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A/N: It is us again! Thank you to those of you have reviewed...apologies for the wait on the chapter, but school has been manic and evil and GAH. Anyway, can't wait to hear what you think of this chapter :) This one was written by Mystery-Immortal and dazzeling diamond. Really, it is...We spent our saturday doing it! Reviews are most welcome...craved, even :D
1. Lyre Strings and Flirty Things
A catchy tune floated around the peak of Mount Olympus and Calliope descended down the stairway from the clouds.
"The Twelve Olympians were gathered around the eternal flame. Zeus had called the assembly to discuss the urgent matter of the prophecy. The Oracle had given the warning and now the conundrum of what or who, more accurately; this dark entity might be, needed to be decided…"
"What in the name of Zeus do you think you are doing?" Hera snapped.
"I am the Muse of Epic Poetry. I am completing my sacred duty." Calliope drew herself up to full height
"Well I do not care for your sacred duty. You are not meant to be here. So scoot!"
"But… I…"
"I said SCOOT!" Hera was the picture of fury
"Yes Ma'am." There was no way that Calliope, an innocent and mostly naïve Muse was crossing words with the Queen of the Gods.
Zeus called his fellow Olympians to attention. As he glanced around the room he noted the varying faces staring back at him, all holding the same expression – confusion. Yes. Confusion filled the eyes of every Olympian in the room, and he didn't blame them. They had absolutely no idea what they were here for.
Zeus began his address to the Gods, "I am officially ordering you all into indefinite concealment. This is not negotiable and I will not be accepting any complaints in the ways of:
1. Waging war
2. Hunting me down
3. Starting a typhoon
4. Soothing me sleep
5. Giving me a peace plant
6. Challenging me to a battle of wits
7. Build a trap for me
8. Offering me a make over
9. Writing me a message
10. Or scorching me to death
Have I made myself clear in this matter?" Zeus concluded. Hera's eyes betrayed bemusement at her Husbands address, although her face remained stern.
A mumbled 'yes' resonated across the room. The Gods lapsed into their own conversations whilst awaiting their next order.
Aphrodite was deep in thought, something that didn't occur often with the love Goddess. "I was sooooo inspired by that mortal I saw earlier," Aphrodite said, her voice unwaveringly solemn, to which the nymphs nodded fiercely. She inspected a glossy nail, concentrating hard.
"As such, I have decided that I've been blonde for far too long!" she declared dramatically, as though she were putting on a play.
She turned to the nymphs, and twirled a long lock of golden hair around her finger, while her flawless face twisted into a frown.
"We are dying the hair, NOW!" she screamed, almost in agony.
The nymphs ran immediately, their eyes glued to her beauty cabinets. Removing all the contents, they returned to the distressed Goddess, their arms full of products and their eyes full of fear.
Aphrodite inspected the colours they had brought. "Opulent Onyx! That's the one! Get to it girls, we may have eternity, but I'd prefer it didn't take that long!"
Across from where Aphrodite was sitting Apollo was trying to deal with his nine distressed Muses. They were complaining about something Hera did… he loved the girls, he really did but sometimes they just grated on him.
"Look Calliope, she is the Queen of the Gods. If she says you weren't meant to be somewhere, chances are you weren't!" Apollo repeated gently. Unfortunately for him, Calliope and her eight sisters didn't agree.
"She interfered with our sister's sacred duty!"
"She was demeaning to us!"
"She treated us like we weren't important!"
"My lyre strings are broken!"
Apollo and the other eight Muses, looked towards Euterpe, "What? I thought we were discussing our problems?"
Apollo rolled his eyes; this was going to take a millennium to sort out.
Poseidon was having a drama queen moment due to the immense length of the meeting "I am dehydrating here! Can't that oaf of a brother of mine just tell us what to do already?"
Meanwhile, Ares was eyeing Aphrodite's new, chic 'Opulent Onyx' hair. Hephaestus at the same time looked about ready to wage war on the God of War. Hestia was looking at Hephaestus in longing and Aphrodite was just lapping up the attention… some things never changed.
Hestia sighed. She continued to watch him, a strange sense of puzzlement growing in her mind. She scrunched up her face, her lips pouting in annoyance. Glaring at Aphrodite, who was casually flicking her newly ravened-tresses, while posing ever so slightly for Ares' eagerly watching eyes, Hestia found herself confused. It sickened her. Aphrodite may have been 'shallow' water, but as far as Hestia could see, Hephaestus was drowning in it.
A gentle breeze blew past, causing her gaze to flicker towards the Eternal Flame. It swayed waveringly, and then resumed its natural movement. That was close, she murmured mentally. It wasn't the first she'd felt nervous about guarding the flame, at least of late.
Strolling over towards Athena, Hestia noticed her reading an odd scroll. Quickly, curiosity overcame her, and she rushed to her niece's side.
"What's that?" she questioned, blinking inquisitively at the object in question.
