Coming Out of Exile: The Strength of A Father's Love
By Moon Mistress

Chapter Twelve

The Underworld

Calla and Ares’ journey through the Underworld and to the Black Palace had been unsettlingly quiet.  Their ears strained for the slightest sound coming from anywhere near or far and heard nothing but their own footfalls.  They saw no one not even the Three Justices stood on the Road today and they passed from the Road of Judgment and toward the Elysian Fields with no interruption. “Why is it so quiet?” Calla asked in a hushed whisper. “Where is everyone? They can’t have all fled through the Gates.”

“No, they couldn’t have.” Ares agreed.  “They are near but they are hiding. They are waiting.”

“For what?”

“The outcome,” he sneered. Everything was so damn heavy down here!  Even the air. Ares took in a big breath to fill his lungs and then coughed harshly.

“Don’t do that, Father,” Calla advised. “Take small breaths. If you keep that up your lungs will feel as though they’re filled with lead and in turn the rest of you will feel like a lead balloon. It’s hard enough to just walk around down here as it is.”  Her words echoed in her head and she wondered why she should have to tell him that. “You’ve never been here before, have you Father?” Calla asked with quiet suspicion.  Ares didn’t answer her.  “In all of your long blood thirsty life, all of the men and women and children you’ve sent down here, all of the enemies and all of the friends you’ve lost, Ares the Great God of War has never faced Death.”  She stopped walking and so did he but still he didn’t answer her.  “You know Death but only on your own terms. How is that possible?”

Ares didn’t want to answer her and so he didn’t he just continued walking forward leaving her a few steps behind him not wanting her the look in his eyes that he just couldn’t veil. The one that would tell her how much her words cut him.  He didn’t like this place and never intended to walk through those fanged Gates before his time; did that make his actions today brave or all the centuries before was he a coward? Ares didn’t know.  They walked on the remainder of the way in silence.

Just as Morpheus reported the Black Palace was sealed up tighter than a drum when Calla and Ares arrived.  Every door and every window wasn’t boarded over but rather it was as though someone carved the same black marble to fit in each hole blocking all light, air and hope of escape.  They walked around it twice and found no possible way of gaining entry.  “Do you think he’s in there?”

“Hard to say,” Ares intoned as he continued to gaze at the sealed palace. Up until now he didn’t know it could do that and what need was there for it?  It wasn’t like Hades had to guard against harsh weather down here. Then again, he’d never been to the steps of the Black Palace so what did Ares know?

“So how do we get in?” She asked impatiently.

“You’re always asking me questions as though I have all of the answers,” he said in his deep voice, “why should I know this?”

“Because you’re…because…” she stuttered and realized what she wanted to say was; Because you’re my Father and you’re supposed to have all the answers to all the questions.  Calla knew he did not but isn’t that what all children think? Their parents have all the answers to all the questions in the universe.  They didn’t so why should Ares?  No reason, absolutely none at all. “I’m just frustrated, Father, that’s all.”  She walked off to explore the outside of the Black Palace further.

“Calla, get back here.” He sneered. “Where are you going? Calla.”

A few moments later she appeared again but she was walking backward with her hands up by her shoulders. “Father, I think we have company.”  As she said the words four Shadows of the Undead emerged from the side of the Black Palace each one pointing a sword at her breast.

“Drop it, Lord Ares.” One of them said to the God of War as Ares drew his sword. “We are already dead you cannot kill us again but we can take her life.”

“Then why do you I care if I lower my weapon or not?” Ares returned in a growl but did not let the sword drop from his hand.

“As you wish,” The Shadow said and drew back the blade in his hand to thrust it at Calla.

“Stop!” Ares thundered and threw the sword to the ground. “Leave her unharmed.”

“We thought you’d see it out way.” The Shadow said.  “Now the dagger?” It held out its ghostly black hand for the knife in Ares’ belt. Very grudgingly the God of War handed it over. “Follow us people are waiting for you.”

“Hades?”

The small group of Shadows laughed hysterically but said nothing as they herded Ares and Calla to where Kanan waited for them.

