifying side of themselves. But as for now, well...
I didn't have to suppress the thing.
“Now tell me, what did it show you? Where is the Tartarus gate?!” The one they called Master roared down at me. But I closed my eyes and at a mere thought, I could see it. I could see exactly what he wanted to know. Hell, but I could have fucking walked there! It was almost as if I had opened a door of secrets, having just instantaneously absorbed all the knowledge of Hell that I shouldn't have known. I knew it wouldn’t last, fading the moment the power was spent but for now, I could see what he spoke of.
The gate led to a crumbling pyramid, a temple that had been destroyed in yet another battle against the Titans. In fact, it barely even existed anymore as all that could be seen amongst the rubble was a Keystone and an opening below it. There were details around the image that I just couldn't make out yet and right now I didn't have the time to try.
Because I was consumed.
I took in a deep breath and knew what I had to do, starting with a little acting. Because I still had one problem to take care of. So, I rose to my feet and continued to stumble backwards as though I could barely stand my ground. I managed to do this muttering in a fearful pathetic way,
“Please I…Gods, but it was so strong I can barely…even…breathe.” Granted my acting wasn't going to win any awards, but it didn't have to. No, all it needed to do was fool them long enough to get me where I needed to be. Meaning that I only stopped walking backwards when I felt the well was behind me.
“Fae, are you okay, what happened?” Nero asked me clearly concerned but she didn't need to be. Not when I had everything in hand, one I felt turn into a fist by my side. This was because the anticipation of what was to be an eruption of power was nearly all too much to bear. It felt as if my blood was humming and my heart was beating far too quickly than what should have been physically possible.
“Tell me or your friend dies!” Lucius’ brother threatened and my reply was not the one he was expecting,
“I will tell you…When Persians grow hair on the palms of their hands before battle!” I said what was my father’s favourite response to those that believed his armies could be defeated.
“Then you watch as your friend drowns!” he said, before nodding to one of the Harpies to do his bidding.
This was when without looking I asked Nero,
“Do you trust me?”
“Erm, not when your eyes look all crazy and shit, not really, no,” was her amusing answer, and that was when I first realised that my eyes must have changed with the power surging inside me. This was when I turned to wink at her and said,
“Then I suggest this is the part you…hold the fuck on!” I shouted this last part at the same time reaching for the release on the crank, letting Nero once more go plummeting down the well. Then I grabbed the Harpy that had been charged with doing the same thing and threw her into the mechanism, all to the sound of Nero screaming.
But it was a sound that only stopped when the Harpy’s body got caught in the turning cog. Because this managed to stop Nero from falling any further and reaching the water, putting her at a safe distance away from what was about to happen. Now her echoing cry of my name was lost due to the furious bellows of rage coming from the Master as he ordered all the Harpies to attack me at once.
I looked up at him with a sinister grin and motioned with my hands for them all to come closer if they dared.
“Let’s do this!” I roared back at him, letting them close in around me until I took a deep breath and called forth that surge of rage.