An End, A Beginning
For a moment all was silent. The gentle caress of the suns last light painted the mountain in hues of gold and red. The buzz of the forest began to quiet as every creature prepared for the coming night. Despite the beauty of the world around them, the three demititans could see no further than the carnage left by the conflict. Hector looked down at the corpse of Ben and fell to his knees. At the edge of his consciousness he was aware of Diego rushing over to Serenity.
Again and again the fatal blow played out in Hector's mind. His eyes caught the red gleam of the blood staining his blade and felt his stomach revolt. Forcing down his nausea he lifted himself just enough to get over to Serenity, his body on autopilot as he reached for nectar and ambrosia to give her. He and Diego worked in tandem, quickly removing the arrow and binding the wound while giving her the ambrosia. Serenity chewed slowly, then more vigorously as her strength returned. After swallowing the three appeared to be frozen in time, the dead lying around them.
Hector felt his mind struggle under the pressure of his emotions. His vision blurred as tears welled up in his eyes. I killed him. I didn't show mercy. Killer. Murderer. Monster. His thoughts spiraled down into darkness as he shivered. He was only twelve, and the combined stress of his mother's betrayal and lies, the horror of Zeus's fury, being forced to fight his friends, now having killed someone. He shook his head as tears began to flow freely, matching those of his friends. Killing monsters is one thing! These were people!
Hector started to fall into self-loathing as he ran through the situation over and over, trying to think of any other way, something he could have done. A familiar chill came over him as he felt Kronos's presence return to his mind. You have to get up Hector. You have to get going.
Leave me alone! What more do you want?
Kronos pressed, "You have to keep going. Get up!"
A beat of silence passed before Kronos sighed. His voice returned, gentler than Hector had ever heard it, "Look, I get it. It's not easy. It never is and it shouldn't be. But you are still in danger. You three have to get in the garden. You're not safe.
Hector bitterly snapped back, "Maybe I shouldn't be safe. Maybe I belong here with the monsters when they come."
Kronos gently rebuked, "You may feel that way about yourself. Do you think Diego and Serenity deserve the same?"
Sensing Hector pause he continued, "If you won't go on for yourself, go on for them. They need you now. They are feeling the same thing, and someone needs to step up and take charge. You are the son of the Titan King, my son. It falls to you to look after your family, even when you want to give up. Get to the summit."
Hector took in a shuddering breath before forcing himself to his feet. Serenity and Diego followed him with their eyes. Hector returned his blade to his wrist before kneeling down to the other two. "We can give them rites in the garden, but until we pass through, we are not safe. We need to go."
When Serenity opened her mouth to protest Hector interrupted, "I don't want to wait any longer than we have to. If more demigods come…"
The words were like ash in his mouth. Diego got Hector's attention, "She is not healed yet and needs time." He hesitated before adding, "I need time. We'll catch up but you go ahead."
Hector shook his head. "If you're going to stay then I'll stay with you."
Serenity croaked, "No Hector."
Her eyes were red and watering. "The blade has brought nothing but trouble. Can't you feel it, like it's cursed. Go, give the dang thing back to your dad."
Hector felt a pang in his heart as he leaned back. Hector began to rise when Serenity abruptly leaned up, hissing in pain as she hugged him. "I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at the gods. Please don't take it that way."
Hector returned the hug and looked at Diego. The two held each other's gaze before Diego nodded. "She'll be safe with me, promise."
Hector stood up fully. "Be careful you two."
Hector turned and made his way up the slope toward the wall of mist, which had thinned to an almost translucent state. He cast one last look over his shoulder at the two. They had slowly risen and were retrieving their weapons and were heading over to the first body. Hector sighed and turned into the mist.
With the glow of sunset the mist was barely there and with a step Hector had passed through. What lay on the other side was the most beautiful place that Hector had ever seen. The evening light cast an enchanted gleam on everything within. The grass shimmered and the flowers bloomed with such radiant colors they seemed to give off an inner light. A pathway of black marble marked trails through the garden, winding and weaving between trees whose branches were heavy with ripe fruits. In the center of the garden stood a tree that reached for the heavens, almost 50 feet tall and bearing golden apples.
