Chapter 12 - Helios

"Thank you human," Helios said, with a small smile on his face. After centuries, this was the first time someone had treated him with care.

After the great Titan war, all the Titans that got involved in the war were captured and thrown into Tartarus. Their powers were revoked. Their positions as the lead gods were replaced by newer Olympians.

The new god of knowledge and healing took his position as the sun god. Eventually his believers became Apollo's. He lost his power and his body became mortal.

His family had never gotten involved between the two forces. But after the war, the Olympians decided to punish them regardless. His sister Selene was the goddess of the moon so they made her into the celestial rock that revolves around mother earth. And he was thrown into Tartarus for a month.

After a month he was released from Tartarus, half of his face had already been irreparably burnt by the hellfire.

After his appearance was destroyed, he still had few believers. One believed desperately wanted his attendance, so after a long time he returned to earth. But the reception was different from he expected. The humans got scared by his appearance. Hurt by this, he never showed himself in front of a human after that.

Eventually his believers forgot about him.

"Hello," the woman waved in front of his face. This snapped him out of his thoughts. Peering at the peculiar human, he asked, "Aren't you scared of my appearance?"

"No, I was scared for your health. Like how the hell did you mange to burn yourself this badly," she fussed, pulling at the hanging bandages.

He laughed a little at her comment and said, "Yes, I did get hurt in hell."

She just laughed and patted his shoulders, "You are a funny guy," she chuckled. "Oh I completely forgot. I didn't give you any burn medicine. Let me bring you some, wait here my mom has it," the human said and ran up the crater.

Just after the woman left, the right side of his face got aflame burning through the bandages. 'Silly human, no amount of water can quench this fire and no amount of medicine can heal this burn' he thought touching his burning face. He smiled a little, looking at the direction the little human ran. 'I hope we meet again' he thought and disappeared into thin air.

*****

"Mom, can you give me some burnt medicine," Reya panted as she reached the brim of the crater.

"Oh my god Reya, are you burnt? Show me, show me," Momma Jade said pulling her arms into hers.

Panting, she raised her figure telling her to wait for a second.

Her mum held her outstretched finger and observed it with concentration.

"Mum my finger is not burnt. That medicine is for someone else," Reya said, pulling her finger out of hers.

Her mum resumed her composure soon after and said, "Oh, who is it for?"

"Some guy I met down there, mom his degree of burn is very bad. He needs this medicine more than us," Reya said, holding out their last burnt cream.

"Where is this man you speak about? Let me give it to him," Mr. Kooper said, pulling his gun out of its holster.

She handed the burn cream over to him and said, "You need a gun, Mr. Kooper. He is extremely hurt."

"Precaution is better than cure," he winked at her and walked down the crater.

My mom patted her back and pointed towards her sister. "Reya, she got sick again. I don't know what to do," she said with unshed tears in her eyes. Rubbing her tears from eyes, she sighed. With a wide smile, she turned back.

"Mina dear, do you know what I bought for you?"

Reya held her small palm in mine and kissed it. Her face pale, she looked up at her.

"The moon?" Mina whispered.

"Yes Mina look, I got you the moon," Reya said.

Reya reached for her jean pocket and carefully removed the moon fragment. Holding it out she waved it in the air. "Now, if Mina is a good girl and eats her medicine I will give her the moon," she said waving it even more.

"Mina is good," Mina whispered and ate the pills in her mom's hands. She took a big gulp of water. Hands outstretched she said, "my moon."

"Here," Reya said and gave her the plastic covered moon fragment.

"Can I look inside?" Mina asked hesitantly.

"Of course, dear," Reya patted her small bald head. She opened the small plastic cover, the moon fragment laid in her palm emitting cool air.

"Ohhh, it's cold," she giggled, looking up at them. All three of them were looking at the small moon fragment with all their attention. Suddenly a drop of blood dripped onto it.

"Mina!" Momma Jade screamed as her little sister collapsed in the small wagon.