"Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game."

- Voltaire

                                                                                ***

Sirius closed his eyes for a moment, shaking his head. He couldn't believe he was doing this. He couldn't believe he was going to take this risk. It was insane. He was insane.

Not insane, Galloway's voice whispered. Good.

Not good, he argued silently. Stupid. Ridiculously, dangerously stupid.

Her soft laugh was the only answer and he growled in response, hating himself. Hating that he couldn't just do what needed to be done. With another harsh growl, he opened his eyes and found Caydryn watching him with a raised brow. 

"You would attempt to cheat or trick the lord of the underworld?" he asked, incredulous. "Are you mad?"

"Jury's still out," Sirius muttered as he began to walk, fighting his way through the trees. "But...yes."

A scoffing sound came from the prince, who began striding through the trees, never having to so much as duck a branch. Dead leaves crackled like bone under his boots as he stalked past Sirius. Tossing his long hair over a shoulder, Caydryn gave him a scathing, weary look. 

"Why bother?" he asked, his pearly teeth flashing in the weak sun. "Why play with Fate when tempting her can only end in disaster? For you and your Huntress."

Sirius flinched, the last few words hitting him like thrown rocks. It was a damn good question.

That voice he was beginning to hate just a little offered, Because this is how I would do it. It's how you should do it.

"Because," Sirius said heavily, his shoulders slumping in acceptance, "what good would it do to save her, if she would just hate me after the fact?"

No good at all. 

He really, truly believed that if he did something too wrong for her to forgive, she would teach herself to hate him. She would run—maybe to Caleb, or Rhys, or maybe to nothing and no one. Even if she knew he had only done such terrible things to save her, she would still leave him with nothing more than painful memories and this new, wretched morality.

If that's what it could be called.

"Hate and love are the same thing," Caydryn said thoughtfully. "They simply wear a different face." He glanced back at Sirius again. "It would be best that she love you, but hatred is better than apathy, is it not?"

Sirius shuddered as Caydryn's words hit eerily close to something Hades had told him. He touched his tongue to his dry lips, unsure how to answer.

Once, he might have believed that hate and love were the same. Once, they might have even felt the same. But they weren't. Galloway had shown him the difference. He couldn't unsee it.

And he couldn't unlearn the ugly tangle of caring for another. She'd made him care, and she'd snared him in a thicket of brambles that cut deeper the more he tried to free himself.

So he might as well stop trying to escape.

Sirius couldn't help but shake his head. He'd been fighting that battle ever since he'd met her. 

But, he supposed, it had to happen sooner or later. You couldn't love someone as fiercely as he loved Galloway and come out of that fire completely unscathed. She'd burned away his inability to care, and he was just going to have to get over that.

"Let's just go with it's best if she loves me," he finally managed, his voice a dull rasp. "So, with that in mind, I'm not selling Alex out to Hades. I'm not selling anyone out." He took in a shuddering breath, wincing as a jagged branch scraped a shallow cut along his cheek. "I'm paying my debts. And I'm getting her out of Hell."

They continued walking in silence for a while. Sirius kept turning his head, trying to avoid getting his eyes gouged out while also scenting the air. They were getting closer to the center—hopefully closer to Logan and Alex.

"If you will not bring the girl to Lord Hades, how do you expect to deliver her blood?" Caydryn asked, his quiet voice twining through the wind that rattled the leaves.

"I don't need to—" Sirius cut himself off sharply, frowning. "How..." he began slowly, "did you know he needed her blood?"

Quickly, he turned over every interaction he'd had with the faerie. He was pretty sure he'd never mentioned Hades needed Alex's blood.

In fact...he was sure he'd never mentioned that.

Sirius turned to find a strangely blank look on the prince's face that flickered to wry annoyance. Caydryn snorted and kept walking, his long hair rippling as he tossed it over a shoulder. "I am no stranger to spell-work, Sirius," he said dryly. "Blood is the most useful—the most powerful—thing that can come from a human."

A small, knowing smile twitched at Caydryn's lips that sent a warning shiver down Sirius's spine. The prince continued to work his way through the trees, leaving Sirius to follow along in his wake. A frown wrinkled his brow as he watched Caydryn's back.

It wasn't the most convincing of replies, but, then again, faeries couldn't lie.

Still...Sirius decided that maybe it wouldn't be the worst idea to keep a closer eye on the prince. 

He continued to battle his way through the trees before he gave it up as a losing fight. Sick of being scratched and nearly run through by sharp branches every two feet, he called the darkness and shifted back into his wolf form.

A huff of relief came from his nose as he began to thread his way through the tree trunks. Branches and brambles still snagged at him, but couldn't draw blood through his thick fur. It didn't make his progress any faster, but it was a little less painful.

They traveled in silence for a long time, the crackle of leaves beneath their feet the only sound. Sirius searched through the ever-changing scents as they traveled, but nothing came close to what he was looking for. A small tangle of apprehension was beginning to bloom in his chest.

