Daughter of Hades

Chapter 5

I smiled as I walked into the castle back in Tartarus after spending a week on earth, playing in the waters and hiking up the mountains. It was one of my memorable visits to earth as I had so much fun with my best friend as well.

I wish we can do this again soon. Well, minus the mission part. I rather have a relaxing vacation from the very start to the end. No worries, just lots of fun.

Fortunately for me, Rafael and us didn't cross paths again after that but I have a feeling the next time we meet, it won't be a pleasure at all. I knew he had a right to be angry from his side but still, I didn't harm him or anything.

"Ah, so my daughter is back after all" I heard my father's booming voice, successfully pulling me back to reality. I looked up and spotted him coming towards me eagerly, "I swear, I was going to come down to earth myself to retrieve you back to Tartarus" He said, shaking his head as he hugged me for a few seconds before letting me go, "I missed you, little one"

I chuckled at that comment, "I missed you too, father but you have to remember that your daughter is all grown up," I said politely to him. I always gave the respect he deserved, "I can find my way back to Tartarus. Besides, I wasn't alone. Fiona was with me" I reminded him.

My father narrowed his eyes on me, "That is one of the reasons my worry spiked tenfold" He whispered into my ear making me laugh again, "I don't understand what do you, girls, like about the earth anyway. Tartarus has it all" He said, pulling away to look at me again.

I didn't know how to explain it to him but I tried to choose the right words, "Tartarus is my home, father. While Earth feels like an escape from everything" I sighed, closing my eyes in bliss, remembering those beaches and mountains, "No, I didn't mean Tartarus isn't good enough. What I am saying is, I feel somewhat connected to earth every time I visit it" I added quickly when I cracked my eyelids again only to find him frowning at me.

Visiting earth always feels like a reward to me.

My father didn't look so impressed with my answer but he nodded his head anyway, "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say" He sighed before looking at me again, "As long as you don't move to Earth, I am good with you visiting it anytime you want" He said, looking at me pointedly.

I knew what that look meant, you better not think about leaving Tartarus to live somewhere else.

I grinned at him. I didn't want to leave Tartarus or him anytime soon so I agreed with a nod of my head, "Thank you father, you're the best" I said wholeheartedly. He doesn't know how I feel incredibly blessed to be his daughter. To be his creation.

"Speaking of Earth, Artemis is here" My father announced suddenly.

"That's not her real name, father" I reminded him. The Moon Goddess goes around telling she is Artemis or Selene to everyone but half of the deities know that it wasn't her real name. I asked her why she was hiding her identity and she said, she has a reasonable reason for that and once the time is right, she would reveal it.

My father made a face, "I know but she introduced herself as Artemis so she will be Artemis to me" He said in a strained tone.

I wonder what is that about, "Alright" I said, narrowing my eyes on him, "Where is she? Most importantly, why she is here?"She doesn't visit the Underworld without a reason.

My father's facial expression hardened and his eyebrows pulled together, "She came with what she claims as a gift" He said, shaking his head, "She is now in the gardens with your mother, casually looking at the roses she once gave us to see if we are watering it right"

I ignored his latter words, "Gift?" I asked in interest. What gift does she have this time? This isn't the first time she visited the Underworld with a gift and all of her gifts come with a responsibility to look after them.

"Yeah, that's what she says" My father muttered under his breath, seeming upset about it, "It is a demon. Ex-King of the Demons to be exact" He revealed it to me, making my eyes widen in surprise.

I was truly not expecting that. I thought it might another pot of plant or maybe a bird, "What he is doing here in the Underworld?" I asked, "Ugh, Artemis is going overboard with her gifts, father" I groaned, rolling my eyes.

My father nodded in agreement, "Apparently, he tried to create demon dogs by trying to bite Werewolves" He responded, "The King and the Queen of the werewolves managed to catch him without losing many from their sides and decided to hand him over to Artemis"

A huge disliking grew within me for this demon, "That sounds disgusting" I muttered. How can he go around biting people as he wishes? What is he? A toddler? "Seriously, what he was thinking? Creating life or species is not a King's job" I shook my head. Why he have to complicate things?

"Exactly" My father agreed, "That's the reason the Gods are here"

I let out a sigh and looked at him again, "Then why is he here? Isn't he supposed to go to hell or something?" I raised my shoulders but before he could answer it, I stacked another question, "Why did Artemis bring him here of all places? The leaders of the Werewolves handed him to her. He is her responsibility"

"Artemis feels like he needs some kind of redemption" My father stated bluntly.

"So?"

My father took a deep breath before speaking again, "So she brought him here and asked me to take care of him for a while" He informed me, "To see if he would change into a better man"

I couldn't help but frown at that, "Do you think he will?" I asked.

"I don't know, honey" My father smiled softly at me, "Everyone has an unpredictable side. Maybe he could turn into a new leaf or not" He said gently, "Who knows, her faith in him will eventually be fruitful and he might change for good"

I highly doubt that will happen. It sounded to me like it was hopeless to expect him to change after everything he has done, "I haven't met him yet but from what you're saying, I don't think I will like him" I admitted to my father.

"Even I don't like him" My father sighed.

