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

Chapter Twenty-Three

Making their escape from Hell’s Prison was easy. With their master dispatched the remaining Shadows ran and hid offering no resistance as they made through the labyrinth to the outside where the stench faded away to something that was still less than pleasant but smelled like the air at the top of the Rocky Mountains compared to what they’d left behind.  “Where did that come from?” Calla asked as the sight of Blaine the Monorail met her eyes.

“I’m not sure,” Daniel said to her but this looked the time to find out.  If Kanan had sent it as a trap why hadn’t it disappeared with him?  The beleaguered group climbed onto the platform. The doors of the silver and blue monorail opened.

“Greetings once more, Daniel. Please board and state your destination.” Blaine said as the lights in the car flickered on.

“Greetings, Blaine.” Daniel said easily. “The Black Palace.”

“What is this?” Calla asked as Daniel helped her aboard and she looked around at the interior of the car.

“This Blaine,” Daniel said and that was as much explanation as he was able to give.

“Blaine?”

“Greetings Queen Calla,” Blaine said in his Maine voice. “It is good to have you onboard.”

“Hello?” She returned and continued to look around. Was she really talking to a machine? One that talked back? “You know who I am?”

“Of course I do.” The monorail replied and his engines came to life. “Doesn’t everyone know who you are in both in your world and mine?”

That wasn’t something she was proud of but Calla agreed that it was true enough before taking a seat on one of the very soft luxurious chairs and almost melting into it. Her body was tired and sore head to toe.

“Here,” Daniel said holding out his shirt, “put this on. You look cold.”

It was hard to be cold here but it would be nice to have something to wear. Calla slipped the black T-shirt over her head. Daniel wasn’t as tall as Ares or Nicholas so his shirt only covered her to her thighs but that was good enough for now. “Thank you, my love.”

Daniel smiled and shook his head. “Any time.”

 “Father, do you know what this is?” She looked around at the interior of the car once more still uncertain if it was friend or foe.

Ares shook his head. “I don’t know.” He admitted and took a seat next to her.  It was at this point that Calla started to cry. Looking around at all of her still living friends knowing that not one of them had fallen by the wayside during the battle or in her name, a great wave of relief washed over her and she reached out for Ares. “Shhh,” he soothed. “We are all still hale and hearty.” He looked at Daniel over Calla’s shoulder and, for once, didn’t see any anger in the man’s eyes. In fact, unless he missed his guess and in this tired state that would be easy to do, Ares thought he saw compassion in Daniel’s eyes. “You’ve done well as always.”

Not all were hale and hearty she thought as her hand touched upon the drying penis hanging around her neck and then met his gaze with wet eyes.

“Small price to pay.” Ares said softly and brushed the hair away from her face. “I would give anything for you, Calla. Don’t you know that?”

“I’m sorry.” She muttered. “I never meant to cost you so much.”  Calla wanted to curl up in his lap but thought better of it not wanting to cause him pain. She kissed his cheek twice and then sat next to Daniel. Calla wanted to feel happy and victorious but she couldn’t help feeling as though she’d won the war but lost the battle. She didn’t get Kanan to tell her where Wolfgar and his wretched mother, Raven Lightfoot, were hiding so she still didn’t know where to find Bacchus’ notes.  In killing Kanan she may have permanently cost Altair Ain its future. What else could she have done? What more could she have done?  She didn’t know but there had to be something, Calla would spend many nights lying awake in bed wondering what she could have done differently. No matter what she had to do she would find them and Bacchus’ notes. She would rid her Grandson of whatever poison Raven Lightfoot and Tula had put in his mind and his heart about his family and bring him into the fold where he belonged.

Calla looked over to see Annie seated on Nicholas’ lap in the same manner she was seated on Daniel’s. It was good to see them together like that. Nicholas loved her with all of his heart and it was worth nearly any price to witness them like this.  Was that the way Ares felt now as he gazed at she and Daniel?

“Give it to me.” Ares said and held out his hand. “I can’t believe Kanan made you do that, sadistic bastard.”  Calla took the horrid necklace off and dropped it in his hand. Ares put it on the seat next to him.

“Isn’t someone going to tell me how that happened?” Daniel asked as he finally got a really good look at the Ichor staining Ares’ bare torso and his black leather pants. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for the man as he crossed his legs and felt a sympathy wince of pain. Ares looked much older than the last time Daniel had seen him there were wide streaks of gray in his hair and his chest was salted as well.  He looked as though he’d lost weight as he sat there resting in the soft seat.

“I will,” Jack piped up and Sam punched him in the arm to shut him up.

“What does it matter?” Ares interrupted.  “It’s done. It’s over. Let’s get on with this. You’ve found Hades?”

“He’s trapped in the Chair of Oblivion,” Daniel said as Calla settled on his lap and laid her head on his shoulder. “Only you can get him out.”  When it looked like Ares might just balk at the idea Daniel added, “You can’t leave him there. The Underworld has to have a king.”

