Chosen Chapter 4: Rise of the Titan

Part 4

Xxx

History teacher Arthur Cobbs stood in front of a class of bored teenage witches. The young professor, dressed in a standard black teaching robe, noticed his students were starting to lose focus as he was telling them the history of Atlantis, the mysterious island nation that was destroyed by magic. It was supposed to be an interesting lesson that taught them the importance of controlling one's magic, but like most students, these teenagers were not interested in ancient history. Luckily, Arthur had other ways of telling his story.

"So let's all try to imagine what Atlantis looked like." Arthur said as he walked around the class. "There was sea all around, a grand and beautiful city, very advanced for its age."

"Boring." A student whispered.

Arthur smiled and snapped his finger. Suddenly the air in the classroom ripples and it disappeared. Instead, they found themselves on a beach with the students' benches in the white sands. An enormous city of white stone was visible in front of them, which was lit by floating blue orbs. The students looked both shocked and amazed as they saw what was happening.

"This is awesome." A female student said. "It's so real."

"It's just an illusion." Another replied.

"So are you interested in listening what happened to Atlantis now?" Arthur asked. "Or should I just show you?"

"Show us." The students replied excited.

"Alright." Arthur said. "Well, we don't actually know for sure what happened, but we do know that the entire nation was destroyed by magic."

As Arthur told his tale, loud explosions were heard from the city and fires started erupting. The ground begun to shake and the waves grew wild. Lighting began to strike in the distance.

"Thousands of years ago, Atlantis was wiped off the earth by untamed magic." Arthur explained as the city started to disappear into the ocean. "It disappeared into the sea and nobody knows where it was exactly, and it has never been found. The destruction of Atlantis was exactly the reason that The Elders founded Magic School, to ensure that young witches like yourself could learn to control their magic and avoid another disaster like this from occurring."

As the city descended into the ocean, buildings collapsed as fire continued to spread across the landscape. Even though they knew it was an illusion, Arthur noticed some of the younger students becoming a little scared as imaginary water started filling the room. Illusions were just deceptions and could trick all senses but touch, so they could not actually feel the water. However, a scared mind could easily play tricks on the bodies.

Arthur clapped his hands and it one bright flash, the city of Atlantis had disappeared and they were back in the boring old history classroom.

"So what is the lesson here?" Arthur asked.

"That we need to control our magic." One of the students said. "So we don't destroy cities."

"Exactly." Arthur replied. "I think that is enough for today. Be sure to read the chapter on Atlantis in your books carefully, as there will be a few question about in in your exams. Class dismissed."

The students complained softly about the test as they gathered their things and left the classroom. Meanwhile, Arthur grabbed his own stuff and wanted to head out for a break, when he bumped into some familiar faces when he left the classroom, namely the Chosen.

"Hi, good to see you again." Arthur said. "I trust everything worked out with the whole Wendigo thing?"

"Yeah, totally. Look we need your help." Billie said.

"What exactly do you need a history teacher for?" Arthur asked.

"A history lesson." Duncan replied. "Mainly about the Titans, and one in particular. Prometheus."

"The Titans?" Arthur asked. "Is that why some of the other professors were worried this morning?"

"Probably, Prometheus has been freed from his prison and we suspect he is going to cause some trouble." Billie said.

"Actually, we don't know what we wants." Violet countered. "Which is why we need your help. We figured you'd know about Titans and such."

"Well, I guess you're in luck." Arthur said. "Greek mythology was actually a very big part of my field research. I was trying to separate mythology from what really happened, since most of it are really just myths."

"We know, the whole Gods being mortal thing." Billie replied impatiently. "So can you help us out?"

"Yeah, of course." Arthur replied. "I mean, a Titan running loose is a potential threat to all of us. Let's head into my office."

Arthur guided the others through the labyrinth of hallways in the schools until they reached his small but practical office near the library. As they entered, Arthur walked over to his bookcase and grabbed his personal books and notes on the Titans. He then walked over to his desk and started looking for the information he needed.

