OUTWITTED AND BLACKMAILED

When you put your mind to something, it's incredible how quickly time flies by, even without my powers. Chiron said that Elena, Helen, and I made an excellent team. "The three of you are formidable on your own, but in another class when together. You've grown the most, Yiannis."

"Literally, or as in I got stronger?"

"Both," he smiled. "All I can do now is hope you come back here. I pray the gods will be with you."

They most certainly won't. But I got the sentiment. "Thanks. I hope they'll thwart another attack if one happens when I'm gone."

"I hope so as well - for everyone's sake."

After saying our goodbyes to Chiron, I met up with everyone else. Helen and I opened an underground chasm into the Underworld. From there, Hades would lead us into the labyrinth. Well, most of us. Hades wanted to have a private chat with me. And Helen.

Once we got there, Hades showed us four different tunnels. "Each leads into the labyrinth. You can all choose to enter from the same tunnel or split up and search through different areas of the labyrinth."

Everyone thought it was best if we split up. Going together gave the advantage of numbers, but splitting up increased the chances of finding something noteworthy - like a secret Titan base. I agreed, but for different reasons. I didn't want to be near Carissa or Selene. When I found the map, I would go straight to Vittoria. Naturally, I did not want to give them, or Neil, evidence to use against me. If they saw me, they would rule me out as a traitor.

Hades squeezed my shoulder. "Well? Do you have time to spare for your father?"

"Of course I do." Helen nodded in agreement, and the two of us followed him into the palace, Elena right behind us.

Last time, I only saw the endless hallways and the dining room. Hades brought us into a rather bland room. It was nothing like the lavish dining room, with enough seats for an entire town, a chandelier the size of a whale, and the fancy cuisine. I felt like I was in a ten-star restaurant there. The room was relatively modest - a sofa and two couches. There was a small table in the center coupled with four seats. What struck me was the TV glued to the wall. I didn't think an ancient palace under the Earth would receive a good signal - and I didn't expect a TV to be here in the first place.

"The room isn't mine," Hades declared. "When someone dies, a room is set up for them. That is if they haven't been condemned to Tartarus. It was a mess to judge them in lines - and so we have the dead stay here as we prepare their trial. I suppose...it's more accurate to call it a hotel for the dead."

"That's actually pretty cool," I nodded. "Are all the rooms like this?"

"Yes. Maintaining this costs several fortunes, and making the rooms more luxurious may cost mine. Would you like me to show you and Helen around the palace after you return from your quest?"

I looked at Helen, who raised no objections. "Sure. I'm curious about what else you have in your home, Father."

"Very well. Now then, I called the two of you over here to present you with gifts."

"Gifts?" Helen asked.

"Yes. My smiths actually made them. I'm sure what I give you will be a great asset in your latest quest." Hades spoke in Greek, and a butler suddenly appeared. He gave the lord of the dead three things: an armguard, a black bow, and a sheathed longsword.

Hades first gave the armguard and the bow to Helen. "As someone with a paralyzed leg, close-quarters fighting is like death to you. Of course, you are my daughter, and I know you are more than capable of holding your own. However, the bow you currently use is of low quality - I believe mine will suit you much more."

Helen slung on the armguard and took the bow in her hands. Her fingers glided along the string, then the edges. She aimed at the wall, impressed. "This bow is perfect. It has the right balance, and it feels like I'm holding nothing - what about arrows?"

Hades grinned. "Good question. You can make your own using your powers, but the bow can also do it for you. Close your eyes, and imagine an arrow is already there."

Helen skewered the TV, now broken. She bowed and apologized, but Hades smiled. "No need for that. It's only one TV screen."

"Thank you, Father," Helen bowed. "This must have cost a lot of time and money."

"OH, it did. That one bow was quite the challenge for my craftsmen and cost me more than a few nuggets of Stygian Titanium."

That did not help. Helen lowered her head even more. "Thank you so much, Father!"

"No need for that, Helen. Can't I indulge my children a little every now and then?"

Helen nodded and rose. "But you've given me something so precious..."

Hades patted her head. "If you want to pay me back, come back alive, so I can show you and your older brother around this place."

Helen smiled. "Yes, Father."

