Chapter Three

Styx was a beautiful city.

Perhaps my favorite.

It grew every year as more and more creatures immigrated and plugged in roots. There were over sixty different districts, all home to specific social classes. From busy shopping districts to redlight districts, from the poor rundown docks to the high-class manors with long driveways and acres of property. The sound of music from every corner of the world, the hot spicy smells of cooked meat and warm fresh bread combined with the greasy street food passed out by vendors. Even with the weather colder than usual, people were still out and about, traveling to shops or work.

While I certainly couldn't establish a connection with anyone, it still felt like I was less alone surrounded by this many people. Even if I could not interact with them. I didn't even mind the occasional shove or bump from another patron.

I made my way through the center of town toward Theo's huge mansion just on the shoreline of the River Styx. His mansion was a fascinating combination of modern and gothic. Narrow arched windows, but sleek black stone and a flat roof. No guards stood at the front door, and why should they? Theo was terrifying enough on his own that most people tended to avoid him if they could.

I entered through the front door into a small foyer where only a couple of small black tufted armchairs and a front desk sat. Occupying the front desk was one of Theo's newer attendants, a small imp with pale grey-blue hair and bright blue eyes. He was tiny and fragile looking in appearance, but unlike most imps that smiled and greeted everyone cheerfully, this one eyed me warily and stayed behind the front desk as I approached.

"I'm here to see Lord Theo. My name is Rowan," I greeted. The imp nodded timidly and quickly turned to the computer, struggling to use the thing so he could look up Theo's schedule.

"He's free today," the imp said softly, "But not for long. Ah, but, Yiuwa is free all day. I will call for him to come see you." I nodded and stepped back, glancing at the imp, who picked up the phone and had to make several attempts to dial Yiuwa in before he hung up, looking incredibly frustrated with himself.

Imps had been free in Hades for a while now, but a lot of them were struggling to find their place in the world. They were so accustomed to being bought and sold, used as slaves, that when it came to actually participating in society, they were scared and confused by all the technology they were forced to use. Most of them remained cheerful anyway, but this one appeared to be buckling under the pressure.

I would have to stay clear of him.

I looked up at the sound of footsteps coming into the foyer. Yiuwa was walking down the hallway and entering the room. A shiver went up my spine as he approached me with a warm smile on his face.

Yiuwa was this... ancient being, the first creature to be cursed with the Beast in all of time itself. His race and species no longer existed, so he was a unique being in this universe. While his features were similar to those who made their home in East Asia, there was still something otherworldly to him. His almond shaped piercing yellow eyes that gleamed like gold coins. His long silky black hair was coiled into a loose bun, strands still flying freely over his shoulders and down his back. He was massive as well, so tall and muscular. His skin was a rich shade of caramel and black stubble was beginning to form on his jaw. He was built for raw power, and I had this brief image of him on top of me.

I wouldn't mind spending a night with him.

"Rowan," he greeted me warmly. And his accent wasn't bad either. Indistinguishable considering its origins, but incredibly sexy with strong vowels and Rs that rolled off the tip of his tongue.

"My apologies for calling you out on a day off," I said. He didn't stop until he was right in front of me, with only about two feet of space between us, and I still had to tilt my head to look up at him, and I was no short male myself.

"Think nothing of it," he said with a smile, "Anything I can do to help."

"Viviana sent me. Apparently Theo believes there's a way to translate the tablets Viviana has," I said, and Yiuwa nodded.

"Indeed. That would be my place, actually. I am well versed in a variety of languages as my form has existed throughout the universes prior to this one. Perhaps I can give it a go," he offered. I inclined my head and he seemed to brighten at that. No sooner had he finished speaking, though, did the front door to the mansion open and a guest arrived.

Or rather, a new member of the household.

He was actually as tall as Yiuwa. His hair was a thick mane of golden blonde that fell around his shoulders, his eyes a sharp shade of silver-blue. He was incredibly muscular and tanned. He looked like a biker model or something. He was decked out in a skintight black v-neck and matching leather pants with chains dangling down the side. I recognized him only after a few seconds.

"Adonis," Yiuwa greeted the male, "Theo will be right with you." Adonis inclined his head, folding his arms over his chest and it was a fucking miracle that shirt didn't rip off him. I turned to Yiuwa, who smiled at me again. Gods, that smile could break hearts.

