Chapter 26: One Persons Freedom Is Another Person's Prison

"Ah there you are. I've been waiting for you my sweet."

"What's going on right now?" Mel looked to the underworld god with disdain, as she questioned why she was alive again.

"Aren't you happy you're not swimming in a river of death? It's pretty grimy down there I'd know…"

"I'd rather be dead then be in the presence of you."

"And yet I'm not so sure about that."

"What could you possibly say? You've done enough damage. Why would you let me live?" Mel looked at him with fire in her eyes.

"Well I mean you do me this one last favor, and you keep your life and I'll through another one in…"

"What?"

"How about I raise your brother from the dead? No illness. No broken, fractured or drowned bones."

Mel looked at him with wide eyes. "How?"

"Luckily for me, the fates don't really bend by my heavenly brother Zeus' laws, so with a few shakes of a hand, I get my worker bee back out on the board, and they get to play with the destruction that entails when the god of Heroes is too busy with other problems then to save the humans from my terrors. My death count equals their business. Bada-Bing-Bada-Boom." He looked to the soul count as it went up.

"They want me alive. What hell are you bringing to Hercules, Meg is a goddess now, you can't touch them!"

"See this is NOT the Melaina I hired how many years ago? Was it five? Or longer? I remember the red hot vicious woman who was out to get all she could, and would do anything for her freedom, and now I'm handing you your brother on a silver platter so you won't be lonely…that is when your not working for me…and this is what you tell me?"

"You. Can't. Touch. Them."

"But see that's where you're wrong. If you remember correctly there is a certain loophole. How do you think I had Hercules turned to human in the first place?"

Mel bit her lip.

"A little baby serum with a little bit of the juice of a certain little fruit of the underworld. For a god it takes much more then a bit of juice…or one seed but…"

"I…I couldn't."

"Your brother Mel-my-sweet. Or of course, you can go down the drain, throw your brother's life away and let your Auntie and Uncle live in the poor house for the rest of their days…"

Mel hated it. It felt selfish but it was for her family. She'd …she'd have to do it. But maybe there was a way out…she'd …she knew what she'd do… maybe.

"All you have to do is call the little goddess of strength of heart…honestly…is that the best old Zeus can come up with? Ask her for help, now that you're free again and with a little help she'll be my Prisoner…it will be fun having Megera as my little goddess slave don't you think boys? Haven't had one of those before?"

"Why don't you just do it to Zeus."

"One of the originals? Nope can't. Hercules I only could because he was a child…full power, full lineage… won't work. Meg is human blooded…she was bestowed a minor godly power…whatever the hell a strong heart is…"

"Fine. I'll do it." Mel said. "The moment that I do this, I better see my brother…"

"Standing beside you. I get Meg. You get your brother. I'd love to see the look on Herc's face when his goddess is chained to the underworld, and I get to keep her locked away at my side. Pray to the god of Heroes boys, because soon he'll be just another meaningless block head hero, who's gain is about to go down the drain." Hade's smiled widened and his eyes glowed, as Mel wondered how she'd fix this one, when she wasn't sure she even knew how.