"Another gift?" Aaron asked his lover, feeling much of his fear fading as they approached the Fields of Punishment. He had lost most of his fear towards Hades when he felt his power, connecting to him to heal Medusa had been a monumental moment for their love allowing him to see the real Hades beyond the brooding mask he wore. "Don't I feel spoiled."
Hades laughed, a warm sound that filled Aaron with pleasure both carnal and spiritual. "Two actually... but we will get to that. Follow me."
The powers of Hades and Aaron's own substantial mystical presence protected him from the dark malice and misery of those being punished. They walked for a while before they reached a very, very familiar face... three of them actually.
The First was Agnes, Aaron's old ally and one time betrayer. She was smirking, holding a fire poker and looking a hell of a lot more substantial than before. She oozed greater power than before, and Aaron realized she was almost alive.
The next was Persephone, garbed like the Queen she was, looking regal and powerful and very much the epically powerful Goddess she was. She was wearing a set of purple robes that swam with the faces of the dearly departed, like Hades often wore. Aaron felt her tremendous power oozing from her in waves, she was nearly as powerful as her Husband.
The last, to his shock, was his screaming father, hooked to a board with fire pokers sticking out of his belly. "AARON, HELP ME!"
Aaron laughed. " Is this my gift?"
"No, but it is part of it." Hades smirked, turning his wife. "Persephone had something she wanted to tell you."
The Queen approached Aaron and then, to his utter shock, kissed his forehead. "It was my idea for you two to date you know. I have had my own partners in the past, I am no hypocrite. I saw that you were worthy and that he desired you. Never fear my judgment or wrath. In fact should you one day have children with Hades, for Gods can have children with mortals men not just Goddesses, I will watch over them like my own."
Aaron gaped. "Really?"
"Why not, you respect nature, care for my husband deeply, are respectful, powerful and generally worthy. I am not always happy to hear of my husband's affairs but I have never acted against his children. I cannot fault him for finding love when he has been alone for so long especially with such a stressful job." She turned to Agnes. "Part of your present is this. I know Anges' fate, being denied Elysium despite her service of the Gods, bothered you. So I have decided to allow her and the spirits that serve you to work for me. Agnes specializes in torment so she will work here, and she will torment those that deserve it. Your father slipped past our detection, he took the road to Asphodel, but Leto discovered him while looking for a way to repay you for getting her hired. She saw his vile soul and sent him here personally. I thought you would like to know that."
"I do." Aaron said, smirking at his terrified father. "You are an abuser, a monster. I promise to come down and assist Agnes in her torment of you sometimes."
Agnes cackled. "I would love that, Little Lord."
"Lord?"
Persephone giggled, as did Hades, the Queen stepped forward. "Your service to the Underworld cannot be forgotten. If you die, you will be made a god of the Underworld itself. As it is you are already partially immortal." Aaron gaped." Yes, it is true. All that use magic gain some immortality, there is a reason many serve Circe on her island. Using magic strengthens your body and mind and soul. You have tapped into greater magic than most, your saving Zoe was the final act that allowed you to become partially immortal. If you stopped practicing magic you would live to be three to five hundred years old on principle. If you continue as you have, you will become fully immortal by the time you are thirty."
"Why me, why not Medea who was far greater than I and had immortal blood through Helios?"
It was Agnes who answered. "Her mind was not sound enough. Magic is bound to the three principles. Mind, body and soul. She had body through her blood and soul down pact, but her mind was not strong enough to sustain immortality. Immortality requires all three facets. There is a reason Selene's husband was granted sleep to become immortal, he was simply not strong enough mentally to deal with that power.
You work out and practice advanced magic of varying types. That has strengthened your body, as has your meditation. You have a profoundly strong mind, which is how you allowed yourself to break through the Mist to see all we are. Your soul has suffered immeasurably and through raw force of will you reshaped your soul to become a true sorcerer. Your three factors are aligning into something greater than the sum of your parts."
That news was hard for Aaron to hear, not in a bad way but... still... " Wow..."
"The only factor holding you back is your doubt. You see yourself as too mortal to matter." Hades said, putting a cool hand around the boy's shoulders. "It impedes you... more confidence is due to you... Now, I did say there was another gift... It is the answer you seek, one we the Underworld gods have hidden from even Zeus... how to free Kronos from himself, a way to free his good side."
Aaron gaped, amazed. "You have the knowledge I need?"
Hades' voice was stern but warm and it meant the world to Aaron. "Frankly yes, Gods may lack souls in the traditional sense but we do have essences that are similar. As we deal with those essences on a daily basis, we have had the chance to study them, How do you think Hecate was able to create an artifact that could hold and restore my father's essence? It was through the study of souls. I offer you access to our library, and declare you not only a Priest of the Gods and High Witch but a Champion and Ambassador of the Underworld."
The world thundered and Aaron felt power flood into him, not the kind that would allow him to become a stronger witch but a more mental power. The kind that allowed children of the Underworld to feel their Lord's moods, or the kind that allowed Percy to be sensitive to the swings of nature's pull, or the Spirits of Nature to feel Gaia's presence at all times. It was like a new instinct filled him...'
"Wow." he said, his tone low and soft. "Why, I thought Gods hated mortals getting so much power?"
Persephone stepped forward. "We did this... not entirely selflessly... but to protect you." She looked at Hades and nodded, her eyes worried. "Posiden has asked... asked to use you for something... Oceanus has declared war, and he is siding with Kronos. Amphitrite has asked her Grandfather to speak to her, Oceanus requested that since you have helped nature so much and are free of the biases most immortals have... and that you respect his children and legacies so much, since you made Shrines to honor and empower them... that you come and sit during this peace talk. It will be in one week. We realized you needed more power, more protection from the wrath of a very powerful immortal.
Also, we truly need Oceanus' support. Many think Atlas and Hyperion were the strongest bar Kronos, this is false. Oceanus was, his Domain allowed him far more power than any bar Kronos. If he fights us and goes all out, the war will be almost impossible to win. Can you help us as you have so many times?"
"Yes." Aaron said, without pause. "I have a good idea why Oceanus is against the gods too... He is the Father of all Rivers and bodies of water. Pollution is a real issue. I cannot see him not hating Posiden for his inaction. I have some ideas that will help."
The two powerful Gods breathed a sigh of relief, Hades turned to his mortal lover. "I am sorry to use you, but this is beyond needed. When I realized that Medusa could bind to and help Styx, I realized the power of Oceanus could not be trifled with. I cannot believe I did not realize this before..."
"This is war Hades, I cannot blame you for this... now... since you are both asking me something so big. I think you both owe me a lovely date... oh and Hades, I think I am changing the rules of our relationship. I think, my age or not, sex may be in your future." Aaron was smirking. "I'd rather not die before I at least try out that sort of thing. Plus you've kind of earned it."
Hades went bright red and the others laughed at him. "Um...okay." his voice was small, but the excitement was clear.
"Now... after our date, I think I will be checking out that library... I am so close to creating a spell to free Kronos... this is huge! I need a way to deal with the backfire less it kills me..."
And so they went, on to datenight, listening to the screams of his monstrous father and enjoying a lovely picnic... really it was a lovely date and a wonderful way to prepare for the most stressful time of his life...
The idea of talking to such a powerful Titan was... daunting. He could only hope he did it right and wasn't turned into algae...
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a powerful chapter... and I am glad for the change in this story. I love the Ambassador route...
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika,.