*In the Underworld*
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Leodocus felt a warm sensation in his heart as a real and genuine smile stretched onto his face. His uncle Hades was not known for being the most affectionate being in the world to anyone except his wife Persephone. So he was quite taken back when Hades gracefully glided over to him and pulled him into an embrace.
Granted it only lasted a few seconds before the ruler of the Underworld assumed his stoic posture and turned to Thanatos.
"I am surprised you brought my nephew here."
"Well, I couldn't very well refuse a son of Zeus," Thanatos smirked as he took a seat at the long table with his feet up.
"We both know that is a load of bullshit."
"I may have owed lady Pythia a favour or two."
"Try multiple. Hades, good to see you again." She came out from behind Leodocus.
"Last time I saw you Hera was trying to kill you."
"Yes well, the good old days right?" she shrugged going to join Thanatos.
Hades looked at his nephew and he felt a sense of dread flooding him. Sure he was pleased to see the young man again but it had to be special circumstances that brought him here. This was not a social visit, far from it.
"Why is she here with you Leo?"
"I asked for her help and I have come here to do the same from you."
"I cannot make my brother reinstate your place in Mount Olympus Leo." He deadpanned. Hades was powerful but Zeus is king and his eldest brother, as much as he sympathized with their delicate situation he could not do anything to change it.
Leodocus was just about to open his mouth to explain the plan when he heard a familiar shriek.
"LEO!" His head turned just in time for Persephone to nearly knocking him over in a big hug. There are only a few of his siblings that Leodocus could say he enjoyed spending time with and his spirited half-sister/cousin was one of those few.
"Oh, my gods! I did not dare believe it when the servants were gossiping that you're here. Brother, I have missed you so much." She had tears in her eyes as she reached up to caress his face and looked into his eyes with her own emerald ones.
"It is good to see you as well sister, you look beautiful."
"Why thank you! I think it's still the glow of the sun."
"I have seen a bit in my very brief time on Earth. It was magnificent."
"Aren't you just sweet--- A feast! Oh, we simply must throw a fest!"
"Darling Leo and I need to discuss—" Hades tried to interject.
"This is my brother whom I haven't seen in so many years. I mean decades is but a blink to us but still, I missed him and I want to throw him a feast. Besides we have guests." She turned to her husband.
The relationship between Hades and Persephone was an infamous and tumultuous one. In the beginning, she hated him for kidnapping her and for years she had been so miserable in this dead land. However things started to change and so did he for her, he started doing small things to make her happy, allowing her to leave the Underworld to bring forth spring and visiting with her mother Demeter and somehow love grew slowly. Persephone was the only weakness Hades had and he had trouble saying no to her whims.
"Of course, anything my queen wants she gets. Leo, we will talk later."
"But uncle this is really important—"
"Yes but my love is right, your return here needs to be celebrated. Persephone dear, make sure our guests are taken care of. Do not worry, we will speak nephew." He nodded and strolled out of the room. Gods be dammed! Yet another delay.
Leodocus did not wait for Persephone and walked off to wander the palace. There was only one place he wanted to see again, Hades' personal library. Years ago he accidentally found it and he expected some kind of retribution or even anger but his uncle was calm and offered to share his sanctuary with him. This is where he studied most of the dark arts and the books in this collection taught him invaluable lessons he never would have back home in Olympus.
He always felt safe here, it was less crowded and peaceful in the Underworld. Olympus was filled with giant egos, power struggles and drama and while some of his brothers thrived in that environment he prefered this solace. For Leodocus the mission of getting back home was never about staying in Olympus to rule as Zeus' successor but rather to having acceptance and to feel a sense of belonging with his family again. Yes, there were some of his family he despised but others made the struggle to get back all the more worth it.
He had spent a few hours in that library going through book after book, anything to help to solidify his plan but found nothing that could be more useful to him than that of the lord of the Underworlds' help. He had to talk to Hades.
"Father does not know you're here, does he?" Leodocus' head snapped to the side when he heard Persphones' voice break through the silence as she stepped into the darkroom.
"No, and I'd prefer to keep it that way."
"I would never betray you, Leo, he will not hear it from us."
"You were always loyal." He closed the book he was currently reading and gave he a smile but she frowned.
"Not loyal enough…I should've been there, to stop it." Her small voice cracked as she looked down. Even though Leodocus did not fancy himself a very comforting being, he still hated the sight of one of his favourite sisters being sad. So he walked over to her and held her in his arms.
"Persphone there was nothing to be done, once father makes up his mind there is no going back. Besides you had to take care of yourself at the time."
"When Hades told me I was hysterical, nearly tore this place to the ground. I wanted to find you but he would not allow it, father never told anyone where he shipped you off to."
"I'm sure he told my--- Hera he must've told her."
