Chapter One

The Rise of Thanatos

Stay out of the Shadows, question everything, darkness is coming. Darkness is here.

Prologue

Part 1

The hospital nurse sighed as the doctor pulled the sheets over a young woman's head. Her job wasn't always easy. She helped save lives and it killed her that sometimes someone just can't be saved. The weary nurse jumped at the sudden whimper of the fragile newborn. She rushed over to look in the cradle and saw the baby with big tears in her eyes. It was almost like the baby knew that her mother had just died. Even though she knew that was completely impossible she couldn't help but marvel at the child's eyes.

They seemed to hold the knowledge of the universe, the knowledge only an ageless god would know, but here they were. The oldest eyes in the universe in a baby not even ten minutes old. The strange eyes were the bluest blue the nurse had ever seen, and somehow she knew that they would stay that way. They seemed to mirror the clear blue horizon yet at the same time they captured the mystery of the dark night sky itself with the twinkling light of the stars.

The baby let out a piercing wail that broke the solemn silence of the hospital room. It seemed to snap everyone out of the trance they were in. The nurse reached over to pick up and comfort the little infant swaddled in pink blankets. The doctor cleared his throat and began to speak.
"Nurse, what was the time of death?"
"8:02 am, Doctor Mills."
"And the time of birth?"
"7:55 am"

As Doctor Mills filled out the certificate the nurse leaned over. Evelyn Grace Quillon. Born September 9th 1973. Died July 12th 1997. The nurse realized that the young woman was not even twenty four years old. Then she glanced at the birth certificate. Baby Quillon. Born July 12th 7:55am. Mother: Evelyn Grace Quillon. Father: Unknown. Realization came to the nurse, Evelyn had no family and the father of the unnamed baby was unknown.

"Doctor, what's going to happen to the child?

"She'll be put up for adoption as soon as she is healthy enough to leave the hospital."

The nurse cuddled the now sleeping girl closer to her wondering about how she would turn out. She wondered if she would be adopted and what her name would be. She recalled the short moment the mother and daughter shared, the only one they would ever share.

A nurse handed the worn out woman her freshly cleaned daughter, giving Evelyn a small smile that didn't reach her eyes. Evelyn knew why she smiled like that, it was obvious. She was dying. But Evelyn was grateful for these few minutes with her precious daughter. Evelyn was going to use this time right and not waste it. She smiled and wished that the moment would never end but she knew it would, and soon. She spoke softly to her child.

"You are so beautiful, and so strong. You're going to need that in your future. You're going to be so very strong, and wise, and have the weight of the world on your shoulders. You're going to be courageous, brave. You will be wonderful. And don't be mad at your father, it's not his fault. Your father will protect you wherever he may be, always. I made him promise because I won't be there to do it myself, and I am so sorry for that. I just want you to know, you will be loved no matter what, so fully loved, but by no one more than me. I love you so much, my daughter. Be strong."

Evelyn placed a long soft kiss on the child's head as a tear fell down her face and landed on the baby. The baby opened its old eyes and started to cry. Evelyn's sad smile didn't reach her eyes. Evelyn felt herself slipping away; she looked at her child for the last time, and closed her eyes.

CRASH

The clatter and shouts struck the old nurse out of her daydream. She quickly placed the infant in the cradle and followed the others to see what the commotion was outside. A young intern had tripped and spilled soup over a patient and some equipment. She helped clear up the mess and went back to care for the baby.

But the baby wasn't in the cradle, where she left it. It was in the arms of a tall cloaked man standing by an open window. She screamed, and he jumped out, ten stories below. She expected to hear the crack of a body hitting the ground but it never came, she ran over to the window and saw nothing. The man and the baby were gone, no trace of them. And that was where her colleagues found her, standing in shock by the window.

