Journey to The Underworld
The plan turned out to be a journey to the Underworld. Zeus transformed into a winged creature and flew us to our destination. Poseidon teased him for becoming our transportation. Some of my siblings had strong personalities coming forth. Our powers were manifesting after the long battle and strength training. The ease of use was like second nature.
For now, we were united, but there would come a time when my brothers and sisters would fight amongst themselves. I had witnessed too many heated moments over the years. My indifference to everyone kept me out of their squabbling.
The journey made me wonder what Zeus ’ s final vision was for our world—soaring through the skies so high that it made me wary that the Titans or their spies could see us from Mount Othrys. The land was vast, but much of it had become barren with charred areas.
Poseidon quietened as we reached the edge of the dark blue waters of the ocean. I gazed over at the dark depths of the water to watch for Oceanus—the eldest Titan who ruled over the sea and other freshwater sources. Poseidon’s energy was the brightest near the ocean but didn’t seem to beacon to Oceanus.
The sun's warmth made me glance at the sky, but the piercing bright light pained me enough to close my eyes. Thea, the Titaness of sun and light, was not a threat, yet this felt personal. Regardless, I was grateful that my mother and her sisters were safe from the battlefields.
Zeus picked up speed, and I held onto his white fur. His beast was large and vicious-looking, but his eyes remained the same. He had eluded Cronus for many decades but transformed from his most vulnerable state as a babe into Cronus’s greatest foe. Through the help of the Gaia, the nymphs and his guards, Kouretes, his existence was hidden away from the eyes and ears of Cronus. Destiny had it all in place.
I opened my eyes when the warmth of the sun dissipated. The pain that funnelled into my core was sudden and unexpected. The flash of deep envy against Zeus filled me with fury and anguish. I observed the sudden black clouds that smeared the sky. The overcast skies turned everything cold and dreary. My fury lessened as the familiar darkness comforted me. The powerful winds pushed us towards our destination. A breeze picked up and moved my hair onto my face, but I focused on inhaling the fresh yet salty air of the sea. I was given a unique opportunity to be part of the greater good. My petty emotions were not correct.
No, Zeus was not my antagonist .
I couldn't resent Zeus for his freedom. If not for him, we would have remained lost and trapped inside Cronus. The war had changed me—forced me to enact countless forms of brutality. Cronus was the enemy and a threat to us all. I would focus every last malevolent sentiment on destroying my captor and anyone else who opposed us.
We followed the river until I sensed the hollow earth ahead of us. The gentle hum of the trickling water became stronger as the currents became more volatile. It was babbling, but there was more as we drew closer to the earth's centre—a cascading sound as the water plunged down somewhere. I frowned at the length of the river because I could see its length running across the land.
“There is an opening close by. I can feel it in the water,” Poseidon said as he lifted his hand out of the water.
“Your natural senses with water have grown stronger,” Zeus said, but my attention was not on him because I was peering into the shadowing woodland.
The water was much darker, and when I glanced up, within the shadows of the trees, I saw an opening. Unable to hold back, I walked straight into the bleak nebulous. The cavern was sunless and sombre, which suited the Phlegethon river. The river of fire brought relief and instant peace to the residual conflict that was within me.
I grazed my fingertips along the rocks and dirt as I sunk deeper into the black tunnel until the last light was extinguished. From my abdomen to my head, energy surged throughout me. I soaked it in while the route to Tartarus formed. My touch along the tunnel revealed every source hidden deep within the ground below us and the wall of stone my fingertips grazed.
“Follow me,” I said and walked briskly towards our destination.
Beneath the earth, where it had been hot and cold over the ages, had left many metals, gems and minerals. I could sense each layer beneath me, and it called to me. In a way, it reminded me of the moment Cronus swallowed me. The only difference was that I had the indulgence of choice to sink deep into the Underworld.
“You can navigate beneath the earth?” Zeus asked me.
“I see it all,” I said, reluctantly moving my hand away from the marble, gypsum, limestone and salt.
There was warmth below us. I ignored Poseidon and Zeus’s conversation because my fixation was on discovering and seeing more. The pitch-black tunnels were nothing like my prison because I could breathe and move freely. The deeper we travelled, the more I could see. The fleeting sensation of familiarity coursed through me, yet to my knowledge, I had never travelled to the Underworld before.
“How is he able to see where he is going?” Poseidon asked. Since I didn’t talk, he was unaware of my abilities.
“We have been gifted with various powers. If we were all the same, then we would not be able to rule once the war had been won,” Zeus replied.
Zeus would reward all who stood by his side, and the Titans would suffer for all eternity.
“It seems both of you have been greatly gifted,” he muttered, but in the silent darkness, the words were not hidden.
“Do you not feel the power of the earth and sea?” Zeus retorted.
“Yes,” Poseidon said grudgingly.
I switched off to them again because the closer I got to the centre, the greater my core energised. After walking for some time, we approached a sudden drop, and I held my arms out to stop Zeus and Poseidon.
“This is close enough,” Zeus said.
I swung around to look at him.
“I can communicate with the brothers from here,” he said, patting me on my shoulder. “They will sense our natural powers and forge our weapons accordingly.”
I was so close, and there was so much to explore. The Underworld was as vast as the land and skies to me. I suppressed a sigh, but my shoulders drooped down. Poseidon began to talk excitedly about what kind of weapon he wanted. I saw a large boulder and sat down, leaning against the rock.
There was a nagging sensation before I stretched my fingers and lifted my palm. The marble shifted within the cavern wall. I paused and tugged on the iron deposits, smiling when I felt them shift. This was a new power.
Zeus began to radiate light, and I saw him cross-legged while floating in the air. My lips tightened at the white light, which irritated my eyes. I glanced at Poseidon to get a read on him. His sole focus was on Zeus. There was a mixture of admiration and envy, but I could not judge when I encountered similar emotions not so long ago.
This was the beauty of the blanket of darkness—one remained unseen.
After a while, Poseidon’s incessant pacing began to grate on my nerves. In the end, I dug deep to recall how I’d blocked them all out inside Cronus before I mentally scoped out the layout of the underworld. Everything I sensed was set out in a large circular shape. Rivers of water and fire flowed, but there were large pockets of unused space. The sinister void of Tartarus was as close as it was far.
“Hades, Arges needs you to push forth some metals,” Zeus said as his light dimmed, and I heard him stand on his feet.
I nodded but kept my face devoid of any expression. How he knew what I could do with the earth and its elements when I only discovered these powers was beyond my comprehension. Zeus was, without a doubt, our commander.
It took me a few moments, but I pushed various metals through the ground once I located the three brothers. Some extremely resilient metals took me longer to move through the rock formations. The more I used my power, the easier the task became.
“That will do. The Cyclopses have all they require,” Zeus said.
When the time came to leave, I strolled along to enjoy the last of the peaceful environment. Luckily, Poseidon wasn't as inquisitive on the way back, and I hoped he would not lock horns with Zeus. When we left the Underworld, there was an inexplicable feeling of loss.
Why was the Underworld calling to me?