"They always had their secrets those two. But where are you, Leo."
"In a dimension called Dynodes, it's completely sealed off."
"He's so cruel."
"He is Zeus." Leodocus shrugged and turned back around.
After that emotional moment with his sister, Leodocus retreated down to his designated room to change because he wanted to make his sister happy with his damned feast.
"To my darling brother…it feels incredible to be reunited with you again, I only wish the others were here to enjoy this moment. But hopefully, all of us will be able to see each other again." Persephone raised her glass of wine to make her toast. Leodocus gave her a polite smile because inside he was missing his siblings as well but he had to power through to be able to get this done.
"Let the feast begin!" she announced as the servants entered the dining hall with all kinds of food…
The feast was long and as jubilant as it could be in the underworld. It reminded Leodocus of the celebratory feast that used to be held back home. As a member of the royal family, he was expected to attend but they were so tedious and loud and he often would excuse himself after a short period of time. He did not miss those parties but he found himself enjoying this one a tad bit more than usual. But he was incredibly anxious to speak to Hades and when the feast was all but done he climbed the many stairs to Hades' tower.
"Uncle?" he stood just outside the door nervously.
"You have always been impatient Leo, this cannot possibly wait until tomorrow?"
"No uncle, they are waiting for me and the longer I delay this, the smaller our window stays open."
"Very well, come inside and let us discuss this mission of yours." The god gestured to the younger man to take a seat next to him while he poured him some wine. He didn't really want to have any more since he had enough at the feast but it take a lot for a god to get drunk so he graciously accepted.
Hades looked at his nephew and he sense how on edge he was, whatever had brought him all the way down here had to be very important because it could not have been easy to escape from whatever realm they were exiled in. Zeus would have taken extreme precautions to make sure they couldn't leave. But he knew his nephews' especially Leodocus possessed a special brand of ingenuity that vaguely reminded him of his eldest brother.
"Tell me your plan Leodocus and I can tell you if I am able to help you."
"Uncle you have to agree, you are our only hope." Leodocus was trying to refrain himself to not say anything that might antagonize the powerful god.
"I certainly hope you are not trying to manipulate me by using what little affection I hold for you nephew." The god had a dark look in his blank eyes.
"Of course not uncle, I would never do that to you."
"You wish for me to perform some spell, ritual or ceremony?"
"Yes on a mortal—I mean a Hemitheos, she is one of us." He explained and for a split second Hades' expression flinched.
"The prophecy…I should have known."
Nothing has given many of Gaia's children sleepless nights more than that damned prophecy. It never just threatened Zeus's dominion over the world but every Olympian. It meant that this one individual could become powerful enough to bring all of them to their knees. One thing that never made sense to anyone was the lack of knowledge about who's offspring she is. Most assumed it was one product of Zeus' affairs but now no one was certain.
"It is female?"
"Yes and I can tell she is powerful. I receive a message from my brothers that all four of them had a rather difficult time reigning her in."
"Impressive."
"I was hoping to bring her here---"
"Absolutely not! I would not have my wife face Zeus' wrath should he or his spies discover I harbour the threat in my own realm. I will not have it, not for you or anyone!" Hades raised his voice at the mere thought of Persephone being collateral damage.
Leodocus understood his position so he stepped back.
"Alright I will not bring her here but will you come with me back to Dynodes?"
"That depends on what you require of me."
"The ceremony you once performed on Ctesylla, Apollos' priestess. I need you to do it again on the girl." Leodocus stated and watched his uncle's fist clench as he rose from his seat.
"That did not work!"
"Because you were inexperienced at the time but uncle you are one of the most powerful people I know and certainly the only person I trust who has mastered dark magic." He pleaded with him as he followed his now agitated uncle around the dimly lit room.
"I was a fool, I was arrogant and I failed!"
"But you learned from your mistakes uncle, I truly believe you can do this and do it perfectly."
"Leodocus I cannot…I stopped doing that a long time ago."
"You must help us. Do you wish for my brothers and I to away for all eternity? We might as well have been send to Tartarus with that old evil despicable Cronus." He was at his wits end and for the first time in his life Leodocus did something he knew if he his father saw he would berade, he kneeled before his uncle pleading with him
"Uncle Hades I am begging you…please help us." He bowed his head.
Had this had been any of his brothers' other children, Hades would have sliced open a portal and put them through into an abyss without a second thought. But this is Leodocus, Athenios, Zargreus, Arcus and Methios, his beloved nephews and he knew that should he refuse his cry for help, he would not hear the end of it from his darling wife. Besides if he could do this, actually succeed with this ceremony, he would only grow more powerful in his abilities. He turned to Leodocus looking into the fire burning in his hearth and with a soft voice he said;
"We leave at dawn."