Face of Death

Chapter 34

Why hadn’t I paid more attention in lit class when Tony—or Mr. Quimby as I’d called him then—was talking about Zeus? I racked my brain for anything I could remember. He was like the head honcho of the big Greek gods. He was the one who’d placed Ophiuchus in the sky as a constellation to appease Hades, who didn’t want all his souls being taken from the underworld. Oh, crap! I was still using Medusa and my powers to send souls after Hades. Was that why Zeus was here? Had Hades called him to do something about me? Was I about to earn a spot next to Ophiuchus in the sky?

I let my blood calm and stopped commanding the souls. Maybe I could still talk my way out of this. Zeus was supposed to be the god of justice or something like that. He might listen to reason. Zeus slammed his lightning bolt downward, hitting the ground with enough force to shake the entire underworld. I bet even the Titans in the pit felt it. His long, blond hair flew up in response to the gesture.

“I take it you are Jodi Marshall,” Zeus said, his sky-blue eyes staring directly at me. Somehow I didn’t think it was a good thing that he’d already singled me out.

“Um, yes, sir.” I debated bowing. He was the king of the gods, but I’d never been a huge fan of Zeus. I hoped he wasn’t aware of that little fact.

“You’ve been causing a great deal of trouble for me.”

I braced myself for what was coming next.

“Those souls you raised are wreaking havoc in the mortal plane.”

How could I have forgotten about them? I’d raised them to get Hades’ attention. To show him what Medusa and I could do together—how miserable we could make his existence if he didn’t strike a deal with us. I never stopped to think about what hundreds of zombies would do when they rose from their graves.

“I’m sorry. I had to get Hades to listen to me. To stop torturing me and my friends. I’ll release them now.”

Zeus put his hand up. “No need. I’ve already taken care of it. They are once again under my brother’s control.”

His brother. The way he said it sent chills down my spine. Zeus was Hades’ brother, and he was here to help him.

“Zeus, I never meant to cause a problem for you. Hades has been—”

“A jackass?” Zeus raised one eyebrow at me. “Yes, I’m well aware of what my brother is like.” He paced in front of the judges. “Why do you think I let him rule down here? He has the least impact on the mortal plane this way. It keeps him out of my hair…most of the time. But then you came along and stirred up all sorts of trouble for me.” He stopped and stared at me. Compared to Zeus, Hades looked like a puppy dog. Zeus was downright frightening. “I can’t have you disturbing the balance of things like this. When my brother is upset…well, it’s never good.”

“Are you here to take me away? Put me in the heavens with Ophiuchus?”

Alex grabbed my hand. Obviously the thought hadn’t crossed his mind.

“No.” Zeus walked toward me, stopping only two feet from me. “I’m here to moderate a deal between you and Hades. I won’t allow this sort of thing to happen again.”

Moderate a deal. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. I’d chosen to come to the palace hoping the judges would help us come to a fair arrangement. Zeus could help me make Hades agree to a deal that I liked. Or Zeus, being Hades’ brother, might screw the Ophi over completely. But Persephone had said Zeus asked her to go to the underworld to distract Hades. That had to mean he was on my side, or at least not on Hades’ side, which was good enough for me.

“Ah,” Zeus said. “Speak of the devil.”

A cloud of black smoke swirled in the palace doorway. Hades had arrived. He looked at Zeus, and his eyes widened. “Brother. Did we have a meeting set up for today? Perhaps it slipped my mind with all I had going on here.”

“No. No meeting scheduled, but my presence is necessary.” Zeus motioned to me and the other Ophi. “We have a situation. One I don’t feel you can handle on your own.” He looked around. “I take it Persephone has gone.”

Hades gritted his teeth. Great, Zeus had to remind him that, thanks to me, he’d missed saying goodbye to his wife. “For the time being.”

“Then I was right to come.” Zeus walked past the judges and sat in Hades’ throne. Wow, what a slap in the face. He was asserting his position over Hades.

Hades’ fist clenched. “I believe that is my seat, brother.”

Zeus rested his lightning bolt on Persephone’s throne. “As you are, in a way, being judged here too, I feel your place is down there with the Ophi you’ve created such an unpleasant feud with.”

Did Zeus just say Hades had created the feud? Maybe he didn’t blame me.

“You can’t be serious,” Hades yelled.

“Have you ever known me to joke?” Zeus’ face showed no emotion.

I raised my hand like a little schoolgirl. “Excuse me, Zeus. I have a deal I think would be fair for all involved.”

He sat forward in his chair, lacing his fingers in his lap. “Go on. However, unless the deal includes Medusa’s soul, which I can clearly see resting inside you, you should consider revising it.”

He’d sensed Medusa’s presence immediately. He really was more powerful than Hades.

“Actually, it does.” My voice wasn’t my own at all. It was Medusa’s.

What are you doing? I asked her.

What needs to be done. The gods have wanted my soul for a long time. I need to show them I’m willing to give them what they want in exchange for your freedom.

Medusa. Even my mental voice was shaking with emotion. I’m not ready to say goodbye to you.

