THE ALPHA’S DESTINY 2 (Fulfilling The Prophecy) - Chapter 83: Chapter 83

???'s POV
I watched the chosen one and his friends follow Charon to the river. He was rude to them, but you couldn't blame him.
He was overworked and underpaid. Working for the most powerful God would make anyone tired and frustrated. And Charon was more than that. He was lonely and grumpy. He hated his job.
They walked for a couple of minutes until they came upon a boat. It was bigger than they thought it'd be.
"Welcome to my Soul Boat," Charon spoke with a sound emitting from him that resembled a cackle.
It was made up of different pieces of old boats. Boards of all textures and realms joined together to make up the body of the floating device.
"Will that stay afloat?" Carson asked. "It looked like it was shipwrecked and left out in the sun too long."
"Who said that?" Charon bellowed.
"No one," Zander answered. "But I won't lie. I am also concerned. Will it be able to take us safely across the river?"
"Yes. Just pay me, so I can get you across. I'm getting tired of seeing your faces," Charon spoke truthfully.
"One more thing," Zander declared, but before he could finish, Charon wielded his double hammer in the air
"For the love of Hades!" he yelled, using the hammer to smack Zander across his back, sending him flying to the boat. With an oomph, Zander landed inside. "Now, who else needs help boarding the vessel?"
Isis and Julie hurried on, followed by Hazel.
Declan and James moved to lift the coffin.
"No. I'll deal with that," Charon told them.
James opened his mouth to ask him a question, and Charon raised his hammer and pointed to the boat. "Don't test me, wolfman. Just get in the craft."
James grabbed Declan's hand, and they hurried inside the boat, too.
Charon picked up the coffin and stashed it in a compartment hidden at the side.
"That's why I prefer to deal with the dead. They are too busy crying to be yapping away, disturbing my peace," Charon said as he climbed onto his vessel. "I only have two rules. First rule, absolutely no talking," he grumbled, looking at each one of their faces. He stared at Zander long and hard before his eyes landed on Declan, who was sending his hand into the River of Soul to touch it. "And two, keep your damn hands inside the boat at all times." he used his hammer to slap Declan on the head. "Unless you want to be dragged down into the underworld for all eternity."
Declan quickly pulled his palm back into the craft.
"Sit down, all of you and enjoy the ride," he puffed, grabbing his ferryman's pole. It lit up at his touch, emitting a red light that possessed the tip. He placed it in the river and, with a stir, he pushed off the boat.
Zander noticed the river began to move. Fingers, hands, heads, and feet were floating up out of the river, trying to pull down the boat. Julia began to panic. "It's OK, they won't hurt you. They are harmless unless you fall in," Charon reassured her.
"I think–" Julia started to speak, but James squeezed her hand for her to stop.
"It's OK, the empath has my permission to speak."
"Wait, you know what I am?" Julia was stunned.
"Of course. I have been waiting for you misfits for a while. But I thought they'd be eight of you, and I only counted six, plus a fairy ghost and a child."
"Well," Dimirti spoke. "Two of us got into some trouble with some ghost clowns," the bat explained.
Charon grunted. "Did I ask you anything?"
"Rude," Dimitri mumbled as he folded his wings across his chest.
Hazel giggled.
"And you. You are the 7th daughter of Helios?" Charon asked as his eyes landed on Hazel.
"Yes."
"So where is the infamous Alpha Zander Knight, the one they call the Demon wolf? Isn't he supposed to be travelling with you?"
"I am right here," Zander puffed his chest, feeling proud that Charon knew who he was.
Charon stopped paddling, his firey eyes blinked twice then he clutched his chest and let out a mighty roar of laughter.
The boat slowed, and the souls gripped onto the edges and began to shake the vessel, seeking to get inside.
Isis zapped them with her magic. "Charon, I don't mean to interrupt, but the dead are trying to get on."
"Mummy, I'm scared," Tia trembled.
"Hush, it's OK. Mummy is right here," Cedella cooed.
"I apologize for that," Charon sighed as he began paddling again. The light from the pole keeps the souls away from the boat. "I can't believe this chatterbox wolf is the infamous Demon Wolf."
"Hey, watch it, bud," Zander warned.
Charon blew out a breath as he refocused on his rowing.
"OK, I need to know if it's true. Do you work for the God, Hades?" Declan asked.
"Yes. That cheap old bastard," Charon grunted.
"Cool. What's he like?" Declan was keen to learn more.
"Didn't you hear me just now? I said he's a cheap old bastard. Now shut up before I throw you in the river."
The gang all sat in silence after that. Hazel rested her head on Zander's shoulder and dozed off. Soon Zander fell asleep too. Julia was huddled next to James, trying to keep warm. As for Declan, he was fast asleep with his head hung back and his mouth opened wide.
Isis shook her head as she noticed Charon staring at them with interest.
He caught Isis watching him. "What's it like being in the earthly realm?" he asked, and Dimitri answered.
"It is marvellous on earth. The people are nice and there is always something fun to do."
"And the food. The food there is amazing," Carson chimed in.
"Hmm," Charon hummed. "It sounds so exciting."
He looked over at the friends huddled together and he longed for affection like that. He missed his wife and kids, but he was condemned to this place for eternity.
"Yes, it is. I've been there a couple of times myself," Cedella confessed. "I even bed a few humans before," she laughed as she reminisced.
"Nice," Carson gleamed.
"Mummy, what did you mean you bed a few humans?" Tia shuffled and peered to look at her mother.
"It's – umm, you know how I rock you to sleep sometimes?"
"Yeah." The child's eyes were so bright and innocent.
"Well, that's what I meant. Now get some rest. We are almost there."
The others sighed in relief when the little girl bought her mother's story.
Tia closed her eyes after that and fell asleep too.
Charon rowed faster.
"I know Lucifer is her father," he declared.