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“Mr. Gravesend?”
But Zoe’s breath faltered as Shadow tensed beside her.
“That’s not Mr. Gravesend.”
Zoe turned to Shadow in bewilderment. His eyes were narrowed into a cold glare, while every muscle in his body was tensed, as if ready to spring into battle.
“But if that’s not Mr. Gravesend, then who is he?”
As Spooks and the remaining specters released a whimper at the strange sight, Shadow turned to face her. And as Zoe met his gaze, she saw something stir within his eyes. Fear.
“Charon. He’s returned.”
25
Afork of lightning flashed through the night sky, illuminating the nightmarish figure who stood before Zoe. The tails of his suit jacket danced in the winds like wisps of smoke, while his slender fingers caressed the air, leaving a trail of darkness in their wake. As an army of machines assembled behind him, like a nest of spiders serving their master, his lips stretched into a thin smile. Charon had returned to the Underworld. And Zoe had led him here.
“Ah, it’s been centuries.” With a wave of his hand, Mr. Gravesend’s suit was replaced with a dark robe that billowed in the breeze. “There’s no place quite like home.”
“You… you’re Charon?“ Zoe shook her head in bewilderment at the sight of her boss. “When people told me you were a ghoul, I had no idea they meant it so literally. This entire time, you’ve been the ferryman of the dead!”
“A lousy job that never rewarded me for my toils and troubles. For centuries, I conducted my duties, patiently ferrying lost souls to these lands. And for what?” Charon’s lip curled in distaste at the sight of Shadow. “To be passed over for the boss’ son. No promotions. No raises. And you can forget about a dental plan. And so, I took matters into my own hands.”
Shadow’s jaw clenched as Charon’s raspy laughter echoed through the skies. “By trying to steal the Underworld’s magic for yourself.”
“That power should have been mine. A fitting reward for my lifetime of service. But thanks to you, I was left with nothing. I was discarded like trash, left to drift through the mortal world.” Charon’s eyes gleamed with a dark malevolence. “Until I had an idea that would change everything. An idea that would secure me enough power to one day seize the Underworld for myself.”
Zoe looked at the army of machines knowingly. “Chthonic Power Solutions…”
“The blind greed of mortals never ceases to amaze me. Your kind will trade your lives, your very planet, for your creature comforts. And so, as long as I kept your lights on, your cars running, your planes in the sky, I was free to plunder the magic of your world.” Charon inhaled deeply, savoring the terror he’d unleashed across the lands. “And in time, you signed your very souls over to me.”
Zoe drew a breath in understanding. “That’s why there are more lost souls in the world. Because of you?”
“Don’t look so hurt, my dear. Why, before you came here, you yourself were all too keen to sign your soul over to my cause. You were just like all the others. An empty shell, doomed to drift through life, unaware that you handed me your most precious resource. Your life.” Charon drifted closer, his spectral body leaving a trail of darkness in his wake. “With every site of power I plundered, and every lost soul I collected, I built an empire of power. And now, thanks to you, I shall collect the greatest treasure of all.”
“But why? Why would you do this?”
“Isn’t it obvious? To receive the promotion I should have been given. To obtain my reward for centuries of service.” Charon spread his hands as the storm raged in the heavens above. “To become a god.”
“Well, that’s one hell of a bonus.” Zoe narrowed her gaze as Charon drifted closer. “And let me guess, it doesn’t matter how many lives you destroy in the process? How many lost souls are doomed to wander the earth, all so that you can get what you want?”
“Zoe, why let your heart ruin a perfectly good business opportunity?” Charon’s eyes gleamed with an ancient malevolence, before his gaze lingered on Persephone’s Tree. “Now, stand aside. I have business to attend to.”
Charon drifted closer, only for Shadow to block his path. The two specters glared at each other with blind hatred, until Shadow’s hands balled into fists.
“I banished you from these lands once before. And I’ll do it again.”
With a cry, Shadow lunged at Charon in a blur of darkness. But a cruel smile flickered across Charon’s lips, until he clicked his fingers. At once, the machines sprang into action, blocking Shadow’s path and surrounding him like a pack of animals. He tried to strike them, but his blows drifted harmlessly through their bodies.
“I’m afraid my machines are ghost proof.” Charon laughed coldly as a humming sound reverberated through the machines, while his eyes gleamed with anticipation. “And they pack quite the punch too.”
An electric current burst from the fangs of the machines, before they leaped towards Shadow. He roared in pain as the voltage raced into his body, until his cries echoed through the heavens.
“I do hope you enjoy the new upgrade.” Charon laughed coldly as the machines pinned Shadow to the floor. “Their fangs have more power than Zeus’ thunderbolts.”
“Hey, that’s cheating!” Spooks readied his Spiderweb Slinger, while the other specters prepared themselves for battle. “And I’m the only one who cheats around here!”
With a cackle, Spooks fired a spiderweb at Charon. But the dark lord vanished into the darkness, before emerging unharmed, until a dozen machines surrounded the poltergeist.
