So here it is the almost dead on arrival sequel to Draumer Edda. I hope this makes up for the lack of updates for the past several years. But my muse returned and I hope to continue for the completion of this story. Enjoy!


Prelude:

Mount Olympus was always a safe haven, a home of glory and beauty for the gods and goddesses that resided in it. The halls were marble, the decorations gold, statues from the greatest artists the Olympians could ever offer, filled the perfect masonry and architecture of the Hellenistic halls.

They were nestled above the earth, hidden amidst the clouds, for fear of what laid below. After Zeus destroyed the Titans and exiled them, there was always just a little bit of unrest on when or if they would strike back. As such, there were plenty of precautions. Not just Titans, but monsters and creatures as well.

Zeus was gone. Off to smack some sense into some of his fellow gods from his home and from other pantheons. That said, Olympus was always very much a self governing ship. The Gods held themselves in check for the most part. Or at least for how much Greeks were used to keeping themselves in check. Those who would want to do unruly things while Zeus was gone would have to face judgement at the hands of Athena, who at this point was the go-to goddess in charge. The "supervisor" as some of the gods mocked. That said, her presence ensured a steady, even rhythm within Olympus.

Poseidon, the god who technically was next in charge after Zeus and Hades, but chose to stay in his realm, limped to the halls through the gates that led to the sea. He crawled out of the black waters, gasping in pain. Hephaestus was the first to notice.

The deformed forger quickly limped towards the sea god and helped him out of the blackening pool. Poseidon's black-green hair and beard was plastered limply to his face, the mussels and mollusks that grew and lived on his body were falling off. He was oozing dark red blood from the gills on his neck, and from several gashes on his side.

"Hermes," the sea god rasped against his pain. His shakiness frighted Hephaestus. He failed to recall the last time he'd see, Poseidon so terrified, "...get Hermes...need to send...to everyone...monsters...creatures from darkness are breaking free…."

He collapsed onto the marble floor and Hephaestus wasted no time in alerting Hermes to gather everyone.

The Olympians had all gathered down beneath the surface of the human world, the very area where they monitored all the vile creatures of their world. It was a prison of sorts, that mostly housed monsters from deep beneath the sea, Poseidon's realm creating a divide between the dangers of the darkness of the deep and the rest of the Olympian world.

Over the centuries they had improved their technology to keep the world and Olympus safe with airlock doors and long corridors with varying checkpoints. It was an underground labyrinth connected to the harsh seas.

"Everyone here?" Athena asked, her keen eyes scanning the ones who had gathered.

"Those who matter," Ares growled as he placed his large hands on the console that controlled the doors and prison shackles and monitored activity.

"Poseidon has been gravely wounded. Attacked by a creature from underground. We will send contingents to-"

Before Athena could finish speaking of her plan, the lobby where they had all gathered shook violently, gods stumbling and being thrown off balance, chunks of the structure crumbling with the quakes.

There was no time for further discussion, and even Athena seemed eager to head straight for direct action in this case.

"Some of them are already breaking free!" Hermes cried out, taking a look at the console's readings, "This is not good."

"We'll meet them head on," Ares said calmly drawing his sword. Athena, however, stopped him.

"No, we still need people here to defend, should something worse happen."

Ares sent a harsh glare at his sister, the same and yet the opposite of him in every way. The shining glory of the Olympians. Humans loved her so. He had a healthy respect for his wise sister, but he rarely agreed with her. "Then, how do you propose we stop this threat? Negotiate with vile monsters!"

"Absolutely not," Athena replied in her usual even tone, a tone that never failed to cause an ease in dire situations. "I will take a forward advance to seal the checkpoints inside. The rest of you remain here to defend should the worst happen. "

As soon as she noticed Ares' brow straighten in disdain, she added, placing an encouraging hand on her brother's armored shoulder, "Ares, find value in your defensive skills. Only a strong defense can truly save Olympus if we all fail."

