Chapter 3: A mind at peace with all below

"She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;"

-Lord Byron

"That'll be $12.95, ma'am. Are you buying anything else?" The bookseller asked, putting the small novella in a plastic bag. The corner bookstore's tidal wave of customers was slowly waning down, leaving the afternoon rush hour that saw the store bustling with curious shoppers, avid readers and idle patrons.

"No, I don't think so." The young blonde smiled, paying for the book. Shyly tucking her hair behind her ear, she peeked at his ID tag. "So, Apollo; that's an interesting name! Are you foreign?"

The Sun God didn't have to turn his head to see the buried smile that Hestia attempted to hide. He would not be hearing the end of this.

"No, I waz born here," He replied, dipping heavily into his repressed Grecian accent. He smiled sardonically at the girl. She missed it.

"Oh, that's fascinating!" The frivolous blonde chirped, her bubbly personality simmering to the surface. "I'm Alice, by the way! Alice Stephenson!"

"That's nice."

"So…" Alice continued, covertly showing her cleavage as she leaned forward. "When do you get off?"

At this point, Hestia could no longer hold it in. Swallowing a snort, she felt the need to spare her poor nephew.

"Ah, Apollo dear - Could you help me with the back stocks?" The Goddess of Family called out.

"Oh, I'm sorry… Um; Alice, was it? The boss wants me," Apollo quickly excused himself, practically sprinting away.

"So," Hestia began, her tone reflecting the young girl's. "When do you get off, Apollo? Hmm?"

The Grecian Sun God groaned, slamming his head against the wall, "I knew it! I knew it!"

"What? I'm seriously curious as to when you get off, Apollo! Oh, and if you're 'foreign'. Are you foreign, Apollo? Hmm?"

He turned to look at Hestia, a frown marring his brow. "Listen - Your son can never hear about this. You know that, right?"

"Hear about what?" One particular Son of Hestia asked.

Apollo, the God of Light, Medicine and Prophecy proceeded to make a large indention in the wall. With his head.

"Oi! Stop breaking my mom's shit! That's coming out of your paycheck!" The young sage shouted irritably, tossing his backpack on a seat.

Hestia swallowed her amusement - the need to be a parent outweighed the obvious humor of the situation.

"Naruto, please watch your language."

"Sorry, Ma."

"Yeah, brat! Language! You're too small to be using adult curse words!" Apollo quipped, subtly moving to a more defendable position. If he was going to make fun of the Flame Goddess's son, experience had taught him that foresight was paramount.

However, Hestia - who had been shelving books for the last hour - refused to see all her hard work literally be blown away in the imminent Battle of Brats. Decided to impede the situation before it could even truly begin - There was only one thing her son hated more than being called small.

"How was school?"

The young sage paused, mouth open in retort. But if one were to watch carefully, the image of gears could be seen in obvious detail as his expression moved from a foreboding smile, to a (in Hestia's opinion) hilarious anguish, then a simmering rage - that almost had her laughing- and finally a truly despondent misery. All within the span of a second. If the Sun God hadn't taken refuge behind his aunt, he would have found his rapid facial calisthenics rather impressive.

"I hate school! We sit in one place forever, as that old bat talks about history she doesn't even understand! Plus we have to do math! Like, when am I ever going to use negative numbers!? We have positive numbers - that should have been enough! And oh! You know that girl, the weird one I told you about, mom?"

"Miranda?" His mother responded, a smile dancing across the corners of her lips as she watched his cute little face. Apollo looked over her shoulder, his badly repressed laughter not helping her own losing battle with hilarity.

"No, that's the dumb one! I'm talking about Stephanie! You know, the one with the blonde hair and always talks like this?" The young sage then proceed to do what was probably the worst imitation of the poor girl ever.

"Of course, dear."

"Well, today she wouldn't stop hitting me! I really wanted to blow her away, but you said you'd throw me off the Chrysler building if I caused problems with school again. So I didn't, but I was really angry."

"Well, I'm very proud of you, dear."

"You should'a used a tiny one and made her fall in the sand." Apollo stated, having left his spot and lazily lay down on the settee, adjusting the pillow.

"Apollo, get your feet off my couch! And, stop giving my son bad advice!" The annoyed mother literally growled at her nephew.

"Oh! That's a good idea, Appy." The impressionable youth gushed. "When you're not being stupid, you're really smart!"

Hestia glared at her son. "No, it's not! Now go upstairs and do your homework! Apollo, get to work! This, if you two have forgotten, is actually a store!"

