Persephone's Story

Zeus – Brandon Powers

Zeus’s Mansion.

Right after Athena entered, strolling in was Demeter with panic shining in her bright eyes. Brandon having not noticed the apprehensive state his sister was in, immediately stepped to Athena’s side and threw out his arms to welcome her.

“Demeter-!”

She had dropped her purse and walked past him as though he were but an apparition. Brandon’s welcoming smile was frozen on his face, teeth clenched and equally as brilliant like most of his kin. He lowered his empty arms as soon as they started aching and he followed after Demeter’s worried pacing to inform: “Calm down. She hasn’t arrived yet.” Jesus that woman is crazy…Ha! I said Jesus.

The father god scowled, his brown brows coming together at his forehead when he saw Demeter shaking his son around. He approached the distressed mother and just as his lips parted to confront her, a certain news report slipped into his ear. Brandon’s attention turned to the television set as the news covered the fire that was consuming his sister’s shop.

“What is this?” he growled; his voice rumbling like a nearing storm.

Just in, firefighters have uncovered the bodies of one white male and female. A case of arson has just become a murder investigation…

Brandon was baffled; a male and female victim? Even if gods were caught in the fire, gods couldn’t be burned by normal means. They were more resilient than that. Brandon returned his focus to Hermes and Demeter, his expression showing conversion to Demeter’s chaos.

“Where’s Persephone?” he asked Demeter. Immediately, he remembered the goddess being just as lost as. He turned his frown on Hermes and demanded, “Where’s Persephone?”

Two gods were now on the godling’s case in a manner that he might as well had gone and lit the fire. Brandon’s attention once again snapped over to the front door when he saw it open. He strode briskly toward it, his brows rising in hope that it was Persephone. Upon seeing his brother enter and offer a warm greeting, Brandon latched his hands onto his older brother’s shoulders, and at that moment, the two may have seemed like godlings again.

“Poseidon, have you seen Persephone?” he asked fearfully.

The gods seemed to be pouring in as seconds after Poseidon, the door opened once again, and walking in, besides the stranger that accompanied her, was Persephone.

“There she is!” Brandon exploded, possibly cutting off his brother’s explanation. He patted Poseidon on the shoulder and said quickly, “Glad to have you—Hey! Demeter!”

He turned back to the harvest goddess and yelled, “Persephone’s here!”

Whirling around, he enveloped his other daughter in a warm hug and then held her at a distance with his hands upon her biceps.

“Are you all right? I saw Ambrosia burning on TV. Your mother is worried sick.”

His brown eyes darted to her tall friend, and he slapped on his egotistical grin.

“Hi! I’m Brandon Powers; I’m sure you’ve heard of me.” He then leaned close to Persephone’s ear and whispered out of the corner of his mouth, You better get rid of this guy before Hades’s minions’ see him. They’re not allowed on my property, but they’re like pests. I can’t get rid of them sometimes.

Anton stared at his father with severe disappointment. How did a father not recognize his own son? As Anton frowned softly at the floor, Brandon blushed a little, wondering if Persephone’s friend had overheard him. Laughing in an attempt to lighten the mood, he slapped Anton in the arm and said, “Well, thank you for ensuring my daughter’s safe arrival. I, uh…” What was a nice way to kick someone out? He dunked his hand into his rear pocket and fished out his wallet. Fingering through a few Benjamins, Brandon glanced up at the young man and smiled, “How much do you want?”

Anton’s frown hardened and Brandon laughed, “Don’t be shy! Seriously, this wallet doesn’t even cover 1% of my bank account.”

She had walked from where Hermes was simpering; telling her to get a drink in order to quell her fears.She shot him an antagonistic glare and turned to her brother. "I don't know where she is, that's why I'm asking!" She shrieked, her hand running across her scalp and taking a few red hairs along with it. She watched her daughters father question first Hermes, and then Poseidon as he made his entrance into the Mansion.

Just in, firefighters have uncovered the bodies of one white male and female. A case of arson has just become a murder investigation…

Thump-thump-thump..

Her heart began to beat rapidly like the start of a plane. The room seemed to spin then, and Hermes, Zeus, and her brother seemed miles away from the Goddess. Where was she? The female inside could not be her daughter. As much as she loathed Hades, he had always protected her with a ferocity even Demeter could admire time to time.

The sound of glass door opening, the hiss of a iron hinge nearly made Demeter crumple to the ground.

There she was though, as beautiful as ever. Her daughter glided into the room holding the hand of a handsome tall man. Any other day she might have questioned her daughter about who the mysterious man next to her was, but it was last on her list of priorities today.

"Persephone." Demeter said with a relieved sigh, watching as her brother gave their daughter a warm hug in greeting before voicing his own questions to the man near her.

Before Persephone was even able to offer a greeting, Zeus was before her. He threw his arms around her and embraced the woman in way only a father could. She could sense the tension that was around her, and her eyebrows raised in confusion.

“Are you all right? I saw Ambrosia burning on TV. Your mother is worried sick.” He then leaned in to whisper a warning in regards to her brother beside her, which left her with even more confusion.

"What?" She laughed, a sudden tingle traveled down her spine. "Daddy, what are you talking about? Ambrosia is fine and that's Heph." Her blue orbs traveled to where one of her brothers was standing, the t.v. flashing behind him as an anchorman stood in front of remains of a shop.

Her shop.

Persephone began to shake underneath her fathers gentle touch. The center of her palms began to tingle as well and her knees buckled. She threw a hand to the closest wall near to her in order to keep a standing position.

Demeter promptly took her place near her daughters side the minute Zeus informed her of the fire. Sadness was clear in the crystal blue eyes and she could tell Persephone was undoubtedly troubled by the whole affair. She plucked her daughters hand and rested it in her own, caressing it in a soothing manner as she did when the girl was still a child.

"We can rebuild." She told her, a finger tracing the inside of her daughters palm.

Persephone stared at her mother with a somber expression. "I only wanted to make people happy. Why would anyone do this?" She asked, turning from her mother to the rest of the Immortals near her.

Because the Titans are cruel. Demeter couldn't say for sure it was her father that had caused the fire, but seeing them in the shop and then having it burn down hours later pretty damn suspicious. "We'll find out who did this and they'll be punished. Won't they, brother?" Demeter asked, her voice asking the question but her eyes demanding Zeus agree with her.

Persephone bit her lip in thought. If Zeus couldn't find out what happened then no doubt Hades would. His way of questioning people; even those who didn't want to talk, always brought better results than her father. "Has my husband arrived?" Persephone asked, as quietly as she could hoping her mother would mimic her own tone once she learned about Hades being invited.

Demeter's eye twitched." Why would Hades arrive? It's still spring dear, I've got you for another five months." Her laugh was bright for a moment before it quickly became hollow once she realized no one was laughing with her. "Zeus....." She began. "What is our daughter talking about? You didn't....invite him did you?"The last few words she spoke were barely understandable as her jaw became clenched so tightly together.

The moon was high and bright, capturing the attention of the goddess. Despite it being one of her symbols, Artemis had always been enamored by the thing. It felt comforting in a way to have the light, the energy, on her skin. The moon always made the world look different compared to how it was during the day. It made it her own domain at this time.

Her attention was diverted as she watched her brethren arrive one by one. Zeus, Hera, Athena, Hermes was probably inside as well. She thought before continuing on with the count. Demeter, Poseidon, Persephone and… is that Hephaestus with her? That actually shocked the goddess a bit, getting the god out of his workshop and to one of these family meetings was almost impossible. Artemis of course, could understand why Heph wouldn't come; the relationship between him and both of his parents wasn't exactly strong. The relationship between Artemis and Zeus was nothing to really brag about but at least her relationship with both her mother and Apollo kept her feeling loved.

Just a few more left then…Aphrodite, Ares, and Apollo. She contemplated waiting for her brother's arrival but after a few moments of waiting she decided that time would pass more quickly inside where there were things to entertain her.

Making her way through the doors of the mansion, it wasn't hard to hear where everyone was staying. Needless to say, she walked into the usual chaos. The brunette tried to stay quiet as to not draw a great deal of attention to herself, she disliked these gatherings anyway. She was only listening half-heartedly to the conversations that were going on as she made her way away from the 'loud' area and walked next to Hermes. "What happened to Ambrosia?" She asked, looking curiously at the other god.

"Has my husband arrived?" She heard Persephone ask Zeus. All Artemis could really think was a stream of obscenities. This was definitely going to be a rather interesting reunion.

Zeus - Brandon Powers

Zeus's Mansion

Daddy, what are you talking about? Ambrosia is fine and that's Heph.

A cold chill of startle shot down his spine when his daughter mentioned the blacksmith's name.

Hephaestus? Zeus thought. He stared at the quiet young man for a good five seconds before he squinted his eyes. While he was examining the thought-to-be mortal before him, he happened to overhear Hermes's quip:

HA-HA! Dad, is old age finally getting to you? You can't even tell who your kids are now?

I should have let Demeter shake the piss out of him, Zeus grumbled in his thoughts. He wasn't old!

His son's fiery aura was very dim, outlining his body in an orange brilliance. It was a god signature he hadn't seen in years, and for a father that bore many sons it was unforgettable for it was Hephaestus who was born from the fires of his and Hera's passions.

