"I should have packed snacks."

"What?" Kara stopped walking, looking completely confused.

"I slept through lunch, and are we even going to get dinner?"

"Feed her." Deimos sighed. "Clearly Hades is not in the mood for guests. It's almost as if he knows what's coming."

I don't miss the look he gives me and roll my eyes before sitting on Kara's throne. She gave me a look but said nothing, as started to pick at the plate of grapes left on the table near her. The bottle of wine looked appealing too, and as Deimos looked at it, I held it up and passed it over to him.

"Enjoy."

"You're right. Even from here we can't get in." Cain closed his eyes. "He's definitely not having visitors."

"Crazy idea, is there a door?" All eyes are on me. "Clearly Hades needs a moment, Cain, you know we can relate to this. So, can we just try knocking on a legitimate entrance?"

"It's the Underworld, Elise. Not your apartment." Kara shakes her head, "This is pointless. Let's get out of here, get Elise dinner and-"

"I could eat." Deimos shrugs, taking a sip of the wine.

"There are other ways to gain entrance, I'm not sure how many may still remain. We could try, knocking?" Cain wonders.

"After dinner?" I ask hopefully.

"Yes!" Kara throws her hands up in frustration, before triggering the portal home. "Let's feed Elise and then get on with our plan."

"Wait, we have a plan?" I smile as she glares at me, and follow her through the portal. She's already storming down the stairs towards the bar and I chase after her. "Sorry, I get it. This is big for you, and we will find a way to the Underworld."

Apart from taking too much joy in waking me up, Kara had been in a mood all afternoon. Every failed attempt to get us into the Underworld seemed to find one more button to push, but the stress of seeing Hecate after all this time would get anyone a bit snappy. So far we'd gone into their home realm and another that was eerily similar, but no matter what they came up with, the Underworld was out of reach.

"No I'm sorry, I've been a bitch haven't I?"

"No, well maybe a little, but to be fair this is easily the weirdest double date I've ever been on too." I smirk as she instantly glares at me, and we both turn to the see guys walking close together, clearly deep in conversation. "I think they're becoming friends."

"Back already?" Eric frowns, appearing at the bar.

"It's a no go from there too." Kara tells him. "And Elise is hungry."

"Starving." I confirm as he glances my way. "Where would you recommend to eat for a doub-"

"Don't say it again. I will hurt you." She warns.

"Say what?" Deimos asks.

"Hungry." Kara snaps before I can answer him.

Deimos looks between the three of us, his eyebrow arched ever so slightly as yet again he acts like we just told him some kind of life or death riddle he had to solve. He leans in closer to Kara, lowering his voice so only we can hear.

"She's with child. Eating for two can not be easy. Be kind to your friend, Kara!" He scolds.

"Or she is the child." Kara huffs, while Eric and I try not to laugh and fail terribly. "See, look at them! Get back to work!"

Eric does as he's told and our little team of four regroup with pizza and drinks up in the Valkyrie area which is all ours as no one else seems to be here tonight. It was early, but the bar was busier than it would normally be at this time though none of that mattered as I finally got to eat. Trouble was, at the first bite of triple cheese, my stomach rolled and I dropped it as if it were poison. Grabbing a napkin, I spat it out and grabbed the bottle of water as it tasted as if they had used mouldy cheese or rotten pizza dough.

Pizza had been a bad idea.

Even looking at it brought on the nausea.

"What was that about?" Kara frowned.

"I can't eat it." I sighed, having more water. "It's foul."

"You wanted this and besides it's delicious." She argued, as Deimos nodded in agreement.

Fighting the rising acid at the back of my throat, Cain's hand was on mine as the familiar sensation of healing ran up my arm and into my chest. It helped, yet looking again at the pizza, every part of me still rejected it.

"What do you want?" Cain asked, ignoring the other two. "Clearly not pizza."

A million things ran through my mind and they all seemed like a great idea until I imagined eating them and I was left swallowing saliva while feeling all clammy and ready to throw up again.

"If you're not well enough to eat Elise, how are you going to go to see Hades? We can do it another time." Kara's concern was clear, but it also just grated on my nerves, right as I imagined breakfast this morning.

"I'm fine and we're doing this." I argued, pushing away the box ready to have another plate of Mums breakfast. Just seeing the buttered toast, fried tomatoes, bacon and eggs with those little sausages she always used, made me want to cry. "I just don't want pizza."