Sitting in the dank building that once held him prisoner Kanan used Hades’ crystal ball to keep an eye on Ares and Calla when he saw them coming toward them he smiled and knew his time was close at hand.  Darkness was about to fall on Altair Ain and just so that the people there were otherwise distracted he would send the Shadows again tonight and by morning Altair Ain would have a new King, a worthy King.  He peered in on the small kingdom to see the big lights they’d set up though Kanan had no idea what they were or what they may be for.  He laughed again at their foolishness and he laughed until he saw something that was not humorous in the least; Dan-yell and his Son had escaped the Dungeon.  “Aren’t we crafty, Dan-yell?” Kanan mused and stroked the coarse beard at his chin.  “How did you manage that?”  No matter, by the time him and his Son got down here it would be over and if Kanan was feeling magnamous then perhaps he’d kill Dan-yell so he could be here and watch as the Queen Bitch regained her proper place in the corner of Kanan’s bedroom.

Every kingdom needed a Jester. Who better than Dan-yell to keep them all amused and laughing?

“Go now,” Kanan said waving a hand in the air. “It’s dark.  Don’t kill too many of them this time,” he warned, “a kingdom without subjects isn’t much of a kingdom.” The Shadows of the Undead were an unruly lot and unlike his personal guard back on Tiberia the Shadows were apt to do whatever the hell they felt like so long as they stayed within the bounds of the order of their master.  “Keep them busy. Go!”  In the overly large crystal ball Kanan watched the Gates open and the Shadows flood out into the darkness of the Upperworld.  “Keep them good and busy,” he said to himself as victory danced in the palm of his hand.

Ares and Calla flanked by the Shadows walked all the back the way they had come to see the Gates closing and hear the cackles of the Shadows as they ran out of the Underworld. “They’re not going back to Altair Ain.” She said with much sorrow and could only hope that the information she’d given to Duncan would lead the kingdom to victory over the Shadows of the Undead.  If it didn’t then there was bound to be a lot of work to do when they go back home.  Soon the stench of sulfur filled the air and Calla clasped Ares’ hand; Tartarus was just ahead. “Where are we going?” She asked of the Shadows trying to keep the tremble out of her voice but in her heart she knew.

“To the master, he’s waiting for you, Lady Bitch.”

“Show respect!” Ares thundered.

“I meant no disrespect this is what the master calls her.”

I bet he does.  How could this possibly happen?  It was unfathomable.  Sure enough they were ushered up a very long brick building that had but one floor.  It spread out as far as the eye could see and then turned in on itself in a labyrinth no ordinary person could ever to find their way out of.  Hades brought her here once and only once.  This was one Hades’ special buildings one meant to house the worst of them down here.  “How is Naganti Kanan?” She asked in a voice that was surprisingly cool and calm.

“Much better than last you saw him.” The Shadow replied and the single door to the Penitentiary of Hell opened. “After you.”

It was dark in there almost too dark to see anything at all and once the door was shut surely there would be no light at all.  At the entryway Ares balked and refused to cross.  The stench of death hit him full in the face making him want to gag but he fought that back. “I will not go in there.”  The small hand in his gave a reassuring squeeze.

“Come on Father an old friend is waiting for us.” Calla coaxed softly.  “I’ll go first.”  He was always terrified of the dark.  Even now as old as he was he slept either with candles or his hearth burning in his bedroom.  He always said that it was so no one could sneak up on him in the night but she knew better. The shadows and the stillness of the pitch frightened him though he would never admit to such a cowardly thing.  She crossed the threshold into the dank building with it long rows of prison cells but not the kind with bars these were more like being in Eternal Solitary Confinement each cell being only roundly 5 feet by 4 feet with no windows to the outside and only the one small cut out in the heavy iron door that sealed off each cell from the corridor to bring any light at all.

“Don’t go in there,” Ares begged in a voice that held both pride and wonder.

Calla squeezed his hand again and nodded her head. “All right, you can wait here if you want.”

No! He didn’t want to wait out here without her!  He wasn’t going to let her go in there ALONE!  “Mind a little light?” Ares asked but didn’t wait for an answer.  Magick was a strange thing down here the best Ares could muster was a fireball no bigger than a silver dollar but it was enough to light their way in the darkness. “What are you waiting for?” He barked at the Shadows. “Lead on!” Ares crossed the threshold into the disturbing building.

They walked for what seemed like miles taking left turn and right turn and left turn and right turn until neither of them could keep it straight in their heads any longer and any thought of running back the way they had come vanished. Calla found herself fighting the thirst at the back of her throat. It was hot in here so hot in here and she wiped the sweat away from her brow.  She’d like to ask her Father for some of the Nectar he brought with them but the Shadows had confiscated it along with Ares’ sword and the dagger in his belt and what little Ambrosia they’d brought with them.  Thirst be damned she would just have to ignore it and the growing panic in her heart.  After what seemed like forever they finally came to a door at the end of a very long hallway and if Calla didn’t miss her guess they were now exactly in the center of this strange place.  The door opened and inside there was light, the fireball in Ares hand went out and he was grateful for it.  Even expending so little magick was exhausting down here.