Around the tree slept its guardian, the dragon Ladon. The serpent's body was so large it could have swallowed Hector whole. At its neck the body split into a hundred heads, all gently dozing. From the shadows of the trees a song floated to Hector; a song of greeting, a song of rest. Four beings emerged into the dim light and Hector's breath caught in his throat. The Hesperides.
Dark hair tumbled around their shoulders to lay on caramel skin. They wore simple, white Greek chitons that did nothing to diminish their beauty. The eldest coolly regarded Hector while the youngest radiated excitement. The middle two were more muted and neutral in their regards. The eldest stepped forward and addressed Hector, "You have but a short walk in front of you. Your father's throne adorns the peak of the mountain. Ladon will inspect you, but have no fear. He will not strike those of Titan blood, unless thou art so foolish as to steal from the tree. Our father will instruct you on what to do next."
Hector nodded and to the Hesperides' surprise bowed to them. "Thank you, daughters of Atlas. I will continue on but my companions lay just beyond the mist. Will you allow passage to them as well?"
The youngest sprang forward a step, to the visible irritation of the eldest. "We will let them through when they finished giving the rites. Don't worry and don't keep Father waiting."
Hector bowed once more and pressed onward. The Hesperides faded back into the gloom and the faint sound of scolding began. Hector chuckled half-heartedly, the grief choking any true joy. As he approached the center and began to walk around the tree Ladon stirred from his slumber. Hector froze in his steps as the dragon uncurled and extended five heads towards him.
Hector gagged on the smell of rotting flesh as the dragon exhaled. His eyes watered from the stench but he didn't dare move. Eyes that glimmered with hunger and a cunning intelligence examined him before the heads came closer. They hovered right beside Hector's as they sniffed, then with a satisfied growl the heads retreated and Ladon settled back into his nap. Releasing a breath Hector continued on the path. The slope became sharper before leveling out.
Around him were the crumbling ruins of a once great fortress: Mt. Othrys. Hector picked his way between the shards of rubble, some larger than he was. A great sadness fell over him as he ran a hand over the rocks. Look at this. This was once our home. For once, he couldn't tell if it was Kronos or himself that thought.
Hector made his was to the funnel of clouds that descended from the sky, and into view appeared the most imposing figure he had ever met: Atlas. He was silent as Hector approached, casting a critical eye over the approaching demititans and curling his lip in disgust. His muscles bulged and trembled from the weight that he held. Hector stopped a short distance from Atlas, but well beyond his reach. He gave a bow, "Lord Atlas."
Atlas scoffed, "I am no lord. Do not address me as you do the gods. I am the General."
He ran his gaze across Hector once more. "So this is the best Kronos has to offer as our spawn?"
Hector's eyes flashed golden for a moment. "I'm not here to trade insults with you and frankly it has been a long day. How about we skip the pleasantries and get this done?"
Atlas seemed to reexamine Hector once more before jerking his head to another spot within the ruins. "Your father's throne lies there. Place the blade upon it and make a pledge of loyalty. That will accelerate your father's regeneration, so that our plans can finally get underway.
Hector gave a sharp nod to Atlas before walking off further into the ruins, leaving Atlas to pass out of sight behind him. A minute later and he stood before his father's throne, or rather, what was left of it. Hector cast his gaze on the simple marble block that formed the lowest layer of the throne, the occasional jewel on the sides the only marker he had to know this was his fathers. Hector closed his eyes and sighed, drawing strength and comfort from the prevalence of Titan energy that saturated the mountain. He opened his eyes and lay his father's blade upon the throne. Stepping back a few paces, he fell to one knee before the throne. The blade lay their inert but Hector could feel the energy building, priming for something to happen.
