The scream was deafening, still echoing across the mountains and the valleys, although he was making no sound anymore. They ran to his side, dust rising in their wake, panicked, for never in the long years they have lived had they imagined that Hades, quiet Hades, always so distant and composed, would let out such a cry…Something terrible must have happened to him.

Fear threatened to make their hearts stop as they drew nearer, when they saw him…Hermes, whose eyesight was the strongest, took in a sharp breath, and everyone ran to his side. His uncle, lying on the ground…

The mortals worshipped the gods because of their power, their wisdom, their willingness to offer them help and protection… But they knew of their childish and capricious ways; they, too, would often get caught in their whims. Their quarrels, most of them insignificant, had even left parts of the land in ruins… Yes, they would turn against each other and then forget all about it, until a new dispute arose. Yet despite their bickering, despite their personal feelings, when things were dark, they stood together – and so did their people. When the poleis were at war with each other, the aftermath was devastating, but if the enemy was a foreign power, their differences were immediately forgotten and they all worked together to defeat their common foe. An admirable trait, proof that the bond they shared was stronger than whatever divided them.

Seven figures were standing around the fallen man, the sight of him making them shiver.

The King of the Underworld, lying unconscious…One of the Divine Three, so seriously injured… A silver arrow was sticking out of his right leg, glowing with a strange light. Two more arrows were buried deep in his back, snapped in half under his weight, causing him unbearable pain. Wan and soaked in blood, the god of the dead was not breathing. The red liquid was dripping out of the corners of his mouth, dust and dirt soiling his cloak, and he had given into pain… It seemed that the master of death had succumbed to it…Because if he was not dead, what was he? How could someone still live after all this pain?

A heart-rendering wail broke the silence. A woman ran to him, bursting into tears.

"Brother!" she whispered between her sobs. "Do something!" she begged, turning to the others who watched in horror, as they never expected they would ever see Hestia like this. "My brother is dying!" She screamed, and the cruel reality became crystal clear. He would die…He would die…

"No!" Hera's shoulders were shaking, her face white… She knelt next to her brother, amber eyes full of anguish, as she took his face in her hands. "Hades! Hades!" She demanded in a hushed voice, as if her sheer willpower would bring him back, ignoring the cries and voices around her. The two sisters were holding their brother protectively, to shield him from harm… Like back then, when they were children…

I'm cold…

I'm scared…

Those were his first words to them, right after Cronus had disposed of his firstborn son, so that he would never be a threat to his reign… His sisters had embraced him, keeping him warm, and life seemed brighter, if only for a while… It was the first and the last time Hades ever admitted to anyone that he was afraid. Soon, he became strong enough so that he would be the one to protect his sisters, and Poseidon joined him later on…

The King of the Seas had his eyes fixed to the sky; he refused to acknowledge what was happening, he could not bear to look at his brother, his brother…

Someone would always get hurt; he had seen his kin in pain before… He remembered Zeus' groans before Athena was born; Ares, trapped inside that cauldron, and now, Artemis and Apollo…

But he had never seen anyone in a state like this, and definitely not his brother…

His brother, the most righteous of them all…His brother, who had never harmed anyone… Perhaps the only god he could confide in and trust completely… His brother, who had been through so much, and now that he found happiness again, they dragged him in this accursed war…

Blind rage took over him; he could feel his head throbbing, and his voice tore at the air.

"Who, who did this? Who?" he roared, shoving Ares and Hermes aside to get to his brother, but he could not touch him…

He would soon get the answer to his question.

The solemn forms of Ares and Athena were standing apart from the rest, as the goddess of wisdom watched this horrible scene unfold before her, the cold piercing through her skin like a thousand needles…

Ares was unusually quiet. Most of the time, the sight of blood pleased him, but not now, and, although he would not admit it, he could not stand to look at his uncle… Instead, he was watching Hermes, who was examining the arrow in his leg.

The messenger stood up, pallid, a rarely worn serious expression on his face. So many times Hades had taunted him, had been hostile to him because of Persephone, yet he knew his uncle truly liked him, and so did he… Although he did not show it, the young god was neither carefree nor irresponsible. He deeply cared for those close to him, and would remain loyal to them no matter what. He would do anything for them because he showed true bravery and maturity in difficult times. Someone who could be a pillar of strength to those who needed him…

"Those are Artemis's arrows", he surmised. He could tell from the silver feathers of the fletching – It was him who carried them from Hephaestus' forge to his sister. And now…

"You don't mean…" Aphrodite muttered, and the silence that followed was interrupted only by Hestia's sobs.

"She is wounded!" Hera stepped in, shooting Hermes a resentful glare, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm not saying she did it," Hermes grunted and took off. The steely gleam in his bright blue eyes made him look older, his blond hair was almost golden, and, once again, his resemblance to his father was striking. "Over there", he said through his teeth.

Right on cue, Ares turned to the same direction. "Mortals," he said simply.

Before the others could even blink, before they could ask where they were going, the two gods were gone, running faster than the eye could see…

It was hard to imagine these two men, so different from each other, working together… But they had something in common, something the rest of the gods could not understand, and it was more than mere intuition… They could sense guilt. It was not just a hunch or a guess; it was knowledge. It was like they could smell the guilt on these men, even from afar. They could feel it, as if it were part of their very being. Hermes, the patron of thieves, recognized guilt when he saw it, that agonizing feeling that you might get caught… And Ares, savage, unforgiving Ares, knew the guilt of spilling blood that was not yours to spill…He could see their fear, he could feel it, he knew they were guilty.

