Prologue
A/N:I know you guys liked Immortal War, so here's the sequel! I hope you like this as well. As before, I'll specify which POV I'm writing from. I had a hard time thinking of a plot, but I've got one now. This will be better writen, and have better spelling, I hope. Bear with me as I write for my characters, since they can be really annoying sometimes.
Disclaimer; Since no one owns the Greek Gods, I think I'll add my name to the growing list. And Hades keeps warning me to, so I'll keep doing it!
-!-
The pain was slowly fading, though he knew from experience that it would take millenia. He remembered well the eons spent in the dark, waiting. . . .
"Argg!" His cry of anger was silent, but deafening on the spiritual plane. He hated the place, especially with the memory of trees, and the clear blue sky . . . . But then that bastard son of his brother had ruined everything! And he had managed to turn his other nephews against him! If he hadn't been so careless, toying with the child, overconfident. He wouldn't make that mistake again.
Alone in the dark, Kronos plotted his eventual escape once again. . . .
-!-
Anak shifted uncomfortably, disconcerted by the spectacle before him. He could almost feel Sole's tension beside him, and he heard Sirius' breathing pick up.
They were standing where few mortals had tread. Twelve collosal throne curved in a U shape, all but one occupied. In the center sat Zeus, on a throne of platinum carved with thunderbolts. His long platinum hair waved to his waist, and he wore a neatly trimmed beard. His bright blue eyes rested calmly on the three of them. He wore a white robe stitched with golden lightning. He held his mightiest thunderbolt in his hand, a twelve foot lance of pure energy.
Beside him sat his elder brother, Poseidon. Poseidon's hair was black, and nearly as long as his brother's. He had deep blue eyes, which seemed to be both angry and happy at the same time..The Sea God sat on a throne of coral, with pearls embedded in the whorls. He wore a robe of deep blue-green, with a wave pattern. By his side rested his Trident, a three pronged spear, with blue arcs of power racing through the points.
On Zeus's other side sat his wife, Hera. She sat on a golden throne, with carved peacocks resting along the arms, and a huge peacock tail forming the back of the seat. She wore a pure white gown, and had a net of amber beads holding back her lustrous brown curls. Her lovely violet eyes smiled down at the three wore a matching necklace. She riegned as the Goddess of Marriage, and the Queen of Heaven.
On Poseidon's other side sat Hepheastus, the God of Smiths and Forges. He held a massive iron hammer in his hand, and a large pike rested near his throne. Said chair was a masterpiece of technology, with a small pad of buttons and switches near the god's right hand. He was not handsome, his face oddly deformed, and his body twisted, with his left leg in a brace. His hair was black, and small fire erupted in it every few seconds, only to be extingueshed seconds later.
Beside Hepheastus sat Apollo, God of the Sun. And Archery, Medicine, and Music. His long blond hair was still streaked with blood from his treatment at the hands of Ares. His golden eyes still clouded with pain every so often. He wore golden robes, and carried a large bow made from white wood. Beside him rested a quiver of golden arrows. He lounged on his golden throne with ease, though he was still wounded. An image of the sun graced the back of the seat.
Beside him sat Dionysus, the God of Wine. His black hair was unkept, and his eyes were clouded. He wore deep purple robes, and sat on a throne made from grapevines. He carried no visible weapon, but Anak knew he could kill people from alcohol poisoning in an instant.
On Queen Hera's other side sat her older sister, Demeter. The Goddess on the Harvest wore a plain white dress, and her golden tresses were unbound. But her brown eyes were kind. She carried a staff, and her throne was made of plain wood.
At her side was Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom. The most imposing woman in the room, her grey eyes flashed, and her brown hair was held back in an elegant yet severe knot at the back on her head. She was dressed in battle armor, with white robes over it. She carried a spear, and had her helmet on her knee. And emblazoned on her breastplate, was an image of the gorgon Medusa. Anak couldn't look at it for long. The goddess of Wisdom sat on a simple throne of marble.
Then was Artemis, dressed like a boy. Her brown hair was held back in a pony-tail, and her deep black eyes were mysterious. She sat on a throne of wood, draped with animal skins, the most gorgeous of which was a golden loin skin, taken, Anak knew, from the Nemean Lion. She had a large bow made from black wood, and was the twin sister of Apollo.
And last but certainly not least, was the blindingly stunning Aphrodite. She wore a tight black gown, and her long honey blonde hair was braided into an intricate crown on top of her head. She had deep blue eyes, and sat on a throne of pink stone. About her waist was a long sash, and Anak grew slightly sleepy at the sight on her wearing it.
Anak had actually been dressed that morining, by a group of giggling naiads. They had picked out a blue dress shirt, and crisply pressed blue dress pants. He wore black boots, which were shint and clicked on the polished marble floor. He wore a long green and blue cape over the clothes, and a headband with wave symbols to hold back his longer hair.
Sirius was dressed much alike, though he wore only black. His cape was speckled with stars, and his hair was unrestrained.
Sole was dressed in gold, with a cape lined with sun patterns. He wore a headband as well, one woven from golden thread. All three were dressed according to thier parentage. As the son of Oceanus, Anak was dressed in ocean colors. And as the son of Krios, Sirius was decked out in stars. Sole was dressed much like his father, Hyperion, the Titan of Light.