"But Mom…" "But Aunty H..." The overtly energetic blondes whined in eerie synchronicity.

"Now!"

"That's the last of them, Aunt H." Apollo called out, locking the register and putting the day's profits in the safe. He looked around as he held up a display copy of their newest book. "We actually did pretty well today - Sold out these new Hemmingway books! Personally, I don't see the thrill in reading about an Old Man who fights fish, but ehh. You know, I predict that someday instead of making normal books, it'll all be comic books!"

Hestia snorted. "That's ridiculous. People will always want to read books - it's part of the human experience. "

"Eh, maybe. But, I mean, think of how easy it would be to read! Othello, in a comic book!"

"You're silly." Hestia smiled, patting the empty seat next to her and, with a wave, conjuring a glass of wine.

"Oh! A Chianti!" Apollo called out, sitting next the Flame Goddess. The sudden movement caused her blouse to flutter lightly. "Hey, I've always wondered something - when you materialize food, where does it come from?"

Hestia turned to look at him, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I hadn't given it much thought. I think… That maybe it's from different parts of my domain. For example, you're the God of Light, so you can summon light and heat, or how Demeter can always make food grow. But this particular bottle I got from Dionysus. He likes to send me new drinks he's testing out."

"Well, I've never really thought of it that way." Apollo responded, pouring a nip of the Chianti. He expertly swirled it around, watching the glimmering light and loquacious bubbles. Finally the Sun God brought the wine to his mouth and took a small sip. He gave a tutting sound as he tasted the liquid, nodding to himself and finally -finally- putting it down. "It's not bad. Very brisk."

Hestia doubled over in laughter, loud peals that sounded like dancing bells.

"What?" Apollo asked, a tad embarrassed at his aunt's strange behavior.

"Nothing, nothing; I thank the fates that we've grown so close, Apollo." Hestia cooed, resting her head on the blonde's shoulder. "You've practically helped me raise my child; you're always willing to lend support, and no matter the situation there is a smile on your face." The goddess paused expression serious "Why did you come that day?"

Apollo smiled nostalgically, thoughts gathering as he blew out a breath. "You know that I'm a prophecy god, yes?" She nodded. "Well, that's gives me some leeway with the Samsara. In another life, in a time before the Gods and the first age, I was his friend."

"Naruto's?" The curious mother asked, sitting up.

The Prophecy God nodded, "Yes. He's lived many lives, your son. I don't honestly think you know just how special he is."

Hestia smiled softly, putting her head back on his shoulder. "Sometimes, I get the image of the man he's going to be. It scares me."

The Sun God turned his head to her, curious. "Scares you?"

"Yes. He's my baby, Apollo. My cute little baby. I can still remember when I first held him." Hestia answered absently, lost in thought, "Did you know that even as a baby, he was talkative? He couldn't talk, but nobody had bothered to tell him that. He used to babble with such authority that you'd swear he was teaching. I remember this one time, changing his diaper - I put it on too tight and it must have hurt, because he looked at me with this expression of pure annoyance; you know, the one he gets when you call him small?"

Apollo and Hestia shared a small laugh before the mother paused. "How do you know him?"

"I was his friend, I told you already." Apollo responded quietly, not meeting her searching eyes.

Hestia sat up, crossing her arms, she had buzzed blush, "Don't give me that, Apollo. Who were you?"

The Sun God sighed. "Fine,"

The golden city bustled with excited energy - The most important promise in modern history was about to be made. For months, Olympian artisans had planned and sketched; architects designing beautiful arcades and detailed colonnades; glassworkers drafting exotics candelabras and ingenious stained mosaics. But finally, after all this labor and effort, the arena where the vow was to be made was ready.

Unfortunately, not all the brothers were quite as prepared.

"Why do I have to swear on The Styx to never have demigod children again?" Poseidon grumbled at the smirking blonde, attempting to knot a sea green tie with mounting frustration. "More important than that - Why do I have to wear a bleeding suit? I like my toga! It's comfortable, unlike a suit. It doesn't choke me, unlike a suit. And most important: I don't feel like someone stuck a rod up my butt!"

Athena laughed lightly, grey eyes swimming with amusement. "Because, Uncle, your children almost destroyed the world."

"Bah! Only a little bit! Sometimes, a show of force is necessary to end a conflict - And Harry was justified in his actions. War is brutal, Athena. You should know that better than anyone."

"Uncle! Generations will suffer because of this action!"

