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The Return of the Hades The Smiths
25Cersei seethed as the guards led her away in handcuffs. Her cheek still burned from the slaps as she replayed the humiliating scene over and over in her mind. How could it have all fallen apart so quickly? She had been so close to securing power over this town. As the jail cell door slammed shut behind her, Cersei collapsed on the hard bed, tears of rage and despair streaming down her face. 'That witch Lavinia has ruined me,' she thought bitterly. 'And Darien, with his smug smiles and secrets. I'll make them pay for this humiliation.' In the wake of Cersei's arrest, news rippled through the city with the swiftness of a wildfire. Whispers turned to discussions, and discussions into debates. The tale of her dramatic downfall at the plaza was recounted with varying shades of incredulity and schadenfreude.---**At the Smith Household**Marcella sat in her living room, her fingers wrapped tightly around a cup of tea, though it had long since gone cold. Her knuckles were white from th
The Return of the Hades The poison
26Lavinia, reacting with the speed and precision of a seasoned soldier, closed the distance between them in a heartbeat. Her hand struck like a viper, disarming Marcella with a swift, practiced motion. The gun clattered to the floor, its threat neutralized.Darien, his heart pounding in his chest, watched the scene unfold, a mix of relief and disbelief washing over him. He had never imagined things could escalate to this point, yet here they were, standing on the brink of disaster.Marcella, now disarmed and defeated, could only stare in shock, her plans unraveling before her eyes. Bennett, nursing his bruised ego and jaw, stood helplessly on the floor beside his mother, his earlier bravado evaporated.Lavinia, moved to stand beside Darien, her stance protective.Marcella, her eyes flashing dangerously, pointed a finger at Darien. "You'll regret this. We will have our justice."Darien, breathing heavily from the altercation, fixed Marcella with a steely gaze. "Leave now, while you st
The Return of the Hades Find another way!
27Darien and Lavinia spent the entire night in a makeshift lab they had set up in Darien's living room, surrounded by herbs, plants, and ancient texts scattered across every available surface. The dim light from the oil lamp cast long shadows, adding to the intense atmosphere as they worked tirelessly to find an antidote to the poison.Darien, with his extensive knowledge of traditional medicine, crushed herbs with a mortar and pestle, his movements precise but increasingly desperate as each concoction failed to neutralize the poison. He wiped the sweat from his brow, refusing to look at Lavinia, fearing he'd see disappointment in her eyes.Lavinia, on the other hand, paced back and forth like a caged animal, her frustration growing with each passing moment. She watched Darien work, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. "This isn't working," Lavinia finally burst out, her voice sharp with irritation. She stopped pacing and glared at the useles
The Return of the Hades Antidote !!
28After their disheartening visit to the mayor's office, Lavinia and Darien found themselves back at square one, their warning unheeded, their fears dismissed. The car ride back was tense, filled with a thick silence that mirrored their frustration.Once home, Lavinia's frustration erupted, "How could he not see the danger? It's right there!" Her voice was loud in the quiet room, her fists hitting the table, making the scattered papers flutter.Darien, tried to soothe the atmosphere. "Lavinia, I know. But getting angry won't solve this. We need to focus on what we can control." His voice was calm, a contrast to the storm brewing in Lavinia's eyes.Lavinia took a deep breath, her fists unclenching as she forced herself to calm down. "You're right, sir French. It's just... frustrating." Her voice tight with frustration as she began setting up their equipment again. Her movements were brisk, her frustration evident in every motion.Darien nodded, understanding. "I know. But let's use th
The Return of the Hades Confrontation again!?
29The intensity of the situation escalated with each passing second. Darien could feel the eyes of the crowd on them, the air thick with tension.Suddenly, Lavinia appeared at Darien's side. Her presence was like a calm in the storm, her gaze fixed on Marcella and Bennett. "Is there a problem here?" she asked, her voice cool and collected.Marcella, taken aback by Lavinia's sudden appearance, hesitated for a moment. Her anger, however, quickly returned. "Your friend here seems to think he can just walk into people without consequence."Lavinia arched an eyebrow, her stance protective beside Darien. "An accident, from what I saw. And already apologized for."Bennett's anger seemed to grow, his breaths coming in short, rapid bursts. "This isn't over," he hissed, his eyes locked on Darien.Darien met Bennett's gaze, his own eyes unflinching. "If you're looking for trouble, you won't find it here. Not tonight."As the tension between Darien and Marcella escalated, the crowd at the mayor'
The Return of the Hades Help them!
30As the mayor announced the opening of the buffet, the atmosphere in the room shifted from tense to eager anticipation. Despite this, Darien and Lavinia stood apart, a shared look of concern passing between them. Darien's brow furrowed as he watched the guests begin to move towards the food."Something doesn't feel right," Darien murmured to Lavinia, his voice barely above a whisper. Lavinia nodded, her eyes scanning the room. "I agree. It's better to be cautious. Let's skip the food for now."Their decision to abstain from eating was met with curious glances from some of the other guests, but Darien and Lavinia remained steadfast. They found a quiet corner to observe the room, their backs against the wall, providing them a clear view of the entire hall. As time passed, the room filled with the sound of lively conversations and laughter. People were enjoying the feast, completely unaware of the potential danger that Darien and Lavinia suspected.Then, about fifteen minutes after t
The Return of the Hades Lumina Root
31As the guests at the gala began to make their way out, their expressions a mix of relief and lingering fear, Darien and Lavinia watched from the sidelines. They had become inadvertent heroes, a status that sat uncomfortably on Darien's shoulders. Marcella and Bennett, looking considerably weakened but alive, made their slow approach toward the exit. Their eyes met Darien's, and instead of gratitude, there was a flicker of the same disdain they had always shown him. "You think you're some kind of hero now, huh?" Marcella sneered, her voice weak but dripping with contempt. Despite her condition, she managed to stand tall, her pride seemingly untouched by the ordeal.Darien, caught off guard by her harshness, was momentarily speechless. He had braced for some bitterness, but her hostility caught him off guard.Lavinia, unable to contain her frustration, stepped up, her fists balled in anger. "He saved your ungrateful lives. The least you could do is say 'thank you," she retorted, he
The Return of the Hades Two burly men
32Lavinia, who had been quietly observing, noticed the shift in Darien's demeanor. "What was that about?" she asked, curiosity piqued.Darien shared the gist of his conversation with Ashton, and Lavinia's eyes widened in amazement and concern. "This could be it, Darien. But it sounds dangerous. Are you sure about this?"He nodded, determination setting in. "I have to try. It's a chance to get back everything I've lost."They made their way outside the gala hall to wait for Ashton's contact. Night had fallen, bringing a chill to the air. Darien shoved his hands in his pockets and paced, deep in thought. Lavinia watched him with a frown. "You seem troubled, beyond just this mission."Darien sighed. "It's been a long day. Dealing with the Smith family, then the poisoning. I just feel..." He struggled to find the words."Used? Betrayed?" Lavinia offered gently. Darien stopped pacing and leaned against the building, rubbing his eyes. "Both. All Cersei wanted was my miney for her gain. T