Anton raised his eyes to meet the stunned, brown eyes of his father's. The two regarded each other in silence until the corner of Brandon's mouth began to curl with an awkward smile.

"S~o~n..." he greeted roughly. He felt so embarrassed. Shit, he had been trying to play the good father up until this point. He must have hurt the boy's feelings. Thrusting out his arms with rejuvenated exuberance, he continued, "You actually came!"

Anton narrowed his eyes at his goofy father. Had it really been this long? For so many centuries the rumors about his father described a powerful and charismatic leader. They may have been true in some cases, but they obscured that one characteristic and that he was an oddball.

Brandon's smile had widened into a forced grin. "Come hug your father."

When Anton made no attempt to, Brandon stepped forward and wrapped his arms about him. With his cheek smashed against his son's chest, he stared apprehensively across the room as the smell of smoke and oil filled his nostrils.

Bathe much?

Brandon's eyes widened when he felt his son's arms move. Anton couldn't get anymore humiliated. The reunion with his father was so far number one on his list. With an exasperated sigh, the mastersmith raised his arms and wrapped them about his father in a warm hug. What had been a simple return of affection, weighed heavily on the father god's heart.

I won't cry... Brandon thought as he rolled his lips back into his mouth. His eyes glittered as tears threatened to stream from them. For so many years he thought that Hephaestus still held a grudge against him and his mother and that had been the reason why he never came to his gatherings. Yet, his son was here and in his arms.

Brandon stepped back from their embrace and rubbed his sleeve across his eyes. "Man, these contacts..."

Resting his hands on his hips, the millionaire glanced off to the side while he shifted his weight from foot to foot, "Whew; what a night, and it's only just starting."

Catching the end of Demeter's conversation with Persephone, Brandon blurted, "Yes. Hephaestus can rebuild your shop for you."

Anton had been heading for the living room that Hermes and Artemis occupied when he overheard his father's declaration. A shadow of fuming irritation fell over the god's face as he replied without turning his head, "Sure; why not."

He didn't get a chance to offer to fix Persephone's shop before it became his job by his father. The blacksmith whirred past his other siblings to find the couch where he intended to sit for hopefully the whole night, but when it came time for dinner, he dreaded facing his mother and his wife. What would they think of him? His father obviously didn't see him any different.

Brandon dropped a fist into his palm and gave Persephone a reassuring smile.

"No one was hurt, so that's something to be grateful for. As for punishing anyone, we'll discuss that over dinner once everyone is here."
He started in the direction of the kitchen when he heard over his shoulder:

Has my husband arrived?

His pace quickened.

Zeus...what is our daughter talking about? You didn't...invite him did you?

Brandon whirled around, still wearing a pleasant smile as he walked backwards toward the kitchen.

"I told Hermes to invite whomever he felt should come. So..." Brandon tossed his hands up and shrugged absentmindedly. We'll see who has the last laugh. The father god had set the fire back on his joker of a son before he vanished behind the kitchen door.

Athena

---

Athena had stepped aside when Demeter had stormed past, obviously concerned for her daughter and if their store had been burned to the ground then rightly so. Always feeling uncomfortable at these family gatherings, she had started to examine the room and its occupants, though she had barely began when the double doors to the room burst open and dear sweet Persephone entered, accompanied by what at first glance seemed to be an awkward mortal craftsman.

But oh no. He was more than that she realised. Her jaw tightened slightly and her eyes narrowed. Him, She had dared to bring Him here?! Athena growled slightly to herself as her thoughts threatened to overwhelm her before she turned on her heel and walked towards the glass doors leading onto the patio; sparing a moments amusement at both the fact her father had no idea who the man was and how uncomfortable it made the lame smith.

"I need some air" she muttered under her breath, her voice tinged with fury as her eyes almost visibly burned "I refuse to be near that foul pig, he makes Ares seem mild-mannered." she growled through clenched teeth as she passed near Hermes and Artemis before stepping out into the mild night air.

Standing near the stone wall that encircled the patio she tried to settle herself, breathing deeply as she materialised a long-stemmed glass of rich red wine. "I shouldn't let it get to me, not after all this time." she whispered to herself, before taking a long drink. As her nerves had settled slightly she began to click her tongue several times causing a faint beating of wings to echo from the eaves of the house as a small white feathered owl flew down to perch on her shoulder.

"I'm just going to have to suffer and survive, am I not Minerva?" She whispers, her head turning to look at the owl as she smiles softly.

She sighs to herself again and looks out across the garden at the back of the mansion, her eyes lighting upon a singular tree, planted near the centre of an elaborately designed maze. It was looking well kept, but something about it felt... well, lacking.

"I see he's continuing to try to let it grow. They're a dying breed, you know?" she chuckles before nuzzling Minerva's neck slightly "And without the Hesperides to tend them they will all wilt eventually. I'd say that is one of the last remaining in the world now, if not the very last." shaking her head slightly she refills her glass before turning to examine the rest of the garden, her gaze eventually returning to the room behind her.

How I hate these reunions she thought to herself, draining her drink once more.

There was nothing quite as satisfying to her as watching drama unfold around here, especially when it didn't involve her.

Hera found herself looking at her family with a curious expression. How have we not killed each other yet? The thought amused her, but it was a serious question to think on. Surely some of her siblings, nephews and nieces wanted to kill one another, so why hadn't they done so already?

When her eyes landed on the unfamiliar hulking figure standing near, and eventually hugging Zeus, her eyebrow raised.

Her sons mortal form was more pleasing to the eye than his godly visage, that was for sure. He was no Adonis, but at least now he was a bit more bearable to look at. Hera took a few steps forward in order to move into the light and announce her presence to the rest of the Immortals. Standing only a couple feet away from her son, she crossed her arms and tilted her head in the way a buyer might in front of a painting they were considering buying.

"Not bad." She replied, the smallest ghost of a smile over her sharp features. Normally she did not praise her children, but she decided a small compliment might do her crippled son some good. Her brief attempt at being motherly was interrupted by Demeter's voice.


"Zeus...what is our daughter talking about? You didn't...invite him did you?

Hera rolled her eyes and wrapped a stray hair around her finger;watching while her sisters face went from calm to enraged in a matter of seconds. Demeter went through several shades of red before the poor thing looked as bright as a tomato. Everyone knew she hated Hades and vice-versa, and while their spats were amusing at times Hera wanted no part in any of it tonight.

"I told Hermes to invite whomever he felt should come. So..." Zeus replied, shrugging his shoulders carelessly.

Figures. Put the blame on your kid. Hera thought. She gave a snort before turning on her heel and turning to follow her husband into the kitchens. She picked at a passing caters silver plate, deciding on a silver green olive before she began to speak.

"I told you inviting Hades would be a bad idea. Especially with your little Spring Goddess's shop burning down. Did you think after hearing that he's going to still be a tamed lion?" She questioned, popping the tiny olive into her mouth and chewing it thoughtfully as she waited for her husband to reply.

Demeter found herself looking at Persephone with a gentle expression after she finished glaring at Zeus. The corners of her mouth lifted and her dimples appeared.

"Persephone.." She started, slipping back into her motherly tone even though the evidence of her anger was still obvious in the way a blue vein in her neck continued throbbing.

"You know how unfair this is don't you? This is supposed to be my time with you. "She complained,pressing her lips into a childish pout. She allowed a small tear to trickle down her cheek in effort to keep up the saddened facade. Her daughter was usually weak to tears, more so her mothers than anyone elses.

It probably would have worked to if her brother hadn't made his extremely inappropriate entrance. She rubbed the tear away and crossed her arms as she looked him over.

His human form was, as usual, as dark and menacing as the place he called home. He wore a fur coat that she could only assume was real (if he could kill a man she was sure he would have no qualms wearing a dead animal.) There was also something annoying to her about the way he held himself. His posture was perfect, but he walked into the building as if he owned the place.

"Cocky bastard." She mumbled under her breathe, making no attempt to hide her dislike for her brother. They both were past the false kindness some in-laws maintained for one another.

She was still staring at his menacing figure when she placed a cool moist hand on her daughters porcealin shoulder. When Hades made no movement, Demeter realized Zeus had not removed the ward that kept the monster from seeing her child.

"Come on dear," She murmured persuasively , her voice as low as possible as she tried not to catch Hades attention as he turned to speak to their younger brother.

Anxiously, she turned and looked at Persephone with her eyes silently pleading. "Quickly child, before your father expels the wards."

"Over there." She cringed the minute her brother lifted the ward. Though Persephone looked no different to her, she knew that her daughter was now exposed to the villain before her. "Keep a five foot distance monster." She snarled, standing in front of her blonde haired angel in a protective stance.

---

"So then, we took a few containers of gas and burn the place down." Cronus once more let out a victorious laugh as he explained what his brother and sister had accomplished. He clapped a hand over his stomach. He was beginning to have cramps in his abdomen from all the things he had done today and the laughter that followed.

"Brother." Iapetus interrupted, raising a hand as if that made it more polite.

Cronus raised an eyebrow, but his mood was too great to chide his brother.

Iapetus cleared his throat and began. "So now we've alerted them of our presence, burned down a store, and killed a couple of mortals. " Cronus waited for the question that his companions had continually asked him since they were resurrected. "What next?"