I remember the time when Helen was scared of Hades. Given the negative press he gets, she didn't trust him. It's likely that changed when Vittoria "kidnapped" me, and Hades soothed her. Good to see that she's changed her mind about him.

Hades was about to unsheathe the sword, but a rapping knock made him forget about it. The one on the other side of the door was Persephone.

"Hades, it's me! Open up - I need to talk to you!"

Hades reluctantly did so. Persephone's face soured at the sight of us, and then it hit me. Helen and I were Hades's children with another woman. Of course, Persephone wouldn't be happy with that. But then again, Hades was a god, and the gods needed heroes. It was an unspoken duty of theirs to procreate the warriors of the next generation. Was Persephone mad just because I'm living proof of Hades's betrayal, or that the constant cheating irritated her?

This matters - Persephone is one of the stronger goddesses, despite being only a minor spring goddess. Depending on how she saw me and what I do next, I might end up a patch of roses. If Persephone was mad because Hades cheated, I'm already very close to that. She likely detests the very fact I'm alive. But if this is just a fact of life as Hades's Queen, and she's accepted it, then there's some wiggle room. Granted, she still loathes me, but to her, I'm just another one of Hades's bastard children. So it's not hatred as much as displeasure. I'm not sure if I persuade her to completely reevaluate her opinion of me, but I can mend it. If worst comes to worst, I can just use the prophecy as a tool to remind her how vital I am to Hades's revenge. But, that could backfire, so the better route would be to earn her trust. Showing my loyalty to Hades and not just Kronos is the first step. And, I'll have to show her that I'm willing to obey her as well. She is Hades's wife, after all. Treating her as such also shows obedience to her husband on top of her. And then I'll have to figure out how to get her to accept me. But, due to my role in the prophecy, I think I know a few ways to do that.

Persephone stood proudly at ten feet, and her ash black hair flew down in waves. She wore a black nightgown, suggesting she had just awoken. Even though her face displayed bitterness, there was a radiant flow. Springtime. Her cheeks were redder than roses. And I didn't sense any malign intent, thankfully.

"So you're Yiannis. It's only been four years, yet you've become quite the celebrity."

"Yes, Queen Persephone," I bowed. "I think it has to do with the fact that I'm the child of the prophecy."

"You and your little sister. Children of two great deities."

"Two?" Helen asked. "Who's the other one?"

I paled. Why would Persephone say that? Damm...

I swallowed. "If that's true, then it seems someone is hiding something from me. Unfortunately, Helen and I have been informed that only Hades is our father. I'm sure my mother was a mortal, so I'm clueless about who my second parent could be. Did you happen to somehow know?"

I glanced at Hades, unsure of whether to trust Persephone. He intervened on my behalf. "Ah, that's one of the rumors circulating in Zeus's court, I believe. My brother will do anything to ruin me now," he grumbled.

Persephone nodded. "My apologies, then. I did not mean to confuse you." She gazed at the blade at Hades's hand. "Is that something you're planning to give him? He's still a mortal."

"The smiths designed it so that the power of the sword wouldn't consume him. I was going to explain how to use it, but if there's something you need, that can wait."

"No," Persephone smiled. "It can wait. Incidentally, when you're done, can I speak with Yiannis in private?"

"Of course."

I did not like her smile.

Persephone left the room, and Hades placed the blade in my hands. "Its name is mikri-skia." Little shadow. "It was crafted with the leftover adamantium I had."

"Adamantium?" Did he just give me a weapon forged with the metal of the gods? To keep?

"As in the same adamantium Kronos's scythe is made of? That indestructible, perfect metal?"

Hades smiled. "Ordinarily, I would have kept the blade for myself. Persephone was right - we would never grant the mortals such power."

I could see why. The blade oozed a menacing aura - even a year ago, it would have scared the shit out of me. And I fought Atlas a year ago. But it wasn't "power" that scared me. No. What I felt in my hands...was a morbid chill that slowly sapped the life out of me.

Hades nodded. "Yes, that is what the blade does. It saps the life of living things, draining their essence, which you can utilize to empower yourself. Even Kronos's scythe can only absorb souls. This blade can be used on anything alive, from monsters to animals to even plants. And it evolves depending on the strength of the owner. All good weapons do."

"And you're entrusting me with this? Aren't you fighting in the war too, Father?"

