~Hades~ A Christmas Special

The Underworld was quiet. Too quiet.

I opened my eyes to the sound of something shuffling beyond my bedroom door. It was faint but distinct—an intruder. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and grabbed my cloak, more out of habit than necessity. Shadows followed me like a second skin as I stepped into the cold, dimly lit hallway of my castle.

"Who dares disturb the Lord of the Dead?" I muttered to myself, my voice low and sharp as I moved through the corridors.

I searched every corner of the castle. The throne room, empty. The armory, untouched. Even Cerberus, who usually alerted me to intruders, was asleep by the main gates, snoring like thunder. Yet I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't alone.

Returning to my chambers, I was ready to dismiss the whole thing as a fluke. Perhaps the spirits of the Underworld were restless tonight. But as I opened the door, I froze.

Standing there, in the middle of my room, was a massive polar bear.

It was easily twice my height, its fur pure white and shimmering faintly in the dim light. It stood upright, wearing red leather armor that seemed to shine with an otherworldly glow. Its black eyes locked onto mine, intelligent and unyielding.

"You're Hades," the bear said, its voice deep and resonant, as if glaciers were grinding together.

It wasn't a question.

"I am," I said, narrowing my eyes. "And you are?"

The bear didn't answer. Instead, it raised a massive paw, snapping its claws with an unnervingly precise click.

Before I could react, something heavy and scratchy was thrown over my head.

"What—?" I started, but my words were cut off as a strange sensation gripped me. The air grew warm—too warm for the Underworld—and I felt as if I were being pulled, spun, and compressed all at once. It was disorienting, and for a moment, I thought I might actually vomit.

When the sensation stopped, I yanked the bag off my head and staggered to my feet. The air was sharp and cold, biting against my skin even through my cloak. I blinked, adjusting to the stark brightness of my surroundings.

I was in an ice fortress.

The walls glistened like polished diamonds, and the floor beneath my feet was impossibly smooth and cold. My breath formed small clouds in the air as I turned in a slow circle, taking in the massive vaulted ceilings and crystalline structures.

"Well, this is new," I muttered.

"Follow me," a high-pitched voice chirped behind me.

I turned to see a small man—no, an elf, judging by his pointed ears and diminutive stature. He was bundled in a thick green coat, his boots crunching softly on the frosty ground as he gestured for me to follow.

"Where am I?" I asked, my voice echoing through the cavernous space.

"You're at the North Pole," the elf replied matter-of-factly, not even bothering to look back at me.

"The North Pole?" I repeated, raising a brow.

"Yep. Specifically, the Clause Castle," he added, as if that explained everything.

I stopped walking. "The Clause Castle?"

The elf finally turned to look at me, his expression a mixture of impatience and incredulity. "Yes, the Clause Castle. You know, Santa Claus? Big guy? Red suit? Jolly laugh? Bringer of gifts to mortals?"

I stared at him. "You've got to be joking."

He rolled his eyes. "Why would I joke about Santa Claus? Now come on, he's waiting for you."

He turned and continued down the icy hallway without another word, leaving me to follow in a bewildered silence.

Santa Claus.

This was either some elaborate prank orchestrated by my brothers, or I was about to have the strangest night of my immortal existence.