Cronus sighed. "Must you all lack vision? Clearly my children will come to us now. No matter how stubborn my children are, they aren't fools. They'll find us." He declared.

Whether his brother found the answer he had been given satisfactory or he was wise enough to remain quiet, the Titan King didn't care. The sound of knocking took his attention away from his elder brother and made himself jump out of his chair. He traveled down through the hallway to where the large front door stood between him and the human world.

Unlike suspicious mortals, Cronus had no problems simply swinging the door open without peeping through the small hole in the middle door. Jerking the door back, he came face to face with a Immortal he had not suspected to see .

"Atlas." He said, running his fingers through his beard as he narrowed his eyes suspiciously towards his nephew. He opened the door enough so that his nephew was free to walk in if that's what he chose to do.

Persephone eyes lingered on her mother's tear stained face. When she was younger and more gullible, the woman's tantrums had more of an effect on her. Hundreds of years living with the Harvest Goddess had made Persephone more aware of her trickery and almost immune to her charms.

She tilted her head. "Oh stop crying." She chided, though not unkindly. She clucked her tongue and continued listening to her mothers attempts to spirit her away from the mansion and banquet her father had prepared

"You know we can't do that," she began, her flaxen hair swept from her face with a hand "besides, you shouldn't interfere with affairs between husband and wife." She was suddenly surprised by both the bluntness and ferocity in her voice as she spoke to her mother. Normally she was a gentle as kitten when speaking to the stubborn Goddess, but with the burning of her shop and her mother attempting to smother her again, well... even Goddess's had their breaking point.

She may have said more, perhaps even going so far to shoot a few insults her mother's way had it not been for the sudden scent and presence that entered the room.The smell of death and blood had clung to him her husband much like a perfume when she was younger. Especially in the first days of their calamitous marriage. Now he smelled the perfect combination of heaven and sin, rolled into one very attractive man.

Persephone took a step closer; her lips forming his name but no response once she had spoken it . She waved a hand towards him almost frantically, but when he did made no move to take her in his arms, she knew her father had yet to dissolve the wards. Her mother made attempt to whisper into her ear, but she was having none of it. Persephone even went so far as to shake the hand her mother placed on her shoulder off in an annoyed fashion.

Looking past her husband, she saw the small group of companions standing nervously behind him. When Bernard locked eyes with her, she parted her lips in a smile. He was by far her favorite of Hades lackeys, and one of the few people involved in her husbands work she could actually stand to be around.

The sound of pottery smashing distracted her from staring at the henchman, and brought her attention back towards her husband. His temper had managed to get the best of him.

When her father resurfaced once more from the kitchen and began greeting her husband cheerfully, the Spring Goddess began to fidget anxiously. Why didn't her father just take the ward off earlier? Did he enjoy teasing the both of them so much , or was he planning on toying with them for his own amusement. She threw the latter of the two thoughts from her head and shook the blonde curtain of bangs that hung in front of her face.

Her father was many things, but even she knew he wouldn't be that cruel.

"Over there."

Persephone flicked her head up and looked to where her father was pointing a finger directly at her. Blinking rapidly, she took a step forward and could feel her husbands eyes upon her.

"Keep a five foot distance monster." Her mother threatened, moving in front of Persephone. The tears had disappeared from her eyes and were quickly replaced with rage and disgust. Persephone rolled her blue orbs up towards the ceiling before pushing her mother out of the way in haste to meet with her husband.

Now standing before him, the Springtime Goddess shivered in his presence. The magnitude of their love and meetings had always brought goosebumps across her lithe body, and this meeting was no different. When his warm words met her ears, Persephone lifted the back of her hand to caress his sun kissed face.

She nodded her head in agreement to his soft words. "Very true," she replied, her hand gliding across his jaw line in a rhythmic motion. "Though I have to wonder what Daddy's poor vase ever did to you to make you hate so." She teased, glancing back towards the remnants of the broken vase. While her voice will filled with adoration, she could never miss an opportunity to tease the Lord of the Underworld.

With him so close beside her, she finally felt..

Whole.

Hermes' voice drew her attention back to him. "Somebody burned it down with a couple humans inside. Queenie over there, didn't seem to know anything about it. That's all I know about it, but I guess the big question is...who the hell would burn it down?" Artemis gave him a look clearly showing her dislike towards the nickname he used for Persephone. Even still she was shocked.

Ambrosia had been a lovely little shop and many people in the area frequented it. She found herself wondering if maybe Hades had done it. There had been many times when the goddess stopped by her cousin's shop and found lines of men in the waiting area; either to buy flowers because they had done been put in the doghouse by their wives/girlfriends, or just using it as an excuse to be in Persephone's presence. Artemis wouldn't put it passed Hades to burn the shop down in order to keep those men away from his wife.

Artemis closed her eyes, shaking her head quickly in an attempt to clear her mind. She really shouldn't have been thinking about her best friends' husband that way, the brunette knew how much Perse loved him. It was strange really, Artemis had spend the last few centuries trying to dispel her negative feelings towards men but even still, she sometimes found herself thinking nothing but the worst of them.

"Hey Arty, you feel anything weird lately? Like..." She looked back towards the god of messengers, waiting for him to continue on. "It's like a buzzing. I keep hearing it in my ears. First I thought Hades sent his Furies or some shit to annoy me because I flirt too much with Seph, but...I don't know, maybe I'm just tripping out or something."

Her features grew serious at Hermes' observation. So apparently she wasn't the only one who felt something off, it sent a somewhat comforting feeling through her body. Then again it really could have been Hades revenge for Hermes' flirting with his Persephone and Artemis was actually just paranoid. Thinking it over for a few seconds she decided that it would be better if she announced her feelings.

"I was actually just telling Perse this morning about this uneasiness I had been feeling all day. The energy flow is just off to me, like something's changed." Her voice trailed off as she looked to the ground, contemplating what it could possibly mean. "I wonder where my brother is…" Her sight moved to the doorway, where the entry way was located. She'd feel better once her twin made an entrance.

Athena

---

Sighing to herself she re-enters the house, closing the doors silently behind her; however the commotion coming from beyond the main doors to the room seem to drown out the majority of activity as a voice raised in anger echoed loudly. Hades' entrance was as full of rage as always, looking to Athena as yet another means for him to frighten those before him into submission. And while he could most likely back up the façade he projected, it just felt somewhat forced to her. Rolling her eyes at the way Persephone and Hades almost ran towards each other, into a lustful embrace she turned away from their premature reunion. If I wanted to watch such a display I could quite easily have just put the TV onto any of the drivellous soap operas. Athena thought as she seated herself next to the chess board she had given to her father, smiling as she examined the pieces in an attempt to ignore events. It had been one of the only items she had ever requested from Hephaestus, though followed not long after by the incident over her weapons. Each of the pieces on the white side representing the Gods while the pieces on the black were the Titans. Hades and Poseidon were naturally the bishops and both her and Ares the knights to their father Zeus as king, while her stepmother Hera sat as the queen. Though had she put anyone else in such a role, then the board would have long ago been destroyed. Artemis and Apollo were the rooks and Hermes the pawn. It had been a gift that caused much argument but as far as Athena was concerned it was the game in question that mattered, though the aesthetics were still important. The Titan pieces however were her personal favourite as black was her choice whenever she played with her father.

Athena sighed softly to herself, noting how her siblings were talking animatedly amongst themselves nearby and gathering from the glances Artemis made that she was looking for her twin. Causing her to wonder herself where Apollo could be. She smiled warmly towards Minerva, lightly stroking her neck for a moment before starting a chess game with herself to pass the time.

"I wonder when we shall be graced with my brother's presence, though doubtful till they have finished with each other. Then I surmise that Apollo will most likely be the final arrival." she softly whispered to her owl.

Hades – Dmitri Ruslan

Zeus’s Mansion.


Keep a five foot distance monster.

Persephone’s beauty became obscured by a gorgon that decided to get in his way. Dmitri stared at Demeter with an empty expression. There had been too many emotions assaulting his mind at once just from the audacity of it all. Anger eventually overwhelmed him and to cure his condition, he reached into his inner jacket pocket and removed his new glock. He pointed it right at Demeter until Persephone stepped into the crossfire. Flipping the pistol’s nose upwards, Dmitri retracted the gun and tucked it away back into his coat. The bitch was lucky.

Dmitri’s heart near swelled out of his chest when Persephone stopped before him. When her hand touched his face, his hand rose to clutch the back of it.

Very true…Though I have to wonder what Daddy’s poor vase ever did to you to make you hate it so.

“It looked like he bought it from Pier 1,” Dmitri answered.

Holding out his free hand, he snapped his fingers and his henchmen marched outside. Dmitri drew from his shoulders the snow hare fur coat and draped it about Persephone’s shoulders. He pulled it snug about her, cradling her in its downy texture. He stepped closer to her; the lust that simmered within him exuded from him in waves. Without a word of delay, Dmitri leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. He took hold of her bottom lip, the tip of his tongue tracing it before his tongue entered her mouth.

Brandon watched the lover’s sensual reunion. His hands were resting comfortably in his pockets and his eyes drifted to his sister, curious as to how upset she was about their meeting. It was only for a night. The thugs returned inside the mansion with gifts wrapped in vanilla and gold wrapping paper. The gifts put a smile on his face, temporarily, that was until they entered with a separate, small, dining table, chairs, and what smelled to be a meal of their own.

