CHAPTER 3

Paradise lost

(song suggestion for the chapter; becoming harmonious by the glitch mob)

The winter solstice was drawing close and the pressure in the air around had not vanished. Something was going to go wrong. And Zeus knew this. He had this feeling that something was out of place. Something didn't quite feel right.

Was it the announcement he was gonna make today? About the Apollo's warning ? No . this feeling of dread was something more, familiar. Something Zeus had felt before too. But he couldn't put his finger on this feeling or what it was. After all in three thousand years he had faced manythings which would give even the king of the gods the chills of fear. The chills of death.

But for now it was time. For the king of the gods to make his entrance .

Zeus came down in the throne room in a bolt of lightening. It sure was flashy and gave off a vibe of arrogance to make his entrance like that. But this had been a running joke between him and Poseidon . Poseidon called it making things "light" in the throne room. Sure Poseidon got on Zeus's nerves quite often but he was one Zeus could always rely on during the time of a crisis.

Slowly all the thrones were filled by their occupants and the winter solstice was ready to commence. Even Hades had been called to this one. Which made the other gods a little uneasy .For Hades to be here during winter solstice meant that things were getting rough. That a new threat to the gods had come knocking on the door . there was whispering and chatter all around. Oh , how this annoyed Zeus to no end. The meeting had not even begun and these foolish gods were jumping to conclusion. But Zeus was wary too. For that he had sent out Dionysius to check out what this ill feeling , this disturbing vibe in the air was. Zeus just prayed to the creator that it is not the threat Apollo mentioned in his prophesied vision.

After a whole agonizing minute Zeus lost his cool. "SILENCE FOOLS! MENTAIN ORDER! COMPOSE YOUR SELFS FELLOW GODS AND GODDESSES!"his words pierced the growing chatter like thunder through a silent night. Some gods , Cough Hermes cough, even cringed to his loud voice.

Dionysius was sure late. Zeus was growing more impatient by the second. It was as if time was mocking him. Absurd .

"we shall commence this solstice without Dionysius as it seems he will be rather late. " . this brought all the attention back on Zeus . 'good heavens' he thought in annoyance . "Artemis report . has there anything been different in the wild recently? "

"No father , though I can't fight this feeling of ill. As if something dangerous is upon us. "

He knew what she meant. It made him even more uneasy to think that could trouble Artemis too. But now was not the time to show weakness.

"Athena have you researched what i asked you too? Any advances on your side? "

"no father. There have not been any advancements. But I fear it's just as Apollo said. "

"we cant be sure so soon. "

"Hades my brother . has there been any abnormalities in the underworld?"

"Not since you started to murder the children of the big three . you old fart of lightening." Hades grumbled .

Oh how annoying it was, for Zeus to keep hearing his complains. It couldn't be helped. The children were becoming threats to each other and killing each other off. It was not his fault if he wanted to give his children a means to survive. But none the less it earned him Hades's hatred . helping your children was neither a crime nor against the law. It was not Zeus's fault if his brothers couldn't see that. Though zeus didn't want to admit it out, his children were the weakest among the children of the big three. And since he couldn't teach them that guarded secret of half bloods which connected them to gods, he didn't have any other means to help but to provide them with items of survival. That secret , if ever revealed , could become the greatest threat the gods had ever faced. And Zeus was not ready to fight his own children .

"any how. Apollo . please will you repeat what you saw in your vision. "

"yes father. What i saw was ;

time , to repent,

crushed by the gods ,

for time couldn't be trusted,

but a life still lost,

bringing on

the wrath of the titan."

it wasn't clear what Apollo meant. To anyone.
Apollo and his new stupid obsession of saying things in haikus. But Zeus still had an image in his mind . and it was not a good one.

"father! I bare news!" the room fell silent quickly as a very drained and pale looking Dionysius rushed into the throne room. "it took me all my energy to escape his spell over the earth below. But for now it has been lifted!"

"what do you want to say Dionysius !. state it clearly!". These riddles were annoying him to no end now. And seeing Dionysius like this, it made Zeus on the edge.

"he is free father . HE has ESCAPED!"

"who is ? stop going in circles and come to the point!"

"kronos! He stopped time and space below on earth! He lifted the spell but to survive it i had to use a huge amount of my energy! He walks the earth now father ! he is free of tartarus !"

The room was engulfed in a silence of terror. The father of the gods. The personification of time and space. Olympus's biggest threat. Was roaming the earth . free. This news shocked Zeus to his very core. He had suspected something was going on when he had mistakenly encountered Prometheus near the library of beginning , governed by the three fates themselves. Only the remaining peaceful titans and the big three were allowed in that place. And seeing Prometheus snooping around for knowledge about tartarus sure seemed suspicious .

But now wasn't the time for all this. As Zeus rose from his throne lightening danced and arched out of his body. Openly showing his fear and rage.

The council looked very shaken up. But it wasn't the time to be shocked or scared. He needed them to be fully prepared. But ever since the law of thrones the gods had weakened in power. Zeus prayed to the creator that they could do this.

For now was not the time to dwell over ones weakness. It was a time of crisis.

"my fellow gods and goddesses ! Rise! Shake away the fear in your heart! For now is not the time to be afraid! No matter what happens now.

WE SHALL, NEVER , SURRENDER! This meeting is adjourned . EVERY ONE READY YOUR WEAPONS . CHARGE YOUR SELVES WITH ENERGY FOR NOW
WE . GO OUT TO BATTLE THE GREATEST ENEMY OF THE GODS. WE GO AT WAR."

The council looked overflowing with energy. Good . this is how it should be.

For now. We shall bring hell , on earth, for Kronos , the lord of the titans.

With that thought Zeus zapped out of the throne room with the other gods.

The chilly peaceful night of the winter solstice of 1912 . marked the beginning of a great legend . which shall be ,though shamefully , remembered by all the gods as their greatest mistake.