The Earthshaker paused and turned around to her, tie clenched in hand. "Help me with this, Athena. You're right - Generations will suffer. But they will never stand against the west. What is one town for the rest of the world?"

A light chuckle pranced in the air as she held the tie. "Bend over, you overgrown seaweed." She said, positioning it correctly on his neck. "Two towns and some would argue that doing that will show a precedent to the rest of the world; scaring them in apostasy, making them produce their own arms. It would be the grand replay of Athens versus Sparta."

"Hush, you Barn Owl. The world will do what the world will do, and it will still be here."

Athena finished knotting the tie and smoothed his suit. "Aye, that it will. The suit fits you, Poseidon. You look positively handsome."

The Sea God flashed a skewed smile and wrapped his arms around the shorter blonde. "Only because you see fit to dress me."

Athena settled into his embrace, looking up at him. "You have a wife, Poseidon. We can't keep this up."

"Keep what up?" Poseidon asked absently, kissing her neck and slowly moving his way up to her mouth.

"This," She gasped out, arching her neck as she allowed the Sea God's ministrations. Reason won out however, and with obvious inner agony pushed him off. The Goddess of Wisdom turned away, her arms crossed she looked out the massive window. "You're married, Poseidon -, and I'm a virgin goddess. We've danced the same dance to the same tune for millennia now. I can't keep this up."

"This isn't about her, Athena. You of all people should know that, and the reason as to why I married her. It has always been about you, Athena." The Sea God murmured, holding her again and breathing into her straw blonde hair. "None but you."

"My father won't let this happen." She whispered, not pushing him away, yet refusing to yield into his arms.

There was a knock at the closed mahogany door. Athena jumped out his arms and went to mirror, fixing any minute discrepancies to her appearance.

"What?" Poseidon called out, annoyance creeping in the undertones as he walked to the door. With more force than necessary, he pushed it open.

"How long does it take to put on a tie, Poseidon dear?" Amphitrite asked, stepping past the Sea God and walking into the room. "Ooh! Athena, darling! How are you?"

The Goddess of Wisdom awkwardly tried to return the passionate embrace of her paramour's wife. Across the room, she could see Poseidon's shoulders shaking in muted laughter as he watched the blonde struggle.

"I am well, Lady Amphitrite."

Amphitrite laughed, linking elbows with the shorter blonde as she practically dragged her to her husband's side. "You're always so stiff, Athena! I keep telling Po that we should have you over for a weekend. You simply must come! Yes? Good! We'll get sea salt baths, seaweed scrubs, and oh! Po had this amazing new bath made - minnows float around and nibble your feet! It's the best ever! You'll love it, and oh! You'll simply have to try Rhodes' shrimp stew. It's to die for! And-"

Athena did all she could to keep up with the energetic Sea Goddess, nodding when she thought appropriate and smiling when needed. However, it wasn't hard to see that the War Goddess was barely keeping afloat in the tsunami of speech that was Amphitrite. Just when the blonde goddess felt like she was about to go under, Poseidon - her beautiful, green-eyed, passionate Poseidon - came to her rescue.

"I believe we have a place to be, dear." The Sea God stated, placing an arm on her shoulder. His wife instantly melted under his touch.

"You're absolutely right! Oh, look at me just chatting away. If you don't stop me, Athena - why, I could just go on forever!" The green-haired sea queen laughed, waving off her embarrassment.

Athena knew that she had no place to be jealous. She had countless times rejected the Sea God, and it was partly her fault that he had married the voluble Nereid. But still, Athena felt jealousy grip her heart, icy and bitter. She knew that, despite all his promises and kisses, she could never give him what he really wanted. That was her punishment for the death of Pallas, and it was only now she felt that pain so truly.

So, with a shuddering sigh, she walked after the sea dignitaries. Her hair hid the tear that crept down her face, never seeing the sad eyes that watched her go.

"Who knew that swearing an everlasting oath could be so tiresome," The Sky God sighed as he finished the last button on his fluffy coral pajamas, his disgruntled voice bringing a smile to the stately features of his bed companion.

A certain huff could be heard as she responded. "Well, you are the one who decided to allow your son to plan the event."

The Sky God turned his gaze towards hers. "You're not seriously still angry at the boy - Are you?"

A soft sigh escaped her pouted lips, the youthful expression melting the imposing aura. "No, I'm not angry. I'm just ambivalent to his existence. It's quite different really; besides, he makes good wine."

Zeus laughed. "Scoot over, woman."