Brandon frowned. “Why are they bringing in food? I already have food prepared.”

The fur coat had absorbed the mafia boss. Wrapped in the white coat with his wife, he fondled her bosom and massaged her hip with his hungry fingers. Brandon’s brow twitched in irritation when he saw that he was ignored and the touching reunion was quickly taking a sinful turn with Dmitri’s wandering hands.

“Hades!” Brandon irritably shouted.

Dmitri retracted his lips from his flower’s cloves with a wet and audible smack. He gazed into her lovely blue hues before he turned his head to nonchalantly regard his brother. “Why are you confused? I said I would come, but I didn’t say I would consume your mediocre cooking. Huh, I rather enjoy the healthy state of my mortal. If I’m ever suffering from constipation or self-destructive thoughts due to the separation of me and my deyvooshka (fem. lover Rus.), then I may reconsider.”

Brandon face-palmed and then lowered his hand. He asked in exasperation: “Have you even tried the rib-eye? It’s delicious.”

“I bought some things for you,” Dmitri told Persephone. Bernard and the other thugs approached the lovers, bearing the evident garment boxes. Dmitri turned her around in his arms so that she could watch them unwrap a white winter dress, crocheted in Russia to match the fur coat he got her. The next gifts were a white Cossack hat, fur-lined heels, a purse, and snowflake jewelry. The clothes complimented the winter, the season he anticipated seeing her in.

The mafia boss smiled and lowered his lips to her cheek. “I hope that you find them suit-”

Persephone was gone.

Dmitri’s eyes grew in shock to see that his winter angel was no longer there. Bernard gazed at Dmitri in confusion as he watched him slowly back away from Persephone, but then it hit him. He could no longer see her and that meant…

Brandon rested a hand on his stomach as he laughed insensitively at his brother, “Your expression is priceless!”

Dmitri gazed at Brandon with raised brows. He was so confused.

Quieting his laughter, Brandon wiped a tear from his eye and informed, “Yeah, don’t ignore me. I’m serious about that steak. I won’t let you see her until you’ve tried it.”

The corner of Dmitri’s mouth twitched as though he was having a difficult time choosing between happiness or anger. A harsh snicker left him and he leaned forward, hanging his head in laughter. Brandon absently joined him, the two were engrossed in mirth. As he told Hera, Hades wasn’t as bad as Ares. His brother at least had a sense of humor.

It was when Dmitri straightened to reveal the pistol in his hand that Brandon’s laughter stopped and Dmitri was the only one laughing. The mafia boss’s jaws cracked as his teeth grew gnarled and craggy. His eyes were completely black behind his shades except for the silver rings of his irises. He stretched out his arm and squeezed the trigger on the glock until the magazine was exhausted.

“DIE~!” he roared.

Brandon had held out his hand and from his fingers shot a chain of lightning that caused the rounds to pop like cherry bombs before the end of the electric chain tagged Dmitri’s pistol. The weapon leapt out of his hand, leaving electric snakes to dance down Dmitri’s arm. Dmitri’s arm trembled from the shock. It bothered him to see that he had bought a weapon that was incapable of killing his own brother.

“Not until you try my steak!” Brandon returned with a triumphant smile.

Dmitri charged Brandon, and the father god whirled around. The two brothers commenced chasing each other around the mansion. Anton had been watching television and had been trying to ignore the noises that echoed from the foyer when a loud bang came from the ceiling. The smith glanced up and heard the muffled curses of his uncle.

“Keep laughing you son of a bitch! I got a pit in The Underworld with your fucking name all over it!” Dmitri snarled.

“Hey! She was your mom too. Try my steak!”

“I’ll see you in Hell first!”

A loud smash that shook the mansion’s foundations occurred.

“That was my couch you bastard!”

“Fuck your couch!”

Anton sighed and clapped a hand over his face. He only prayed that his father wouldn’t ask him to repair his mansion when Hades’s tantrum was over. The quarrel lasted for only ten minutes when Brandon was seen panting and exhaustedly descending the staircase back down to the foyer. Dmitri followed him; his shades lopsided on his face and his hair looking as though he made love to a wall socket. When the mafia boss reached the bottom of the stairs, he only had the energy to sit down on the last step and catch his breath. Brandon glanced over his shoulder to see that his brother was just as tired as he was and he stopped to also catch his breath. His hands went to his hips as his face glistened with a light sweat. He was thankful that Hades was tired for if he still had some energy, he might not have been able to dodge him for long.

“Looks like our mortals can’t keep up with us, huh?” Brandon laughed.

Dmitri rested his head against the banister and recollected his decision. He couldn’t believe that he went through all of this trouble over a piece of meat. It was Persephone he wanted and nothing else. He didn’t even care about what his brother planned to talk about over dinner. Adjusting his glasses and running a hand back through his hair, Dmitri stood and grudgingly growled, “I’ll try your damned steak.”

“Great!”

---

Mansion Kitchen.

Dmitri sat at the counter with a scowl on his face. The whole ordeal was ridiculous and it explained why he never attended Zeus’s banquets in the past. Brandon set on the counter a small saucer with a sliver of the rib eye on it. The pink meat was laying in a shallow puddle of blood, mango, and bouillon. Its edges were a rich, crispy brown and Dmitri had to give his brother some credit, the display was appetizing. When his brother set down an empty wine glass, Dmitri quickly informed, “I’m choosing the wine.”

Brandon returned to the counter with a bottle of white wine. Dmitri’s fists irritably clenched. “You don’t serve white wine with meat!”

Brandon wrinkled his nose at his brother. “Hey, this is my tasting. You taste what I serve you.”

Dmitri bowed his head as his face flushed in his rage. Persephone, Persephone, Persephone, he mentally chanted to himself. It was all for her sake. He massaged his temples as Brandon filled his wine glass.

“There we go. Try it, and I promise I won’t interrupt you and Persephone again,” said Brandon.

It was a worthy vow after all the nonsense he had to endure. Dmitri sighed and sat upwards. He first picked up the fork and knife and cut a small square off the meat slither. He then swirled it around in the marinade before inserting it into his mouth. As was Zeus’s experience, the sweet mango and smoky bitterness struck his tongue with an explosion of flavor. The meat wasn’t fatty nor too tender. Its texture was like rough leather.

Brandon grinned as he watched his brother sample the rib-eye. When Dmitri finished the meat, he picked up the wine glass and swirled it. Bringing it to his nose, he sniffed it deeply before frowning…the wine was going to be the worst thing about the tasting, but he kept his opinions to himself. Sipping it, he swished the liquid in his mouth, coating it in the flavor of lemon grass and other grassy flavors: Sauvignon blanc. Setting the glass down, Dmitri’s hands settled on his thighs as he contemplated the whole meal.

“Well?” Brandon questioned.

“I will admit that the steak was well-prepared, and it may have been better if paired with a red wine. Because its glazed in mango, I recommend a Carmenere. Its fruity and robust flavors will only compliment it,” Dmitri enlightened.

Brandon smiled and nodded. “I’ll take that into consideration. May I ask for your advice in the future?”

“Sure, why not. Can I see my wife now?”

“Be my guest!”

Dmitri wasted no time in exiting the kitchen. He returned to the foyer and was pleased to see his spring rose. Bernard had been keeping her company until his boss’s return. He didn’t know what to say to her: “Sorry I kept you waiting,” didn’t seem to cut it. Shit, why the hell would he need to apologize? It was her damn father that had interrupted them.

Demeter stood slack-jawed, even as her two brothers began to fight with one another. For several minutes she was as still as stone, her mortal heart quickening as fierce rage flooded throughout her body. Had she really just witnessed Hades put his filthy tongue down her innocent daughters throat? Her hands began to quake, and rage was replaced by pure unstoppable fury. While her two siblings sauntered into the kitchen, Demeter took her daughters wrist with a grip as fierce and tight as a bear trap.

Persephone's lips still tingled even after her husbands lips had departed from her own. There they stood against one another; the fur he had placed over her still hanging snug and warm over her skin even as she pressed herself close to his muscular figure. "I've missed you much! I have so much to tell you, did you know that Ambro-." She paused, noticing his hazel eyes were no longer locked with her own, and it took her a few seconds to realize what had happened. Within moments that seemed much longer to her, both her father and husband were fighting and Persephone was left with only Bernard close enough for company.
While she turned in order to greet her husbands main henchman, her mother's sudden grip on her wrist made her blue eyes grow widen.

"What are you doing? Let go of me." She demanded, attempting to pry her mother's fingers off of her. She could feel her wrist beginning to bruise, and the look in her mothers eyes actually frightened her a bit. Normally the Harvest Goddess was gentle, even if she was as stubborn as mule. If she was ever violent, it was never directed at Persephone herself.

She did not relent, and instead pulled her daughter close to her. Her nails dug into her daughters supple skin. "How dare he act so vulgar in front of me! I've had enough of this, we're leaving!"

Persephone finally found enough strength to yank her poor wrist out of manic of a mothers death grip. She emerged victorious, but a small scratch from where her mothers fingernails had dragged against the top layer of Persephone's skin began to bleed. "Mother, stop it." Her voice came out as more of a whine than the strong command she wanted it to be. She was weak against the woman, even after years of her constant complaining.

