At first, Hades didn't recognize what had woken him, and he didn't care. As soon as his mind started spinning, he felt Persephone's soft, naked body snuggled next to him. His arm tightened around her and already he wanted her again. He shouldn't have any energy, not after the night they'd had.

Persephone stirred, and her incredible eyes opened. She gazed up at him, and a slow smile pulled at her kiss-swollen lips. "What a night."

Hades kissed her forehead. "It won't be our last."

"Not if I have my way."

Hades laughed and shifted, intending to roll on top of Persephone, but stopped when the noise that had woken him repeated.

Terrified shouting punctured by shrill screams.

His desire disappeared, and he jumped to his feet.

All playfulness had abandoned Persephone as she gathered a blanket around herself.

Hades took a step toward the tent entrance, but Persephone stopped him. "What?"

Persephone pointed at his nakedness.

He searched for his monochiton and had gotten it halfway on when Hestia burst into the tent. Most of her wounds had healed, though tiredness left her pale. Or maybe that was her absolute fear.

"What's wrong?" Hades demanded.

"Runners say Zeus is flooding the Upperworld."

Persephone tightened her hold on the blanket around her and bolted for Hestia. "We need to get underground now!"

Hades and Hestia sprinted after her.

Outside, bodies bumped into each other as everyone searched for direction. No water had reached them, but it wouldn't be long. Hades needed to beat the panic back and quick.

He looked at Hestia as they ran. "Where's Ares?"

Hestia's brow furrowed with confusion, but she answered, "Nearby," and darted in the other direction.

Hades had no time to warn Persephone where he was headed. Besides, she had yet to look behind her as she headed for the entrance to the Underworld. He wondered if she could open it, though it wouldn't matter if the masses didn't know where to go.

Ares stood beside Hephaestus. They gestured at one another. Their faces reflected rage and terror.

"You must have something!" Ares shouted.

"Not on me," Hephaestus growled back. "I never thought he'd do this."

Hades jerked to a stop before the pair. He pointed at Ares. "We're going to the Underworld. Everybody needs to hear that and be directed."

For the first time, Ares did as Hades told him without fuss.

At once he cupped his hands around his mouth, took a deep breath, and bellowed Hades' message as only the bloodthirsty God of War could.

His commanding, borderline threatening voice pierced the crowd's fear. They ceased scrambling about as sanity leached back into their expressions.

Another order from Ares had them moving toward the Underworld entrance that did stand open thanks to Persephone, who urged creatures into the tunnel.

Hades and many of the older gods shepherded wayward individuals forward. Hermes zipped through the crowd to find Hades. He looked healthier than yesterday, though still off.

"What can I do?" he asked.

"Find Kakos, my advisor. He's an ice daemon; shouldn't be hard to find. Explain to him what's happening."

Hermes left.

Shortly after, only Hades, Hestia, Demeter, and Persephone remained on the Upperworld.

Hades waved the others ahead.

At first, Persephone wouldn't comply, but Demeter yanked on her until she had no choice but to move or have her arm ripped off.

When they were gone, Hades faced away from the tunnel. He didn't doubt Zeus had acted so brashly, but he had to see it with his own eyes.

The air was still. Wildlife didn't make a noise, yet Hades could spot them scattering from the trees and tall grasses. They sought higher ground, but most wouldn't make it.

Hades stomach clenched. So much wasted life, and all because Zeus couldn't control himself. He would pay for this, for hurting Hestia and Hera, for imprisoning Persephone.

All at once, the unmistakable sound of gushing water came, as loud as Ares had been. It shook the very earth, and Hades realized he couldn't stay on the Upperworld any longer. With heavy feet, he entered the tunnel and sealed the entrance with a simple phrase.

Just beyond the entrance sat Persephone and Demeter. They were the only two visible.

Persephone wrenched herself away from her mother and launched herself into Hades' arms.

They kissed as they embraced, oblivious to their audience.

With one hard yank, Demeter pulled Persephone from Hades.

Persephone hissed a string of words she'd probably never uttered before her mother.

Demeter glared at Hades, appearing more furious over what she'd just seen than what had driven them to the Underworld.

"You need to leave my sight before I tear out your tongue," she told Hades.

"Mother!"

Hades held his hands in surrender. "No, I need to get moving. I have an advisor to placate."

Persephone huffed, but Hades jogged away before anymore harsh words could be said. He caught up with the crowd and pushed his way through to the front where Athena was leading the masses.

He thanked her.

She nodded and doubled back, no doubt to ensure the stragglers didn't get discouraged by the upcoming bridge that crossed the Cocytus River.

Soon they came upon the main gate to the Underworld. The pearl-looking stone was as impressive as the gate to Olympus, but it was less obnoxious. Hades hadn't bothered to change the pomegranate flower design comprised of the under-dwellers' writing that sat in the middle of the gate. He had altered little of anything Kore had done.

Hades placed his hand on the gate and the material under his hand shivered. He whispered a command and the gate eased itself open. Much of the crowd gasped as they got their first glimpse of the Underworld. More than one let out a stifled scream.

A grin pulled at Hades mouth, but he held it back. He didn't want to insult his many guests, nor did he want to upset Kakos, who stood near Hermes just on the other side of the gate. Behind them was a small group of soldiers.

"Thank you," Hades told Hermes as he approached the god and daemon.

Hermes nodded and stepped away.

Hades swallowed a deep breath as he faced Kakos. "It was necess—"

"Preparation for the upper-dwellers' arrival is happening as we speak, my King."

Hades raised an eyebrow and gestured to the soldiers. "Their purpose?"

"I didn't know if you were followed."