"I will not. That's more than enough room for your wide arse." She dimpled provocatively, purposefully lying horizontally in the bed, her entire body laid askew.

The dark haired God raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Mmhm. Besides, you could always…. make me?" She replied, putting a finger to her mouth. The large room dimmed with an exercise of power.

"Is that so?" He repeated, climbing on top of her and looking into her cocoa-colored eyes.

"Yes!" She responded as she flipped the Sky King over and straddled him, using both hands to push the man down as he attempted to lean up.

"Oh no - You've captured me! What ever will I do? I'm powerless. Spare me, oh Great One." Zeus pleaded playfully, the humor infectious as the brunette straddling him grinned as well.

"Oh Zeus, why do you have to be so cute!" She laughed, laying down on his chest and stealing a kiss.

"Only to you, my love."

She snorted, pushing him away and sitting up, legs tossed off the side. "Like I haven't heard that before."

"It will be different this time, my love." Zeus promised, putting his head on her shoulder. "Hera, please look at me."

The Queen of Olympus refused to do so, her face hidden by the curls of brown hair. "You always say that, Zeus. Always. But you're as fleeting as the wind - some nubile creature will catch your eye and you're off again. How can I truly trust you? You've given me absolutely no reason to!"

"Well, I've never sworn on the Styx before…" The amorous Sky God tried to joke, softly smoothing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"This isn't funny!" She turned to him, hazel eyes swimming with unshed tears. "You're the only man I've ever loved, but endlessly you spurn me. Do you think I like having to play the vengeful Goddess?"

Zeus sighed. "I'm sorry, Peacock. But this time, I will be better! We will be better. I have always loved you, Hera. Always."

"You're always sorry! But it's always the same thing! I'm sure I would have a treasure room if they gave me a gold coin for every time you slept with some whore!"

"Hey! They're not whores!" The Sky King started, finishing softly as he recognized his mistake.

"You're defending them?!" She screamed out, tears cascading down her face. "I am the Goddess of Marriage, Zeus. Marriage!" She sank down on her knees, hands covering her face as sobs racked her body. "All I wanted was a happy home."

Her husband knelt down next to her and repeated in her hair: "I'm sorry, Hera. I'm so very sorry."

"They will die, Hades! I warn you, not because I care, but simply because the balance must be kept." The Oracle stated, the blonde's back turned to the Lord of the Underworld, a glaring sight in the dark throne room.

"A vow has been made; my brother would not dare make such a move against me. Not this soon." He responded, leaning deeply into his obsidian throne. Why do I suffer this fool?

The young girl turned her simmering halcyon eyes to the pale king. "Will you ignore the warning of an oracle, King of Death?"

"I shall when you forget your place, girl. You put too much faith in Apollo's protection, and mayhaps too much in your own."

"Hmm?" She laughed mockingly, "Do I?"

The shadows that crowned the room became pools of ebony as Hades' rage grew. "Yes, child."

"Hades." The Oracle softly began, walking toward him with slow purpose, her simple outfit sharply contrasting with the more traditional ensemble of the Lord of Death. "Your children have to die. You cannot prevent this, no more than you can stop the sun from rising."

"Nothing is inevitable, child. I am the Lord of Death. All men fear death, even gods!" Hades ground out, teeth bared. The skeletons that served as his attendants rattled lightly, mirroring their master's emotions.

"You tell the Oracle of Delphi that inevitability does not exist? I, who predict the future? Correctly, I might add!"

Hades had heard enough. He would not allow a child to insult him in his own domain. He was King of the Underworld! "Get out! I have heard enough from you. Tell the fates that the children are under my protection. Any harm that comes to them will be returned in part."

A cold harsh laugh filled the room. "You would be unwise to test the fates, oh Rich One. You cannot change the unchangeable."

"Leave!" He thundered, the shadows rippling and air thickening. "Do not test me, Oracle. Not even you are immune to death."

Only a mocking smile could be seen as the Oracle disappeared in a ray of light, borrowing from the powers of her patron.

The God of Death sighed and sat back heavily into his throne. Nico and Bianca were all he had left of a simpler time - a time before this rancid war and the complications that ensued.

The end of the war and the loss of his other children was keenly metaphorical of his own personal loss. In a way, it had also been his own attempt to fight fate. To fight the injustice that his family had placed him under. Forever slotted to be treated as an outcast, a pariah.

No, he thought. He steepled his fingers, eyes glowing with conviction. His remaining children would be kept alive.

kIlL ThEm.