Her daughters feeble attempt to end the conversation did nothing to diminish Demeter's rage. She could not punish the God of the Dead, so her willful daughter who insisted on protecting him would have to do. " Either you come with me right now, or you'll regret it Persephone. I swear by the River Styx, you will regret it."

As if Hades cockiness had finally rubbed off on the Springtime Goddess, Persephone took a step forward and raised her chin up . "Or what? You'll put me in time out? I'm not a little girl anymore and I'm done with you treating me like one." Her voice wobbled slightly at the end, but the proud look in her eyes never diminished. Her husband would be proud had he not still been in the kitchen along with her father.

See, I can stand up to her, she thought to herself as a brief smile flickered over her face as if she had already won against her mother.

Seeing that triumphant look on her daughters face had been the final straw for her. If Goddess's were able to have mental breakdowns, than this would be it. She had spoiled the girl too much, and perhaps her daughters attitude was due to her bad parenting. The reason why didn't matter as much as the present.
Demeter took a step forward and threw her hand back before letting her palm and fingers hit the side of her daughters face. Unlike this morning, she felt no guilt for the slap.

She shuffled back, nearly toppling into Bernard as she struggled to maintain her standing position. It was deja-vu from this morning all over again, only this time her mother had an almost satisfied expression on her face. The painful throbbing of her arm lessened as a even harsher pain lingered on her face.
Unlike the last time, she did not run away. Her blue orbs stared straight into her overbearing mothers and she charged. She put all her strength into a shove that would hopefully make her mother land on her ass.

Persephone's attempts at violence were similar to a kittens. She rolled her eyes and shoved the girl back. "Oh please. Put your back into it at least, that was pathetic" she taunted, placing her hands on her hips.

She never used violence as the answer for anything. Her husband did, and while she had begrudgingly accepted his way of life, it wasn't something she was fond of. Instead of a shove, Persephone mimicked her mother and laid her hand flat to her side before raising it up towards the sky where only seconds later it would come plummeting down to strike her mother on her left cheek.

Demeter clasped her hand against the burning sensation that flooded through her face. "You hit me," she said surprised, rubbing her hand now against her left cheek. She had never really expected her to retaliate, so the surprise of it all left the woman again as still as a statue.

With Hades return, Persephone attempted to hide the scratch her mother had given her behind her back. The sleeve of her new coat was almost long enough to hide it completely, but the end of it was still exposed; red and raw, despite her best efforts. She shot Bernard a look to not say a word. There was no reason for anyone to interfere between her Mother and herself, and she would have hated if Hades were to threaten her mother.

All she wanted was a simple dinner.

---

“You know why I am here, you're rather subtle message to the Olympians was clear enough. You wish to start the old war again, and instead of biding your time you've struck the first blow against a single building of little worth for even less gain.”

He slammed the door closed with a bit too much strength. The door hinges loosened and a small bolt fell onto the marble flooring. Cronus cracked his neck and turned to follow his nephew as he walked somberly into the house.

"Nice to see you again as well." Cronus replied, mimicking the same tone his nephew had used with him. He let the strongman ramble on with his questions until silence was finally between them once more.

"Despite what you may think, burning Ambrosia does have a purpose." Cronus answered, walking past his nephew in order to lead the Titan to where his brother and father were sitting along with the others."As for your last question, Iapetus and Epimethius are among us. Your..."other" brother has not yet joined us." He shrugged his shoulders back as if to say the younger Titans whereabouts mattered little to him.

The other Titans rose in their seats as Cronus reappeared along with the younger Titan in tow, back in the dining room. The others only took their seats once Cronus himself had found his own chair at the head of the table and sat down upon it with his usual Kingly grace.

"I have to say, I'm surprised to see you here."He admitted,leaning forward to take a sip of his water he had left while opening the door for Atlas. It had become lukewarm but Cronus drank it anyway, still not taking his eyes off the Sky-Bearer.

It's too bad he isn't still holding the damn thing. At least that would keep him away while his betters go to work.

He waited for the man to rage, complain, or to finally have some sense and listen to his Lord. After all, it was the only sensible option if he planned to survive all this.

Ares, Zeus, Hades & Hephaestus


Outside Zeus's Mansion

Ares.



The motorcycle hummed as the god sped through the city. The speedometer was between 65-100mph as the orange light of the streetlamps passed over his helmet and exposed arms. He had put his hoodie away, preferring the wind darting coolly through his sleeveless, black-T. His shirt rippled like a flag; parked cars and pedestrians were but smears to his left and right. As he weaved between moving vehicles, drivers glanced out their windows at the motorcyclist breaking the law and the beauty clinging to his waist. To gawking men, her hair was a banner of champagne locks, waving extravagantly in the wind. With how reckless Caeleb drove, she might have thought that he had forgotten all about her. He was prone to get lost in the adrenaline. The slightest error could have him in a car crash and that was the challenge he always fancied.


As the bike neared an intersection, the traffic light flashed red, but the signal wasn't about to stop the war god. None of the lights had stopped him previously and the one before him wasn't getting any special treatment. A bus tore through the intersection and the passengers gazed in fright out their windows as a motorcycle made a relentless approach. Caeleb reached back with his right arm to hold Aphrodite against his back protectively before he slammed his left foot upon the asphalt. The strength behind the kick caused the bike to leap into the air and soar in an arch over the bus. The roof of the lengthy vehicle hissed beneath them before the motorcycle cleared it and landed hard on the other side. With a few recovering bobs, it continued on its path towards Zeus's mansion and Caeleb couldn't resist an arrogant grin. Releasing Aphrodite, he was curious if she would ever ride with him again. Of course, he would probably have a different ride. His occupation often required him to hijack numerous vehicles.


The ride was near conclusion when they left the city into a forested area. They rode down a gravel path and up a hill that was nowhere near as steep as Mt. Olympus, but Zeus's love of elevation and being close to the sky was seen. The gravel became solid as a black paved road appeared beneath them. In the circular driveway were vehicles from several gods Caeleb immediately recognized; and for the first time since he left the apartment, he slowed down.


The mercenary glided up to the walkway before he lowered his booted feet and glanced out of the corners of his eyes at the black Ford with thuggish gentlemen standing around it. Removing the bike helmet in one motion, Caeleb leaned back as Aphrodite dismounted with a dangerously-excited grin.


"Hades is here. It seems we're just in time. I hope I didn't miss too much. You survive all right, Princess?" he questioned, not too concerned for her health. He was certain she handled the ride just fine.


Setting his helmet on the seat, the war god set the stand, removed his keys, and dismounted next as his vixen started for the doors. "Hold on a second, let me put on a better shirt."


Caeleb crouched next to one of the bike compartments and opened it to start rummaging through several shirts. Some could use a wash, having been used for countless covers in the past. Drawing his shirt up and over his head, he set it on the seat as he continued his search for a descent shirt to wear for the occasion. Pulling out a plain-old, solid-black button up, he stood and turned to follow after Aphrodite as he slipped his arms through the sleeves. He walked until he was next to her, his fingers busy buttoning the shirt from his navel to his sternum, when a sudden aura caused the hairs on the back of his neck to rise.


Caeleb froze and stared at the door. He then followed with his eyes along the wall to the god signature he was sensing. The aura was unbelievably hot like a forge, like Hephaestus. As Aphrodite reached out to take a hold of his wrist, Caeleb lowered his hands and snorted like an affronted bull.


"Your husband is here," he informed with a scowl. The fuck, he doin' here? Shit...


Cael yanked his wrist from her clutches as he turned from the mansion in a low simmer. He didn't want to be seen with Aphrodite when the smith was around, it was a good way to get on his bad side. He didn't give too shits about his brother in all honesty. It was the weapons he cared about. Grasping his jaw in thought, he stared absently at the Underworld thugs as they smoked and conversed amongst themselves. The day just fucking sucked. He had planned to have Aphrodite all to himself and nothing so far had gone as planned. He would have her by the end of the night, and he would make sure of it.


Lowering his head, Cael dropped his hand and closed his eyes. He was in no mood for drama--at least not the non-violent kind. "You go in first. He probably doesn't even know we're here."



I think Ares is here guys.


Anton's focus broke from the TV as he abruptly rose from the couch. He walked over to the nearest window and twisted the blinds until he could see Caeleb standing outside with his wife. The smith lightly frowned. The sight of his brother made him sick.


Cael sighed in defeat. There was no use fuming about it. It was only for an hour. The dinner wouldn't take any longer with how dysfunctional his family was. He faced Aphrodite again and walked over to take her delicate hands within his rough ones. He rubbed his thumbs against the back of her knuckles and looked into her eyes.

"Just give me another kiss. Just one more before I'm forced to hear my retarded sister preach to me about how weak and dumb she is. I don't think I could survive this dinner without it, but you better bet your ass I'm gonna have you tonight. I hope you've been practicin' your yoga 'cause I'm gonna have you sore in the morning."

It bothered him how the moment felt like he was saying goodbye to her. She wasn't going anywhere and neither was he, but they were going to be rather distant the whole night and it was probably wise. They were interrupted, and if he found the love goddess sashaying anywhere near a closet, he would snatch her into any room he could find.