Later that night the old nurse was sipping her cup of tea quietly in her home watching the rain fall against the window. She had been questioned by the police many times today about the kidnapping of Baby Quillon. For the countless time that day she found herself thinking about the baby's future, and how it was going to turn out. As the thunder cracked in the night she prayed that the child would be alright.

Part II

Apollo clutched the tiny baby closer to him as they made their way through the crowded streets of New York City toward the Empire State building. He had decided to use the entrance in New York because it was easier that way with the child. Apollo was receiving many strange looks walking down the street. He looked like a twenty-one year old surfer from California, yet he was walking down 5th avenue carrying an infant only two hours old. Any sane person would give him a second look. Apollo quickly entered the building and walked right to the front desk.

"600th floor, now."

"I'm sorry sir-"

"Now Anicetus."

Anicetus look closer at the young man and a sudden realization came to his eyes.

"Oh, yes, of course!" he said as he fumbled to find the key card.

"I'm sorry, my lord. Here you go."

Apollo snatched the key card out of the other man's grasp and ran towards the elevator. He put the key in the slot and waited as patiently as he could till it got to the 600th floor. The baby had been cooing and grabbing at his shirt with her tiny fingers the entire time. Apollo kissed her forehead and put his head to hers.

"I am so, so sorry, my daughter."

The elevator doors clicked open and Apollo was greeted with the mesmerizing sight of Mount Olympus. Apollo walked carefully up the marble steps to the palaces, supporting his now yawning daughter making sure he doesn't drop her. It's not often he actually holds a baby, let alone his own child. Apollo just has to make it to his palace without anyone seeing him and he'll be good. After she's safe then he can think of how he will explain this all to Zeus, and persuade him not to kill her.

"Apollo? Apollo is that you?"

The sun god froze in his place, without turning around he answered.

"Hello Aphrodite. What are you doing up so early?"

"What are you hiding Apollo?" Aphrodite said getting straight to the point. She had a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Nothing, why would I be hiding anything?"

But of course before he could run away the baby let out a scream, so loud it might have possibly woken all of Olympus. Apollo cringed and slowly turned around.

"Is that? No, Apollo No! Are you crazy? She can't be here? You of all people know the future!"

Apollo was furious, not at Aphrodite, but at the Fates, and Zeus, but mostly himself. It wasn't fair. She was just a girl, a child.

"I couldn't just abandon her Aphrodite! She needs me now! Evelyn is dead, just as it was predicted. She is the child of the prophecy; she can't be left to survive on her own. I promised Evie that I would protect her and I will not back out on my word."

Apollo was so angry tears were forming in his eyes. He loved his daughter and he would be damned if he was going to let some god kill her before her time. If anyone deserves to be cruelly punished, it's him. Apollo thought. Aphrodite meanwhile was in deep thought. She wasn't sure what she should do, tell Zeus and just let the two gods deal it out and she would stay out of it, or help Apollo save his daughter. Apollo seemed to sense her dilemma.

"Aphrodite, if you help me, ugh, I'll let you have complete control over her love life."

"YAY! OK I'll help you. Quickly come now, bring her to my palace. There we can figure out-"

"I don't think so you two. Throne room. Now. Lord Zeus is awake." Hermes said as he appeared. "And he's not happy Apollo."

Apollo entered the throne room and found that every god was there (except Aphrodite and Hermes of course). As soon as they entered everyone took their seats. But not the sun god. With his daughter held tightly against him he walked up to Zeus and kneeled.

"Father," he greeted the King of the Gods.

"You have disobeyed me, Apollo."

"I take full responsibility my lord, please punish me but don't hurt my daughter."

"I can't dispose of her, the prophecy has already been set in motion, but yes, I can punish you."

"Excuse me my lord," Athena intervened. "But what about the girl? Where will she go?"

"Yes, she can't possibly be raised here on Olympus" Hera added.

"True but she can't be raised by mortals either, she's too powerful, and they'll be out to get her." Aphrodite included.

"So Camp Half-Blood then?" concluded Ares.

