Crowned in the realm of death Chapter 71

The next day

Hades found Hecate in the palace gardens, seated beneath the dark boughs of a pogranate tree. A book was open in her lap, but her attention was on Nixi, the small black cat who was contentedly kneading her legs with paws that shimred with a faint, starry darkness.

"Wifey," Hades called out, his voice cutting through the tranquil silence. "Let's go."

Hecate closed her book with a soft thump and looked up, one eyebrow arched. "Go where? And why?"

"To the upper realm. To Grandmother Gaea's temple," he said, striding over and plucking the book from her lap. He scooped up a protesting Nixi with his other hand. "We need to inform her of our... objective."

Hecate stood, smoothing the folds of her dark dress with a sigh. "And what of the mountain of administrative work? The legion's new armour allocations are due, and the spectra—"

"Co now, my queen," Hades interrupted, a charming, roguish grin on his face. He nuzzled Nixi, who purred in his arms. "Even kings and queens require a vocation. Isn't that right, Nixi?"

The cat in his arms blinked its brilliant blue eyes and let out a cheerful, "ow!"

"See? Nixi also agrees with ," Hades declared triumphantly.

Hecate massaged her temples, a fond exasperation on her face. "Very well. Let's go."

Suddenly, Nixi wriggled from his grasp. She landed gracefully on the ground, and in the space of a heartbeat, her form began to shift and expand. Her sleek black fur grew, her body elongating into a powerful, muscular build. Where a small cat had been now stood a giant panther, her fur the colour of a starless midnight, and her eyes now glowing pools of blue fire. She stretched her formidable forelegs, muscles rippling under her sleek coat, and let out a roar that vibrated through the air.

Hades and Hecate stared, montarily stunned by the dramatic transformation.

Nixi, the panther, padded over to them. She affectionately licked Hades's face with a rough tongue that felt like polished stone, then nudged Hecate's hand with her massive head before lowering her back in a clear invitation to ride.

"Wait," Hecate said. "Sebastian!"

Within monts, the butler dressed Titan appeared, bowing slightly. "Yes, my lady?"

With a flick of her wrist, Hecate conjured a scroll and quill from shimring, dark energy. She scrawled a quick ssage, sealed it with a drop of wax imprinted by her signet ring, and handed it to him. "Ensure this reaches Principal Amazel. Imdiately."

With that settled, Hecate elegantly mounted the giant panther. Hades settled in behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist. With a powerful leap that defied gravity, Nixi launched into the air and lted into a pool of living shadow.

They erged into the brilliant sunlight of the upper world. Nixi ran across the sky itself, her paws treading on the air as if it were solid ground. In less than a minute, they descended before the entrance to Gaea's sacred grove.

It was less a temple and more a perfect, captured piece of the world's heart. Flowers of every conceivable colour blood in wild, impossible abundance, carpeting the ground and spilling over moss-covered altars. The air humd with potent, fertile energy, thick with the scent of loam and nectar.

As Hecate moved to step onto the grassy path, Hades step where Hectate about to step. Hectate step on Hades' foot. She stared at his strange action. Hades's arm shot out, holding her back. "Wait."

He pointed to a spot where he just put his foot. Hidden amongst the lush grass were vicious, needle-sharp thorns made of petrified wood, glistening with a sinister sap. One of them was stained with a single drop of fresh, black ichor.

Hecate's eyes widened in horror. She looked at Hades. His face was a mask of cold, controlled fury, his jaw clenched so tight she could see the muscle twitch. He is holding back a torrent of rage. He took a deep, steadying breath and swallowed his anger.

"It seems we are not welco here today," he said, his voice deceptively light.

Hecate took his hand, her grip firm. "It's alright."

He nodded, then turned his face towards the grove, his voice projecting with the full authority of the Underworld King, making the leaves themselves tremble. "I am Hades. King of the Underworld. This is my wife, my queen, Hecate. We ca only to inform you that the Underworld will soon be made independent, separated from your earthly realm. The decision is made."

Without waiting for a response, which is clearly not coming—they turned. As they walked back to Nixi, Hecate cast one last, icy glance over her shoulder at the deceptive grove. 'I will rember this, Gaea,' she thought, her own anger a cold fla beside Hades's fire. 'This humiliation will be returned tenfold.'

They mounted Nixi once more. Hades gently stroked the panther's powerful neck. "Take us to the Isle of Crete, girl. Let's see how Mother and sister Hestia are doing."