"Let me just tell Theo where we are to go," he said. I nodded, glancing over at the imp, who was sitting with his head ducked down, his shoulders hunched. Yiuwa noted my look and turned to the imp, appearing concerned for a moment before smiling as he walked over.

"Mika, how are you doing?" He asked. The imp stiffened for a second, then looked up with a deep swallow.

"Fine. Okay."

"Have you figured out how to work the telephone yet?"

"Ah, uhm... Not... quite. It is very loud and hurts my ears."

"I know what you mean," Yiuwa agreed, making Mika look at him in surprise, "I, too, find phones to be a bit uncomfortable, but we shall get used to together, shall we? Perhaps try setting it to speaker, see, with this button here. Yes, with that you should be able to talk to them while sitting away, so there is no bother to your ears." Mika brightened at that and he nodded eagerly, testing it out to call the kitchen to see if it worked.

I smiled at that, watching Yiuwa step away as Mika seemed to perk up a bit. He was kind too. Very kind... I swallowed at that and quickly looked away.

"Baby!" The shout came from the hallway and everyone looked up as Theo came running into the foyer. The kid was like hell on wheels as he sprinted over to Adonis. He went from the floor and into Adonis's arm like a fucking cat. And thank the gods Adonis was as strong as he appeared to be, because he caught Theo up against him and held onto him. That stern cold face of his slipped as he held onto Theo, who kissed at his cheek. He set Theo down and Theo beamed up at him, holding onto his arms.

"You're actually on fucking time for once! Look at you, getting all punctual and shit," he said to Adonis, who shrugged a little.

"Well, hard not to get your ass in gear when someone sets your alarm to fucking Nicki Minaj," he said, giving Theo a droll stare. Theo grinned and gave him a shove.

"It worked, though!"

"Her voice is like plate breaking."

"Fuck off, she's one of my favorites."

"I'm not surprised. Her singing is as bad as yours."

"Rude ass!"

If that was no the weirdest relationship I had ever seen, and I'd been alive for a very long time. I had no idea what to say to the exchange, but there was a small warmth growing in the center of my chest as I watched Theo get up on his toes so he could kiss Adonis again. Adonis put his arms around Theo, cradling him to his body like he was unspeakably precious.

Theo deserved this. The kind of relationship where he could tease and be teased, where jokes were welcome. He had fallen apart completely after his relationship with the Egyptian deity, Sept, had crashed and burned. My assumption was that Theo would perhaps never find love again, as finding love after the first time was always hard. However, he'd proved me wrong. He was strong, like his father and his brothers. He was healing.

And so was Adonis. Last I'd heard of him, he'd been nothing more than a prize to the gods. They fought over him, used and abused him, until he'd become a bitter shell. He was cursed with a similar curse to the hybrid, Hannibal. He, too, could not die and suffered with the struggle. Until he met Theo, clearly.

"Yo, Ro," Theo said when he saw me, coming over with Adonis walking close behind him, clearly being an overprotective boyfriend, "Haven't seen you since the hospital. You look way better without the hospital johnny."

"Feel better without it," I replied. Theo smirked, then looked at Yiuwa, then back at me.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"Viviana would like my assistance in reading the tablets that she has obtained," Yiuwa explained, "I wanted to let you know before we left." Theo nodded.

"Sounds good. Take your time and let me know if you're gonna show up again tonight, because I just found this amazing fucking show about zombies that actually eat human brains and I am psyched. But Adonis hates zombie movies--"

"I don't hate them," Adonis said dryly, "I just don't see why anyone would want to eat human brains."

"You're not supposed to think about it logically," Theo answered with a very duh sounding tone, "You're supposed to root for the zombies to eat all the humans and take over the mortal plane."

"Would it really be mortal if zombies took over?"

"What did I just fucking tell you?" Theo demanded. Adonis smirked.

"Anyway," Theo drawled, turning to look at us, "Sounds good. Lemme know what you guys figure out from this whole thing. If we don't get anything useful, I may have a possible lead on another set of tablets, but it's in Yomi."

