As days passed, the goddesses grew restless, waiting for someone, anyone to save them from the clutches of the titans. But they themselves should know that their "knight-in-shining-armors" wouldn't be able to rescue them, it was the other way around, and that this was not some petty fairytale.
Oh woe are them!
"Oh Ares, Ares! wherefore art thou Ares? Deny thy mother and refuse thy name; or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be my husband's!"
"She has seriously lost it."
"That's what happens in letting her borrow your books, Athena…You read Shakespeare?" Artemis asked as she sat on the edge of the fountain.
The three sisters were at the garden, having their daily breath of fresh air while being guarded by the skeletons from afar. Athena and Artemis watched their sister's drama, and the former replied "I only read it for my pursuit of logic."
Aphrodite heard and smirked at her. "Riiight~ If you want some romance novels just tell me. I have a few down in my basement."
The wisdom goddess scoffed. "I don't need your plotless, explicit materials. And will you stop dipping your feet in the water." she said as she watched her wade in the fountain, which also produced the elixir of life. She thought that if she was a mortal, and knowing that the fountain of life was being contaminated by the goddesses' feet, she rather die a painful death. She looked at Artemis, who has been reticent since yesterday. She asked "What has been troubling you?"
Artemis smiled sadly and said "My brother…"
Athena faced her body to her and asked. "What's wrong?"
She turned to her and replied "Oh Athena! Yesterday he'd called me, asking me if I could lessen the pain he was suffering in! But I couldn't do anything! He couldn't even hear my comforts for him! And when morning came, up until now he hasn't said my name! Oh sister, what if-!"
The goddess took her by the shoulder and said "No! Don't. Don't you dare think like that! Apollo is a strong one, and he could endure any pain he's in right now. And remember, he is with the gods, and no harm shall befall him nor any of them." She wiped the tears beginning to fall from the other's face. "I've always said, have faith in them."
"And that's what angers me!" Artemis swiped the hands and stood up. "Look at us! Look at where we are! We're here, being guarded by those creatures when we can take them on and flee! Flee and go to wherever the gods may be! We need them, but they also need us! We lavish ourselves with food that came from our enemies, while they suffer from their hands! And now because of my idleness, my dearest brother-"
Athena cut her off "Calm down Artemis! You know why we are still here. We could've have escaped from them a long time ago but no! If we dare defy them, dare to even step one foot outside, they'll murder us and Chaos forbid it! That selfish act will also cause harm to the others, just think of your fellow comrades! I know it's hard but, we need to stay strong. The gods are doing everything they can, and we shall also."
The two heard the other clapping while saying "Bravo! Brava! Such drama! Such feelings! Such tension~! Oh yes, I miss the feeling of it! Can I join?"
Artemis strode to where her sister is and pushed her back into the fountain, who shrieked "My dress!"
"You selfish, brat! Do you even have any idea what's going on with them?!"
Aphrodite stood up and glared at her. "Yes! What I don't understand is you pushing me into the water! This was made just yesterday!"
"Our brother, my brother is suffering, and your husband is missing! Can you at least show a little sign of caring? Even if you must act like one!"
"So it's true? Ohh~ poor Apollo! If only I could teleport to where he is, I'll give him one of my favored massage! As for my husband…I really don't care."
Athena went beside Artemis and said "And what will a massage do? From what Artemis said, he's in severe pain!" then she muttered "You're not only dumb, but you're heartless as well."
She crossed her arms and said "If you want someone to care, go to our dearest mumsy."
"Mother is still in grief, she doesn't need to know with that of my brother. As for you not caring, I should've not been surprised. And you call yourself the goddess of love, when you don't even show it to your husband!" said Artemis angrily.
"And why do you care?!"
The younger goddess was about to speak when Athena cut her off. "Enough Artemis! You shouldn't be even having a conversation with this fool who has been tainted a long time ago." She glared at Aphrodite. "As for you, put an end to your drama. If you do not care because he is your husband, then have care for him because he is our brother, and as respect for mother as well."
She scoffed, and didn't say no more.
As for the two, Athena led her sister to her building while comforting her. "Calm yourself sister, you must be strong, for you, and for your brother as well."
"You feeling any better, bro?" Hermes asked as he changed Apollo's bandage.
"…I would be…if you weren't the one changing it." Apollo tried to show a smile, but to Hermes, it looked like he was in pain.
"Sorry, I'm trying my best."
"Haha, I was just kidding."
Hades turned his chair to them and said "I can do it."
The boy's eyes widened and stuttered "N-N-No! I-It's alright U-Uncle! Herme- Ouch!"
The younger boy was stifling his laughter. "Sorry, haha! Now hold still!"
Zeus came into the room and sat on Apollo's bed along with the other boy. "How are you feeling?"
"Honestly, I'm feeling rather fine. There's still a little pain, but I can heal it by tomorrow."