Closing his eyes once more, Hector allowed the energy around and within him to build as his memories flew through his eyes. He felt a flurry of emotions pass through him as he weighed his time with the gods as opposed to his time with the titans. Letting his head dip down, he began.
"All my life I had been taught to honor the gods. My mother raised me in their ways. She taught me to respect the Olympians and to follow their commands. In return, the gods would bring good fortune and protect us from evil. Years passed by, until I was finally brought to the camp where the gods showed their true nature."
Anger filled his voice as he continued.
"I saw a god who considered mortals and even their own children as unworthy of his time, a punishment to even interact with them. I saw dozens of children left abandoned in this world even though they had no where else to go. I saw a boy claimed by his father for the sole purpose of disproving another god's baseless accusation."
A lump formed in Hector's throat as he softly added, "A goddess, who I looked up to, revered, and loved as family; she took advantage of my love and plotted to have me destroyed. She raised me for years, only to decide on a whim that I was to be killed."
"I have had enough of the gods lies. I have had enough of their betrayal. I choose to stand with my true family, the Titans of Mt. Othrys. Those who heard my prayers, they who did not forsake me when I needed them. I stand with my father, who has never lied to me."
Hector raised his eyes back to the throne and blade. "Here I will make my oath. I pledge my life and allegiance to the Titans of Mt. Othrys. I swear to defend this family with all the devotion that I once held for the gods. I promise to lead the demititans, my brothers and sisters, until the day that the Titans may live free and in peace."
"With the Fates as my witness, so I swear on the River Styx."
As the final words of his oath passed into the air, a blinding flash erupted from the throne. A wave of energy blasted out from it, sending Hector flying. He hit the ground headfirst, and all went black.
A cool breeze tickled Hector's face as he slowly opened his eyes. A soft meadow carpeted the hill he lay on and spread out over the hills and dells of the world. The soft twitter of birds greeted him as he rose to a sitting position. Above the sky was a radiant blue, with nary a cloud or sign of pollution.
"That was quite the oath that you made."
Hector was startled but didn't feel afraid. Despite the voice appearing from nowhere, it was one he was familiar with. He turned around and saw no one for as far as the eye could see. "Father?"
An answer seemed to echo from the world around. "I am still to weak to manifest as anything more than the voice in your mind, but now I can show you some of my memories as Hyperion did for Diego."
Hector crossed his legs and took a deep breath, a small smile stretching across his face. "This place…I've never felt so calm."
"It truly is something. I know not what mortals call it now, but this was the spot I would retreat too when matters on Othrys became too tiresome. Your mind had nearly shattered under the emotional strain of your quest, and you needed time to heal. My siblings are doing the same for Diego and Serenity."
Hector opened his mouth to question when Kronos interrupted him, "They're fine. The three of you are resting under the Hesperides' care. For now, rest. Heal. When Castellan arrives on the mountain, he will tell you what is to come next. Until then, be at ease. You are safe."
Hector felt himself drifting back into sleep. He fought to remain awake, but his father spoke a few words in the old tongue and he drifted away.
When Hector awoke for the second time, he was aware of a gentle hum coming from above him. Forcing open his eyes, he saw someone leaning over him and brushing the hair from his eyes. The woman seemed to radiate with an inner, gentle light and her smile lit up the space they were in. Crystal eyes gleamed with happiness and a small amount of worry. "Easy now, you've only just recovered."
Hector immediately tried to sit up fully. He struggled as the woman tut tut at him until he had risen. Looking around the space he saw that he and Serenity were lying in a tent woven of branches and leaves. The gentle singing of the Hesperides floated into the tent from where they worked in the garden. Hector returned his attention to the woman and gave a slight bow. "Thank you for looking after me. What is your name, if you do not mind me asking?"
The lady smiled at him. "Why, I am Theia. It is a pleasure to meet you nephew."
Serenity's stirring forestalled any further questions that Hector had. Theia rose and told him, "Your friend Diego recovered first is sitting near the tree of immortality, just out of Ladon's bite range."
