It was a no-brainer. Queen and I joined Bryce to stand down.

My scepter could give a nastier death than their guns ever could. It even had the power to set whoever it stabbed on fire. But something about their guns and scowling faces made me think I wouldn't come out of this alive if I didn't cooperate.

"Wise choice," the man with the skull-headed cane remarked before pointing at my scepter. "Now, pass that artifact you've got there and get in the car."

Rage boiled inside me. I could toss the scepter alright--with its points facing this guy's chest.

Considering that we were under duress, I didn't carry on with that plan. Instead, I silently wished Queen brought her glimmering crossbow which was stowed away at my family mansion. A weapon that could generate multiple bolts of pure light would come in handy right about now.

"Damn," Queen cursed under her breath. "If only I had my crossbow."

The brooding man barked. "Did I speak French? Toss the artifact!"

Come on father, I mentally prayed. If there's a better time to show you have my back, it's now.

Nothing. Just a spike of impatience in 'Mr. Grey and black hair.' His lips parted to issue a command which was cut short by my weapon flying vertically through the air.

The henchman closest to me caught it and a smirk tugged on their boss's lips.

"Now, into the car."

As we ducked inside, the henchman slammed the door shut. It was just us and a driver wearing some sort of gas mask.

"Night, night, kids." He whipped around, spraying the content of a black unlabelled spray can in front of our faces. I frantically reached for the door but to my dismay, it was locked.

Nothing sucked like unexpected misfortune. My vision became blurry, my mind foggy. Bryce and Queen were already knocked out. I clenched my fist, intending to swing at the driver but darkness washed over me.

***
"Ugh..." I stirred awake in a dimly lit room. Flaming torches on the walls barely did much to dispel the darkness.

Beside me on the oxblood sofa were Bryce and Queen, still unconscious.

"Guys," I shook Queen's shoulder. "Guys, wake up."

"You're awake already." A voice commented from across me. Shifting my gaze, I saw a man rise from the opposite sofa. Low-cut hairstyle,  scruffy beard, clad in a crimson cloak. "Master!" He faced an arching doorway by the corner. "They're up!"

My hands and legs are free. Free to run, fight, or wield my....

With a squeeze of my fist,  realization dawned on me. I surrendered my greatest weapon.

"Ahh..."  A raspy voice came from the darkness beyond the doorway. The 'master' emerged. He was middle-aged,  with grey streaks mingled in his side-parted black hair. Five other men came in after him, all clad in red robes. The leading one carried a tray with two black ceramic cups.

The man who reported my awakening bowed and took a new position behind the couch.

"Fascinating," their leader eased into the couch taking up as much space as he possibly could.  "The chemical that you inhaled was potent enough to knock an average person out for hours." He frowned. "Yet here you are, awake after barely half an hour. Perhaps you too have tasted of divinity."

Pissed, confused,  restless, these were but a few words that encapsulated how I was feeling. "What's your deal with us? Who are you?"

He snapped his fingers and the henchman with the teacups stepped forward. He held the cups under the noses of Queen and Bryce. Instantly,  their eyes snapped open, and their faces contorted in disgust. 

"Bleh!" Bryce gagged. "What is that stench? Where am I?"

"I think I'm gonna puke." Queen mumbled. "Hey, where are we?"

"Let me formally introduce myself," the master adjusted his red tie. "I'm sure you must have heard the name Rupert Blood."

Queen stifled a laugh. "Sorry, sorry.  It's just the way you said those last two words with a thick accent."

Bryce rubbed his shoulders. "Is...is there a consequence if we haven't heard the name before?"

Rupert Blood grimaced. "How is that even possible? My name is all over the news. Everyone watches cable news."

Queen choked back another laugh. "Oh my days, we've been kidnapped by a gramps."

I scanned the room, trying to formulate an escape plan. It was a vintage living room, a bit similar to the living rooms in my family mansion. But it had a darker theme and torches for light instead of bulbs. At the right corner of the room in between two torches, was a marble statue of a man in a toga holding a pitchfork. When I spotted the miniature statue of a three-headed dog beside it, I realized the man with the pitchfork was supposed to be my dad, Hades with his dog Cerebus.