The war god grasped her hips and tugged her close until there weren't even inches between them. He gazed into her sea foam eyes. He smiled softly at her as he teased her lips with the brush of his own before spreading them apart to envelope them. His fingers gripped and stroked her hips as he sank into the oozing vat that was his lust.


Anton's lips rolled back to bear his teeth in anger as his uncle's words passed through his mind again:

Those two would fuck on your damn desk if you gave them the chance and they wouldn’t give two shits if you were watching, you know why? It’s because they both know that you’re not going to do shit about it.

Oh, he was going to do something about it this time. Anxiety nested in his chest just thinking about it, but he had to do something. This had to stop. Slamming his fist against the wall, Anton turned from the window and started for the foyer.


Cael suspiciously broke the kiss when he heard a dull thud and watched as pieces of paint crumbled from the wall where the imprint of a fist protruded.

---

Zeus and Hades.


Brandon stepped from the kitchen to watch Anton leave the living room to cross the foyer swifter than he would expect a gimp to move. Following that spectacle, his brother Hades returned to Persephone, and his daughter was looking like a boxer fresh from a match. He saw her hiding her wrists that were pink and covered with welts and the red, irritated mark of what could only be a slap against her cheek. Did she really think she could hide such marks from his brother? The dinner hadn't even begun and the reunion was becoming a time bomb that would go off in seconds if he didn't find the right wire.

Seeing as his brother's situation was the most dangerous, Brandon approached the four of them, and stood next to Demeter in case he needed to protect her. He gently took her by the arm and attempted to lead her to the living room until he could rally his family about the banquet table.

"You really did it this time. You know she's not a child anymore and that Hades is absolutely nuts about her. Did you have to be so rough?" Brandon grumbled. "If we're both lucky, he might overlook it. If not, then this one will be on me."

Brandon had a solemn expression on his face unlike his usual merry one. All he could imagine was Hera saying, "I told you so," and he was in no mood to hear it. He was not expecting the Persephone situation to be this bad. It was only one night damn it!

Bernard was wearing a poker face when Dmitri came before him and Persephone. Deep down, he was extremely apprehensive to the point that he didn't know what to say. He had kept the young goddess company and yet her mother managed to lay one on her face in his presence. He was just a minion and crossing Demeter was suicide. Already he was contemplating on whether or not he should have died trying to protect Persephone from her mother's strikes for here now his lord stood before him, and there was no use hoping that he wouldn't find out. Hades ALWAYS found out.

Dmitri smiled when he saw Persephone do what he thought was shy away. Her hands went behind her back, and he didn't think too much of it until when he neared her the faint scent of copper touched his nostrils. The dark god stopped. He knew that smell almost better than Ares. His caramel eyes peered at Persephone from over the rims of his glasses. No words were necessary for the look he had given her spoke clearly.

Bernard's jaw tightened as he found it difficult to retain his stoicism. Just as he had predicted, from his look alone, Hades knew something was up.

Dmitri reached out to snatch Persephone's wrists from behind her back. With firm and controlling strength, he held her arms out and stared at her one wrist that portrayed her marred flesh. The mafia boss's eyes widened before they darted to the young goddess's face. He tilted his head to see her red cheek and the fury that surged through him could have been seen and felt from his tightening grip on her and his shaking hands.

"Who did this to you?" he demanded on a quivering voice. He was trying to keep his cool for he had let his temper already slip once in the evening. But wait, he already had an idea who. Dmitri turned a feral eye over his shoulder to see Zeus walking away with his sister.

Brandon stopped when he felt the icy eye of the god of the dead on his back. Dmitri hadn't been as angry as he could have been until that moment. The last time he had seen that look in his eye was in the Titanomachy, and it was reserved for his enemies. The lamps around Dmitri were already beginning to flicker the deeper he sank into that mood and the marble floor was softening into powder beneath his feet as his body began absorbing the nutrients, life, and energy from the objects around him. His skin became as pale as a sheet as Dis Pater near spawned from his mortal shell.

Standing before Demeter protectively, Brandon growled, "Look the other way, Hades. Just let it go. Whatever happened happened. If you harm our sister, I won't be able to forgive you; and I don't think Persephone will be able to either. Just take my daughter and enjoy the dinner. I promise Demeter won't bother the two of you until it's over."

"If she bothers us again or even harms Persephone again, I will kill her and drag her soul to the deepest depths of the Styx. I swear it!" Hades hissed. He pointed a long and hooked condemning finger in Demeter's direction. His whole form had turned as black as a shadow. His eyes were white, his irises outlined in black and his blazer rippled as ominous beings shifted beneath his clothing, whispering devious plots amongst themselves. The dark face of an infant peeked from his coat. It's blood-red eyes gazed at Persephone and Bernard, its tiny horns protruding from its forehead. Winding along Hades's arm was a black serpent. When it reached his hand, it hung its bulbous head. The numerous spikes upon its skull formed a crown and from its mouth extended a hint of a sickle-like weapon. The blade was a brilliant silver that reflected the god's grinning face and Brandon's fearless scowl. It was a fragment of the scythe of Thanatos.

"Don't play with me, Demeter. Persephone is no longer yours. She is mine, and as soon as you acknowledge that the longer you have to live. Please, try to keep her longer than six months. Try please. I need to practice my swing."

Dropping his arm, the shadows melted as the lamp light caused the nightmares to disintegrate around the mafia boss. He regarded Demeter and Brandon for a few seconds longer, smiling at his brother and how suddenly protective he was over her. He should have known that if he didn't have control over his visitations with Persephone that he wouldn't be able to stop him from killing her mother. Persephone would get over it. Her mother was second to him after all--so he believed. Dmitri gazed sternly at his wife.

"No one will lay a hand on you again. God or mortal; family or stranger; I will kill them. No one has the right to mar your beauty," Dmitri declared.

Brandon breathed a large and deep sigh. He was afraid that he would have had to fight his own brother. He hated altercations and tried to use reasoning to ease them. He turned to Demeter and smiled reassuringly at her.

"He's just mad, but you must leave them alone for the rest of the dinner. You will have Persephone back soon enough," said Brandon. He rested a warm hand against her back and rubbed it soothingly. Like his relationship with Hera, he sometimes wondered how he had loved this woman once. Demeter was indeed beautiful, but she was a rose with thorns that gave birth to a lily. Maybe one day, Persephone will learn how to defend herself and not have to rely on Hades too much.

That altercation had been the first he managed to stop. Unfortunately, he had forgotten the issue in the driveway.

---

Ares and Hephaestus.


The mansion doors abruptly opened and Anton emerged behind Aphrodite. He saw Cael's hands at her hips and he thrust his palm against the war god's chest to separate them.

"Get your hands off my wife!" Anton growled.

Caeleb staggered back and spread his arms to catch his balance. "Who the fu..."

The mercenary stared at the giant standing before his girlfriend. There was something familiar about him, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He looked the giant up and down until he noticed the iron cast about his leg. His brows rose with recognition immediately. The god signature had been radiating from the mysterious gentleman before him.

Grinning, Cael laughed, "You almost fooled me. You must have worked pretty hard on that body. Touch me like that again, and I'll fuck it up!"

Anton frowned, but didn't once doubt Cael's threat. However, he wasn't there to deal with him. Now that he and Aphrodite were somewhat alone, he had to talk to her.

"Aphrodite; we must talk. I know that you've been seeing Ares behind my back. Why? I have given you everything. There isn't a jewel on this earth that he could give you that would ever be as immaculate as the ones that come from my forge," Anton explained.

Caeleb grinned impishly and grasped his crotch. "That's because I give her a different kind of jewel."

Anton growled and held his hands out to her. "There is nothing beautiful about him. While I create, he destroys. He takes women, children, fathers, and heroes without discrimination..."

Caeleb shook his head. The conversation no longer amused him. "Tell her somethin' that she doesn't know about me. Hey," he called to Aphrodite. He pointed with his thumb over to Hades's Ford that had the minions around it. "I'm goin' over there for awhile. I'll see you later."

"You will not!"

"Huh; stop me mother fucker."

Anton felt powerless, and it was mostly Caeleb making him feel that way. Aphrodite was in love with the killer and as much as he wanted to be and act like a husband, his role depended entirely on her. Would he have to fight him? As the war god sauntered over to the Ford, Anton sized him up and silently weighed his chances. He had heard stories of Ares's ferocity. Even Athena spoke about him, but in their rivalry it was never too highly. If Ares was as savage as the legends told, to challenge him at that moment would not be wise, but he was certain that he could craft a device that would rival even his might.

Anton scowled at the floor in defeat. He had every desire to call out Ares and challenge him as he imagined himself being stronger than his handicap permitted, but it was a dream. He would have to change his tact.

Cael had asked one of the minions for a cigarette. He wasn't a habitual smoker, but tonight, he was going to need something.

Apollo

Surrounded by a warmth he became, suddenly and without warning, not to say it was unpleasant as it turned to be quite the opposite in fact. His thoughts yet again had encased him in a cocoon blinding him from outside influence. That is until his twin greeted him in the embrace.

In the first second he was caught off guard and somewhat bewildered, but in the second he registered what happened. At this he relaxed, and for the first time in a long while a pure smile graced his features, his arms encompassing his sisters frame returning the embrace. And for a brief moment the image of her from the vision didn’t exist, she was here, with him, untouched and spoiled.

