When the creator of the Internet is also the god of the thieves and the messengers, you may have some leaks around the world.
Mainly, the traffic of information on the Cloud. And no, it's not about the Cloud as the place where mortals imagine angels and God. We're talking about the Cloud of information. The Internet. Just like a rumor, soon everyone knows everything and plans begin to be made.
Nyx was the first one to get the information.
Being the entity of the night doesn't make it synonym of 'quiet', but Nyx didn't have that problem. Her fear into the creatures and gods (which she was quite proud of that, if she had to admit so) was enough that monster would voluntarily submit information to her. Well, more like whisper the information next to her. But Nyx knew those were details.
That was a game changer and Nyx knew it. That information, that just simple demigods (no, not just simple demigods) defeated the army of Erebus would not be liked around. Nyx had two options, or at least she saw it that way.
Attacking the enemy when it was weak and distracted.
Or keep the information to herself and negotiate a much better portion if the reward.
Nyx was ambitious, she wasn't gonna deny that. But, she was more vengeful and resentful than ambitious, which it was what kept her together with Tartarus and Ouranos against the gods. She decided that she needed a new renegotiation and quickly. Smirking, she moved swiftly around the camp, surprising and scaring some of the monsters around, until she got to destination.
Tartarus' location.
"Either you are a fool or a desperate to come to me instead of Ouranos..." Tartarus greeted her, not even turning around from his task. Nyx smirked and continued her way inside.
"Neither of them, dear brother..." Nyx lied, and Tartarus knew it, but said nothing about it. He knew well enough that no one lied with a proposition in mind "I'm actually here with information that to dear old Ouranos would do little to nothing onto his plans..." This spiked Tartarus' curiosity and turned to see Nyx.
"And, what is that information that Ouranos would overlook without reason?" Tartarus questioned, raising an eyebrow. Though Nyx had a difficult time figuring the last one out.
"The identities of the Guard that Chaos set against us..." Nyx did a little dramatic introduction, knowing that Tartarus wouldn't wait much to hear it "The Guards are demigods!"
"Demigods?! Simple godly bastards stand in our way?" Tartarus repeated, incredulous. Nyx's smirk only got bigger.
"These are not ordinary demigods, dear brother... They are lead by those who escape our domains!" she added, igniting the anger of Tartarus.
"Jackson and Chase?!" Nyx nodded, watching how his brother created a tantrum, burning down the things around him. Suddenly, the ground began to shake and the screams of the monsters got combined with the ones of the close-by mortals, told Nyx how angry Tartarus was "They will be destroyed by my hand!"
"I deserve that honor, Tartarus!" Nyx stopped Tartarus. Though she expected this anger, she didn't anticipate his thirst of revenge "The passed the Mansion of the Night first, I deserve to make them have their last breath!" Nyx shouted back at him, not liking the option of remain second to place. Tartarus growled and launched at her, grabbing her neck between his flared up hands.
"You're lucky that I haven't move a finger to destroy you now, Nyx..." Tartarus recognized, menaccingly low to her. Nyx had to struggle against his hand "For now, you're more useful by my side than Ouranos... But keep in mind that I can destroy you with a snap of my fingers..."
"Don't underestimate me, Tartarus..." Nyx warned him, glaring back "I have the same thoughts about you and I won't hesitate if you stand in my way..." Tartarus' reaction was to chuckle at her.
"Dear Nyxy... Don't think high of yourself..." he mocked her "The gods might fear you, but we don't... Don't doubt that Ouranos would destroy you as well if you interfere in his plans-"
"So will to you!" she interrupted him, almost spitting to him "Rest assure that if we interfere with his plans before time, he'll take us both down!"
"True... But he can't survive this war without something very important that you, my dear sister, can't give him..."
