xxxxxxHadesx|xoutfitx|x#05105E
Others bit the dust and most of them withdrew into themselves after it, including that loud smokin red head and Sylas, and obviously Daniel who Andy went to comfort. Mason wasn't going to sit there and pretend it'd be easy and he'd pull out in better shape because the fact the arrogant ones in camp couldn't keep, or even try their poker face said it all. Even Trinity a seat away was getting restless.
Andy returned taking Mason's hand without hesitance. Normally he would have been surprised but he needed it and found himself giving her hand a squeeze while looking dead ahead. "It won't be long now..." Mason glanced at her from the corner of his eye. It was like a torture of its own not knowing when you'd come. What was worse was they were next to last, witnessing slowly what was in store for them.
"Yeah," he answered lowly. "Daniel okay?"
"Mason Hughson." Poseidon's voice calling his name made his blood freeze. Truthfully, Mason feared the Olympus Gods more than those that resided in the Underworld.
He inhaled deeply through his nose and unhooked his fingers from Andy's as he stood. "It's going to be okay," he whispered one more time. Probably the last lie he'd bother with for the day as he approached the arch.
Mason faced a dark empty throne. Granted, a King wasn't always perched on his throne but this one was vacated, calling for a new ruler. Through the warren of tunnels, there were all sorts of screams and cries to get out. Some thundering gallop made the screams reach a new pitch of terror, followed by Cerebrus's growl and bark. It seemed like the ideal title, the ruler of the Underworld, and it seemed amuck without Hades needing order soon, but Mason knew the responsibility attached and how he'd be bound to the throne.
"Olympus also beckons for a new ruler. It seems this was always your fate." Mason turned, confused to the foreign soft spoken voice in the Underworld. The woman, youthful and vibrant though so unfitting to the place, sounded so sure and stared back unflinching at him. "Alexandria Valis."
Mason looked back to the throne. If only to shut the screams up and bring order back...if only to show up the Valises... His brows pinched together suddenly. "Not Ajax?" The mysterious female didn't answer and he gathered she had no inclination to. "I won't be able to go up and see others again will I?"
"With time."
For the longest moment, he was frozen like the answer might hit him suddenly. The first move was an inch towards the throne before he sat completely in it. A shudder rippled up his spine and he exhaled slowly. The woman smiled slightly though it didn't reach her eyes and gestured forward a sandglass. "A gift to view the surface world. Now I must tend back to Elysium."
* * * * *
Unmoving. It seemed he had been glued to his throne for years and nothing good came from the sandglass, only torture watching his family and demigods choose their own paths. Evolve and grow...move on. Yet Mason gazed hard into the fog through the glass as apparitions gradually took shape. A female figure was sitting, fiddling with a device, then before his eyes she took finer shape and color and the silhouette revealed itself as Andy as the fog subsided to the outskirts of the vision. A pained expression was painted over her features.
"Andy." Ajax stepped into view and greeted her with a kiss, meanwhile, Andy closed her hand around the mysterious tool...the key to the portal, and destroyed it in her palm. On the same hand, she sported a fancy wedding ring. As Ajax stepped aside, a child sprang into her arms and it was all warm and bubbly and loving in that household. Mason looked away to be spared, something clenched tight in his own hand. He found the pair of the device in his own hand.
They had both been holding onto false hope for...too long. And she was moving on thinking he abandoned her.
A cold hand rested on his shoulder. Truly it felt like death, dread coming over him in one touch. "You don't belong to that kind of life. As I've always told you."
Mason jerked away, with nothing in sight and only shadows to point his sneer.
"Still too human for this task. The Underworld will take you for a lost soul for as long as you behave like one," Hades voice warned.
Several limbs like spiders wrapped themselves around him and before he could retreat, they turned into two lovely arms, hugging him from behind. "It’s not all bad," a distorted feminine voice cooed, as some hands splayed themselves out on his chest, the image behind him flickering between the appearance of Stephanie and Eve. "At least you have me."
Mason barely suppressed an angry twitch. This was a damn mad house. His own realm really was turning against him. "Enough! Hades is gone. I'm in charge now and I've lost my god damn chance at going back so you're stuck with me. I rule this place!"
Once he finally admitted to and owned his new role, Alex appeared in a burst of lightning, sparks crackling all around her and
a cold hard stare set on him. Mason stepped forward to confront the intruder but before he could say anything she shot lightning at him sending him catapulting until his back hit the cavern wall. As he collapsed he felt a burn in his chest and struggled to fill his lungs.
"I told you, Taturus is too good for you."
Mason narrowly avoided another bolt, however it didn't stop the debris shattering over him, keeping him hunched on all fours. Alex was there before he could recover, and placed the tip of her blade to the back of his neck. Mason flinched but not in fear as much as disappointment in himself.
"Mason!" That voice... Jennova burst through the souls gathered to watch the spectacle.
"Jenn!" Mason smiled and only felt relief. He finally found her, she was okay, she was here. She ran towards him - that was the last thing he saw and thought before Alex swung the sword down.
Mason jolted to life, panting for air and gripping at his neck to assure it was attached. His heart drummed violently against his chest on the verge of a heart attack. He sighed out collapsing his head to the arena, fingers curling into the ground. Then it clicked, with this new scenery, in the arena, there were other eyes on him. Slowly he lifted his head and got to his feet. He almost wanted to check whose eyes had been watching, but, he wouldn't like the answer.
He returned to the stands and withdrawal, praying for the next poor bastard to go so they could forget his. Or maybe so he could forget his own. Maybe he couldn't hack being the ruler of the Underworld and leaving...people behind. Mason glanced to Andy then lowered his eyes again.