Everyone knows how Hades is the God of the Underworld. But do you know why he hates one relative of many the most? And which niece could ever bring such strong emotions to one who lives beyond the emotions of humans? This is the story of Hades' ultimate hatred.
*
At night, the moon rises and shines on the ground. Because it is part of one Goddess, the moonlight shines though all things in the world. The moon's light is so bright it goes right through to Hades' dark kingdom, breaking up the black with silver light.
When this happens, Hades erupts in fury and leaves the safe darkness of his Hell.
The Devil himself walks though the portal to the mortal world where he sees his niece in the night sky, always in the company of the stars.
In his anger of the invasion to his home, Hades raises his arms to his niece, Artemis, in all her bright glory. A tug closer of his upraised arms has some of Artemis' power fleeing to another place, where it is safe for silvery substance to shine.
Hades smiles at his night's work and retreats to his underground kingdom, now in shadows, with its comfortable throne of human bones.
Each night in his anger at his niece, Hades repeats the process of diminishing Artemis' glow.
After fourteen nights of silver torture, Hades finally succeeds in the blight of his sister's power. His subjects celebrate in the darkness on this night, reveling in the work of their powerful Lord and Master.
*
Without his knowledge, this dark night Artemis goes to visit her brother Apollo to borrow power to suppress the evil king.
Her own Goddess-strength changed her twin's gold power to silver as Artemis prepares herself for the next night when she rises again.
*
Hades and his followers celebrate the night away, and sleep during the pains of Apollo's golden ruler ship of the daylight skies.
All beings of the Underworld awake at sunset for another eve of partying. Hades has a countdown for the return of darkness outside the doors of his fortress.
Moments pass and Apollo takes the light of day with him, leaving all realms to fall into sleep as they are encased in twilight.
Hades gives his followers an evil smirk, but his face freezes as he looks over the gathering. There on the horizon, Artemis rises. Hades' face twists in horror and he elevates his arms to stop the silver Goddess.
But Artemis is refreshed and full of her twin's power.
Hades' arms slowly inch apart as her light glimmers.
Each night, Hades resumes his vigil in the silver shine of family. His arms inch farther from the other as Artemis' power fills the sky, stronger each night.
On the fourteenth night of light, Artemis blows all her collected power into her uncle's face. He howls in despair and tightly shuts his eyes, racing blindly into Hell's pits of death.
Artemis' light and power glimmers across the landscape in her joy of defeat.
*
Down below in Hell, Hades gathers the darkness of the deepest pits and takes hold of the nothingness all throughout the bright night.
*
The next sunset brings Artemis' silver as it rains down on Hades' kingdom once more.
The God of Hell steps out of his fortress and raises his arms yet again, his palms aching to be together, as the forces dim the glow of the Goddess of the Moon.
*
Every night, Hades and Artemis play their game, neither triumphing over the other for long.
That is how the light of the moon diminishes each night, and why the night is so free with no moon to exile you from dreams.
*
~ (From the crazy imagination of) Moony
Edited 9/10/09: Due to reviewer Amata le Fay's wonderful input (in a REVIEW), I have edited this work as Hades is Artemis' uncle, not cousin. My thanks go to Amata le Fay.