We carried on in silence until Deimos finished his glass of wine and with a nod, he and Cain stood up.

"There's two ways we could try and do this. Both are very old and most likely not even there, if they even existed in the first place. When I first came here, I attempted to contact Hades numerous times, local legend was that Lake Avernus was way into the Underworld. I don't know if it was just blocked from me, or if it doesn't actually exist." Cain told us, his face staying blank with no hint of emotion as he us about it. "I swam every inch of that lake, as far down as I could possibly reach. There was no portal. No sign of a way in. There's something there though, I could feel it, just enough to taunt me and keep me going back."

"I will go and see for myself." Deimos decided.

"Ruins remain of a temple to Apollo. Be careful." Cain added.

"I will go with him." Kara jumps up beside Deimos. "It makes sense to split up, we can cover more ground that way."

"So where are we off to then?" I ask.

"Cave of Hades."

"Sounds promising?"

"Be careful." Kara warned us.

"You too." I smile and she returns it, before turning to Deimos. He takes her hand and the pair vanish. "Shall we?"

Cain copies Deimos, taking my hand and suddenly we're being hit with strong winds and sea air. I quickly tie my hair up and look around, not seeing a whole lot. This may have been better as a day trip, and the sounds of the ocean told me it was nearby.

"Have you been here before?" I ask Cain, as he hands me a torch.

"A few times. The few times he came, this was one of Poseidon's favourite places and his temple was a sight to see. Even today some will say a prayer in his name as they pass by on their ships."

"He's the ocean guy right, so that makes sense. I doubt he's here for the rocks and shrubs?" There isn't a lot here, but the view even in the dark is beautiful. "So what are we looking for? I doubt there's a tourist hiking trail to take us right up to the gate?"

"Actually," Cain smirks, and still holding my hand we are actually on a path that leads towards the edge of the cliff. "One of these should come close."

We see a lighthouse, plenty of ruins and even more rocks. The whole time I can sense something, but I can't pinpoint it exactly. It's not the usual feeling of Hades, or another Power, but the back of my neck prickly and as we finally stop, I'm hoping Kara and Deimos are having more luck than we were.

"Do we give up?" I ask, sitting on a large rock by the path.

It felt like we'd been doing this for hours, and Cain was as unreadable as ever.

"I always thought it was because I had been banished, that the other realms and portals were sealed off from me. Maybe they never existed and have always just been stories."

"But what happened to inspire those stories? A few years ago, I never would have considered the possibility that those we called Gods existed. But they do, and while we have stories, there is a truth to them."

"Then why haven't we been able to find it?" He sighed, looking around again.

"Maybe things will be clearer during the day or the others might have had more luck?" I sense Kara as I say it, and shine my torch on her face as they come towards us. "Speak of the devils."

"Deimos is sure he found something, but it's sealed tight. We aren't getting through." Kara shielded her eyes before lunging towards my torch. "Quit it!"

She was soaking wet, and smelt like something disgusting that was now covering me. "You smell worse than I did when we left Medusa's lair!"

"If you are here, no luck either?" Deimos asked, ignoring us as we wrestled for the torch.

"I can feel it. I know there's something here." Cain told him.

"Me too."

"Why are you so annoying today?" Kara yelped as we fell off the boulder, and straddling her now, I grabbed my torch back.

"Me? I'm always like this. Why are you so snappy today?"

"I am not."

"You are too."

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Can both of you stop?" Cain growled, and stopping mid-slap, Kara and I both looked up at the guys.

"She started it." Kara mumbled, wiggling free to stand up. In a second she'd cleaned her clothes, and was now dry so copying her actions I stood as well. "What now then?"

"I may be able to assist you." Portia joined the party in her typical here but gone way she had perfected. "The Entrance is just down there, but you need to enter the cave and follow the water. You'll know when you enter, just be careful of those who guard it. You will get further with sugar than with spice."

"Nice try. What kind of trap did you set for us?" Kara glared at Portia.

"So now may be a good time to tell you all that she's on our side." I add.

"Surely you don't believe her?"

"I do. We don't have time to go over it all, but I well, I trust her. If she says we go that way, we go that way." I decide.

Cain is silent; he and Deimos nearly cut and paste copies of each other with the dark and brooding glares, crossed arms and tense posture. Portia hesitates as she comes a step closer towards me, and instead, just gives a little bow before disappearing.