Euaristus, Nicostratus and Cletus… Three of the most aggressive, the most violent soldiers…Ambitious, but dangerous and corrupt. Deep inside, they thought themselves superior even to the god of war himself. Euaristus and Nicostratus went for the spear, while Cletus, the leader of the group, was an archer. But despite their constant bloodlust, they were cowards who never confronted their enemy directly… Because of their cowardice, they never earned Athena's favor, yet they envied those who had it, but they would never dispose them, out of fear for the wrath of the goddess they did not respect, but definitely dreaded…

Armistice…Hah!

They all had laughed at Rhodes' foolish idea. Nicostratus, the most cowardly of the three, was hesitant, but his comrades were adamant in their decision.

They sneaked into the enemy camp, when everyone was busy with the sacrifices, attacking every unsuspecting Rhodian who crossed their path; startled, unarmed men that had no means to defend themselves…

But Hades stopped them.

"You have no shame", he berated them, his voice making their skin crawl. "No respect for your gods. Malice is all you carry in your hearts, and for this, you will be punished."

Their weapons had been taken from them. He told them they would no longer take part in the war; they were to stay hidden, in the shadows, else he would send them to Tartarus…

One might say that he went easy on them, but Hades knew. He could read the hearts of men; he knew that robbing them of their chance at glory would be the most effective punishment.

And how hungry they were, for glory, for fame… No, not for Athens, but for themselves, and for this, they had to win this war…

There was only one way…

"No, you aren't saying…" Nicostratus whispered.

"Yes," Cletus, their leader, growled, his voice dripping with venom. "If we get Hades out of the way, who will stop us? He will never know it was us…"

The plan was set in motion immediately. They stole into the armory, taking three bows and three of Artemis's magic arrows, arrows that could kill a mortal immediately, and cause serious harm to a god…

Two of them found his back, one his leg. It was Cletus's shot that hit him harder; the man's spite made him a master in his craft…

They fled when they saw him fall. They ran, hoping they would not get caught, hoping they would not pay for their crimes…

The three reckless mortals would not get far, and if they turned to look behind, they would know that the end was near…

She could not make out her surroundings…Why was everything spinning? She could not see, she could not think… And Hades, the man she had been blaming all this time, the man who had hurt her sister so much, was now lying there, unconscious… Could he be dead? Would he wake up again?

The goddess of wisdom closed her eyes, hoping against all hope that she would wake up, that this was a dream, a nightmare, and there would be no screams, and Hades would be safe…Or, maybe, she wished that this war never happened, maybe…

"His heart is not beating…" she heard Aphrodite say, tears rolling down her cheeks, and Hestia looked frantic, and perhaps the world would end…

His heart was not beating… Just how bad were his wounds? Someone removed his cloak… A dark spot on his chest…The arrow had pierced his heart…

Hades, the god of the dead…

Athena was watching the scene playing before her eyes, her face a mask of ice.

The pain was too much, she almost refused to acknowledge it… How cruel it was, to see the man she had nearly convinced herself she hated suffering, dying…She never found out what happened…She never found out if her sister was safe, if Hades was indeed the one to blame…

She had tried, yes. She truly had tried.

Before the war.

It was not often that an Olympian visited the Underworld, Hermes being the only exception. She could not go uninvited. But she did not care anymore. Hecate's words were ringing in her head. Persephone had become unresponsive, a living doll… The guilt was overwhelming, for it was because of her that such misfortune had befallen her sister, it was her that helped Hades win that blasted trial… But was it true? Hera had told her that Hades, too, was in a bad condition, that he was suffering… Had she wronged him?

She remembered Poseidon's taunts, the contempt in his eyes, the parchment, surrounded in a blue light… She had agreed to a bet with him; she was certain she would win, she would bring Persephone back…But she did not care about the wager. All she could think of was the happiness and well-being of her beloved sister…She was the only one who mattered…

She had tried, truly…

Endless, thick darkness. It wasn't like this the last time she went down there. Now, it felt like the darkness wanted to trick her, to stop her from going any further. But she was careful enough to avoid all its traps. When a new, clear path opened before her, she opted for another, darker and seemingly more dangerous. Eventually, it led her to the gates of the Underworld, and she knew that, had she taken that other path, she would have never reached her destination…

"The gate…" she muttered. She wanted to hear her own voice, to retain her sense of self, else the shadows would devour her. She could feel them struggling to find a way in, clouding her mind, trying to consume her…She had to fight back… She was whispering directions to herself, and the darkness finally retreated in defeat, revealing the gate. With a smile, she walked forward, but the doors remained closed, as two torches appeared out of thin air.

Bewildered, she saw two statues standing on each side of the iron gate. The white marble was glistening under the torchlight; the Sphinxes were smiling their cryptic, lopsided smiles, their eyes of ruby and emerald sparkling mysteriously.

Athena immediately recognized the dangerous creatures. Taking a few steps back, she bowed her head; a silent sign of respect. The two statues returned the courtesy, but their smiles, so much like sneers, remained intact.

"You must be the Thunderer's daughter. Tritogeneia, I presume?" inquired the emerald-eyed Sphinx. "What brings you here, young goddess?"

Athena raised her head, looking straight into the statue's eyes.

"I wish to see my sister," she answered coldly. "I'm sure she would like to see me as well. I can pass."

