The Redeemers

Chapter 24.1

Arianna straightened up and cleared her throat as the three women walked in. Megara sneered at the sight of her in the room but they all knelt down. "Lord Hades."

"What was it that was so important that you had to barge into my home?" Hades talked to them so coldly.

"Sir, it may be out of my place but this is something that only you should hear." The one she suspected as Tisiphone said her head was still down.

"What is a soul doing in the presence of you anyways." Alecto sneered.

"It is none of your concern why she is here and I gave her permission to listen in." Hades simply said. "Now speak or leave, choose."

They all stood up straight with their hands behind their backs. Cerberus snarled at the movement but Arianna simply rubbed his back to calm him. This movement seemed to shock the women but they looked right at Hades. "Sir, we are to expect a number of people in a month's time. It looks like a war is being prepped for and heavy casualties are to be expected." Megara spoke up.

"Oh? how many is to be expected?" Hades leaned forward listening intently.

Arianna felt a cold feeling run down her spine. She sort of expected to hear something like this but Hades usually sugar coated it for her but hearing it for herself frightened her. "Over a hundred and in a span of a day from Sanctuary Valley." Tisiphone replied.

Arianna noticed Hades stiffen and Arianna tilted her head in concern. "Where are we sending them?" Hades said in a monotone voice.

"It all depends on the outcome, that is the reason we came to talk to you. The names change constantly which changes the place we take them." Alecto stated.

"What?" He said Arianna was just as confused as Hades was. He opened up his laptop quickly and typed away. Arianna leaned over to take a peak at what he was doing and the looks of the women could kill but Arianna just smirked. She was curious he showed her the names and how they got sorted once before and he told her that it clearly showed where they were going to, if you clicked on their name you could see how they die and what they did in their life. He pulled up the date they said and the names kept on shifting as if it was undecided who would die.

"Do you know how we should proceed? Should we expect double the amount if anything?" Tisiphone was almost excited.

Hades fell back into his chair and looked at Arianna which made her lean back as well. "What?" Arianna asked.

"It all depends on her what will happen." Hades pointed at her and the others shouted in protest.

"You can't be serious are you seriously going to leave this decision in the hands of a child?!" Alecto protested. He gave her a glare that silenced her in an instant.

"I'm going to have to agree with her Hades what are you talking about?" Arianna asked confused. Hades simply pointed to the monitor and Arianna looked at the name but it wasn't one she would know but then it shifted and she bolted up from her seat. "Damian!?" Arianna turned to Hades and grabbed his collar. "What the hell is this about?!"

"Release him!" The women all surrounded her with a weapon drawn out.

"Back off!" Hades ordered them. "Arianna calm down and I will explain." He gently put his hands on hers. Arianna was fuming her breath was harsh and she felt her hands shaking and eyes burning.

"Those eyes..." Megara whispered.

"Shut up and leave the room. Now!" Hades shouted and they all left the room immediately. He patiently waited looking into Arianna's eyes and she saw that he was calm. "Breathe kid." Arianna took one breath in and slowly drew it out. "Good." He combed her hair back. "Now what you just saw was an outcome of what might happen okay?" Arianna focused on his words. "The reason it is shifting is because you are still undecided about what you want."

"So the war is...." Arianna tried to calmly say but it came out broken.

"Yes, someone is going to attack Mareen. Which in turn will force the city to fight back and with that-" Arianna cut him off.

"The Redeemers will need to fight, and with me down here they are weaker. Meaning Damian will die along with who knows how many." Arianna collapsed to her knees. Hades moved his chair and sat on the floor with her.

"Arianna. I hate to say it but you have a time line now if you want to go back or not. That list of the dead will depend on your decision." Hades looked at her in the eyes.

"But which one is the right one?" Arianna pleaded.

"I don't know, but this is your choice. Just know that either way I will help and support you." Hades hesitantly wrapped his arms around her trying to comfort her.

Arianna started to cry "I don't want to leave you... I love being with you and Cerberus. But I don't want Damian to die either." She clung to Hades. He just hushed her as he rocked her back and forth.

"I'm sorry." Hades said though his voice seemed hoarse.

"No!" Arianna pushed him away. "Don't apologize for my happiness. You have done more for me then my parents have in my entire life. I don't want you to regret making me happy. But..." She wiped her tears. "I can't let Damian die because I want to be selfish, he has done nothing to deserve that. I don't care if he would go to Elsyian fields. He deserves to be happy, to get married and have kids and to be an uncle."

"Then what do you want to do" Hades asked.

Arianna stood up and wiped her face with her sleeve. Taking a deep steady breath looking down at Hades "I'm going back."