The transportation via the Gate to The Halls of Reflection was not instantaneous. Drew found himself standing in a pitch black space, unable to move, and without any sound. The deprivation of his senses were highly unnerving, and he could understand why the scientists of Old Earth believed that long-term exposure to such an environment could cause insanity. He had a feeling that The System would prevent that kind of chemical imbalance from occurring, but it was still highly uncomfortable.

Even in complete silence, a person’s body will naturally create sound. Whether that’s a heartbeat, or the gurgling of a stomach. But being stuck in an environment that allowed no sound to be produced was highly jarring. The main thing was the difficulty in understanding the passage of time. Time, as a rule, was used as a reference point to multiple events. First A happened, then B happened, and so on. But without sound, light, or movement, time was almost impossible to comprehend.

It was a thought process that caused Drew no small amount of fear. It reminded him of his first conversation with Raynalyr, The Baleful Lady. Without her providing afterlives and reincarnation to souls, they’d be tossed into the abyss and would remain trapped undergoing similar sensations to what Drew was feeling right now. That would be a fate worse than total oblivion, and it gave him a new respect for his profession as a Baleful Warden, and respect for The Baleful Lady herself.

The part that worried him the most, was the question of why The System would likely prevent Gate travelers from that madness, and not souls. Luckily the transportation ended before he was able to traverse down that rabbit hole of thoughts.

Drew’s first breath and step after the transportation ended, were shaky ones, and when he looked to his sides and saw his party, it was clear that he wasn’t the only one that had been negatively affected. He waved his hand forward in a gesture that encouraged his companions to follow him.

“Come on, and whatever you do, don’t look back.” Drew mentioned with caution.

“Drew Wright, I looked back. I’m feeling highly uncomfortable now.” Spock said with an unsettled voice.

Drew sighed. It was challenging to remember that Spock had only been alive for a little over a month, and in many ways still did things a child would do. It had been funny the first time Spock stuck his hand into an open fire back at Sanctuary, despite knowing on an intellectual level that it was hot, but it was sad when he did it a second time to confirm the phenomenon.

“Yes, and that’s why I specifically said not to look back. I understand you’re curious my dude, but please learn from my mistakes.” Drew said, trying not to sound exasperated.

“Did you also look into that space when you first came here, Drew Wright?” Spock asked in curiosity.

“I did, yeah. It made my stomach lurch into my throat. It was even worse when I learned more about that space. Now come on, we’ve got a little bit of a walk ahead of us.” Drew motioned for them to follow him.

Amber, Freya, and Spock followed behind him as he led them forward on the obsidian pathway. Ahead of them was a remarkably large gothic-style archway, and with everyone’s recently increased perceptions, they could see a figure in black roman-esque robes standing at the entrance.

“What did you learn about that space, Drew Wright?” The question came from Spock.

Drew barely turned around and cocked an eyebrow towards his inquisitive friend.

“This is one of those instances I told you about, where knowing something will make it much worse.” Drew said in a low voice.

“Would this situation be better, or worse than the unclothed women in the magazine I asked you to purchase for me?” Spock asked, almost quietly.

“Worse.” Drew breathed out.

“I see.” Spock replied.

Amber giggled at Spock’s mention of the lady magazine. Before The Descent, Drew had taken Spock to a bookstore, and the tutorial guide had asked him to purchase several for him. Among those was an adult magazine wrapped in plastic. Drew knew that it would come back to haunt him, but he decided to keep his mouth quiet at the time because he felt too embarrassed to mention the practical applications of such a product in a public area.

It had, in fact, come back to haunt him. Spock had finally gotten to the magazine while Drew was out hunting and grinding levels. The publication left Spock with more questions than answers, and like a child finding his father’s porn stash, brought said magazine to Amber with said questions. Amber, taking on a mischievous and maternal-like role, sat Spock down at the kitchen table, gave him some cookies, and waited with him until Drew came back home from a hard day at work.