"No she can't interact with them yet, not until her time comes," Hermes argued.

"She'll come with me," Artemis spoke. The Olympians turned to her. Artemis continued.

"She can't be raised on Olympus, and she can't be raised by mortals, and it's not her time to be at Camp Half-Blood yet, so I'll raise her with my hunters until it's time for her to fulfill her destiny. It's the only way."

"That could work, Lord Zeus." Athena told him.

"Well then, the child with be raised by Artemis. As for you Apollo, you are forbidden to make contact with you daughter. You cannot go look for her and you may not speak with her under any circumstance. This is the punishment I give you."

"My Lord-"

"No Apollo. That is your punishment. This is your fault. This child should have never been born. She is better off dead than to live a fate like that." Zeus spoke with the voice of a ruler. It was filled with authority, and just the smallest bit of compassion for the child.

"Father, may I still watch over her, please." Apollo begged.

"Very well, my son. But if I find out you contact her in anyway, she will be the one who pays."

"As you wish Father," Apollo spoke, his voice was so broken; you could hear the pain in his voice, like shattered glass. Suddenly everything Apollo cared about had been torn from his hands, first his dear Evelyn and now their beautiful daughter. Zeus nodded and zapped himself away. Gradually the gods began to leave; not being able to witness the crushed Apollo clutching his daughter crouched on the ground.

Artemis made her way over to her heartbroken brother. She put her arms over her brother's shoulders and looked in to his glassy eyes.

"Hey, don't worry it's going to be okay."

"Promise me you'll protect her"

"I swear on the River Styx I'll protect her as much as I can, but I cannot interfere with her fate as you already know, I promise I will do my best, after all, she is my niece… Apollo?"

"Yes Artemis?"

"What's her name?"

"Axelia, Axelia Pax Maia Quillon" Apollo smiled at Axelia.

"It's beautiful," Artemis complimented.

"Yeah, it is, her mother and I picked it out just the other day." Apollo softly agreed as the sleeping baby awoke. Artemis gasped when she saw her niece's eyes

"Oh my, Apollo, It's your eyes. She has your eyes! Such old eyes for such a young baby."

"So it would seem, my eyes, how fitting. Artemis, may I have moment alone with Axelia, for one last time."

"As you wish, brother," Artemis sighed dejectedly and left quietly. She walked out of the Throne room and found Aphrodite and Athena hiding whilst eavesdropping.

"Come, let Apollo have a moment with Axelia privately," Artemis urged. The three goddesses walked away sadly.

Apollo let the tears fall, not many but a few more than he would like admit.

"I am so sorry, so unbelievably sorry my Axelia. I wish I could be there myself to protect you but it would only be worse if I went against Zeus' word. Just know that I will always love you. I'm sorry that you will have to go through so much; I wish you didn't have to, but you will. I just hope one day you will come to forgive me, and then maybe I will be able to forgive myself. Be safe my child, be strong. I love you my sweet Axelia, and I hope you never forget that."

Apollo got up and walked out to find Artemis. Artemis was standing by a fountain with Aphrodite and Athena.

"Don't worry Apollo, Axelia will be just fine," Athena comforted.

"Yeah and she'll have an amazing love life!" Aphrodite added.

"I'm sorry Apollo, but it's time for me to go," Artemis reminded him quietly.

"Yes, of course, farewell, my Axelia," Apollo whispered distantly. He cradled his child for the last time and kissed her forehead. Axelia started to scream and hot tiny tears ran down her face. Aphrodite started sniffling. Apollo handed Artemis his daughter and watched as she disappeared from his sight, wiping one last tear from his eye.

When Axelia woke up from the extremely vivid dream she did what any normal seven year old would do, she screamed.


Alright so this is the first story I'm actually publishing on here. So I hope people actually read it and like it (don't we all wish that) anyway. Let me know what you think. Tell me it sucked or the grammars terrible, something I should fix, whatever you prefer. Thanks for reading!