Chapter Ten: Memories
Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long, but without further ado, here's the new chapter. Also, reviews make all the difference. Truthfully I had forgotten about this story until I got a new review and I was inspired to write more.
Kane woke up to grey skies and black stone. He wasn't quite sure if it was morning or not, but he guessed it was, based on his sleeping schedule...he thought. It then occurred to him he hadn't had a proper sunrise for a very long time. It was one of those hilariously depressing thoughts.
He got out of the bed and looked over at Nico. He was still sleeping, and he looked so adorable...wrapped up in the blanket and snoring very softly. Kane just had to ruin that picture. He jumped onto Nico's bed and he shouted, "The marshmallows are escaping!"
Nico immediately bolted up, and said, "NO! Keep them in my reach!...Where…" He looked around, confused.
Kane chuckled, "Remember, Hades, dear old Dad, palace?"
Nico nodded then made to get up. He had slept in his aviator jacket and jeans, and as a result looked very uncomfortable. He looked over at his brother, "Do you think he gave us any clothes?" Nico asked.
Kane shrugged there was only one way to find out so he opened the closet door. Inside was a nice collection of assorted jeans, t-shirts, and shoes. All of them in black. Granted, it was a prerequisite for Hades to only wear black, but Kane wasn't his father. Just because he was a son of Hades, he was expected to be a goth. Actually Kane enjoyed blue, silver, and green just as much as black. It didn't really matter at this point, because all the clothing into the closet was black.
After they changed into some black shirts and jeans, they were at a loss as to where to go. They didn't know where they were in the palace exactly, but they did know they had to find Hades.
They first circled back to the throne room, and when finding no one there, went in the other direction. Soon they found a room with a rather long, ornate dining room table. On it was set a massive feast. Plates piled high with bacon, eggs and other breakfast foods. It was everything a hungry teenager could want in the morning.
Kane just about leapt at the food, but Nico grabbed his jacket and said, "Kane! DOn't eat the food, remember Persephone?"
His older brother's face fell, and Kane said, "Well, yah, but we are children of Hades, I'm sure it's fine if I take a little nibble, just a morsel." His hand reached for the nearest waffle, but a chuckle broke through his hunger.
Hades stood in the doorway, clad in black slacks and a black button-up. He shook his head while chuckling and said, "Just because you are my child doesn't mean you are exempt from the law."
Kane looked at Hades with complete betrayal, and motioned towards the food. "Why put it out if no one could eat it?" he said.
"I didn't say you couldn't eat the food. I only said you aren't exempt from the laws, and there is no law against eating the food if you are allowed." Hades waved his hand and the food shimmered. Kane, assuming the food was now good enough to eat, began to shovel food into his mouth without thought. Nico followed, sitting down and putting food on his plate before eating.
The younger brother noticed how Hades almost grimaced at his brother's atrocious table manners, but he only smiled.
A few minutes into eating Kane had slowed down enough to ask Hades a question, "You said this morning you could tell us what happened,"
Hades sighed, "I suppose I did. If you really want to know it all began when I fell in love with your mother Maria during World War II." Kane and Nico both began to ask questions at this, but Hades silenced them with a look.
"She was one of the few mortals who could see through the mist. It was a rare gift, and one of the first things that drew me to her. We fell in love, although he both knew how dangerous it was, because the most powerful demigods were waging war against each other. Soon she gave birth to twins, Bianca and Kane Di Angelo. We waited two more years before having another child, Nico, and by this point we figured it was safe to be together as a family. We were happy. Then one day, new the end of the war, the oracle gave a prophecy." He took a deep breath before speaking again,
"A Half-Blood of the eldest gods,
Shall reach sixteen against all odds,
And see the world in endless sleep.
The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap,
A single choice shall end his days,
Olympus to preserve or raze."
He finished the prophecy and took in the shocked faces of Kane and Nico before continuing, "Zeus grew paranoid after hearing this. He made us swear on the river Styx not to have anymore children, but this wasn't enough and he began to kill off the children of the big three. I tried to tell your mother that she could be safe in the underworld, but she refused to raise you down here. One day, she was in a hotel room when Zeus struck the building with a lightning bolt, and killed her. I managed to save Nico and Bianca. I took away their memories and planted them in the Lotus Casino, so they could be safe from Zeus."
Kane looked at his father, "Where was I?" he asked.
Hades' face fell and he said, " I couldn't save you or Maria in time, and this is why I was so surprised at your being here."
"I don't know much, but I was raised as a Malfoy, a rich wizarding family, and I knew nothing of my heritage. The strange part is you make it sound like I was born in the 1940s, and although Nico and Bianca being in the Lotus Casino makes sense, I wonder how I ended up forward in oddest thing is I have clear memories of a childhood as a Malfoy, but I was twelve when I was 'killed'."
Suddenly, Nico spoke up, and said, "What I want to know is if there is anyway to get our memories back? I don't remember my mother, and I wish I could have memories of who she was."
Hades put a finger to his chin and said, "There might be, but it could take me a while to see if I still have it. In the meantime I will send Achilles to meet you at the entrance so he can show you how to properly hold a sword."
"What do you mean?" Kane pretested, "I can hold a sword just fine!"
"If you are talking about making it up as you go along and guessing how to fight with a sword, then you are severely wrong," Hades said, "I suggest you go meet Achilles, he is one of the best swordsman in history."
With that Hades walked out of the breakfast hall and the two brothers made their way to the entrance hall where they met a tall, buff man with closely cropped black hair and pale green eyes. For an ancient warrior he seemed to be wearing rather modern clothing. He wore jeans, a simple green t-shirt and a leather jacket.
