The Path to Victory

A/N: This chapter contains a scene of graphic non-con. Proceed with caution.


Chapter 12


All three gods were dressed in their battle armor when they set out the following morning. Their sisters walked them to the perimeters of the fortress, and Hera in particular found parting from Zeus difficult.

“Promise me that you will return!” she demanded, clinging on to his arm and more or less forcing him to give her another parting kiss.

“We shall return victorious,” Zeus replied. “Be strong, Hera. You are in charge of our refuge during our absence. Take care of our sisters and await our return.”

Hades said nothing. No one clung to him, and he couldn’t say that he was bothered by it. The person dearest to him would remain by his side throughout this ordeal.

*

“You are certain he will respond to your call?” Zeus asked Hades a third time in their travel.

“I know he will respond to my call,” Hades replied, slightly annoyed. “My child follows my commands, and as we will take our battle to the shores, he will be within reach of us when we are in need of him.”

“For our sake, I hope so,” Zeus countered, his expression gruff. “Or our efforts will all be in vain.”

The battle would take place on a vast field adjacent to the sea, out in the open with a copious amount of space to engage in the conflict. Cronos had already established an open ear to any offer of skirmish from his sons, clearly confident that he could defeat them no matter what. But the battle would not begin the very moment of arrival. The three gods still had to meet with their allies.

In freeing his brothers and sisters, Zeus had also decided to free the giants. Trapped within the confines of the lowest of the Underworld’s passages, the land known as Tartarus, all manner of twisted colossal figures would have been doomed to an eternity of darkness had Zeus not rebelled against his father. In their gratitude, the races of giants agreed to become allies with the Olympians.

To further prove their appreciation, the three Cyclopes Zeus freed had wrought gifts for the Olympian brothers. The leader himself was endowed with thunder and lightning, Poseidon received a trident which, if thrust into the earth, could make the earth shake and tremble, and Hades, the unseen one, was given a helmet which provided him with the power of invisibility.

Zeus jokingly mentioned that now they at least did not have to spend so much time worrying about Hades if he could avoid making himself a target by staying invisible. Hades felt like kicking his brother for the demeaning comment, but he was nonetheless deeply grateful for his gift.

The allies would grant themselves just a little more time before the battle to make absolutely certain they were prepared. Such was a proposal by Zeus himself, and already the suggestion did not smell right to Hades. All were finally present for the battle, so why delay the inevitable any further?

Looking over the fine work which had been put into his gift, Hades held the leather and metal helm in his hands and considered how much more useful he had become in the imminent battle. He heard footsteps behind him, but did not know to whom they belonged until the owner spoke. It was Zeus.

“The skirmish is nearly upon us,” the younger god stated.

“Indeed,” Hades replied. He did not bother to ask why his leader had chosen to postpone the battle, as he knew he would find out very soon.

“We are all understandably anxious, even our allies,” Zeus said. He paused, and one of his hands drifted against his oldest brother’s bare neck. “As am I…”

“Speak your purpose, brother,” Hades hissed beyond gritting teeth. He should have known this was to happen. Clearly Zeus was not content to allow the eldest of the gods to accompany him into battle without demanding something in return.

Zeus scoffed. “Same old Hades, always so courteous toward his own kin…”

Hades said nothing, and the grip on his neck grew firmer, almost to the point of causing pain. Zeus’ intentions became obvious when he felt his brother’s other hand pull up the hem of his shirt, baring his leg to the leader’s touch.

“Brother, please…” Hades whispered, his dread growing exponentially when he realized that Zeus wished to take out his carnal urges on him.

“I feel restless, Hades,” the younger god growled, and he gripped the lean muscle of his brother’s thigh with unneeded brutality. “I need this, and you will provide me with it. Do you understand?”

Hades’ only response was to spasmodically grip his token, and a thought, brief though it was, appeared in his mind. If he could get away from Zeus long enough to slip the helmet on, his younger brother would not be able to find him…

“Don’t even think about it,” Zeus said coldly, and he released his hold on his brother’s neck only to grasp a fistful of his hair instead. The helmet was wrenched out of Hades’ hands and thrown carelessly into a corner of the tent.

“Brother, you’re hurting me…” Hades was well aware that a physical scuffle with Zeus would not end in his favour, and his brother would take what he wanted from him in either case.

“It will be easier for you if you cooperate,” Zeus said matter-of-factly. His hand travelled from Hades’ thigh up to his buttock. Hades was not one of his beautiful sisters, but he would do for what Zeus had in mind. “Now, which is it?” He pulled the other’s hair harder, insinuating that unless his brother submitted to him, he would cause a lot more pain than this.