Hector couldn't help the small laugh at Theia's exasperated tone. "So much like his father. You should go and speak with him. I wish to have a talk with my daughter."
"Mother?"
Serenity's voice drew Theia's attention and she walked over to where Serenity lay. Hector smiled at the two of them and rose to a stand, then left the tent. Outside he took a moment to breathe in the garden's fresh air and bask in the energy that seemed to radiate always on the mountain. He took to its paths, winding his way through the trees until he found Diego seated across from the tree. Diego's eyes were fixed on the dragon even as Ladon stared back.
Hector came up behind him and asked, "Considering whether or not to try your luck?"
To punctuate his question several of Ladon's heads snapped their jaws in challenge. Diego took another look at the dragon and remarked, "Pretty sure that's a fight I would lose. Nah, I just want to look."
Ladon huffed in disappointment as he returned to his nap while Hector took a seat next to Diego. They sat in silence for a few minutes, exchanging greetings with the Hesperides as they passed by. Diego finally told him, "We gave the demigods a small funeral. Paid the toll and all."
His expression darkened as he thought about the fight and Diego punched the ground in front of him. "This is all messed up. We killed people damn it! Are all the demigods going to be so stubborn? Why didn't they leave?"
Hector frowned, wincing at the memory. "The gods never take no for an answer. If Clarence had let us go, he would have been sentenced to death as well."
Diego growled, "Screw the gods! They sent kids to be assassins. Kids! I would get it if they had sent monsters or even an adult but ARGH!"
Diego fumed for a bit before returning his attention to Hector. "Hyperion spoke to me again, showed me the oath you had made. I've made the same oath. I want Zeus taken down."
He sighed before finished softly, so that none but Hector could here. "But I'm scared of how I'm feeling right now. Hector I need you to promise me that you won't let me go bad. Please, don't let me become a monster."
Hector felt the hammer blow to his heart as almost physical pain. Monsters. That's what the demigods would call them. "I promise Diego, if you will do the same."
Diego nodded. "Absolutely. We should probably have all the demititans do the same, that way we can look out for each other. Whatever happens, we'll do this as a team."
Three weeks later
The end of summer was on the horizon and the demititans had fully recovered emotionally as well as physically. Theia had not stayed past the first day, but it was enough for Serenity to get the answers she had wanted. There was a new spring in her step, and the events preceding their entry into the garden seemed like little more than a bad memory. She took the same oath and made the same promise as Hector and Diego did.
The three passed their time in the garden sparring with each other and helping out the Hesperides. The eldest, Aegle kept an aloof distance from them. She would never be unkind but it quickly became clear that she was uncomfortable with their presence. The middle two, Erythia and Arethuria, adapted quickly to the presence of their guests. They continued working as if the three weren't really there, but in conversations they admitted that it was nice to have someone else to talk to as they never really got company. The youngest, Hesperia, was the most enthusiastic about them. From day one she treated them like a group of younger siblings which alternated between endearing and annoying for the demititans. She was fascinated with their stories of the outside world and in return taught them what she knew about the Titans and the Golden Age that they ruled.
Hesperia was just about to tell them about the day Zeus arrived at Mt. Othrys when she stopped abruptly. A brief scowl flitted across her face before she quickly hid it away. Turning to Hector she told you, "Castellan has arrived. I'd rather not have him sully the garden, so please go see what he wants."
Hector raised an eyebrow but complied, leaving Diego and Serenity with Hesperia. He ran quickly through the garden, the paths now familiar to him. Approaching the curtain of mist, he saw Castellan waiting on the other side. Stepping through his greeting died in his throat. His eyes were fixed on Luke's waist. "How in the world did you get that?"
Luke responded with a grin while tapping Backbiter. "A gift from your dad. You like it?"
Hector shook his head. "You can keep it; I've had enough trouble dealing with that thing. So, how are things?"