"Hmm…Are you here just to see your sister, Pallas Athena, or you want to…what's the right word?" wondered the Sphinx with the ruby eyes.

"To act?" supplied its partner.

Athena considered them for a moment. She could not lie to a Sphinx, or play any tricks on them…

"Not now," she admitted. "But I do want to see my sister. I want to make sure she is doing well. So, you will let me pass. Right?"

"I'm afraid we will not." A small fire was burning in the Sphinx's ruby eyes. "There is ill intent in your heart. Your will goes against our king's. We cannot let you enter."

"If my sister is safe, I have no reason to confront Hades," Athena argued, but the Sphinxes stood firmly by their words. The orders were clear- No one would be granted entrance. And if they insisted, they had to attack them.

They did not, though. Sphinxes were intelligent creatures, but alas, their reasoning was different. If they had just let her in, there would be no issue. But they did not, and now Athena was filled with anger at her uncle, who was keeping Persephone confined in his kingdom, with no way out… She hated him…

Athena opened her eyes, her head throbbing. She took a few deep breaths and pain filled her heart as she saw the blood leaking from his wounds…The sight caused her unbearable sadness, and all the anger aimed at her uncle vanished at once…

She watched as Aphrodite wiped the blood from Hades' face, but her mind was elsewhere; she was waiting for Ares to return… She watched as Hera was crying, her face hidden in Poseidon's chest while he gently stroked her hair…It almost brought a smile to her face. How quick were all differences forgotten when the situation called for it… She watched as Hestia was trying to calm down, and lastly, Hades, motionless, his eyes closed, and it hurt so much…

The goddess turned her back to the scene and bit on her lips, hot tears rolling down her cheeks.

No… No, this couldn't be… It couldn't…No…

The mirror…The mirror was lying… Because this couldn't be happening, he couldn't be hurt, not him…

Not Hades…

Persephone was in the garden, her feet rooted on the ground. Worry, fear, sudden panic; they were all a blade twisting in her heart, a deep feeling of agony poisoning all of her being…

It was the first time she felt like this, the first time death left its bitter taste on her lips…She was afraid she would lose something, and she would lose it forever…

She returned to Nyx's chambers, she took the mirror, her hands shaking…She had to see, to make sure everything was fine…

But it was not. Everything was lost…

Hades…Hades, lying unconscious…

The goddess of spring shut her eyes, then opened them again, refusing to accept what happened, refusing to understand, refusing to see…

Her beloved… Hades… Who had promised to stay safe… Who insisted no one would ever hurt him… Blood, his blood, was staining his cloak a dark red; his face, always pale, now had turned a ghastly shade of grey… He looked sterner, wearier than she had ever seen him, as life was slowly being drained out of him…

"No…" she whispered, her voice trembling with despair. "No, no!"

The others were all around him, running, crying, someone said he was dying…

"NO!" Persephone screamed and she burst into tears, collapsing on the floor, while the mirror was still showing images from the Upperworld; the gods were trying to help him…

Persephone whimpered softly, endless tears blurring her vision, bitter thoughts swimming in her head…

Hades…

He was so badly injured, he could have been dead…

What if he never recovered? What if she never heard his voice again?

A small moan escaped her lips.

Now, now that his life was in danger…Now she knew the true extent of her feelings for him… How much she loved him, how much she cared for him… These days away from him were torture, and only now she understood how hard it was back then…When she had decided to shun him, after that incident in Tartarus… She had not realized how much she missed him. How much she needed him…

Her hands closed around the mirror.

"Please…" she whispered, "please, don't die…"

Persephone was crying, her tears dripping on the mirror she was clutching to her chest.

"Don't die…" she repeated, pressing her lips on the glass surface. "Stay with me, my love, I beg you…."

"The arrow has pierced his heart", she heard someone say, and she felt her own heart shatter.

She might lose him…

She was crying quietly, her eyes closed, begging the Fates to save him…

She could hear a buzz in the distance… She could hear their cries, their voices, but there were voices in her head too, and the world around her was a mess, a black mess…

"No…"

The mirror felt cold against her face, but she was clinging to it with all her strength; she had to be close to him, with him, in any way she could…

"Let go…"

"Persephone…"

Hades, wounded, almost dead… Away from her, so far away, all because of a meaningless war…

"Persephone, child, open your eyes!" That frightened, low voice again…

Persephone raised her head. Her auburn hair was a tangle of curls, her eyes sore and red from crying, the pain had crashed her…

"My sweet girl…" Nyx whispered, gently cupping her cheek. The younger goddess lowered her head, her heart ready to explode. Gingerly, Nyx pried the mirror from her grasp, but she offered no resistance, her arms falling limply to her sides.

Nyx looked inside the mirror in silence, biting so hard on her bottom lip, she drew blood. He was like a son to her, after all… Her violet eyes darkened, and Persephone kept her eyes down, unwilling to explain, to speak…

"I…" Nyx breathed, "I must tell Zeus…Yes, Zeus. He…He will…" She rose, her erratic movements at last drawing Persephone's attention. Blinking, she took a long look at Nyx's dress, dirty and ripped. She opened her mouth to ask, but she shook her head, too tired to speak. Crawling in a corner, she picked up the mirror again, while Nyx fixed her dress with a snap of her fingers, hoping Persephone would ask no questions. With a small sigh, she knelt next to the goddess of spring. She was crying again, and Nyx wrapped her arms around her. Persephone was quiet, her green eyes focused on the mirror, wide with fear…

"I'll be back soon." Nyx kissed her forehead and disappeared.