Athena seemingly ignored her. Sighing with irritation, Hestia twisted her lips into a scowl, tapping her sandal-clad foot against the marble floor. The tapping increased in tempo, and unintentionally, in volume. Tap, tap, tap…tap…
"WOULD YOU SHUT UP?" Athena barked, her voice interrupting the other discussions of the deities around them. Hestia couldn't believe she was still standing after that, but she stared at her feet just to be sure.
"Honestly, what do you want, Hestia?" Athena muttered, her cobalt eyes flashing with the rage of a blue flame. And Hestia knew flames.
"Ummm…Sorry to intrude," she said flippantly "but what is that…thing, you're reading?"
Athena held up the item in her hands with a sense of reverence, annoyed by Hestia's disregard for the importance of that 'thing'. She thumbed between what seemed several scrolls oddly glued together.
"This," Athena began sharply "is a book, it's from the 21st century…it's a wonderful mortal invention, something which you'd know nothing about,"
Biting her lips in faux-understanding, Hestia nodded as Athena spieled on about said 'book'. All Hestia heard was 'wizard', 'philosopher's stone' and 'fluffy'.
Turning to her bewildered aunt, Athena continued to talk. "…So yeah, it's a bit dreary, and the opening is utterly monotonous but it does have many references to our culture, and—"
"That's, um, good…" Hestia interrupted, as she distractedly gazed at Heph (As she preferred to call him), who's face was still that of a love-sick puppy. Honestly…Athena thought, her eyes blazing No respect…ask for my knowledge, and you shall receive, but ask for it and then not even CARE? Really, the height of disrespect…just…ARGHHH, just plain rude!
"I don't understand why you're so OBSSESSED with him…he is married to her!" Athena admonished, it didn't take someone as sharp as her, to notice that.
Looking crestfallen, Hestia focused on Heph and his unrequited affections. Sure, he wasn't to Aphrodite's standard, looks-wise…for a God, he was pretty average. But she's just so awful to him…Hestia's inner voice wailed in falsetto he should be with me! ME! That self-obsessed bitch!
Athena groaned inwardly, she could basically hear Hestia's thoughts. What a waste of her time, she thought, what a waste of my time…I have more important things to do! With that, the Goddess of Wisdom stormed off, book in hand.
Hestia, too, soon realised her efforts at present were worthless and ran past the smitten trio in a huff, not before she heard Ares whisper in Aphrodite's ear, to which Aphrodite giggled with feigned demureness, while her glossy lips turned upwards in a cheeky smile. Just what I need! Her thoughts growled.
"Alright, you two…br-break it up! This is getting a little more than friendly, and we are here for a meeting. So, ixnay on the PDA," Hermes ordered, pointing at the amorous pair "Hey! That rhymes! Ixnay…PDA…Gah, my genius goes unnoticed!"
The Gods all turned solemn again, their attention returning to their purpose for gathering. No one really wanted to be there, why else would their concentration be so fleeting? Naturally, each one thought that they had somewhere better to be or something better to do. Of course, all one needed to do was look at Hera's vigilant glare and the impulse to leave, vanished.
Having regained everyone's attention, Zeus began his lecture on how the portal was to bring the chosen mortals to their own time.
"Hephaestus has almost completed work on the portal and assures me that it should be prepared for use by nightfall."
Aphrodite shuddered "Wow, I'm suddenly really…like, free-zing…It's as cold as the dead in here!" The others murmured in agreement.
"Well, do you need something hot?" Ares asked flirtatiously, gesturing towards himself.
The Muses clamoured over each other for a better view, Calliope, assertive for once in her life, pushed forward.
"Take off your shirt!" she screamed, sending a ripple of giggles and wolf-whistles, through the crowd of nymphs and Muses. The Gods wore varying expressions. Aphrodite smiled in amusement, while Hestia grimaced in disapproval, trying to overshadow her embarrassment. The rest of the deities were vaguely amused, such dialogue was not exactly new from Ares.
Zeus's gaze brought silence once again to the assembly.
"Well hello dear brother, you didn't invite me to your little…" Hades threw a glance over the room, "…Soirée. I am deeply wounded." His baritone voice, coated with sarcasm.
There was a stunned silence around the room. Hardly ever did the deities find themselves wordless. A moment of awkwardness followed.
Calliope leaned over to Melpomene "Jeez, what a tragedy! He didn't get invited… 'Life isn't always a piece of ambrosia'!"
Melpomene shook her head, her spikey black hair hardly moving. She released a sigh of grave annoyance, her already-pale countenance whitening to that of ivory. Her eyes seem to darken a shade as she said "You call this a tragedy? You know nothing about tragedy!"
"Girls, nice to see you again," Hades remarked, interrupting the Muse of Tragedy's spiel. The Muses clung to each other, forming a close-knit circle behind a shaking Calliope. A whimpering could be heard from within the Muse's circle as the God of the Underworld seemed to tower over them.