"Are you Achilles?" Nico asked, rather tentatively. After all, Achilles was a character in his mythomagic cards, and although he tried to deny he still liked those cards, Kane knew he kept a secret stash with him. After all, they were signed by the gods themselves.
The man nodded and said, "Yes, I am. Hades told me I should teach you boys some lessons with the sword. Told me you were beginners."
Kane bristled, "I'm not a beginner, I can fight just fine."
Achilles raised an eyebrow, "Really?" he said, "In that case, show me."
With that Kane pulled out his sword and the Achilles seemed impressed by the sword. Then Kane swung the sword and Achilles ducked away from the sword and tripped up Kane before he could do anything else.
"Still think you know what you are doing?" Achilles said. Kane scowled, but grudgingly began to walk with Achilles as he started walking towards what look like an arena of sorts.
Nico looked at Achilles' modern outfit and asked, "Out of curiosity, why are you not wearing...Ancient Greek sort of clothing?"
Achilles looked at him in bemusement and said, "Well, you didn't think I would comfortable in togas forever? I quite enjoy modern clothing, and as an official member of Hades' council I have a few more rights than most other people down here."
"Rights?" Kane asked, "Like what?"
"For starters," Achilles said, "I can walk around the Underworld freely, and change my appearance. As well, Hades will occasionally send me upstairs to run errands for him. It is like a job in a sort of sense."
Nico looked at Achilles for a second, then asked, "But how? Not to seem rude, but you're not exactly alive," he said awkwardly. It was true, while Achilles looked human, and didn't float or some other ghostly things like that he was slightly see through and he seemed to give an aura of not being quite right.
Achilles let out a small laugh, "Hades is lord of the dead, he can easily give me life for a short amount of time." He paused before continuing, "Of course, he can't truly bring anyone back from the dead. It would disrupt the balance." With that the matter was dropped and they continued on into the area.
It was a rather interesting place, almost like an anti-colosseum in a sense. Nico personally thought it could do with more light, but he hadn't seen the sun in months, so he had a bias. THe stone was a dark grey, and to the side was a weapons vault.
Achilles took the two brothers into the vault in order to give them each a weapon of their choice. Kane insisted on using his own sword, but Nico found himself drawn to a pure black, stygian iron sword. He picked it up, and although his grip was a little unsteady at first he soon got the hang of it.
When they had been living in the labyrinth, Nico had never really had a sword like Kane did. He mostly used whatever sword he could find, and the ones he used often broke. It wasn't really Nico's fault, but he had never felt any attachment to the swords.
Achilles took the brothers to the center of the arena and started by asking them a question.
"What have you named your swords?"
"What?" Kanes asked, "Why would I name my sword?"
Achilles put a hand to his face, "I would have thought you two would have been better educated. You name your sword, because the name gives the sword power. Ever heard of Excalibur?"
When both boys nodded Achilles continued, "If the legendary sword had merely been called 'the sword' it wouldn't be nearly as well-known. A name inspires fear."
Nico and Kane took a moment to ponder what they could possibly name their swords. It was Nico who had a name first.
"Erebus," Nico said, "I remember that Erebus was one of the first five primordial beings born from chaos. The name means deep darkness."
Achilles nodded then looked at Kane, probably hoping for a name as well. Unfortunately Kane couldn't think of a proper name, but then he had a thought.
"Kairos," Kane said with finality, "I'm pretty sure it means something along the lines of 'the perfect moment'."
"You are close," Achilles said, "It means 'the supreme moment' it is a description of the perfect moment, an indefinite amount of time where everything is perfect. I think it is a most fitting name."
"Thank you," Kane said, ducking his head in embarrassment. Even if Achilles and him hadn't gotten off to the best start, Kane still found it amazing to be in the presence of such a famous Greek hero.
"Now then," Achilles said, "It is time to begin your first lesson. How to hold your sword properly."
Three hours later, Kane Nico, and Achilles walked back to Hades' palace with smiles on their faces. Training had been hard, yet amazing. Kane only needed to adjust his gripped by a small amount, and they had begun a slow sparring session. Nico and Kane both found themselves to be a natural with the sword. The toe brothers had decided that they should definitely go back for more training tomorrow.
When they came into the throne room they were met with their father. He smiled at them and once Nico and Kane had said goodbyes to Achilles they looked at their father. He had a look on his face as though he had discovered something wonderful.
"If found a way to restore both of your memories, well at least I'm sure it will work for Nico. I am not sure if it will work for Kane, as we do not know how he lost his own memories, but it still may work," Hades said.
Both boys smiled and their father continued, "Nico's memories were lost as a result of the River Lethe, so I believe that Phoenix tears will have a rejuvenating effect on him."
Nico and Kane both said they should try this, because what would they lose from this. Phoenix tears can't hurt anyone.
Hades handed them both a small vial of a clear liquid, phoenix tears, and they drank it in one sip. For a moment, nothing happened, then Kane was assaulted with memories.
He had a sister, a twin sister, Bianca. They did everything together. Nico came along, and he was theirs to protect. They lived in Italy. They moved to America. They never saw father again. He was gone, gone, and Bianca was gone. Hotel. Why were they here, why couldn't they ever see father.
Memories were assaulting Kane so fast he had no idea what was going on anymore.
Lightning, bright light. Tears, Mother was gone, father was gone. Flashing, and he couldn't see, and it hurt so badly. It wouldn't stop burning and burning. Then there was the man in gold. He smiled at Kane.
"I'm here to set you free," he said. "You shall be sent to a time where you shall become my perfect vessel. We will be one. Goodbye, son of my son."
With the end of this last memory Kane couldn't take anymore and he succumbed to wonderful blackness that awaited him in unconsciousness.