"Persephone"?

Hecate slid into the room, only to find Persephone in the middle of another breakdown, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably, but her eyes never leaving the mirror…

"Persephone, I brought you some soup". Hecate was in no better condition; her face was white, her eyes full of terror, but she knew she had to be there for Persephone, who was suffering more than she did…Because no matter what she said, she loved him…

"I don't want it!" she snapped, slapping Hecate's hand away, the bowl landing on the floor with a loud crash. But when she saw the look of hurt in the witch's eyes, she immediately regretted her rashness and looked away in shame.

Hecate sighed. "Persephone… I understand your pain. You are not alone in this…" Her voice cracked, but she gave Persephone's hand a small squeeze. "But he will make it, you'll see…"

"Why did they do this to him…?" Persephone whispered, desperate, and Hecate closed her eyes.

"That's…That's what a war is like…It has always been like this…" she said, almost apologetically, and Persephone shot her an angry look.

"But can you tell me why ? " she screamed, still crying, beating her fist on the floor. "Why do the innocent have to pay? Why? Why do wars happen?" she wailed, bitter and full of anger, for the souls flooding the Underworld, for all the mortals that have met an untimely death, for Artemis and Apollo, for Hades…

Persephone stormed out of her chambers, mirror in hand, wanting to escape, to breath in the fresh air, to be in her element – nature. She had to clear her head…

Alone in the room, Hecate let her tears fall freely. He was like a brother to her, but…

She looked at the door, hanging open. What was her pain in comparison to hers?

"Careful now…" Poseidon's voice was firm, and together with Hestia, they removed the first arrow from Hades' leg. The wound was no longer bleeding, but the silver arrow had done its damage. It was dipped in divine blood, and the blood itself was destructive for the arrow, which now looked bent and worn. Hestia quickly threw it away and took a few deep breaths, trying to contain herself, her face white as paper.

Aphrodite, whose permanent smile had now been wiped from her face, was in charge of keeping the mortals away, as well as bringing fresh water to clean the dried blood from his forehead. Paean had arrived in a rush a few moments ago, but he admitted he would rather not pull out those arrows himself, earning a contemptuous glare from Poseidon. But once the arrow was out, Paean did all he could to help, pouring nectar to the gash to strengthen the bones and replenish the lost blood. He stood still, counting Hades' sparse breaths and measuring his pulse, growing fainter by the minute.

"Now, to take out the remaining shafts," he said, wiping the sweat off his brow. It was the first time he saw a god in such a dire condition…

"But he will be fine, right?" Hera inquired, looking straight into his eyes.

The physician wrapped his cloak tightly around him. "I do not know," he admitted. "One arrow alone can do enough harm; we all saw what happened to the twins. But three, and one of them in his heart…"

The gods stayed silent, their eyes on the ground.

"Well, someone get those bloody things off him!" Hera commanded before she and Paean left to bring some of his healing herbs, her blood-stained cloak billowing behind her.

A thunder rumbled in the distance.

Hestia took a few hesitant steps towards Hades, but Athena placed a hand on her shoulder.

"We are all grateful for your help, sweet aunt," she told her with a sad smile. "But please, do not exhaust yourself any longer. Perhaps you can check on Artemis and Apollo?" she suggested softly.

Hestia nodded. With a long embrace to her niece, she left, stumbling out of the tent, trying her best not to lose her calm… But the image of her brother lying there unconscious, helpless, had upset her greatly. How she suffered, to see her family in pain…She could not handle it…And…And all that blood… Shaking her head and drying the tears from her eyes, she went to see Artemis, who was up and curious to know what happened.

The first heavy drops of rain had started to fall as Athena walked to where Hades was lying and tried to turn him over, or at least lift him so she could remove the other two arrows. But despite her efforts, he was too heavy for her. Seeing his pale face, feeling his warmth, remembering what he'd been through in his life, her lips began to quiver and tears stung her eyes again. This was her father's brother, her own beloved uncle… They were alike in many aspects, they understood each other so well… And now, he might never wake up…

Stray locks of hair fell over her eyes, blocking her view. She pushed them behind her ear, just as someone knelt next to her. The crackling sound of the thunder buzzing in her ears, she turned to see Poseidon. He offered her a strip of white fabric and she took it without saying a word. Soaking it into water, she placed it on Hades' forehead and let Poseidon flip him over, turning her gaze away. He easily pulled out the second arrow, but Athena was struggling with the third, the one buried deep in his chest, thanks to Cletus. No less feral than Ares, he knew precisely where to shoot…

Athena pressed her lips together, the arrow slipping from her sweaty hands. Tentatively, she drew it out a few inches, but she was too nervous, afraid she might do him more damage…

"A little more to the right…" She heard a familiar voice in her hair, but she did not answer. Yet she followed his instructions, but she could not pull the arrow out. She closed her eyes in an attempt to concentrate. The sight of blood repulsed her and filled her with fear.

"Relax," Poseidon whispered in her ear. He reached for her, his grip steady on her trembling hand. Holding tightly, he moved the arrow to the right, slowly drawing it out. Athena was holding her breath, her eyes on the wound. Soon the tip came into view, the whole arrow came out, and Poseidon let go of her. Athena shuddered, her skin feeling cold where he had touched her. She let the arrow fall to the ground and together they laid him back on the makeshift bed Hestia had made.

