Running.

“Athena come back!” Zeus growled chasing after her, she slid under the guards feeling arms before sliding down the steps bannister repeated it for the second set as she sprinted across the courtyard so she could hurriedly close the gates and use her spear to block its use. She rushed to the “Hermes Wings” before transporting to the cliff rushed over to the next one to try and lose them. “”Athena stop this. He only wants to talk!” Dionysius pleaded but shaking her head she grabbed the nearby farmers hatchet and buried it into his shoulder, “Fucking bitch!” “I won’t let the same happen to me as it did Artemis!” “It won’t be like that!” “Then why hasn’t she returned? Why hasn’t her woods been maintained!” she carried on fleeing holding her knife before rushing to the dock jumped on the only manned boat, “Charon I need to leave now!” “Where?” “Underworld, earth, anywhere!” “Can you pay the toll?” “I will pay you afterwards, that’s a promise. I just need to leave now!” he looked over and seeing Zeus rushing through the streets immediately began to row, “If Zeus is after you then scrap the fee!” “Thank you my friend!” “I’m not your friend but I won’t let Zeus get what he wants if I can help it!” she nodded watching the others rush to the docks and spitting evil Zeus growled, “It doesn’t have to be like this!” “If you won’t allow me to be free to choose then it must!”

Charon was relentless in his efforts what was usually a peaceful journey was nothing less than a sprint to the Underworld, “So he is trying it with you? Like Artemis, Hestia and Kore!” “He got them not me. Hestia has fled, Kore suicide and Artemis... we don’t even know where she is!” he looked down before concentrating on his rowing heard her question, “You know something don’t you. About Artemis?” he nodded before confessing, “Her baby... well she didn’t have it. Asclepius, myself and a few others disagree with his reasons. Asclepius provided her with a few herbs to... well stop the child from living but she is emotionally scarred and is in the only place where Zeus can’t touch her!” she studied the surroundings before seeing the coast of Hades’ realm, “Hades is on Zeus’ side. We can’t stay here!” “I’m not taking you here but there is one place people dare not go. One place out of bounds both politically and emotionally. So much so Zeus won’t venture down there, a place older than the other realms and darker...” “Tartarus!” he nodded before stating, “They hate each other but it is almost a perfect place to hide. No one thinks of it, no one ventures in there so who would ever think that you would be there. Also politically they both don’t get on. One footstep in Tartarus and it risks a war against pissed off: Titans, Giants, monsters and the North Isu of Helheim and the dead!” “How can you be sure?” he chuckled before commenting, “Where do you think Artemis is?” she froze before looking up was met by his nodding, “You see... he likes to be alone and a emotionally scarred Artemis needed a place to hide... she got it but I doubt she will be feeling mentally better. Only I have walked through those corridors and not been effected... built differently to you all!” he almost bragged at his exception but as they docked on the shore they saw the mass gathering of troops and Isu’s banners waiting for them to walk up the hill, “What do we do now?” “Along the shoreline, there will be three villages close together run through there causing as much havoc as you can then take a horse. You will see a vast empty and dry land go there; you will see it. There’s a small stone lip to the entrance... if you are lucky he will be watching and will help you!” she nodded before running looked back to see him signal her to keep running as he grab his bow and sword, “I’m going to at least wound that bastard!” he grumbled as he walked up the hill to be met by the 100’s of troops, Hades and Zeus who stood opposite him expecting Athena, “Charon, where’s Athena?” Zeus queried seeing only the halfbreed, “I don’t know!” “Charon enough games!” Hades warned which caused Charon to bluntly state, “Away!” “Where?” “Now why would I tell you?” “Why wouldn’t you?” “Because Athena doesn’t deserve what Zeus did to Artemis and the others. Because she isn’t with anyone that she must have his child for the next generation. She had a man but you refused it; the last thing we need is another Artemis!” “We can’t even find her!” Zeus reasoned which caused him Charon to look down and confess, “I saw her before she left. A woman who was broken, confused and scared, she is alive but what is left of the woman you know is questionable!” “Start talking Charon!” Hades barked, “I will but not to him!” “Speak now!” Zeus spoke but shaking his head Charon stated, “I refuse to tell you!” Hades growled before punching him in his face heard snapped, “Tell us!” Charon drew his sword before wounding Zeus with a strike was met by Hades Bident impaling his chest snapped, “I won’t suffer such disobedience!” Charon grabbed his sword and weakly stabbing Hades’ in his chest gasp, “She will be in the last place you’d expect!”

