Chapter 22: War and Peace
Lincoln blankly stared at his Aunt and Girlfriend. He was dumbfounded and could fathom on why they were in some random abandoned mine in rural Wisconsin. Before he could ask them anything. Artemis walked up to Lincoln and slapped him hard across his cheek. This was the first time he was ever slapped. It was not too long until he received his second face slap when Diana slapped his face in all of her fury that she knocked him to the ground. Since she was the daughter of Zeus. Her powers fully manifested two years ago and Lincoln felt her super strength from her palm. Lincoln got up and tried asking what was that for. Only for the two to scream at him.
"WHY DID YOU JUST RUN OFF WITHOUT TELLING US?!"" Artemis shouted at him.
Before Lincoln could come up with an answer. Diana shouted.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WRONG THAT WAS TO JUST LEAVE LIKE THAT?! YOU WERE RAISED BY WOMEN YOUR LIFE, AND YET YOU HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT WOMEN'S FEELINGS. "
"I'm so sorry for what I did. You guys are right. What I did was wrong, I should have told you guys and mother instead of sneaking off" Lincoln responded in an attempt to apologize.
"Alexa is dead." Diana stated.
"What?" Lincoln said with a confused and surprised look.
"Persephone killed her to free Ares from his Cell. And they escaped Themyscira. We came here to investigate Ares Cult worship and the summoning of daemons that are loyal to Ares." Artemis explained to him.
Lincoln's mind had a hundred thoughts running through it. His mother is dead and Persephone betrayed them to free Ares. Lincoln didn't know Persephone that well. His mother and Persephone were in a relationship together when he was six. He had a good recounting of those memories because he and Persephone played a lot and he thought she was gonna be part of the family too. But he remembered the relationship only lasted a few months and they split off. And now he discovered his mother's former lover killed her and freed the most vile enemy of the amazons into the world. He felt betrayed and wanted revenge. Before anything else was addressed. He introduced the two to his grandfather. They made their introductions and then Artemis explained to them that there is another cave into the earth adjacent to the mine which is an entrance to the Hades' domain which they were on their way to, to attempt to stop Ares from having his shackles removed. Lincoln was invited by the two to get revenge and Pop-pop volunteered to help his grandson while Lucy was stuck with him for the ride. They then proceeded to make their way out of the cave when they saw a man just outside of the mine, wearing a flannel jacket along with hiking pants pointing a hunting rifle at them.
"STOP OR I WILL SHOOT." Commanded the man.