Athena looked into Poseidon's aquamarine eyes and tried to speak, but no words would come out. She did not even know what she wanted to say, but it would not come out.

His gaze was deep, penetrating as he studied her, and she felt her cheeks go aflame and a shiver go down her spine while the rain was falling and the cold wind was lashing against the tent walls…

Just in time, Hera and Paean returned, too distraught to feel the tension.

"I believe it would be better if he stayed with us," Poseidon suggested, but Hera shook her head.

"Please, brother…" she said softly. "Let us look after him. Hestia will be with him all the time, and so will I."

They exchanged a long look until Poseidon gave in with a nod of his head. Hera gave him her brightest smile, a smile full of gratitude, and all their differences appeared to be solved.

Paean moved Hades on a litter, wanting to take him to the infirmary, but Poseidon stopped him.

"Wait," he said curtly, looking outside. The moon was hidden behind heavy grey clouds, but he could still see Aphrodite, and Hestia behind her. He turned to the small man, his face contorted in rage. "These scum ought to be punished in my brother's presence." His expression softened just a little. "We owe him that much."

An unpleasant chill prickling her skin, Athena turned around and saw five figures approaching from the shadows, three of them visibly unwilling as they tried to free themselves from their captors' grasp, kicking and pulling.

Ares and Hermes dragged forth three mortals, who did everything in their power to escape. The rest of the gods were assembled before them. Hades' lifeless body was hovering in midair, looking much more threatening than any other god, the hem of his long cloak brushing the ground, his eyes closed…

Ares was struggling to control his temper, breathing heavily, his hand closing around Cletus' neck, slowly suffocating him. A deep cut ran across his left cheek, still bleeding. Beside him, Hermes was holding down Euaristus and Nicostratus, who was about to faint.

"They put up a fight," Hermes chuckled. "They had found themselves a neat hiding place and weren't happy when we caught them."

"Even a mouse bites hard when you corner it," Ares grunted, flashing his teeth. "But these little mice learned their lesson and won't do it again, right?" he whispered softly in Cletus's ear, the man turning blue as he fought for the next breath.

"Is that them?" Poseidon asked, his face a grim mask.

"That's them," Hermes nodded.

"Athena!" Ares called out, kicking Cletus to the ground. A brief silence, and everyone moved aside as Athena came forward, her silver eyes gleaming as they met her brother's.

"I think these are yours," Ares hissed, looking at the Athenians in disgust.

With a sharp shove from Hermes, the other two fell before the feet of their patron goddess, panting, trying to get up again. Ares and Hermes were right behind them, ready to lunge at them, to finish them, but her silence held them back.

Cletus had the nerve to look into her eyes. He had the nerve to think she would forgive them, that she would be lenient because they were her soldiers…

"Don't move, monster…" she warned, her voice low and dangerous. His comrades did not move. Either they knew their place, or they were simply cowards…

Athena gritted her teeth. Cowards. Definitely cowards.

"Speak," she commanded icily. "What did you do? Speak right now."

"Great goddess, have mercy…" begged Nicostratus, his whole body shaking.

"I have no mercy for vermin," she replied in a mocking tone. She thrust her spear into the ground as a thunder was roaring and the rain was falling down, harder and harder…

"I want to know why…" she continued in a whisper, "Why, what gave you the rightto attack the Lord of the Dead? What gave you the right?" The guilt in their eyes was plain to see. "This was your revenge, wasn't it? He punished you and you decided to get even. Correct?"

"We didn't-"

Ares drew his sword, always eager to strike, but the look on his sister's face stopped him. She turned her attention back to the mortals, ignoring the rain pouring down on her.

"We did it for the glory of Athens, Lady Athena…" Euaristus tried to appease her, his head lowered. "We wanted to honor our city, to see Athens triumph again, to-"

"Silence, Euaristus!" Her expression revealed all her hatred, her disgust, her aura cold and forbidding. "You only desired glory for yourselves. What is Athens compared to your personal gain? Ambition, arrogance, selfish thoughts you meant to keep from me, yet you have always wondered why I never supported you, why I was not interested in you…" Her silver eyes were glinting. "Look at me…You too, Nicostratus! You will not have my pity, no matter how low you bow your head. For once in your life, be brave!"

The three men obeyed, but they could not meet her eyes; they were never that bold, they would never be…

"Well? Is this how you wanted to bring honor to your home? "She demanded, pointing at Hades' body. "This is your respect? What I expected from you? Above all else, Athens values justice. Human lives matter more than any personal strife and interest. What is your justice?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Injuring a god because he punished you? You attacked him when his guard was down, three against one…" Her grip on her spear tightened as another thunder split the sky open and soon a storm was raging…

"We have been loyal to you; you have a forgiving heart…" Cletus beseeched. "You taught us to be ambitious…"

The patroness of Athens lifted her chin, but her expression was one of scorn and profound disappointment.

"I taught you to aim for the best, to be courageous, intelligent…" Her gaze was unrelenting. "But with the three of you, I failed. I want no loyalty from people like you. Your act is the highest form of betrayal," she whispered. "You have no dignity, no pride. So, do not think you can walk out of this. I am ashamed you were born into my city."

Athena turned her back on them.

"Kill them."

