The Alexander Chronicles
Prologue: The Pact
A half-blood of the eldest gods
shall reach sixteen against all odds
And see the world in endless sleep
The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap
A single choice shall end his days
Olympus to preserve or raze
Great Prophecy, Oracle of Delphi-c.1935 and Cumean Sibyl-c. 520 BC
Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves: will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we're gone and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved?
New York, Winter Solstice, 1935
On the top floor of the Empire State Building, a meeting between the 13 most powerful beings is taking place. It is one that they hope will preserve Western Civilization for decades if not centuries to come. "Now to our last piece of business, what do we do about the prophecy? This is our second warning, and we all know the Oracle only warns us before the events are set to begin." The handsome, black-haired man with a salt-and-pepper beard at the head of the table was obviously the leader of the thirteen.
"The wisest course would be to kill those that are under 16, and the three of you swear never to have any relations with mortals again, Father." The woman who spoke was a dark-haired, grey-eyed woman who valued wisdom in all things.
"NO! I refuse to give up my children!" The pale-faced man at the far end of the table was furious at the woman's suggestion.
"Peace, brother. I would not have us act like barbarians. You could just have them sent to the camps, where we could guard them until their 16th year." The pale man just grumbled in response.
"And what of my second suggestion, father? Your mortal children cause us nothing but trouble, as this new European War will prove. You must abstain from mortals until we can eliminate this threat."
"Ah, but Athena! That would rob me of so much business!" At that, the woman glared across the table at man who spoke. It was clear, she despised him, and their rivalry stretched back to their youth.
"Well, I approve completely." The woman had long chocolate brown hair woven into a braid with gold ribbons and sat at the head of the table, next to the bearded man.
"Well of course you would, you hate the idea of affairs! Besides, not allowing them to have children would hurt my business as well!" This woman could only be described as the definition of beautiful.
"Oh, please. Let's just get this over with and vote." This man had sea-green eyes and a neatly trimmed black beard and a fishing pole by his chair. Of course he would push for a vote, he had no children that the vote would affect.
"Any objections? No? Then let's vote." The vote ended with five against and eight for. "My daughter's suggestion has passed, we three shall avoid all relations with mortals and your children shall be brought to the camps within a week."
"What, send them to places where they're not welcome? NO! I will take care of them." And with that, the pale man stormed out of the room. Five months later, the pale man's lover had died and their children had disappeared, while a third child had simply disappeared.
In 1988, the leader of the thirteen had a daughter, against the Pact of 1935, and 14 years later, she was killed just outside of the special camp for people like her.
Then, in 1994, the leader of the thirteen had a vision of the future and sired a son in May of 1995 and a second son in August of 1995. The fisherman, without any promptings from fate, sired another hero, also in August of 1995. Those acts would have repercussions for the next two decades and save the world several times over.