So it did. Ares wouldn’t dream of leaving Hades to suffer such a cruel fate not when they had been allies for so long.  Still the idea of letting him stew just a little longer was appealing after all Hades had to have set Kanan free from his prison, didn’t he?  It looked like his plan backfired on him.

“This belongs to you.” Calla said softly as she took Daniel’s hand in hers and slid the Master Ring onto his finger. “Try not to lose it again, huh?” She smiled at him and kissed his hand before nuzzling her cheek against it.

“I’ll do my best.” Daniel agreed.

The monorail began to slowly move forward and then it slid backward on tracks that had not been seen by any of the occupants. “Please buckle up for safety. Our ascent will be swift.” Blaine told them.

“Here we go again.” Duncan grumbled and immediately fumbled for the harness not wanting a repeat of the journey down here.

“Hi, Stan.”

“Hi, Ollie.” Duncan returned and the grimace turned into a smile as she peered at him from around Daniel’s shoulder. “Good to see you.”

“You too.” She said sincerely. “Morgan?”

“She’s up there waiting for us.”

Blaine rocked back and forth several times before the monorail suddenly catapulted itself forward. As they fled the Sixth Level of Hades on their way to the Black Palace Daniel’s arms wrapped around Calla holding her tightly to him. “Hang on.”

The ride was up was just as raucous as the ride down had been until Blaine crested the last hill and the monorail continued along at a more pleasant pace.  Outside the window those who had made the long journey to Hades’ Prison saw something that gave them hope; the occupants of the Underworld were starting to come out of hiding. They were gathered at the sides of the rail and waving to those inside. Some clapped, some gave the Thumbs-Up to them and it was easy to see that were all as relieved as those inside the monorail.

Blaine took them straight to the front door of the Black Palace which was now open. With Kanan gone whatever spell he’d been able to cast to hold Hades prisoner in his own home was gone with him. The windows and doors stood open and ready for anyone to walk inside. “We have arrived at your stated destination.” Blaine informed them as the monorail came to stop and the doors slid open.  “I hope you will visit me again.”

“No offense Blaine and I do thank you for the ride,” Calla said as she got up, “but I hope I don’t see you again for a very long time.”

The lights in the car flickered on and off almost as though the monorail were trying to laugh. “No offense taken, Queen Calla.” The monorail offered.

All of them disembarked and they walked to the Black Palace to find more of the Underworld’s occupants coming out of hiding and making their way over to them with words of thanks and praise.  Seemed none of them wanted to be lorded over by Kanan and no one in the group could say they blamed them in the slightest.  Standing at the steps of the Black Palace Calla looked over at her companions. “Why don’t all of you go back to the Upperworld?” She suggested. “Only Ares and I need go any farther, I’m sure you’re all anxious to get home.”

“Only you and Ares?” Daniel asked.

“You too, my love.” She buried her head in his bare chest. “Don’t leave me.”

“Never.” Daniel assured her holding her close. “She’s right, why don’t the rest of you go back? You can let everyone up there know what happened and we’ll join you soon.”

“You’re sure?” Jack asked suspiciously.

“Positive. Go on, get outta here. Haven’t you had enough of this place?”

“Oh, more than enough.” Jack agreed.

“Lead them out, Nicholas.” Calla told her Son. “You know the way, don’t you?”

“Don’t you want me to stay, Mom? Something could happen in there---“

“Nothing’s going to happen.” She told him and looked up into his eyes. “I’m sorry I hit you, I had no right to do that.”

Nicholas shuffled his feet as he gazed down at them. “Nah, I’m sorry.  I had no right to say those things to you. I don’t know what came over me.”

“What did you do?” Annie asked quickly.

Nicholas just shook his head feeling ashamed of himself. He should have told his Mother about the child he suspected Raven Lightfoot was carrying but without any proof that she’d been telling the truth they all felt it best not to say anything to her. Calla would only demand that they go and find the child and who knew what can of worms that would open up?  Now that she knew she was bound to insist on the very same but that could all wait until everyone was in the Upperworld. “It’s nothing,” Nick said uneasily.  He didn’t want to tell Jack, Sam and Duncan about Wolfgar this way or Annie for that matter now that suspicions had been confirmed. He wanted to tell her when they were alone. “We’ll see ya on the other side.”

Calla held her arms open. “C’mon, we haven’t officially made up until you give me a hug.”

Nick let go of Annie’s hand and bent down to hug her. “I love you, Mom. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just didn’t want you to worry that’s all.”

Calla kissed his cheek. “I love you too.”

Standing on the steps Daniel gave them directions to the Gates where Charon’s boat would be waiting for them.  “He could be there by now and hopefully he is there are a lot of people waiting to get across the River.”

“Yeah,” Nick agreed. “If he’s not then we’ll wait because you won’t be able to get back without the boat. You don’t think Umpa’s gonna want to take that back route, do you?” He grinned.

“What back route?” Ares asked quickly.

“Never mind, you’ll hardly fit through it, Umpa.”  With that Nick led, Annie, Jack, Sam and Duncan off toward the Gates and home.

End of Chapter Twenty-Three
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 Twenty-Four