Another leap, another journey through the shadows, and they arrived on a sun-drenched mountainside in Crete. Nixi shrank back into her petite feline form, leaping effortlessly back into Hecate's arms as they approached a modest, sun-bleached villa.

At the mountain's peak, under the shade of an ancient olive tree, Hestia and Rhea were sharing a simple al of bread, cheese, and figs. They looked up in surprise as their visitors approached.

"Hades!" Hestia exclaid, her face breaking into a warm, genuine smile. She dusted crumbs from her simple chiton. "What a wonderful surprise! And who is this?" she asked, her eyes twinkling as she looked at Hecate.

"Sister, this is my wife, Hecate," Hades said, stepping forward. "And this little nace is Nixi."

"ow," Nixi offered, raising a paw in greeting from the safety of Hecate's arms.

"It is a pleasure to et you, Hestia," Hecate said with a respectful incline of her head. "I have heard much of your kindness."

"I am well, thank you," Hestia replied, though she placed her hands on her hips in a mock scold. "Though I must say, brother, it's not very good form to not invite your favourite sister to your wedding!"

Hades blinked. "We haven't had a ceremony yet."

Hestia's smile vanished, replaced by confusion. "Then how are you married?"

"We, ah... accidentally perford an ancient binding ritual," Hades stated bluntly.

Hestia stared at him, unamused. "Hades. Do you take for a fool? If you didn't want us there, you could have just said so."

Seeing her husband flounder, Hecate smoothly intervened. "Hestia, I assure you, he speaks the truth. The event left us both quite dazed. It took us days to even comprehend what had transpired."

Rhea, who had been watching with a mother's quiet amusent, finally spoke. "Co now, Hestia. Your brother would never forget us." She gestured to the simple spread before them. "Please, join us. There is plenty to share."

The tension broke. They sat together on the sun-ward grass, sharing the simple food. For a brief, precious mont, Hades enjoys a mont of peace with his small family.

---

anwhile, in a tavern on the Central Street of the Underworld...

Amazel downed an entire tankard of dark, frothy beer in one long, impressive gulp, slamming the empty mug onto the wooden table with a satisfied gasp.

Across from her, Julie stared, her own glass of nectar hovering halfway to her lips, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and awe.

"Julie," Amazel slurred slightly, leaning across the table. "You know what happened today?"

"What... happened?" Julie asked cautiously, taking a slow sip.

"Day before yesterday," Amazel began, her voice rising with indignation, "a student asked to record my lecture on 'Interdiate Orbital Dynamics and Ley-Line Convergence' so he could study at ho. I said Fine! Today, his mother cos to my office. You know what she tells ? She tells her son hasn't been studying. He's been using my voice to fall asleep! My lecture on multi-dinsional mana theory is a lullaby! Seriously!"

She grabbed another tankard from a passing server. "And that's not all! I have to review a thousand student scrolls, approve the budget for the new alchemy wing, diate a dispute between the divination and necromancy professors about whose ghosts are more accurate…"

'Huh... she talks too much. My ears are beginning to bleed. Please, soone, divine intervention, save ,' Julie scread internally, her face a mask of polite patience.

Suddenly, a massive shadow fell over their table, blocking the dim tavern light.

Amazel's complaint cut off. Julie's hand instinctively dropped to the knife at her belt. They both looked up at a giant of a man cramd into a simple black jacket.

The man offered a slight, formal bow. "My apologies for the interruption. Lady Amazel. Lady Julie. I am Sebastian, a humble servant of Lord Hades and Lady Hecate."

He rummaged in an inner pocket and took out a sealed scroll, which he offered to Amazel "The Lady Hecate tasked with delivering this to you directly."

Amazel snatched the scroll, broke the seal with her thumb, and her eyes scanned the contents. With each word, her face grew darker. When she finished, she crumpled the parchnt into a tight ball and hurled it at Sebastian's chest.

"You tell my 'big sis'," Amazel snarled, her aura flaring with enough power to make the nearby mugs rattle, "that I will not do her work. And as of this mont, I quit my job as Principal!"

Julie stared, utterly stunned by the blunt rebellion.

Sebastian, utterly unperturbed, bent down, picked up the crumpled ball of paper, and placed it neatly back into his pocket. He offered another impeccable bow.

"As you wish, madam. I shall relay your ssage verbally."

And without another word, he turned and disappeared into the crowded tavern, leaving a fuming Amazel and a speechless Julie.