Huge shout out to everyone who reviewed last chapter. With a story this long, seeing so much feedback is fantastic. This one is for you guys!
Enjoy!
Despair.
That was Drake's first thought when he entered the prison through the portal. The second he appeared the cold clung to his skin and threatened to freeze him solid. The dark and depressing colour scheme of the walls and the distant wails made for quite an image.
"Well, what now?" He asked as everyone else joined him.
"Well, that's pretty easy," Natsu replied. Without waiting the man turned, fist aflame, and slammed it into a nearby wall. The wall crumbled and the torrent of flame Natsu created flew through a dozen more, sending debris and smoke everywhere.
"Be more careful," Erza chastised. "You might have hit prisoners!" Natsu either knew that and didn't care, or knew he wasn't going to hit anyone. The pink haired man disappeared into the hole he created, Gray and Erza close behind hm to raise hell.
"Let's spread out," Laxus said as he took command of the situation. "Elise, Gajeel, both of you cause chaos and free as many prisoners as you can. Simon, Ultear, you two are going to direct them here. I've instructed Mest to have Eris keep the portal open. Got it?"
"Yep," Simon said, requipping into his Black Wing armour, "let's go Ul."
"Right behind you," Ultear said as the pair took off after the Redfox's, the eldest breaking a hole in the wall and disappearing.
"Get going you four," Laxus said as he referred to Drake, Luna, Takara and Jason. "Find Nashi and bring her back here as soon as possible. We aren't waiting around for Hades to show us the way." Drake nodded, explosions ringing in the distance.
"Takara, Jason, show us the way," he said. Nodding, the pair turned and ran down the long hallway. Drake and Luna followed close behind, waiting for the pair to say something.
"The portal entrance is near Hades' office," Takara said as they rounded a corner, "But I doubt he's got her there."
"Do you think Hades is in there?" Drake asked.
He didn't need an answer.
As they rounded the next corner, a horrible shiver came over him. In froze him to his very core and sent terror up his spine. He wanted to run away and never come back, but he couldn't. He had someone to save.
"He definitely is," Jason murmured. "We can't fight him. Hades is...I don't even know what he is."
"But how're we supposed to get by?" Takara asked. "Is he just going to let us go by?"
"That'll be my job," another voice said. Drake turned to see Poseidon walking up behind them, trident clenched tightly in his hand. Drake hadn't seen the man a lot, but he doubted the rage present on his face was common.
"Can we trust you?" Drake asked simply.
His response was the room shaking as magic power leaked off of Poseidon's form.
"Get to your friend before I bring this prison down on top of him," Poseidon said. Nodding, he turned and ran after the other, dragging Luna along. He'd seen her freeze in fear back there, so he took the initiative to keep her with. He suppressed the terror that the nearby black door gave him, following after the former prisoners.
"Stay close and feel for a sign," he told Luna, "We aren't wasting time here."
"O-Okay," Luna replied weakly. "B-But Poseidon...H-He's going too..."
"Let the man go," Drake said, "and for the love of all that's holy, do not feel sorry for him."
Hades smirked as his office door was torn off by a raging torrent, the water flowing in and consuming the room. He simply sat in his seat, untouched by it, as Poseidon entered the room. The magic coming off the man cracked the ground as he walked, and if Hades was even the least bit threatened, it would have been impressive.
"Poseidon," he greeted casually as the waves tore around him, trying to get close and tear him to shreds but failing.
"Hades," Poseidon spat. "How dare you?"
"How dare I what, brother?"
"Do not call me brother!" Poseidon roared, the waves responding to his rage and consuming the room in a whirlpool. "You have to answer for what you've done! You betrayed us! You split the girl and two and got Zeus killed! Have you no honour?! No shame?!"
"Shame for what, exactly?" Hades asked, unbothered by the waves. "Shame for betraying a group of holier-than-thou morons who were consumed by prophecy? Sorry, but I never bought into the old mans plan. Would have failed from the start."
"We could have succeeded had you not betrayed us!" Poseidon shouted as the waves threatened to consume everything in their path. "We could have had the girl! We could have stood up against the King when he rose, just as Pythia foretold!"
"Pythia this, Pythia that," Hades said as he waved his hand around nonchalantly. "Say what you came for, Poseidon."
"Your head," Poseidon answered without hesitation. Hades grinned at this, his magic being contained no longer. His darkness began to lick at the water around him, keeping them at bay.
"And you'll die for it?" He asked hopefully.
"I don't intent to die at your hands, traitor!" Poseidon declared, aiming his trident directly at him. "Typhoon Impact! A massive gout of water erupted from the tip if the trident, blasting towards Hades. He didn't even bother evading it, letting the attack strike him head on.
As the water dissipated into the currents around him, Hades smirked.
"What a lovely tap on my shoulder, brother," he said as he stood from his seat. "But you're right, you have a score to settle. Shall we dance?"
It was then the battle truly began.
Darkness exploded out of Hades' form, eating away at the waves that attempted to crash into him. Within seconds the water receded to Poseidon and into the trident, before shooting out of the tip. Hades dodged it easily, but the torrent followed him. Sighing, he waved a hand and swatted the water away, watching it explode and dissipate into the ground.
