Please review and let me know what you would like to see included in the sequel to the Dead Chronicles: Our Lady of the Underworld.

The Dead Chronicles – Lovers, Liars and Heroes

Theseus's head felt like there were creatures trying to break out of his skull. He swallowed, grimacing as the sandy insides of his mouth burnt his tender throat. He twitched and the rays of Helios lit up the inside of his eyes. Cursing, rolling over and out of that terribly intense light, Theseus tried to rouse himself. Everything ached.

Too much liquor. Dionysus has cursed me this morning, he mused.

"You alive?"

He heard his friend Perithous croak out those words and seriously considered his answer. It took a long moment for his befuddled tongue to form words.

"I guess so."

His friend's bearded face swam into focus. Perithous was an imposing figure, wide and scarred from many battles, with a scraggly face full of coarse dark hair. Theseus examined his fellow warrior and was confused to find fear paling his friend's noble face.

"Do you remember our vows last night?" Perithous asked nervously.

Vows? Theseus attempted to trace back the events of last night and was amused to find great, black gaps in his memory.

"Remind me," Theseus requested. "What vows do you speak of?"

"The bet," Perithous retorted. "To take Persephone from the Underworld."

"Gods and goddesses!" Theseus suddenly felt wide awake. The terror in his friend's eyes made perfect sense. "Did we actually vow on the River Styx to attempt to steal Hades new bride from her grisly realm?"

The wine of the night had made them both lose their senses enough to boast of their command of women. Both were heroes, warriors, men in their prime and the alcohol had gone to their heads to bolster their sense of egotism to new extremes. Theseus had joked raucously about the accounts from the immortals of the new beauteous Queen of the Underworld, who had been kidnapped by Hades and bound to him. Perithous had suggested, in a tone heavily influenced by his drink, that the noble thing to do would be to rescue fair maiden from the darkness and in her gratitude she would show them her favours. Thus, they had vowed and dared each other to win her over.

"How could we have been so stupid? Go to the Underworld and take Persephone?" Theseus wiped his brow and felt cold sweat gather, shaking his nerve apart. To insult the Lord of the Dead was not an intelligent thing to do in any circumstances.

A cloud moved in front of the blinding sun and hid that terrible sunlight. It grew icy in the room where they had both fallen asleep at the table. Their goblets stank of the vile concoctions they had downed last night. Theseus felt hunger gnaw at his gut. What he needed was some food, some water and to wash his stinking, sweaty limbs. He struggled to a sitting position and then to his shaky feet. His friend moaned and then did the same.

Staggering, glad that the daylight was blocked by the weather, the two men dragged their protesting bodies out into the elements. To Theseus's surprise, it was darker outside and a harsh wind blew. It was unseasonably icy. Then, somewhere close by, a dog howled against the winds.

Perithous stopped and stared. "Well, would you look at that!"

Theseus tried to follow his gaze. Ahead through a thicket of blackened trees lay the glint of something… Golden? Perithous was already ambling towards it eagerly. Theseus thought of trying to warn his friend but his curiosity got the better of him. He followed, strapping his shield to his back and donning his sword, just in case.

The sounds of the great dog nearby grew more distinct and sent shivers of warning up Theseus' back. Something was very wrong here. The improvised path that Perithous trod ambled downwards sharply, as though a pit had opened up in the earth. But the soil was smooth under his boots and that lure of something gold was just up ahead. Theseus sniffed at the air. Something was cooking. To his battered body, it was irresistible, that strong scent of meat and potato and vegetables and fresh bread to dip in oils. Theseus hurried to catch up to Perithous.

"What is this?" he whispered.

"Someone favours us!" Perithous crowed in delight. "For see? It is a banquet fit for kings!"

They had reached a vast golden table, set with two golden thrones. Clear, delicious water sat in huge goblets to the left side of the thrones on the table and sparkled brightly, even though there was little light where the table sat. A banquet of fresh fruits, warm breads, sliced pig and fowl, crisp vegetables and succulent cheeses was spread across this lavish table. It was too tempting.

"Perithous…" Theseus warned, but his friend was beyond all reason at the visage of all that mouth-watering food, just lying before them. The warrior seated himself heavily at the table and moments later he was feasting, moaning at the quality of the food, juice dripping down his chin. Theseus sighed and slid his sword into its hilt and seated himself on the other throne. He joined his companion. The food was fabulous and Theseus quickly disregarded his inhibitions. He poured water and downed in huge gulps. It was divine.

The huff of that great dog seemed closer but both men ignored the sound of great, dripping jaws and the snarl of its breath that the living had been allowed entry into the Underworld by its master. Soft music began somewhere nearby, a lilting, trickling sound. Theseus couldn't tear himself away from fulfilling his desperate hunger enough to wonder at it.

The shadows around them drew close and spoke in a deep, resounding voice that made them both freeze in their seats.

"I am so glad you are enjoying your last meal."

Perithous attempted to rise and confront the unknown man who threatened them so but to his horror, he soon discovered that he had become fused to the seat he had taken. The flesh of his back was glued to the back of the throne. He threw his weight forwards and gasped in pain as it held him resolutely in place. Theseus noticed and tried to do the same. His legs were stuck to the legs of the chair where he had pressed onto them to reach the food. His back was stuck. His backside and thighs had fused to the underside of the throne.

"What is the meaning of this? I am a son of Poseidon!" Theseus betrayed none of his terror as he screamed at his tormentor. "I demand you release us from these thrones or suffer my father's wrath!"

"And what of my wrath, little nephew?" The shadows stirred and suddenly Hades materialised, holding the Helmet of Invisibility under the crook of one arm. Behind him Cerberus growled deep in its three throats, begging his master to give him leave to tear out the throats of the living heroes before him. Hades lifted one warning finger to the monstrous beast and Cerberus understood himself to be warned.

Perithous yelled and yanked at his chair with all his strength. Some skin tore away and he began to bleed but he did not come free. Theseus clenched his fists and his jaw. They would be hard-pressed to talk their way out of this.

"My Lord, please forgive me," Theseus began. "I did not know it was you who held us here…"

"Silence." Hades command was almost a hiss of loathing. "I do not care for your pleas. You both threaten my wife, believe you can steal from me and your own repulsive greed led you to this table. You have consumed the food of the Underworld; your fate is in my hands."

Perithous began to beg, his eyes wider than Theseus had ever seen. He realised with a start that the war veteran was on the verge of total panic. "Forgive us our misdeeds, my Lord. We were drinking. We didn't mean it. We would have never presumed to vow such a stupid thing if we were sober…"

"You presume much, indeed, to think that grovelling at my feet will secure you freedom." Hades intoned, striding down the length of the table so that both of the mortal warriors could stare upon his stony face. The god was handsome, immaculately dressed, with piercing dark eyes and skin fairer than either human had ever gazed on. There was no mercy on his visage. "You presume, perhaps, that marriage has softened my heart? That my swift hand of resolute justice has become lax after my wedding? You have discovered the depths of your folly."

The God of the Underworld took his helmet and wore it once more. The shadows swallowed him in seconds and the two heroes gaped, horrified, as his voice whispered from a distance, "my wife will determine you fate when she returns from her mother's abode. Pray that after she hears my account of what you had planned for her that she will somehow find the mercy within her heart to release you from your bonds because I have no pity for men who think to kidnap women."

Screaming, shrieking their pleas to the darkness, Perithous and Theseus were left in a dark, dank corner of the Underworld with the remnants of their feast before them, unable to escape their golden thrones.