"As you wish." Was the last thing I heard from someone calling them self Kindle, and in that moment the complete darkness that consumed us was altered. Our eyes which had come accustomed to the darkness were suddenly over loaded with what seemed to be a blinding flash leaving a small ball of fire floating before us. "Hades! What are you doing?" Demands Grys. "I wish I knew." Replies Hades. "But I believe it to be the solution needed to cross the ravine, just give it a minute to work itself out." The ball of fire begins spinning end over end and growing exponentially, it only takes a minute before we realize it's forming into a portal. When it's finished increasing in size the center of the portal begins to ripple like a body of water on a windy day. Then as odd as it may sound, the water begins to freeze. A floating and frozen body of water is a strange sight when it's encircled by a flaming ring of fire. Just when I think it can't get any stranger the ice shatters, it's loud almost deafening. The shards fly outward and we all turn away instinctively to avoid taking shards of ice to the face. when I uncover my face the first thing I notice is the portal, the center now shows someplace else, someplace wicked! Everything is laced in flames, to my horror I see men, women and children screaming in agonizing torment. They reach towards the portal praying for escape but the fire seems to keep them bound and confined. I can't help but wonder what I've opened, is this doorway To hell? Looking past the tortured souls I see another circle of fire, it looks like an identical portal to this one and through it I can see stone work, a dungeon corridor. If my suspicions are correct it's the corridor across the ravine, it's the solution I asked Kindle to provide. The problem is I can't help but wonder at what cost? "By the gods..." Whispers Hayden in horror. "Are those people?" Grys rushes to Hades grabbing him by the shoulder and spinning him around. "What did you do?" He asks sounding panicked. Hades eyes him thoughtfully. "I provided us with the means to cross the ravine." He says calmly. "HOW?" Asks Grys. "How do you have such power?" "Now isn't the time brother." Replies Hades. "I'm not sure how long the portal will remain open. If we wish to find Tate then we need to move, we don't have time for this right now." Grys looks Hades in the eye and Hades knows that the time will come when answers will be demanded of him, but for now he releases my shoulder. "I'm trusting you, don't make me regret my decision." He says in threatening manner. But before Hades can reply he is interrupted by someone gagging followed by the unmistakable sound of vomiting. All three brothers look to see Hayden hunched over next to the portal holding her stomach. When she realizes everyone is staring at her she becomes flushed with embarrassment. "It's horrible." She says softly. "They sound like they're burning alive, it's no way to exist." "It's the fastest way to Tate." Says Hades sympathetically. "Is it one of the seven levels of hell?" She asks. Hades can tell that she's terrified of the answer he's going to give her, but the truth is he doesn't know where or what this place is. "I'm not sure." He replies truthfully. "But as I told Grys, if we are going to use the portal then we need to do it soon. I don't know how long it will remain open." Crete moves up to the portals entrance. "How do we know we won't become trapped like these people?" He asks. Hades considers this for a moment. Crete is making a valid point, this could be a trap, but my gut is telling me otherwise. Whoever this Kindle is, she sounded sincere, she seemed truly interested in helping me. Though that would make the trap all the more convincing wouldn't it? "There are no guarantees." I tell him. "Our options are limited. If you would rather we turn back and try to find another way around then that is what we will do. You decide my brother, I will follow you." Crete remains motionless for only a second but somehow it feels like agonizing minutes. Then with no words spoken he turns and enters the portal. Hayden gasps in surprise. Grys rushes to the portal looking for any sign of attack on his brother, but nothing happens. Crete just continues walking at a calm and steady pace unhindered through the realm of fire. Concluding it's as safe as it's going to get Grys turns back towards the others. "Guess we're doing this." He says. He then moves cautiously into the portal as well. Hades glances over at Hayden, he can tell immediately that she is terrified. Not scared in the way one gets when facing a monster or being trapped in a dark dungeon, she is completely and utterly terrified. It's the type of fear the renders a person unable to move, unable to think, her mind and body are shutting down. He moves over to her slowly making sure to not startle her grabbing her right hand and placing it gently between his own. "Look at me sweet pea." He says in the most soothing tone he can manage. He can feel her trembling violently. "Hayden." He says again softly. This time she glances up at me and my heart skips a beat as those beautiful green eyes of hers penetrate my soul. They are shiny from the slow stream of tears running down her cheeks. I'm not sure why, but right now is the most beautiful she has ever looked and I'm completely disgusted with myself. This is Hayden, these thoughts shouldn't be crossing my mind and certainly not a time like this. I reach out and gently wipe the tears from her cheeks, her skin is soft, softer than I was expecting and a surge of raw emotion flood my senses. Every part of my being wants to exploit her insecurities for my own selfish needs and it would so simple to accomplish. "I...I, I can't go in there." She whispers. "I just can't..." Her soft quivering voice just fuels my desires, I'm a predator hunting prey, she's wounded and I'm ready to pounce. What the hell is wrong with me? I'm stronger than this, I will NOT succumb to my desires! I pull her in close and hug her tightly, I feel her exhale deeply and her trembling subsides. She feels so fragile, so weak. I politely pull away from her grabbing her hands once more. "Look at me sweet pea." Her eyes roll up towards me slowly. "Tate is through that portal. I need you to be strong, Tate needs you to be strong. I've got you, we can do this together, I won't let anything happen to you...I promise." I see her glance past my shoulder to look through the portal once more, she quickly averts her eyes and closes them tightly. She can't do this, and my instincts tell me the portal is going to close soon. I need to take control of the situation now. "Forgive me." I tell her as I scoop her up and gently throw her over my shoulder, surprisingly she doesn't even have the energy to fight me which is a good thing. Her not struggling will allow me to carry her more quickly and comfortably and possibly allow me to defend myself if need be. I ignite my short sword in my free hand and turn to face the minions. "You guys ready for this?" In response I get a thumbs up from them simultaneously. They don't look thrilled with the idea, but I know they are loyal to Hayden. They are literally willing to follow her into what is likely hell, you can't get much more loyal than that! "Alright then, lets do this."