The morning of the March on Olympus dawned better than Hades could have anticipated. He woke with Persephone cradled in his arms.

Though he had much to still do, he didn't decline her offer to please him. Instead of tiring him, it invigorated him.

When Persephone finished, she sat back and smiled at him. "This is familiar."

The pleasant buzz that had filled Hades' head evaporated as her words brought the past crashing back. His chest tightened as his heart pounded. She was right. This was very much like the last intimate moment they'd shared before riding to the final battle with the Titans.

Was that an omen of what was to come?

Would he lose her again?

Yes, Persephone had proven she could handle her own, and he didn't doubt her might against anyone other than Zeus. The God King would have it out for Hades and Persephone, might even hunt Persephone down to rattle Hades.

While he'd promised he wouldn't kill Zeus, Hades would if he took Persephone from him. Damn the outcome, Zeus wouldn't get away with killing her twice.

The risk to her life almost made Hades go back on his word to let her take part in the upcoming battle. While crafty and more powerful than she would have been if she wasn't Kore reborn, Hades could force her to remain in the Underworld, and if he revealed her true identity, the daemons would refuse to let her leave.

But he wanted her by his side when he fought. The pair had proven to successful together when they'd fought the Titans. No one else going into this battle with Zeus was as likeminded battle-wise with him as was Persephone.

Persephone jabbed Hades in the arm. "I won't die."

"Don't tempt the Fates."

"Do you believe they brought me back just to have me perish like before?"

"Their cruelty is surprising in its intensity."

Persephone looked over Hades. "That might be, but not with you."

Hades stared. "What do you mean?"

A soft, fleeting smile pulled at Persephone's lips. "I think my existence is meant as an apology, and a gift. You... must mean a lot the Fates."

That idea had never crossed Hades' mind. Deep down, since figuring out Persephone's secret, he'd wondered how the Fates would use her to persuade him to do their bidding.

Then, after Zeus' maddening tantrum, he'd thought they intended to put Persephone in harm's way to make Hades finish Zeus off. The Fates didn't hate the God King as much as they had Cronus, but Zeus hadn't made it a point to get them to like him, either. Also, Hades was sure, if they saw Zeus venturing down a path like the Titan King, they'd want to stop it before it got too far.

Maybe Persephone was right, though.

Could they have saved Kore's spirit and made her reborn to appease Hades for how they'd treated him all those years ago? Did they seek his forgiveness?

Hades pulled Persephone to his side. "Even if that were true, I don't want you out of my sight. Nothing else matters as much as ensuring you survive what's coming."

Persephone sighed, shook her head, and kissed his forehead. "I suppose I can appease you."

Hades allowed himself to laugh. "I can't ask for much more, can I?"

Persephone hopped from the bed. "I wouldn't if I were you," she said as she gathered her peplos and sandals. "I'll prepare."

A knock came from the chamber doors, followed by a tentative, "My King, are you awake?"

"Yes. I only need a moment," Hades called. He glanced at Persephone. "We leave by mid-morning. Ride with me?"

Persephone nodded and gave a small, mischievous bow. "Of course, my King."

He laughed louder, and Persephone left; naked as the day she'd been born and wearing the brightest smile. The body servant on the other side of the door stared as she passed. He attempted to hide his surprise as he turned to Hades, but he couldn't kill the shock that widened his eyes.

"I had quite the night," Hades said as he rose and headed for his personal bathing chamber.

"I—I'm sure, my King," his body servant said as he raced after Hades.

Hades' hilarity echoed off the walls.

The day's tone improved more when Hades entered his throne room, washed and outfitted with the Underworld's best armor. His siblings (even Demeter had shown, though she wouldn't look at Hades), nieces and nephews, and Aphrodite waited there; all clothed similarly to him.

Hera was absent, but all of them had agreed that she would remain behind, sedated. She was too unpredictable to be counted on, and Hades hated her participating while pregnant. He'd been against it when Demeter had done so during the Titan War, but she'd refused to listen to good sense.

Persephone also wasn't present (Hecate had visited her while she'd bathed and that meeting had taken some time), but Hades had gotten word before he'd come to his throne room that she was still selecting weapons. She would meet him at his chariot.

The group parted when they saw Hades approach and allowed a recent arrival to step forward. The god's naturally tanned skin had darkened while his sun-streaked black hair had grown lighter since Hades had last seen him. He'd grown a beard that suited his firm jaw.

Hades threw out his arms and pulled Poseidon into a tight embrace.