"The Japanese underworld," I said when Yiuwa gave him a curious stare, "They're very strict on who they let into that place, so it's going to be a tad difficult, but nothing we can't figure out if the tablets from Asgard don't work." Theo shrugged, putting his hands on his hips.

"I can always go with you," he said, to which Adonis made a strange sound and Theo looked at him challengingly, "I'm sorry, what was that?"

"Yomi also has strict rules on how to behave," Adonis replied flatly, "Somehow I feel like you going there would be like a bull in a china shop."

"I can't tell if that was a racist joke or if you're calling me disgraceful."

"Not a racist joke, but take it as you want it, and also yes. You are disgraceful," Adonis answered, but his tone was teasing and Theo's grin became one of a Cheshire cat. He glanced at us, though turned toward Adonis.

"Alright, well, whatever, see you guys later. I have a busy schedule today," he said, grabbing Adonis by the loops in his pants. Adonis smirked down at him and let Theo lead him out of the foyer. I watched them go, a brow arched and Yiuwa simply smiled before turning to look at me.

"Shall we go then?" He asked. I inclined my head, reaching out to touch Yiuwa, and I let the touch linger for a moment. I couldn't resist. There was a magnetic tug that left me briefly frozen when our skin connected, like an electric buzz racing up my fingers and into my arm. I looked up at him, and those yellow eyes seemed to heat for a moment. The moment lasted but a second before I teleported us from Theo's mansion in Styx to Viviana's in Inferi.

And of course, the weather immediately changed from a sunny winter's day to heavy overcast and sleet raining down from the sky. Thankfully we appeared just in front of the door so the porch protected us from the downpour.

"So it really does rain here all the time," Yiuwa murmured with fascination, peering up into the dark sky overhead. I nodded, unlocking the door and holding it open for him. He inclined his head to me before stepping inside, looking around with awe.

"What a beautiful home," he said, doing a full turn to admire the artwork on the walls, the paneled walls, "I've never seen anything so exquisite." I could practically hear Viviana's crooning at how happy she was that someone else loved her home, and of course, she had a weakness for attractive men, so she'd probably be climbing all over him the moment she met him.

"The tablets are in the office," I said, gesturing down the hallway before leading the way.

"Do you live here with Viv?" Yiuwa asked.

"Not usually."

"Where do you live?"

"In a house."

"But where?"

"Here's the office," I said, stopping in front of the door and opening it up. Sure enough, Viviana was waiting inside, sitting at her desk with the tablets. She looked up, then had to do a double take, her black eyes growing wide and sparkly as she rose to her feet.

"Hello," she greeted happily, putting her hands together and coming around the desk, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance formally! You must be Yiuwa, the ancient." Yiuwa smiled a bit sheepishly. He came forward and shook Viviana's hand politely, and Viviana seemed utterly thrilled that she had to tilt her head up to meet Yiuwa's eyes. She was a sucker for tall guys too.

"Please, just Yiuwa is fine," Yiuwa told her gently, "It's nice to finally meet you as well, though, I have heard your voice a few times while the Shifter kept me." Viviana blushed a little at that.

"Hopefully not too many times."

"I left you to your privacy when it was due," Yiuwa promised and Viviana seemed to relax a little at that, "Rowan tells me you need some tablets looked at."

"Right, yes," Viviana said, turning to her desk and waving us over, "They're ancient texts from Asgard. According to my sources, the tablets originated from Muspelheim. The fire giant, Surt, protected them until they were stolen and lost for some time. I had my children keeping an eye out for them since I read of them upon my arrival to physical form. They were spotted leaving a museum in Asgard last week. It would seem the Shifter is also attempting to get them out of our hands in order to prevent our attempts to read them and put the Shifter away. There's rumors that the text can only be read by an ancient as the language is unlike anything we have ever seen or heard. Even my siblings cannot read this and they created the first language in this universe, which means it is older than we think."

"That makes sense," Yiuwa murmured as he ran his fingers over the etchings, "It does appear familiar to me somehow, yet I cannot quite place the origin. However, I can read only a few symbols here."

"Would you mind?" Viviana asked, gesturing to them. Yiuwa shook his head, picking up the tablet and running his fingers from the bottom up and starting on the right. He spoke one word that sounded a little like not, but the next sound was nothing I'd heard of. It was a deep guttural click followed by a pop of his lips and a few other strange sounds.