A shadow passed over Luke's face before it disappeared. "Camp has burned shrouds for the three of you and Dionysus has reported your passing to the council. They also burned shrouds for Clarence and two other demigods. Your doing?"
Hector managed to suppress the chill he felt coming. "Yes, they didn't give us a choice."
Sympathy laced Luke's voice as he told Hector, "I understand. Some things need to be done. Are you three ready to travel?"
Hector raised his arms in a shrug. "We don't have anything to pack, but where could we go? We need to stay out of the gods' eye for a while."
Luke replied with a small grin that didn't reach his eyes. "Well, your father has his ways. Go get Serenity and Diego and we'll set course for Galveston. We have a new ship there, the Princess Andromeda. You guys will love it."
Hector grinned. "Sounds great, but what's the plan?"
Luke threw an arm of Hector's shoulder. "Hector my friend, there is so much to tell you. I'll explain on the way, but suffice to say we have a busy year ahead of us."
Epilogue
Hidden away in the mountains of northern California, a valley lay blanketed in ash and dust. What used to be a beautiful bastion of the wilderness now resembled a wasteland. Craters were scattered across it, with a single massive one marking the first strike. Across the valley figures searched through the dust, silver uniforms stained grey from hours of searching. A few stopped to cough, expelling the dust building up over time. One of them, wearing a silver circlet on her brow, stooped to gather up a small object in the ash. Brushing it off, she examined it before sprinting off toward the entrance of the valley. Standing at the entrance, Artemis crossed her arms as she examined what remained of her sacred valley.
The girl with a circlet reached Artemis who asked, "What have you found Zoë?
Zoë caught her breath and held out her hand. "The blade isn't here. Someone else may have come along and grabbed it." She hesitated before finishing, "He was here too."
A lump appeared in Artemis's throat as she took the object from Zoë's hand. Rubbing away the dust, the slightest intake of breath was her only reaction. It was the silver drachma she had given to Hector, the alpha symbol blacked and ash staining the opposite side. A pained expression crossed her face as she closed her hand around the coin. "…there is nothing left for us here Lieutenant. Gather the girls, we're leaving."
Zoë nodded, but hesitantly asked. "Why milady? Why did…"
Artemis's leveled a glare that quickly softened. "Father was not happy that I disobeyed him. He…he made me choose. Tell him where Hector was, or he would permanently disband the hunt."
Her knuckles turned white from anger. "He made me choose between my son and my daughters. I loved Hector, but I couldn't choose him over you. I…"
Zoë stepped forward and embraced Artemis. "I understand milady. Thank you. I may never have agree with thy decision, but I know how much you cared for him. What of the other's?"
Artemis shook her head. "Father will be watching me from now on. I can't warn them without him knowing, and next time he may take away the hunt anyways. No, they have to find their own way now. But I won't help him find them. He took my son away. I won't help my father."
Zoë nodded in understanding, then ran off to gather the rest of the hunters. Once she was well away from Artemis, she finally released the tear she had been holding, opening her hand to look at the coin. The tear dripped down and fell on the coin.
"I'm sorry Hector. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I'm sorry, my son. I'll miss you."
Shade: Hector's story will continue, but this brings us to the end of The Cursed Blade. Before I began writing I decided to split this story into parts, both to remain focused and for ease of writing. The next part will appear as a separate story on my profile, called Hector and the Titans of Othrys: Treasure of the Deep. It will take place a year later, similar to Sea of Monsters. We'll meet new Titans, new demititans, and see the Hector's life around the Titan army.
However, this story has rapidly grown more complex than I envisioned (prob from number of new OCs to keep track of). Since I will be introducing more OC demititans in the next story, and what has been published so far has affected my plan for the next story, I will need to remap the plot before writing the first chapter. This shouldn't take too long, but with the Corona virus panic going on my shifts at the pharmacy have been going far longer and more often than they used to. I releasing the first chapter to Treasure of the Deep as soon as I can, but may be delayed due to time constraints.
I hope you have enjoyed the journey as much as I have. Until next time, wish you all the best!
