"Are you certain it's him?" Athena spoke behind the bead curtains, silver eyes taking in the rest of the vast Olympian palace below her, watching the sunset painting white marble pillars orange. Today she never went out of her queenschamber since Apollo left for dawn until his return. Her hair was undone after her bath. In her hand was a flagon she mildly twirled as the remaining wine danced with it.

The young goddess Nike answered meekly, "Yes, your deity."

The Queen sighed. Her husband had not lain beside her for the third night since the last time they spoke. Knowing him a lustful god she would have to live with this but it does not seem so. She had her little owls, young girls like Nike, speak on his whereabouts since the first night he had not come. Agonizing as it were she knew where he had been going even without the spies yet even in her mind she did not know why the confirmation was needed.

For the third time she had been tipped he made entrance to Aphrodite's chambers, making her stomach churn. Oh of all the qualities Ares mirrored from their father it had to whoring.

As her eyes closed she could only imagine snapping at the immorality thread joining the two.

"Uh, Queen Athena," Nike spoke again in a small voice, "Artemis is here,"

She opened her eyes to dissipate the thought and after draining the last of her wine she bid Nike to let Artemis in.

"Queen Athena," the hunter goddess acknowledged with a sincere nod, "You called for me, your deity."

"Spare me the formalities, woman," Athena rolled her eyes with a grin, "I called you in as the sister you are to me, not a subject,"

Artemis smirked, revealing soft powder blue eyes as her twin brother's. "That's still you in there I presume?"

"Of course. I will only ever be Athena to you." The queen shrugged her shoulders in a welcoming way. She sensed the hesitance of words from Artemis in the way she stared at the diminishing purple blotch on her cheek. There was the urge for the Huntress to offer consolation but she couldn't move.

"Oh Athena," Artemis' voice finally broke, closing the space between the two. "I'm so sorry this had to happen."

The Queen's face crumpled in a heartbeat. Tears resurfaced her eyes. Artemis was as wise enough to recognize the awful treatment towards Athena, how she was plucked from her life and thrown into the hell of Ares' clutches. She could particularly sense the unseen sufferings the Queen may have or haven't yet been plunged on. But Athena was Athena. She is a woman carved from steel with wits as sharp as Eagle's eye. She had been the strongest of them.

"Surely you have not called in for me at such an hour I have to ride the night skies, for nothing?" Artemis asked, shaking the drama that was beginning to reign. Athena gathered herself, "Yes, you will be needing Selene do your duty tonight. We have somewhere else to ride for. I need you and Orion, and Apollo as he approaches."

Artemis was all ears, her face coursing with seriousness, "Where to?"

The Queen closed her eyes in anxiety, releasing a long sigh before firming herself. "The Gorgons."

The horror on Artemis' face was something Athena had expected.

"Are you sure about this?" the Huntress seemed too appalled. Athena nodded, "The serpent. Heed the words of a serpent. I have sat here three nights speculating no other serpent than them."

"Couldn't it be more poetic? A riddle perhaps? Not something that literally refers to them?"

The Queen only wished it were. "I believe they are the best pick. If we spend more time ruining our heads over who's who only the Universe knows what Cronos is up to. We need to act."

"But Medusa… she's gone…" Artemis stammered, pulling into memory the near-death spontaneity of Perseus to bring the Gorgon's head.

Athena shook her head. "We have to make do with who's left."

"No…" There was a chill that crept behind Artemis. "Medusa's sisters are far worse. They are immortals. And day and night they crave for the blood of Medusa's killer. And you… How will you…?"

Athena could only cover her face with cold palms. "I was a fool, Artemis. I was young and naïve… I believed the excuses of Poseidon and made a terrible mistake…" She could remember the blood-curdling screams of Medusa on her temple as her Uncle forced himself on her, the fervent prayers and pleadings from a broken woman whose beauty had become her curse. And yet she abhorred the help and instead turned a blind eye to the mortal, and worse, rebirthing her to a horrible monster – her and her sisters, Stheno and Euryale. And while Medusa was a terrible legend, she was mortal. And the other two were… someone they will have to seek for aide and with a great cost of blood for justice. Especially hers.

"I think it is about time," Athena heaved, "I have to make up for their tragedy."

The Huntress gave her a long hard and uncertain stare. There was nothing else that would bother her but the thought of Athena having to appease monsters the work of her own hands. For Athena it would have to be the first test of her Queenship – to rectify her own foolishness.

"As you wish." Artemis nodded. "I will have to take my leave to suit up and rouse Orion. It won't be long until Apollo arrives. How about the King?"