Kanan had wanted to make a grand re-entrance into her life but that was denied him when he heard his own name fall from her lips as they entered the building.  Instead he simply rose from his seat by a roaring fire to turn and stare at them. “Ah, Cha’Dech, so good to see you again.” The black giant with the braids running down his back stood there tall and strong. He was bare to the waist showing everyone that he was still taut and tone whereas Ares was looking a little soft these days.  On his legs were a pair of leather pants made of serpent skin, the same material covered his feet.

“Naganti Kanan,” Calla said as though she were holding court with an adversary…which she was. “You may address me as Calla, My Lady or Queen.” She told him calmly. “I am not your Cha’Dech that was long ago.”

“We will see about that.” Kanan returned in a tight but pleasant tone. “Ares, how are you?  Been a long time since you helped kill me.”

“Not long enough.” Ares spat.  “You think you’re in charge down here? You’re no Olympian. What have you done with Hades?”

Kanan did not answer right away and instead gestured toward a rather large and comfortable looking leather sofa. “Sit, you must be tired from your long journey.”

Tired she was and the couch did look inviting. “I’ll stand.”

“As will I.”

“May I offer you a drink?” Kanan poured a glass of what looked like very cold water.  “You must be thirsty…after your long journey.” He held the glass out to her.

“I wasn’t born yesterday,” Calla shot. “I’ll pass.”  But the water looked as inviting as the couch and her throat begged her for just a small taste as the fire roared beside them.

“Stop playing games and answer me.” Ares demanded.

Kanan feigned a sigh.  “You forget, dear Ares, your Ichor runs in my veins.”

“Polluted by generations of whores!” Ares charged. “You are no Olympian, Kanan.”

“And yet still it would seem I am Olympian enough at the moment.” Kanan returned as his gaze shifted from Ares to Calla who stood by the fire.  “Nice.” He complimented and stroked the beard at his chin as he stared at her.  In the light of the fire, behind the light linen dress she wore, he could see the body he’d once taken so many nights of pleasure in.  Were it possible she was more beautiful today than in all the days of her youth.  “I see you’re still fit, Cha’Dech.”

“More than enough for you, Naganti Kanan and I will tell you one more time not to address me in such a manner. My Sons would never allow you to take over the Underworld.”

Again Kanan stroked his beard as he nodded his head. “That’s true, it’s also why I had to send them to Oblivion. Half-breed little bastards.”

Tears stung Calla’s emerald eyes as they grew wide and she felt her heart break.  She felt the strength in her legs start to give and feared she might just drop to her knees and begin sobbing but she held herself and her ground. “No, you didn’t!”  They were so close to being reborn! She was going to watch them grow up!  He’d stolen it from her for the second time and by the look on his face he did it with much glee. All she wanted to do was gouge his eyes out for it!

“I did,” Kanan countered. “All of them are gone, all your bastard sons and bitch-whore daughters have been dispatched. You will never see them again.”

 “Killing them once wasn’t enough for you? You have no soul, no heart.”

“I never claimed to.” Kanan said and the dark smile on his face seemed to fade for a moment.

”Where is Annie?”

Down to business.  “I will take you to her and your other friends.”

Now Calla’s face showed the slightest sign of displeasure and surprise she turned her eyes from Kanan to Ares who only shook his head.

“Yes, we’ll have a reunion of sorts.” Kanan said happily.  “Come this way.” 

In the next room which was pitch black ceiling, walls and floor and where an even bigger fire burned were Annie, Jack and Sam all sitting chained to a wall by just one wrist. The length of chain appeared generous, surely enough so they could walk around a bit but not enough to reach the door.  “By the Gods!” Calla exclaimed. “Annie? Jack? Sam? What the hell is going on!” She demanded as she wheeled around to face Kanan.

“They are fine…aren’t you?” Kanan asked them. “Go on tell her if I have harmed any of you.”

“We’re all right, Calla.” Jack said.  “Just been hanging out here for a while,” he pulled at the collar of his shirt. “Damn it’s hot, see what you can do about getting him to shut that off, will ya?” He pointed toward the blazing fire pit in the middle of the room.

“Daniel?” She ventured in a small voice.

