Megaera's Demotion (WIP Preview) (Patreon)

   The sharp pain Megaera felt as the arrow pierced her chest was nothing compared to the humiliation upon realizing she had once again been defeated by Zagreus. Swallowed up by the River Styx, she soon found herself breaching the surface of the pool located in the foyer of the House of Hades. Upon her arrival, the wandering shades were knowledgeable enough to step to the side and keep their mouths shut. None of them were willing to incite the wrath of a Fury sister.

   Climbing out of the pool, Megaera let the water from the River Styx drip from her grey-toned, chiseled chin and face. Her elaborate outfit of blue and grey fabric trimmed with gold was dried mere moments after leaving the pool. A flick of her leathery wing and long grey ponytail were enough to free her of any excess water, but did little to undermine the sense of frustration burning behind her pink eyes. She wanted nothing more than head to the lounge and lose herself within several glasses of wine being poured past her pink lips.

   “Hey Meg!”

   Megaera shuddered, recognizing the annoyingly upbeat tone. “What is it Hypno? I don’t have the patience to deal with you right now.”

   “Wow, harsh,” the laid back incarnation of sleep said, his hands held up in defense. “Just here to pass along a message that Lord Hades wants to talk to you. It seemed pretty serious.”

   “Just my luck,” she muttered, digging her heels into the ground as she turned towards The Great Hall.

   Lifting up her head, she held herself with confidence as she approached the imposing figure sitting behind the desk. Putting down a scroll, Lord Hades leaned over his desk to properly look down on her. The fear and power emanating from his red eyes and twisted, black beard was still as powerful as the first day Meg had been inducted into the house as his servant.

   “Greetings Lord Hades,” Meg said, getting down on one knee. “You have requested my presence?”

   “I have, although you’re going to need to bow down much lower to even attempt to properly make up for your multiple failures.”

   Meg winced, already knowing what he was talking about. “Lord Hades, I’ve guarded the gates of Tartarus to the best of my abilities. Very few have seen the end of my whip and have lived to tell about it.”

   “Yes, but of those few, that boy is the most concerning.” Grasping a scroll, he tossed it in front of her. “On that parchment is recorded each and every time that he has evaded your grasp and sent you groveling back to my house.”

   “His skills are impressive. You should know considering how Achilles has trained him.”

   “The boy’s tendency to use his training to continuously defy me is one matter. However, I have summoned you here to discuss your lack of skills that have made it so easy for him to reach Asphodel time and time again. These repeated failures have me wondering if you’re going easy on him due to your relationship.”

   “It’s not like that,” Meg was quick to deny. “Our time together ended long ago. It has no effect on my ability to serve you.”

   Hades stood up and slammed his fists against the desk. “Then why have you failed to stop him so many times?”

   Megaera chewed on her lip, unable to come up with a satisfying answer for either Hades or herself. “I know that I have not lived up to the reputation of the House of Hades. Please allow me to make up for my lack of success. When next I meet Zagreus, I will do everything in my power to stop him.”

   “There will be no next time,” Hades said, sending a shiver down Meg’s spine. “From this day forward, you are hereby demoted. You will be stripped of your rank and no longer allowed inside of my house until I deem you fit for repentance.”

   “Lord Hades please,” Megaera pleaded, only to be silenced by Hade’s outstretched hand.

   “Save your words, they will not sway my decision. You can start earning your way back up the ranks and earn my respect through your new position.”

   Meg clenched her fingers together. “And what would that be?”

   “Can we tell her?” a voice called out, it’s familiar tone only worsening Meg’s mood.

   From down the hall approached two women similar in complexion and build to Meg. Leading the pair was Alecto, her red robes and sharp teeth showing off the unbridled rage she unleashed upon her victims. Following behind in a green robe and a ghoulish face that scattered away any lingering shades was Tisiphone, her glowing eyes locked on Megaera as they drew ever closer.

   “Hello dear sister,” Alecto said, a sinister, toothy smile on display.

   “Murder, m-murder,” Tisiphone added, acting as Alecto’s shadow as she stood close by.

   “What are you two doing here?” Meg asked, a hand reaching for her whip.

   “I have asked these two to help with the transfer to your new position,” Hades explained. “I doubt you would go willingly once you discovered that you would be taking up the role of a lowly Lout.”

   Meg’s anger and anxiety were replaced with confusion in a second. “A what?”

   “Don’t play dumb,” Alecto was quick to say. “You’ve seen more than your fair share of those obese brutes wandering the halls of Tartarus. I’ve tortured a few myself out of boredom, but it’ll be a completely different kind fun to see you turned into one of them.”

   “Lord Hades, please I-“

   Meg stumbled forward as her sisters dashed up to grab her arms. Struggle as she might, the Furies’ combined strength kept her firmly in their grasp. Between Alecto’s malevolent grin and Tisiphone’s blank expression, she couldn’t tell which was worse.

   “Take her out of my sight and get to work on the demotion process,” Hades demanded.

   “M-murder,” Tisiphone answered, she and Alecto dragging Meg towards the administrative chamber.

   “May your time in Tartarus as a Lout teach you something about loyalty,” he said to Meg, going back to his papers as she was dragged away.