I know, my child. I don’t want to say goodbye to you, either, but we must do what is best for our people.

What was best for the Ophi was having Medusa with us. Medusa, do you trust me?

You know I do.

Then let me make the deal.

It is your body. I will not speak through you again.

Thank you, Medusa.

I hoped this would work. “Zeus,” I paused, waiting for him to allow me to continue. He nodded. “I know you and the other gods want Medusa’s soul to move on to the afterlife where you feel she should be. I’ve discussed this with Medusa, and she wants me to take her place. To lead the Ophi and be the one to give them power. I agreed, but now I see I was wrong. I can’t become the next Medusa. There is no such thing.”

“Then there will be no deal!” Hades yelled behind me. He rushed to the throne. “Brother, she doesn’t want to give up Medusa’s soul, which means we do not have to go along with whatever she wants. Put an end to this now.”

“Wait!” I held my hand up. “I’m not finished. Please, hear me out.” Again, I waited for Zeus, ignoring Hades completely.

“Go on,” Zeus said, dismissing Hades with a wave.

“Hades has trouble ruling the underworld alone. That’s why he took Persephone. Only, she doesn’t stay here all year long.” I hoped reminding Zeus that Hades had kidnapped his daughter would work in my favor. “What I’m proposing is that Medusa’s soul will fill the gap Persephone creates when she leaves. She’ll help Hades rule—not as his wife, though, but as his partner. Who better to help souls move on than Medusa?”

Zeus wrinkled his forehead, thinking about my offer. Hades turned and glared at me.

Jodi, may I?

Go right ahead.

“Hades,” Medusa said, her voice coming from my lips once again. “You’ve seen what Jodi and I are capable of together. You don’t want an enemy, and neither do we. Jodi’s powers are now under control. As long as you promise not to interfere with the Ophi, and allow her to teach them the right way to be necromancers in their own world, then I will assist you for all eternity in Persephone’s absence. I will be nothing but helpful to you. Not as a servant, but as a partner.”

“I wouldn’t get your powers,” Hades said. “How does this benefit me?”

“You would not need my powers. I’d use them myself to help you rule here.”

Hades could pretend he wasn’t happy with the deal, but he knew as well as I did that having Medusa’s help was definitely going to benefit him.

Zeus nodded. “The deal sounds more than reasonable to me.”

“Hang on!” I said, regaining control of my voice again. “There’s one more thing. No, two more things. First, Medusa shouldn’t have to be locked inside some statue at the school when she’s on the mortal plane. Can you return her body to her? And second, if Hades should break his end of the deal, I want you to promise you’ll stop him.”

Zeus drummed his fingers on his knee. “As for Medusa’s body, I cannot produce it. As you know, she was beheaded. Her head was a prize of sorts, and I will not take that away from its victor. However, she can exist as a soul, much like she’d look here, fully in form.”

“Without the snakes?” I asked. “She was beautiful before Athena cursed her. Will you allow her to take that form again?”

“You’re asking me to go against my daughter now? Isn’t it enough that I am making my brother adhere to a deal with you?”

“Honestly…no. Hades brought this on himself. He came after me and tried to make me break our deal. If he hadn’t done that, I would’ve upheld my end of it.”

Zeus glared at Hades. “By your lack of comment, I’ll assume that’s true. However, Medusa betrayed Athena, and I cannot deny my daughter the curse she placed on Medusa as a result. She will remain as she is.”

I felt a tugging sensation. Medusa, what’s happening?

Zeus is trying to take me out of your body. It would be wise to assist him.

Even though I wasn’t happy with Zeus’ decision, I mixed my blood and released Medusa’s soul from my body. She appeared next to me, beautiful—except for her snakes—and wearing her locket, which once again contained her blood.

“How?” I looked at Zeus, who shook his head at me like I was an ignorant mortal. He was king of the gods. Restoring the locket and returning it to Medusa was nothing compared to what he was capable of.

Medusa removed her locket and held it out to me. “This is yours now. Lead them well.”

I took it, surprised that it was exactly as it had been the first time I’d seen it. Alex helped me put it on. My fingers rose to touch the precious bloodstone. I was never taking it off again.

I faced Zeus. “Thank you.”

He nodded. “Now, as for your second condition. If either you or Hades breaks your end of this deal, I will intervene. As I said earlier, I won’t have this sort of thing happen again. Balance will be restored, and it will remain. You know the rules, Jodi Marshall. And, Hades, you know them as well. Consider yourselves warned.”

I smiled, happy to agree. Hades, on the other hand, scowled. His hands had been tied.

“Now,” Zeus said, “seeing as Persephone is with Demeter, I believe this throne belongs to you, Medusa.”

She gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “I couldn’t be more proud of you, Jodi.”

My eyes teared as she let go of me and took her place on the throne.

“Hades, are we in agreement?” Zeus stood and moved away, motioning for Hades to take his place.

“What can I say? You’ve won, brother.” Scowling, he stepped up to the throne and sat next to Medusa. They were the strangest pair, but I knew they’d work together. Zeus would make sure of it.