Amber had then pawned off the responsibility of telling Spock about the birds and the bees to Drew. Most people would assume that Amber had felt uncomfortable with the conversation and waited for Drew, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. She sat at that table while she made Drew have the talk with Spock, and proceeded to watch the show with a bowl of popcorn and a shit-eater's grin on her face, occasionally interrupting the conversation to laugh hysterically at her husband’s explanations.

Needless to say, it had been an uncomfortable conversation for Drew, who had to physically describe specific actions to an adult male. It made him even more uncomfortable when Spock, like a starry-eyed child, had asked several follow-up clarifications, for each explanation. By the time the night was over, Drew was exhausted, and Spock was so red in the face that Amber had genuinely feared he’d pass out.

The unpleasant night finally ended when Spock knocked on their bedroom door regarding a further clarification from the earlier conversation, only for him to hear Drew and Amber working out their mutual frustrations together.

Drew felt a shiver run down his spine at the thought of that night’s memories. How did I end up as the father to an adult? Was I really that terrible of a child to deserve this kind of karma? Drew pondered to himself.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Well look who it is!” A voice called out.

Drew’s attention was brought back to the present reality. A brown and gray haired man stood before him, he was clothed in a black toga, and azure flickers of flame could be briefly seen if one looked into his eyes at the right time.

“OH. MY. GOD. It’s true! You’re him! My husband told me, but I didn’t fully believe him, but now you’re here, and I’m here, and oh… thank you so, so, so much for my bow! I love it and use it daily!!” Amber practically screamed, her hands flapped as if to cool herself off from a non-existent heat.

The man disappeared from Drew’s vision and instantly reappeared before Amber. He had a disarming and yet somehow charming smile as he chuckled.

“You must be Amber, it’s a pleasure to meet you my dear. I’m known as Lord Hades, but you may call me Hades, or James.” Hades practically growled in a low rumble as he took Amber’s hand and kissed it gently while bowing.

Drew just shook his head, he knew his wife was going to be star-struck upon meeting James Woods here, but she had cranked that shit up to eleven way too quickly. Drew looked back to see Spock cock his head in confusion. Freya had a similar expression to Spock’s, as if to ask, ‘The fuck you doing? Who is this stranger and why are you acting so weird?’

“Eeep! I… I loved you in Hercules, and True Crime, and the second Stuart Little, oh and…” She began to ramble.

To his credit, the God stood there humbly, just chuckling and smiling good-naturedly. Drew would have been more embarrassed, but had been with his wife for a long time. Long enough to have seen her meet several famous voice actors and stars over the years. So far, the reaction to James Woods was somewhere between Veronica Taylor, and Johnny Bosch, but it was quickly escalating, so it was difficult to make an accurate placement.

When his wife finally ran out of air in her lungs, and stopped speaking to breathe in an almost Freya-like panting, Hades finally replied to her over-excitement.

“Yes, it’s very nice to meet you. I’ve heard you were a big fan, from your husband, and I’m very happy to meet you.” He said with a smile, gesturing with his hands to slow down and take deep breaths.

Drew smiled at the god’s kind nature. It was nice to see someone, whether it was an actor, or a god, treat his wife so kindly, even when she was being a bit overzealous.

“Drew, it’s good to see you again, especially so soon after our last visit. You’ve been doing well, I hear?” Hades shook Drew’s hand in greeting.

“For the most part, yeah. Things have been heating up back home though…” Drew said.

“Yes, an incursion event. I always knew the people of Earth had a wonderful culture, it’s been so long since the last one on a newly integrated world. It’s an exciting time.” Hades smiled

“I don’t know if I’d say it’s exciting, stressful for sure. Although, technically since you were an actor back home, I’d say you had a part to play in our culture. Hell, you said you’d been on Earth since Greek and Roman times, so I’m sure you added something to our overall culture.” Drew said, almost conspiratorially.

“Well, I don’t know if I’d go that far. Besides, it wasn’t just me vacationing there. Where do you think those other gods came from?” Hades said, rubbing the back of his head while trying to chuckle.

“That’s kinda what I assumed after the last time we chatted, but still… didn’t you win a couple of Emmy’s and a Golden Globe or something? I’d say you had a noticeable impact on our culture.” Drew replied, in a slightly lower voice.