Athena bit the wall of her mouth before passing by the Huntress. "Let him whore his way. I have no dealings with pea brains." Artemis' brow rose. The words tasted like bile but there was a different ingredient to it that seems amiss and have poured out like jealousy instead. She shook her head before heading towards the exit. "We meet behind the gates then,"

Athena was tying her hair as she nodded.

The Queen had come last behind the gates when Olympus was asleep. She had given Nike a fair share of instructions not to tell anyone, especially the King, where she had to spend the night with. She was all but golden armor and gold-infringed tassets of the best leather. Half her hair was tied in intricate braids where the glorious Spartan helm of silver mane would settle. Her bracers and greaves were crimson, and behind her a light double-edged sword hung in its scabbard.

They greeted each other with meek nods, and as Athena whistled then came the luminescence of Pegasus, prancing beautifully in his bright wings and long mane which flowed like silk in the wind. The Queen eased herself on the horse, signaling the others the urgency to leave. Apollo and Artemis held the bridles of the great warhorses, red as the sunset and run in great speeds leaving a trail of fire, to drive their chariot. The humungous hunter Orion sits behind them with his spiked club in hand.

"You have the coin?" Apollo confirmed with Athena. The Queen half-smiled and showed the golden disk between two fingers.

It had not taken them too long before they reached the dock of the River Styx.

The stench of death and witchcraft lingered in the fumes that rise from the shadowy waters. Here and there restless whispers echoed, making the horses snigger and sending chills behind the gods' necks. Athena's eyes were ever inquisitive, left and right her senses were ahead of her.

Artemis looked behind Orion who was unable to hide the trembling of his knees. She realized it was his first time to have gone this far down.

"We'll be alright," Artemis comforted, swiftly making Orion harden himself to conceal the fear that had been chewing on him.

"It's awful here," the hunter, large as he was, sniffed as his eyes roamed about the shadows and the hidden eyes among the stalactites above them. "I'm hearing voices."

"Don't listen to them." Athena snapped. "Those are restless souls unable to bribe the ferryman enough to cross this river."

As soon as Athena spoke, Pegasus neighed in fear as the water stirred, forming grotesque faces as a hideous worn-down boat numinously emerged from the black mist. The infamous boatman Charon, swathed in black robes and only showing his skeletal arms, crookedly stood whilst rowing all too slowly. The ferryman stopped at the docks.

Athena could only see a black shadow under the hood of the ferryman. She swallowed and flipped the coin towards Charon, who caught it deftly, and, seeing the imprinted head of Medusa the Gorgon on its surface, stooped to give the travelers an incredulous stance. His bony shoulders heaved in an eerie mocking laughter as he lowered the drawbridge that connected to the dock. As the Queen was about to lead Pegasus towards the boat, Charon gurgled angrily and shook his head. Athena looked behind the others, making them anxious. "We leave the beasts behind."

As the boat made its way along the slow currents, neither could speak, hammered by the agony that reigned on their eyes. The Gorgons were nothing to take lightly, they are as fearsome as the Kraken itself and nothing bothers Athena more than guilt.

The boat reached the black shores of a ruined temple. As soon as four of them stepped on the smooth dark pebbles then the boat had dissipated in the air.

"Never have I dreamt of a Gorgon house visit," Apollo clicked his tongue meanwhile gathering his bow and quiver. Artemis scoffed and mussed her twin brother's hair before giving him a light peck on the lips. "We'll be alright."

The Queen swallowed at the stunning display of affection, making her mouth dry. Shaking off the queasy feeling she drew her spear, double-edged and poisoned, and full-body length armor. "Orion, the nets."

"Yes, your deity. Will this only be a mission to capture?" The giant tightened his spiked club. Athena could only pray, "I wish so too, Orion. I wish so." At her last word she entered the ruins.

The smell of venom was too strong, making their stomachs churn. No mortal could last another minute breathing in the poison. Inside were massive piles of destruction – rocks and fallen statues as large as mountains, crumbled pillars and dust.

"Don't fall." Athena barely whispered, hiding behind a fallen head of rocks. Her silver eyes gleaming. Apollo, Artemis, and Orion slowly looked down only to see the thick fiery river of lava coursing through, explaining the extreme heat within. The Queen closed her eyes, perceiving the hissing sounds that had already smelled their presence.

We have guests…

The whispers were clear enough. Athena put a finger between her lips.

Come out come out, we love taking in guests…

Athena lowered her weapon as she revealed herself. A series of haunting whispers echoed everywhere but still they could not see them.

"We come from Olympus. We mean no harm." Athena's voice rung true and courageous. She saw two figures in a distant above her, hidden in the black but their eyes glowed – large yellow gems with thin vertical slits.

Oh. Godssss….