"No need to worry, Yiannis. Naturally, I would have something made for me. But I felt this would be a proper way to reward you for all you've done. You've made me proud."

I blushed. "Thank...thank you, Lord Hades," I bowed. "I promise I will live up to the prophecy."

Hades gripped my shoulder. "I'm sure you will. Although I want to talk more before sending you off, it seems you've piqued Persephone's interest."

Hades's wife led me to her throne, where she sat. I kneeled so she wouldn't get furious and think I was disrespectful.

"You may rise now." I nodded and got up. "What did you want to speak to me about?"

"You. You've played Hades twice already - all for Kronos's plans. First, you lead him to believe that Zeus was conspiring against him and vice versa. Then, when you return upon retrieving the golden fleece, you again manipulated him. This time, you use your little sister's life to plead with my husband." Persephone did not hide her emotions - she glared at me with such fury that I could not look at her. She revealed her aura, and even the ground seemed to quiver in fear. "Ordinarily, I would have chained you in Tartarus, like what I did to Sisyphus for his lies. Hades is not a pawn for you to lean on whenever convenient. The same goes for Kronos."

"Then what would you like me to do?"

"First, put your loyalty to Hades. I want a solemn oath. Swear upon the river Styx that your life belongs to him, even if Kronos is his enemy."

"But why? We are on the same side, are we not? Both Hades and Kronos share the same goal."

"That may be so for now. But not even the gods know what the future has in store. Your other father is also known for being conniving. Even though we were wrong for overthrowing him eons ago, he certainly was not a perfect ruler. Far from it."

"But it was Gaia who manipulated everything, wasn't it?"

"Yes, but only because Kronos got greedy. He killed Uranos to further his own power. Hence why he imprisoned Gaia's children - so they could not rebel. To retaliate, Gaia stole Zeus, one of Rhea's children. She raised him, hoping that he would overthrow the Titan Lord. As for the other gods, Gaia convinced every one of them to join Zeus - and showed them the power and riches that would be theirs."

So Kronos lied to me? Or was it that I trusted him without much thought? After he brought up the death of my mother, I suppose...

Uh-oh. I bit my lips to keep from fainting. Whenever I think about the past, it makes my head swirl. As if I'm not allowed to go back in time. But that's an issue for another day. Back to Persephone.

"If I were to swear such an oath, I'm not sure Kronos would be pleased."

"Then I'll also swear an oath, but to secrecy."

"What?"

What was she up to? I thought she wanted to chain me up - to make sure I never turned against Hades. Threatening to let Kronos know would be excellent leverage.

"You seem to misunderstand. There is something else, something that will force you to comply. What if I were to tell Helen that Kronos is her father and that you've been his loyal dog? What if...your little sister learned you led that attack on DGH?"

Who knew I'd be outmaneuvered this easily? And I couldn't snitch to Hades. He might leave Kronos's side if he learned that he was manipulated from the beginning. But then...

"Why haven't you told Hades about this? For that matter, why have you kept the facts hidden from all of the gods? And even from my sister - you could have told them at any time."

"Why," Persephone grinned, "because you made things simpler for me. Had it not been for you, I would have likely failed to convince Hades to join the Titan alliance."

"Then why-"

Persephone held a hand. "I don't trust Kronos completely. If he's doing this merely for power, then he'll regret it. I'll just tell Athena about all of his plans."

"I still don't understand. What could you gain from overthrowing your family if you don't trust those who will rule in their place?"

"If Kronos has changed and wishes to overthrow Zeus and fix Olympus, then I have a lot to gain. It isn't just humans who suffer to the gods. Even we deities lose a lot to Olympus." Persephone clenched her fist. "I have my own vendettas, the same as you."

"Then you also wish for revenge?"

"Yes. I want Zeus's head as well, Yiannis. Will you swear your life to Hades?"

"On one condition. Swear to me that you'll not only keep this secret, but you won't use Helen or me for your own gain. That we won't be your pawns, either."

Persephone nodded and speedily swore upon the River Styx. "Now, will you keep your end of the bargain, Yiannis?"

"Yes. I-I swear upon the river Styx that my loyalty is to Hades. If he orders it, I will die for him. My life belongs to him and his Queen, Persephone."