Hey guys! Here we go with chapter six. Let me first thank everyone who's been reading and enjoying this story and also keeping up with it! Thanks so much for your support! This story has 9 favorites and 14 followers! Thanks so much for this!
Thanks again to Demons of the arch angel! I wasn't expecting to get rid of you ;)
Now this chapter centers on Hades and Pandora, and it's the first time we get to see them since chapter one. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.
Chapter Six: The Black King and His Queen
He was unmistakable. Even having been reincarnated into human form, the god of the Underworld had lost none of his size or intimidating height. Other gods who had been reincarnated had often looked completely different from their original god forms, mortals were often small and unimposing creatures after all. However Hades looked much the same as he had. He had long black hair that hung far down his back, and his bangs were spiked. His skin was deathly pale and his eyes were a bright electric blue. He appeared to be about twenty or so. He was also wearing his Surplice, ready for battle. It was dark black with silver accents that covered his whole body and had six large black wings on it. His face almost seemed etched in stone, only now his brow was furrowed with the obvious worry of a father as he watched Pandora pacing. Hades looked the same.
Pandora also looked the same, but she had reincarnated before. She was a tall and thin woman who was well endowed and absolutely shameless of her beautiful body. She was beautiful and she knew it. Her skin was also pale, and her long black hair framed her face nicely and made her all the more beautiful. She also appeared to be around twenty years old or so. She was also wearing armor, though there wasn't much over her purple dress, just enough to give her some protection. Her dress had a slit over the left leg, showing off the perfect skin beneath. Death didn't phase her, but she couldn't help but fear for her sons. She hadn't seen them in many years.
Though the Underworld army had died and been forced to reincarnate as mortals they were still the Underworld army. Nearly all of their members had gathered now, and their power was growing. With Hades' powerful cosmos they were also undead again. However Kagaho and Cheshire, and their sons were still missing. On top of that, all of the Specters had suddenly grown very agitated at sensing Kagaho fighting with someone. Pandora was fraught with worry that something had happened to her dear baby boys.
Unable to see her pacing that way any longer, Hades reached out and took Pandora's thin arm gently in one of his hands. She jumped, having been startled out of her thoughts suddenly. She looked at him, her large blue eyes round and wide, but then they grew sad as she looked down. Hades pulled her to his chest, and her head was barely tall enough to lay against it as it was. He still dwarfed her. Though the cold metal of the Surplice he wore was cold beneath her cheek and hands it was a comforting feeling and she found herself relaxing a bit.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I just can't help it. I worry for them." Hades closed his eyes and laid his chin on top of her head gently.
"I know," he said as reassuringly as he could. "I'm sure that everything's fine. We'll find them. Just be patient until then. Kagaho wouldn't let anything happen to Shun, and Cheshire has taken good care of Alone. I know those two. Just trust me on this."
"I do trust you," she said quietly. "It's just so hard..." Hades chuckled a little.
"It's a little strange," he said. "to think that the 'Viper of the Underworld' has become such a caring mother." She smiled a little.
"Even snakes can be mothers," she replied. "Besides I'm a woman, not a snake. I can't help it. Even if I am a warrior, I love my sons." Hades let out a sigh.
"Yes," he said. "And we didn't get to see them grow up. I hope they can forgive us for that. But until the Titans are sealed away again, we have to fight together."
Pandora nodded and steeled herself. It was true that she was a mother, but she was also a warrior. It was her job to protect the world, even if she hadn't been doing that for a long time. She stepped away from Hades, pulling gently out of his grasp. She gave him as kind as a smile that she could and then put back on a strong face. The Specters didn't need to see her looking that way. Hades was right. They'd find their sons. She just had to be strong until then.
Hades turned his stone etched face in the direction of the Sanctuary. They were gathering their strength in the shadow of the very place that they had hated for so long. Strange how that worked. He'd ensured that they wouldn't be found until they were ready, and it had involved many powerful spells. However he was concerned as to where the other gods had gone. He'd realized that Athena was using her Saints to try and draw out the evil that was hiding, however he hadn't felt the cosmos of the Saints fighting anymore.
If he was correct in what he had thought had happened, then they had found out about the Othryrsians. Hopefully they weren't completely in the dark anymore. The Underworld army had only begun building up their army again within reach of the borders of the Sanctuary. It was bordered by a large mountain face on one side, and it was here that they were hiding. While usually it provided a daunting and impassable mountain border that keep people from going inside on that side. However the undead army of the Underworld didn't find this scary, and in fact were now hiding within it for the same protection that had been provided to the Saints. Hades intended to keep a watch over the Sanctuary in Athena's absence.
The presence of two other gods soon joined them, and both Hades and Pandora turned to look. They found themselves face to face with a pair of tall and thin twins. They had spiked bangs and long and uneven cut hair. They looked exactly the same with blue eyes, and their faces were the same. However like Alone and Shun their hair was different colors. One had blonde hair and the other black. Thanatos had the black hair, and Hypnos was the one with blonde hair. Hades suddenly got the odd feeling that the land of the Underworld was oddly fond of twins. Neither were in their armor now, since they had gone down to the villages surrounding the Sanctuary. They were wearing black robes with bright gold trim. They bowed a little to their king and his queen.
