Calm ocean waves tossed about the sea. Rays of gold danced over the sea, glistening as if the Gods themselves had touched the waves. White clouds soared through the endless blue sky. The air was pure, calming as if a storm had passed the night before. Yet the day was far from a storm, a day of wondrous adventure upon the sea. It were days such as these, where Spyros claimed Poseidon was greatly pleased. Days where Perseus, demigod and son of Zeus, felt at peace on sea.
Before him was the shore of his home. His new home, with Io. Off the very shores where his family perished at the hands of the god, Hades. Upon the cliffs where the remnants of Zeus' statue lay, were placed the markers of his family. An altar to the gods and his past.
Perseus guided his boat along the calm shores toward the manmade dock. Already he could see a figure standing upon the dock. Locks of brown danced in the gentle wind of the sea. Dressed in white, radiant with beauty only a Goddess possessed. Perseus smiled as ever detail Io held grew closer.
The speed of the boat slowed as Perseus closed the sails. He threw out a line, which was easily caught by Io. She tied the line to the dock, holding the boat in place. Perseus grabbed his nets, heavy with fish, and laid them on the dock near Io.
Io looked to the fish and then smiled at Perseus. Her face shined radiantly in the golden rays of the sun. Her dress of white draped along her body. Streams of cloth draped from her shoulders, around her arms. It was moments like these where Perseus could only compare Io to Aphrodite's.
"A successful venture." Perseus said. He stepped off his boat and onto the dock.
"Any venture in which you return is successful." Io replied.
Perseus smiled. He took one of Io's hands into his and kissed her fingers. With his other hand, Perseus touched her cheek, running his finger down her face. "I thought you trusted me?"
"It is the Gods I do not trust." Io replied.
Perseus chuckled. Both he and Io had reasons to not trust the Gods, being demigods and given the choice to join their full Godsend brethren and sisters on Olympus. Yet both refused to be a part of their demands for worship and wrath upon man.
"There are a few Gods whom we can place our trust in." Perseus said.
"Our trust comes at a price." Io replied. She stepped from Perseus and began walking down the dock.
"Must you examine every detail?" Perseus asked.
"Who else will keep you from harm when you throw yourself at it without second thought?" Io asked.
Perseus chuckled again. He picked up his net of fish and followed after Io. He took hold of her hand again and stopped her. "Who else would I trust to keep me from harm?"
Io turned to face Perseus. "You give your trust too quickly, Perseus."
"You already possess my heart Io; there is not much else to give." Perseus replied.
Io smiled. Perseus gently pulled Io's hand, pulling her into him. He touched her lips briefly, before pulling her in closer. He felt Io's soft hand touch his face, her finger tips dancing along his cheek.
Io was the first to pull, but she pressed her forehead against Perseus'. "I ask nothing of you, Perseus. Merely a wish for my husband's safety upon the sea."
"It is not the sea, you should fear." Called a raspy voice.
Perseus froze. It had been long since he heard the voice that had murdered his family; the voice that had haunted him for endless nights. Long since he last gazed upon the cursed face of the god of the Underworld. Perseus' eyes rose to Io, but she looked out beyond Perseus. Perseus turned to the sea. There was nothing but calm waves before them, but the feeling of Io's grasp told Perseus that they were not alone.
"Get off the dock." Perseus whispered.
"Not without you." Io replied.
Moments later the earth shook. Perseus released his fish to steady Io. The dock shook fiercely beneath their feet. The wood crack and creaked unsteadily. The waves of the ocean grew vicious, slashing upon the dock, rocking it further. The boat instantly sank beneath the surface of the raging sea. The beams embedded beneath the surface shattered. The wood planks dipped into the raging water.
Perseus pushed Io toward the shore. "Go!"
Io turned and started running. Perseus followed her toward the shore. They ran swift across the tossing dock. The water caused the wood to become slick, causing Perseus to slip upon the dock. He slid several feet behind Io. Io turned and urged Perseus to rise. Perseus rose upon Io's plea and continued to follow. Behind him the dock crumbled into the ocean. But they were too far from the shore.
Perseus whistled loudly, above the sound of the raging elements. Moments later, the sound of a horse answered the call. The black stallion galloped across the sky, riding toward them. Pegasus galloped beside Perseus as they ran across the dock. Perseus leapt onto the back of his beast and lifted Io behind him. Pegasus rode above the crumbling dock as it vanished beneath the sea.
Perseus and Io watched from the sky as their home shook. The home that Perseus himself had built the year they had been wed, crumbled within minutes as the land shook. Perseus watched helplessly as their home was taken from them.
Io watched in sadness. She leaned her head against Perseus' back. Her hand gripped his strong arm. Perseus placed a hand over Io's for comfort, yet neither could find any. Their home, the only home they had together, was gone. Reduced to dust and rubble in a matter of minutes.
Suddenly the cliff sides shook, sending a rain of boulders and rocks to fall into the sea, further igniting the waves. Both Perseus and Io turned to the cliff sides beside them. The rain of rocks and boulders fell through air around them, growing closer with each passing moment.
"Perseus!" Io cried.
"Hang on!" Perseus ordered.
Io's arms wrapped around Perseus' waist. Perseus kicked the side of Pegasus. The horse cried out and began to gallop around the falling rocks. The rain fell hard around them, but Pegasus steered true through the rain. They weaved in between and around falling rocks, seeking safety away from the wall.