"I'm going to need more than you trust her considering everything." Kara snaps, looking at Cain. "Tell me she's doing this to trick me?"

"Why are you so sure?" Cain asks instead.

"We had a big d and m while you weren't here. She said a lot, but to keep it simple, she forgot who she was as she got so caught up in her new powers and doing what Nieve and Adala wanted. I mean, I get that. I got a bit crazy with my new powers too." I look at Kara and her face softens just a little.

"I don't know. It just seems too convenient." Kara frowned.

I look at Cain. "You always say she has a soft spot for me. That last little meeting with the three of them really made her question things. She doesn't want to play their game."

"Let's see what is over there. If it's a trap, the next time the third makes an appearance she will suffer the same curse as all the others." He decides.

"Cain, that's not-"

"I don't want to play their fucking games either! Do you? If she has set us up, I am done. I have shown her mercy, I have been more than patient. Let's see how all knowing and powerful they are when there are just two of them."

He's moving back down the path before I can stop him and I am not willing to accept that as the final decision. Not when I know Portia was being truthful and just, killing her wasn't going to actually do anything.

"If she's right, then you have nothing to worry about." Deimos unhelpfully adds and follows Cain.

"Kara?" I relied on her so much, and when she didn't look me in the eye, there was no denying the sense of betrayal that followed.

"Deimos makes a good point." She sighed. "They both do, Elise. Think about it and with your head not your heart this time. Removing the Third would be a powerful move and-"

"You're not taking my side on this?"

"I am, I want to. Let's just, see what happens okay, and then reassess."

"I can't believe what I'm hearing right now."

"Elise-" I shake my head.

"Just go. I'm gonna sit this one out. I'm feeling tired from all the hiking and if you find a way in, come and get me." I sit back down. "Or don't. I'm probably not capable of much in this condition, I might just go home."

"You're being ridiculous."

"It's what I do." Deimos calls our names, and I point in their direction. "Go. Just go, there's probably nothing here anyway."

She leaves with a sigh and I just sit there. Their torches get distant and soon disappear completely, while I just stare up at the stars trying to work out what to do. I planned a big I told you so when they realised Portia hadn't set them up, but hated the doubt I now had that they could be right to question her motives. The wind eases, yet I can hear something rustling in the bushes nearby. I hope it's just a rabbit or something like that, yet the sensation of something paranormal makes me cautious. Slowly I sat up, and sliding off the rock started to go down the same path the others had. It had been a while, so either they're in trouble, have gone without me, or are still exploring; I'm going to go find out.

There's nothing out here, and I walk a little faster, careful of the loose gravel on the path. The feeling grows as I go further and further, only as I see the cave they had to have gone into, it's not my people that I see.

It's a dog.

A big dog.

He's sniffing around the entrance, wriggling down on his belly as he slides out into the night. As his head moves, I close my eyes, and look again, not completely sure I just saw what I think I did; three heads. The dog has three heads.

Did I fall asleep?

As if it senses me, it freezes. Two of the heads growl and the third one closest to me continues to sniff. There is light in the cave behind it, and I keep low, staying to the shadows as I creep around towards the cave entrance. The dog leaps forward, evolving into something the size of an elephant as he heads to the place I had just been. Its eyes are glowing red and taking my chances, I move into the cave. I barely get to start going in when the dog is back, moving faster than I expected and spinning around, those three heads with their angry eyes are glaring down at me. Spit drips from their lips and the sound of its growl is almost deafening. Instinctively, I hold my hands up at my side, and make a ssh sound.

"Who is the cutest three headed puppy I've ever seen?" I coo, its ears perking up ever so slightly, though as I feel for my magic, preparing to either defend or attack the second of interest disappears and it's back in attack mode. "Not a fan of Powers?"

I take a look behind me, and can see the torches that have been lit down into the cave further than I can see. Had Fido here come across the other three or was I the lucky one?

"Have you seen my friends? They're all dressed in black, very obnoxious and have a habit of wanting to kill things before talking it out?" I keep the sing-song baby voice I use with Olivia and the heads seem almost conflicted. "Hey big guy?"

One of the heads sneezes, and I shield myself from the spray which makes it growl again. Definitely does not like powers and as I take a few slow steps further in, it stalks after me. It snaps and growls ferociously, and as it squats down slightly, I brace myself for what's next.

It leaps forward, with claws like daggers stretched towards me, I barely dodge one of the heads as it snaps in my direction, and producing my sword, sends it into a frenzy and somehow I'm chased back out of the cave. It's then I remember what this thing is and internally kick myself.

