This post is the second chapter in my book the Curse of Tarterus. I hope you enjoy it. This chapter is wild and full of action. Warning this chapter has a bit of blood in it so to those who get light headed at the mention of blood I would advice you not to read the 10 paragraph.

Chapter 2

   

   Nyla spent three whole days camping and hiking through the underworld. When she finally did reach the border that separated Hades kingdom from the savage lands she was greeted by the two spirits who had taken her brother and friend. 

"Well, well, well, look who we have here." said the spirit with the eye patch.

"Filthy creature I'm only here for by brother and friend." Nyla spat with hatred in her voice.

"Show some respect girl, you are in Hades domain and we can do whatever we want with you." the 2nd spirit said with an evil gleam in his eyes. And with that the spirits pulled out spears and started pushing her along towards the bone palace.

   Along the way Nyla noticed Cerberus, the three headed watch and guard dog, one of the heads turned her way and looked at her curiously. The other two heads swung around to look at Nyla as well. One head growled but did not sound like he would harm Nyla. The head in the middle let out a whimper and then barked. One of the guards noticed and jabbed Cerberus with his spear. Surprised Cerberus looked back at the spirits lined up in front of him waiting to get a counsel with Hades.

"She shouldn't have come."

"Master isn't going to be pleased."

"Why what did she do?"

"Well for starters she controlled us only because we wanted a small bite out of that little boy."

"She had a reason you know."

"What?"

"That boy was her brother."

"Well it still wasn't very nice."

"WE should have chewed HER up instead."

"NO. I like her, she has a kind heart I saw it."

     Confused Nyla looked around wondering where she had heard the voices from. Then she made eye contact with Cerberus. One head looked at her with a sincere look another looked at her with curiosity and the other looked at her with a mad look. Nyla realized she had heard what Cerberus was thinking. Nyla gasped and wondered if with being a beast charmer she could hear the thoughts of animals that were smart enough to think.

   The spirit with the eye patch noticed that Nyla had stopped walking. "Get a move on Hades doesn't have all the time in the world you know." He pocked her with his spear. Nyla looked at the spirit and started walking. As they kept walking Nyla noticed a spirit that looked familiar.

  "MOM!" Nyla screamed. There was no mistaking it the curly brown hair, black eyes, a kind smile, and her other features made her look just like Nyla. Startled Nyla's mom looked at her she looked confused and upset for a moment her mom seemed to recognise who Nyla was but then she looked confused again and started walking in line again with the other spirits.

   "Mom no its me Nyla! Your daughter." Nyla got free of the grip one of the spirits had on her and ran right at her mom to give her a hug but when she reached her Nyla passed right through her. Shocked Nyla tried again but her hands passed through her mom. Realising that her mom was a spirit Nyla crumpled to the ground and started to cry violent sobs once she started them she couldn't stop. Her mom looked down at her like she wanted to help but something was stopping her. As fast as Nyla had started crying she stopped and looked up at the sky dazed and then she passed out.

**************

  Nyla groggily woke up on a cold marble floor. She peeled her face of the floor and took a look at where she was. What she saw she did not like. There was a big black throne on a raised part of the room it looked beautiful but deadly at the same time. The back was long and tall with blood read ruby's cut in the shape of sculls outlining it. The arm rests were each tipped with Hades royal crest, a star with a scull in the middle. Another throne was to the right of it well throne wasn't exactly how to put it. It was more of a giant daisy carved out of rose quarts. But the stigma* was a cushion embroidered to look like the center of a flower.
   Nyla felt a sharp pain in her left side. She looked down and saw a giant spike pocking out of her side. Nyla gently placed her hand on it she grimaced and prepared to pull it out. O.k. on three. One, two, three... Nyla quickly yanked the spike out. She heard the tearing of flesh when she looked at the spike she held in her hand the tip was stained with blood. Slowly Nyla took a cautious look at where the spike had been in planted in her side. There was a big slash mark that had warm blood oozing out of it. Quickly Nyla reached for her hunting satchel that had a bandage in it but it wasn't there. Out of options Nyla clutching her side limped over to a curtain and ripped of a long strip of the red satin. While tying the satin around her waist and over the wound the giant black wooden doors opened.
   In stormed Hades with his wife,Persephone, yelling at him. Hades had on a long black chiton with a blood red sash covering his left shoulder. His hair was a mess of unkempt black hair, his eyes were also black but terrifying when you looked into them it looked like you were looking into the face of death.(and in a way you were) Nyla noticed tucked underneath hades arm was a black battle helmet. The kind that had a feather plume coming out of the top in a line. But Persephone looked beautiful. She had long wavy light blond hair with a crown on top that looked like a daisy chain. Her chiton was lime green with a pink sash/cape over it. Her eyes were the color of meadows and pastures. And when she walked into the room the smell of dew on roses filled the air. They seemed to be auguring about something.
"Husband this is not right why must everything be about you?" said Persephone

"Dear listen for a moment. The oracle told me that this girl had something to do with my fate and I must do everything in my power to keep my fate in the right direction." replied Hades

"EXCUSE ME. But what do I have to do with your fate." Shouted Nyla over the yelling couple.
Both of them looked startled like they had just noticed that Nyla was in the room. Hades looked at her with a very rude scowl. Suddenly Nyla winced and fell to the ground. Tears stung Nyla's eyes. A knew wave of pain had traveled through Nyla's body from her wound. Hades chuckled.

"Painful isn't it. The poison of my manticore is very deadly but takes a long time to travel through your body."
Nyla was still holding the spike in her hands. Slowly Nyla stood up and walked forward. Through gritted teeth Nyla asked again.
"What do I have to do with your fate lord Hades."
"That is not for you to know at the moment."
"It has something to do with how you rescued me and my brother from becoming spirits."
"Yes but no more talking you came so now I will present you with your brother and friend."
The big doors opened again and in walked the two spirits who had taken Nyla there were pulling  Forest and Kovull behind them. Nyla ran up and hugged Kovull. They quickly pulled away both were blushing. Nyla reached over to hug Forest but her hands went right through him. He was a spirit. Anger, surprise, fear, and other emotions blew up in Nyla. Streams of tears stung her eys she stared at Hades. His eye's flashed with delight like hey had just played a fun practical joke. Nyla wound up her arm and flung the manticore spike at Hades. It struck him right in his neck. He looked around dazed and confused then he lost consciousness.
"How is that for changing your fate?" asked Nyla.

Duh,Duh,Duh. please check back soon sorry about the wait I had to go to girls camp and boy was that fun, but no electronics. :( so I couldn't write but I hope that this made up for the wait.