C-30: The Invite

The throne room of the Underworld was unnervingly quiet that day, a silence so profound it pressed against my senses. It wasn't the soothing kind of quiet; it was the type that felt alive, pulsing with an impending revelation. The flickering torches seemed dimmer than usual, their light casting long, wavering shadows on the obsidian walls. Even the air seemed thicker, laden with an unseen tension.

I leaned back on my throne, fingers absently drumming against its armrest. The Underworld rarely surprised me anymore. After millennia of overseeing the dead, my expectations were tempered by routine. But this—this was different.

Then, the room shifted.

It wasn't a noise or movement, but the weight of an ancient presence entering my domain. My breath stilled as I felt the air around me grow heavy with power older than any of the Olympians. This was no ordinary visitation. This was Ananke, the Primordial of Fate herself.

Her form shimmered into being, not walking but existing, as though she had always been there and I had only just noticed. Her figure was cloaked in flowing strands of golden threads that shimmered like woven starlight, each thread pulsating with the lives of mortals and gods alike. Her eyes—endless wells of knowing—met mine, and I felt the weight of eternity in her gaze.

"Hades," she said, her voice a rich, resonant timbre that seemed to echo through the bones of the Underworld itself. "I bring you a summons."

I rose from my throne and inclined my head. "Ananke," I said carefully, my tone respectful but wary. The Primordial of Fate did not visit without reason. "What does this summons requires of me?"

She extended her hand, and in her grasp was a scroll, its seal bearing the mark of Chaos—the Ouroboros. My heart sank as I recognized it. Whatever this was, it was no small matter.

"Chaos has decreed an event unlike any other," Ananke began, her voice as steady as the flow of time itself. "The Convergence of Kings. It is a gathering of the rulers of every pantheon. A moment to decide the next course for existence, for gods and mortals alike."

The weight of her words settled on me like a boulder. "The Convergence," I murmured, reaching for the scroll. Its texture was cool and firm beneath my fingers, thrumming faintly with power. "Why now?"

Ananke's expression was inscrutable. "The threads of existence fray at their edges. Chaos sees what none other can. The convergence is not a question of if but when. It has chosen now, and you, King of the Underworld, are summoned."

I broke the seal and unfurled the scroll, scanning the divine script etched into its surface.

To the Ruler of the Underworld,

By my will, Chaos, you are summoned to the Convergence of Kings. The realms of existence are at a crossroads, and decisions must be made for the future of gods and mortals alike. Refusal is not an option.

Prepare yourself for what is to come.

—Chaos

My eyes drifted over the list of attendees. It named rulers from pantheons far and wide. The list was extensive, but when I reached the entry for Greece, I stopped cold.

Zeus King of the Greek Pantheon

My brow furrowed, and my grip on the scroll tightened. "Why is Zeus listed as the King of the Greek Pantheon?" I asked, my voice low but sharp.

Ananke's calm gaze flickered briefly with confusion. "Explain."

"I was not informed of this event," I said, my jaw tightening. "Let alone that Zeus claimed my place as ruler of the Greek pantheon."

Ananke tilted her head slightly, a faint hum emanating from her as if consulting the very threads of destiny. "Chaos held a gathering for the kings to sign their names into the records of sovereignty. It appears you did not attend."

"Attend?" I echoed, my voice rising in incredulity. "I wasn't even invited!"

Ananke's expression darkened. "The invitation was delivered to Olympus, ten years after you were crowned King. It seems…" She trailed off, the truth dawning on both of us. "Zeus intercepted it."

Of course, he did. My teeth clenched as I pinched the bridge of my nose. "So, while I distracted doing my best to run not only the Underworld but Olympus, Zeus went to some important event and pretended to be the King of the Pantheon?"

She nodded solemnly. "It would appear so. But the Convergence will expose the truth. You will be able to prove the truth, and fix the mess that Zeus made already, and that cannot be denied in Chaos' presence."

A grim smile tugged at the corner of my lips. "Oh, I'll make sure the truth is known. And I'll enjoy every second of it."

