Chapter Three
After dinner they all went out to the front, evidence of the previous battle still on display short of the bodies Mama, the crocodile, dragged away. The massive beast in question rested on the edge of the water, unmoving even as little Tina walked up to touch her snout. "We're gonna do something big Mama just watch." the little girl giggled.
"Tina, come on honey we need you too." Lucinda smiled.
"Coming" the five-year old raced to join the others.
Each member fell into place leaving a gap between Lucinda and Raven who stood at her right. In a flash of light a blonde woman, nearly twin to Lulu's uncle appeared between them to fill the gap. The dark haired couple moved to hug her, a tearful reunion putting everything else on hold. "You are so beautiful." Renee kissed her daughter's forehead turning to Raven, "And my handsome boy, how you both have grown."
"We missed you mama, so much" Lulu sniffed, wiping her face.
"We just need one more person and we'll be set to begin." Renee looked to the woods.
As they all turned a beautiful woman, clad in a dress made of leaves, vines and flowers walked from the woods. She waved her hand and the children bowed their heads, then in her hands was the Spear of Triam. Lucinda broke the circle to approach taking the spear in hand.
"A part of this is your birthright, my beautiful granddaughter." Rhea handed it to her.
"But part of it is theirs," she turned to Perseus and Ajinor.
"They have had their turn my dear, it is yours now."
"By your grace" Lucinda bowed her head and turned back to the circle, "With the Spear of our fathers I create the circle." she walked the circle around the descendants closing it in her place.
"Who goes first?" Jacob asked.
"I do, I close us into the circle and each meets with me." She walked with the spear to the center of the circle.
"I come first Child of a Goddess," Ethan stepped forward, "Lady of Love, mother of my brothers." he looked to the Sons of Aphrodite.
"I welcome you" Lucinda held out her free hand, "child of the Lady Love, and a brother of my heart."
Ethan took her hand, the other holding Eros' bow in his other hand, their auras danced as they began the incantation. With each word their powers raised, spreading through the circle. In the last lines they let go of each other's hand and stepped back, their chant increasing in volume and their power centering between them creating a figure which molded into the goddess Aphrodite. "A beauty to behold, the Lady of Love, Goddess Aphrodite, we welcome your return." Lucinda touched her arm, nodding for Ethan to lead her back to his place in the circle.
"Next come I Child of a God, Lord of War, Conqueror and Destroyer." Raven advanced.
"I welcome you," she repeated, "child of War and keeper of my heart." she kissed him chastely.
The process repeated again their powers dancing a different sort of dance, as their voices rang calling back Ares, God of War wrapped in chains. It continued on, the twins coming together and her mother last until all but Aaron and Jacobi stood alone.
The two approached, Lucinda held the spear in both hands, taking hold of it as well. "We come to you," Aaron began.
"Sons of the Sea and Sky" Jacobi continued.
"Brothers of my father, Members of the Great Triad" Lucinda's eyes glowed black as night, Jacobi's turning sea blue and Aaron's filled with lightning. Their power raised, dancing around them and encircling the spear. Their voices echoed in the whirlwind of energy, lightning crashing in the center of the circle, the lake creating waves. Then there was a flash of light which left everyone blinded for a moment. When they looked again there stood Zeus and Poseidon. "Raven, Jaiden, Eric" Renee nodded toward the trio.
The three advanced, Raven stood with Lucinda, Eric at Jacobi's back and Jaiden at Aaron's. "I got you. cher, "Raven whispered into her hair, "let's finish this."
Each of the trio drew in the power which dance around them into the spear causing it to separate. "It is done, so moot it be." Lucinda leaned back against her lover.
"So moot it be" the others answered in unison.
Renee closed the circle lifting Tina onto her hip as the little girl yawned.
"How is this possible?" many of the gods began to ask.
"Father" Perseus approached.
"Perseus," Zeus looked surprised, "What is this?"
"The last oracle saw this, saw her, them, bringing all of you back." Perseus explained looking at each of the teens. The twins sat shoulder to hip, resting against each other, Travis sitting with his guide stick folded in his lap with Alexis' head on his shoulder, Rosa and Amanda interacting with the goddess they'd descended from. With a simple touch they had learned they could show all of their memories.
