Chapter 11

Thanatos walked up to the goddess, sword in his hand. He walked briskly; looked at her with a cold eye. "Cassidy, son, go. Let me take care of her."

"You're not his father." Nikki said walking towards the god. She chanced that he would attack her when she was closer, then when she was farther away. She could feel the aura of her sword underneath her bed. She lifted her hand; it flew into her open palm. She glanced at the door and saw Cassidy; his hand on his weapons holster.

"Why does that matter? It's not as if his parent knows where he is." Thanatos told her, laughing evilly.

"Because his father claimed him." Nikki told the god. "And I have the power to make it official."

"Do it; your tongue will be off before you finish speaking."

"Cassidy Son" Nikki deflected a blow as she raised her voice over the clashing of the god's sword made against her own. "Of Hades" A bubble had formed around Cassidy, protecting him from the ceiling above, which was about ready to cave in at any second. "By the Power" Nikki fell down, being cut by Thanato's sword in the shoulder, sending small streams of blood down her bare arm. "Of a Goddess" His next blow barely missed her neck as she got up. "I officially declare you a son of Hades" Her voice had become majestic as she finished. Her true form was waiting to peek out behind her cover. "And give you the freedom to leave this" Thanatos took a cheap swipe, hitting her in the stomach. "God damned place." Her voice had become quieter after that. Cassidy, in complete rage, ran up to Thanatos, his bubble bending and twisting with his body, and refused to pop. It was almost like he had a shield everywhere.

"Move, boy." Thanatos sneered. Cassidy pulled out a blade; when light hit it, it shined different shades of black and grey. Nikki looked at the boy in front of her; once again someone else is risking his or her life for hers again.

"Never."

She could feel the bubble envelop her, and then all but heard him yell. "Now Nikki!" The water came rushing in, healing her stomach, but blood still ran down her arm. She looked over at Thanatos. He was pinned against the wall, staring at them with cold hatred.

"Goodbye Thanatos." She said calmly as she maneuvered the bubble to float with the currents, out of the hellhole.

After drifting for a few hours and Cassidy sleeping, she finally found what she was looking for. The portal led into Hade's throne room.

She jerked Cassidy awake. "Wha-What?"

"We have to go through that portal to see your father." Nikki explained after Cassidy pointed out she was heading straight for a portal.

He nodded. "Ok."

!~!

Hades had heard the news.

It was everywhere, all through the gods. Lady Nicole had escaped from a fortress held by gods and goddesses with a multitude of powers.

And she was the only one to help her. Of course his son had made history too, standing up to a god like that with no training. Hades looked at his portal. He could see the two approaching, with one last breath he walked over towards the shadows. He liked scaring them that way.

The two tumbled into the throne room. Cassidy drew in a breath; he had only seen Poseidon's throne room. He only saw it when Poseidon had wanted to ask about "his prisoner's condition".

"Hades, I have arrived. And I brought Cassidy, your son, back with me."

Hades grinned and walked up to the two. "Nicole, Erik will join us shortly. I need to discuss something before."

"What is it Lord Hades?" Nikki asked growing a little weaker. Her cut throbbed.

"Well, Zeus has decided that it is time to ask you to become a true goddess. To become a goddess of something. Do you accept?"

"I do."

Erik appeared behind her in a puff of white smoke silently. He put a finger to his lips and gave the goddess jumper cables.

"Who the he-" She broke off as she turned around. "Erik"

He grinned. "I told you I'd come back to you."

"You never said anything like that."

He pretended to be hurt. "Can't we just pretend?"

Hades cleared his throat. "Do you want to go to Olympus now?"

"Yes. I want to know."

Hades smiled. "One moment." He took a step forward and looked at his son. "I thank you, as one of the twelve gods of the Olympian Council and as Nicole's uncle for taking care of her." He smiled at Cassidy.

"Thank you...father." Cassidy replied back, not sure of what else to say.

"You make me very proud, son." Hades snapped his fingers and a black chariot appeared. "Now, off to Mount Olympus." Nikki and Cassidy walked forward, but Erik stayed. "Come along now, as soon as you get out of here you are human once again."

"But- but how?"

"Nikki went back into her capturer's hand to free me." Cassidy told him.

"You did that all for me?"

"Of course I did, now get in!" She turned to Hades. "Will Phoebe and Casey be there?"

"Phoebe will be with Artemis. You can call Casey through an Iris message." Hades threw the golden coin at her.

Erik sat down and caught it as Nikki made a miniature waterfall. "O Iris, except our offering." He told the rainbow as he tossed the coin through it. "Please show Casey Nyte."

"CASEY!" Nikki yelled at the boy sitting on the shore.

"What the- Nikki?" He asked turning around. He didn't look the happiest.

"Hey, don't say anything to me? Thanks buddy." Erik said playfully pushing Nikki away.

"Hey dead one." He said sadly. What the heck was up? Erik thought to himself.

"Nuhuh- its hey I'm happy Nikki the awesome one saved him." Nikki said laughing. "Look, I need you up at Mt. Olympus- you in?"

"Will Phoebe be there?"

"No." Erik said quickly before Nikki could answer.

Casey nodded. "See you there."

The Iris closed in on itself. "They're fighting." Erik told the goddess simply. She nodded, and looked at the road in front of her. Mount Olympus was dead ahead. She would finally know what her fate was, or at least a little part of it.