Hades’ eyes squeezed shut in response to the pain, but he did not fight. If Zeus simply wanted to take him for a quick release, then perhaps the best option was to be taken. If he complied without objection, the experience might be less painful for Hades, and pass relatively quickly.

“Take me then, brother,” he said, turning and stripping himself completely bare of clothes. “Do what you will.”

A look of triumph passed in Zeus’ expression, as though he had already won the fight with Cronos, and he took his oldest brother in his arms and brought him to the ground. Hades was kissed roughly, but he lay still as a corpse and allowed his brother’s actions. Groped and handled like a slab of meat, he moaned a few times out of pain, but his voice was ignored. In light of the discomfort, at least Zeus was not overtly callous. He stroked the older god’s phallus hard as if the motion were a considerate afterthought. But when Hades felt his brother’s own organ straighten against his skin, he was compelled to speak.

“Brother…” he moaned. “If I may have one request… use oil as you enter me.”

Zeus frowned but ceased his harsh, lustful groping of his brother. “Oil?” he asked. “For what reason?”

Hades wondered if the younger god was truly this ignorant, or if he was simply pretending to be. “It will be less painful for me if you would use it. I am not able to… procure a natural wetness like our sisters.”

Zeus slowly rose to his knees, straddling his brother’s waist, as though he was wary that Hades might try to flee in case he released him only for a second.

“Fine, I will bring the oil,” Zeus begrudgingly agreed, standing up but not letting his eyes off Hades. He removed the rest of his clothing while bringing the lamp, ready to throw down his brother with force should he even attempt to rise.

Hades knew better than to try anything. At the sight of his younger brother’s erection, however, he subconsciously pinched his thighs together as an instinctive response to what Zeus would do to him.

The leader of the Olympians quickly slathered a thin layer of lamp oil onto his member, his features expressing disgust. “I suppose that he uses oil when he takes you, am I right?” Zeus asked scornfully, and there was little doubt as to whom he was talking about.

Hades averted his gaze, embarrassed. “He does,” he answered as Zeus descended upon him. “What of it?”

Zeus grabbed his brother harshly by the jaw and forced their eyes to lock. “Does he take you gently?” the younger god asked, his grip painfully tight. “Does he take care in how he penetrates you? Would you rather we ‘make love’?”

“You’re hurting me,” Hades snapped, trying not to show fear of his brother, but his eyes read of the truth. “I complied so that you would not.”

“Oh yes?” Zeus said, and he grabbed his brother by the arms and turned him over, hand pushing his head against the ground. Hades groaned as he was pinned face down, and he was given no warning when his youngest brother penetrated him from behind.

“Why do you make such a fuss, brother?” Zeus asked him as he began to thrust. “I used the oil.”

Despite the added lubricant, the swift and downright brutal entry caused Hades a great amount of
pain, and he failed to hold back a scream when Zeus did not even give him time to adjust to the penetration. Hades tried to gain some leverage and lift himself off the ground, but Zeus’ hand holding down his head did not allow him any. Tears and saliva were mixed with dirt and grime from the earth, and no matter how hard he tried to avoid it, Hades could soon taste it on his tongue.

Though he was at first strongly determined not to resort to begging, he soon couldn’t help himself. The physical pain and discomfort added to the profound humiliation were impossible to endure for more than a couple of minutes, and Hades feared that his brother might take a while to finish.

“Please, brother… s-stop…” he managed to say between irregular gasps and sobs that exited his mouth. Every time he opened it, more dirt stuck to his lips and tongue. “P-please…”

Zeus’ only response was a satisfied grunt as he added speed to his thrusts, and the hands holding Hades pinned down did not relent.

*

Poseidon could not find Hades anywhere else, so he assumed his older brother was in his tent, most likely anxious about the approaching battle. Perhaps Hades would do well with some company, he thought. Poseidon himself certainly would, and he had not gotten a chance to be alone with the other since they set out from the fortress four days ago.

Walking through the clearing in the woods, Poseidon was about to search the small camp when he heard Hades’ voice. The voice was strangled by pain and terror, and so Poseidon, heart racing with worry, ran to the source. Sure enough, in the lamplight he could see two figures within Hades’ tent, where his voice begged for the youngest Olympian to stop.

Poseidon hardly gave his actions much thought. He hurried to his tent and found the gift granted to him by the Cyclopes. Brandishing the trident, he ran straight for Hades’ tent and thrust his weapon through the canvas. His aim was not Zeus himself, just to gain the younger god’s attention.

“WHAT IN THE NAME OF…” Zeus bellowed from within as he heard the sharp ripping of tent fabric above his head. “POSEIDON!”

A rustling was heard and within seconds, the leader of the Olympians was out of the tent, half draped in a blanket, and still sporting a straining erection. “What is the meaning of this?!” he exclaimed.

