Hades
Darkness surrounded me like water, thick and cool. I could barely make out the ground ahead of me as I made my way towards camp. Though it was a dark night, it was not the darkest darkness I had ever walked through. Memories of racing through pitch black caverns and falling through voids so empty light could never shine flickered across my mind's eye. Wincing at the painful memories I shook my head to clear them away. Opening my eyes I tilted my head back to look at the smattering of silver stars shining down upon me. They gave just enough light to see by and I could now make out the camp up ahead, the low fire casting shadows of my family as they walked around. As I came closer I could hear low voices speaking to each other. They were more cheerful than usual, the upcoming victory making us all nearly giddy with joy and relief. And of course the newest addition to our ranks had given us all a distraction from hard times.
"It's me Epimetheus." I called out as I drew near. I could not see the Titan as he stood guard but I knew he was there. I also know that it was never a good idea to walk around in the dark without announcing yourself unless you wanted a spear in your neck. Somewhere off to my right I heard him give a grunt of acknowledgement and I walked into the ring of firelight.
My family sat in a loose ring around the campfire. Others sat among them, mostly nymphs and nature spirits with a few Titans here and there. Prometheus, brother of Epimetheus, poked at the fire with a stick, his chin resting on his knee as he gazed into the flames. He did not stir as I dropped my load of dry branches and tinder next to him. My sister, Hestia, glanced up and met my gaze. Smiling her smirky smile she patted the round beside her. I moved to join her, passing Poseidon leaned back against a rock, cleaning his sword, ignoring the nymph who chattered next to him. Settling down next to my one older sibling, I wrapped my arms around my knees. Hesti yawned loudly and situated herself so that she was leaning against me, her head on my shoulder.
"I worried about you, out there in the dark by yourself." She said. Staring into the flickering yellow flames. It was a moment before I spoke.
"It's almost over." I murmured. I didn't have to explain what I was referring to. The war against my father and his brothers had been our only waking thought these last ten years. The idea that those years of fighting and the thousand years of imprisonment before that would be coming to an end in just a matter of weeks was almost unfathomable. I felt like a child trying to count the number of stars in the heavens, the very wonder of it all was crushing in and of itself.
"I know." She said softly, her tone as stunned as mine. We sat in silence after that, each lost in our own thoughts when we were interrupted by a tiny squeal. Looking up, I saw the commotion on the other side of the fire where Zeus sat with our sister Demeter, holding their newborn daughter in his arms. Something had woken the little girl up from her nap and her father was trying –unsuccessfully – to calm her again. Maternal devotion burning in Demeter's eyes, my younger sister managed to get a hold of her child, bringing her close to her body to nurse. Finding the milk, Little Persephone's cries vanished, replaced by loud sucking noises that made Zeus laugh. Demeter smiled down at her baby, carefully smoothing her wayward curls. Her dark eyes were filled with such tender adoration that I smiled in spite of myself.
"Demeter's daughter will grow up in a very different world than the one we did, won't she Hades?" Hestia mused, watching our younger siblings fawn over Persephone.
"Indeed she will."
"An odd name to give her though, Persephone." Hestia frowned to herself. "That such a sweet, pretty little thing should be called 'Destroyer of Light'."
"She was born on the day we defeated Hyperion." I reminded her. And what a day that had been. Hyperion, the Titan of Light, father of the sun and the moon, was a proud and ferocious opponent. Battling him was a long and bloody business of which we eventually rose victorious. Upon our return Zeus was informed that Demeter had borne his firstborn child, a daughter. After he overcame the shock of not siring a son, he nevertheless proceeded to give her a name that fairly taunted his enemies and would never let them forget their brother's shameful defeat.
"I know, but it still seems strange. Demeter calls her Kore sometimes. That does seem more appropriate you must admit. Persephone feels too large a name for such a small creature to wear as her own." I smiled at her logic.
"She will not always be so small." Hesti smiled as well then grew serious again.
"Let us hope not. But you must remember that it's not over yet Hades. No matter how close we are it is the Fates who will decide who survives this war." Her words were like cold water. I shuddered against the hopelessness that failure would bring upon us all. Choosing to not think too hard on that tonight, I tried to make her smile again.
"Well then sister," I said merrily, pretending to raise a goblet in a toast, "Let us hope then that the Fates will smile upon our cause, and allow us all the chance to see Little Persephone grow into her name."