Athena raced through the towns on the horse she had stolen and riding across the open dry cracked land stopped to see Hades standing in her way blood trickling from his chest scaring the horse as it began to buck and throw her off and sliding across the floor with his guards drawing nearer, “Come Athena, you know the policy. Only one and he won’t touch you again!” she pulled herself up before spitting at him in disgust growled, “You piece of shit. Have you forgotten on what he did to James, he stopped us being together, made us think we couldn’t be together for my abilities and role but yet see no problem in him taking it off me!” he stopped before looking down nodded before stating, “That’s why I don’t give a shit about what happens to you! You brought it on him!” he grabbed her as the guards drew near until dark spikes sprung out from the ground impaling their bodies causing Hades to flinch before feeling a spike come up and impale his leg allowed m Athena a chance to break free and run to the edge whilst Hades freed himself as she looked back to see Hades look over at her, “I won’t let any of you take me!” “Athena, don’t do it. Don’t do what James did!” “As long as Zeus is in power more will be willing to live in a literal hell if it means being free from him!” “You may die!“ “Then so be it!” he watched as she fell backwards down the black hole that not even he would venture down again listening in waiting for the thud that never came.

“Where is she?” Zeus questioned looking around and shrugging Hades commented, “Gone. We have looked around the area and the hooves have been masked by the dust storms. She could be miles away by now!” “All because you let Charon lie to us!” Zeus growled nursing his wound, “He’s dead isn’t he?! I have to find a new assistant now, someone with more loyalty!” “They should be loyal already. What happened today should never happen again. Look at my group...” “The ones that keep running away from you?!” “What’s wrong now brother?” Hades sighed walking away as he confessed, “I don’t know. It’s just something Charon said... doesn’t matter now; he’s dead and Athena’s gone. I’ll go ahead and fetch Asclepius, meet you back at my palace!”

Athena’s arms and legs waved back and for reaching into the darkness for a grip but feeling nothing closed her eyes ready for the impact that took forever to come before slowly down felt gradually almost like it was getting controlled by an external factor landed on her back in a thud and her head hitting the warm stone floor she looked over fuzzy-eyes over to the torches who illuminated the way for a man to crouch down as her eyes closed the last thing she remembered was being scooped up and carried away.

When Athena woke her head pounded and she was grateful to see the darkness which helped relieve the headache from the now swollen lump on the side of her head but other than that it was quiet apart for the faint wail and scream in the distance she sat up and still feeling lightheaded was quickly met by a pair of arms supporting her but from the darkness she could only tell by the shape and feel of the hands it was female, “Who are you? Where’s Krisi?” “Ssshhh! Take it slow!” “Artemis?” Athena reached desperately for the candle and turning back saw the woman light a torch to lift above them to illuminate the room, “Yes...” the woman was different; considerably different. She was pale and had a permanent lifeless look to her face, her hair looked lifeless, the only thing that was identical as before was her eyes but even then she could see Artemis wasn’t right, “Artemis what’s wrong?” “After what Zeus did, I didn’t want to live anymore to feel worthless and betrayed by your own father and no one to help you... I wasn’t in a good place but Charon took pity in me; he probably told you he “helped me get to Tartarus”, no he pushed into Tartarus with the belief of only Krisi could protect me, like you have jumped down” Athena nodded before asking, “So that’s why you look like you do? The changes in your environment?” “Tartarus exploits any pain, this is what happened after Zeus’ abuse. You are lucky he never touched you” “Krisi?” “Yes, you would like to see him wouldn’t you? He is in the Throne room throwing stuff or throwing knifes at Zeus’ portrait, whatever calms him. Follow me!”

