Ella's point of view 

important author's note at the end - please read! 

By the time the carriage had arrived in the Underworld, the streets were quiet and the sky illuminated only by the glow of the soft twinkling stars. My head lay lazily upon Hades' shoulder. I had twisted my body towards the window of the carriage, trying to catch glimpses of the scenery as we passed. 

However, the sky was too dark and the trees too thick for me to see anything. I closed my eyes slowly, trying desperately to fight off sleep. The cobblestones we rode over jostled the carriage now and again and I hoped it would wake me but nothing came. The road ahead was smooth as we drew closer to the castle of the night. 

I yawned softly as we approached the gates of the castle. Their wrought iron grip protected the castle from unwelcome visitors and enclosed the beauty of the grounds. I always had wondered who would dare step foot unwantedly on the palace grounds. Jason had, however, informed me that it was simply a protective measure. There were enemies out in the world and Kronos was not the only thorn that seemed to prick Hades' side. 

I found myself slowly snuggling in closer towards Hades and I watched the guards by the gate slowly open it for us. The carriage was warm and Hades provided comfort. I could feel myself slipping slightly into the awaiting darkness, but I willed myself not to. 

I watched in staggering wonder as the carriage drew nearer towards the castle. The grounds were illuminated by the stars and tall victorian lamp posts that were placed along the many pathways of the palace grounds. The castle looked warm and inviting, calling me closer as I drifted further into sleep. 

"Sleep now my sweet, I am here," Hades whispered into my ear. His breath tickled my cheek and I could feel his gentle fingers run through my slightly knotted hair. 

I felt one more yawn escape me before drifting off into the inevitable darkness. It beckoned me forward, wrapping itself warmly around me like a blanket of the night. I could subtly feel being lifted and carried out of the carriage, but then the darkness encompassed me fully. Sending me off into a peaceful slumber. 

The darkness felt more real than normal as if I truly wasn't asleep. It felt strange, to feel like floating on a soft pillow of air surrounded by onyx. It was eerily quiet, yet somehow peaceful. The dangers of reality could not follow me here. They did not threaten my existence or plague me here. 

It was then when I had let the pillow of air surround me, did the scenery change. I was suddenly no longer in a black abyss but now on a field. It was surrounded by an endless overgrown forest of evergreen trees that seemed to overtake the earth and threaten the gods above with their height. I turned around, letting my long dress drift smoothly across the ground. The other side of the field was surrounded by a staggering cliff face. 

It too threatened the gods, the mountain of stone pushing upwards into the clouds. Desperately clawing its way to Olympus, but never quite reaching. The cliff face was sheer and ragged, making it impossible for anyone to climb or conquer. 

I thought of how many may have tried and failed to climb the highland. The sky above was dark and grumbled with the threaten of thunder. I smiled gently, wondering who had pissed Zeus off. There was a calmness that seemed to wash over me as I ran my hands through the long grass. Taking in the beauty of the land before me. 

Zeus' thunder did not scare me, I knew that as long as I was alive the gods would not harm me. Even in the afterlife, their loyalty belonged to Hades and his heart belonged to mine. 

Suddenly a figure appeared on the other side of the field, dressed in an all-black military uniform. I had to squint my eyes greatly to try to take in the sight. He stood regally, his thick dark curls swayed softly in the lazy breeze. His uniform was decorated with shiny medals that dazzled in the peeping sunlight. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. He projected this power and darkness that seemed to seep off of him. 

Yet, I was not afraid, rather intrigued. He called for me, begging me to join him. There was this pull deep down within me, willing me forward. His wicked smile beckoned me closer, calling for me from across the field. It was then when my feet began to walk closer that I noticed the army approaching. 

They marched out from the protection of the evergreen forest and stalked their way towards Hades. Their horses were decorated with silver, their brown coats glistened in the sun that happened to shine through Zeus' storm. They were not our army, their metal swords glinted in the sun as they poised them towards Hades. He stood unmoving as he watched the army approach. 

The grin on his face seemed to widen as I watched in horror as the darkness surrounded him. It covered him and flamed out, like wicked fingers reaching out to grasp its prey. I felt rooted to the ground as I watched the horses and soldiers run towards him as if sprinting in slow motion. Their swords were drawn and shields out, the thirst for blood gleamed in their eyes. 

Yet, Hades stood unmoving, unbowed. He was a King and he would go down as one. Fighting and standing tall, the golden crown unmoved upon his head of black curls. He would rather die than bow down to his father. Kronos was the stoke that drove his fire and Hades was a fire that refused to die out. 

It was then, as I watched in slow motion as the army hurdled towards Hades, that my senses spiked. My gut suddenly twisted, warning me of another presence. One much worse than the army. My eyes scanned the wide expanse of the field, trying desperately to find whatever spiked this sick feeling within me. 

There, off to the corner of the chaos stood a dark shadow. Its darkness seemed familiar as if I had seen this Shadowman before. I strained my eyes towards this figure and drew in a breath. He stepped out from the darkness and cover of the canopy and into sight. He no longer resembled the shape of a shadow but rather that of a man. A man I had seen before, all the way back in Canada. 