KiLl tHem.

KILl ThEm

KiLL theM

KiLl THem

The Sky King's unfocused eyes flicked around, trying to ignore the cacophony of voices that rattled in his head. Where was that damn boy with the god forsaken mead?!

"Ganymede!"

kILl THEM

The beautiful youth rushed forward, mead in hand and apologizing profusely.

ThEY MuSt dIE! KiLl THeM!

He absently waved his cup, allowing the attendant to fill it, ignoring the apologies that the boy sputtered out.

tHeY aRE a ThReaT, sKY kinG! aNOTHER cHAnce AT War. hADeS WILL uSe tHEm aGaINst You!

"My brother will not dare. Not when he had already lost so much." He murmured softly, taking a gulp of the bitter-sweet liquid.

Ganymede blinked. Was the King of Gods talking to him? Was it possible? ...was Zeus finally confiding in him?! Whoa! ...But what had his King said? 'Okay', the cup bearer nodded, eyes filled with determination. 'I will not let him down!'

"You're absolutely right, sire." Ganymede politely spoke out, pouring more mead for the absent King. Kings liked being told that...right?

Zeus turned to him, a brow raised at his words. 'What was the boy talking about?' "About what?"

It was the cupbearer's turn to be confused. He paled - had he read the situation incorrectly? Had the Sky King actually spoken?! Yes! He answered himself, he heard him! Right? Better safe than sorry… "Apologies, Sire. I thought you spoke."

'Why did I hire him again?' The sky king asked himself, but was soon reminded after taking a cursory look at the boy. 'Oh, yeah'

Ganymede could feel Zeus' electric blue eyes boring into his soul. After what seemed like eons, a good portion of which he was certain his death was imminent, The King of Gods responded with a "Hnn".

he WILL WAGE war, skY kinG! dESTROY olYMPUS! tAKE YOUR THRONE

With a large swallow, the Sky King finished his drink attempting to calm his troubled thoughts. Though, he had to admit the voice had a good point.

The King of the Underworld swam the shadows in the home of his paramour. Clad in the mist, he was invisible to god and mortal alike. Hades felt powerful; Omnipresent and omnipotent, this form suited the Lord of The Hidden Earth.

"I know you're there."

"No, you don't. You have a feeling, but you don't know I'm here."

"Are you going to come out, or will I have to talk to my closet?"

"I might."

No other mortal would dare speak to him in such a fashion - well, they could, but they wouldn't live very long. But Maria de Angelo was more than a mundane mortal. Akin to a member of the Seelie Court, delicately beautiful and gifted with the Sight. She was an enigma that proved wonderfully impossible to solve.

"Why are you here, Hades? Problems with Persephone?" She asked softly, cleaning the food from her son's mouth.

"No, my nagging wife is with her mother for the summer season. She will return when winter comes."

"Ah."

Hades wasn't the type to feel awkward, but standing there in from of the woman, he had to admit a lesser deity would have felt the tension that saturated the room.

"Have you given thought to what I told you?"

"I have." She responded, refusing to look at the Death God. Inwardly, he sighed. She wasn't making this easy. "...And?"

She didn't respond. The room grew darker as a flicker of annoyance ran across Hades' face. This woman…

"I won't raise my children in the Underworld, Hades. I told you before, and I'll tell you again." Maria finally turned her dark eyes to him. The dim lighting and exercise of power gave shadows to the dark setting.

"They are not safe, Maria."

"They are your children, Hades. They are never safe."

Touché. "I can protect them in the Underworld." He responded, looking at the child who waved his spoon at him. The Rich King could feel his daughter on the other side of door, a part of him wanted to call her in, but he stopped. I can't get too close.

"They're as good as dead in the Underworld."

Enough. "Maria. I can build you a palace of gold near the River Styx. I will remake Venice and make you her Queen."

Maria paused and, looking at him, stood up and held her son. A small bastion of determination - she played the part of mother well. "I don't want that, Hades."

"Wha-"

Then he felt it.

An intense change in pressure; it was an experience he had not detected in a long time - not since the Titan War. Rage flew through him as he understood exactly what was happening, and who was doing it.

'You would dare?!' He sent out, only to be responded with a vast silence.

Quickly summoning Bianca while Maria threw Nico at him, Hades created a shield of the blackest night. Defense had always been his strong suit, and not even the greatest of Zeus's bolts would do it any damage. Nico cried softly as Bianca held on to his toga - the little girl, unwilling to show fear in front of her father. Finally, the assault subsided and he released the shield.