"What is that you can give him and I can't?!" Nyx spatted out at him, smirking "Without me, he could never bore another child, unless he uses those stupid, weak, pathetic replacements of us called Titans and Gods... I can make the heart of the mortals fill with fear only by speaking my name... What can you give him that I can't?" All card were on the table now and Nyx felt like she had the ace, about to win this game. Tartarus smirked back and got closer to Nyx's ear.
"Him and I... have an alliance against you" he whispered, filling Nyx's own heart with fear and despair. Tartarus made a better work than any of her children could do "Oh, do not worry about it, Nyxy... Every ruler has a pet and, if you behave nicely... You won't end up with me..." Finally, Tartarus released Nyx, allowing her to flee the scene, without looking back.
Nyx didn't even think it twice. It was time to gather her own troops and wait for the moment. Tartarus had given her a warning about what was going to happen to her, and she was gonna be with all the alerts up, for anything that could happen. Any single clue that could allow her to escape the massacre or even the terrible ending would be more than appreciate.
What she didn't know what that Ouranos was aware of the stupidity that Tartarus did.
What she didn't know was that Ouranos didn't plan to leave that stupidity without consequences.
What she didn't know was that her opportunity was gonna come sooner that she expected.
Cage.
All that he'd known in his life was a cage.
And, it wasn't even by choice, but because someone had forced him since the beginning of his existence. He could never comprehended it, why was Kethas free? Free to do his will, whatever pleased him, to take control over his domain and him, was locked down in a cage, without knowledge of his own name?
His master knew. He was his creator, just like the Frankenstein Monster was Frankenstein. But didn't the Frankenstein Monster got free? Free from the chains and free from his creator?
He wished he knew his name. Just like he knew his powers, but Ouranos kept the cage resistant to them, making escaping a suicide. He didn't want to die trying, though it would be better than being locked down-
"I'm back" He knew that voice, he recognized it perfectly. His cage was in the shadows, so it was hard for the other person to see him, but he could see the other person- well, the other monster very well. Besides, the noises of the chains said monster was wearing didn't make it quiet either. It was a female which, instead of legs, had four pair of thin but strong legs, just like an insect. From behind her, a tail moved according to her movements, with its sting dangerously close to her. Her torso was human, with two arms alongside of it. But those ended with pincers.
"Dinner time?" he asked, in a monotonous tone. She walked closer and placed a tray with food by the edge of his cage. Not because she was afraid of him, but because she couldn't get any closer. She pushed the tray inside with her sting and sat down next to the cage.
"Kethas came back this morning..." she informed him. Her face showed sorrow and despair "Looks like the demigods infiltrated Erebus' camp and he attacked them... We don't know if they came out victorious or not, though I'm guessing that if a victory had been made, we wouldn't be in the dark..." she told him, while he ate dinner.
"Why you tell me all this? Why you always talk to me?" he wondered at her, looking her face. Her skin was pale, but got darker going down her body. She had long wavy brown hair, that made her look innocent and weak, according to him. Her three pair of eyes were slightly closed, fitting perfectly in her face.
"Because I guess it's kind of lonely here... I know what that is..." she recognized, smiling faintly "And, I know what it is to want to escape a place and never coming back..."
"You're lucky that you're not in a cage like me..."
"I have my own cage... in here" she argued, pointing at her brain. He had heard from her about her curse and how much she wanted to fight it. Just like he wanted to fight the cage. Suddenly, footsteps where heard and the air turned heavy to breath. He looked at his companion and saw fear in her open eyes.
Their master had arrived.
"Vetika, αγαπητό... Σας ευχαριστούμε που ψάχνει μετά ειδικός προσκεκλημένος μας..." Ouranos' voice filled him with rage and anger, but the fear and submission of his companion made him sick "Και, σας... Κοιτάξετε έτοιμο να βγει από αυτό το κλουβί σου..." Ouranos directed the last part to him, tilting his head to the side.
"What do you want?" he growled at him, but Ouranos simply shook his finger and smirked. He gestured Vetika to follow him, and she obeyed without hesitation. Soon, he was again in total silence, but that didn't last much. Right after Ouranos and Vetika had left the place, another monster appeared and began dragging the cage he was in, making much noise. The cage was moved and dragged outside, blinding him slightly wth the sunlight until he was in the middle of what it seemed to be an arena.