"Prometheus you said, right?" He asked.

"Yeah, that's the one." Mikelle replied.

"Alright, let's see here." Arthur said as he flipped to the right page. "According to the myth, Prometheus was punished by the Greek God Zeus for stealing fire and granting it to mortals. He was then tied to a rock where an eagle would eat out his liver each day for all eternity."

"That's really gross." Billie remarked with a disgusted face.

"It's also not true." Arthur added. "Prometheus was bound to a rock by Zeus as a punishment, though he was cursed to die by lightning each day and then coming back alive. The reason why he was cursed is also quite different from the myth."

"So if he didn't steal fire, what did he do?" Violet asked.

"According to some ancient scrolls found in a temple, Prometheus was a Titan who betrayed the others by siding with the Gods. The reason for doing this was that he felt their tyranny was wrong. However, when he saw the Gods becoming corrupt themselves, he tried to destroy them as well."

"So he was actually doing a good thing?" Violet asked. "He tried to free humanity of the tyranny of the Gods."

"Yes, but the way he tried to do so was far from good." Arthur said as he continued reading. "This is pretty interesting, according to these scrolls, Prometheus tried to destroy the Gods by unleashing the sorrows of the world, thus weakening the Gods and allowing the Elders to remove their powers. However, by unleashing the sorrows, Prometheus brought much pain and suffering into the world."

"Oh my god." Violet replied shocked.

"Wait, the sorrows?" Duncan asked. "As in the sorrows of Pandora's Box?"

"Yes, that's what I meant when I said it got interesting." Arthur continued. "Apparently, after defeating the Titans, Prometheus lived on earth as fell in love with a mortal woman, Pandora. However, she could not stand to see the world suffer, so she betrayed him. Pandora was then given the box by the Gods and was able to call back the sorrows."

"Wow, Greek mythology is really messed up." Mikelle remarked.

"Seriously?" Duncan asked with a raised eyebrow. "That's what you take out of this?"

"I never liked history." Mikelle replied with a shrug. "Let's get to the present. What would this Prometheus dude want now?"

"Well, I'd say he is one pretty pissed off Titan." Billie said after some thought. "So where do you go if all the people you're angry with are long dead?"

"Wait, you think he is going after the box?" Duncan asked.

"Why not?" Billie replied. "I think it is the only tie he has to his past."

"He could also just be confused and lost." Violet suggested. "I mean, he was freed from a rock after centuries, imagine how strange the world must be to him."

"That's true." Billie said. "But I think our first move should be to make sure the box is safe. Then we can go find out what Prometheus is really after, agreed?"

"Agreed." Violet replied with a sigh as Duncan and Mikelle nodded.

"Alright. Mikelle, I think you should inform the Elders of what we've learned. Perhaps they got some news as well." Billie said. "Then we go find the current Guardian."

"How will you do that?" Arthur asked. "Guardians are sworn to secrecy, so she will be well-hidden. I doubt even the Elders know her location."

"True, but I know some people who know the current Guardian." Billie replied. "It will just take a phone call."

"I'll go inform the Elders." Mikelle said as she disappeared in a column of orbs.

"We should get going as well." Billie said. "Thanks, Arthur you've been a big help."

"It's what I am here for." Arthur replied. "Just be careful, they are not called Titans for nothing."

"Don't worry, we got I covered." Billie replied.

"We do?" Duncan asked sceptically.

"Shut up." Billie replied. "Alright, bye."

"It was nice to see you again." Violet said with a smile.

"Yeah, you too." Arthur replied as the Chosen left his office.