No.

No!

No!

NO!

Hades sank to his knees, dark eyes alight with tears. His worst fear had become a grim reality. She was dead, her soul ripped from her body by the vicious attack, and was already on its way to be judged. He could feel her, his beautiful Maria, as Hermes lead her through the secret entrance and presented her to be evaluated.

No. He was King of the Underworld! The Earth's treasures were his. The souls of immortal and mundane alike were his to take.

Maria de Angelo would not die today.

Summoning powers he had not used in millennia, the room dropped in temperature. Demonic shadows danced across the length of the wall as bone-chilling screams echoed around the room. His children clung to him like vices, knuckles white with pressure. He tried his best to comfort them, but it was not readily his nature.

The shadows pooled and rippled. He reached his hand in, and-

"My Lord, I bid you remember who you are."

"I will not! I will not let this happen, Alecto." He snarled, his form flicker with divine light. He would not let them win.

Alecto bowed, a deep bow that forced him to pull his anger in. The Fury was loyal, but never overtly suppliant.

"Why do I have to suffer this way, Alecto? What great wrong have I done to them?!"

The Fury raised her head - her harsh brown eyes held a certain warmth. "Because you are better than they, my lord. You are the Lord of Death. You of all must respect the laws of death."

Hades schooled his features, releasing the power reluctantly. The intoxicating energy of life and death - a power honor would never allow him to use. The shadows stilted and the screams turned to whispers.

Turning to Alecto, he motioned to his children. "Wash them in the Lethe, and take them to the Lotus Casino. Create an account and make sure they never want. Then return, we have much to do. He will regret this."

A viscous smiled appeared on the fury's face. "As you wish, my lord."

It had been a hard week for Hades. The death of his lover and the subsequent emotional rollercoaster that followed had proved tortuous for the Lord of Death. Combined with the impending return of his wife, who he didn't want to face, left him drained and in a foul mood.

It was in this mood that The Oracle returned to him, eyes ablaze with anger as she slammed the throne room open.

"How dare you defy the fates, Hades! Who do you think you are?!" She bellowed, glowing with Apollo's solar energy. "You knew they had to die! I stood here and told you the will of the fates!" The blonde girl paused, a cruel smirk worming its way to her face. "Well, I suppose the death of Maria was lesson enough."

"Leave my presence, Oracle." The King of Death spoke softly, his hands idly petting the Helm of Darkness.

"No!" She answered, bravely walking forward until her face was in his. "You are the least of the Three, Hades. You attempted to fight a force greater than you, and were burned. We will have your children; fate cannot be changed."

Dark energy poured out of the Obsidian King, his pale face contorting in a look of anger so savage, the young Oracle stepped back.

"You dared to enter my domain." He spoke standing up, his anger rooting her in place.

"You dared to threaten my children." He snarled, the energy whipping, before coalescing to a shell of the King.

"You dared to challenge the King of Death." Hades whispered, his dark eyes an endless abyss as violet flames danced inside.

"You will not make this mistake again."

The Oracle stood, fear flooding into her body and leaving her unmovable. She could see her death so many times over and so clearly; each scene more gruesome, more horrendous than the last. Was this the true power of the God of the Dead?

He spoke. Though a soft whisper, she could feel the air that moved from his mouth as he spoke, words so full of power, so full of purpose, they juxtaposed the light delivery.

"I banish you from my kingdom, Oracle. Your spirit will never find rest, never shall you leave that body. And when your time has come, I shall send Thanos to collect your soul, and you will face me. Live in fear, and know that you were nothing to the God of the Underworld."

She could feel her soul break as her connection with Delphi shattered - A strange sensation that put her in phantom agony, tears falling down her face. Not in grief, but in fear. Only now did she truly understand her blunder. Only now did she know her sin.

She had flown too high, and had felt death's bite.

A cold smile formed itself on Hade's face. It was not revenge, not by far. But it would do as a start.

It would do as a start.

[A/N] Hello again, I sincerely hope you like it. Again, a huge thanks to CaptainFrosty who is a living example of how good it is to have a beta. Please let me know what you think.

Replies: E.R Man - I wanted to portray the god's as more realistic than I think most writers do. Entities who make mistakes and are growing as well as changing. So thanks for letting me how you feel.

DannyPhantom619 - In regards to Artemis, you'll just have to keep reading.

Finally, if you have time check out A Goddess's Lament by Mercury Gray. Amazing piece of prose!

Love, Phoebus