Hades

Chapter Twenty Two - The Summoning

Part Three — Autumn

Chapter Twenty Two: The Summoning

Weeks later, the nights were getting darker and the days were getting shorter. The sun began to drift behind the ever swelling clouds a little more every day, and the cicada's song seemed sad and lethargic.

'It seems,' said Harusame one day, 'as though the summer is dying.' She looked over at the cat, sleeping out of reach of Cerbi on a chair, and smiled at him. 'Don't worry Honda-kun, I'm sure Treielle-chan will be back soon.'

After that night in the park, injured and abandoned by Iwanami, Treielle had rushed away telling Honda she needed time to think. Having only just found her again and rekindled their love Honda was devastated by this, especially as Treielle was hurt, but he'd held back from giving chase and decided to give the space she needed.

Harusame clapped her hands, trying to get Honda's attention. 'I took some photos a while back on a day out and sent them away to be developed; they should be back soon. There's a nature photo contest being held at school next month, I might enter if they're good. I got a very cute one of your boss covered in animals! It would make you smile.' She looked at him in sunny expectation but the cat did not respond. 'How do you suppose Hades and Uxi are getting on?' she continued, conversationally.

In time Uxi had made wonderful progress, her skin had almost completely healed, and against Hades' protests she had resumed her duties, and even begun to visit Harusame again. Unfortunately on that day, Uxi had returned to Harusame's apartment holding an important-looking envelope in her mouth, looking as ashamed as it is possible for a mail-carrying bat to look. On reading the contents with a grim expression, Hades had taken Uxi and departed, telling Harusame he'd be back soon. Despite trying not to be nosy, Harusame wondered where they had gone in such a rush together.

'Do you know anything about what's going on, Honda-kun?' she probed. The cat remained motionless but his tail danced like a snake.

'Not really, but the seal on the letter looked like the emblem of the gods,' said Honda quietly. 'Uxi showed it to me one time when I helped her in the office. Each god has their own unique insignia. That one looked like a thunderbolt.'

'A thunderbolt, eh?' said Harusame thoughtfully.

*

Meanwhile, Uxi walked with head down, following her master. The glass floors of the grandiose corridor revealed puffy white clouds beneath. This was nothing but a magical mirage of course, as firm ground separated the Council Building of Olympus with the blue skies of the human world, but whomever had designed the building had been very fond of putting on a good show. There were quite a few murmurs as they went by, and Uxi reached for Hades' cape.

'Ignore them,' he said, slowing down a little for her to catch up.

They passed into a large foyer with high ceilings and a staggering three-tier fountain in the centre, and neared a prominent suite, its door pure gold and boasting a large crest in the shape of a thunderbolt. A secretarial angel sat just outside in a cubicle, poking idly at a laptop computer.

'Well, if it isn't Uxi,' she said coldly, snapping at a piece of gum as she spoke. 'Never thought I'd see you back up here. Oi, you can't just barge in there.'

Her last comment was thrown at Hades, who had his hand on the golden doorknob. He gave her an amused look.

'So what, you're going to stop me? Heh.'