Small Twists of Fate

Chapter Thirty Six

Cassandra had to smile in relief as she saw the gates of the Underworld. Honestly, there'd been a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that the rescue had gone off too easily but she had just been telling herself that was only because of the barrier preventing most if not all of the magic users from accessing their powers.

Oh sure, they probably could have used their powers to help someone in need but there was a reason why everyone on the Isle was a villain. Villains didn't help people, only themselves.

"Oh Gods, how lucky were we to pull that off?" Lance whispered from his spot next to Cassandra. "My heart's honestly about to jump out of me."

"Mine too, but the important thing is that we got that little girl out of there," Cassandra told him.

Lance nodded. "And now we can get her home to whoever we're supposed to get her home to," he said.

Cassandra couldn't help but chuckle as she realized Lance hadn't realized where they were. "Come on...her father will be expecting us," she said as the gate opened, allowing the three of them access to the Underworld.

Lance bit his lip as they made their way to the den. "Cass...I know...I know you know the Isle better than I do but do you really want to return a child in this state? I can smell her diaper from where she is in Lord Hercules' arms for starters."

"We don't have a choice," Hercules said, his soft voice starling both Cassandra and Lance. "My uncle will want his daughter back as quickly as possible and, as much as it hurts me to say it, I have a feeling Uncle Hades almost expects his daughter to be in the state she's in."

"Hercules is right Lance. Are you suggesting we dunk her in the water in the Cove?" Cassandra asked.

"Of course not," Lance shook his head as the little girl in Hercules' arms whined softly, as if reminding them she was still there.

"I know, I know little one," Hercules said gently as he softly bounced his arms to try to calm his little cousin. "You're almost home...your dad won't be particularly happy about the state of you but you'll be home."

Luckily the only saving grace about this whole thing is that Uncle Hades will be angry at Maleficent...and likely father, and I don't blame him. I'll need to have a talk with my father about refusing aid to a child just because of who her father is. And especially a member of our family! Hercules thought.

Cassandra sighed as they rounded the corner and stood in the entryway of the den. "Lord Hades?"

"Cassandra?" Hades asked, looking up from where he was pacing a rut into the stone floor but not stopping his pacing.

Cassandra couldn't help but smile as she gestured to Hercules. "I believe we have someone who belongs to you," she told him.

The raven haired former Lady in Waiting's smile grew as Hades froze in place upon hearing those words.

"You're serious?" Hades asked.

"I am," Cassandra nodded. "I'm sorry she's in rough shape but it doesn't look like anything she wouldn't bounce back from."

Hercules nodded. "And right now, I think she just wants her papa," he said softly as Hades looked at him. "I'm fine holding her but I know my arms are a poor substitute to the ones she wants."

Hades slowly yet gently took his daughter from Hercules' arms, never minding the smell or the fact that she was in the same onesie she was in the day she got taken.

"Ginny was a joy to have," Milah told Cassandra as it became apparent that Hades wasn't going to speak anytime soon.

"Good, I'm glad," Cassandra said, smiling over at her.