"What did you learn?" Hades asked.
"The Othrysians have not made their presence largely known," Hypnos said.
"In fact," Thanatos continued. "I've doubt they've made themselves very known at all."
"If they have let the other armies know they're here-"
"Then they remain hidden-"
"And we can't find them."
Hades closed his eyes thoughtfully. So they were still hiding? If the Saints reappeared suddenly in the Sanctuary then they could be fairly sure that they'd figured out who it was they were facing, since he was sure they had been using the fighting itself as bait to draw out the enemy. If that was the case, then it had probably worked very well, as it had in the past. He was concerned with the fact that the other army continued to remain so hidden, but he supposed that in the end, they'd only show themselves when they were confident that they could make their move. So they'd just have to be confident enough that they could move as well. He looked up at them again.
"Very well," he said. "We've got a lot we have to do. But for now we can only wait and watch. We'll remain here, hidden in the shadows. Only this time there's a reason we're sitting here on this rock face. We'll be here to help the Sactuary. If the Othrysians think they can take the Sanctuary by surprise by going over this war they'll come face to face with us."
"What of your sons?" Thanatos ventured to ask.
"Should we search for them?" Hypnos added.
Here Hades paused and closed his eyes again. His brows furrowed just slightly in worry, but barely so. Those of the Underworld army would be able to see this movement, however most people (even his brothers Poseidon and Zeus who knew him best) would not be able to see it. His face looked etched in stone as always. He was worried about his sons, however he knew that they were his sons, and Pandora's too. They were naturally warriors, even the much gentler Shun.
"No," he replied finally. "They are warriors, and they will know how to fight. They've had training on how to fight from Kagaho and Cheshire, of that I'm sure, and the rest of their abilities as well. Even though it's possible they're in danger, I'm certain that they'll come to us eventually. I know that it's difficult. They are princes of the Underworld after all. However, we must let them gain their own feet if they can."
"But what if we hear anything of them?" Hypnos asked.
"Should we tell you then?" Thanatos added.
"Yes," Hades said. "But this is something they must do alone."
"Of course my Lord," the twin gods said in unison.
They turned and began walking away, making their way carefully towards the Specters, who all looked a little bit on edge and worried. Slowly Hades turned to look at Pandora, wondering what she would think of his choice. She was the love of his life, and the mother of his children after all. However her face remained mostly blank. It was pinched a little in pain, but she did not object. He sighed and met her gaze.
"What do you think of what I just said?" he asked.
"My Lord," Pandora replied. "You are our king. We've always adored and served you. While they are my children, I know you are their father and you have always wanted to protect them. Besides, you're right. They need to prove themselves, and if finding us can do that, then so be it. However," her face became fierce suddenly. "once they are in my grasp again I will not let harm come to them, not as long as I draw breath."
"Nor will I," Hades replied with a small smile. "Neither of us can deny that we love our children very much. They are warriors, but even I don't know the extent of power that their cosmoses can reach. They are my children after all. Still, if they ever need the help, we'll be there, along with the rest of the army."
"As it should be with the Princes of the Underworld," Pandora replied with a nod to him.
"As it should be," Hades agreed.
The two turned their eyes down again to the Sanctuary, where activity was slowly beginning again. Saints were slowly beginning to trickle back in, meaning that their tournament was done. Hades felt responsible for their safety in the absence of their goddess, so he found himself counting each Gold, Bronze, and Silver Saint. His eyes were just barely good enough in his mortal form to make out the differences in armor, and he made a mental note of which he had already counted. Twenty three saints were now below him in the Sanctuary, and others would appear. But for now he was the silent guardian of the Sanctuary, here to help if they needed it, but reluctant to do so. He wasn't sure how they would react to his presence. The other gods certainly had seemed to hate the Underworld last time he had talked to any of them.
Even so, he found himself feeling like he had to help them. He did feel a little guilty. Even if the Rage had been intended to strengthen the power of the Underworld (and eventually through him the Sanctuary) it had done a lot of harm to them and had ultimately failed. Perhaps none of them should have been so blind when it came to the Rage, and they should have all seen this coming and been prepared for it, but there was little that could be done about it now. Hades -no the entire army of the Underworld- was ready and willing to give everything to make up for the evil that they had done when the Titans had begun to escape.
The problem was defeating the Titans and their children, the Othrysians. Having a second army that could stand again when defeated was no easy task, and if even a single Titan got out he wasn't sure if the gods would have the power to fight back their predecessors. He knew though that if the world fell back under the rule of the Titans it might as well never have existed and everything would have been destroyed. He wasn't going to let that happen. So he had to find out a way to defeat the Othrysians before the Titans could be released. If the Titans escaped their prison, well then they'd just have to pray that they had the power to defeat them.