"Tell me, brother," Hades said, "do you really think you'll be able to defeat me?" Poseidon gave no answer, "I thought so. You know, don't ya? I'm stronger than you."
"You're nothing but a parasite, Hades," Poseidon replied coldly, the waves whipping up again. "I'll decimate you and take your head to the others so that Hera may rest at peace." Hades laughed at this.
"Hera?" He asked, "oh my, it's been a long time since I heard her name! How has she been since her husband died?" The waves whipped at him even harder at this, but he ignored them. "No wonder you had to come and fight this battle for her; she was never a fighter."
"She is a wonderful woman who has held our family together after you killed her husband," Poseidon said angrily, "Don't dare speak poorly of her!" The waves descended on Hades again, encasing him in a sphere and attempting to drown him. Of course, that did nothing.
The darkness ate away at the water, releasing him and allowing him to drop to the ground.
"Oh yes, she's so important," Hades said sarcastically. "Our stay at home Mom is so nice. Did she pack pudding in your lunch for you today?"
"Fluctus Fragore!" The water once again took shape around Poseidon, this time forming a massive wave. It rushed forth and crashed into Hades, knocking him slightly off balance. It wasn't just one wave, either. Time after time the water crashed into him, Moving him lightly around the room and tossing him every which way. Growling in irritation, Hades waved his hand. A pyre of bones rose from the center of the room for him to stand on, which let him free of the waves. He wiped his hair out of his face, smiling.
"You always did want to drown me, didn't you Poseidon?" He taunted from above the other man.
"Must you always talk so much?" Poseidon demanded, "just fight and shut your damn mouth!" The waves tore at the pyre of bones, but the structure remained intact. Hades laughed aloud at this.
"Do you really wish me to fight me seriously, brother?" he asked. Poseidon gave no answer verbally, but his choice was obvious. Hades sighed, raising his right hand. His staff appeared there, it's obsidian serpent figurehead gleaming in the dim light.
"Then let us finish what we started."
It hadn't taken long for the magic clash between Hades and Poseidon to reverberate through Tartarus. The waves coming off both men were felt by prisoners, guards and invaders alike, and all of them wished for one to come out on top.
As much as Drake didn't like Poseidon, he vastly preferred him as victor in this fight. Currently he ran along the seemingly endless tunnels of Tartarus, at first following Takara and Jason's instructions to get to the prison cells. Once there, Drake flung poison on the bars as they passed, freeing all those in the block and allowing them to flee. He didn't wait to see if anyone did as he let them; he had something else to focus on. Once they got here, it was up to Luna to track down her other half. She said she got faint readings, but other than that she seemed as lost as them.
"Any ideas?" Drake asked as they came to a four way intersection. Luna looked around, confusion in her eyes.
"I can feel her so faintly," she whispered. "I know she's here, but..."
"She's probably in the Ignis Wing," Jason said, "It's where Hades likes to keep his toys. It's under the rest of the prison, so..."
"So down is where we're going, then?" Drake asked. "Okay, let's do that then!"
"Drake, wait-!" Ignoring him and raising his fist, Drake coated it in poison and slammed it into the ground. It didn't cave easily but a few more swings and the ground caved in around them. He collapsed into the darkness with the others, hearing how close they were to hitting the ground.
"Takara!" He shouted, "Raise a platform of gems twenty feet to your right, now!"
"W-What?!"
"Just do it!" Although she didn't seem to trust him, Takara did as he asked. Pretty soon they all landed hard on the emeralds, but it was a preferably surface to what he saw before them.
A massive chasm spread out before them, a dark red glow coming up from within. Drake's ears told him it was magma. How he hadn't heard it prior to caving in the floor, he didn't know. He also didn't know how this place avoided being super-heated by the magma, but he could question the logistics later.
All along the chasm were cells. There was no platform for anyone to stand on outside the chasm, which meant they had to be created by external means. Takara could do that easily enough, but now they needed to find Nashi.
"She's down here!" Luna said, pointing down the chasm. "I can feel here now!"
"Ah, so Hades was right!" A voice said. "We do have visitors! How lovely!"
A woman now stood in between them and the cell at the end of the chasm. She had right red hair that matched their current dilemma, and her smile was wider than any Drake had ever seen.
"Jason?" He asked tentatively. The man grumbled under his breath.
"Philotis," he replied, "Spirit of Friendship and Affection." Drake raised an eyebrow at this.
"Seriously?" He asked. "What's she gonna do, hug us to death?"
The look Jason gave him did not reassure him.
"Don't take her lightly," Jason said aloud, "All the Children of Nyx embody something, and have mastered magic that excels in that regard. Do not underestimate her power just because her title is silly."
"Silly?" Philotis asked from down the chasm. "That's not nice, Jason. I was one of the only ones that defended you and Apate when you betrayed us!"
"Sure you did," Jason replied, "Doesn't stop you from standing across from me now, though."