Pegasus reached the safety from the cliff side. Perseus and Io watched in disbelief as the entire land seemed to tremble at the Gods wrath.
"What is Hades playing at?" Perseus asked.
"A just question, Perseus." Came the reply.
Behind them, floating in a black cloud was the God of the Underworld, Hades. His pale complexion and fading color stood out in the sun. He stared at the two demigods before him.
"On what grounds have you come here, Hades?" Perseus demanded.
"Does a God need a reason to walk in the world of men?" Hades replied.
"Why have you destroyed this land?" Io asked.
Hades looked to Io. "Can you not think of a better way to draw the attention of man?"
"I will not ask again. Why have you come?" Perseus demanded.
Hades looked back to Perseus. "You are bold, demigod. Yet your powers and strength are nothing compared to a true god." The black cloud around Hades grew darker, wider.
Perseus knew what he was about to do, but without a weapon neither he nor Io stood a chance against the god of the underworld. His grip on Pegasus' main tightened.
Hades exploded into a cloud of black smoke. From within the smoke burst six forms of his demons. They spanned out from the center of the cloud, soaring through the air. The demons all turned, veering through the air, coming straight for Perseus and Io.
"Go!" Perseus yelled, kicking Pegasus in the side.
Pegasus kicked in the air, flying above the demons. The demons whipped around after them. Pegasus galloped through the air. The demons dispersed, attacking Pegasus in every direction. But the great horse weaved between the charging demons.
The demons racked their claws through the air, just over Perseus and Io. One claw of a demon racked over Perseus' shoulders, nearly striking Io in the process. Perseus cried out in pain, but held onto Pegasus. He could feel Io's hand on his back, steadying him, covering his wound.
"You cannot evade me forever." Hades voice called.
"He's right. Pegasus can't keep this up for much longer." Io said.
Perseus nodded. "I know, but if we touch down on the ground, Hades will surely be upon us."
Hades dark laughter echoed through the air. "You are wrong, demigod."
The six demons stopped flight in midair. Each one suddenly curled into a black ball as they had first appeared. The center of their forms glowed intensely and bright. Behind them came trails of black smoke, as if they scorched the very air they floated in.
Perseus' eyes widened. He had seen Hades take this shape once before, the day he had lost his family. However, back then, it had been one single form, not several smaller forms.
The orbs shot through the air at once. There was only a second before impact, but Pegasus could not move fast enough. The orbs struck them with a massive force from all around. They moved downward, forcing them hundreds of feet below, into the raging sea. The impact broke Perseus and Io from Pegasus. The waves swept them form the horse and from each other.
Perseus broke the surface of the sea, gasping for air. He turned his head in all directions in search of Io. The waves swept over him, forcing him in every direction they could. Perseus fought the ocean waves to maintain himself in the open ocean.
"Io!" Perseus called.
"Perseus!"
Perseus turned. Behind him, holding herself above the surface of the harsh waves was Io. She was slowly making her way through the waves toward Perseus. Perseus forced his body to swim through the waves toward Io. His body stiffened in the harsh waves, making his swim difficult, but still he continued.
Io was mere feet from him now. Perseus reached to take Io's hand. Io reached out toward Perseus. Their hands were mere inches from touching. Suddenly Io gasped quickly before she sunk beneath the ocean surface.
"No!" Perseus cried. He took a deep breath and ducked beneath the surface.
Beneath the raging waves, Perseus could barely make out Io's shrinking figure. She moved, as if trying to free herself. Something was dragging her down toward the bottom of the sea.
Perseus kicked fiercely, forcing himself down into the depths of the ocean. He kicked again and again, growing closer and closer to Io. He could see her face now; she looked up to him, reaching out for his hand. Perseus kicked harder, fighting his weakening body. He reached out for Io.
Suddenly the black orbs stuck him. Perseus cried out as the orbs struck him again and again beneath the surface. Each force caused him pain and air. Perseus' vision had gone black from the orbs. He could no longer bring himself to move his muscles. Perseus lay beneath the surface of the sea, floating in the water. Lifeless.
A gentle nudge touched Perseus' face. He felt the warmth of the sun bearing down on him and a breeze washing across him. For a moment, Perseus thought himself to be in his bed beside Io, but as he was nudged again, Perseus knew the touch did not belong to Io. He inhaled, greeted with pain within his chest. Perseus groaned and slowly opened his eyes.
The sun blared down upon him, blurring his vision. But Perseus could see a dark shadow hovering over him. A simple sigh told Perseus it was merely Pegasus. Then the memories flooded him. Hades, Io, the sea. Perseus sat up quickly, sending a painful force ripping through his chest. His arms cradled his chest and he bit back a cry of pain.
Anger flooded his veins. His chest heaved painfully, further fueling his rage. Perseus' hand balled into a fist against his chest. Io was gone, dragged into the depths of the Underworld by Hades himself. Taken before her time, taken for no reason.
Perseus groaned as he rose. Because of the pain, Perseus was only able to rise to his knees before he was overwhelmed by it. No longer could he control his voice. Perseus cried out to the heavens, releasing his anger, his grief, his pain.
"HADES, YOU GO TOO FAR THIS TIME! MARK MY WORDS, I WILL COME FOR YOU!" Perseus yelled.
okay...so i started this liek a year ago and just now finished it...first BIG fanfic for cott...so bear with me.