Here is the next great chapter in the Zoë saga. Just so that you guys know, I am almost done with this story, although another will follow. I will even add an additional bonus chapter of Zoë's final battle, but from her point of view. Next in my stories will be Child of the Titans.

Thanks to eirias, Athena0228, pineconeface123, drnl, the Silver Huntress, MyPenIsSharperThanYourSword, Jason Strong, and storm-brain for their reviews. My replies should have been sent by e-mail, so check that. If there is not a response, review saying you did not get one.

And here is Chapter 9!

The ocean. It was what I was, what I was part of. It was the part of me that I had lost. And, with the sword, I was able to return to it.

Odessa floated alongside of me, relaxing in the currents that Forgotten had created. She was at ease, at home. She could be what I could not. The sword was able to do it, but I had to give it up.

Not give it up, insisted a voice inside me. You shall return for it one day. I sighed. The inner voice wasn't me. It was the Oracle, and the sword. They were made of the same energy, I knew. It was the energy that made up the Ancients, the magic in Tartarus. The power of the Fates, of the world as the Old Ones knew it.

And it is the power of the scythe of Kronos. The sudden knowledge shot through me with a jolt, and the current stopped dead.

My traveling partner turned toward me, puzzlement on her face. "Is there something wrong?"

"No," I answered. "I just realized something."

"What?"

Closing my eyes, I sent the knowledge through the water. Being a nereid, she was sensitive to the feelings and intentions in the water close by.

Odessa jolted in shock. "Celestial steel," she said in awe. "Of course! It must be what can pierce Kronos. Zeus used his scythe in the first war, but if the scythe cannot be used…"

"Then this can," I agreed, looking at the blade.

"If that's the case, why are we hiding it down here? We can use it if Kronos returns! It could make all the difference in war!"

I sighed. Why couldn't things ever be simple? "The Oracle told me to, and Hekate, too. They are both as ancient as Gaia herself, and, generally, prophecies are made for a reason."

"I don't trust Hekate," grumbled Odessa. "She works only for herself, and she's a Titan as well."

"She could easily have killed me and taken it for herself," I retorted. "Instead, she just sent me on my way with a warning. Not only that, she transported me to the Oracle, saving me from several days' travel."

Odessa shrugged. "True, but I don't need to like her, do I?"

"No, but it's generally not a good idea to insult gods of any type."

The lieutenant spread her arms, as if embracing the ocean all around her. "One day, people will be able to say what they want to, without gods or government cracking down on them if they do. That's what I think being a Hunter is all about. Justice, and doing what's right."

I'll have to admit, I was impressed by the Huntress's ideas. They seemed so revolutionary compared to the rest of the world. If only Heracles had thought of things the way Odessa did!

"Anyway," said Odessa. "We need to start going down. Danu Talis is directly beneath us."
I looked down. All I saw was darkness and gloom.

She saw me look and sighed. "Don't look. Feel. That's what you do while in the water. You didn't traverse much in water as a Hesperid, did you?"

"No," I admitted. "We spent all of our time in the gardens, or on the Mountain with our father." It was still hard to talk about that, almost a year later.

We turned, and swam almost directly down, when suddenly a thought occurred to me. "Odessa," I asked, "How far down is it?"

She took a moment to think about that. "Almost ten miles," she replied after a little while.

I swallowed hard. "If I leave the sword, I'll lose all of my power of water. I put it all into the sword. The pressure will crush me, or I'll suffocate."

She considered that for a moment. "I should be able to keep you safe from the pressure, and form air bubbles, too."

I nodded. "I hope –"

I never finished that thought, for an immense tentacle shot from the deeps, wound around me and pulled me down into the dark depths. It was only with immense effort that I was able to keep hold on Forgotten. I heard Odessa yelp, and I knew that she had been grabbed, too.

But, weirdly enough, as we got further down, it slowly started to get lighter. I stifled a gasp as I saw what lay beneath the surface.

It was a city, glowing with power. I could feel its aura radiating outwards, even from a thousand feet above it. It was more beautiful than Mount Olympus, and more terrible than Mount Orthys.

It was Atlantis. Danu Talis. The Lost City. Paradise.

We were brought into its heart, and set down in front of a great palace. Then, above us, it appeared. The Kraken.

It was beyond huge. I was amazed that the entire of the ocean could fit this creature. It was immense, dominating my field of view, as far as the eye could see. Each tentacle was capable of reaching all the way to the surface. An eye as big as the palace surveyed us with alien intelligence.

Two tiny tidbits, not big enough to make a meal. But I would not eat such creatures, especially with that sword you carry, Zoë Nightshade, Odessa of the Mediterranean.

The words vibrated through my bones with a power I had never thought possible. I gripped the sword tightly.

Laughter reverberated through my body, almost painful in its intensity. Tell me what you have brought me, Daughter of Atlas, General of the mighty Titans.

"I have brought you a sword, made of celestial steel, with the tip of a dragon's fang. I wish for you to keep it, for as long as necessary, until I or my allies come here and ask for its return."

More laughter. Blunt as the swords mortals make on the surface. What makes you think that I will not kill you, take the sword, and keep it until Ragnorak comes to this world?

Ragnorak? "You would not dare," I decreed, raising the blade. "If this sword is so great that even you want it, you would not attempt to fight against it."

Wouldn't I? A tentacle uncoiled, then snapped towards me with a speed that left me breathless. The sword, once again moving of its own will, shot upwards, glowing with power. As soon as the tentacle touched the globe of light formed by the globe, it started to wither, until the kraken withdrew it.

I'm not so sure that I am interested in this bargain, Zoë. Are there any other terms to this bargain?

"Yes. If I die before passing on the name of this sword to others, it is yours to keep for all time. Also, my friend and I need transportation back to the Mediterranean Sea. You are also forbidden to kill us yourself, as well as send any other creature to destroy us. I will give you the sword as soon as we reach the surface. I need its power to protect me on the return trip.

The eye narrowed slightly. Hmmm. I swear on the Yggdrasil and the River Nile and the River Styx to your bargain. Are there any other terms?

"No."

Then let us be on our way. A tentacle shot out and grabbed both Odessa and I, then the kraken began to move. With incredible speed, the Lost City disappeared into the black depths.

But we were not free yet. As we moved aside, a monstrous shape shot out of the darkness. It slammed into the kraken, who roared in pain and anger.

An attack?! How dare they! The beast stopped and swung around to face its adversary.

It was a monstrous sea serpent, nearly as big as the kraken itself. It opened its jaw and bellowed, sending the kraken wheeling back in shock.

Give me a moment, Zoë and Odessa. I am called to battle. Stay out of the way. Keto herself has come calling, and it would not be polite to refuse her.

"What?! Keto?! How on earth did she get here?"

I do not know, but I will find out as soon as I defeat her. The kraken's tentacles uncoiled, freeing us.

And the Kraken, scourge of the seas, moved against a monstrosity greater than any I have ever known. So began the fight of the Great Deities of the Sea.

Oooh, you are going to hate me for this one. I couldn't resist, though I probably will update again in the next couple of days. See you guys then, although I most likely will get the flames for this one. Almost as bad as Aegle.

Sa Rart