It was the man I had hoped and prayed I would never see again. There in all his glory stood Theseus. He had told me to call him Theo all those months ago but the name felt too informal as if we were some long lost friends. He, however, was nothing but Kronos' little helper, one of his lapdogs that lick at every word he utters. 

I knew then and there that Kronos was near. Theseus would not leave Kronos for very long. He was like a tick that clung on for dear life, sucking the life out of everything he touched.

My mind was suddenly on alert, knowing that Kronos was near. I let my eyes flicker slowly over to Hades, the dark flames had taken over complete control and had forged a path of destruction. My attention turned back towards Theseus but this time he was not alone. A male figure stood next to him.

When he stepped forward I knew that it was Kronos, there was a flicker in my gut that warned me of danger. There was no guessing who this man was although I had never seen what he looked like. My mind screamed at me to run, to run towards Hades and protect him. From what, I was not sure.

My whole being twitched slightly under his cold and cruel gaze. There was something about him that irked me. He set forth a fire within the deepest parts of myself. It was anger I had never experienced before, a feeling I could not describe as anything but terrifying. 

My eyes flickered briefly towards Hades as the dark ribbons set ablaze the land around him burning anything and everything they could wrap themselves around. The heavy smoke that spiralled up into the clouds clogged my nose and I had to turn my head away in distaste.

Kronos noticed my slight moment of concern as I watched Hades. He cocked his head slightly towards me as if in question. A slow smile spread across his face and I could not help but feel sick at the sight. My insides turned and I wanted to empty the contents of my stomach but I bit it back. 

He suddenly took a large step closer towards Hades' direction and now it was my turn to cock my head in question. What was he doing? Did he want to feel the merciless sizzle of his skin as the ribbons of death gripped him tightly in their hold? I knew that Kronos would suffer the most, it was destiny. Hades did not take threats lightly and Kronos was dealing with the King. 

He took one more step, then another and before I knew it my feet had been released from their trance and were suddenly rushing forward towards Hades. Kronos was running too, his sword drawn and his lapdog not far behind him. It was just us two, whoever got their first would surely make the difference between life and destruction. 

I could feel every rock upon the ground as I ran barefoot across the meadow. My long golden dresses flowed out wildly behind me and the winds rushed past me. The storm had reached us and Zeus was not happy. My hair whipped around my face, sticking to the back of my neck as I pushed myself further. 

Kronos was just barely behind me but biting at my Achilles heel. We soared across the field, with one goal in common, to reach Hades first. It felt childish and funny to race Kronos, but it was a race that would determine the rest of time. 

We met in the middle, crashing into soldiers upon soldiers, pushing our way through the crowd of unknown soldiers. Eventually, I broke free into the middle, nearly falling into Hades but stopping myself before doing so. 

I called out to him, begging him to listen but he was too far gone. To bloodlust and hungry to hear my desperate pleas. Tears trickled down my reddened cheeks as I begged him to gain control. Kronos stood off to the side watching in happiness as I begged. 

Suddenly his grey-blue eyes met mine and they stuck. The darkness faded away, dimming to nothing but blue flickers of fire. They danced on his skin as I wiped away my tears, calling out to him. He reached his hand out towards me with a soft smile and I accepted. Letting him pull me into his embrace. 

It was then that I realised the harshness of war and the screaming of soldiers had died down. There was no clashing of metal on metal and no sizzle of skin as the ribbons wrapped themselves tightly around their next victim. 

All the horses and soldiers had vanished, simply drifted off into the air. There was no sign that they were even ever here. I glanced up towards Hades, confused about what was happening. I stepped away suddenly, scanning my eyes for Kronos. He stood off to the side, his hands in his pockets and a smirk upon his face. I scrunched my face up with disgust towards the god before me. 

"Be prepared my dearest Ella," Kronos whispered out into the air before vanishing completely from my sight. 

It was suddenly just us two in the meadow, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the realities of war. I wanted to ask so many questions but I had no idea where to start. When I finally managed to gain control over my raging thoughts and turn towards Hades, I was shocked at what I saw. 

There he stood, in a meadow full of flowers. Smiling sweetly towards me with his arms wide beckoning me to come to him; pomegranate juice dripping from his lips. 

..........................  

Hi loves, 

This chapter is definitely a bit on the shorter side, coming in at 2100 words but it is more of a filler and I so desperately wanted to get a chapter out for you all. It is simply a dream of Ella's but could hold a deeper meaning when moving forward, who knows?!

 I would just like to say a massive hello and thank you to all of my new readers. Wow! We went from 14k yesterday to 32k today! This is absolutely insane, I can not believe it! to all my loyal readers, you know who you are, thank you for supporting my story. If it was not for you I would never have been placed 1st in "love" can you believe it!!!??? I am forever grateful for all the love I have received. 

stay safe and tell people you love them,

lots of love, 

- s