I walked up to the grass-green door, my thoughts in turmoil. How could I possibly make the journey in four-and-a-half mortal days? Especially considering how time moved faster in the Immortal world. Biting my lip, I reached out to the knocker – I had learnt about the consequences of impoliteness amongst the gods – but before I could touch it, Maria lunged at my hand and yanked it back. I looked at her, startled.
"That's an imp on that knocker," she exclaimed. I looked again. Yes, there was a small creature – like a bald monkey – hanging there, but why did it matter? My thoughts flicked back to the prophecy suddenly, hearing the words sound in my head.
A red metal imp hangs from the green painted door, as a knocker.
Do not touch it; it will bite your fingers.
"What does it matter if it bites?" I muttered, and reached out again. Maria snarled impatiently.
"Do you want to take its place?" she hissed furiously. "That is what awaits those who are poisoned by the venom of an imp." I looked again at the little polished creature. It blinked at me and frowned, as if something had upset it. I started. He jumped out of his position and I scurried back. The little imp then climbed down the door, spider-like, and fitted himself into a hidden keyhole. The door swung open. I stared into the pitch-black darkness, waiting for my eyes to adjust. When they did, I tensed. Maria mirrored my action. For there, standing not a hundred metres away was a teenaged boy, who I'd never seen before.
****
The Dark Child had enlisted my services against the gods. For a price, of course. I requested only a small glance at her inner Story, though she offered power. I did not accept, for which son of Zeus ever needs to use borrowed power from a Titan?
Now I was waiting for the god's sent, who had the Sword of Life and Death. My instructions were to kill the monster formally called Empusa and capture the Child of Poseidon and the Sword before she reached the part of the underworld from which she would be untouchable. The task was simple, really. The only problem was that to do this, I had to move her safely and unsuspectingly to the Dark Child's 'Hideout' in a forgotten part of Death's realm – as an ally. How I despised the thought, as I despised the gods. The usurpers of the heavens did nothing for the mortals and cared only for their own gain. I would do anything, even work for the Titans – who weren't much better – to get the rightful heir on the throne of the immortal, no matter how long I would have to wait.
I waited just at the entrance of the underworld. I had with me a forged document which would tell the god's-spawn that I was sent by Zeus to help her. It had a forged mark of both my father – how I hated him! – and hers. I could see nothing, for it was pitch black.
Suddenly, the light from outside of the tunnel-disguised-as-a-house poured inside, momentarily blinding me. I braced myself. She was coming in now.
As the light cleared and my eyes adjusted, I saw the girl who I was sent to capture. She was beautiful, breathtakingly so, but in a wild, untamed sort of way. She had none of the defined, civilised or shallow beauty that many of the other immortals showed, but instead a raw, uncut splendour shone from her, like a tigress.
More than that, though, was the beauty of her Aura. It was not tainted red by evil, like the Dark Child's, or black by corruption, like the god's, or even darkened slightly by karma, like mine. It was as pure as the day she was born, and showed innocence and trusting. It encompassed mostly blue of various shades, as well as a touch of gold which symbolised her godly heritage. There was something else there too, though – something spotlessly virtuous and almost demonic in nature. That's when it hit me – This was the one we had all been waiting for.
A/N Another chapter. Again, I am so sorry about the delay. But hey, summer holidays are coming up (for me anyways) and I will be writing much more often.
Okay, so there is a new player in the game. This currently nameless godling is neutral in this war, but could there perhaps be another team? A three-way war? And what does he mean "We had been waiting for"? If you have any idea, please let me know. I haven't answered all of these questions myself yet!
Until next time,
Maddy