Chapter Hundred-and-Fifty-Nine
**3rd Person POV**
The underworld was a vast world of abstract concepts being concreted. It was a place that did not exist to the naked eye. A land where people could only descend through portals. Of course, there was the physical manifestation at the very end of the world; a place that took many months to arrive and a journey that claimed the lives of many. However, there was a world underneath that world that was in fact the actual underworld. It was the land ruled by the King of Hades. Although, while Hades was the centre of attraction of the underworld, there were other kingdoms just as important. There were other kingdoms that ensured that things remained a certain way above ground. One such was the Kingdom of Time. It was because the palace of Hades was located in the same realm as the Kingdom of Time that there seemed to be no concept of time there.
“Who are you here to see?” a guard questioned Princess Eris at the palace gates. She eyed the guard with apparent disdain. Was it that he was unaware of her frequent visits here?
“I am Princess Eris daughter of the King of the Darkest Sea, I am here to see your King,” Princess Eris stated her purpose. On any other day she would have spat fire and curses on the guard for failing to recognise her but today she was in a hurry.
“You may enter,” came the response of the guard who was slightly shocked that Princess Eris had not made much trouble for him.
She was led into the palace and escorted into the throne room of the King. She knew the place very well but she adhered to the formalities nonetheless.
“Princess Eris, it is always a delight to see your face,” King Time said with a warm smile on his face. He knew the princess intimately.
“King Hades has met his end,” it was an accusation. It was true that the underworld was a dead end; those who lived in it did not have bodies that could walk the earth and those who wanted to live under had to leave their bodies above. So the concept of death was very vague here because there were no bodies, only souls. However, the king of Time could bring the end of a soul to an end quicker than the soul should be extinguished.
“Every creature has its time, Eris,” the King of Time responded with a smile.
“It was not his time, and you know it,” came her reply.
“Dearest Princess, do you accuse me of ending Hades? How could I possibly do so? He is Hades,” said Time.
Princess Eris narrowed her eyes at his words. She did not believe him.
“You did not do it for me, did you?” Princess Eris feared his answer but she needed to know.
“My dearest, you must not turn your back on the promise you made to me. Now that your husband is no more; nothing stops you from being with me.”
Princess Eris was afraid that he would say that.
“I owe you nothing.”
“It would be very interesting, you know? Time ends Hades for true love!” Time said with a huge smile on his face.
“I will not marry you; I can never be yours and nobody will ever find out about us,” said Princess Eris in a firm tone.
“And why is that?” said Time, sarcasm dripping in his voice.
“Because the household of Hades can extinguish your soul. Do you not think it's about time that your son rules in your stead?” Princess Eris teased. She was not stupid. She knew his hands were tied and he would never reveal their affair.
“What do you want?” quipped King Time.
“Perisphone. Is her soul really back?” asked Princess Eris.
“She is back,” returned King Time with a sigh. It had been a thousand years since her death and since her soul had been extinguished. No one would have ever thought that she could come back. It was almost impossible for such a thing to happen.
“Why? We destroyed her before; we put an end to her soul,” Princess Eris' voice bore fragments of fear.
“The soul that wanders Hades' palace bears a fragment of her soul. But she is even more powerful than Perisphone. Perhaps, you should make her your ally?”
“She is not stupid. She knows everything that I did to her the last time. I must destroy her soul this time,” determination rang in Princess Eris' voice.
“Do not look upon me like that, Princess. My involvement the last time almost cost me, my soul. I will remain an observer that I am supposed to be,” Time had made his decision. He knew that because he had tampered with the affairs of Hades' palace, history was repeating itself. If he continued to interfere, it would only cause history to replay itself at another time.
“You should know this: she is part of the reason Hades' soul was extinguished; her current is that strong. You must be careful,” advised Time.
Princess Eris however was not listening to him. She was devising in her mind how she was going to play her cards this time around. She remembered with delight that the Queen of Fae had not liked Perisphone. It seemed also that Lucian was in love with his former love again. All she had to do then was find a way to force the Queen of Fae to make Lucian leave Perisphone's soul.
“I will take my leave now, I have urgent matters to tend to,” said Princess Eris.
As Princess Eris turned her back to leave, Time looked at her with longing. He had his plans to have her for himself. He had not manipulated the times so Hades would meet his end but he was done waiting for her.
Princess Eris left the King of Time's palace but she was not going home. It was time to reconcile with an old friend.
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