Advance chapters on P@treon.com/Saintbarbido.
Damn, haven't uploaded in months, here's a mass release.
1/4
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(General P.O.V)
The slow drip of water as it landed on the damp floor of the cell was the only thing audible.
In the center of the small cramped space sat Diana, legs crossed over each other with her eyes closed.
She had woken up stripped of all her weapons and nursing a bruised body and ego, from how easily Ares had taken her apart.
The memory of that entire encounter made her grit her teeth in anger and frustration- all of which was aimed at herself.
To think, even after training so hard in preparation, she had still lost in an overwhelmingly humiliating fashion. Ares hadn't even taken her serious.
She had truly underestimated the God of War and paid the price for it.
Separated from her sisters, bereft of her weapons and imprisoned in a cold and wet cell.
"Tsk tsk tsk, how the might have fallen."
Someone chuckled from the outside, prompting Diana to open her eyes and glare at the source.
Stepping out into the light, Circe had her hand resting on her hip, chin tilted up as she arrogantly stared down at Diana.
"What do you want?"
The Princess of Themiscyra bit out,
"Have you come to gloat, Circe?"
Circe's laughter filled the dungeon once again.
"In a manner of speaking...yes. Yes, I did come to gloat."
She grabbed the bars of the cell and leaned in close, a crazed look in her eyes.
"You killed me, I wasn't expecting that. You must have been happy to make Hippolyta and Daddy reeeeaall proud."
Diana remained silent.
The smirk on Circe's face slid off.
"Do you know what death feels like, Diana? It's cold, it's dark and it's never ending."
A haunted expression colored her face,
"I'll never forgive you for that. You and your little boyfriend cost me everything."
And then the grin was back.
"Though I'm sure Deimos has already dealt with that little problem by now."
What? Diana's heart skipped a beat.
"Wait, Kane...is alive?"
Diana whispered in a shaky voice, head swivelling up to stare at Circe with disbelief. She dared not hope...
Circe blinked in confusion, before realization dawned on her. The Princess must have thought Kane had died.
But still, it didn't change the outcome. For all his viciousness, Deimos was a God and Herakles- the most powerful Demi-god to exist.
"Was. Alive."
Circe amended, scoffing at Diana through the bars.
"After meeting Herakles...I don't think there will be enough left of him."
Diana's heart sank.
The witch turned around, her green gown swaying in ethereal fashion,
"Besides, I would be more concerned about myself, if I were you. After all, once the ritual starts, a fate worse than death awaits you."
The sound of Circe's elated laughter faded away as she left.
Alone in the comfort of her thoughts, Diana allowed the memory of a black haired Assassin to go through her mind.
When she opened her eyes next, they carried a fervent light.
They had survived the Underworld. If that hadn't killed Kane...then nothing would.
She wouldn't pray, hope or wish he was alive, because that would only be a waste of time, (the Gods probably wouldn't listen anyway) but she would use him as a source of strength.
Diana wasn't going to lay down and accept defeat. That's not what Kane would do.
The cell was enchanted against super strength, the bars pulsing in a slightly red color, just like the mist that covered the whole area.
She had tried to bend or break them but even with her considerable strength, they were just too strong.
But...the walls on her back were wet and covered by mold, leaking water on the ground.
That meant, it wasn't just more hard soil and earth on the other side. Maybe...no, she KNEW she could break out if she put her mind to it.
Time was of the essence afterall. She had to stop whatever ritual Circe was speaking of.
(Kane's P.O.V)
It took digging around the bodies in the ditch to find the rest of my team. A task that took more than an hour.
Luckily, The Amazonians were dressed in armor and weapons and by a liberal use of my webs I was able to collect all their bodies in a bundle of webbing.
Inside the bundle, my eyes landed on Rhadamanthus, staring up at nothing.
Even in death, he still had that perpetual stern expression on his face.
There was so much unfinished business between us. Most specifically the whole butterfly omen incident.