Ares and Hermes charged at the screaming soldiers, slitting their throats, while she left without another word, hot tears falling down her face, mingling with the raindrops…

Her chest felt heavy when she saw them in the mirror, the men that wounded Hades…She saw her sister's tears, she saw Hades, his limp body, his closed eyes, and her shoulders started to shake again. It hurt so much… This war had brought them nothing but destruction and pain…

And who was to blame? Why? Who let this happen?

A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.

Persephone watched in silence as he walked in, for he was the last person she expected to see down there…

Zeus was infuriated. He was about to retire for the night when he heard that terrible scream. Peeking through the clouds, he was terrified to see his brother, lying on the ground…Well, but that meant nothing! Hades would be up in a minute's time, and he would teach those mortal fools a lesson…

He slumped into his throne, closing his eyes. Yet deep inside, he was worried…Worried that Hades would not wake…And he could not take it. Fear washed over him like a cold wave; the same fear that pierced his heart when he saw his twins aiming at each other… How, how did this happen? Why did it happen? There was a time they were inseparable, there was a time you would never see one without the other, and now…Now… He could not believe it…

It was his fault. He should have never let this war happen, he knew… Nothing good has come out of it…And now Hades…

More cries, more wails reached his ears, and his heart sank as he opened his eyes. He saw everyone gathered around Hades, he saw Ares and Hermes going after the culprits, the bastards that dared to defy the Lord of the Dead…

"Blast it all," he cursed under his breath and left. Soon, his wrath was apparent. The sky turned grey, black clouds hid the sun, his roaring thunder threatened to set the camp on fire, but he did not care. They had hurt his family. They would pay.

But he arrived too late. Hades had been taken to the infirmary, and those criminals were now dead…

"Unbelievable…" Zeus grunted, taking a sip of nectar before Hera snatched the goblet out of his hands.

"This is for medical purposes!" she scolded him. "And you want to drink it all!"

"But I'm thirsty!"

"Go outside then! Praise to the King of the Gods and his storms!" She shook her head. "You should learn to control yourself; we are all soaking wet thanks to your little tantrum!"

Zeus looked ready to retaliate, but a glare from his eldest sister stopped him.

"Hush, both of you!"

It has been a while since they carried Hades to the infirmary. All the gods were there, no matter on whose side they were fighting. Hermes was the only one absent, keeping company to the bedridden Apollo. Paean and Hestia were always on the move, tending to Hades' wounds and feeding him ambrosia. He looked so peaceful, almost as if he were sleeping, but sometimes his breathing became uneven and his face twisted in an expression of pain. It seemed he had escaped danger for now, but when he would wake up…It was hard to tell. If he was mortal, he would certainly be dead.

Artemis was there as well, still recovering. Learning of Hades' misfortune had upset her greatly; she always thought him invulnerable. And it was her arrows that did the damage! To Hades, nonetheless…To whom she owed so much…

She had thrown herself at his feet, crying…She had begged him not to send Orion to Tartarus, to spare him… He had been arrogant, but he did not deserve this, and he did not deserve to die either…

Hades understood. He placed him among the stars so that Artemis could watch him every night…He had helped her so much…And now…

She sighed. It was the faintest of sighs, but it was enough to catch Hestia's attention, and the older goddess practically forced a swig of nectar down her throat, though it admittedly made her feel much better.

Hera was tapping her fingers on a wooden table. "Well?"

The goddess of beauty scowled at her stepmother, motioning for her to be quiet. Her left palm was splayed across Hades chest and her eyes were closed as she tried to focus. Aphrodite often made the hearts of both gods and mortals beat faster, tricking them into believing they were in love. It was one of her favorite pastimes. Now, she was trying to do the same with Hades, to make his heart return to normal rates, but to no avail. Love was life, after all, and he was much more powerful than she was; her gift would not work on him. Frustrated, she opened her eyes just as Athena entered the tent. She had changed into a clean dress and had washed her hair, still wet and pulled up in a loose bun. Her eyes met Poseidon's for a brief moment, and she quickly turned away. Her silver eyes, now full of worry, spotted her father, who returned the gaze.

"Nothing!" Aphrodite sighed. "It's impossible. We have to wait."

"For how long?" Athena asked curtly, Zeus squeezing her shoulder as he passed by.

"For as long as it takes," came Hestia's reply, and Paean groaned.

"Yes? Would you like to say something?" The threatening tone in Poseidon's voice was clear. Paean's face turned red and he looked away, mumbling incoherently.

Zeus burst into booming laughter. "Charming as always, Brother!" He winked. "How your wife deals with you, I'll never know!"

His eyes searched for Athena again, but she was not listening; her attention was on Hades, visibly distressed by his condition. Zeus nodded to himself, thinking he was too tired. However, Athena eventually turned to him, her voice calm as she spoke:

"Father, Persephone needs to know."

"I know, darling… Actually, I intend to see her right now. Someone must tell her…"

Athena strode towards him, her eyes alight with determination. "Let me go to her, Father…" she offered. "Let me talk to her…Comfort her… By your leave, of course…"

Zeus remained silent, considering her words, and Poseidon rose from his seat, irritated. He shot Athena an icy glare, a fire burning his throat.

If Zeus allowed Athena to go to the Underworld…If she tried anything…He cleared his throat. He would not let her win.

"Zeus, I believe you should go," he said. "Persephone needs a parent now…"

"No more than she needs a sister, Father…" Athena disagreed, looking straight into Zeus's eyes.