The complex was grand with floors and floors of prisoners who either were able crying out in punishment or sat in their cells looking out as Athena looked over the barrier up saw how big Tartarus was, “How many people are here?” “I don’t rightfully know, best person to ask is Krisi. He has records of them but I do know the Isu staff number here; three, me, Krisi and Nyx who was banished here after what her husband did; the punishment is wrong considering she sided against her lover and stopped him but she prefers it here, Krisi is good to her despite his appearance and she enjoys the comfort he brings her but come you will be eager to see him I’d bet!” she nodded clutching her arms as she walked past the cells hearing the screams and cries from those imprisoned, “You will get used to that... it’s important to remember that these people are bad and are just serving their punishment!” Athena again nodded until being greeted by the giant doors watched as it opened to reveal the small table with food already prepared on the table under candlelight and the room light was aided by the burning fire encouraging her in, “He will be with you in a few minutes; something has just cropped up!” Athena took an seat that looked out over the balcony and above it stood the screens that spanned across Helheim, Elysium and the Underworld home to Hades and it’s here when she saw the men search for Athena and comically retreat when they came near Tartarus, “Comfortable are you?” she froze before jumping up was met by his hands grabbing her arms and pulling her to her feet, “Krisi, I didn’t know...” “Relax, you’re safe here!” she nodded before cautiously take her seat at the table saw Nyx and Artemis join her as Krisis finished cleaning the blood from his hands, “You helped me earlier...” he nodded before seeing an guard venture to close to the edge of Tartarus pressed a button to reveal the spikes shoot up and impale him, “Yes, problem?” “Same as mine but she escaped Zeus’ clutches thanks to Charon... he’s dead!” Zantano nodded before sighing asked, “Whose order?” “Hades’” he nodded before beginning to contact Hades’ palace closed the doors hiding the secrets he now had.

“Krisi this is rare!” Hades spoke sitting on his throne looking back at the screen which occupied Krisi with burning eyes of rage, “Charon’s dead!” he froze before nodding stated, “A regrettable decision... he was the best at his job” “And you killed him...” he looked down before trying to justify it spoke, “He helped Athena escape the ritual...” “Change the fucking record. There is nothing spiritual or ritualistic about this, just Zeus wants to get his leg over and have another child!” “Krisi... I know you don’t get on but” “Shut up. You know this is bullshit or at least you used to!” Hades sighed before looking back at him spoke, “I know it is but Zeus has support and what he says goes! I dread to think what Artemis looked like in her final moments” “Betrayed, hurt, vulnerable but grateful to see someone be with her as her life slipped away, “I listened to her whimper and cry believing she did something wrong, to deserve such an punishment and it... it... makes me soo angry at him. He deserves to be in Tartarus not half the prisoners here!” “Did Athena?” Krisi shook his head before stating, “Bled our on the tile floor the last words were “I found you” as she found safety down here. Here of all places!” “I offer my condolences!” “That’s 3 I count now. 3! Artemis a friend of mine, Athena the love of me and Charon my best friend!” “It’s not what it looks like!” he watched as Krisi lifted an device to the screen and stated, “You and Zeus and have sent a lot of “bad people” down here recently I think the total is over 20,000 and this device is to contact the North... one button to either and we will begin a war in which you can’t ever win. Even now Assassin’s are killing the best Isu and sabotaging your armies or maybe I haven’t sent them yet...” “What do you want?” “Maybe grandma’s death so make up for Athena’s loss or give me all of Zeus’ favourite sons so I can punish them for their fathers actions!” “I can’t do that!” Krisi nodded before grabbing his sword stated, “Your death will be the start of it!” “Krisi please...” Hades begged but being met by the blank screen, “Persephone I need your help!”

“What’s going?” Nyx queried watching Zantano grab his sword, “War! Hades dies if he doesn’t move out of the way he dies to! We march for Olympus!” He activated the buttons and hearing the prison shut down and the doors fling open Krisi barked, “Prisoners, today’s your lucky day. As I have promised to you all; if a war dare break out between me and Zeus you would all be free to fight in my army. I promised and will maintain that promise if you help me kill Zeus. Freedom for Zeus’ head! So choose your weapons, prepare your blades and join the dead who are even now rising up from the ground to support this cause!” “I will inform the Pseudologoi to start with the propaganda!” he nodded before activating the button saw Odin gathering his armour, “Hela informed us, how do you want to deal with this?” “Divide and conquer!” “Of course and the deal I assume still applies!” he nodded watching the devices hang up as the prison began to open up to reveal the light and Krisi to step out, “Come on let’s prepare the attack!”