26. Filling in the Blanks

I took a very long bath. Hades had sat in the tub with me. He was considerate and helped me wash my long hair. He had not said anything yet that I had done in Tartarus. I wanted to know his thoughts on my actions. Was he disappointed in me? Did he think of me different now? I had never been vicious but some of the things the souls had said were just horrible, and about someone I loved. It was easier on me when one of the souls had talked badly about me, but when it came to him, I became enraged.

Hades had let me have complete control of the requests from the morning and that afternoon he had given me total control of the souls in Tartarus. I didn’t know if it was hard for him to give me the power he had always had. Hades was behind me in the tub. My back resting on his massive stone-like chest. “Hades did I do okay today? You have not said anything. Do you think I am wrong now, for ruling beside you.” Hades suddenly chuckled, which was a strange thing to do, I thought.

“Of course not. If anything, you are better at this than me. You are just the right amount of tough. When I saw you losing your temper you gave in a little but then pulled yourself back. I have a hard time doing that. Hence the reason there are so many in Tartarus right now. You did beautifully. I was worried having you there would make things worse for you. But you seemed to keep yourself in check. You never used your gift. Which shows a lot of control. I know you think you are a wild card, but you weren’t when you actually had to be in control.”

I let his words sink in. He was right of course. I had not lost control the whole time I was in Tartarus. Sure, I had gotten angry and inflicted that on others, but I did pull back and didn’t let it consume me. I had not had thorns shooting out at any time. Hades then said “I kind of liked that you were so protective of me. I am the same way with you, just so you know. I had a hard time not stepping in when someone aggravated me.” I smiled a little though the God of The Dead would not see it.

“Persephone Darling, I think you are much stronger than you give yourself credit for. I mean you have been awake for days now and with each one you seem to make large strides on your control. I know I have wanted to keep you in a bubble since you came home. I think that might have been a disservice to you. It seems the more you are given to handle the more you rise to the challenge.” I couldn’t believe what he was saying. But there was truth in it. Just today being a part of something like answering the complaints of the souls and mortals then visiting Tartarus. It had given me purpose, and I had no time to dwell on other things. Maybe this was the key. Doing important things.

“I think you should train with Hecate tomorrow. She is the best at that kind of thing. I can help in the evening, but she is the one who taught me to wield my gifts and she probably will be of more help in training you.” I was silent for a while. I knew I needed to know my gifts, understand them and know how to use them. But, what Hades said, more so the way he said it, made it seem like there was more to it. “Will she just teach me to use my power, or other stuff too?”

Hades responded. “She will teach you to fight as well. There are things going on and you need to be able to physically fight as well.” I again remained silent. But then I stood up stretching as the water dripped from my body. I felt Hades dark eyes roaming my skin and I couldn’t help but smirk. He wanted me, all the time. I never felt so consumed by someone and it was the strangest thing but also the most incredible. I exited the tub to find a red silk robe in the closet that I wrapped my body in after I dried off. Hades followed me as I sat down in one of the chairs by the fire in our room. “Want to tell me what is going on up top now? Seeing as tomorrow I am going to be preparing for it?” I said to the King of the Underworld.

“I guess I should start with my meeting with Zues at Demeter's estate. He was worried about several mortals wanting to get rid of us. Some humans do not like that we have so much power. They were trying to find demigods to aid them in a full-on rebellion. They want to end us for whatever reason. Zues was worried they would find a way to break our father out to use him to wipe us out. Then the demigods would imprison him again and the humans would rule, or the demigods would. That was not clear.” I nodded in understanding and said “But that was when we just met. Your talk with Zues?”

Hades responded. “Yes, well it turns out the humans began trashing temples. The first one being Athena’s temple. You had seen that on the Television. Then shortly after Demeter locking you up there were other temples for various Gods being destroyed. The rebels wanted to anger the gods. Have them lash out so more of the mortals would turn to their side. The rebels wanted to display to those who loved us that we were destructive and had no care about the humans who worshiped them.”

I was understanding now. But it all seemed ridiculous to me. “Well, they got their wish. Zues wanted Demeter to help him locate the rebels. Your mother is notorious for her superiority and anger, I know you know this. That is what Zues asked of her. She agreed just to break our deal. As well as other gods who started hunting the rebels. But, fighting began amongst the mortals. It only took a little punishment from the gods, but it seems the mortals split about 50% hate us now. The other 50% still like us and can see reason.”

He continued and I sat there in shock. “They have been fighting for their belief in their gods, verse those who want all the gods to fall. It has become overly messy. There are still places like Nox that are still running but many bombs have gone off. Many of the buildings have been destreoyed, some phones are spotty. Nox probably only stands due to the fact people hope I will come there and make deals with them. But I don’t know for sure. Hecate keeps me posted since I have been busy for the last decade. Zues and the other Gods are now enjoying watching the fighting. They think of it like a show.”

That seemed sick. I spoke. “They should just kill the rebels.”. Hades nodded and said “I agree. It would solve the problems, but Zues doesn’t want to. We have been instructed to help when we want but we are prohibited from ending the war. He likes it, he thinks he is showing them how pathetic they are and by killing each other off. I don’t get it. He also had some of the gods come down and destroy modern weapons. That is why the bombings stopped. He makes it impossible to use guns or bombs. He likes the graphic nature of fighting like the old days. But Hecate and I think he is being naive.”

I raised my eyebrow. “You see we think he is distracted. That this is all a diversion. The rebels responsible for all this see the Gods are distracted. They like it that way, Zues is no longer searching for the Rebels. He is too entertained by the bloodshed, as are many of the other gods. Hecate, I, and a few others think something bigger is going on. That the Rebels' goal remains for us to still be destroyed. I wouldn’t have put much thought into it. I didn’t at all, until you got back. But Hecate has. She has been monitoring everything.”

“See when the Gods are distracted things tend to crash and burn. My own father had his demise because he was not focused enough. It is easy to ruin people if they are no longer concerned about you, you are a threat. I am sure my brothers think the rebels have been killed already and this is just the aftermath. I don’t know how long it will go on. Last time there was an uprising Zues let it go on for fifty years. I don’t want that. We have souls coming in by the droves. Which is fine but it shouldn’t be happening. It means a lot of work for all of us down here. They would all come here eventually but not so many as now. The whole of earth is fighting. I am not worried about that.”

“But Hecate keeps hearing whispers of much worse things going on. The Rebels have been gathering things that have been hidden by the Gods on earth. If they do by chance team up with the demigods. There are a lot of them. It won’t just be mortals fighting each other. We will have to join in. A demigod can wield our weapons and the rebels can wield weapons that have magical properties that, us gods, have given to deserving mortals over time. Zues is just reveling in the humans fighting.” I sat there shocked. This was insane. I didn’t like the mortals fighting one another.

But what Hades said about if the Rebels actually are recruited the demigods to their side, that would be a disaster. There had been only one real war that affected the gods in the past. It was the war on the titans. But this could lead to something similar. I sat there puzzled, how could Zues do nothing. He was abusing his power as King of the Gods. To forbid the other gods from winning the war to those loyal to us. I could understand now this was a lot to handle. Now I had to not only worry about recovering but from the fact I may be fighting someone with just as much power as I have in the future.