"Of course not," Philotis said, looking confused. "You may be my friend, but I still must stop you. Surely Eris conveyed as much."
"So can we punch our way through her or not?" Drake demanded, growing impatient.
"Good luck doing that once she influences you," Jason said. "You'll think you're her closest friend. Wouldn't be surprised if you turn on us, or the other way around. Her smile hides a darkness only Hades could instil."
"Please do not paint me in such a negative light!" Philotis called out, "I am not as bad as he says! I even prepared a surprise for Jason's return! If you don't believe me, I'll let you guys pass!"
"Yeah, okay," Drake said as he crossed his arms. "Why the hell would I believe something so ridiculous?"
He soon got his answer.
Rocks gutted out along the chasm, creating a pathway from them all the way to the end of the chasm and Philotis. She stood still with that godlike smile on her face, hands behind her back. Activating his hearing, Drake listened into her mind to see what her plan was.
How could he have ever doubted this woman? Her entire mind soothed his worries about being betrayed. There was literally zero chance that she'd do anything horrible like that to him. They were best friends, after all.
"We'll be fine," Drake said aloud, making everyone else look at him.
"D-Drake?" Luna asked weakly.
"She'll let us past," he said, looking back at everyone. "Let's go! We're wasting our time!"
"Everyone but Jason!" Philotis called out, "I wish to speak with him!" Drake had no problem with that. They were old friends, surely they just wanted to talk.
"Go," Jason said to the girls. "Drake's being influenced, but it doesn't matter. She clearly wants me, not the rest of you."
"But that doesn't make sense!" Takara insisted. "If they're trying to keep us from getting Nashi-"
"We have no idea what their plan is," Jason replied, "We only need to get Nashi out of here. So go, I'll keep Philotis off of you."
Jason watched slowly as Drake, Takara and Luna walked ahead of him and towards Philotis, who just watched them happily. They hopped up on her platform and past her slowly to the metal door behind her, and she still did nothing. Takara looked back and met his eyes, but he just nodded at her. He needed to fight Philotis alone. All that mattered was freeing Nashi.
"So Jason!" Philotis said, "How have you been the last few years?"
"Cut the crap, Philotis," he replied, "why the hell did you want me alone?"
"Well that's pretty obvious," she said. "I said i had a surprise for you, remember? I'm pretty sure I said that."
"I don't want any surprises you have for me."
"Well you say that now! Of course you say you don't want a surprise when you don't know what it is!" Philotis looked annoyed by his attitude. "We went through the trouble of preparing such a nice surprise for you, and you won't even take it?"
"I get the feeling you'll give it to me regardless," Jason replied warily. Philotis let out an airy laugh at this.
"You're right! I will!" With this, Philotis raised a hand and snapped her fingers.
The cage next to her clicked open, sliding open. Jason began to sweat apprehensively, not sure what to expect.
What did happen stunned him to his core.
A figure stumbled out of the cage, standing between him and Philotis. At first he had no idea what was happening, but it dawned on him before long. This figure had Long, stringy blonde hair that stuck to her head, and her entire figure screamed malnutrition. The only reason he had any idea what to expect was because of Philotis' face.
"Don't you recognise her?" She asked sweetly.
Jason gaped, unable to suppress his surprise. The woman slowly turned her head to look at him, and he saw it. Desperate fire burning behind blue eyes.
"...S-Sarah?" He asked weakly, his entire world crashing down on top of him. Philotis giggled at this.
"Who's that silly?" She asked in that horrifically angelic voice. "Sweetie, what's your name?"
"Apate," the woman's voice came weakly, raspy and nearly gone. "My name is Apate, the personification of deceit."
"Where do your allegiances lie?" Philotis asked.
"The Children of Nyx and our Lord Hades," Apate said.
Jason didn't know what to say.
In all these years, he had never questioned his sisters death. He had never once given Zeus the benefit of the doubt and believed his sister may have lived. And yet, all this time, here she was. Down here, in the Ignis Wing, being tortured. She was a Broken, one with no sense of self after all the torture.
"...Why?" He finally asked.
"Why what?" Philotis asked.
"Why did you do this?!" Jason shouted as his emotions sprang forth, unable to be contained. "Why would you do this to your friend, Philotis?! Even more, why hide it from me?! Why did Zeus tell me she was dead?!"
"Isn't that obvious?" Philotis asked. "I was the one who convinced Zeus and Hades to spare her."
"W-What?" Philotis continued on to say something truly horrible with such a pretty smile on her face.
"We spared her to break her, silly. And then, we wanted to use her to break you. Kinda like we're doing now! After that, we could be a family again, all twelve Children reunited. Or she kills you because you're weaker than her, just like you've always been Dolos."
It was only after she continued that Jason realised how much Hades had destroyed the orphans he'd grown up with.
"The strong older sister against the runt of the litter," she said dreamily. "Such a lovely battle that needs resolving."
Yeah I'm kinda mean to my characters, aren't I? Don't worry, I haven't even begun to torture them. I hope you all enjoyed, leave a review! Let's try and get five!
Chapter 363: Dolos vs. Apate