Safe.

Of all the things in this world, none were so precious to him as Artemis. He truly loved her as much as any man could love a sister, who reflected him as the moon reflected the sun. They shared a womb, they shared their hunts, and they shared the sky each day. Perhaps it was selfish, but if there was one of his kin he wished to see not participate in the coming conflict, to spare and to preserve, if there was one person in their family he could save, it would be her. That of course was impossible, none of the immortals would have any say wheather they would fight or not. It was go to war, or perish, and none of them, not even the likes of Aphrodite and Persephone were exempt.

She tightened her embrace and whispered to him, it seemed she had been long expecting his arrival. He realized that like himself she had little to do with the rest of her kin, and so he made a mental note that once all was set and done, he would visit her more often. At her query his vision gazed above her, (which wasn’t hard as there was a considerable height difference) and gained something of a forlorn look in his eye. “Well, I suppose I had a lot to think about,” his voice barely above her own whisper.

He gently broke apart from their embrace, the small smile still gracing his lips, “It’s good to see you too,” ha said. He then queried, “I assume everyone else is here too?”

Zeus, Hades, Hephaestus, & Ares


Hades.

Yes dear.

Dmitri raised his hand and pinched the corners of his eyes. Persephone’s sweet voice was a melody that often extinguished the flames of his temper and brought him to ease. He loved her so much. Before he ever learned of her existence, Hades always doubted that he could ever love a goddess so fiercely. He didn’t believe in such emotions and before, he didn’t know such emotions existed within him.

Her petal-soft lips touched his jaw and Dmitri lowered his hand to gaze at his queen.

That’s a thank you for the gifts…the rest of my thank you will have to wait until we’re not surrounded by the rest of our family.

Her façade of innocence was so deceptive that it often drove him mad. Dmitri smirked and crept close to her ear and whispered mischievously, “I tend not to be a patient man.” He didn’t think he needed to remind her of how they first met. It had been an impulse he had reacted on. His breath tickled her ear before he kissed the shell of it and snaked his arm about her offered one.

“Sociable? That’s not exactly my thing. I won’t stop you, however. If you have a desire to mingle with your old girlfriends, then do so. I have a table for us, and I hope you don’t mind Italian with a glass of ambrosia.”

There was no wine that he could buy finer than the wine brewed in the heavens. His unexpected reunion with his wife was beyond special. He led her into the dining room where a long table adorned with silver platters and dishes sat on a tablecloth so thin and silky, it may have been woven from undulatus cloud—it was very much like his brother after all. To the left of the table, was a black glass table carved from obsidian. He had refrained from using wooden furniture in his wife’s presence. He didn’t think that the idea that a tree was butchered for their comfort would settle well with her, but obsidian had been a mineral of The Underworld. It would possibly remind her of home. A plain-white table cloth was draped over the table and two minions stood nearby guarding his wife’s gifts, and the other holding two wine glasses and the tall and dangerously potent bottle of ambrosia in a bag.

Lifting her hand, he brought the backs of Persephone’s fingers to his lips and tenderly kissed them. He gazed from behind his shades into her eyes that allured him like precious jewels.

“Do as you like, my dear, but I shall have you for dinner…” He paused on the innuendo and smiled impishly. “Interpret that any way you want.”

He released her.

---

Hephaestus & Ares.

Boys.

Hephaestus’s attention snapped to his mother who had appeared in the doorway. Ares turned a honeyed eye over his shoulder to regard the woman with one of his uncle’s cigars clenched between his teeth.

The meal is about to begin so it’s best to get inside soon.

“Hmph,” Ares grunted. Yes, Mom, he thought sarcastically. He couldn’t believe that after all these years she still felt like his mother. Like Zeus, he wouldn’t dare disobey her either—especially, her. He had heard stories of her revenge games, and as much as he would like to see what kind of monster or devil she would summon to try and kill him, the game may not go as he envisioned. He imagined an opponent but she may put him through a bitch of a task. She was the Goddess of Bitches after all.

Hephaestus said nothing. When his mother vanished back into the house leaving behind her plume of distasteful words, the smith had followed his wife inside. She still hadn’t answered him, and he had every intention to sit next to her until she did. He was tired of being in the dark about their relationship.

For being so determined, the god remained silent as he followed the goddess still fearful of what she might say about him. There were many who saw Aphrodite as they did Persephone and Hestia—goddesses not made for combat and were as vulnerable as shallow water. Hephaestus wouldn’t class Aphrodite amongst the latter for she may not be as strong to wound a god physically, she could emotionally destroy him. What drove her to love an animal like the God of War? Did she desire protection? Did she purposefully seek out the affections of the most dangerous god to guard her? Surely she was using him for the smith couldn’t imagine there being a characteristic in him that she fancied. He was a pet—a guard dog.


Ares took a final, deep drag from the cigar and allowed the smoke to stream out from his nostrils and the cracks of his teeth in a relaxed sigh.

“I can see why he smokes that shit,” Ares muttered. He handed the cigar to one of the minions and turned to follow Aphrodite and her lost puppy of a husband inside. He didn’t feel a drop of worry about her relationship with Hephaestus. He knew he had her just as she had him, and it hadn’t required her magic. Her charm craft didn’t work on him, but her natural foreplay could drive him crazy. He was already feeling crazy. The magnitude of his frustration was taking all of his energy and every ounce of his patience to keep him from transforming from man to sex-craving beast.

Cael hadn’t even been thinking about his brother. All right, I’m goin’ to eat the damn dinner, and then were goin’ to get the hell out, drive to the nearest hotel, alley, tree, bush…

The god stopped before the door and hung his head. This was bad…he wasn’t going to make it if he kept thinking like that. Shaking the thoughts from his head, he sighed deeply and stepped into the foyer before closing the doors behind him. It may have actually been a good idea that Aphrodite remained with his weakling of a brother for majority of the night. If Cael got any closer, he would attack.

The war god was looking sick and obviously bothered by something, and he tried to hide his emotions behind one of his stay-the-fuck-away-from-me expressions. Perhaps if he mingled a little, then it would take his mind off his carnal desires; and who the better to mingle with than his darling sister?

Cael caught sight of Athena sitting at a chess table with Hermes—oh the irony. The war god couldn’t hide the wicked smirk that slowly sliced across his lips as he approached their game and stopped beside Hermes. Resting a hand on his chin, he scanned the pieces in play and how they were set up before he grasped one of Hermes’s knights and unceremoniously knocked several of Athena’s random pieces off the board, making more moves than allowed, and not abiding by the knight’s L motions before finally sending her king clattering upon the floor. Slamming the knight down in the king’s spot, Cael threw up his fists and cheered, “HA! CHECKMATE BITCH!”

Cael then threw his head back as he roared with obnoxious laughter. Resting a hand on the edge of the chess table, he supported his form as he grew weak with mirth. With a recuperating sigh, the war god straightened and decided to shed some of his wisdom upon his siblings, “There are no rules in war. So if you want to win the game, then you just need to win it.”

---

Zeus.

Brandon was pleased to see that his sister’s temper was subsiding from his touch. She was a good mother deeply concerned about her daughter.

Darling… Hera’s voice made Brandon freeze as though ice had taken hold of him. I think everyone’s arrived. Perhaps we should have everyone seated?

As her hand passed down his upper back to his lower, he felt a chill following. She might as well have slid a knife down his spine for the touch was similar. Lifting his hand from Demeter’s back, Brandon sheepishly replied, “That’s not a bad idea.” The sooner we get this show on the road, the sooner I can be off on my date.

I’ll go get the staff ready to start the first course.

“Great, then I’ll go ahead and have-!” Brandon suddenly jumped when he felt a sudden pinch to his rear. He tried to play it off behind a large, all-is-well grin as his train of thought was suddenly derailed. He couldn’t remember what he had been about to say before. All he could do was watch Hera out of his peripherals prowl off into the kitchen.

Why did you do that? he found himself mentally screaming in his embarrassment. He had forgotten how much of a bad girl she was, and it had aroused him a little; but he had played that game once. Hera’s mood swings were too unpredictable.

I’ll go wait in the dining room.

“See you there,” Brandon quickly replied. When Demeter sauntered into the dining room, Brandon sighed in relief before he regarded the remaining gods and goddesses in the foyer.

“Everyone, go ahead and seat yourselves in the dining room so we can go ahead and get started on dinner. There is a lot that I must discuss with you all, so the sooner I can speak to you all at once, the sooner we all can return to our mortal lives.”

Without another word, Brandon started into the dining room with every intention to police where each god and goddess sat. He wanted to separate the ones that would cause the most commotion, and he quickly noticed that he wouldn’t have to worry about Hades for he still had his own table set up to the side. Brandon scowled at his brother’s back, but he didn’t bother him. It had been in their agreement that he would leave him alone. Bastard.

As soon as everyone was seated, Brandon didn’t jump directly into the main point of discussion as Apollo may have liked. He instead wanted to hear about his family’s well-being.

“My beautiful and handsome children; my beloved sisters and brothers; I am pleased to have us all gathered here today for this harmonious and hopefully peaceful dinner. I haven’t heard much from some of you, so if you would like to share how your mortal life fairs you, then please feel free to share. There is something grave that I must discuss with you all eventually, but before I get to that I would like for us to feel like a family first.”