Hades shook his head, baffled. "Why so... compliant?"

Kakos flashed an eager, vengeful smile. "You will make Zeus pay."

"Without a doubt."

Kakos bowed. "Then it's my pleasure to be of assistance, my King."

If only this willingness would stick, Hades thought.

Out loud he said, "Let's get started then. Many are still injured, though. Apollo can—Apollo!"

He hoped he could be heard over the growing roar of the crowd's eager, worried voices. Hades hadn't needed to worry.

Apollo, along with many other gods and goddesses (including Persephone and Demeter, though Hades had yet to see Hera since the previous day), slipped away from the mass of bodies. They joined Hades.

"What?" Apollo asked.

Hades pointed at the nearest soldier. "He'll take you to my best healers. I want everyone on the mend by nightfall."

Apollo didn't hesitate. Together he and the soldier disappeared.

Hestia gestured to the remaining gods and goddesses. "And us?"

"We need to get to my palace and form a plan. Zeus can't get away with this."

They all muttered their agreement.

"There are enough chariots to take you all," Kakos said.

Hades could have hugged the ice daemon. For once in some time, his over-diligence was an asset.

"Take us," he ordered instead.

His advisor complied.

There were three chariots, Hades' personal one included. It didn't take the gods long to divide into small groups and load into chariots. Athena and Artemis drove the other two.

Before they departed, Kakos whispered in Hades' ear. "There is a minor situation waiting at the palace. I thought it best for you to handle."

Hades sighed.

If Kakos had refused to get involved, he needn't guess what awaited him. There was only one other being besides Hecate Kakos knew not to bother engaging with. Hades just hoped the problem wouldn't take much time to resolve.

"Fine," Hades said and cracked the reins.

Kakos jumped aside to avoid being trampled by the many horses, and Hades led the charge to the Underworld city. Athena and Artemis had no trouble guiding their chariots, and the ride to Hades' palace was uneventful.

Demeter and Persephone were two of those that rode with him, and he could feel Demeter's unrelenting stare on his back. Hades wished she'd chosen another chariot, but Persephone had picked his and Demeter looked ready to die before she left her daughter's side.

If they survived this ordeal, he would have to convince Demeter that he was a suitable fit for Persephone. It'd be a more laborious task than traveling through Tartarus. He feared it might not be possible, but he couldn't worry about that now.

They entered the city to some fanfare, but most of the daemons were too busy with their various tasks to take notice of their king. Even Hades' horses seemed too busy with getting him to his destination for they didn't spit at those they passed.

At the palace, the chariots were parked, and Hades rushed inside, not bothering to wait for the others. He preferred not having an audience for what was about to transpire. He left instructions with one of the stable servants, and they'd direct the gods and goddesses to his destination.

Within moments of arriving at the palace, Hades reached his throne room and threw open the doors. Just as he'd assumed, Melione sat on his throne; looked too comfortable for his liking.

She grinned. "I'd forgotten how content I feel when here."

"Okay. You've had your fun. Remove yourself from my presence."

Melione chuckled. "If you don't like being replaced, you shouldn't make it so easy."

"I'm still king. You can't change that."

Melione flicked a glance at her razor-sharp nails that curved like claws. "I'm more than willing to prove you otherwise. What say, you? Ready to defend your ill-gotten position?"

"Still living in the past, I see," Persephone said.

Hades turned to find her, hair disheveled and clutching the blanket tightly against her breasts, standing right behind him. She may have looked a mess but projected fearsomeness like Kore had done in battle.

"Who are you to dare speak to me?"

Persephone didn't bother with a response. She glanced at Melione, bored and unimpressed.

Melione rose from the throne in a fluid movement any predator would covet. She darted past Hades to stand a breath's length away from Persephone. Melione ran her tongue up Persephone's cheek.

Persephone remained stoic.

The same couldn't be said for Melione. Her entire demeanor changed. For the first time Hades had ever seen, she appeared afraid and maybe a little hopeful.

"Can it be?" she whispered.

Persephone nodded.

Then the vulnerability disappeared and Melione cackled. "This is the payoff for loving the upper-dwellers. Was it worth it?"

"I get to keep reminding you, you will never be queen again. I couldn't be happier."

Melione's merriment passed, and Hades worried she'd strike Persephone.

Instead, the pair eyed each other. They did so, so long, the gods and goddesses arrived at the throne room.

"Get away from her!" Demeter cried and elbowed her way through the others.

She broke the tension, and Melione marched out of the room without further incident.

Persephone rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath too low for Hades to catch her words. She made another comment when Demeter reached her.

"How are we going to stop Zeus?" Athena asked and brought all focus to the most important issue.

"Capture Mount Olympus and kick him from the top," Ares suggested.

Hephaestus nodded.

"With just us?" Artemis gestured to their poor number of eleven.

Despite them being many of the most powerful gods, Zeus still had treaties with the clans and tribes that had helped in the Titan War. Most of their numbers had swelled in the years since the ending battle, and while they couldn't kill a god or goddess on their own, Zeus would equip them with weapons to cut out the hearts of everyone in the room.

"I have an army," Hades said.

"I spoke to the runners who returned with news from Poseidon. They say he's willing to do whatever to put an end to this," Hermes added.

Apollo frowned. "Will that be enough?"

"It'll have to be," Hades answered. He looked at Hestia and Demeter. "We will not suffer another Cronus."

"No," they agreed, as did several of the others; none louder than Persephone.

Then it was settled.

Hades signaled to Hermes. "Can you travel?"

"Of course."

"I'll have Hecate direct you to the fastest route to Poseidon. We attack in three days."