How dare he, interfering like this? What does he think he's doing? She only wanted to talk to Persephone, to get a clear view of the situation…

Poseidon gritted his teeth.

Was this how she planned to win the bet, then? Now that Hades could do nothing to defend himself?

"Zeus, we cannot leave during a war, you know that!" Poseidon insisted, looking at his brother intensely.

Zeus waved his hand in dismissal. "I know." He turned to Athena. "Darling, I understand how much you want to see your sister, but your uncle is right," he said, emphasizing the word "uncle" in hopes that reminding her of their familial bond would soften her feelings.

"As you wish, Father," was her dry reply and she moved away, turning her back on them.

Oh well, no feelings softened, Zeus thought, but at least he avoided a fight. He could not take any more conflicts. He did not know, did not understand what fueled their hatred.

Thankfully, Persephone was a gentle and sensible child.

And when he was done… His eyes met Artemis's, who gave him a small smile.

Yes. Once he was done, he would talk to the twins. There were many things they needed to discuss.

"I'm leaving," he announced and disappeared.

Poseidon hurried to follow his example. After saying goodbye to his sisters and wishing Artemis to get well soon, he left. But not before exchanging a poisonous look with Athena, a look no one else saw. The rain had stopped, but the wind was still howling. Next to him, Ares was muttering to himself, but he was not listening.

His mind was on the events of those tumultuous days… Everything was out of control. He remembered Apollo's unconscious body being carried back to their camp, he remembered his plans, his thoughts when he was with Aphrodite…And what occurred shortly afterwards…

Involuntarily, he closed his eyes, and only then he realized that Ares was talking.

"My sister and her heroes…" sneered the god of war, kicking a pebble. "She spoils her people, I'm telling you, and here are the results! Just wait and you'll see: Her so beloved Dinarchus will get too big for his boots, and-"

Those words pulled Poseidon out of his reverie and he stopped in his tracks. Startled, Ares stopped too, a slightly nervous look in his eyes as he stared at his uncle.

"Who is Dinarchus?"

Zeus walked past the heavy gates of the Underworld… Being questioned by a stone cat, that was new! Hades had some explaining to do; since when did he need guards at his doors?

But no matter… He would see his little girl now, after a long time. Perhaps he did not see her often, but he cared a great deal for her and loved her very much… She truly was an adorable child.

He could sense her presence as soon as he entered the palace, thanks to his immense power. He headed to Persephone's room and knocked on her door.

Persephone blinked. Of all the gods, of all the possible visitors, it was Zeus… Her father… He was just as she remembered him. Broad-shouldered, muscular, hair full of white and golden locks, his blue eyes bright and cheerful, as usual… The last person she expected to see…

"Persephone!" he exclaimed, mistaking her surprise for joy. "My darling child…" he smiled, looking at her with open arms.

The goddess of spring did not move, her eyes, still red and brimming with tears, the only sign of emotion on a stone face…. He doesn't even look sad, he feels no remorse…

Really…He had some nerve…

"You!" she screamed at her father, and his arms fell soullessly to his side.

He stared at his daughter, flabbergasted. "Sweetheart…What happened to you…" He stepped towards her, but she pushed him away with all the strength she could muster.

"Don't touch me!" She warned him. "This is your fault, you, all of this because of you!"

Persephone averted her gaze and moved to the window, letting her tears fall. She did not care this was her father, the King of the Gods. She did not care he was the first of the Divine Three. It was his fault.

Zeus was speechless. His eyes fell on the mirror, forgotten on her bed. He sighed. So, she knows…

"Now, listen to me…" he said in his most fatherly tone in an attempt to placate her. "I know you are distraught about…about what happened to Hades, but please-"

Persephone turned around. There was anger in her eyes, anger radiating from her very being. Green eyes full of cold rage, a slightly raised chin…Where had he seen that sight before? Ah, yes…Many years ago, her mother had given him the exact same look and told him she hated him…

"You know, don't you?" she whispered. "Of course, Father. You know everything, you understand my pain, because you care so much…"

He frowned. "What are you saying?"

Her laughter was hysterical.

"Of course," she spat, but there was sadness in her expression. "You never understood. You never cared. Does anything but your pleasure and your entertainment matter? Did you ever truly care about anyone?"

The pain in her eyes took him years back, filling his heart with bitterness and deep sorrow. "I am always here for you, you know that…"

"Yes!" She cried. "Those rare times you remember you have a daughter! But this isn't about me, Zeus! Look!" She pointed at the mirror. "Look how many people have died, look at all the blood! Your own children got hurt," she seethed, and he lowered his head, "yet you did nothing!"

"I did not want this war, Persephone!" He claimed in a harsh voice, a spark in his blue eyes. "I did all I could to stop it…"

"Oh, I am sure you tried…" she hissed, the thought of Hades a knife in her heart. "You know Hades is wounded, yet here you are, smiling like nothing happened…" Pure disgust was written all over her face. "You are insufferable…"

His eyes widened. "Listen here, girl!" He grabbed her shoulders. "Watch your tongue! How dare you-"

She pulled away. "You listen! I've always been a little girl to you, but now you will listen! How dare you show your face here after what happened to Hades? You know he almost died, don't you?" Zeus looked away. "If you had prevented this war, if you hadn't forced Hades to join, none of this would have happened!"