Logan and Alex had been in Purgatory for a long time. There was no way they had gone completely unnoticed by the monsters here. And even the best fighter could be overwhelmed by the kinds of odds they would have been facing here.

They can't be dead. Sirius didn't know if the thought was to convince himself, or to entreat something else. He didn't know if there was anything that would listen. All he knew was he needed them to be alive.

She needed them to be alive.

He lifted his head, nose twitching, but the only thing he could smell was the bitter tang of decaying leaves and the rich, icy scent of Caydryn. Heaving a sigh, he pushed through a patch of thorny bushes, just to stumble over a patch of raised roots.

A blast of wind smashed into him, blurring his eyes as he burst through the tree line into a shallow valley. Dead grey and pale yellow grass rippled out before him in a small lake.

Finally.

Sirius shook himself, crumbled leaves and dirt fluttering free of his fur as he stared down into the valley that held the portal back to Earth. The scent of something living called to him, driving him forward. He caught the scent of green leaves and sweet air, but it disappeared just as quickly as it came, once more leaving him with the death and decay scent of Purgatory.

Both he and Caydryn scanned the valley floor for any sign of movement, but there was nothing beyond the swaying grass. Sirius swallowed against a dry throat, reminding himself that there was a possibility that Logan and Alex had been forced to leave Purgatory.

Until he saw a body, nobody was dead. It was the simplest way to address the anxiety starting to flutter against his heart. He was still facing the same problem, though. If she was gone, he couldn't get her blood. If she was dead, he couldn't use her blood.

Like he was reading the Hellhound's mind, Caydryn murmured, "What will you do if the girl is dead? Spell-work needs warm blood, Sirius. Alive blood."

I know, Sirius responded crossly, then growled when he remembered Caydryn couldn't hear him. The wind ruffled his fur, feeling like fingers brushing along his back. He lifted his head, ears twitching and nostrils flaring as he dared to hope for some small clue or sign.

There was nothing.

So he called the darkness forward, pushing himself up onto his hind legs so he ended up on his feet when the darkness pulled away, once more leaving him in the shape of a human. He brushed his hands down his bare arms, knocking away the strands that wanted to linger.

He waited for his muscles and bones to readjust, rolling his shoulders as he inhaled. The cold air filtered into his lungs, making him cough.

Caydryn gave him a sideways glance, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Why do you not stay as the wolf? It is a stronger body."

Shivering in the wind, Sirius didn't respond for a long moment. He blinked as his human eyes adjusted to the color his wolf eyes weren't very good at seeing and flexed his fingers, the knuckles popping as they settled. His spine ached, compressing uncomfortably for a moment as it adjusted to this posture.

The prince's observation wasn't incorrect. His wolf form was faster, stronger, deadlier. It had a clearer mind, and not much of a heart, making it less susceptible to temptation. He'd known many Hellhounds who preferred to stay almost indefinitely in their canine forms for those very reasons.

But he never had. Sirius had always preferred the wildness that, ironically, came more often in his human form. He'd always preferred giving into temptation, no matter the cost.

Maybe his life would have been easier if he'd spent more time in his wolf skin.

Sirius shook his head at the thought. Easier, yes...but infinitely less of an experience. 

He started walking, the wind whipping his hair as he left the minimal shelter of the trees. He tried in vain for a few moments to brush the long strands out of his face, but it was useless. His now shoulder-length hair snapped in the wind, stinging his eyes and making him want to take a knife to it.

Caydryn kept pace with him, his pale eyes scanning the surrounding valley. He was waiting for a response.

Finally, Sirius got sick of the sideways looks. "Stronger, yes," he finally said. "But not necessarily better."

"Is stronger not better?"

Sirius shook his hair from his face, just to have it blown back. He hissed in aggravation before turning his attention to the prince. He thought about the question for a second before he slowly shook his head.

"Maybe not," he murmured, ignoring how the prince scoffed. Sirius didn't bother to explain further. It would do no good. Caydryn would not understand something he had just barely begun to realize himself.

After that, they moved in silence through the knee-high grass. Sirius kept his hands stuffed in his pockets, searching for any scrap of warmth. The air wasn't truly cold—not in a natural sense. It was more like it just held no heat, but his living body could only process it as cold. It was unpleasant against his skin, making him shiver as they walked.

Still, it was better than nearly getting his eyes gouged out every few feet. The deeper scratches he had sustained were still bleeding, the blood itching as it trickled down his skin. It was a relief to be able to see more than three feet in front of him as well, and scents flowed toward him unimpeded.

If they were here, it shouldn't take too much longer to find them.

Caydryn's hand came down on his shoulder just as the scent brushed past him. The prince's lips touched his ear as he whispered, "Something is watching us."

Afraid he'd lose the scent, Sirius slapped his hand away and hurried in the direction it had come from. Caydryn hissed like a cat, but followed. Then the wind changed direction and Sirius stopped dead in his tracks. He twisted back and forth, closing his eyes in an attempt to find that all too familiar scent again.

