The Cost of Betrayal

Chapter Twelve

    The Fates were watching the women below them talking. Clotho was worried about their plotting, especially from Cicily, She knew that if she felt put in a corner she would do something drastic. 

    "How could this have happened?" she asked her sisters, worriedly.     

    Atropos looked at her two sisters, and said sarcastically, "For heaven's sake, even Justice could see this coming and she's as blind as they come!" She was referring to their distant cousin that was diligent in doling out justice after the cruelty that left her blind was unpunished. 

    Lachesis chuckled at her sister's wit, she knew she could come up with some doozies when she felt like it. "You're not wrong there, sister dear. But is there anything we can do about this?" 

    Clotho smiled, "I already have, but this still has to play out." 

    Lachesis sighed, "This is so unfair to that poor child." 

    Atopos nodded in agreement, "But there is no way to fix this." 

    Lachesis tapped her chin with her niddy-noddy and was about to speak when Clotho interjected, "But I have, don't forget! Unfortunately, there are things the must play out." 

    Atropos huffed and crossed her arms angrily, "This wouldn't have happened if you'd have let me snip that damn thread." 

    Clotho shrugged, "We can't do it now. And we know that this is Hecate's fault. So she can suffer through this too." 

    Lachesis shook her head, "But that poor girl down there shouldn't!" 

    "Shouldn't what?" Came the familiar voice of Chronos as the old man strode into the room. He may look like a weathered old man, but those looks certainly belied his capabilities. 

    Lachesis smiled as he walked in, "This girl, shouldn't suffer." 

    "Who?" 

    Lachesis pointed at the viewing pool and watched his expression change. She didn't like the look he made.

    "This is the one Hecate messed up isn't it?" He asked sadly. 

    Clotho nodded, "Yes, I have set some things in motion." 

    Chronos agreed, but his expression was worried,  "I see that, will it be enough?" His question worried the Fates, he was one of the few that could do that. 

    Lachesis looked from Chronos to Clotho, confused, she was the spinner, and yet Clotho had set things in motion? She had heard her sister say it a few times, what could she have done?

    Chronos could see her consternation, "She's the weaver, so while you may spin, she can weave the story." 

    Lachesis turned to Clotho, "Then we need to talk." 

    *************

    Maura hurried down the school hallway, she couldn't believe she was late for class! She could feel her necklace bouncing gently beneath her shirt, giving her a soft reassurance. 

    She entered the classroom and slid into her seat, the teacher looked at her disapprovingly, "Miss Maura, you're late." 

    Maura looked up sheepishly, "I'm so sorry!" 

    "See to it that it doesn't happen again," he said sternly. He turned his attention back to the rest of the class, "Now, as you all know, graduation will be upon us before we know it." 

    He gave the class a minute to murmur their excitement to each other before quieting them down. "This room is full of talented individuals. And as such, I expect great things from your final assignments. I want your ideas for your essays and demonstrations before the end of the semester."

    The class murmured their disapproval, he shook his head, "You have two and half weeks to decide! There will be no excuses!" 

    Maura was quiet, she already had an idea of what she was going to do. She was more than happy to demonstrate this theory. 

    Birsha eyed the teacher, he had no idea what he would be doing, but he wasn't worried. His two new friends would bend over backward to learn his tricks. 

    ***************

    Hecate struck the mage forcefully, her face whipped to the side but she remained silent. Her son would be the most powerful witch in the world, she would be sure of it. 

    "How did you get to her?" 

    The mage smirked, "That is none of your business," she spat. 

    Hecate twirled her finger, watching as the mage's arm twisted painfully until it snapped. "It is my business, and you will tell me!" 

    The mage knew that she had to keep her secret, it would be the only way to protect her son. And be able to continue getting him to his proper teachers. "Desperate mothers will do anything for their children." 

    Hecate crossed her arms, "I can see that, who are you working with?" 

    Again, the mage pursed her lips together, she mustn't tell. It wasn't her being she was worried about, she would take a thousand punishments if it meant her son had everything he was fated for. She would keep this secret until her soul was gone, of that she knew. 

    Hades strolled in, he looked around with bored arrogance, "She is the one you're worried about?" He chuckled, "This mage is not as powerful as she thinks. It's nothing but an illusion!" 

    The mage swallowed, "What do you mean? He promised my son power! And followers that would revere him! That he would rule the world!" 

    Hades held his stomach from laughing so hard, "Dear, stupid, girl, he's as much a liar as you are a woman! He only said those things to you to get you to do what he wanted. He succeeded!" 

    Hecate looked from Hades to the mage, "How do you know what happened?" 

    Hades turned to his half-sister and smirked at her, "Because dear sister, arrogance knows no limit. And some witches are powerful, even in death. Which is why, " he turned his attention to the guards and the mage, "They are under special locks and keys." 

    "But she isn't that powerful!" Hecate pointed at the mage. 

    Hades shook his head, "Of course she isn't! She didn't make her son go to the future! She couldn't have left the cells without assistance. And she certainly should have never been able to visit that young woman." 

    Hecate was piecing together everything that Hades was saying, finally realizing what, or who was more like it, was behind this. Her mouth formed a soft "o" as she looked at the mage. 

    "I thought his father was a guard for the king and queen of Atlantis?" 

    The mage nodded, "He was." 

    Hades just chuckled, "That was what he called himself?" 

    Hecate asked, "What do we do now?" 

    Hades put his hand on Hecate's shoulder, guiding her out of the room and away from the mage. "You are going to do what you do best and punish the correct person. While I am going to go wait at the gates for my beautiful wife." 

    Hecate gave her brother a broad smile, "This is going to be so much fun!" 

    Hades nodded, his body reacting to the thought of his long-gone wife finally coming home to him, "That it is, sister, that it is." He began his walk down the hallway before stopping, "Oh, and take care of those horrible creatures that just had to hurt those children." 

    Hecate rubbed her hands together in cruel excitement, there were certain levels of punishment that she loved more than others and if you hurt a child or another innocent, she took great pleasure in exacting revenge for them. "Who first?" 

    Hades shrugged, "Your choice today." He continued his walk in the opposite direction of his sister towards the gates that allowed Persephone to enter. He just hoped she was in a good mood today. He missed her dearly. 

    Hecate all but skipped down the hallway, she knew that the morons that hurt the children would be easy to handle, so she started with them. Once she was satisfied that they'd be miserable for a few hours, she made her way to the more secure section of the Underworld. 

    She waved her hand over the locks and entered, nodding in acknowledgement of the stricter guards that had been placed. She walked to the cell door she wanted and waited. 

    "What do you want?" Came the voice. 

    "Is he yours?" 

    The voice laughed mirthlessly, "What do you think?" 

    Hecate chuckled, "I think you're one tricky son of a bitch." 

    The man stepped into the light, "You wouldn't be wrong, my queen." 

    Hecate crossed her arms, "Mavaka, you shouldn't have done it."