Kanan leaned forward where he stood and couldn’t help but smile wide. “Go on you tell her, Jack.” He invited. “Or would you rather I do it?”

“No, not Daniel!” Calla cried. “You can’t have him! I’ll….” She swung out to strike him but Ares caught her hand.

“Don’t touch him.” Ares warned.

“Always the intelligent one,” Kanan complimented. “Don’t worry my dear, your sweet Dan-yell is not dead neither is Nicholas. They both still walk the Upperworld and if you’d like to keep it that way you’ll do what I tell you.” The smile on his face grew wider as he clasped his hands together and the long braids as his head swayed to side down his back. “However, you should know one thing…”

“Kanan!” Jack said through gritted teeth and rose to his feet unsteadily.

This was too good to let go.  “The man you’ve been sleeping with these past four months is not your Husband….not….Dan-yell. Imagine my utter surprise when I caught these two…and of course Nicholas your Son…at the…N’kte and not Dan-yell but my old friend David was with them.  Was he better than your Dan-yell, Cha’Dech? More to your liking and your…satisfaction?”

“You’re a liar!”

Kanan held a hand to his heart. “That hurts,” he mumbled and turned to Jack. “Do I lie? Am I not telling her the truth?”

Ares knew Kanan was telling the truth, he’d smelled David on her so strongly, if he’d been around he could have clued her in to the fact that man sharing her bed wasn’t her husband. Ares wasn’t around and all he could now was stand here and keep his mouth shut.

Sam shook her head, her throat was also dry and the Black Bastard had placed a pitcher of what looked like cold iced tea on a table in the corner. The more she stared at it the more she wanted it but the fact that those ice cubes didn’t melt in this oppressive heat stopped her every time.  Sooner or later the moment would come when one or all of them couldn’t take it any longer, someone would break and then someone would drink.  “It was David.” She said through her tight parched throat.

“I know my Husband from his Brother!” Calla railed.

“One would hope, Cha’Dech” Kanan agreed snidely.

 “Calla! My name is Calla!” It wasn’t true! It couldn’t be true! She would not believe it! David would never do such a thing…would he?  He was hurt and he was lost and lonely and she tried to help him but it wasn’t enough and he’d gone away. Daniel didn’t seem quite himself lately, did he? No, he did not. That didn’t mean he was David. She turned away from Kanan and back to those chained to the wall. “Annie, has he hurt you?”

“No, Mom.  I’m just hungry and thirsty. Doesn’t that tea look good?”

“It does but you mustn’t drink it.” Calla advised. They all looked very thirsty and suddenly she understood the reason for the generous length of chain; there was enough of it so that when they became so parched they could no longer stand it, if they tried hard enough, they would be able to reach the pitcher and drink.   It did look inviting as it sat there waiting and sweating precious droplets of water. However, in this heat those ice cubes should also be nothing but water yet they didn’t seem to melt. The Living couldn’t actually die from eating or drinking down here but they would be forced to spend the remainder of their days in the Underworld unable to leave and caught in a horrible place between the two worlds. The Dead have no power over the Living they only wanted you to believe that they did. Once the Living believed that Dead could harm them then they could do just that but still, in the end, it was usually the Living that ended up killing themselves in some manner.  The only other way the Dead could kill the Living down here was if they had a weapon from the Upperworld such as Ares’ sword and dagger.

“That’s what they said.” Annie nodded toward Jack and Sam.

Calla turned back to Kanan. “What do you want?”

“Ah, that’s more like it.”  He pursed his lips as though he were thinking about it.  “I want the Underworld.”

“It would seem you already have it.”

“And…Altair Ain.  You owe me a kingdom, Cha’Dech and you,” he looked past her to Ares, “owe me a new Cha’Dech. This one is defective.” He waved his hand at Calla as though she were a fly.

“Touch either of my Daughters and I will have your head.” Ares threatened.

“For that, at this point, you would have to die first.” Kanan returned.  “You will make whole again you will give me Life, I know Morgan showed you the spell, I know you intended to use it to bring those bastards of yours back to the Upperworld….”

“You were going to do what?” Ares boomed.

Kanan chuckled a bit and then went on. “Since they’ve been taken care of, you will do this for me. Then you will renounce Daniel, you will make me a…” his eyes glanced at up Ares, “a stronger Olympian and you will sit me on the throne of Altair Ain. Then I will have two kingdoms.” He said happily.

