She felt the hilt of her sword in her hand – the sword her father had given her. She even felt his presence strongly at the moment, and it wasn’t just the sword and the Helmet of Darkness.

“Oh yeah,” she said to herself. She was going to get up and look around, but the pain in her chest sharpened and she sucked in her breath.

Orpheus touched her hand. “I think you’d better put that thing away, Anae,” he said, indicating the black blade.

She nodded and looked around. Susanne and the blonde girl were staring at her, obviously expecting something. They would have to deal with the unexpected, first. Anaera braced herself and placed the tip of the black sword over heart.

“Don’t worry,” she heard her guardian tell the others. Then, she plunged the sword back into its home.

Susanne and Mercy both gasped, too tired and confused for a stronger reaction. They heard Anaera scream and saw a black fog envelop her for a moment. The fog cleared quickly and they saw a relieved Anaera taking off her helmet, with a black sword hilt hanging from her throat.

“Oh, I do feel better now,” she told them. Then, she winced and held a hand to her throat. “Ugh! Did I really slit a throat, Orphy?”

“Yup,” he answered. “Didn’t seem to bother Nyx too much, though. Well – not permanently, but I’d bet you’re on her sh** list now!”

“Oh, darn! Speaking of which, I guess I should explain some things.”

She faced Mercy and Susanne. “Let me introduce myself again. I’m Anaera, one and only daughter of Hades, Lord of the Dead.” She pointed to Orpheus. “And this guy’s gay!”

“Hey!” Orpheus protested, turning red. He swiftly turned back into a mouse and hid in Anaera’s hair. The others could hear him making inarticulate grumbles.

“Anyway, we’re going to Hades for some rest, and for some help. Dad’s not here anymore, but I think I see our ride coming now!”

Susanne and Mercy were even more confused, but they looked to where Anaera was pointing and saw a ferry approaching the bank, poled by a man in a black cloak. The figure called out in an incongruously cheerful voice.

“Anae! It’s been an eternity!”

“Charie!” Anaera yelled, and ran over to the ferryman. She looked happier than Susanne had yet seen her. Anaera leaped onto the ferry and she and the cloaked figure shared a bear hug.

Anaera turned around and said, “This is Lord Charon, ferryman of the River Styx, and current administrator of the Underworld. Charon, this is Susanne and this is – um, I don’t believe I know your name!”

“Mercy,” the blonde girl supplied. “Pleased to meet you, um, sir.”

“Do we have to pay?” Susanne asked. “I remember something from mythology about a gold coin.”

“Kindly refrain from referring to my family and friends as myths,” Anaera requested.

Charon laughed, “A nice, practical girl! Not like some of the deadbeats we have around here! No, dear girl, the fee has been eliminated. I’ve made some reforms since I took over. Not that it makes much difference, since so few people come to the Underworld anymore. Things have been – dead – lately.”

“Your sense of humor hasn’t changed at all!” Anaera exclaimed.

“Anyway,” said the mouse in Anaera’s hair, “We should get going!”

“Either your hair is talking or your guardian found you!” Charon commented. He looked at the top of her braids and found Orpheus. “Ah, I see they gave you the gay one! Sheesh, that’s what happens when you let your father make the arrangements!”

“Forgive me for being gay!”

“Okay, everyone,” the administrator of Hades called out, ignoring the guardian, “Boarding time! Everybody on! Don’t touch the water unless you’d like to stay here for a long time!” Susanne and Mercy were about to step on, when the strange lord stopped them. “Oops, I forgot! There is a fee of a sort. Answer me this: what do you call happy Hadiens? Any guesses? The grateful dead! Ha-ha, I KILL myself! Okay, get on board. You too, Stripey!” he said to Roger as the girls boarded. “No worries about fitting in and what-not – you’re certain to be the life of the party!”

“He never shuts up, does he?” asked Mercy.

“Dead right!” Anaera and Charon answered together, then doubled over with laughter.

“Well, I don’t have very many people to talk to down here. But I’ll try to behave. Oh, looks like we’re ready,” the ferryman said, and he pushed against the bank with his pole.

They were only a couple of feet out, when the other tiger sprinted up out of nowhere and made a wild leap to the deck of the ferry, nearly pushing Roger off when he landed. The British tiger was doing a spectacular handstand on his front paws, wobbling precariously on the edge of the ferry. Instead of falling in, he flipped over and landed on his paws, next to Susanne.

“Whew! I thought I was about to make a generation of women very unhappy!” Roger exclaimed as he settled down, and then glared at the other tiger.

“Tigger,” Mercy exclaimed and went over to the new tiger. “Where have you been!”

“Hm, well. Looks like things won’t be right dead all over!”