We heard someone else entering the living room and both me and my father turned our heads to look that way to find Artemis walking towards us with her lips turned downwards, "Come on you guys, everyone deserves to have a second chance" She said, coming to stand in front of me, "Long time no see, Prosepene. Look at you, you have grown beautifully" She added, her eyes scanning me over scrutinizingly.

I opened my mouth to thank her but my father beat me to it, "I forgot to tell the part that he was previously born as a vampire and even then, he tried to endanger the werewolves" My father said, looking at me pointedly.

My jaw fell slightly open, "Seems like he already had his second chance" I shook my head at Artemis, "Why did you take him here, Artemis? You already gave him a second chance" I tried to persuade her, "Just send him to hell so he can pay for what he did in both lives"

Artemis shook her head, "Yes, I did give him a second chance but I believe I may have done it wrongly. I shouldn't have reincarnated him. He didn't know he was doing the same thing he did in the past life" She sighed, "What? Sometimes God makes mistakes too" She snapped when I looked at her pointedly.

"If he tries something funny while he is here, I will fry his mind" I threatened, crossing my arms against my chest.

Artemis chuckled softly, her eyes shining with mirth and mischief, "Believe me, you will enjoy his company" She said, her eyes holding a knowing look. I didn't know if it was just me or if she really looked creepy when she said that.

What game she is playing?

"Where is he now, father?" I asked, tearing my gaze away from Artemis to look at my father, "Did you put him in the dungeons yet?"

My father shook his head, "I gave him the cleaning job"

My father is a neat freak. Everything should be spotless to him so it didn't surprise me he did that.

"You made him as your cleaner," Artemis said, sounding a little disappointed, "You could have given some other job, Hades. He was complaining to me earlier and it took me some precious minutes to change his mind"

"If you're not happy then you're free to take him back" I shrugged, "It is not like we are happy with him here"

"Darling, you didn't even meet him yet" Artemis reminded me.

I clamped my mouth shut at that."Well, if he wants to cleanse himself into a new person then he should start with cleaning the place around him first" My father announced, "It is a job, a punishment, and an activity. One stone, three birds"

Artemis didn't look impressed with that, "That doesn't make sense" She shook her head.

"It does to me" I chirped, backing up for my father. My father smiled at me when our eyes met again, "He is right. It is a three-in-one thing"

Artemis now looked amused with me, "Always the one who defends her father in any situation" She said, the smile on her lips broadening.

My father and I exchanged a quick glance at that, "Ignore her" My father said and I agreed without hesitating, "Do me a favor darling. The new cleaner is now clearing out the mess in my second room. If he is done with that, then can you tell him to clean the library next?"

It seemed like my father already has a tentative for the demon in his mind, "I will, father" I said, "I am going to get some rest. Who knew traveling from Earth to Tartarus can be so exhausting" I grumbled under my breath before walking past Artemis, "Oh, wait, what is his name?" I spun around to look at the two again.

"Archie" Artemis answered, "His name is Archie"

For some reason, I felt a knot inside of me when I heard that name. Maybe because it sounded a little foreign or maybe because I was so focused on not liking him and him having a beautiful name like that took me by surprise. I didn't know why I felt surprised. Giddy, even.

"Noted," I said in a blank tone, "See you later father," I said before turning to the front to leave the living area.

"Good. I will see you at dinner" I heard my father say behind me as I exited.

I made my way towards the room my father mentioned all the while thinking about a number of things at the same time as I walked. First, it was about Rafael. I wondered what he was doing now. Was he still angry with me? Did he report to Ares about what happened yet? If he did, how did Ares react to it?

And I was also thinking about this Archie at the same time. How he is going to adapt to his life in the underworld? Will I have to infiltrate what he has in his mind to see if he poses any threat?

I was thinking so many things at the same time that my head started to hurt. I shook my head and climbed up the stairs that lead to my father's second room.

I barged into the room rudely and found a tall man with his back to me, working on something, "Are you the new cleaner that-"

My words died in my throat when the man, or should I say the demon, turned around to look at me in surprise, his eyes were wide as if he didn't expect me to be there and a second after his eyes softened and he studied me from the top of my head to my toes in interest.

Meanwhile, I stood there, completely frozen as I took in the beauty in front of me. I have never seen someone so handsome in my life. Not here in the Underworld or even on earth. This kind of beauty is illegal.

Artemis must have been in a really good mood when she created him.

I wanted to clear my throat and say something when his eyes shot up to mine and we locked our gaze. A low gasp left my lips when I realized something, "No way" I said, looking into those irises. I can't believe this was happening, "Oh hell, no" I shook my head to myself frantically.

How am I fated to be a demon like him? A toxic person who attempted to do something so bad? How in the world-

Then I realized something. This was Artemis's plan all along. She was the one who hooked me into this mess! Argh! She has to answer for what she did.

As I stared at him in disbelief, he too noticed the bond between us, "You're my soulmate?" He asked out loud in confusion before his eyes hardened and he turned distasteful, "You of all people?" He growled, flinching away from me in disgust.

Even though I was glad that the feeling was mutual, I couldn't deny the fact something hurt inside of me when he spoke that way to me.

And if thought he can get away with it after talking to me like that...