Make him a stronger Olympian this is why the Shadows stole the Book. Problem was, Kanan couldn’t read it and therefore he didn’t know there were a few things missing from his plan; Excalibur and the Elixir.  “My Father’s Ichor may run in your veins in drips and drops but I will not make it stronger. I will never renounce my Husband,” Calla took a step toward her old master, “you cannot have Altair Ain and I will see it to that you are tossed off the throne of this world. You are dead why don’t you stay that way?”

Kanan met her with a step of his own.  “Done? Now you listen to me. I will have all that I want the only question is; will you rule these two kingdoms at my side as my Queen or you will cower in the corner my chamber as my Cha’Dech?”

Although her throat was dry Calla managed to gather a good deal of saliva in it. She hauled her head back, threw it forward and spit in his face. “Fuck you.” She said strongly.

Ares held back a laugh as he took in the gleam in Kanan’s eye.  “Perhaps you should not test him.”

“I should give in to him?”

“That’s not what I said.”

Kanan cleared his throat as he wiped the spit from his face. “If you don’t wish to join me, Cha’Dech, I understand.  I also understand there are several more in the line. Since I’ve already had you and your lovely Mother, why shouldn’t I give…what is her name…Athena…a try?”  He leaned close to whisper in Calla’s ear. “She’s just about the same age you were, isn’t she? But unlike you I bet she’s yet to know the touch of a man.  I will be her first…her only.” He drew in a deep breath. “Tell me, Cha’Dech,” he reached out and traced his finger between her breasts to feel the sweat on her skin and the fear pounding in her heart. “Do you remember the way he smiled when I entered you for the first time?”  Yes, she remembered her eyes told him so, she remembered everything about that night it was doubtful that either of them would ever forget it. “How you squirmed and whimpered below me?” With a bead of her sweat on his index finger he brought to his mouth to taste.  “You will give Athena to me the same way. Then there’s…Amy,” the name rolled off his tongue as it would from a Lover’s mouth, “and Lilly, let’s not forget Brigid, I know she’s the lesser of all but still I’m sure she’ll be a fine ride.”

The thought of Kanan putting his hands on any of them was enough to bring her fury to the surface and again when she reached out to hit him Ares grabbed her hands. “It’s what he wants. Don’t give it to him.” Ares grunted.  “Here he can touch you without harming you but if…”

“You touch me, it’s a different story.” Kanan finished with a wicked smile. “Game over.”

“He’s only trying to provoke you.” Ares warned.

Yes, Kanan was always very good at that.  Isn’t it funny, so very funny and so very strange how easy it was to remember this dance?  They say you never forget how to ride a bike so maybe once you’ve learned the steps of a particular dance you never forget the rhythm and can fall back into so easily it was as though you’d never forgotten it at all.  She had to keep her head and not listen to the part of her that wanted to fall back on old ways.  Calla refused to dance with him.  “I will give you nothing, you’ve taken more than your share from me already and I will give you nothing.”

“Careful, my….Queen,” the way he said it he might as well have called her Cha’Dech, “darkness is descending on Altair Ain as we speak and the Shadows of the Undead are on their way.  Will you really gamble with the lives of those you love,” he gestured toward those chained to the wall by their left wrists, “and those of your subjects?  I think I know you better than this. I make you an honest proposal; you can rule Altair Ain and the Underworld with me, sit with me by my side as my Queen or you can cower in the corner of my bedroom as my whore, either way I will have you, the Underworld and Altair Ain.”

“You will have nothing.”

“As you wish.” Kanan gestured toward the door and his Shadow Guards ushered Ares and Calla through it back into the other room.  “Throw another log on the fire, boys.” Kanan ordered before shutting the door and shutting out the sight of Jack, Sam and Annie.  “What are you going to tell Nicholas?” He chided and shook his head.  “Take them away.” He ordered to those Shadows still in the room.  “Give them some place warm to think about it.”  Yes, a little time was exactly what she needed.  And what he needed.  The ring wasn’t working as he’d hoped it would. He tried to send her suggestions as he’d done so many years ago but it didn’t seem as though they were getting through to her.  It would work in time when she let her guard down he would get into her head. “Don’t worry, Cha’Dech,” he called after them just before they walked through the door, “when the battle is over tonight I will send the newly Dead to you so they can thank you properly for the loss of their lives.”

End of Chapter Twelve
Coming Out of Exile: The Strength of a Father's Love
by Moon Mistress
a/k/a Lisa Beth Darling
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Chapter Thirteen