Chapter 9: Mars' Plan
Meanwhile, Hades, Mars, Caudus and Proserpine were in the underworld, discussing what they should do about Ares and the others.
"I know you have ideas Hades, but we must listen to our guest before we attack," Mars growled, turning to Caudus. "What can you tell us about the others?"
The hydra chuckled. They are very determined, it told them. Especially Ares. He will not give up easily, and neither will your Avatar. I do know, though, that they have weaknesses as well. Flamma and Argentum are married and have a son. Flamma is already wounded and no doubt Argentum is affected by that. If we kidnap his son that will break him even more.
"Interesting," Mars said, smiling evilly. "Most interesting."
The hydra growled and it looked at him. What do you think we should do?
"We need to get that child. Plus, I do know another interesting piece of information. My avatar is still slightly connected to me. If he stays around me for too long, he will come back to our side. So we must capture him as well," Mars said.
"That would work," Hades said. "A most excellent plan."
"I very much approach of this plan," Proserpine said, smiling darkly.
"Then it's settled," Mars said. "We shall strike tomorrow."
Everyone was traveling back to Greece, when suddenly the avatar grabbed its head in pain and heard Mars in its head.
Then it's settled. We shall strike tomorrow, it heard the fallen god say.
The others looked at it. "What is it?" Pandora asked, who had just come out of the box in physical form.
"I...I hear Mars," the avatar said, still holding its head. "He said something about striking tomorrow."
The others looked at it. "Striking? As in, they're going to attack?"
The avatar hesitated. It looked at them as it nodded.
"They wouldn't just attack. They must have a plan. Think! What would Caudus have told them?" Ares said.
The avatar thought about what it heard Mars say, and looked at the wolf. "He would have mentioned us."
"Anything specific?" Ares asked, but then he looked over at Argentum, who had gone pale.
"I have to get to Flamma," he said, and turned into a Cerberus. It roared loudly and ran off.
"What was that about?" Pandora asked, but suddenly Ares understood.
"He thinks that Hades and the others will go after his wife," it told the spirit.
Pandora nodded, and vanished back into her box. Argentum ran as fast as he could, in a panic. They better not do anything to her, he growled. The Cerberus roared loudly. It ran towards the cave where its wife was and slowed to a stop. Athena looked at it.
"She's fine, in case you are wondering," she said. She saw the look on the Cerberus' face. "Is something wrong?"
Hades, Mars, Caudus and Proserpine are planning to strike tomorrow, it told her. I don't want them to come after my wife.
Athena patted its paw. "I'll make sure nothing happens to her. I give you my word as a god," she said.
The Cerberus nodded. It yawned, and lay down next to its wife, hoping to protect her. Meanwhile, the avatar was still listening to see if he would hear more of what Mars was saying. It closed its eyes, using its psychic link to the god and entered his mind, seeing through his eyes. Mars was flying across the sky, with Hades running below him. Proserpine and Caudus were nowhere to be seen. As they neared Rome, Hades called up to Mars.
"So we grab the kid and run, correct?" he growled.
Mars nodded. "We do that, and then capture my avatar. It will be loyal to us if it's near me."
"Very well. Then let's do it," Hades said.
Mars' avatar broke the link at that moment. "Argentum...it's not his wife they are after," it gasped, and closed its eyes as it transformed into a dragon. Then it roared and flew off to find Argentum.
Ares looked confused, then looked around. He was alone. Which could mean...suddenly, he heard a roar, and saw Caudus flying towards him, with Proserpine on his back. The god's eyes widened. It turned into its true wolf form and roared at them.
"What do you want?" It asked them.
"Your head!" Caudus yelled, swooping down towards the wolf.
The wolf growled. It roared loudly and lunged at the hydra, clawing at the beast with its claws. Caudus roared as well, biting down on the wolf's fur. However, Ares dodged the blows. It howled and charged towards Caudus, extending its claws.
"You will not defeat me!" It roared, pushing the hydra back.
The hydra growled. It opened its mouth and blew fire at the wolf. The wolf dodged it and jumped up, swiping at its opponent's wing. It growled angrily and tried to attack. The hydra hovered above it and flew off to Argentum's house.
"No, I won't let her take him!" Ares yelled, sprinting after him.
It howled and transformed into an eagle. The hydra saw it and growled, then landed on the roof of Argentum's house and tore off the roof. It saw Licinus is and grabbed him, then flew off. The eagle screeched and flew after Caudus. Suddenly, Articulos came soaring across the sky, heading straight for the Hydra. The dragon roared loudly. It breathed fire at the hydra, who returned the blast using its nine heads.
"Do not allow them to get the child," Proserpine ordered.
The hydra nodded. It roared again at the avatar and flew off with Licinus as Mars appeared to battle the avatar and Ares.
"You are coming with me!" Mars growled, looking at Articulos.
The avatar groaned. It turned back to normal and held its head, screaming in pain. Mars caught his avatar as it fell and flew off.
