Of Wars
With his brown eyes fixed on the growing fire, he knew it was time to hang the pot of beef stew. Once a former Olympian champion, Heracles was reduced to a mortal whose days were shortening ever so quickly.
"One thing I've been wanting to ask," Anthony said while lounging on one of the two couches that were placed opposite the fireplace, "how can I be the last Demigod if you're still alive, Uncle Herc?"
"I thought I asked you not to call me that," Heracles replied before continuing with, "It's simple. When Demigods die, they're earthly bodies go to the Underworld while our 'souls' become gods on Mt. Olympus."
"So there are two of you?" Anthony asked quickly.
Heracles began to stir the soup while noticing it had began to boil. He then turned to his nephew and nodded. "Yes."
"Why would anyone want to go to the Underworld?" Anthony asked.
Heracles paused, turned to look at Artemis, then back at Anthony, but remained silent.
Artemis sat up, gripping her right arm that was still healing, and replied, "There have been times. I've never been there, but your father and Heracles have visited the halls of Hades in their time."
"Where is Hades?" Anthony asked.
"We don't know. He did come to Mt. Olympus' aid during the Third War of the Titans, but after the Olympians failed, all surviving Olympians were thrown from Mt. Olympus randomly across the world," Artemis replied.
"It's been sixteen years, though. Why haven't you all found each other yet?" Anthony asked.
"As I told you earlier, Olympians age faster on earth. Heracles' and my generation were the youngest. It seems that the older generation, that of my father's, weren't so fortunate," Artemis replied.
Heracles cleared this throat before adding, "The only member of our father's generation that I have seen since the destruction of Mt. Olympus was Poseidon. He was with Perseus, who had died from his wounds. That was shortly after we arrived. Poseidon and Perseus had landed near Ancient Troy. I landed on a small island in the Aegean nearby. I found a boat and took it to mainland. From there, I got my bearings."
"Where is Poseidon now?"
"I do not know."
"Okay, Anthony, that's enough questions. It's time to eat," Artemis said before standing up, pulling the stew pot from the fireplace.
"Uncle, what happened to that blonde woman?" Anthony asked.
"She lives with her two sisters on the other side of town. I visit her every now and then," Heracles replied.
"Typical," Artemis added quickly.
They all shared a chuckle while preparing their bowls then beginning to eat.
"Okay, last question," Anthony said. "What's next?"
Heracles and Artemis looked at each other before answering, "We go see Ares and Athena, the gods of war."
-
CLANG... CLANG... CLANG went the sound of metal crashing on metal. The cavernous room they occupied had walls that were seemingly made entirely of iron. The smell of fire filled the air and the sound of burning was accompanied by the occasional rhythmic clanging of metal.
A brawly, stout man with a bushy brown beard and curly short black hair stood by the forge fire raising then hammering on a burning piece of metal. He was flattening the metal, fashioning it into some kind of a weapon.
The sound of footsteps began to accompany the sound of the ever-burning fire of the Great Forge of Olympus.
"Hephaestus, the great blacksmith!" called out the man who walked in.
"Apollo, what brings you to these dark parts?" said Hephaestus as he laid his great mallet down against large black anvil. He used the leather straps on his wrists to wipe the sweat from his brow.
"Father has summoned us."
"Hrmm," the great Olympian blacksmith replied before continuing his work.
Apollo crossed his arms. "Look-."
Hephaestus quickly interjected by saying, "The great father of the gods knows where to find the only blacksmith in this realm."
"Brother, please. It is a matter of great urgency."
Hephaestus glared at Apollo, threw his mallet to the iron floor, and stomped his way towards the exit of the Great Forge.
Moments later, the two arrived at the Throne of Zeus greeted by a small gathering of their half-siblings.
"Welcome, my children," said Zeus with his arms spread open as he stood atop his throne. By his side, the mother of all gods, Hera. Beside Hera, sat Leto, the mother of Apollo and Artemis.
"Why have you summoned us?" Hephaestus called out after stepping through the small group of gods.
"There is trouble lurking beneath Mt. Etna," Ares replied. The tall, muscular god of war stood clad in his black leather and steel armor accompanied by his sheathed longsword and axe that hung at his back.
"Of course there is trouble!" Hephaestus replied. "Typhon and Enkelados, two of the greatest threats to the universe, are housed there! And it was you, great father, who decided to put them there!"
"ENOUGH!" said Zeus as his voice boomed throughout all of Mt. Olympus. The clouds surrounding the great realm of the Olympians grew grey accompanied by the low rumble of thunder. "You forget to whom you speak."
"A fool," Hephaestus replied defiantly. "And an old fool at that." With that, he turned and began to make his way from the throne.
"Hephaestus! This isn't about me. It's about your family, your home. Do they mean as little as I do to you?"
Hephaestus turned, glaring at his father and replied, "You can go to Tarturus."
Each of Hephaestus' siblings gasped at the statement as Hephaestus eventually left. Apollo had wanted to call out, but Artemis held him back, shaking her head while bringing a finger to her lips.
Zeus continued to speak, but the words were muffled.