His brother stiffened, never one for overt displays of affection, but patted Hades' back.

Hades kept the hug short to not extend Poseidon's discomfort.

"Did you have trouble getting here?" Hades asked.

Poseidon shook his head. "It's... calm. Everywhere."

"What of the damage?" Hestia inquired.

Sadness pulled at the fine lines around Poseidon's deep green eyes where waves rose and crashed in their depths. "We have a lot of work ahead of us."

This news wasn't surprising, but the mood of the room soured. Hades' fingers twitched as he envisioned them around Zeus' throat. But he didn't let his anger get the better of him. He took several calming breaths before stepping in front of the group.

He gestured to get everyone's attention.

"If we stay single-minded, we stand a chance of succeeding, but it'll be difficult. Zeus is a lot more like Cronus than even he might know."

Athena and Artemis stiffened at the comparison, but they didn't defend their father. They might be the only two of his children that enjoyed his company, but even they couldn't deny the truth of Zeus' behavior. If they had, Hades would have had them put aside like Hera. No one could jeopardize stopping Zeus.

"Is everyone here ready to give their all, again?"

All stated their agreement, some louder than others.

Demeter's and Hephaestus' voices rose over the crowd. Ares' cry was low but sounded like a cross between a boar's excited squeal and a wolf's bark, and it stood out most from the others. Hades thought him too eager, but in the years since getting his Purpose, Ares had curbed his manic fighting streak. Strategy may be outside his grasp, yet he wasn't as irrational as he'd been when he'd been one of Hades' soldiers.

Hades wasted no more words. He'd never been good at motivational speeches and hadn't bothered with them when he was a general. Besides, no one here needed convinced they fought for a noble cause.

They left the room and exited the palace. Outside, Poseidon's forces had joined with the Underworld ones. The sight wasn't as impressive as Hades had seen the Daemon Queen direct two decades prior, but it wasn't as low a number as Hades had feared.

Hades gave his generals and Poseidon's an even shorter talk, which they all seemed to appreciate, and then sought his chariot. His horses appeared to almost smile, and for the first time, Hades was glad for the horrific beasts.

Today, their animosity may save his life.

At the reins, beautiful in her deadliness, was Persephone. The curious, impish goddess hiding from her mother he'd met in Zeus' palace had disappeared.

She didn't command everyone's attention with her dominating, sure presence like she had when she'd been the Daemon Queen, but no one would laugh at her making her enemies bleed. The softer side of her aggressive prowess was just as alluring.

Hades was honored to have given her his heart.

Persephone smiled at him and gestured to the spot beside her. "Shall we?"

Hades joined her.

Poseidon's assessment of what the flood had done hadn't prepared Hades for what he found when he left the safety of the Underworld.

The first of the destruction that he noticed was the smell. It was the sweet, cloying scent of death mixed with the bitter, heavy notes of rotting flesh and leaves, and more powerful than Hades could have imagined. It coated his tongue, clung into the inside of his nose; would stay with him for the weeks to come.

Behind Hades, the soldiers gagged or uttered cries of protest.

Worse than the scent was the sight that met the invading army. The decomposing bodies of animals, creatures, monsters, and mortals littered the soggy ground. Most plant-life had been overturned or shredded. That which had survived had a muted quality about it, as if the earth itself had given up.

Beside him, Persephone gasped and wrapped her arms around her middle. Her color had paled, and tears shimmered in her eyes. She felt nature's pain, but did she feel the mortals?

Did this horror hit her twice as hard as the others?

"I never envisioned this," she moaned. "How could he—Does he lack compassion?"

Hades ached to hold her, to hide her from what surrounded them, but he couldn't stop the progression. He didn't want the upcoming battle to carry into the night. He didn't think morale would last if the fighting carried on into the next day.

Instead, he patted her hand. "We'll right this wrong."

Persephone nodded. She straightened and let the shock and hurt fade from her face. Her eyes, though, reflected her genuine pain and the fury that she'd wield against Zeus.

Hades snapped the reins and his horses picked up speed. The other chariots followed, and the soldiers entered a light jog that wouldn't wear them out.

As they moved closer to Mount Olympus, Hades searched for signs of attack. Zeus had to know they'd retaliate and wouldn't let them get too near.

He wouldn't take that risk, would he?

The answer came not too far from the base of Mount Olympus. At least a hundred cyclopes materialized into existence in mid-air and fell on the army; their weapons or bare hands at the ready. Only a great magic could have hidden them, and Hades wondered what witch Zeus had convinced or threatened to help him.