"It speaks of the Shifter," Yiuwa said after a moment, "A being of pure evil, borne of the darkest parts of the Source and its creations. Only the most brilliant of lights can shine through it. The song is of light and of purity, can only be sung by the winged songbird once it's been freed of its cage."

"Freed of its cage?" Viviana asked. I glanced at her.

"Tristan. Perhaps the cage speaks of the cage he'd trapped himself in when he denied his identity and his own happiness. Now that he's found his happiness and is on the path to acceptance, he is freed of his cage, thus making him the winged songbird."

"That makes sense," Viviana agreed, "Does it say anything about the chant itself?" Yiuwa frowned, studying the writing.

"It's difficult to tell. It doesn't sound like the song itself is written here, only the circumstances upon which it can be sung."

"Which would be?"

"The winged songbird must be free of its cage, must be... glowing, like the center of the Source itself, must sing in the language of the Source."

"The language of the Source," Viviana murmured, then glanced at me, "Only my siblings and I know of it. It is very rare that another creature, even a fae as special as Tristan, can speak it." That made sense. I'd only heard the Source once in my life, and I hadn't even told Viviana of the experience. And as I stood there, listening to Yiuwa and Viviana debate what to do next, I could faintly remember the day the Source had come to me.

It'd been four months after the worst day of my life.

I'd been laying in the woods of early Hell. I'd heard Joxeia was in the area, so I'd been careful to avoid him as I set up camps at least a few miles from wherever I'd sensed him. I'd been staring up through the tall redwood trees, the bent branches grasping out at one another like arms. Overhead, the stars gleamed and winked down upon me, the souls of the thousands who'd died before me, all souls connected to the Source. I wondered if I were to die, would I be allowed to sit among them or would the Source entrap me in its darkest depths, to be used to mold the Shifter of legend.

And in that moment, it had happened.

I felt the soft hum of the universe around me. The sound of the insects chirping and buzzing blended into one hum, the whisper of the trees and the crackle of my fire joining in shortly thereafter, increasing the sound in my ears. I felt the sound reaching for me like hands, cradling me as if I were fragile glass. I closed my eyes, soaked in the calming sensation that washed over me for the first time in months. And when I opened my eyes, I found myself in some kind of column of light. The colors were many, some I'd never even seen or imagined before in my life. They swirled up toward the brightest light I'd ever seen, one that brought tears to my eyes, because I knew what it was, could hear the sound in the light that spiraled around me.

The Source's language was understood by all, but truly known by very few. I understood its call, understood its hums and purrs, its flashes of color as it twirled around me like a vortex. It wasn't violent, wasn't terrifying, but soothing. It was like being wrapped in a warm blanket, the light not blinding, but comforting.

But I couldn't hang on. I couldn't listen to it. I couldn't stand the encouragement, the coaxing, the gentle kindness. I didn't want it, was afraid of it, and rejected it.

And as quickly as the Source had come to me, it was gone and I was left so utterly alone once more.

"... go to Yomi then," Viviana was saying as I tuned back in, realizing she was speaking to me, "Find the tablets Theo was speaking of and let us sort this mess out. I should hope that you plan to accompany Rowan, Yiuwa, as he won't be able to read the tablets and Yomi will be unwilling to give up the tablets themselves."

"But, of course," Yiuwa agreed with the inclination of his head, "We shall head there immediately upon discussion with Theo. Of course, we may have to give the young prince the day as he has plans."

"Understood," Viviana said with a warm smile, and she put her hand on Yiuwa's arm, "It's been a pleasure to meet you, Yiuwa. I should hope you will come back again very soon. I would love to get to know you better." Yiuwa seemed delighted by that as he covered her hand with his.

"Certainly. I would be interested to know more about you as well, Viv."

I went to the door and held it open as Yiuwa bade Viviana farewell. I started to go out the door when my body suddenly decided to malfunction and become frozen, meaning Viviana had cast another spell on me and left me trapped. I ground my teeth together for a moment before Yiuwa turned to look at me curiously.

"One moment, please, I need to speak with Viviana," I said. Yiuwa nodded and continued down the hallway. I waited as Viviana shut the door on me, trapping me in the room with her and unable to move. She approached me from behind, putting her arms around my waist and squeezing me to her.

