“No one told me Persephone was so hot,” Warin remarked, as he slid  his sword into the stomach of another demon. Even in the midst of battle, he took nothing seriously.

“You’re hopeless,” Helen sighed, used to his mischief. Unbothered, by the pile of dead demons at her feet. “And disgusting. You know the rumors about her.” 

“And you’ve heard stories about me.” He ripped his blade out, and wiped ichor on the demon’s matted fur. “You shouldn’t always listen to gossip. Besides, if she’s half as kinky as they say, I might be more interested.” 

Pandora threw a dagger over Warin’s shoulder as her anger flared. The blade sank into the throat of an approaching demon. “Warin, stop talking. The Golden Princess is off-limits. You wouldn’t even get the chance.” 

“That’s cold,” he said, with a fake sniffle. 

“Shut up,” she snapped. Normally, she wouldn’t mind the banter, but Hades was in trouble.  

They needed to focus on the demons. They were endless.  

“We need to find the dimensional rip. If we can seal it, they’ll stop respawning,” Helen said, as if reading her mind. “They’re coming from that direction.” 

As she pointed, several glowing orbs erupted along the path. Darkness threatened to snuff out the lights, but they followed them, anyway. Demons poured out of the darkness, attracted to the scent of mortal flesh. 

“You’re tenser than usual,” Warin said. He dug his elbow into her ribs. “I figured staying in the Underworld to talk to Nyx would have helped.” 

“Leave her alone, Warin.” Helen studied Pandora’s face after Warin slunk away to fight a group of demons. “Are you okay?” 

She exhaled shakily and clenched her fists to stop the trembling in her fingers “No. This situation has me on edge. After my last interaction with the gods, I’m weary.” 

“This will be nothing like that.” Helen placed a gentle hand on her arm. She smiled softly when Pandora looked at her. 

 “We’re with you this time.” 

“Thank you.” She reached for a hug before she shoved Helen to the side.  

A snarling demon blew spittle over her face as he roared. This one was double the size, eyes a burnt orange,  and teeth stained with blood. Warin’s groaning diverted her attention for a split second. The beast took that as his chance to swipe his claws at her and caught her shoulder. Her tunic tore, and a spray of blood arched through the air. Only her breastplate kept the beast from tearing more flesh. Bloodlust lit up the beast’s eyes. 

“Get to Warin,” she screamed. Helen would listen. 

“Hungry,” it snarled. It tilted its head back and released a howl that shook the ground. “Hungry, hungry, hungry!” 

Claws wrapped around her neck and pulled her closer. Shock kept her immobile. Squeezing tighter, Pandora’s vision darkened at the edges. If she didn’t get out of his grasp soon, he would overpower her completely. 

She grasped the fingers of the claw with one hand, pressed both feet against its chest for leverage, and swung her blade arm in a wide arch. She wasn’t close enough to anything vital, but the blade sank to the hilt in its forearm. It released a savage growl and tossed her away. She hit the ground with a thud, and the air whooshed from her. Stars exploded in her vision. 

She found her footing before the demon fell upon her again, and she went on the defensive.  

A flurry of claws slashed near her head as she ducked and dodged. The demon, pissed that she’d stabbed him, attacked blindly. Twisting around the beast, she summoned another dagger and it sank into its mid-back. Using the hilt as a foothold, she sprang up, riding the beast like a bull as it bucked. She grabbed the collar of its leather harness and kept her foot against the hilt. 

“Hungry,” it snarled again, desperate as it reached over its shoulder for her. Its arms were too big to reach behind it. “So hungry!” 

A short sword materialized out of her Mark as she dodged claws and rode another wave of angry bucking. Timing her strike, she waited until it exposed a side of its neck when it looked back again. Metal slid through flesh and bone, and the beast thrashed. Its rage-fueled bucking didn’t last long before it stumbled and collapsed to the ground, dead. 

“Helen! Warin!” She sprang off the beast. The protruding blades absorbed back into her Mark. She spun, as she tried to find them in the darkness. 

Silence met her. They were either overrun or were no longer close enough to respond. Neither option filled her with comfort.  If she ran into the darkness without knowing where they were wasn’t smart. 

She spun again, hoping to catch movement somewhere. 

A spotlight switched on in the distance. It exposed the suspended body of Hypnos. His head wrenched backwards, mouth opened in a silent scream, and Slumber Sand pooled on the ground beneath him.  A woman circled the god, black hair and dark robing billowed behind her like a wraith. Elongated, blackened fingers caressed his jawline as she moved. She made eye contact with Pandora from afar, a smile crept onto her face. 

“The murderer of gods comes to save her lover’s friend. How disgusting,” the woman cooed, her lips close to Hypnos’ ear. “I’m not allowed to kill her yet. Isn’t that a tragedy?” 

With a final circle around Hypnos, she landed and curled her fingers toward Pandora. Pandora’s body jerked forward, and dragged her under the spotlight. Those elongated fingers caressed her cheek, and sent chills through her. 

“There’s a long line of people who want your head on a platter, dear one,” she whispered into Pandora’s ear. “They  don’t appreciate you killing our master, but he’s  forbade us from harming you, for now.  He’s got so many plans for you.” 