As she left, Violet looked back over her shoulder and waved at him. Arthur tried to wave back, but she had already disappeared behind the corner. He had not noticed her smile before, in fact, last time she was so worried about her friend that he had barely noticed how cute she really was. He hoped to see her again soon, though under different, non-world threatening circumstances. Arthur sighed and said down at the desk. His break time was almost over, so he quickly grabbed an apple before heading to his next class.

xxx

A magical door appeared in the middle of Billie's dorm room. As it flung open, Billie stepped out while busy talking to someone on her phone. Duncan and Violet were right behind her as the magical door disappeared in a white glow when it slammed shut. A moment later, Billie hung up her phone and slipped it back in her jeans.

"Alright, I just got this girl Hope's address from Phoebe." Billie said. "She is the current Guardian of Pandora's Box."

"Honestly, every time I think magic can no longer surprise me, it does." Violet said. "I mean, Pandora's Box? Seriously?"

"Yeah, it must be weird finding out all this stuff like this." Duncan replied. "I mean, I grew up with magic, but some stuff is still insane to me."

Billie was relieved and glad that her friends were at least able to talk normally again. Although things were not perfect, there was at least some progress. It was one less thing she needed to worry about, now all she needed to deal with was a potential mad god and the apocalypse, no big deal.

"We need to find Hope, she is our best chance to find out what is going on." Billie said.

About an hour later, Billie and the others arrived at the address that Phoebe had given her. It was a small apartment complex in the centre of the city and it looked cheap and rundown. Not exactly the place you'd expect to find a mythical box filled with horrors. They entered the building and headed up to the third floor.

"Alright, we have no idea how she knows, but she does not know who we are." Billie said as they walked up the stairs. "So we will need to convince her we're on her side."

"And that she could be in danger." Violet said.

"I thought you were all about giving Prometheus the benefit of the doubt?" Duncan asked.

"Well, that was before I found out he tried to destroy the Gods and did not care if humanity was wiped out in the process." Violet replied concerned. "I get why Pandora betrayed him, even though she loved him."

"Alright, I think this is it." Billie said as they reached the third floor. "Its apartment number 11, at the end of the hall there."

"So what is the plan?" Duncan asked.

"We just talk to her, explain what is going on peacefully." Billie replied as she knocked on the door.

Billie and the others waited, but nobody answered the door. However, she could clearly hear someone moving on the other side of the door. She knocked again and waited, but quickly realized that maybe Hope was in danger. Perhaps they were already too late. Running out of patience, Billie waved her arm and telekinetically flung the door open. She stepped inside the apartment, but before she could call out to Hope, she was punched in the face and stumbled against the door.

Billie quickly reacted and moved aside, barely avoiding a heeled kick that cracked the door. She kicked back and saw a blonde girl barely older than her stumble back. The girl raised her hands and fired a blast of white energy. Billie leaped up and levitated to avoid the blast. She then waved her hand to telekinetically throw the girl against the couch and landed on the floor. Both girls prepared for round two, but Duncan and Violet stormed in the room.

"Hold on, Stop!" Duncan yelled out as he raised his hands. "We're on the same side."

"Who the hell are you?" The girl asked.

"We're witches, the Chosen." Duncan explained. "And you're Hope, right? The Guardian? We're here to help."

"Well, then you're too late." Hope said casually as she stood up.

"You pack quite a punch." Billie said as she rubbed her sore cheek. She was impressed with her, even though she was a little mad about being punched in the face.

"You're not bad yourself. Let me get you some ice." Hope replied as she walked to the fridge. "So you're witches? How did you know where to find me?"

"We have some mutual friends." Billie replied. "The Halliwell sisters."

"Oh yeah. I heard they had retired." Hope said as she tossed a bag of ice to Billie, who caught it and pressed in against her sore cheek. "So you're the Charmed Ones 2.0?"

"Something like that." Billie replied with a smile.

"Hold you, you said we're too late? What did you mean?" Violet asked.

"Like I said, too late." Hope said. "Prometheus found me and he took the box."

"You know about Prometheus?" Duncan asked surprised.

"Not when he found me, but his name sounded familiar right away." Hope replied. "So after I got home, I searched through these old Guardian journals and discovered who and what he was. We're in some serious trouble."

