Page 3 of Hades The Unseen One

“Take me down,” Zeus said before he grabbed two swords and threw one toward Poseidon, who gracefully caught it in mid-air.

Demeter had a soft approach toward the sun and earth. She was able to manipulate plants as easily as I could manipulate the shadows and their accompanying darkness. Hestia was more inclined to toy with fire, showing her dark side, yet she fussed around us, looking after all of us.

As the clashing of metal against metal began, I glanced at Hera, who was watching Poseidon and Zeus. Hera had the same shape-shifting power as Zeus and Poseidon. We were all honing our powers in a variety of ways.

The tussle intensified as both fought at a speed that few could see with the naked eye. I glanced at the large axe that I would be fighting with. I had been wounded several times, but my body healed as quickly as it was wounded. The pain of having my skin sliced open helped me feel grounded, and I found myself enjoying the discomfort. It was a far cry from being in an ageless void of existence.

My powers were more nuanced than that of my siblings. I began to sense a being’s moral intentions from seeing energy auras. The evening black skies and the shadows called to me. I could not rest until the sun began to sink into the horizon. Poseidon’s guttural war cry brought my attention back to them.

The fine dirt was in the air, and Poseidon brought his sword down. It hit Zeus’s until it flew out of his hand and onto the ground. While Poseidon lifted his sword in the air and howled, my eyes were on Zeus, who pushed his long hair back. His smile was wide as he watched Poseidon celebrate.

It was nice of Zeus to let him win for a change.

When I saw the rock fall out of Cronus’s mouth, I didn't think anything of it. Zeus told us how our mother, Rhea, managed to save him. She swaddled a stone and gave it to Cronus, who never glanced at the ‘child’ before swallowing it. Her mother, Gaia, aided her daughter against the cruelty of her son.

I didn't want the burden of being a leader to the Gods and would be content to leave these matters in Zeus or Poseidon’s hands. Zeus was as shrewd as he was wise. Poseidon was full of energy to work hard towards creating a new world. I remained silent and in the shadows. My preference was still the same. I was content in my own company.

There was little that I had in common with my siblings. The one factor that united us all was our fight for freedom against Cronus and a new dawn on Mother Earth.

Time had little meaning to me. I had no idea of how long I had been imprisoned for, but I came to learn the bravery of Zeus and his insightful wife. Had it not been for his wife Metis’s advice and foresight, we may have remained imprisoned much longer. He had disguised himself to hide his identity and fed Cronus a potion that Metis had provided to him. The Oceanid nymph had been resourceful.

I inhaled a long breath of air. It didn't matter that I was indifferent to my siblings. The clean, crisp air was filled with a variety of scents from nature and our camp. It was better than the grotesque insides of Cronus. The simple ability to move and breathe unhindered was liberating.

Yes,I would fight to the bitter end to retain this newfound freedom.

Chapter 3

War is Coming

When word came back, it embodied hope in everyone around us. The Goddess Styx of the River was the first to go to Zeus’s call, and with her came four of her children. Styx could prove vital for us because any deity who swore an oath by her water was bound to their word, or they would suffer for a period of ten years. There was no word from Pallas, her husband and son of the Titan, Cruis. He was the God of War and Strategy and would have been resourceful.

Themis would actively aid Zeus with her prophecies and divine law. The great Goddess of the Night, Nyx, would not partake in the battle, but Zeus had her blessing. Oceanus would remain neutral, and I wondered if the God whose river spanned across the world was doing so to keep a balance or in favour of his daughter Styx.

This left Cronus, Iapetus, Coseus, Hyperion, Cruis and potentially their offspring. Our mother would not be involved, and it seemed that the rest of the Titanesses would remain neutral. It was disappointing that Atlas disagreed with Zeus because, according to Zeus, he was more powerful than every other Titan except for Cronus.

The lines were being drawn, but once the violence ensued, the situation could alter. No matter what was ahead of us, losing was not an option.

???

The bustling noise and excitement within our camp became too much for me, and I sought solace in the middle of the night by taking a chariot. The images of maps were memorised, and I knew how to avoid enemies. The only light was that of the moon and the stars.

The silence was soothing, but the darkness fed into my core energy. It wasn’t long before I came across River Cocytus. There was no danger since Oceanus and Tethys did not threaten us. I saw a small nymph beside the river and heard the faint crying sounds.

After glancing around and not seeing anyone close to the nymph, I halted the chariot. She was but a child, and like all Naiad nymphs, she had pixie-like features. I stepped down from the chariot as she stood up. She sniffled and rubbed her tiny nose. Under the light of the moon, I saw tears in her eyes.

“Who are you?” she asked, but her hands trembled.

My appearance was foreboding, and I didn't do anything to mask my darkness. It was where I thrived. She wore a child's white dress with a green sash across one side. Her sand-coloured hair was braided with greenery and small white flowers.

I kept my distance because she was a child, but I knelt down so she wouldn't feel as afraid. This was when I realised why I didn't like her tears. They reminded me of the sounds my mother made. The nymph’s blue eyes widened when I knelt before her, and her head dipped toward the grassy bank. There was no coyness within her, and her aura radiated shyness.

“I am Hades. Why are you out here on your own?” I asked, unable to restrain my disapproving tone because these were dangerous times.

Her head snapped up, and to my surprise, the fear left her before she gave me a flashing hint of a smile before sadness filled her eyes with tears. Emotions must be exhausting.

“Our father warned us about the war, and I wanted to come to the River of Lamentation, but no one would take me, so I snuck out,” she said before she wiped her eyes. “Father told us about you too.”

“Who is your father?” I asked curiously.

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