He didn't respond to her words, but complied with her instructions in remaining in the prison monitoring station with the rest of their family, watching, a bit with envy and with uncertainty as Athena donned her war helmet and took a small contingent of her soldiers to the doors that led to the labyrinth of the underwater prison.

"Ready, boys?" she asked her soldiers lightly as the airlock doors were opened for them, revealing grey cement halls that stood between them and whatever was trying to break free. They gave no verbal affirmation, they just followed her as she led them down the hall.

The first few blocks of halls held no monsters or disturbances, but the rumbling could be felt. Athena advised her soldiers keep an eye out for the walls. "Look for any weaknesses in the structures. Monsters aren't the only thing that will do us in."

They finally reached the first checkpoint to find it flooding violently, the rush of water making any forward progress impossible. It was then that she could hear Ares' voice carry from his station, a useful power for communication.

"Athena, you've got to hear me, the walls are crumbling in there you have to retreat back! We'll evacuate."

In the halls, Athena could hear her brother's concerns, and immediately saw them as more water began bursting through widening cracks and weaknesses in the cement halls. She turned to her soldiers and gave the order to fall back. Evacuating to fight another day was a good idea.

But as soon as they began to retreat back, Athena behind her soldiers, the walls were quickly starting to give way. The goddess urged her soldiers to go on ahead faster and they raced as fast as they could down the halls, weaving through the labyrinth, the floor quickly becoming flooded as more of the sea began to leak through, water was bursting everywhere through the walls, catching her soldiers off guard as they were cut off by violent spouts. One was hit, collapsing on the floor as the others raced towards the door.

Athena stayed with her downed soldier, "Ares, we aren't going to make it. Take everyone and leave now."

As soon as Ares heard that he immediately shot that down, "No, no, no, no I'm staying here, you're going to make it. I'm right at the door."

He left the console as the rest of the gods followed Athena's instructions. He slid by the door of the prison, waiting and assuring his sister that he would not leave her. "Come on Athena, I'm right here, I'll lock the doors once you get through, just keep going!"

Panic was in his voice, fear only familiar to him through the eyes of mortals. But this...losing a crutch of his family, the very thought was crippling, even as he stared down the bare and empty hallway ahead, waiting for some sign of his sister.

"Come on, Athena," he called again. Still nothing.

Then a groan, a long, loud uneasy groan. The walls suddenly gave way, water rushing and flooding rushing towards the open prison door as Ares screamed, helpless as he had to seal the doors shut. Forever.

Ares, in the silence of the control room, pressed his back against the wall, tears threatening to spill, a sickness like he never felt before welling in his chest. Emotion. Grief. What was the use of grief? Whether to God of War had use for grief would be something he had to think about later, because now he didn't much care. He startled as he heard tapping on the Hephaestus made glass windows of the sealed door.

Tears in his eyes, he peered through the glass, seeing Athena's soldiers try to wave to open the door in desperation, water reaching their chests. Eventually Athena waded through and came to Ares' vision, a look of quiet acceptance of her fate gracing her features. She placed a hand on the glass, calmly, affectionately. Speechless, tears finally spilling, Ares placed his hand against hers on the other side of the glass.

"Take care of them, Ares," she gasped through tears, fear, for once, taking away her calm demeanor, leaving a vulnerable goddess who knew they were going to see death. "Please."

Ares sucked in an shuddering breath. If Athena accepted her fate, there was nothing he could do. And he hated feeling helpless, useless. He could do nothing as the last flood of raging water completely engulfed his sister.

As the grand mountain of Olympus fell, swallowed by earth and sea, crumbling, the cries of the gods and goddesses as they tried to escape pierced the sky. Poseidon, who was busy trying to help evacuate everyone called Hermes over.

"Find Zeus. Or find a way to get him over here, quick," he hollered at Hermes' floating form.

"Quick is what I do," the messenger god said flippantly, but his expression quickly hardened. "Just tell him our home has fallen?"

"What else would you describe it?" the sea god growled, helping an injured nymph onto one of Ares' war chariots.

Hermes raced away. There was going to be no easy way to deliver this message.


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