"He is a fine specimen," she murmured, stroking my chest, "I can see your eyes, the way they linger on him."

"I was thinking perhaps a night. Were you interested in him?"

"Not the way you are, my sweet. Make it more than a night," Viviana said softly, touching my chest up and down, like she was trying to coax me. I gave her a dull flat stare, despite being unable to move my head to look at her.

"I only take them for one night and you know that," I said. Viviana tsked and lifted a finger from my chest, letting her sleek red nail elongate into a claw that she tapped against my chest, right over where my heart was.

"I grow tired of your avoidance game, my love."

"And I grow tired of having to explain to you over and over again that I am not your child," I spoke coldly, and Viviana's claw vanished along with her embrace and her spell, allowing me to turn and face her, her expression clearly hurt, "I thank you for your gift as a shadow, but I am not your child and I am not your minion. I am your errand boy and nothing more. I understand you believe you are helping me, Viv, but you're only making things worse. Sooner or later, I'll have to abandon you too."

"No," Viviana snapped immediately, looking put out, "Absolutely not. You can reject Yiuwa or Simon or whoever else, but you shall not leave me."

"Don't be stupid," I responded calmly, making her eyebrow twitch like it did whenever she got angry, "I've already pushed this relationship too far. Soon, my curse is going to latch onto you more than it already has."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Viviana sniffed, and I rolled my eyes. She could pretend all she wanted, but she knew my curse had already harmed her. Her relationship with the Shifter had been nothing but a toxic lie and her heart had been broken, even if she didn't admit it. Diablo had nearly killed Xiphrus's lover, Michael. She lost her home, her realm. She lost half of her children to the Shifter. Did she think all of that happened for no reason?

"I won't repeat myself," I told her sternly, "If I decide to sleep with Yiuwa, it's one night. You can have him after that if you want him so badly--"

"I don't," Viviana exclaimed incredulously, "Whatever gave you that idea?"

"You pawed at him more than you did Hades."

"Why does everyone think that what I do is sexual?"

"Because you might as well have been groping his ass," I snapped, then caught myself, but it was too late and Viviana's eyebrows popped up in surprise before a slow insidious smile spread across her lips.

"Are you jealous?" She asked, folding her arms over her chest. I narrowed my eyes. It was rare I lost control of myself, but I guessed two brownies clearly didn't do the trick and I made a mental note to pack a few more for our trip to Yomi.

"I am going to Yomi," I stated, making her sigh, "I am going to decipher the tablets. We will find the chant. Put the Shifter away."

"And after?" Viviana asked challengingly.

"And after, I will do as I have always done," I answered. Without another word, I turned and left her in the office, heading down the end of the hallway toward Yiuwa, who stood at the door, admiring the furniture and decor.

And I hated the small twinge, so faint that if I hadn't lived with it for two years straight before, I never would have recognized it. Jealousy seized my heart as I looked at the spot where Viviana had touched him on the arm, where she'd took his hand, where her eyes had lingered on his back and his arms and his face. It was such a strong intense emotion that I was caught off guard by it, but I quickly rushed to stamp it down. Fear outweighed my jealousy easily.

"Shall we head back to Styx then?" I asked. Yiuwa paused at that.

"Have you eaten today?" He asked. I frowned. Aside from two brownies? Nope. Unless you counted dinner last night.

"No."

"We should eat first," Yiuwa decided with a warm smile, "I've yet to eat and it would be nice to do some sightseeing while we're here. After all, Theo is going to be quite busy most of the day. We have time to kill, as they say." That was interesting. Nobody invited me anywhere, except Viviana, because duh, and Simon, because... well, duh again. And most of the time, I denied the offer to avoid forming a connection, but I supposed Yiuwa wasn't going to be easy to woo into bed for a one-night stand. Perhaps going out to eat wouldn't hurt either... I hoped.

"Sure," I said at last, "That sounds nice." Yiuwa seemed to brighten at that.

"Excellent! Lead the way then, as I've yet to explore Inferi."

Sure, I thought as I led the way out of the house after grabbing a couple of umbrellas. I'd lead the way right through brunch and into bed for a few hours. I'd done it before anyway.

How hard could this be?