Three headed dog.

Guardian to hell.

"You'll get further with sugar than with spice," I whisper, also remembering what Portia had just warned us.

I lose the sword and cringe as I stand there, bracing for its next attack as it charges towards me. Somehow it stops without slamming into me and once again frothy spit drips down onto me as I'm inspected.

"Cerberus, right? Who is a good little puppy guardian of the Underworld. You are!" I call out to it, and daring to look, I'm being watched like a hawk. "You don't want to hurt me, I'm too boney for a snack. And I know you're a good pup, aren't you?"

The head on the right sniffs me, coming right up close while the other two just stare.

"You're a curious little one aren't you." There was nothing little about this thing. "Who's a good boy Cerberus?"

Feeling brave, I reach out and touch it's cheek. It jumps away at the contact, but is back a second later and as I throw as many compliments as I can think of at it, we get to the point where I am able to scratch behind its ear. The other two soon want in on the action as it lays down, its dragon-like tail thumping in the cave entrance as I must find the good spot. Slowly he begins to shrink too, more Great Dane than monster size as he had been at the start.

"Wanna show me the way to the Underworld? Come on Cerberus, let's go find Hades." I make a start inside and he happily follows, the three heads banging into each other as they attempt to wrestle or something like it.

We go down, and down, the way lit for us and as it opens up into a large cavern I have to stop and take in the view. Rock-like icicles hang from the ceiling, looking beautiful and dangerous above us and as we keep walking, Cerberus races ahead and grabs something from near the cave wall. He comes running over with what I think is a stick or one of the icicles, only as it's dropped at my feet I realise it's a bone. He jumps around and barks, so against my better judgement, I throw it for him. I never really liked dogs, werewolves killed that for me, but this demon dog was something else. Wouldn't have to worry about Alfie with it either, as I'm sure he would consider eating something small and fluffy.

As I pass the area he'd got the bone, I stop as I see the body it came from. The rock formations weren't just across the roof, and the spikes that rose up from the ground had multiple bodies embedded through it. Some wore armor, others had feathered headdresses that would have been amazing to see new and not worn and decayed with age. Glancing up, there was a small hole in the ceiling and while I couldn't see anything above it, I had a feeling it would go to the surface, probably near one of those temples we'd seen earlier. The more I looked, the more bodies I could see. It would be an archaeologist wet dream down here, and looking around again, just how far down had we come?

"Oh good boy!" I patted each head as he returned with the bone, and threw it again for him, just as I could hear arguing in the distance.

Cerberus heard it too, instantly growling and losing his puppy demeanor.

"Hey, Cerby, come here boy. Cerberus." I patted my thighs, whistling to call him over and while he looked torn for a second, he seemed to have as much listening skill as Alfie. "Shit."

He bolted down the darkest passage, his bulk subtly doubling as he vanished from view. Any bigger he'd struggle to move around down here and taking off after him, the voices and growls only got louder until finally I found them all. Cerberus had the trio backed up against the wall, the river not too far from them and the subtle shimmer of a portal lingered further down. There were a couple of boats set in the sand nearby, and I knew that was our way in.

Knock, knock Hades.

"Elise? Get out of here!" Cain called out.

Oh right. Focus.

"Why?" Deimos' powers seemed void against Cerberus, and only made him angrier while Kara had the Gold Killer out and was battling the head in the middle that snapped and growled at her.

Cain managed to shield himself from the third as Cerberus grew to his full height here. "You're not. Funny!"

I took my chances, walking up beside the hell dog the head attacking Cain paused to look at me, before carrying on its attack. Putting my fingers to my mouth, I whistled, loud enough to get its attention again.

"No. Bad Cerby!"

"Elise, what the fuck-" Kara grunted as she went to stab at the dog again.

"Guys, weapons down. Powers away." I ordered, earning a round of complaints in response. "Cerby, these are my friends. Come on boy, look at me!"

I clapped, jumped and managed to slip in between the two sides. At the risk of using my powers, I shielded the trio and subtly made an effort to block their powers. This just seemed to confuse Cerberus, and the right head was back to sniffing me over.

"Not all powers are bad, okay big guy? We don't want to hurt you. No, you're too cute! Because who is the cutest demon dog in the Underworld?" I smooshed his face and the growls sounded more half hearted than going to kill you all. "You get more with sugar, don't you? Yes you do!"