“He’s dead. You should find a new master,” Pandora gritted out. The woman’s fingers were too close to her jugular. 

Screeching laughter shook the ground beneath them, and sent a cloud of Slumber Sand through the air. A group of beasts fell as the sand knocked them out. Dozens of beasts fell as the fog spread. None came close to them, blocked by a barrier the woman erected. 

“Are you so sure?” She tutted as her sardonic smile exposed two sets of fangs. “You think my master would be so easily felled?” 

“Eris,” another female  spoke, the tone full of warning.  It came from all around them, the source intangible. “Stop playing and let the demons finish their work.” 

Smoke gray eyes narrowed before Eris snatched her hand away from Pandora. “Enyo doesn’t understand how to have fun. Just remember, god-killer: your life will be ours.” 

Then she vanished, a puff of smoke swirled inside the barrier until it too disappeared. Hypnos remained suspended, but his face slackened, and Slumber Sand no longer poured from him. 

A pile of beasts lay beneath him, deeply in Slumber and subject to being devoured by their brethren. The horrified sounds of crunching bones and blood spray filled the air, and the smell followed. Fresh, yielded flesh distracted the demons, so they paid her no attention as she climbed atop the mound of bodies. 

Her fingers closed around Hypnos’ ankle and light exploded through the darkness, throwing her back. Her vision turned white, and the agonized cries of thousands of beasts filled the air. It took several minutes for the blinding light to fade, but only moments for the sounds to stop. 

“Pandora?” 

She blinked away the last of the stars in her vision when Hypnos’ voice startled her.  

Sprawled on her back, she slowly looked around. Hypnos appeared above her; his red-blue eyes looked exhausted. 

“Are you alright?” 

“I think I’ll survive.” Her mouth tasted like sulfur and her back ached. She sat up, not bothering to stand as dizziness darkened her vision again. “Are you okay? Can you sense Helen and Warin?” 

“I ejected them when I came to.” The god fell to his knees next to her. “I’m sorry, Pandora.” 

“What happened? I woke up in the Upperworld, and our first job is to come save your sorry ass. A request from Persephone, mind you.” She leveled him with an intense stare. 

“I can’t explain. The Fates are watching.” He dropped his face into his hands and groaned. “I messed up. We’ll leave it at that.” 

“Is this part of the punishment for…” she trailed off, unwilling to admit her relationship with Hades. 

“No,” Hypnos said. “This goes much deeper than a forbidden romance. This attack felt personal.” 

They fell silent as darkness gave way to a slow sunrise. Pandora would have preferred if Hypnos had left the dreamscape blank. Eris had mentioned her master. Though she didn’t speak his name, there was no mistake who she meant. 

“I don’t think he’s dead,” she said after the sun crested the horizon. “The god I thought I killed. The one without a name.” 

“If that is the case, the future is going to be difficult. The Fates erased him from their records; they no longer control him.” The fear in his voice chilled the air as the sun warmed her flesh. “They may have done it purposefully.” 

That would be a problem for later. 

“What happened to Hades?” Speaking  his  name  felt like an omen. The Fates would hear it and know what they’d done. 

“You aren’t the only one with enemies.” He fell quiet as his eyes met hers. “Persephone saw him send you away. From her emotions sprang another problem. She is going to have to handle it on her own.” 

“She seemed concerned about you.” 

“I let myself believe in a lie.” A bitter laugh bled into a choked sob. “Hades will hate me forever.” 

“What did you do?” 

“It doesn’t matter.” 

“Are you always so vague?” Pandora rolled her eyes and  sprang to her feet. She searched for the door. “I have enough to deal with that doesn’t involve this nonsense.” 

“You’re right.” The door appeared before her, but he stopped her. His voice changed as his eyes blurred. “Many sacrifices are going to be made before the end. Several paths lie before you. Think hard before you take the first step.”  

Invisible hands pushed her through the doorway as it swung open. Before she could snap at him, the wooden panel slammed shut again. For added measure, it disappeared from the atrium. 

“What an asshole…” she grumbled as she spun away from the empty space. 

The soft glow of the atrium slowly brought Pandora back to herself. Her frustration ebbed with each fresh breath she took. It had been dark and hopeless within the dreamscape. Being outside meant she’d finished one task. All that was left was to save Hades.  

Helen and Warin stood on one side of the fountain, arms crossed and somber look on their faces. Persephone and Hestia were on the other side, shock on theirs. Hestia’s face changed to pleased surprise, and Persephone’s darkened to something unreadable. 

“The demons are gone from Hypnos’ dreamscape,” Pandora reported, to no one in particular. “He needs a moment to gather himself. Where is Hades?” 

“Your services aren’t needed now that Hypnos is safe,” Persephone said, and Pandora snapped her head towards the goddess. “You are dismissed.” 

Anger simmered beneath her skin, but she knew better than to argue. She turned away before her temper overwhelmed her. With a jerk of her head toward the portal, her friends disappeared. Standing at the portal, she paused and looked back at the Golden Princess. 

“Don’t fail him, Persephone. There is no power in this realm—or the next—that will protect you should you fail.”  

Editor: Lucy Cafiero