“There’s only one thing left before I go,” Zeus said.

“Wait!” This wasn’t over yet. “Zeus, Hades took a friend of mine. Two, actually. Melodie is human. He killed her to hurt me. I’d like her back.”

Zeus nodded. “I have already returned her to her mortal life. She will have no memory of being here.” Maybe I hadn’t given Zeus enough credit. He was a decent god after all.

“And Jared. Hades killed him.”

“Jared was an Ophi casualty. I cannot reverse that.” He said it matter-of-factly and with no feeling whatsoever. That brought him down a notch in my book.

McKenzie sniffled behind me. We’d be having another memorial when we got back to the school.

“Jared will be with Matt and Amber in the afterlife,” Zeus said. “But Amber is in Tartarus and Matt’s—”

“They’ve been moved to the Elysian Fields. I have restored all the souls to the places the judges have deemed suitable.” Zeus smirked at Hades, exerting his power over him and the underworld. I could’ve hugged him if he didn’t scare the living dead out of me.

At least Matt would be happy now, and he wouldn’t be alone. I’d rest easier knowing that. But I’d still lost my dad. I knew better than to ask for him back. Zeus would never allow it. But maybe there was something I could still do for him. “Zeus.”

He cocked his head. “You are about to ask me for yet another favor?” His tone implied he thought that would be unwise but, well, I didn’t give a damn what was wise. I wanted to do what was right.

“My father, Derek Colgan. I can’t believe he was meant to be in Tartarus.”

“He was not,” the middle judge said. “We reviewed his life and determined he should be placed in the Fields of Asphodel.”

The Fields were better than Tartarus, but my dad would lose all sense of himself there. “Then I want to appeal to you all. My father was manipulated by Victoria and Troy. He wasn’t a bad person. He left my mother and me to keep us safe.”

Zeus raised his hand. “I can tell that you will not allow your father’s soul to remain in the underworld. You’ll raise him every chance you get.”

I started to lower my head but stopped myself. “He’s my father, Zeus. Wouldn’t you want Persephone to do the same for you if she were in my position?”

Zeus sighed. “Your father will serve my brother here in the underworld during the time that Medusa is at the school with you.” He turned to Hades. “Serve, not be tortured in Tartarus.” I was about to thank Zeus when he added, “And when Medusa is here, your father’s soul will return to the school to help you train the others. I suspect he’ll be a willing soul to work with.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks. I knew that was the best offer I could’ve hoped for. And while I also knew Zeus was only doing this to ensure Hades and the Ophi didn’t go to war again, I was more than grateful. “I can’t thank you enough.”

“You will thank me by ensuring this never happens again.” His eyes bored into mine so intensely that I knew pissing him off would be ten times worse than feuding with Hades. “Now, I need to get going, but first, Hades, you need to return them to the mortal plane.”

I didn’t even look at Hades. Instead, my eyes found Medusa.

“I’ll see you in a few months, my child.” She smiled at me the way a mother smiles at her daughter.

I nodded. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Hades waved his hand, and a swirl of black smoke wrapped around us, lifting us in the air. Just like when he’d brought us here, we couldn’t see a thing through the smoke. But soon enough, we were brought down to rest in the cemetery of the school. We were home.

There were hugs all around. Even Abby hugged her mom and sister. Things were going to be okay. We’d find a way to use our powers to help people. To save innocents who weren’t meant to die. We’d still have to raise souls from the underworld to train, but we’d return them. And best of all, we were going to have Medusa with us for part of the year. Not as a statue that only I could talk to, but as a soul we all could see and communicate with. The Ophi were going to be okay. Better than okay.

Tony approached me with open arms. “I’ve always regretted that I never had a daughter of my own, but I’d like to make up for it by being the best second father to you—when your father is serving Hades in the underworld, that is. Of course, it’s completely up to you. I understand if—”

I hugged him tightly, because he was the closest to a father I’d ever had, and I knew Tony would do his best to fill the hole in my heart each time my dad had to return to the underworld to serve Hades. Over Tony’s shoulder, my dad’s soul nodded to me. I smiled back at him, knowing he was glad Tony would look after me when he couldn’t.

Carol was already on her cell calling Mason. Her smile and the happy tears streaking her face said it all. Our lives were getting back to normal. She walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Mason said he wants to work with you to show you how you can be around your mom without putting her in danger. It will take a while before you get to that point, but in time you can do it. It’s his way of saying thank you for all you’ve done.”

It was my turn to cry. Being able to see my mom again meant the world to me. I threw my arms around her and cried on her shoulder. When I finally pulled away, Alex was waiting for me.

He wrapped one arm around my waist. “You did it.”

I wiped my tears away. “I didn’t think I was going to pull it off.”

“I knew you would. You’re incredible, Jodi. The Chosen One.” He smiled. “You’ve earned yourself anything you want to do. What’s it going to be?”

I reached up, draping my arms around his neck. “Anything?” Before he could answer, I pressed my lips to his. Being with him was Heaven to me, and I could stay this way forever.