Hades didn't contemplate this long as two cyclopes hit the ground in front of his chariot. The horses whinnied as they skidded to a halt and spit their acid but missed.

In unison, the cyclopes swung their shields, and each connected with the throats of the horses. A deafening crunching noise filled the air, and the horses' necks bent at wrong angles. The cyclopes kicked the horses' corpses and sent the chariot flying into the air.

If not for his previous training, shock would have kept Hades from moving. He grabbed Persephone and dived with her out of the back of the chariot before it collapsed.

The pair hit the ground; Hades' body cushioning Persephone's from the jarring impact. His back screeched in agony, and he lamented the twenty years he hadn't had to put his body through this level of stress. What he'd experienced was not near the worst of what he'd suffered because of his father or in Tartarus, but it didn't feel that way at the moment.

It didn't stop Hades from getting to his feet before the cyclopes could launch their second attack, which they did by stabbing at Hades and Persephone with their massive swords. The gods danced out of the gigantic creatures' weapon range.

Persephone got behind the left cyclops and jumped onto his back. The creature tried to shake her off to no prevail. He went to reach for her, but his armor hindered that movement.

With cold efficiency, Persephone jammed a dagger into the base of the cyclops' skull; killed him. The bulky body fell, and Persephone leaped from it, as graceful as a cat.

While this took place, Hades engaged with the second cyclops. He met each sword strike. What little training the cyclops had was overlooked by the sheer force he used in contending with Hades. Hades wanted to provoke his Purpose, but he couldn't concentrate.

Persephone offered him the opportunity when she embedded another dagger into the cyclops' side when he went to swing at Hades. The creature howled and turned mid-strike to hit Persephone.

Hades called forth the earth's riches. Uncut gems and precious metals exploded from the ground to surround the cyclops. With a hand gesture, the earth's riches compressed and ended the cyclops' life.

Hades took a moment to survey what transpired with his army.

The under-dwellers and Poseidon's people held their own, but they'd lost an unhealthy number because of the cyclopes' unexpected arrival. If not for the other gods and goddesses, the army might have fallen before they'd even had the chance to defend themselves.

Yet they prevailed and looked to be soon becoming the victors.

Then the monsters arrived.

Manticores, chimeras, sphinxes, and many others appeared from nowhere and ran at the army. All their eyes glowed with a strange whiteness that explained how Zeus had them on his side. The same witch had them all under a spell.

The monsters' numbers were equal to Hades' army. Many let their shock of the sight slow their judgment and suffered for it. The gods and goddesses increased their efforts, but it wasn't enough to save the majority.

Persephone pulled on Hades' arm. "We need to keep moving."

As much as it pained him, Hades agreed. No monster or another cyclops had come for them. They had the best advantage.

They sprinted for the path that led to the top of the mountain.

As they started up it, Hades heard the shrieking of horses near. He looked over his shoulder to see a chariot approaching him and Persephone. He raised his sword but stopped when he realized who drove the chariot.

Poseidon, coated in varying shades of drying blood, clutched the reins. Behind him was Demeter and Ares, both coated in as much gore as the Sea God.

Poseidon slowed as he shouted, "Get on!"

Hades and Persephone joined the others on the chariot, and Poseidon urged the horses to move faster. A few monsters trailed after them but weren't fast enough to catch up to them. Soon, they left the battle and threats long behind.

No one spoke as they thundered their way up the mountain. All had to fear what would meet them once they reached Olympus.

In the few days since he'd fully lost his mind, what horrors had he conjured?

The answer wasn't as interesting as a horde of possessed monsters but no less scary. Maybe even more so.

At the top of the mountain was Zeus.

He stood by himself, wore no armor and carried only one sword. He regarded the approaching chariot with a focused calm that chilled Hades. He looked just like Cronus had when he'd sentenced Hades and Hestia, and all his future children, to their unjust imprisonment.

Zeus was incapable of empathy or logic. His demands would be realized regardless of how he had to achieve them.

Poseidon stopped the chariot a safe distance from Zeus. The gods and goddesses left the chariot and approached the God King; Hades at the lead.

Hades sheathed his sword and noticed the others followed suit (as difficult as it seemed for Persephone). As much as he'd rather disembowel Zeus and be done with it, Hades had to reason with his brother first.

"End this now and we can put all this behind us," Hades said when he was near enough without yelling.

Zeus regarded him. "This was your plan all along, wasn't it?"

Hades had expected delusion, but not what he'd just heard. Against his better sense, he snorted with shocked anger. "Me? I'm responsible?"

