Freedom
Within days, Zeus had us all training and sent word to all corners of the world. His message was a call to arms and a warning of severe punishment if anyone chose the opposing side.
“These are the Titans. Study them all. Knowing their strength and weaknesses will assist us in our battle against them. However, we might require aid from the prisoners in Tartarus depending on the number of alliances who heed my call,” Zeus said as he glanced at Poseidon before he looked at me.
This was a dangerous feat since we might be unable to control their actions. Yes, they had been imprisoned by the Primordials and Titans, but this might not be enough to guarantee their allegiance to Zeus.
“I heard whispers about the one-eyed brothers and the hundred-armed giants,” Hestia said with a touch of sadness tinging her voice. “Our forefather, Uranus, hated his children more than our father.”
“Indeed, but they have the potential to become the perfect allies should we need them,” Zeus said with his unhinged enthusiasm.
I studied his energy in the aura surrounding him. His shone the brightest, but perhaps that was because the rest of us had been in the darkness for so long. The more time passed, the stronger we became, but we needed more to win a war against such dangerous opponents.
“Where are they, and how can we reach them?” Poseidon asked with a frown as he pondered on his question.
“They are trapped in Tartarus,” Zeus said before he cleared some papers and put a map on top of them. “Mother Earth, Gaia told me how to access Tartarus by following the River Phlegethon. It is also known as the river of fire, and its entrance will take us to the deepest part of the Underworld.”
The Underworld .
My body and mind became heightened and I realised that I looked forward to seeing the deepest, darkest place beneath this earth. The skies were too bright for me.
“When do we leave?” I asked, causing everybody to stare at me before the surprise became speculation. It was only then that I remembered his words. I would need to bide my time before I could see the Underworld.
“It seems something finally caught your attention,” Zeus said as a silver glimmer flashed in his eyes. “We won’t go there unless we need them.”
Poseidon grunted in disappointment as his initial spike of energy dampened.
“The journey would have made a fine quest,” he said, mumbling to himself.
I didn’t consider the quest to free the prisoners. My mind was still imagining how Tartarus and the Underworld would appear. Instinct told me we would all have a part to play in forging the new world, but it would be wise to remember that Cronus was the King of the Titans with a formidable force behind him.
◆◆◆
“Again,” Zeus bellowed at Poseidon.
Zeus exuded power and strength. I couldn't help but admire his tenacity. Our strength made the ground tremble each time we fought with one another. After fleeing from Cronus and his fury, I knew our battle would be a difficult one. Had he not been consumed by coughing and vomiting, we might not have escaped.
Aren't you fighting today?
Hera’s voice filtered into my mind. I didn't give her the satisfaction of looking at her. Zeus held his hand out to help Poseidon up.
Come, Hades, I know you can hear me . Hera said, but my focus was on Zeus and Poseidon. He groaned but pulled himself off the ground. Hera seemed to enjoy trying to get a reaction out of me.
“Take me down,” Zeus said before he grabbed two swords and threw one toward Poseidon, who gracefully caught it in mid-air.
Demeter had a soft approach toward the sun and earth. She was able to manipulate plants as easily as I could manipulate the shadows and their accompanying darkness. Hestia was more inclined to toy with fire, showing her dark side, yet she fussed around us, looking after all of us.
As the clashing of metal against metal began, I glanced at Hera, who was watching Poseidon and Zeus. Hera had the same shape-shifting power as Zeus and Poseidon. We were all honing our powers in a variety of ways.
The tussle intensified as both fought at a speed that few could see with the naked eye. I glanced at the large axe that I would be fighting with. I had been wounded several times, but my body healed as quickly as it was wounded. The pain of having my skin sliced open helped me feel grounded, and I found myself enjoying the discomfort. It was a far cry from being in an ageless void of existence.
My powers were more nuanced than that of my siblings. I began to sense a being ’ s moral intentions from seeing energy auras. The evening black skies and the shadows called to me. I could not rest until the sun began to sink into the horizon. Poseidon’s guttural war cry brought my attention back to them.
The fine dirt was in the air, and Poseidon brought his sword down. It hit Zeus’s until it flew out of his hand and onto the ground. While Poseidon lifted his sword in the air and howled, my eyes were on Zeus, who pushed his long hair back. His smile was wide as he watched Poseidon celebrate.
It was nice of Zeus to let him win for a change .
When I saw the rock fall out of Cronus’s mouth, I didn't think anything of it. Zeus told us how our mother, Rhea, managed to save him. She swaddled a stone and gave it to Cronus, who never glanced at the ‘child’ before swallowing it. Her mother, Gaia, aided her daughter against the cruelty of her son.
I didn't want the burden of being a leader to the Gods and would be content to leave these matters in Zeus or Poseidon’s hands. Zeus was as shrewd as he was wise. Poseidon was full of energy to work hard towards creating a new world. I remained silent and in the shadows. My preference was still the same. I was content in my own company.
There was little that I had in common with my siblings. The one factor that united us all was our fight for freedom against Cronus and a new dawn on Mother Earth.
Time had little meaning to me. I had no idea of how long I had been imprisoned for, but I came to learn the bravery of Zeus and his insightful wife. Had it not been for his wife Metis’s advice and foresight, we may have remained imprisoned much longer. He had disguised himself to hide his identity and fed Cronus a potion that Metis had provided to him. The Oceanid nymph had been resourceful.
I inhaled a long breath of air. It didn't matter that I was indifferent to my siblings. The clean, crisp air was filled with a variety of scents from nature and our camp. It was better than the grotesque insides of Cronus. The simple ability to move and breathe unhindered was liberating.
Yes,
I would fight to the bitter end to retain this newfound freedom .