All had renounced thier fathers, and all had pledged themselves to Olympus. And now they were being accepted. It was an important ceremony, Poseidon had told them.
Shortly after he'd assisted the three brothers in defeated Kronos, Poseidon had adopted Anak, Sirius, and Sole as his sons.
Two other immortals were seated in the room. One, a goddess, was seated near the huge central fire pit. Flames roared over ten feet in the air. She held a stick, and wore a hooded robe. Her greying hair and kind grown eyes were just barely visible. She was Hestia, eldest of Kronos's children. She had given up her throne to Dionysus to avoid a conflict. Now she just served as Goddess of the Hearth.
And seated beside her, on a throne of black obsidian, was her younger brother, Hades. The dark God of the Dead wore his black hair long, and unbound. He had depthless black eyes, and he was deathly pale. He wore black robes, and at his waist were fastened hooked chains. These he could use to rip the souls of the living from thier bodies. On his lap rested his dreaded Helm of Darkness. It radiated fear, and when he wore it, he could become darkness itself.
Long ago, almost five thousand years previously, the gods had happened upon a very dangerous idea. Though thier souls and bodies were immortal, Athena had discovered that thier souls could be removed, and sealed. They had sealed the titans in thier own weapons of power, and then hidden those weapons across the world. Thier bodies, according to rumor, were sealed in a massive tomb deep under Mount Olympus.
But the Gods had met a similar fate. They had been sealed as well, and only three hundred years later, thier mortal descendants had found thier weapons, and touched them.
That was all it took. Thier identities merged with that of the gods, and they became gods themselves. But they were not immortal. They could die, as the last war had proven. Both Ares and Hermes had fallen in battle with Typhon. Their weapons had been taken, and the gods were searching for suitable candidates to take thier place.
Zeus stood, causing all of the others to rise with him. He beckoned the three of them forward, and Anak stepped forward first, and Sole and Sirius followed a step walked up to the foot of Zeus's throne, and knelt.
Zeus spoke, his voice carrying easily through the gigantic chamber."Welcome, Heroes of Olympus. You have proven your loyalty to the gods, and as a reward for your valor, we have agreed to accept you into the ranks of immortality. Anaklusmos! Stand forward!"
Anak, slightly suprised by the use of his full name, stood. Zeus knelt down so that they were level,since the gods, I guess I forgot to mention, are on average fifteen feet tall. He then reached out, and out of thin air there appeared an elegant spear, made from a strange black wood, with a blue-green blade. It had a deisgn of serpents, and waves. Zeus presented it to Anak, who took it, and bowed. Zeus rapidly shrank to human size, placed his hands on Anak's shoulders, and proclaimed,"I name you Lieutenant of Poseidon!"
There was a small smattering of applause, from the goddesses. Then Zeus waved Sole forward. Sole shakily complied, and Zeus did the same as he had before. He waved his hand, and a pair of short swords appeared, with golden blades, and the sun carved into the hilts. Zeus presented them to Sole, and said,"I name you Captain of the Army of Olympus!"
Then he repeated the process once more, this time conjuring a long black bow, like Artemis's, and handing it to Sirius, saying,"You are now a Captain of the Army of Olympus!"
The Gods and Goddesses roared in approval, and then Zeus said,"This meeting is convened. Let the feast begin!"
Dionysus gave the loudest yell of all, and he clapped his hands together. Several large tables appeared, laden with food. Small creatures appeared, satyrs, dryads, and others, holding bottles of wine and trays of small snacks.
The council of the Gods moved slowly out of the hall, and a few lesser Gods and Goddesses appeared here and there. Nine of Zeus's daughters, the Nine Muses, appeared, and started a small concert. A dance floor ws established, and Zeus started the dancing with Hera. Soon Hepheastus and Aphodite joined them, and then a stream of minor Gods and Goddesses.
Anak walked over to a large balcony, which looked out over the world, and changed to a different place each day. Today, or rather tonight, it showed a gorgeous view of Sydney, Australia. The Opera House was lit up, throwing light arcoss the harbor.
Soon, Sole joined him, sloightly red in the face. Anak looked over his shoulder, and saw a pretty young goddess waiting for him. He grinned at his younger brother, and siad,"Found yourself a girlfriend?"
Sole shrugged, but he looked happier than Anak had seen him. Though Sole was only sixteen, and the goddess was likely many millenia old, Anak was happy for him.
Then Sirius arrived, his new bow slung over his shoulders. He winked at Sole, and Anak could tell he'd seen the girl. Then he faced Anak."Apollo promised to teach me how to shoot!"
Anak laughed, and clapped him on the shoulder. Sirius was only fifteen, and sometimes his exitement was overbearing. At nineteen, Anak was the oldest of the three.
They looked out over Sydney, and a wave of peace washed over them. Sole waved his girlfriend closer, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. They stayed there for a while, until the party ended. Officially. Dionysus and several satyrs were still downing wine.
Anak closed his eyes, a slight smile on his face. Maybe he could get used to this. After all, he was going to live forever. He might as well try.
A/N: Hey, guys! I'm sorry this is a short chapter, but it was difficult to write. Sorry. But it'll get easier! I know you liked the first one, so I know you'll like this one. See you in the next chapter, and I hope you'll R/R! Arciadrian