Chapter Hundred-and-Sixty-Seven
**3rd Person POV**
The Fae queen did not interfere with plans to locate the twins even though she knew that the three of them were wasting their time. She was concerned however that Lucian was much too invested in looking for children that were not even his. She was not going to remain quiet while her son could be throwing away his future. She understood that Princess Eris might have the support of the King of Time so it was time for Lucian to intensify his efforts especially when his interview with the seven horns of hell was coming up very soon. The air had become chillier which meant that the fiery red moon would appear in the sky at any moment. It was very important for Lucina to be prepared.
“Son…” started the Fae queen during a meal with her son.
Lucian knew by the fact that his mother had invited him to a solitary meal and that she had used that tone to address him that she was going to broach the topic of Hades.
“Any moment from now the horns of hell will emerge to interview you and your stepbrother,” she said. She watched her son's face closely, hoping to see the burning desire she felt towards claiming Hades' throne on her son's face. His face however was calm like still waters.
“I am prepared for their tests, mother. You have no reason to fear,” Lucian tried his best to sound convincing so that he could put his mother's worries to rest.
“It is not that I fear. I just wonder, if you were asked to choose between Regina and Hades, what would you do?” questioned the Fae queen. The answer should be simple enough. Of course, Hades was worth more than Regina but Lucian could be silly about a girl.
“Mother, why do you trouble yourself with such things? I will do what is right for my people. I understand what is at stake,” said Prince Lucian but the Fae queen was not convinced.
“You could trade Perisphone's soul for…”
“Never… I will do no such thing. I will never stoop that low,” said Lucian. He could not believe that his mother would suggest that. They had had this conversation a thousand years ago and his answer remained the same.
“Son…”
“Father never chose Hades over you. He always chose you, he would have given up everything to be with you,” he expected that his mother who had known true love would understand him.
“He would not have…”
“Mother, I understand what is at stake, okay? Let's leave it at that,” Lucian did feel like there was something his mother had not told him yet but he decided not to pursue it.
****
It was really happening. He had been called to the room he had been preparing for all his life. The horns of hell had been summoned and they were the ones who would decide which of Hades' offspring would be allowed to contest for the throne. It helped that he belonged to the senior court but ultimately it was their decision. If they thought he was unfit for the throne then they would demote him to a junior court.
“Lucian, Prince of the most senior court, son of the woman whose heart is dear to Hades, what do you seek from us?”
It sounded like a rather strange question. He was here for the throne; he was here because he wanted to be the next ruler of Hell and the great Dead Sea. Why did anyone ever answer such a summon?
However, Lucian found himself saying, “My people have drifted between the underworld and the earth and there is no room for them in heaven. I want to make the underworld home to every creature that has no home and every soul wandering aimlessly. It is why the underworld exists in the first place.”
“What is your greatest fear? The one who reigns must have no fear.”
Lucian looked at the creature who had asked him the question. He was icky to look at. It was as though his body was draped in mucus. When he opened his mouth to speak, Lucian could see no teeth.
“That I would fail at everything,” came Lucian's response.
“Are you willing to give it all up for Hades?” another asked.
Before Lucian could respond to that question, the icky one said, “Are you willing to give up the soul of the woman you love?”
****
The first person Lucian was confronted with after his summon with the horns of hell was Regina. Her face was crinkled up in slight worry and her arms were folded like she was in deep thoughts. He could not break his gaze from her; he knew she was not Perisphone but the resemblance was uncanny that it made his heart beat like the first time he had seen Perisphone.
“How did it go?” she asked him, cocking her head slightly to her side. He had no words; what was he supposed to tell her? That the horns of hell had tasked him with giving her up for the throne?
“I thought you did not care what happened to me?” he asked, trying to keep a smile on his face.
“Don’t get any silly ideas. It's just that if you become Hades you could easily find my twins.”
“You think that Hades would be bothered with some children?”
“He would if they were important to the woman he claims to love,” she was serious, there was no laugh in her voice.
“Gina, you cannot possibly give up the twins, can you? I mean, even if having them would mean you give up everything?”
“The twins are my everything, I cannot possibly give them up. If I do not have them, I have nothing,” came Regina's response. Even if she hated their father; even though the sight of Charlotte reminded her of Dagen; she still wanted to hold them close to her.
Lucian looked at her face. She was right; she was always right.
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