"You're gonna give us a show tonight, brother?" That voice was new... He looked up and saw Ouranos surrounded with many entities, between them, his own twin brother Kethas, who was smirkng. Right next to Ouranos, there was a entity as big as he was, probably another Primordial, made out of lava and volcanic rocks. His eyes were pools of lava and anger. He knew him. Tartarus.
"Περισσότερο σαν εσάς θα μας δώσει ένα show, αδελφός Τάρταρα..." Tartarus stared at Ouranos as if he was insane. Meanwhile, he looked around the crowd and saw the monsters were gathering, knowing that something was gonna happen. Between them, a very pushed Vetika was looking, scare "Δεν νομίζετε ότι θα μπορώ να μάθω σχετικά με εσάς με προδίδει στο τέλος...?"
"As if that was a secret..." Tartarus argued, before was pushed into the arena to face him.
"Vouno, θα έχετε την ελευθερία σας είναι να νικήσεις Τάρταρα..." Ouranos promised to Vouno, who was in awe by just hearing his name. Hearing his name was like something set him free in that moment. Tartarus' chuckle brought him back to reality and faced him. Someone had opened his cage and set him free to fight and he wasn't gonna lose this chance to get away.
"You should set a more high cha-" Tartarus' phrase was cut by a blow of Vouno right on his face, forcing Tartarus to fight back to Vouno. But Vouno had youth on his side, since he was a new Primordial and his strength was still gathered in his being. Tartarus, in comparison, was an old man that was ready to crumble under his hits
He could not fail this time.
~oOo~
Vetika, Vouno and Kethas belong to LordNitro.
Ouranos: Vetika, dear... Thank you for looking after our special guest... And, you... You look ready to come out of that cage of yours... More like you will give us a show, brother Tartarus... Didn't you think I'll find out about you betraying me at the end...? Vouno, you'll get your freedom is you defeat Tartarus...
Olympus was silent while the Olympians gathered in the Council Room.
They all knew what was going to be happening tonight.
Voting.
The voting that was about to be done was so important that the Olympians had insisted that Nemesis posed as mediator between them. Of course, this excluded the other minor gods and goddesses, but the Olympians didn't think of the consequences about it.
It was Nemesis' first voting in the Council Room as guest and not as defendant of her actions. She was solicited as referee and to keep her opinions to herself. A difficult task the last one, but she was willing to do so for the privilege of being inside that room when the voting takes place.
Athena was the first one to get there, right after Nemesis. She sat on her throne, barely acknowledging Nemesis, absorbed in her thoughts. Nemesis imagined that would be a serious voting if Athena was more concentrated than before. Right after her, Apollo and Artemis walked in, bickering about meaningless stuff, but kept quiet the second they sat on their thrones.
Hermes walked in afterwards, with slowness that wasn't common in him. As well for the silence. Hephaestus was next, his metallic pegs that were attached to his legs making all the noise that was possible before sitting down. Dionysus followed, not swaying from side to side, as a consequence of being sober. In fact, he was walking straight and serious.
Ares walked in, escorting Aphrodite on his arm, which didn't cause a jealous scene from Hephaestus. Though, Nemesis deduced no one had realized of this, as they all were inside their own thoughts.
The sons and daughters of Kronos and Rhea were the last ones to arrived. As unusual as this meeting was, Demeter and Hades were walking side by side, without arguing. In fact, they looked like they weren't on speaking terms, but not as result of a fight, but as result of not seeing who was besides them! Hestia followed Poseidon, who was the only one who was frowning and looked decided.
The King and Queen of Olymous, however, weren't as somber as the rest of the gods. In fact, they look as if they just were handed a beautiful gift and they could play around it and never break it. And, if they did, don't get away from it.