"It's ok Euterpe," Calliope crooned softly "It's ok…he can't hurt us while we are in a room with twelve Gods!"
"Hurt you?" said Hades, his face a mixture of intrigue and surprise. Calliope near shivered, as she tried to avoid staring into his coal eyes. They were interesting eyes…unlike any of the other Olympians. She couldn't help but feel cold, as she stared into their stormy depths, like waves crashing on a dark night.
As it was, Hades didn't look like any other Olympian, either. He had a striking countenance and an arresting gaze, both of which seemed to tread between attractive and repulsive.
Hades turned swiftly, his black robes sweeping the ground with a sense of majesty. He stared at the other deities, all of whom were unsure of what to think.
"Hurt her? Isn't that funny? Why would she think I'd want to hurt her?" he remarked in bemusement, scanning Zeus' face "I'm only interested in these mortals, you speak of."
"It is of no consequence to you." He answered sharply, his tone dismissive. Hades ignored this comment.
"Mortals? Really? I didn't know we were keeping pets! Can I have one? Pretty please, with olives on top?" He put his hands together, pretending to beg. Zeus attempted to maintain his stoic face, but facing his brother was not something he did often.
Hera glided forward, urgent but regal. She stared at Hades straight on, her gaze not faltering.
"Hades," she bowed her head in acknowledgement.
"Hera, darling! How nice to see you…you're looking well. How is everything going up here…fabulous 'crib' and all?" he said, his voice dripping in faux charm.
She ignored his question. "Don't you have some souls to attend to?"
He chuckled "They can wait…they've got an eternity in the afterlife."
Hera pursed her full lips "Get…Out."
"Tact was never your strong point, Hera," Hades commented.
Ares came forward, standing solidly beside Hera. He locked eyes with Hades, his rigid stance unwavering, "She said...Get. Out."
Another murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd of deities, as they all took their positions beside their Queen.
Hades clasped his hands together "I can see I'm not welcome here."
With that he disappeared from sight.
Calliope stared, her mouth ajar. "He went poof!" she shrieked excitedly, she turned boisterously towards the other Muses and nymphs "Did you SEE that? Tell me you saw that! He just went poof! Just poof! HE JUST WE—"
"Shut UP, you infernal Muse…no wonder you've got epic poetry…every damned breeze is hurricane to you!" Zeus bellowed, collapsing exhaustedly into his throne. He rubbed his forehead with a slow frustration. With no further commands, the room dissolved into rapid discussion of everything and…nothing.
Breathing heavily, Zeus narrowed his eyes in exasperation "SIIILLLEEENNNCCCEEEE!"
Not a voice spoke. Timidly, Aphrodite raised a manicured hand.
"What?" Zeus barked.
"Ummm…Why are we here again?" she asked, her doe eyes quizzical. Artemis and Demeter; who no one had even noticed leave, suddenly returned.
"What's going on?" they asked in unison. Hera glanced at her husband, who was ready to explode any second. Time for action, she thought.
"Let me handle this, dear," she told her husband, patting his hand gently. He faced her, an expression of silent thanks on his face. Hera smiled; it was rare that he showed any gratitude towards her.
"Now!" Hera snapped, turning away from her husband and to the mass of curious Gods "Athena, come forward."
Obeying the command, Athena rushed to the Queen's side. Her hair, a mass of tangled curls, bounced gently behind her. I gotta get her to brush that, one of these days, thought Aphrodite.
"You know how I requested you all choose a mortal from the twenty-first century? One mortal for each, all of whom resemble your personalities? And how I asked Hephaestus to construct us a time portal? Though I didn't tell you why, all of this is for a reason," She paused "There is a prophecy,"
Everyone was stunned. Hera ignored the silence and continued.
"Athena has been given the task of analysing the prophecy. The oracle, as always, is elusive…even to us. We found this at the temple steps, earlier this week. It speaks rather cryptically, which is usual. However, this prophecy is unlike any other before, in that it is not about mortal lives, it is about ours."
"Nooooo…someone's been spying on us?" Aphrodite gasped.
Artemis turned to Demeter. "It's a good thing her looks do get her everywhere in life. Cause this?" she paused to tap her temple twice "Not-so-much…"
Demeter smiled and suppressed her giggling, too nice to laugh out loud.
"Athena will now reveal the prophecy to you," Hera announced gravely. Every God felt the genuine solemness in her voice, and no one dared speak.
Athena cleared her throat, and read,
"Beware of the immortal darkness,
Of the phantom figure that haunts.
To every divine figure's existence,
The ways of time shall taunt.
The need for mortals is dire,
From the future you must find.
One whose essence is true,
A mortal of your like-mind.
If in this you fail,
From history you will vanish.
Into hiding you must go,
Or your existence will be banished.
To these mortals, gifts must be given,
Yet this does not denote success.
After victory is achieved,
These gifts you will repossess."
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