A chandelier with candles instead of bulbs dangled from an arching roof which bore the painting of Dante's inferno.

The only exit was the doorway in the far left corner. But the hurdles in our way were those red-robed figures. If only I was confident in my hand-to-hand combat prowess.

A snap of Rupert Blood's fingers had all the robed guys unsheating blades. A sight that killed any morale I was stirring in myself.

He laced his fingers together, his voice authoritative while his posture was relaxed. "To the media and the outside world, I am reclusive billionaire philanthropist, Rupert Blood. But behind the scenes, I am the great leader of the cult of Hades. You three are in the presence of elitists, bound by oath to worship and unravel the mysteries of the Underworld King."

"Holy shit," Bryce gasped.

Was I surprised? Yes. Was I impressed? Ha! If anything his words only made me less terrified.  I shot an eyebrow up. "So basically...a Hades fan club for the wealthy?"

While Queen snorted,  gasps escaped the robed figures.

Rupert's forehead creased. "Let me make this clear, you three are living out your last minutes on Earth. We shall use you for our weekly sacrifice in a moment. "

I glared at him. "Why haven't you done so already?"

Rupert turned towards the doorway and called. "What's delaying the scepter?  I hope no one's playing with it again!"

A robed dude scurried inside with my golden scepter in hand.

Of course, I thought. They were interested in us because of my weapon.

Not only was it in the likeness of Hades' scepter, but it also had bold Greek letters carved onto it (which I didn't understand.)

I figured they must have been tailing us at some point during our trip to the Cheesecake Factory.

Anger bubbled inside me as I watched my scepter get handed over to Rupert Blood.

He met my gaze with a nonchalant look. "You see, we pride ourselves in collecting relics like this. But of all the relics we have, this is the most... peculiar. If you want a swift and painless death, tell me where you found this---"

His eyes flew over the Greek letters and his breath hitched. A look of alarm seeped into his features. Trembling, he let go of my scepter. As it clanked on the crimson tiles, he stared daggers at his cloaked members. "Am I the only one here who still knows how to read ancient Greek? Are you telling me no one interpreted this writing?"

Mumbling erupted among them.  I tilted my head, not sure what to make of this sudden outburst. Could the words on my scepter be so unnerving?

He fell to his knees and approached me. Baffled, I watched him pick up my scepter and offer it to me with reverence.

"Um..." Queen whispered. "What's going on?"

Rupert Blood bowed his head. "Forgive me, King Hades. Forgive us, your faithful worshippers for not realizing the truth sooner."

My jaw dropped.

Bryce looked at me. "King Hades?"

At that moment it was clear; if I didn't impersonate my distant dad, chances were, I would have to fight for the lives of my friends. Whatever gave Rupert Blood a reason to think I was Hades also gave me a window of opportunity.

I met Queen's gaze and decrypted her subtle nod as 'go for it'.

"Took you mortals long enough!" I roared, rising to my feet and snatching my scepter.

Rupert found a way to bow deeper.
"We plead for mercy, oh King of darkness."

One of his members stepped forward and took off his hood. Double chin, steely brown eyes,  five o'clock shadow.
"Master Rupert, as a high-ranking member,  may I suggest we take a critical look at this claim."

This man was unto me. Not good.

"Dexter," Rupert warned without breaking his bow. "A scepter of pure gold shaped after the likeness of the scepter of Hades,  with the words 'King of the Underworld' in ancient Greek obviously belongs to Lord Hades. Do not test him."

The air left my lungs as I contemplated the writing. King of the Underworld?

This was my dad's very scepter!

Dexter drew his blade. "I like to follow reason,  not gut feelings. How are we sure this is the real scepter?"

Says the extreme Hades fanboy.  If he wanted proof of divinity, then proof he would get.

As I stamped the scepter, its prongs lit on fire-- green fire--casting an ethereal glow over my features. Mustering all the sulk with me, I stared dead into Dexter's eyes. 

He whimpered and broke into a bow. Before I knew it, the whole room followed suit.

"Hail Hades!" They chanted.

Queen got up from her seat and inched closer to my side.

"This might actually work." She whispered.

Bryce shuffled to my other side and whispered. "I pray the gods this doesn't backfire."