The remaining gods and goddesses took seat, silently.
The Council was in session.
"Before this Council starts, I want you all to take notice of Nemesis" Zeus' voice was clear and loud for everyone to hear. Nemesis bowed her head, trying to look respectful "She will help us keep the balance of this meeting..."
"We've been having Council meetings for eons without Nemesis..." Poseidon pointed out, frowning "What makes this meeting different from the others? What you, brother, expect to happen in here?" he raised from his throne, trident in hand. Nemesis knew t was her time to act. With a snap of her fingers, Poseidon's trident was away from his reach.
"I'm sorry, Lord Poseidon, but I can't allow weapons in the meeting..." she apologized, though it wasn't completely sincere. Poseidon ignored her and turned to Zeus, still waiting for an answer.
"Sit down, brother, and we'll explain all..." Zeus ordered. Poseidon obeyed, not completely happy about it. The second he sat down, Hera raised up and stepped down of the throne's platform.
"I've been doing some research about these so called 'Guards of Chaos' and I found something very interesting..." she started, pacing around and trying to keep her emotion at bay "The Guards of Chaos are nothing more than common criminals to Olympus and everything we stand for! They must be sentence, tried and executed!"
"Doing that wouldn't make us better than the Titans or the Giants... Didn't we stablished this when I offered Thalia immortality?" Artemis checked with her neighbor goddesses, who all nodded back "Good, I thought my memory was playing with me..."
"Well, something must be done!" Hera insisted, facing Artemis "Who knows what are Chaos' plans for us... We need to stop this menace this instant!"
"Aren't they suppose to fight alongside with us?" Hermes wondered, looking around. Not getting an argument confirmed his thoughts.
"You're missing the point" Zeus butted in, supporting Hera, which everyone found strange "Even if there weren't an enemy against Olympus, how do we know that Chaos and his Guards aren't planning their next step into dethrone us... All of us?"
"I can't put together all the information..." Athena confessed, looking at the Council, without missing one "Who are under the hoods, Hera? You seem very smug into giving that information as your last resource, but I think I speak in name of all of us that we won't vote until we know who are they" Athena's thought was well recieved. Hera simply smiled smugly at her.
"Are you sure you want that knowledge, Athena?" Hera talked to her, as if she was some kind of child "Wouldn't be easier to take the decision without knowning?"
"Sister, you better don't take us for fools and comply to Athena's request" Hades saved Athena from answering. Hera looked at him, smirking.
"As you wish, brother..." Hera bowed mockingly at him before facing at everyone "The Guards of Chaos are lead by non other than Perseus Jackson and Annabeth Chase-" The gods and goddesses raised from their seats, some yelling against it, others voicing out their thoughts.
Although, that wasn't the only commotion that was happening. Suddnly, the door of the Council Room opened wide and revealed a parade of minor gods and goddesses, all in different states of anger, surprising everyone and angering both Zeus and Hera.
"I believe we all have voice in this..." Dionysus' wife, Ariadne, leaded the group. Her eyes showed everyone that she would take a 'no' for an answer "We'll decide the fate of Olympus, together. We'll vote, now"
~oOo~ ~oOo~
Chaos thought he was safe to plan his next move.
How wrong he was.
Seated on his throne, Chaos looked through his portal different images of different events that were happening at the same moment. The confrontation between his sons and his daughter, the swirling thoughts inside the mind of newly-created Primordials, and the trying-to-make-it-fast council meeting in Olympus.
The bad thing about seeing several portals at the same time is that he lost focus of the present.
"Chaos!" Chaos' name made echo around his own realm, though it surprised the Primordial with the anger that voice was speaking with. Chaos never heard that much anger in that entity, just like the companion of the voice.
"Never expected you to visit me..." Chaos tried to pay it polite with his unexpected guests, but one of them was not willing to take his pleasantries.
"I'm not in the mood, Chaos!" Hemera's voice dripped anger. Her being was glowing with the same intensity of ten suns and she was shining in that moment, scaring not only Chaos, but also her companion and husband, Aether.