Athena

---

The doors to the room had opened to admit her fathers wife, Hera being trailed by Ares; looking like a child ready to throw a tantrum and the lame Hephaestus with his wife in tow, and as always Aphrodite's gaze was more surely aimed towards the god of war, however subtly it was plain to see if you knew what to look for. As she awaited her brothers turn on the table she noticed the glint of a plan flicker to life in the eyes of the newly arrived 'Cael' as he preferred to be called these days and she had to force down her instinct to roll her eyes at his obvious intent to show his superiority over her and all of their kin, as per usual. The smirk that had broken out across his face all too blatant to her tastes.

Athena tried to ignore her sibling as he approached, hoping that he would instead acknowledge their fathers call for dinner to be taken in the dining room and be diverted. But that was just wishful thinking talking and she knew better than to expect such a simple conclusion to this, as she saw him stand behind hermes his vile noxious laughter filled her senses as she watched him take the figure of himself and use it to scatter the board before placing it in place of her king, causing the titan lord to clatter onto the floor. Her eyes flared a dark crimson for a fraction of a second before returning to deep blue, as he spoke; taunting her as he attempted in vain to assert his superiority.

"There are no rules in war. So if you want to win the game, then you just need to win it.”

Athena sighs softly before speaking "Always such a simple mind, childlike really. It is not about war having rules, brother, but in understanding how your opponent thinks in their approach to the conflict. But alas the concept is something you would be unable to grasp. All you do is act and thrive on the conflict it causes to those around you, but for you it is the conflict, win or lose that boils your blood and sets your passion alight." she shakes her head "You and her have always had a connection with that have you not? She enjoys your primal nature and you enjoy the conquest and apparent victory over our smith."

She smiles and leans back in her chair, her fingers lightly caressing the king that was thrown to the floor as the other pieces retake their places upon the board, a faint aura of pale light covering each.

"I do tire of your vain hope to prove yourself better; oh yes you've had your fair share of victory, but your flaw is that you see one won battle as the victory to end the war and become complacent in your won laurels."

Athena stands slowly before placing the king as the final piece upon the freshly set board, then walks towards the dining room leaning close to Ares as she passes, whispering softly for his ears alone.

"A word of caution brother, you've had your conquest, and you've tasted the spoils but beware that your foe is not beaten and simply bides his time. I don't doubt you'll ignore me, but don't say I didn't try." she shakes her head as she walks away, to take her seat at the table.

---

“My beautiful and handsome children; my beloved sisters and brothers; I am pleased to have us all gathered here today for this harmonious and hopefully peaceful dinner. I haven’t heard much from some of you, so if you would like to share how your mortal life fairs you, then please feel free to share. There is something grave that I must discuss with you all eventually, but before I get to that I would like for us to feel like a family first.”

Athena sighs at her fathers words, clearly this night in intended to drag on more than it should. Whatever is praying on his thoughts, the reason for tonight, must be serious indeed for the shear amount of stalling before details are revealed. Their appeared to be some unease shown by Apollo on arrival which spoke to the Grey Goddess that he knew what tonight was about, and their fathers stalling was not to his liking.

Apollo

She gave him confirmation of everyone’s presence within the mansion, even noting some of the typical interactions of his kin to which Apollo resisted rolling his eyes. He saw a concern grow within her however and she expressed this saying "Apollo, what's wrong? Has something happened?"

Has something happened?

At first he was confused as to why she would ask such a question, after all didn’t Zeus... The Far-darter’s eyes shown realization, near disbelief in them. He said almost more to himself than to his twin, “He hasn’t told you.” A moment passed in complete silence, this new information taking its toll to the point where he paid no heed to what else transpired in the foyer. When the moment ended, his bared a deeply frowning brow and barred teeth in the direction of the dining hall.

Ignoring his sister Apollo strode into the dining hall and was set to bombard his father with questions. What was there to gain from not telling his children and siblings? What purpose was therein failing to warn them immediately what was happening, what was at stake? How could put on that stupid grin and pretend all was well, when of all people in the entire cosmos he should be the most troubled, having faced these monsters before? But Apollo had the wit to calm himself, for now Zeus would address them, Apollo resolving to sit at the obsidian table awaiting for his father to break the news. To Apollo’s great disappointment however he merely mentioned that there would bad news, and decided to yet again stall what would be the most important council in millennia.

No.

The Far-darter wouldn’t have it, in his mind there was had no time to waste, he’d done enough of that taking his sweet time in arriving, though at the time he thought they’d be discussing this already. He rose out of his seat, and faced his father with a face of disappointment and contempt, and perhaps he would be thought insolent by all others within the hall but he spoke anyway, “Feel like a family? You want us to feel like a family? Please don’t even try to pretend that we have any semblance of that word, at least not until each of us can openly acknowledge our failings and vices, myself included. But more than that, wouldn’t it be far more prudent to address imminent threat to us, and all six billion men women and children on this earth?” his voice was rising and growing ever more irritable.

“That perhaps you of all people would understand what’s happening? What do you want? For us cease this infighting? To act unified and ignoring the discrepancies and grievances between us? They’ll never do it, they’ve had thousands of years to do it, why would they start now when they feel nothing to gain? Well now I say to all of you, that were in not that our very survival hinges within the choices made in this hour I would not care if you bashed in each other’s brains to your hearts content, but it seems even some part of me long dormant and diminished still loves as kin.

“But please father, do continue, see how far they go to please you without compromising their egos.” When he was finished his body seemed to relax, and rested his hands upon the table supporting himself, and sighed deeply, “I’m sorry,” he apologized. He then he looked to his father apologetically, “I’m not known for my temper, but even you don’t know what I saw, and I shouldn’t blame you. Nonetheless this can’t be put off for another minute.”

He rose again and addressed them, “Let me tell of my visions. Think of them as the sense of hearing, you don’t typically choose what you hear though you can tune yourselves the sound around you to detect what is near. Normally what I see is far off, distorted, subject to change. But earlier today the vision I had was the equivalent to putting ear to a jet engine, it is something that is just short of being inevitable.”

And so it was that the Far-darter sate them down, recounting the events concerning the return of the Titans who visited Persephone’s shop, and foretold in explicit detail the world he saw. Of the earth caked in the ash of mortals, of the fall of Olympus and detailed descriptions of the corpses of the Olympians not even omitting the fate of his dear sister. Of and age in which all would be laid to ruin under a red sky and sea, of a Crimson Age yet to come.

He finished and regarded them grimly, “You know me not to be an exaggerator, nor paranoid nor deceitful. But this will happen if we do not act, and sooner than any of us would like. What say you, my kin?”

"He hasn't told you."

It was a statement her twin spoke, not a question and Artemis could hear the utter disbelief in his voice. She was confused though and watched him expectantly to continue on and tell her just what was so important. "Apollo, who didn't tell me what?" The huntress was in the dark as to what information should have been passed on from her brother and she certainly didn't know that it pertained to all of her kin and not just herself.

Artemis was a bit startled as Apollo, abruptly in her opinion, left her and marched his way towards the dining room where the others were gathering. She sighed rather loudly and brushed a hand through her hair before following after him. The Huntress was certain that things were about to become so much worse in the following hours. As customary she took the seat beside Apollo, watching out of the corner of her eye and all but ignoring the complete bullshit spewing from Zues' mouth.

Artemis could see the tension in her twin, the tightness of his jaw and the glare in his eyes. She knew that something was terribly wrong, especially because Apollo was usually one of the calmer of the Olympians. She was actually fairly surprised as he stood from his seat, her head turning fully towards him in response.

“Feel like a family? You want us to feel like a family? Please don’t even try to pretend that we have any semblance of that word, at least not until each of us can openly acknowledge our failings and vices, myself included. But more than that, wouldn’t it be far more prudent to address imminent threat to us, and all six billion men women and children on this earth?”

The goddess bit her bottom lip in nervousness. No one really ever spoke against Zues' words of 'family', it just wasn't done. This was a group of beings who almost prided themselves to see how they could keep up appearances and backstab the most unsuspecting relative at the same time. Apollo's words were true none-the-less and Artemis felt her heart swell in pride for her brother having the balls to speak the truth in front of everyone else.

She listened intently as he recounted his vision and the near destruction the future held for the mortals and their own kind. The only knowledge that Artemis had of the Titans was her own mother, sweet and gentle Leto who had given everything to raise her and Apollo into who they were today. The rest had all been locked away in Tartarus long before her time, but as her brother spoke of each death, Artemis could honestly say she feared for what could become of them.

Artemis was actually surprised to hear Hera speak first, then again the elder goddess never missed a chance to talk. Alas the words the queen spoke were true and honest to the best of her abilities. Hera may have been jealous and power hungry at times but she would do all she could to keep the very few she cared about safe and the balance of power in check. Even Aphrodite, with no power, skill, or knowledge to truly help in battle offered to do what she could to aid the impending situation.

Taking a deep breath the huntress took her brother's hand in her own, giving it a squeeze in reassurance. "You know I am always with you brother." There were few whom the goddess truly loved but her brother was certainly one of them. Their existence had been intertwined since the moment they had been conceived and Artemis would always do what she could to protect him.