Deities…

Show us your face…

Athena looked behind at the three anxiously signaling her to not do what the hissing sounds commanded. But she was too obliged to put Olympus into safety and thus with sloth hands she pulled her helm to reveal the face of a warrior Queen.

At the instant the figures became aggressive, their hisses turned into hateful spits.

YOU…! A long clawed hand jutted from the dark followed by a hundred strings of poisonous snakes attacked. Artemis was quick to shoot arrows in defense as Orion jumped from his hiding place, smashing the rocks affront where the Queen stood and there the two Gorgons had finally come into view from the scattered flames.

The sisters were but torso and stomachs, they shared hips tethered to an enormous mid body of a giant snake with a length of about a castle's height. One of them had bluish scales while the other was emerald. Both had eyes of the same golden luster and the vertical slits, having only nostrils on flat faces and mouths wide from ear to ear. Their hair was live snakes as was their sister's, Medusa. They wore nothing to conceal their small breasts. Their every breath was vile stench.

"I told you we meant no harm." Athena looked at them straight in the eye despite the known fact they could literally turn one into stone. Medusa had an incontrollable stare, but the two had the choice to command. She stepped forward, surrounded by the sisters who were all on arms ready to release their fiery arrows, and Orion tightly clutching on his club.

One of the Gorgons spat and where it fell hissed acridly. "Why would we believe you?"

Words began to fall short on Athena, "I remember clearly, and for that I am very… very sorry for my act. That was stupid of me -…"

There was a sudden shrill laughter that came from the Gorgons, making Athena furrow her brows.

"Oh but we would have rather wanted this," the blue-scaled one spoke. Her voice was so twisted Athena could not fathom if she were listening to hyenas instead. "We do," the green-scaled approved. They began to move back to the shadows, the edge of their tail rattling.

"This we have such massive power, you said no one could ever harm us again, and here we are."

"So I've heard," Athena responded, "You've taken your powers to mortal villages and plundered on blood."

"Because revenge is sweet," the voices came in again.

"With that we could easily make you perish, Gorgons, and yet here we are,"

There again was the agitated hissing. "NO! You've given us this power as reminder of your own folly, and now you will not take them!"

"Then we could make a deal," Athena spoke, "You know things. I know you do. You know of Olympus' destruction."

The shrill laughter echoed from all corners, making the fires burn brighter. "Why do you think we do not mind killing you? We could just wait for the promised death of the gods."

"And when the gods die so shall your powers ebb. You do know they have come from me."

"NO!" The gigantic snake showed at a corner of the high broken ceiling. "You LIE!"

"With that I wish." Athena said, "As much as you rejoice the downfall of Olympus your life also hangs by the thread. And so I say again, we make a deal. You tell us what you foresee about the promised destruction and I give you my word you will retain your immortality."

With that the snake withdrew from their sight, the echoes fading behind them, and suddenly they re emerged with a hint of glee, making Athena's blood cold.

"As you wish, gods. But tonight we feast. We haven't given you a proper welcome." As the wild laughter escalated then so did many monstrous figures rose slowly from the lava. Their forms were incomprehensible – 10 feet of gross and misshapen figures that spew acid, their body parts located in all the wrong places.

A vicious battle immediately ensued even without Athena given time to wear her helm. Orion had already taken down two of the freaks, grunting as their saliva had mildly seared his skin. Artemis had taken a higher ground, running adeptly between rocks and boulders aiming at the huge red eyes or sharp-teethed mouths. Apollo was in close range, a sword in one had with his bow in the other, beautifully leaping at one of the monsters with a hundred long arms while driving the sword in its gaping heart.

Athena sliced through one of the deformed with her spear, never keeping her eye off the grinning two-bodied snake that made up the Gorgons. She maintained keeping close to the giant snake all the while hacking through innards and rancid flesh. The noise of fused tearing meat and steel were eminent and it seemed as they took down one then two others emerged from the lava.

"There's no need for this!" Athena cried after driving her spear through one. The snake smirked before disappearing through a hole and the Queen was determined to follow. Looking back at her companions with doubt she took the sign from Artemis to catch up with the Gorgons.

As she slid through the dark chasm, the snake's tail crashed against her. The weapon in her arm slipped and made metallic noises through the hollow. As soon as her frail body smashed against the rocks then half of her was but coiled by the snake's length. Athena gasped for air amid the sinister laughing and she came face to face with the two.

"How we longed for thissss," the green-scaled Gorgon sniggered, twisting further until Athena nearly screamed in pain, her hips at the brink of breaking. "We wish your friends could take home a stone souvenir!" finally the Gorgons gave her a mordant look as they screamed on top of their lungs while their eyes shot a strong sore light.