"What better way to get the throne you've always coveted?"

"Oh, this is pointless," Ares cried and launched himself at his father.

He didn't get far. Before he'd passed Hades, lightning exploded from Zeus and struck Ares. He yelped and crashed to the ground. He rolled twice before he came to a stop; his armor destroyed and his skin blackened. His breath came in ragged, rattling intervals.

Zeus gazed at his son, contempt breaking through his calm. "You've always been such a disappointment. I never thought idiotic as well." He looked at Hades. "I suppose you were right."

Demeter pushed to the front of the foursome. Energy crackled around her, and the rock rumbled from the force of the plants she brought to the surface. "So courageous, Zeus, harming children."

The plants wrapped themselves around his legs and worked their way up his torso.

Zeus frowned. "You think you're more of a challenge?"

He broke through the plants' hold and grabbed Demeter by the throat. "You're pathetic. A sniveling leach that should have been squashed years ago."

Each word he spoke, his fingers tightened.

Hades and Poseidon moved to aid their sister, but then the strangest noise came, and they paused.

There was rich laughter.

All focus turned to Persephone, who'd doubled over with uncontrollable mirth. Her face had grown bright red and her breathing was almost as bad as Ares'. Tears ran down her cheeks.

"What?" Zeus demanded.

"I just... I can't believe—Don't you remember—"

Persephone sucked in enough air to quiet her chuckling but not end it entirely.

"When you said... my lineage was suspect?" She wiped at her eyes. "You said I was forged from evil. Who knew you'd make that statement true?"

Zeus dropped Demeter. She crumpled at his feet, wheezing and clutching at her bruised throat. Hades saw Persephone's sword hand twitch, but she didn't take her attention away from Zeus who was advancing toward her.

He stopped in front of her, towering over her slight frame. All pretense of peacefulness had evaporated. Unbridled vehemence and fear stared down at Persephone. She didn't flinch.

"You are filth."

Persephone smirked. "And you're still a fool about to lose everything. Oh, how we've come full circle."

Zeus grinned. "I wonder, will you get the hint to stay dead the second time?"

Persephone still showed no sign of concern.

As she kept him distracted, Poseidon had moved out of Zeus' line of sight. He crept up behind his brother.

As he neared, Hades swung at Zeus' head. He connected and Zeus stumbled back, right into Poseidon.

The Sea God threw an arm around Zeus' neck and squeezed tight.

Zeus struggled, but Hades rained blow after blow to Zeus' midsection until ichor dripped out of the God King's mouth.

Zeus didn't surrender, though. He kept fighting, and each moment that passed his rage only seemed to fuel his efforts. They needed to immobilize him quick for the next part of the plan to happen, and he needed to be conscious.

"Get him to the ground," Persephone commanded.

Poseidon lowered Zeus the best he could.

When Zeus was almost there, Persephone produced four daggers different from the ones she'd already used. The tips of these were dipped in a pale yellow substance.

Two she stabbed through Zeus' wrists and continued until the daggers pinned his arms to the stone.

A bellow to shake the heavens erupted from Zeus but his struggling eased.

When Persephone used the remaining two daggers to hold Zeus' calves in place, the entire mountaintop shook from Zeus' cry. But he couldn't fight further.

Poseidon didn't let go of Zeus' neck, though. He gestured to Hades and then to Persephone. "Now."

Hades produced a vial as big as his thumb; the silver potion inside shimmered. He gave it to Persephone, who opened it and dumped the potion into Zeus' mouth.

Zeus attempted to spit it out, but Persephone slammed his jaw shut and held it.

"You'd do best to swallow," she said. "If you hold it too long on your tongue, it'll corrode your tongue and teeth."

Hades didn't know if she spoke the truth (Hecate hadn't given him that detail), but he acted like he did.

Zeus looked between the two, and Hades believed he would risk it.

But then he swallowed.

Persephone pulled on his nose. "Oh, look, you're not as foolish as I thought."

Zeus glared at her. "You'd better hope that kills me."

She smiled. "It's even better." She nodded at Hades. "Tell him the wonderful news."

"From this day forward, Zeus, God King, you will never betray your fellow gods or goddess or those that inhabit the Upperworld as you have as of late. Attempting to break this vow will cause immediate, painful death."

Zeus snorted. "Like I'd agree—"

His eyes shimmered silver like the potion.

"I give my solemn vow."

Relief settled heavy on Hades' shoulders. "Then this is over. We've won."