To defeat the Othrysians would require a lot of power, and probably a seal of some kind. There had been similar things used against his Specters, only those seals had required a vast knowledge of the Specters or the power of several gods. They didn't have the thousands of years of warfare to gain the knowledge of the Othrysian's cosmoses, and the gods had nearly died to seal the Specters' souls away. He didn't want to take that chance, and it was the responsibility of the Underworld anyway. If they were going to figure out what to do, then they'd just have to do it themselves.
Hypnos and Thanatos might help him, but he wasn't sure they had quite the power needed. They were powerful, and more powerful than many gods, however they weren't powerful enough. The power of Hades would be enough, but he would need help to create a spell powerful enough to do this without killing himself (or the others involved). Even with the help of Hypnos and Thanatos, he doubted he'd have the power to create a spell strong enough. Which left...
"Pandora," Hades said. "I have only one idea how we can defeat the Othrysians. However, what I said still stands. Our children much reach us of their own strength."
"Of course," she said, surprised. "But what do they have to do with it?"
"This war," Hades said, pausing with the pain of the statement. "It's our responsibility. The Underworld must take full responsibility for it and be prepared to do anything we can."
"What are you saying?" Pandora asked.
"We need to seal away the souls of the Othrysians so they can't rise again," Hades replied. Pandora paused and eyed him carefully.
"Like the way used against us?" she asked.
"No," he sighed. "It must be far more powerful. We'll create a similar item that can be used to seal away the souls of the Othrysians, but it must be forged with a far more powerful magic, because they're far more powerful. The spell that will be used, well..."
"No," Pandora cried. "You can't be seriously-"
"It may kill us," Hades said. "All of us. But to do it correctly, we will need the help of myself, Thanatos, Hypnos...and our sons."
"I won't let you," Pandora cried. "You're our king, and we cannot lose our princes or our twin gods! We will be leaderless and-"
"Then you must lead," Hades said. "This spell must be created."
"I forbid it," Pandora cried with tears in her eyes. "If you throw away your lives like this-"
"Then how would you have us use our lives?" Hades demanded, his brows furrowing slightly in anger now. Pandora paused in surprise. "If we do this, then there will be a chance that the other armies will be able to prevail. As I said, it is our responsibility. We must do everything we can to ensure that this war is won and will never be repeated. We can reincarnate, but if we don't take this chance then there will be no hope for any of us."
"But if you're not strong enough together-"
"Then we'll die," Hades said. His eyes and voice softened suddenly and he gave her that roguish smile that he was so famous for, a half smile. "Our sons may be no more powerful than regular gods, but if they are more powerful than that then we will survive, though we may need some time to recover. This however will give us the edge we need either way. Don't you trust me Pandora?"
"I do," she said quietly.
"Then trust me," he said gently. "I have the utmost faith in our sons. I don't believe we will die. I'm sure that they're plenty powerful, and we will succeed either way. This must be done. Do you understand me, my love?" Pandora was silent for a long while.
"Yes," she replied.
Hades watched her a moment as she continued to look down in defeat. Hades reached out and drew her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her waist. She sighed sadly and laid her head on his chest again, feeling the cold metal once again beneath her cheek. She did trust him, and she knew that he was right. She would just have to trust in the power of the spell. Besides, even though she did love Hades, and her sons, she had long ago learned that love had no place on the battlefield, neither did grief. There would be time for those later. But this was a war. She loved her sons, and her husband, however she knew he was right. This was their responsibility, and if they didn't do it, no one could. She nodded to herself and stepped back, giving Hades the mischievous smile that she was known for.
"Well then," she said. "We should prepare. While we wait for our sons, we'll prepare the words for the spell for you, as well as find an object to hold all of the souls of the Othrysians."
"Do so," Hades said, nodding gracefully to her.
"It will be done," she replied loyally. She then turned and marched off after Hypnos and Thanatos to tell them their task.
Hades couldn't help but smile after her. She was a strong woman, and he was glad that she was his. He hoped his sons had some of her resilience. He turned his eyes back down to the Sanctuary, counting the Saints again to make sure that they were all safe and that no danger had approached them yet. Everything was silent and business as usual within the walls of the Sanctuary. Nothing at all had changed. It was a somewhat comforting sight.
Slowly, Hades turned his eyes then to the sky, where the stars were hidden just behind the lively blue vault over their heads. That was where the stars that housed the powers of the Specters were. With the sun brightly shining he couldn't see the stars that belonged to Cheshire or Kagaho, but he wished them all the luck he could even so.
All of the gods of every religion knew that they were going to need it.
There was your first taste of Hades and Pandora, and what they're doing to help out in this war. They're going to need a lot of preparing for all of this to work, but that's okay because they have to wait for Shun and Alone to get to them too. Pandora, though she is a mother, she is a warrior first, and the Underworld army has always been on the brink of war, even when they were kind to humans. They value their warriors, and Shun and Alone were born into that society. Either way, there's a lot of stuff going on now.
Hm, I wonder how the other gods are going to react to Hades' possibly suicidal mission? ;)
Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed and feel free to leave a review below about this chapter. Next chapter goes right back to Shun.