Finally! Here we are! The last chapter of this story D: *tear* I would love it so much if you guys would review. Also, check back later for an epilogue and a link to get this story as an eBook!
Note: I highly advise NOT skimming this chapter. You're going to miss something and be like, WHAT? So make sure to read everything.
We are whisked away to the palace of Lord Hades. The place is dark, and frankly, kind of scary. Elise and I are lead through long corridors and hallways that seem unending until we find ourselves in the throne room of Hades.
I take a good look at Hades. He's actually kind of creepy. He has olive skin and dark hair. His robes are really terrifying. It looks like there are faces of dying people swimming all over them, which only amps up the creep factor.
"Lord Hades," Elise kneels to the floor, and I take her example and kneel too. I don't want to get blasted, like she mentioned once would happen if you didn't show respect to a god and they weren't in a good mood.
"You may be wondering why I called the both of you here," Hades says. Elise rises from her kneel, and I do as well.
"Yes, Sir," Elise says.
"I'm not necessarily allowed to do this," he sighs, "But nothing will happen otherwise, and, well . . . you'll see." Hades steps down from his throne. Up close, he doesn't look as scary looking. Well, kind of.
A table suddenly morphs from the ground out of nowhere, and the room changes and morphs as well. It is not the throne room anymore. Then, chairs morph. There are two in front of Elise and I, and a really comfortable looking one that Hades sits in.
"Sit down," he says. I sit down, and Elise sits next to me on my left.
"Oh, also, if any of the other gods ask about this, don't mention it to them. We're not supposed to converse with mortals about prophecies and such," he warns. There is silence from Elise and I. We both nod our heads in approval.
"There's a prophecy that concerns Elijah and I?" Elise asks.
"Yes, and a very deep backstory that is going to convince you to go through with it," he says.
He sighs. "This is going to be a long story. Might as well get started. A very very long time ago, I'm not sure how long, though, there were seven heroes. They were destined to save the world from Gaia and her giants, but they failed and most of them died, and Gaia and her giants took over the world. You with me so far?" he asks.
"Yes," Elise and I say.
"Good. Let's keep going. All the giants caused so much chaos that the whole world fell into disarray. Mostly North America, though," he says. Hades takes a deep breath and sighs as if he's about to tell us a big spoiler for a big movie.
"On a totally different tangent, have you two ever heard of the Romans?" he asks.
"No," I say.
"Maybe once or twice," Elise says. She frowns as if she's trying to remember something.
"Well, even a more long time ago, after the Greeks ruled in the ancient times, the Romans took over, and they adopted the same gods as the Greeks. But we have different versions. People tend to say that I'm more war-like and more important-looking as a Roman, like the Romans were," Hades says.
"Yes! I've heard that mentioned once before," Elise says. Definetly not in History class. I think. We just learn about how the Capitol took over each year.
"Back to the disarray. There were still some Roman demigods around, like there were Greeks. The Romans took this opportunity of North America being in disaster and having no leader or ruler to take over again. This time they created the Capitol and the Thirteen Districts," he says.
Elise's jaw drops. I'm not sure why, but this must be important.
"So then about a year ago, the Greeks rebelled against the Romans and the Capitol," Hades explains. "So when the Romans finally came out on top in the end, the Dark Days were over, and they decided to create The Hunger Games to get rid of Greek Demigods. The reapings have been influenced to include demigods," Hades says.
"But nobody besides me was from Camp!" Elise says.
"Ah, yes, Elise. You see, the Greek side of us gods have taken a . . . very good liking towards Mortals for the past 20 years. So far, there's about 100 of you living, and 75% of you don't even know you're demigods because the security is so tight in the Districts, and most can't find their way to camp. Crystal was a daughter of Aphrodite-"
"Was?" Elise buts in.
"Oh, yes. Crystal died ten minutes ago. Sadie is the victor," Hades says calmly. It hits me like a pile of bricks. The very first Hunger Games are over. . . Oddly enough, I can't remember my life without being in the Hunger Games. It seems way longer than nine or ten days.
"Let me continue," Hades says. "Sadie and Fish are children of Poseidon, District 3 were children of Hephaestus, Districts 9 and 11 were children of Demeter. The boy from District 10 was a son of Apollo." He lists off unknown demigods.
"The Game Makers stuck monsters in the Arena because they're a lot more deadly than Mutts and they are more effective on Demigods than mutts, so they also stuck some Celestial Bronze and Roman Imperial Gold into the cornucopia," Hades explains.
"So, wait a minute," Elise butts in again. "You're listing off all these demigods in the Arena. What about Elijah? He, oddly enough, seemed a heck of a lot like a demigod to me," she says.
"Well, about that. Elijah, yes you are a demigod," Hades says. He sighs as if he know he's probably going to have his butt kicked for telling us this. He then starts glowing.
"Look away!" Elise calls. I close my eyes and look away, and then the light dies down. When I open my eyes, Hades looks changed. He is now in a dark purple toga and his face looks a bit different. His cheekbones are sharper and his jaw is more dominant.
"I am Pluto. I am Hades's Roman counterpart, and you, Elijah, are my son," he says. My jaw drops to the ground and I can't pick it up.
Elise does all the talking needed. "But, wait, if Elijah's a Roman demigod, then why did they let him get picked for the Games? Don't they want to get rid of Greeks?"
"Maybe it really was that your name was picked out of thousands. Maybe they knew you were a demigod, but thought you were Greek. I don't know," Pluto says.
"That makes sense that you are Roman," Elise realizes. "You were attracted to that sword with Roman Imperial Gold." I remember the sword I liked so much.
"Let's continue," Hades/Pluto says. "There has been a prophecy given. It tells of an unknown demigod being born for the third time to help stop the Romans and the Capitol. It also mentions of a daughter of Ares being born again to stop the Romans and the Capitol. It was because of this prophecy that I am even talking to you. I had a moment of realization and I also grilled the Fates, and I have a good guess that this prophecy applies to you two."
Okay. Honestly, Elijah, calm down. Take a freaking chill pill. It's a lot to take in, but it'll be okay, right? I think. My mind is all over the place, but Pluto keeps talking.
"You said I would be reborn for the third time," I say. "Who was I my first life?" I ask. Wow. That sounds weird.
"Well, you're going to be reborn again, so this can't hurt. Your name was Luke Castellan. You helped defeat the Titans and you started the trend with half celestial bronze half mortal steel when it comes to weapons," he says.
"Wow." That is all I can say.
"So. . . " Elise starts. "If we are reborn again, according to this prophecy that has been given that is going to stop the Romans and the Captiol, we will be prime helpers in another rebellion against the Capitol?"
"According to the prophecy," Pluto says.
"Then what are we waiting for, Elijah?" Elise asks. "We need to be reborn ASAP!"
I don't even know what it means to be reborn, but I don't hesitate for a moment. I will do anything to stop the Capitol. "Sure," I say, having no clue what I'm getting myself into.
"Okay," Lord Pluto says. "That was easy convincing. Let's take you to the Lethe and see how long it takes for you two to be reborn."
Wow. I can't believe I'm done with this . . . Check back later for an epilogue and PLEASE REVEIW. I have spent hours coming up with that amazing backstory connecting PJO, HoO, and THG. :D
*Tear* D: How can I be done with this already?