I rolled the scroll back up and set it aside. "Thank you for bringing this to me, Ananke. It seems I have preparations to make."

She inclined her head, a faint smile playing at her lips. "Fate always corrects itself, Hades. Even the lies of gods cannot outlast the truth."

With that, she dissolved into golden threads, fading into the air as if she had never been there.

I leaned back on my throne, a plan already forming in my mind. Zeus had played his games long enough. At the Convergence, there would be no shadows for him to hide in. I would make sure that Zeus never rears his ugly face near my pantheon ever again.

<---------------- >

The day had finally arrived. The air of the Underworld seemed heavier as if even my realm knew something momentous was unfolding. I stood before my family, each of them radiating a mix of pride and concern. Hecate, ever the steady presence, placed a hand on my arm. Her eyes, a mirror of the cosmos, locked onto mine.

"Remember, my love," she said, her voice firm but warm, "you are not just the King of the Underworld. You are Hades. Let that carry the weight it deserves."

Zagreus and Melinoe stood just behind her. Zagreus had that glint in his eyes—part admiration, part mischief. "Make them remember who you are, Father," he said, a smirk playing on his lips.

Melinoe, more reserved, gave a small nod. "We'll hold the Underworld in your stead," she said. "And if anyone causes trouble…" Her smile turned wicked. "Well, they'll wish they hadn't."

Even Apollo and Artemis, my adopted children, stood with quiet respect. "Good luck, Father," Artemis said simply, her voice steady. Apollo just grinned and gave me a thumbs-up.

With a final look at my family, I straightened my shoulders. "Keep everything running smoothly while I'm gone," I said. "And no wars while I'm dealing with this." My gaze lingered on Zagreus, who gave a mock innocent expression.

Before anyone could respond, the air shifted. I felt the pull—a summoning unlike any I had felt before. It was vast, ancient, and undeniable. The fabric of reality around me warped, and the familiar sights of the Underworld blurred and faded.

When the world came back into focus, I found myself standing in an immense chamber that defied comprehension. It was vast beyond measure, its ceiling a swirling abyss of stars and galaxies. The floor beneath me seemed like polished obsidian, but when I looked closer, I realized it was a translucent expanse, showing the endless void below.

Before me stretched a colossal coliseum, its design reminiscent of mortal arenas, but on a scale only gods could fathom. Thousands of thrones encircled the space, each one unique, bearing the sigil of the deity it belonged to. The thrones were carved from materials both mundane and mystical—gold, obsidian, ice, flame, and even materials I couldn't name.

The air was electric, buzzing with the energy of countless divine presences. Around me, gods began to materialize, each summoned in a flash of light or a burst of their unique essence.

To my left, a towering figure appeared. He was clad in silver viking styled armor with a fur cloak drapped over his shoulder. A black and white raven sat on each shoulder and he had a patch over his right eye. His expression was cold as he walked to his throne. No doubt that this was, Odin the Allfather of the Norse Pantheon.

To my right, a young Egyptian girl appeared. She was breathtaking, her raven-black hair framed her face in silken strands, and her golden eyes burned with an intensity that seemed to rival the sun itself. She was adorned in intricate golden jewlery and delicate chains that draped across her form like a second skin, she carried an air of power, regal and commanding. She glanced at me, her gaze sharp and assessing, as she turned and headed to one of the thrones and sat down. Right on the throne that was marked for Ra... was not expecting that.

Across the chamber, a jaguar-headed figure emerged, his imposing form draped in vibrant jade and gold. His throne, carved with intricate Mayan glyphs, radiated an aura of ancient wisdom and power. Eyes like burning embers stared out from beneath the jaguar helm. So that must be Itzamna, the ruler of the Maya

Others followed, some humanoid, others monstrous. A giant feathered serpent-coiled into place as it transformed into the body of a young boy as he sat on his throne, he was definetly Quetzalcoatl. Next to him was Huitzilopochtli, looking like some blue alien. 

Each god moved with purpose, their eyes scanning the room, some nodding in recognition of familiar faces, others radiating quiet hostility.

And yet, I stood still, watching for the one person I had come to see.