I went through his clothes, hoping I could come across the butterfly but eventually gave up after turning up nothing.
With a sigh, I stepped back, turning to my Spider Totem
"Store them."
Spyra opened her jaws wide, burning webs launching out and ensnaring the bundle of webbing before she pulled and swallowed the whole thing.
'Eat?'
I felt her ask through our link.
At first I was surprised, staring at the Spider on my shoulder. Spyra mostly communicated through feelings. But that had almost felt like a real word.
'No.' I shook my head.
That God...Deimos, before sending Steve and the rest to the ditch, he had an object in his hands. An object that had seemed to contain thousands of 'sparks' through my 'fire detection sense.'
I already knew Death was only a bridge to a different kind of existence. Thus, I was willing to bet those were the souls of everyone he had killed.
Which meant, it was likely he had trapped the Amazons, Steve and Rhadamanthus' souls within.
There was a chance to bring them back, which is why I needed the bodies.
Too bad I couldn't do much for the other corpses in the ditch. Some had started to rot already.
Still, If I could get that artefact out of Deimos' hands then, maybe there was a chance I wouldn't fight alone.
Spyra's abilities were still a mystery. Even the Interface itself revealed nothing about what she could do. But I still remember she had healed me during the fight with Cerberus. Maybe that healing could extend to the others.
It was a long shot...but it was the only one I had.
I stared at the edge of the ditch. Beyond it was a camp built closer to the slopes of the large volcano to my front.
I was willing to bet that Deimos had to be there...
Then it's decided, 'I'll scout the camp, get the artefact or rescue Diana if she's here.'
Whatever comes first.
Then it will be time for the main event.
"Wait for me Ares, your head is mine."
(General P.O.V)
(Olympus)
On the Hall of the Gods, 12 massive thrones occupied the space, arranged along the walls so that they faced the front entrance.
The thrones were easily more than 10 feet wide, enough space for the gigantic glowing figures- easily mistakable for humans but were just an incomprehensible step higher- to occupy.
The Gods.
Specifically, the Gods of Olympus.
9 of those thrones were occupied and 3 of them remained empty.
1, a mechanical La-Z-Boy type chair covered with bronze and silver gears, appeared broken, in flames and produced smoke.
This was Haephestus throne.
The second of the three unoccupied thrones was a throne made of gray rock. It had ram's heads on the arms and a cushion of goatskin.
The entire throne also glowed a deep red and gave off a sickening blood thirsty aura.
This was Hermes' throne.
The last unoccupied Throne had to be the strangest of them all.
For starters it was bigger than almost all except for 3 of the thrones, and was made of leather and chrome with large human skulls built into the arms. The cushion was made of human skin.
This was Ares' throne. And if Hermes' throne was glowing a deep red, Ares' throne seemed to radiate the very essence of RED. A bloody aura that permeated out into the chamber.
"Whoof...someone clearly needs a shower."
Aphrodite giggled waving her hand before her dainty nose.
She was unquestionably, undeniably, the most beautiful thing in attendance. And even such a small meaningless action would have driven men crazy and nations to war.
"Your pretense to not know anything isn't fooling anyone you slut!"
Artemis seethed hatefully from her throne.
"You're probably in leagues with Ares!"
"Oh my."
Aphrodite giggled.
"What vulgar language from the Virgin Goddess. Seems like Mami didn't teach you manners, maybe I should do it."
"Youuuu...."
Artemis glowered.
"Apollo get your sister in line. Aphrodite, stop antagonizing my children or I will antagonize you."
Zeus warned from the head of the room.
He was draped over his throne, a goblet in his hands and his cheeks flushed with inebriation.
Hera, sitting next to him kept throwing disgusted looks at him. He pretended he didn't notice them.
The King of the Gods nodded once the commotion was over.
"Good. We can finally start this meeting and-"
The God of God's was interrupted by blue flames suddenly blooming in the middle of the throne Hall.
They formed a swirling vortex and out of it walked the last person Zeus was expecting to see.
"Hades."