"No kidding." Billie replied.

"You don't know the half of it." Hope said. "Prometheus has the box, yes, and that is probably the worst thing. But then Harpies showed up."

"Harpies?" Violet asked.

"Elite demons hailing from ancient Greece." Duncan quickly said. "How are they involved, what did they want?"

"I don't know. I don't think they knew about the box, but they were after Prometheus." Hope said as recalled what happened. "Maybe they think they can use him to strengthen their position."

"Well, the priority should be finding the box, before Prometheus can unleash the sorrows." Billie said. "We can deal with the Harpies later."

"I agree, the box is what matters most." Hope added. "The Gods entrusted the Guardians with the destiny to keep the sorrows from ever being released again. I already failed at that once, I don't want to fail again."

"Wait, so if the Gods captured the sorrows to begin with, where did they originally come from?" Violet asked confused.

"From what I can tell, the sorrows have always been there." Hope explained. "Capturing and containing them is actually one the few good things the Greek Gods did for this world, before they became tyrants."

"Alright, enough talk." Billie said. "We need to move. Our initial plan was to find out what Prometheus wanted, but now that he has the box, that seems obvious. What is our next step?"

"Easy, Prometheus may have the box, but I can still sense its location." Hope replied. "And now that I have you guys to support me, we might actually have a chance to get it back without being killed or whatever."

"That doesn't sound really assuring." Violet commented nervously.

Billie could not help but smile. She was impressed by Hope's determination. She was the Guardian, the only one in the world, and the burden fell on her shoulders alone. Billie had her own destiny, but she always had her friends to support and fall back on. Hope was alone and she seemed incredible strong and brave. Looking around the apartment, Billie sadly realized she probably had to give up a lot to protect the box at all costs. She wondered if she could do the same if she were in Hope' shoes. At least now she had someone to help her.

Xxx

As night started to fall over the city of San Francisco and the sun was setting, Prometheus stood on a hill overlooking the city and the bay. He admired humanity for their evolution as he looked at the red steel bridge with hundreds of metal vehicles known as cars move across in high speed. However, he was also disappointed in them. Observing the world, he had learned there was much war, hate and pain the world, something he had wanted to avoid by bringing down the Gods. I was obvious now that humanity could cause just as much misery to themselves.

Prometheus looked down on the golden box standing at his feet. Each time he looked at it, he was painfully reminded of the moment Pandora took the box and betrayed him. By siding with the Gods, she had undone all his work and prevented them from being together. Instead, he was condemned to an eternity of pain and torture. Now he was alone, Pandora was gone and so were the Gods. He was the most powerful being in a corrupt and disappointing world, and he had no idea what to do.

A column of smoke rose up from the ground and took the shape of a dark skinned woman dressed in a crimson dress and black robe. Another Harpy, but Prometheus recognized her status as Queen of her tribe. He noticed her looking at the box and recognizing it.

"What do you want, demon?" Prometheus asked.

"Contemplating what to do?" the Queen asked. "It must be difficult, waking up in a world that no longer remembers or cares about you."

"So what do you suggest?" Prometheus asked.

"You hold the most powerful weapon in this world in your hands." The Queen said. "A warrior with no purpose." She moved closer to him and let one of her talons gently slide down his face. "I can give you a purpose."

"You want the box." Prometheus replied unmoved.

"I want everything I desire." The Queen said suggestively as she let her talon slide down his chest piece. "Help me and I can give you what you desire."

"And what is that?" Prometheus asked.

"She betrayed you. You're bitter and angry. Lonely perhaps." The Queen said. "I can help with at least one of those things, perhaps more."

The Queen moved closer and pressed her seductive body against his. With her sharp talons she took hold on his chin until they pierced his skin and drew blood. She pulled him in for a kiss as she leaned forward and worked her tongue into his mouth. In a moment, Pandora's beautiful and treacherous face flashed before Prometheus' eyes, but then he forgot about her and embraced his lust.

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