Final chapter of this part of the series (whoo! Completed it within a month even with school!). I plan to continue it in another story, following the books along with my own storyline (still don't own the original books, all rights belong to Rick Riordan). Thanks to the few readers who've read this and I hope you enjoyed :)
To LivelyEmeraldGreenEyes: Thank you for your support. Really, I write because I like to write, not for the views. Maybe only one person will read (and maybe that person will be someone I know in real life and I told them to read it) but I like to write anyway, and share my mind with those who stumble upon this story. If anyone likes to write, do it, and don't get discouraged because of the lack of views. If you like to write, that's all that really matters.
Third Person: Zyanya
Zyanya walked out of the Hades cabin long after night had fallen upon Camp Half-Blood. The girl within her had long since fallen asleep, even if she knew what Zyanya was doing with her body anyway. She voluntarily didn't wish to partake in this night, and Zyanya couldn't blame her. It was only expected of a woman so kind hearted. The harpies weren't a problem for her, but she went far into the forest and far away from any other life forms just in case, because what was happening tonight was not to be witnessed by anyone else.
She stopped deep in the forest, deciding this was a good spot. She held up her finger, and a blowtorch-like fire appeared at the tip like a candle, except the flame was lime green. Holding it out in front of her, it sparked and the space in front of her lit like a candle, though there was nothing in front of her that should've been set ablaze. She moved her hand slowly in a circle, a ring of flame following her finger and glowing with green fire. Once she'd carved a full circle, her finger snuffed out, and a large circumference of green flame about five feet tall floating in front of her. Waving her hand, the space in the center of the circle shimmered before turning into a black screen.
"Hades," Zyanya said in a demanding tone. The blackness shimmered once more to reveal the god's face, though he looked very unhappy. "It is confirmed. He is the one we need."
"Why tell me this? I could not stop you if you were to use him without consulting me."
"I require something of you, and I have a…bargain, of sorts." She pulled out a black ring made of Stygian iron, a silver skull carved into it. "Agree, and I will grant you his mother back." The god stiffened.
"How did you get that?"
"I know what happens in my realm, dear, I know the truth. I also know how Zeus was not the one to kill his mother and attempt to kill him. Hardly. I just needed to harden his soul from a young age, if he was to be my candidate. So I killed him and his mother, and allowed you to capture her soul within this ring, even if I did hide it from your grasp. You sent your boy to live his life, and now he has. His soul has been crafted into a worthy candidate, and now I need your assistance."
"And if I don't? Will you destroy her soul permanently?"
"Oh no. That would be a mercy, if anything, as the true destruction of one's soul erases all memory of their existence. You would not be able to mourn her, miss her, and that is no punishment. But I do not intend to punish you, or hold you at gun point if you decide to refuse. I merely wish to offer you pay for your services if you agree, and well…I didn't think you'd appreciate flowers or chocolates, so I decided this killed two birds with one stone. He grew up differently, without both his parents, not uncommon for a demigod, but it was insurance. His heart has been hardened, but also strengthened into what I need. And, if he manages to make it through the trials, he can come home to meet his mother. It's a win, win situation."
"Only if he survives."
"But he will. I want him to; we all do. If you agree to the terms, he gets his mother back, and he has a better chance of surviving the trials."
"I do not wish to inflict this pain upon one of my few children, and one of my last as well."
"Well, you know what happens if he fails. It won't matter anymore after that. It's all or nothing, one way or another. Why not make the "all" a bit more rewarding, because the "nothing" can't get any worse no matter what you do."
"I promised Zoraya I would protect him from such horrors. I wish for my children to be happy. They so rarely are."
"A quick death? Is that what you wish of him? At least my bargain pushes him to the chance of survival. Consider his failure versus what I'm asking, Hades. Understand that I wish for his survival and happiness as well, not to mention the survival of the rest of our realms!" She sighed. "Hades, I don't ask much, but you said so yourself that if even if you disagree, I will move along without you either way." The King of the Underworld looked down hesitantly, considering the options, but Zyanya could tell that she'd won.
"What are your terms?" He finally asked. She smiled at her victory, though she hadn't doubted herself for a moment. She explained her plan, and Hades's simple role, though it may not be simple for a god like him. Zyanya could not claim to fully understand the way of emotions, but she knew them well enough to know how to use them to her advantage, and how they could sometimes be pesky and get in the way of her goals. But she knew Hades would do what she asked, even if he knew what it meant for his son. If her host was awake, Zyanya would be wracked with the guilt of a human for doing what she was, but right now, she didn't care. She would do what it takes to get what she wanted, no matter who got in the way, and no matter who suffered. And now Zytaveon was the one she needed to suffer.
"So," She said, holding up Zoraya's ring. "Do we have a deal?"