"Hemera, darling..." Aether was brave enough to take a step towards her to calm her down. Hemera turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow, as if saying 'why are you interrupting me?' "Never mind, go on" Hemera smirked and focused again on Chaos, who was staring at Aether incredulously "You're not going back home with her..."
"I guess that you should specified your business, before I take you out not so gently of my realm" Chaos threaten her behind a gentle and polite tone, though it had more than enough power to scare everyone.
"You have the audacity to even ask me why I'm here?!" Hemera fought with Chaos, anger showing through every part of her. Chaos fought against his instinct and stayed in his place "I saw what you did! You big charlatan!"
"I can assure you that I have no idea what you're talking about" Chaos half admitted, though there was something in the back of his head that told him that he knew exactly of why she was complaining.
"You fooled us, let it us believe we were helping while all the time we were your mindless puppets!"
"Ahh, that!" Chaos delayed the confession, nodding his head "I might have not told you all my plan-"
"Did your plan included to kill an innocent? Use your Guards as pawns against the Olympians?" Hemera, kind sweet, gentle Hemera was in a rampage of anger and frustration as never before. Apparently, no one had played with her this way and she didn't like it.
"We are light, Chaos..." Aether supported his sister and wife, finally showing a little of his anger, though it wasn't as much as Hemera. Yet "We can't support a plan that is hiding in the shadows, it's not our nature..."
"My good Aether, we all have secrets under our sleeves, just in case things turn rough..." Chaos reasoned with them "Will I deny that it was wrong of me? No, of course not... But I won't apologize for it-"
"You were about to take an innocent and defenseless life, Chaos" Aether pushed the issue, knowing that he could not hold Hemera's anger much longer "You don't seem much concern about the consequences of your actions, how will they impact on your Guards... Even your loyal ones will turn against you..." Chaos had the audacity to smirk when hearing about his Guards.
"I'm not worried about them, my good Aether, as I have the upper hand on many of them..." Chaos confessed, partially about his crimes "The order will reign once again, and if I have to destroy helpful and necessary entities like yourself to do so, that won't stop me..." The confession placed a pale tone in Hemera's skin.
"The world is not your to rule anymore! Not mine not Ouranos', not yours!"
"Entities like us had fallen into oblivion because of entities like them, always seeking power beyond their ability or capacity, Hemera!" Chaos confronted her, while Aether stepped between his wife and Chaos "Entities like us will be remember, honored again, not because of what we were but what we still are!"
"You're a monster..." Hemera mumbled, holding onto Aether. Chaos chuckled, shaking his head.
"They are the monsters that made us be forgotten!"
"This is not the way, Chaos..." Aether reasoned "Playing pawns with us will only drive you to paranoia and insanity..."
"If that's what you believe, then, please kindly leave... I do not need your services anymore..." Chaos turned around in his own steps and walked away from the representatives of the light. For Hemera, that was the last insult.
"I curse you, Chaos!" Her voice echoed around, amplifying with the words of the curse "I curse you for your crimes, past, present and future! I curse for the lives you take and the lives you play with! I curse you, so every time you want to create unbalance in the Universe, you pay the price for your actions! For every life you take, your power will demise and for every life you pawn, your will will be stuck!"
The wind surrounding the three Primordials picked up, swirling like a furious tornado and focusing in Chaos, who was staring speechless and furious at Hemera, who was holding the coldest stare ever back to him. As soon as her words died, Chaos anger grew back.
"Do you have any idea of what you've done?" Chaos wanted to take a step closer to where Aether was holding a weak Hemera, but his action must be dark, because he was frozen on his own feet, making Hemera smile weakly.
"I created balance in the Universe... Now, what happens, won't be because of you..." While she closed her eyes, Aether made them disappear from that dark realm, leaving Chaos alone, in his own frustration.
He needed to have the upper hand.
Or everything will be lost to him.