Yet seeing Athena still in her form unchanged they screamed further, the snakes on their heads baring their fangs as well, chorusing with the severe screeches.

It was the Queen's turn to smile despite the trickle of blood on her lips. The Gorgons began to mumble, eyes disbelieving with their gasps.

"Impossible!" both Gorgons shrieked, "All men shall turn to stone!"

"And I am not a MAN!" Athena roared as Orion leapt from behind them, smashing the massive pointed rock that hung from above and the air was pierced with the Gorgons' screams as their snake body was terribly pinned to the ground, violently squirming and breaking the rocks that surrounded them. Athena wriggled free and Apollo swiftly caught her as both tumbled to the debris.

It took a while for the air to clear from the dust, and as the gods stood to see what was left of the snake there they saw a bewildering sight. The two bodies that once was joined in the hips have separated, each now having their own pairs of long scaly legs and feet, and their hair had disappeared, revealing clean scalp still covered in thin burnt flesh. They were embracing each other dutifully whilst glaring at the deities looking down on them.

"What happened?" Artemis poked her head at the entrance, shortly aghast by the new form of the two.

"They lost their body," the Queen could only reply and neared the sisters, "Now you've given us the welcome," she slid the double edged sword behind her and pointed its shimmering edge, "Then it's time to go."

As Orion stepped forward to hand over the net with all cautiousness then the two sluggishly stood on their scaly legs. "There's no need for that," the Green-scaled one warned, "I'm going."

"Euryale," her sister protested but not with much determination.

Athena waited, memorizing the volunteer to be Euryale, leaving the blue-scaled to be Stheno. Euryale stepped forward, "Give us your word and let my sister go."

"It won't be a good idea, Athena," Artemis tightened her grip on her silver bow, "Let go of the other and we will be hearing news of villages looted and mortals spilling blood."

"There won't be a need for that," Euryale sighed. "Stheno will flee and you need not know where."

Athena raised the tip of her sword at Stheno, who scowled despite herself. "I do this for the sake of my fault towards you. The moment I hear news of slaughter in your hands I will not hesitate to drive this edge…" the blade was slightly pushed, momentarily wounding the scales of the blue serpent's nape, "…here."

Euryale hissed furiously, pushing her sister by the arm and away from them. "Go! I will find you. Go." Stheno gazed at her sister for the last time whilst taking a shaky step back. The slits of her eyes traveled to the Queen at last and with a swift turn of heels she vanished among the thick shadows.

Securing the feat they have succeeded, Athena commanded all as she slid her sword behind her. Apollo paced forward with her spear to hand over which she nodded in gratitude. Yet as all made the effort towards the free space, a powerful tremor drove them to their knees except a grinning Euryale.

Dust and stones began to fall on them and a gaping crack which was not there between them had appeared. "WHAT'S HAPPENING!?" Orion yelled, almost slipping off the edge of a boulder which thundercrashed on the lava below them. The thick scalding liquid had begun to rise.

"This had been our fortress for eons," Euryale smiled deprived of anxiety and unease, "As we leave so does evidence of its existence goes."

"Everyone! To the exit QUICK!" Athena charged ahead, leaping over the piles of bloodied monsters as they detoured to where they entered. As they neared, the courage in Athena's eyes melted and replaced with apparent trauma. What loomed affront them was not the portal to their safety but hoards and mass of felled boulders. No. NO!

With her own fingers the Queen wrested edges of the rocks until her fingernails bled and still with the chaos that surrounded them. Apollo called to search for other crevices enough to fit them as Euryale chose to be apathetic by the second.

Suddenly a loud crash came from the outside, momentarily shaking off a few of the piles. And as the Queen stared on, Artemis screamed at her to move away and to their great astonishment, a thunderous smash instantly turned the slabs into stones. While they recuperate from the momentary blindness, a shadow surfaced on the cavity that resulted.

Athena coughed, and her eyes squinted at the figure – a splendid silhouette of armor and cape, with red orbs that made up his eyes. Her heart raced fidgeting to have recognized the newcomer, staring at her sternly like daggers. His dark voice has woken her senses.

"You little bitch."

Athena was not given the chance to respond, being too dumbfounded at Ares' uninvited yet helpful appearance. Before another wave of quake could lose their chance of escape, the Queen felt the King's powerful grip on her arm and his hasty pull out in the open.

A/N: I'm pretty aware I am not a writer of action and battle scenes and for that I'm sorry. My descriptions here are pretty quick and messed up and lacks vigour. Don't worry though I'm trying to get ideas from other amazing battle fics out there. *Peace sign*. Thank you all for the reviews, too. I know Ares had been an a-hole for the most part but please be assured there will be taming of the wild vulture. May take some time, though. But keep pitching your thoughts. :)