“I… uh… yeah I did win those, and I totally didn’t take them with me back here to put in a trophy cabinet or anything. Besides, what do you think really happened with Elvis and Tupac?” Hades said quickly, his eyes shifting left to right.

“I knew Elvis wasn’t dead!” Amber interjected.

“Boof! Boof!” Freya added.

“Oh, shush you! You just like him because of the hound dog song!” Amber said to Freya.

Freya whined a bit and her tail stopped wagging.

“Yes, okay it is a good song, but that’s not the point!” Amber replied to Freya’s antics.

“Yes, well, The Lady is expecting you. Come close and I’ll teleport us to her reception room.” Hades said, trying to escape the previous conversation.

“Uh-huh, I’ll have to remember to ask her opinion on the matter…” Drew whispered.

“No, no, shhhh, shhhh. Here, look!” Hades whispered before rummaging through a hidden pocket on his toga.

“Here, see! It’s dangerous to go alone, take this!” Hades pulled a dog biscuit the size of Drew’s hand out of the toga and handed it over to Freya.

Freya sniffed the treat, gently taking it from the god’s hand before wagging her tail, and proceeding to tear into it. The zeal in which the German Shepherd tore into the treat made Drew suspect that it had been made with bacon, steak, chips, cheese, and everything the dog loved. Seconds later there were only crumbs left, which Freya happily licked off the obsidian pathway.

“Urrrp” Freya belched.

“Lovely.” Drew muttered.

“Freya! Manners!” Amber scolded.

Freya cocked her head, and then stood up from her sitting position. Her coat pulsed suddenly and a wave of obsidian took over her color patterns. Where tan once ruled, a shiny black now laid claim, and where her old black coloration once was, an azure blue rippled forth like embers crackling into flame. Her body shifted, and she quickly gained a solid four inches in height. The dog now looked around at her new form with blue eyes, her body then bulked up as new muscle growth erupted.

The party looked to Freya, trying to take in all the rapid changes overtaking her.

“What did you do to our dog?” Drew said through gritted teeth.

“Nothing! Nothing! It was just a treat… meant for Cerberus. It’s nothing bad, I swear! She’ll probably just be a bit stronger and more resilient. And maybe breathe Abyssal fire.” Hades said the last part under his breath.

“Pfttttttttt.” Freya ripped one. An azure flame burst into being from her wrinkled penny and shot five feet behind her. Freya looked back towards her ass, and then back to Hades, cocking her head.

Drew’s eyes thinned, and he pressed his lips firmly together before turning back to the god.

“If she burns down our house, you’re paying to replace it.” Drew said, pointing at Hades.

“BOOF!” Freya added, the ground rumbled slightly as Amber, Spock and Drew were shaken. They were able to remain on their feet, even though they were a bit unsteady from the tiny sudden tremor. Drew’s lips pursed together so hard, that they were barely visible beyond his pale skin. One could almost hear him grinding his teeth as he looked accusingly towards Hades.

“Yes, eh, well… time to go see The Lady, gather closely, we don’t want your arm or leg left behind while the rest of your body teleports!” Hades said chipperly.

The party quickly assembled close to the god, as Drew reluctantly followed suit. He just knew their house was going to end up as a pile of ashes. Note to self, don’t let her get into the beans…

Darkness overtook them, and they quickly found themselves standing in what appeared to be a cross between a reading room, and a study. Ancient tomes lined equally ancient shelving. Warm colors of red and brown replaced the previously gothic looking blacks, grays, and blues. A woman sat upon a vintage style couch with red felt-style fabrics. The blue-gray skinned elf woman perked up from the book she was perusing. She wore darkened leather armor, and blue flames danced upon her eyes. The corner of her mouth raised in a slight smile. She closed her tome, and set it down on the nearby coffee table.

“Well, that’s my cue. Have fun everyone!” Hades quickly said.

*POP*

The black toga wearing god disappeared as he teleported away from trouble. The Lady tilted her head slightly in question, before shaking it and returning to her previous slight smile.

“Champion, it is good to see you again.” The Lady said.