Silence remained behind me and slowly releasing my powers, I focused on chin rubs and ear tickles as Cerberus began to calm down. Looking behind me, they were still frozen but Kara's sword was gone and the men were motionless.

"That's better. Now, we just need to get to that boat over there." I tell them, promising I would never baby talk to Olivia ever again after this. "Are you going to come with us?"

His tail wagged and slowly he began to shrink as one by one, the trio made a move to the water and pushed in one of the boats.

"Elise?" Cain called.

"Wanna come? We're going to see Hades." I ask the dog, heading that way as he bounced around ahead of me.

My friends got a bit of a stink eye, before he dashed across the water to the other side. His barks seemed to make the portal glow brighter and as I reached the boat, Cain helped me climb in.

"You never cease to surprise me." Deimos greeted. "Told you she would be fine."

"Thanks Deimos." I wave goodbye to Cerberus. "Be a good boy okay, keep guarding the portal!"

He barked and howled in response, and as Cain steered us through the portal Kara started to laugh.

"Only you, Elise."

"We still should have gone back. I knew that cage would not hold." Cain snapped. "What if he had gotten to her-"

"He didn't, and apparently I was the only one to listen to Portia. It was fine." We all stop as we go under an arch way, our boat hitting sand and Cerberus's barks still echoing around us. "Who is that?"

It wasn't Hades.

The cloaked figure stood at the end of another boat; this one more a canoe shape than the old wooden dinghy we'd just been in. It was gold, the soft light from the lantern making it shimmer and hesitantly we moved together towards them. A skeleton arm appeared from the cape, the boney hand opening towards us.

"Coin." A whispery voice demanded. Cain produced four, large, gold coins and the hand retreated. "You may pass."

Deimos climbed in first, Kara, then Cain and I. This was the Underworld I'd expected on my first visit, with a sense of dread and despair rising up from the black waters beneath us. I went to look closer, only to have Cain pull me back.

"Don't." He warned.

Instead I looked up at the figure steering the canoe, and froze as I caught a glimpse of the skeleton staring back at me. The whole Death image had clearly been inspired by this guy.

"Who are you?" I ask, ignoring the don't do it looks from Cain.

"I am Charon. I am the FerryMan." I heard the crack of his neck as his head tilted down to look at me. "Hush child. Styx will hear you."

The boat began to rock as if we'd hit a small swell, and he threw two of the coins Cain had given him into the water. Instantly it calmed down and we carried on until we came to a small jetty. Charon stopped beside it, and motioned for us to get out. As soon as we were, he was already moving away.

"Ready to knock?" Cain pointed to the end of the jetty where the mist was clearing to reveal a set of rusted gates.

"I half expected him to meet us halfway at this point." I sigh, and since that clearly was not going to happen, we kept going.

If a creepy graveyard was how he'd planned to decorate, he'd nailed it and more than once I found myself jumping at something that moved in the mist. We all did and the only one that seems unphased was Cain who led the way. The flat landscape began to get rougher, with hills and slippery slopes. The low level lighting only added to the spooky atmosphere and none of my previous visits had been like this.

Reaching the staircase, the flashes of gold on the way up reminded me a little of the throne room of Olympus and as we finally entered through another set of rusty gates, the set up was very similar. Thankfully Hades was on his throne, the skulls that decorated it more at home here as the air felt colder and from below us, the humming march of the spirits grew louder.

He looked bored, not moving as we started to approach and even more stranger than everything so far, the trio all stopped and bowed as we moved closer. I quickly did as well, remembering what Kara had said about Hades being King here. They were really going by the book today, yet just to his side the ruins of another throne caught my attention.

"And still you find a way in. Well done." Hades greeted, slowly clapping with fake enthusiasm. "What do you want?"

"We need to talk." Cain started, only Hades shook his head.

"No. Talks with you, all of you, never lead to anything good. I did as you asked, and now we know for sure The Furies are back. You should be preparing for them as I am. Leave. How do I know you didn't just lead them right to me?"

Hades was scared. He was keeping everyone out, not just us because he was scared of the Furies coming here. I wasn't sure what to say to that, or how that would impact our visit here today. Clearly whatever happened, had spooked him and I remember Kara saying he'd disappeared at one point, so where had he gone?

"Elise is pregnant." Cain told him, the words just coming out with no warning to any of us.

Well that was one way to do it.