Page 2 of Tempted By Hades
And so, as the most powerful gods, Hades, Zeus, and Poseidon would rule the world and the realm was divided into three—the Underworld and the dead, the vast sea and its riches, and finally, the crown jewel—Olympus and the skies. A third party, a seer, had been tasked to create the lots that the three gods drew from and decided their fates for eternity.
Hades’s hands curled into tight fists. Perhaps if he had the energy back then, things would be different now. He could have fought harder to be given his due, instead of letting luck and chance decide that he would receive the most unfavorable realm. Maybe he wouldn’t feel so detached, like an outsider in this world of divine indulgence. That he would not be bound by his duties as the lord of the dead, forever separated from the vibrant realm of the living.
And he wouldn’t be feeling this resentment that had been building for the last ten thousand years.
A calming hand landed on his arm. “But the past is past, correct?”
The boiling resentment faded into a faint simmer. “Indeed.” There was nothing he could do now, and despite his bitterness, the division had been fair, and they all agreed to abide by its results for the sake of peace.
“We must celebrate our hard-fought victory,” Hestia murmured. “And continue to work for peace and strengthen the seal that keeps our enemies at bay.”
“Perhaps you should have created a stronger spell then,” Hades said wryly, “so we wouldn’t have to meet every ten thousand years.”
While the spell created by the goddesses was powerful indeed, it still required reinforcing. And thus, the twelve gods and goddesses were obligated to perform a sacred ceremony every ten thousand years, a rite that ensured the eternal imprisonment of the Titans. Which was the real reason they gathered today, and not just for the celebration.
If Hestia was annoyed at his comments, she did not show it. “It is almost time.” She nodded toward Zeus, and Poseidon, who were assembling toward the door. To Hades’s surprise, Hera and Amphitrite, Poseidon’s wife of five hundred years, joined them as well.
“I thought you said that when you created the original spell, you would only need myself, Zeus, and Poseidon for the Sealing Ceremony.”
“Indeed, but things change when you take a mate,” Hestia began. “Remember, it was not just I who created the spell, but Hera and Demeter as well. As goddesses of marriage and of fertility, their powers were intertwined with the spell. As wives to Zeus and Poseidon, Hera and Amphitrite share in their power, and thus, to make the re-sealing work, they must be present.” The corner of Hestia’s mouth tugged upwards. “A fact that you must remember when you take a wife.”
“If,” Hades punctuated. “If I take a wife, not when.” After all, what woman would want to live in the vast bleakness that was the Underworld? “If you’ll excuse me…”
“Go on.” Hestia gestured toward the door.
A hush fell over the assembled deities as the five gods and goddesses stood in front of the door. Hades took his position next to his siblings, Zeus and Poseidon, their respective partners at their sides. Hera looked regal and formidable as ever. Amphitrite, the ocean goddess, stood next to her mate, her eyes reflecting the depths of the seas.
Before performing the ancient rite, something from deep within his divine soul called to Hades. He exchanged glances with his brothers, understanding that the time had come to step outside the opulent hall and fulfill the ancient rite that would keep the Titans locked away.
The door swung open, and the air around them began to shimmer with an otherworldly light, casting an iridescent glow upon the palace. This shimmering aura signaled the imminent appearance of the portal.
The gods and goddesses inside the hall watched with reverence and a touch of trepidation as the siblings approached the radiant threshold. It was a moment of great significance, and the entire divine realm held its breath.
The moment was solemn, and all eyes turned to the three brothers as they prepared to perform the ancient rite. Hades raised a jeweled staff forged in the heart of the Underworld. The staff’s ethereal blue flames flickered and danced, casting eerie shadows around him.
Hades began the incantation, invoking the power of the cosmos and the bonds that held the Titans in their eternal prison. Zeus and Poseidon joined him, their voices blending in a harmonious chorus that reverberated through the celestial palace.
As the incantation reached its crescendo, the very ground of Olympus seemed to tremble, and a celestial light bathed the gods in its radiance. The power of the gods, united and resolute, surged forth, renewing the seals that imprisoned the Titans in their eternal torment.
The rite was complete, and with a collective sigh of relief as the gods knew that the Titans would remain sealed for another ten thousand years.
“The ceremony is done!” Zeus declared, his voice booming like thunder across the great hall. “Let us continue the celebration!”
“But do take care,” Hestia warned. “The veil between the realms remains thin for the next few moments.”
“It needs time to heal,” Demeter added.
“What does that mean?” Artemis, youngest of the gods, asked.
Hera raised a hand. “You may feel a disturbance in the air, and see things that might not be there. Do not fret.” She chuckled, as if to assure everyone. “This is the function of the spell. Things will go back to normal.”
The gods and goddesses, with their laughter and merriment renewed, began to make their way back into the resplendent palace of Olympus, where the festivities would once again reach their crescendo.
However, Hades did not follow the others. He remained at the threshold, his gaze lingering on the portal that had transported them to and from the realm of the living. The solemnity of his duty weighed heavily on his shoulders, and the ephemeral joy of the celebration seemed distant and foreign to him.
The god of the Underworld cast his eyes toward the stars that pierced the velvet-black sky above Olympus. In the quietude of the night, he could almost hear the whispers of the mortal souls in the land of the living, the souls he shepherded into the afterlife. It was a reminder of his eternal responsibility, a burden he carried with stoic resolve.
As he reentered the opulent hall, his gaze fell upon Zeus, who was engrossed in conversation with other gods and goddesses. Hades observed his brother from afar, thoughts swirling within his mind.