She couldn't believe the angry look on Xypher's face. He was practically goading Hades. "Why should I tell you shit?"
"Because I can make your stay here even worse than it already is."
"I look forward to it."
Hades drew back, but Kat grabbed his hand. "Please, Hades, can we try this my way?"
"You're a fool, Katra. He only respects violence. It's why he's here. Did you know it took eleven Oneroi to kill him? Eleven and they barely survived it."
"Yeah," she breathed, "and the last Dream-Hunter I sent in after the gallu was killed by them."
By his face she could tell it wasn't news to him. "Kytara. She's in the Elysian Fields now."
Kat was grateful for that at least. She couldn't stand the thought of Kytara being punished like this. "I need someone who can go into the demons' sleep and not be taken out by them."
Hades cut a glare at Xypher. "He is already dead."
"Yes." Kat stepped around Hades so that she could speak directly to Xypher. "If we give you back your life, will you help us?"
"No!" Hades growled. "I will not allow something as monstrous as him to walk free again."
"What did he do that was so awful?"
"He tortured people, Katra. He drove them mad with nightmares and didn't care who he hurt. He is without conscience or morals."
"I don't want my life back," Xypher snarled, interrupting them. "You can shove that up both your asses."
Kat was baffled by his anger. "Then what do you want?"
"My freedom."
Hades snorted. "Freedom for you? Never."
"Hades, please," Kat begged. "I know you're able to negotiate. Do I need to get Persephone in on this?"
At the mention of his wife, Hades tensed. Since Kat and Persephone were longtime friends, Seph always sided with her and it never boded well for Hades.
Luckily, he knew that. "Fine, what do you want?"
Kat took a deep breath in relief that she was going to win this. She looked up at the Skotos. It was a gamble she was taking here, but with any luck it might work out. "Xypher, if you will help me, Hades will set you free and make you human." With him a human, they could always kill him again if he went back to being Rogue.
There was doubt in his eyes, but it was mixed with a tiny amount of hope. "You swear to free me from here?"
She nodded. "By the river Styx."
"Then it's a deal."
Smiling, Kat turned toward the god. "Hades?"
He hesitated as if debating whether or not he should agree. When he spoke, his voice was stern. "If he helps you, I will grant his freedom. But he will only be human for a month. If at the end of the month he hasn't shown himself worthy of humanity, he comes right back here."
By Xypher's expression it was obvious he wanted to tell Hades where to shove his pact. But in the end Xypher knew this was the best he could hope for.
"Fine. Let me go and I'll help."
The vines released him so suddenly that he fell against the floor. He rose slowly to tower over Kat. Even wounded, he made a formidable sight. "What do you need?"
"I need to know where the Tablet of Destiny is and I need a weakness for the demon Kessar... and I need it yesterday."