He sighed. "That's good to hear. But you can still stay here if you want to rest. Our journey tomorrow to the Bermuda triangle might strain you."
"Father, I told you, I'll come. Besides, what if you don't come back? You can't leave me here all alone."
"And he'll miss all the fun! Then again, if we leave you and never come back, and you managed to beat the titans because of your outrage, you'll become Dad's successor to the throne! And everyone will live happily ever after!" exclaimed Hermes.
Apollo cocked an eyebrow "Your happy ever after involves you and the others getting killed?"
"At least you don't have to fight with us about who will succeed Dad anymore, since we're gone!"
Zeus asked "You've been arguing about who will replace me?"
Hades said while typing on his laptop "Well Zeus, isn't that why you had lots of children? Besides, you are getting old~ It's about time one of your boys replace you."
He glared at him. "Look who's talking!"
"If ever I do depart from this world, Thanatos or Hypnos would be taking my place."
Hermes grinned. "What if you're the only one who survived, Uncle? Who will take the throne if you and Apollo are the only ones to return?"
"Hmm~, both of us are eligible…its either one of us let the other take it…or we fight till death." He turned to them, no emotion being shown. "The last man standing shall be the new crowned king of the gods."
The other three felt the coldness of the room and Hermes whispered to his brother "Bro, good luck!"
Apollo on the other hand couldn't feel the pain on his shoulder and whispered to Zeus "Father, please take me with you."
He feigned a laugh. "Hades' just joking, he's trying to lightening up the mood."
"I never joke." answered the dark lord.
Zeus cleared his throat and said "I'm gonna check on your brothers. Hermes, if you're done, let your brother rest." He got up and went to the door, not noticing his son's plea. Going downstairs, he saw Ares and Dionysus discussing to themselves' and decided to join in "What are you two talking about?" He sat on the sofa and propped himself up.
Ares answered "…It's about the fight that we had yesterday…"
"Oh yeah, you've been wanting to speak with me about it, right? Did something happen?"
"We got our ass beaten by three of them!" joked Dionysus, which was true.
He rolled his eyes. "Judging from the bruises you got, we got the message."
Ares argued "We didn't lose! I was about to kill him when-, when that happened!"
"Well what is it?" Zeus' eyes widened. "Don't tell me, someone saw you?" He saw them glanced at one another.
Ares said with his eyes on the floor "When Astraeus and the others were about to attack, a wall of fire appeared right in front of us…then it swallowed them and they escaped…like the cowards they are."
His brother added "And that's not it, I've only told this to Ares but…I saw someone on the third floor before we left the lobby…I'm not sure if it's him."
Silence seeped into the room for a few seconds before Zeus said "Let's just hope it wasn't a human…and if it is him, then at least we know he's safe."
"Apollo could've died if they didn't fled…"
Suddenly, they heard footsteps going down the stairs and turned to see Poseidon who said "I just came from Hades' room and he said to start packing. When Apollo's patched up, we'll leave early in the morning. He also said that we'll meet him by the docks."
"He'll head their first? Why?"asked Zeus.
He shrugged. "Don't know, all he said was to meet him there, you know our brother."
Dionysus piped up "Ohh~ I know what he'll do! Uncle's going to steal a boat for us to ride!"
"Well that sounds hell of a lot of fun! It's been a while since I've ransacked a place!" exclaimed Ares.
"I don't think it's that, and if it is, he's not going to rob a house, Ares." replied Poseidon.
Zeus cocked an eyebrow and asked "Well if he is, then why doesn't he take us with him?"
Poseidon scratched his head. "Well if I were him, I would mostly think that we would mess up."
"No way! Even if it's just the three of us?"
He crossed his arms. "You go talk to him, maybe you could change that mind of his," he grinned. "if you can that is."
"Hey~ I got a better idea, what if we surprised him!" Ares smirked.
"Surprise? If I remember, when we threw him a party, he just stared at us and then he sent his hell hounds to chase us out. I still couldn't forget Hermes getting bitten in his butt!" Dionysus laughed.
"Not that! I'm thinking, we are the ones who would get a boat first before he does!"
Zeus leaned in and said "Go on," he smirked "you're onto something."
"Here's what we're gonna do, after he leaves, we follow him to the docks and from there, we knock out some humans, take their boat and there you have it! Hell he's going to be dumbstruck when he sees it!"
Zeus grinned. "I like that." He turned to his brother. "Let's do it Poseidon."
He shook his head. "I really don't think it's a good idea, let's just stick to the plan."
"Oh c'mon Uncle! It'll be fun!" exclaimed Dionysus.
"He's right, besides," Zeus stood up and went to Poseidon. "You've always wanted to see Hades speechless, and here's our chance!"
It took a few more push before he gave in. He shrugged and grinned. "Alright, why not. But, if, we get caught, I'm blaming you, Zeus."
"Relax, what could go wrong?"