"That's not true, Persephone…"

"You know it is!" She accused him, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "But you see, a war is a nice break from your dull routine! But what about the others? What about Hades, what about me…"

"How can you say that?" He cut her off in a cold voice, but he looked hurt. "I always respect and care about what everyone has to say; it was his decision to-"

Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Care and respect… If only you had shown these to my mother…"

Zeus tried to speak, but he did not know what to say…

"You remember, don't you? You have had your fun and then hurried back to your wife, abandoning her pregnant and heartbroken… It's because of you she's like this, selfish and bitter, because of you she lost her trust, she lost me, and now you come down here, why?" She cried out and he was simply looking at her, pain clouding his blue eyes. "To show me what a good father you are? To tell me how sorry you are that the man I love nearly died? If this is your sense of fatherly love, I don't want any of it!"

Persephone dissolved into tears and Zeus was frozen to the spot, his head hung, the truth of her words bearing down on him…

Neither spoke, both lost in their thoughts and emotions. Persephone hid her face in her hands, trying to calm down, and he looked at her.

"You are right about your mother…" His voice was a sigh. "I was not a good father to you, perhaps. But I want you to know that I never stopped caring for you and Demeter. But what happened to Hades was not my fault…Or that's what I want to believe, at least…"

Hesitantly, gently, he took her daughter in his arms, and she leaned against him, exhausted…

"I am not as carefree as you may think, Persephone… I am not thoughtless…" he muttered in her hair and she bit her lip. "Perhaps…" he continued, his eyes blank, "It's my way of coping with this madness…"

Persephone buried her face in his chest as he stroked her hair, hoping he could give her some comfort. Hades would probably return soon anyway… He would not be able to work, not like this. Yes, very soon…

A faint smile lit up his face. There was love here… At last, his brother had found someone who truly loved him, loved him with all her soul… Someone who would stay by his side…

And that someone was his daughter.

"Answer me, Ares," Poseidon pressed, his eyes colder than ever. "Who is Dinarchus?"

"Her new toy," Ares shrugged. "The one she tries to keep safe, the one she supports more than her other soldiers…"

"So, he is just an Athenian citizen who-" Poseidon inferred, but Ares was smiling.

"If you ask me," he said cheerfully, "he's a bit more than that. You know…" he went on, his smile turning into a smirk. "..She didn't let me kill him. She ran to him, embraced him, and poof! They were gone. Come with me, brave Dinarchus, oh so romantic! She's not that bitchy when he's around. That must mean something, right?" The god of war chuckled. "Like I said, they disappeared into a forest or something. So much for all that 'virgin goddess' talk," he added as he cleaned the blood off his sword. When he looked at Poseidon again, something in his eyes unnerved him. "Are you all right?"

"Yes…" he replied, but his gaze was distant, cold…There must be some logical explanation about this, surely… "He is well-built, I suppose?" he asked. "Probably her best warrior…"

"No, not really," Ares shook his head and Poseidon felt his heart sink. "He's not much. Young, a handsome boy…" He scratched his chin, thinking. "Curly hair, looks like a smartass…He's tall, sure, but he doesn't have a warrior's body."

"Then why is she helping him…" Poseidon wondered, his eyes getting darker with each word his nephew spoke.

"Yeah, sure, she helps him…" Ares raised a suggestive eyebrow. "Perhaps because he's young and good-looking, how should I know?"

He went on his way, his low laughter ringing on Poseidon's ears…

So that's how it is…

A mortal…How shameless…In the midst of a war, a war between them, instead of focusing on this, on him, she was with a mortal…

And all those weeks… In her camp…In her tent…

Who knows what they've been doing…

His breath was trapped in his chest, and anger, wild and uncontrollable, was burning his insides…

She dared…With a mortal…

Hatred rose in him like a wave, hatred for a boy he had never met… Yes, his anger was targeted at her as well, yet he could not do her much harm…But that boy… He would put an end to this…

He walked into his tent. He would learn…

He placed his sword and shield by the table before removing his breastplate.

Yes, he would learn…

He would learn all about this Dinarchus. And when he did…

Poseidon sat on his bed, his eyes fixed on the night sky. In the corner, the blade of his sword was gleaming under the moonlight…

It was a peaceful night, a stark contrast to the turbulent events of the day. The infirmary was quiet, save for the sound of shallow, irregular breathing, slowly growing fainter and fainter…

"Lady Hestia."

The eldest of the six siblings got up from her chair at once, all thoughts of sleep having vanished hours ago.

The small physician was looking at her, his blue eyes sharp and penetrating. "We have a problem," he said in a quiet voice, and her heart stopped.

"No…"

"Things are…not looking good," Paean confessed, as the King of the Underworld was shaking in his sleep…

Author's Note: Can we pretend it has not been 5-6 months since the last update? We can? Good! So, I'm saying this again: The updates are completely random, as you can see. But this does not mean I will stop writing this story. I have so many ideas I want to share with you guys, so no, I'm not giving up on Chains! You just have to, uh, be patient and forgiving. Also please note that the next chapter will be the longest so far. About 30 pages. Wowie. Oh, oh, and no, this isn't mainly a Hades and Persephone story! I know they get more fluffy/smutty scenes, but you see, in order for the Athena and Poseidon part of the plot to advance, Hades and Persephone's romance needs to advance first. And seeing that so many of you started shipping Athena x Poseidon because of my story makes me blush, hehe!

Sooo, see you next year! No, no, I'M KIDDING!

And I know ichor is supposed to be golden, but sshhh.