"Aaron" they all looked to see the brunette had collapsed into his lover's arms. Melinda and Renee rushed over, Renee setting Tina down before laying her hand on Aaron's brow/
"He's burning up, take him up to bed." she sighed, "Melinda, go with him, there should be an ice pack on the freezer door. put it under his head. And take Tina up to bed."
"Yes mama" Melinda nodded.
"I've missed you too, my little Sunshine." Renee smiled.
"As enchanting as this reunion is, did anyone else hear that" Agenor looked around.
"That would be my bomb roses, on the South wall." Rosa's eyes glowed green, "My fly trap took care of the rest."
"Coward sent his lackeys to the slaughter." Renee sounded disgusted.
"There is much we have missed." Poseidon looked at his son.
"One touch will catch you up," Jacobi held out his hand. Each of the others did so in turn except for Ares who was still chained up.
"Why is Ares in chains?" Aphrodite inquired.
"Safety of the Covenant, he sided with the Ancient and is easily manipulated." Ethan explained to her.
"With all of us here do you think it necessary?" Athena looked around
"Lucinda and Raven made the call, if they feel it was necessary then yes." Travis nodded.
"The children are exhausted, no doubt. I'm sure we can handle everything now." Renee sighed.
"Alright cubs, Mama says bed, head out." Jesse chimed in.
"Don't have to tell me twice." Alexis hugs Renee, "Goodnight mama"
"Good night, " she hugged her back, kissing the top of her head, "I will see you all in the morning."
"It's been too long Renee" Hades stood beside her.
"Now you know why we fell off the grid." the blonde woman watched as Agenor and Perseus recounted important events and what had just occurred. Lucinda stood with Raven at her back, his arms around her waist and her head on his shoulder, watching their compatriots leave.
"I thought you were gone when you didn't come to the Underworld…"
"Coven of Chaos, we don't truly die." Renee smiled, "Lulu, Raven, go on to bed. I think Agenor and Perseus can handle the rest of the explanation."
Eventually everyone was moved into the mansion, the descendants all in bed. "This girl Lucinda," Zeus turned to Hades and Renne, "she is your daughter."
"She is," Hades nodded, "this is Renee, her mother and the High Priestess of this family's coven."
"Sis" Jesse stopped in the doorway.
"What's wrong?"
"Gabriel's done it again."
"Leave him be, he's probably feeling crowded." she nodded her understanding, "If he hasn't come out of it in the morning I'll check on him."
"I'm making another round, then David and I are turning in." he approached, each kissing the other's cheek, "Good night."
"Good night Jesse, be safe."
"I promise"
"You have quite a home." Perseus complimented, "How did you find most of these children?"
"As Hades said, I am the High Priestess and so was trained to recognize when a descendant came into his/her powers. Some were left with their families until it was no longer safe or the family died, like Tina, the twins, Rosa and Amanda, others I took in."
"And Aaron and Jacobi?" Agenor asked.
"By the time Aaron was located it was safer to monitor is location rather than upturn his life. Jacobi never stopped moving so we never could pin down his location. Anywhere he went though there were agents keeping tabs on his movements for his safety." David answered, "That's not to include the danger of all three coming into their powers and being unable to control them."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Hades asked.
"Imagine everything you, Lords Zeus and Poseidon are capable of encompassed in a trio of teenagers. One who's staring down the monster who murdered her mother, one running from an abuser and the last having been shoved into a pool and left to drown." David explained.
"I suddenly see a Zombie apocalypse in a flood and freak lightning storm, a third of which I'm used to." Jaiden came in.
"How's Aaron?" Renee asked.
"Emitting static, so better" he fell into an empty armchair, "Melinda worked some of her magic to help him get better sooner."
"What about him emitting static?"
"When any of the kids get sick they tend to either lose control or get cut off from their power, it's a prioritizing of energy."
"She's impressive, he woke up a few minutes ago and was well enough to whine about still wearing his socks."
"What?" Helius looked puzzled.
"He doesn't like socks, or shoes for that matter, he's weird I know." Jaiden got up, "Well I told him I'd bring him Jell-O so let me get to that."