The soft whine of metal had his eyes popping back open as he whirled around to face Caydryn. Sword held loosely in hand, the prince was turning a slow circle. His eyes carefully scanned their surroundings, his mouth curled in a concentrated scowl. "Something is watching us," he repeated.

Sirius opened his mouth to warn the prince not to get jumpy, but the smell of crisp snow and sweet lilies smacked into him, short-circuiting all other thought as his tracking instinct kicked in. His mouth snapped shut and he took off running, chasing the scent through the sea of rippling grass. Caydryn let out a snarl of indignation before he caught up to Sirius, his steps light and swift beside him.

The smell led them farther down the valley, ebbing and flowing with each step. Sirius stumbled several times, losing Alex's scent repeatedly, just to pick it back up almost immediately.

Eventually, the trail became almost easy to follow. The sides of the valley began to narrow and grow tall, turning into a shallow canyon that they twisted through as Sirius followed his nose.

"We should tread careful," Caydryn called from behind him, but Sirius was far too focused to pay him any attention.

The grass began to give way to rocky ground, the shale slick underfoot as he continued to run, scrambling after Alex's scent.

He lost it. 

Sirius skidded to a halt, forcing Caydryn to nearly crash into him. Rocks clattered over the ground, echoing weirdly up and down the canyon, scattered beneath their feet. The scent had vanished. 

Cursing in frustration, Sirius walked a few more feet forward, but it was just gone. Behind him, he could hear as Caydryn let out a sigh. Frustration shredded at his nerves and his fangs lengthened, cutting into the inside of his lip as he snarled under his breath.

It couldn't just be gone. People didn't just disappear like that.

Sirius retraced his steps until he found the scent. He took a few tentative steps forward, and it disappeared again. Like Alex had just stepped into a different dimension, leaving nothing behind. Not even a scent.

He continued to pace along the length of the canyon, weaving back and forth, occasionally doubling back to the place where her scent remained. Caydryn dropped gracefully to the ground, sitting cross-legged with his chin cradled in his hands as he watched Sirius spin his wheels.

After a handful of futile minutes, Sirius finally had to admit he'd lost her. 

Resisting the urge to roar his frustration to the world, Sirius stalked over to where Caydryn was sitting with his eyes closed. The prince cracked open an eye when Sirius crouched down beside him, but didn't say anything.

He picked up a handful of loose pebbles, bouncing them in his palm. He focused on each individual stone, trying to calm his temper. Some glittered with tiny chips of quartz, shiny even in the dull light. Sirius looked up, turning his head to gaze down the unexplored length of the canyon.

The unforgiving rock gave nothing away. The scent was gone. There was simply no trail to follow.

"How could it just disappear?" he said softly, more to himself than anything else. In the span of his very long life, he'd never had a trail simply disappear on him like that. Sirius stood up sharply, chucking the handful of stones at the ground.

They scattered, the sound of stone striking stone echoing along the sheer walls surrounding them. Caydryn hissed in warning, uncoiling to his feet. His hand went to the hilt at his shoulder, his ivory eyes sweeping along the tops of the canyon walls. Sirius snorted as he shoved his hands back into his pockets and began walking.

"Something is watching," Caydryn said again.

Sirius ignored the prince. Something was always watching in Purgatory. 

Since he had no better course of action, Sirius decided they might as well continue pressing forward. His foul mood demanded action.

Caydryn followed warily, hand still resting on the hilt of his sword. Sirius cast a glance over his shoulder, images of that wolf pack flashing in his mind. He slowed a little, letting the prince draw nearer. He needed to make sure Caydryn didn't try to kill Alex or Logan—accidentally or otherwise.

"Her companion," Caydryn said suddenly, "he is Rhys' brother, is he not?"

Sirius slid a sideways look at him. Then he remembered that Caydryn had seemed to know of Rhys' one weakness, pointing out that Sirius was not after Logan. He was after Alex.

"Yes," he said brusquely.

"Could he not have cast some enchantment to hide himself and the girl?" Caydryn asked.

Sirius slowed, brow wrinkling as he mulled that thought over. Magic did work in Purgatory, but its effects were somewhat muted. "Maybe," he murmured. "I don't..." He sighed and could practically feel as time moved against him. "Maybe."

He looked up at the sun, but it never moved so it was impossible to tell how long he'd been here. 

Too long. 

Sirius flinched at the soft voice and at the reminder. Every moment she spent in Hell was a moment too long. He shook himself, then began walking again. If Logan had set up some sort of spell or enchantment, Sirius wasn't sure that he would be able to find so much as a hair. He was good, but Logan was one of the more powerful witches he had ever met.

He began walking again, head bowed slightly.

"Sirius," Caydryn said softly, but he didn't respond, lost in thought about what he would do if they really couldn't find Alex.

He was starting to run out of cards to play.

"Sirius, we—"

Blackness swallowed his vision, his knees buckling as the world spun away.