“This is wrong,” Poseidon simply said, glaring daggers at his brother. Removing the prongs of his trident from the tent, he looked at the silhouette of the huddled figure still within.

“Hades, are you hurt?”

“I’m alright,” a voice answered, though Hades sounded anything but alright.

“You have no idea how badly I needed this release!” Zeus snarled, his eyes practically shooting sparks from anger. “I have not been granted an opportunity to spill my seed for four nights! What would you have me do, brother? I cannot even concentrate with this… fire in my loins!”

Poseidon was not the least bit swayed by his brother’s rant. “If your need becomes really dire, you may always use your hand, Zeus,” he said. “You could give yourself release without harming anyone else.”

“I was not ‘harming’ Hades…” Zeus muttered. “I was merely using his body, and considering what I have done for him – for all of you! – I think it gives me the right.”

“No, it does not!” Poseidon fiercely objected. “You were taking him against his will, and that is wrong! I could hear him scream and beg you to stop!”

Zeus took a step toward his older brother. Poseidon was an impressive figure, but Zeus still had approximately two inches of height on him. “Correct me if I’m mistaken, brother… But can you tell me you are not simply enraged because I touched something that you have claimed as your own?”

“He was never ‘mine’, Zeus,” Poseidon snapped. “Did it ever occur to you that had you asked me, I would have willingly let you take me to bed?”

“You are needed in this battle,” the younger god argued. “Hades’ only purpose in this battle is to control the Kraken.”

“He is not something to be owned by another, and I have grown tired of you treating him like some pet. No…” Poseidon corrected himself. “… less than a pet. Now STAND DOWN.”

“HOW DARE YOU CHALLENGE ME,” Zeus roared, walking to within inches of his brother. “I saved all of you from our father’s rule! I am leading us to a battle we are destined to win!”

“Then go and win our war!” Poseidon shouted at him. As Zeus paused at the remark, Poseidon spoke again, softer this time. “Oh yes, that’s right. You can’t. You had to exploit us to have any sort of chance.”

Fury boiled within Zeus, but he remained deathly silent.

“You once saw me as an equal, brother,” Poseidon said. “Now hear me when I say that this is wrong. Stand down.”

Looking as though he held back a debilitating blow for his brother, Zeus turned and proceeded to storm away, but he made a point of knocking down the bearings for Hades’ tent as he passed it.
Half of the tent collapsed, leaving Hades still quivering on the ground, cloaked in the canvas.

Rather than to follow Zeus and continue their argument – which would soon progress from verbal to physical – Poseidon redirected his attention to his other brother. Entering the partially collapsed tent, he soon found Hades exactly where Zeus had left him. The naked, shivering god was a pitiable sight where he lay, curled up on his side with his knees drawn up to his chest, blood trickling down his thigh, and his tear-streaked face smeared with dirt from the ground. Poseidon could only assume that Zeus had held his brother’s face pressed against the earth to result in such extensive dirtying.

“Hades…” he murmured, kneeling beside the trembling Olympian, who apart from his obvious trembling remained very still. Hades’ eyes were open, but the gaze in them was glassy and not focused on anything. Poseidon proceeded to wet a piece of cloth and wipe his brother’s face clean of most of the grime. There was still no visible response from the older god, and this concerned Poseidon.

“Hades, please talk to me,” he encouraged, lifting his brother into a seated position before taking him in his arms. The following minutes were spent in complete silence, with their synchronized breaths being the only source of sound.

“I should never have come here…” Hades’ quiet, strangled voice suddenly said, and Poseidon could feel his brother’s lips move against his collarbone. “I should have known he would… do this to me.”

Poseidon wanted to tell his brother that there was no knowing of whether Zeus would make such an advance, but that was not true. Instead he remained next to his brother and continued to stroke Hades’ long hair.

“Leave me. I can’t bear to let you see me like this.”

“Hades, don’t…” Poseidon insisted. “There is no reason to be ashamed. I am the one who should be ashamed. I promised I would protect you, and yet here we are.”

Hades did not speak, and his form remained very still in his brother’s arms until he asked for something to drink.

“Of course,” Poseidon replied, and he carefully set his brother’s wounded form on the ground, mindful of the damage done between the poor god’s legs, before standing up to retrieve some water. As he filled a glass, he heard Hades move behind him, as though rushing for something. The younger god turned to regard his brother, only to see Hades grab his robes and the helmet given by the Cyclopes.

“Hades, don’t…”

Hades ignored his brother’s plea. As soon as the helmet was on his head, the elder god vanished.

Poseidon rushed forward to grab his brother before he did something very foolish, but it was too late. The tent flaps were thrown aside by the now invisible god, and all Poseidon could do was listen to the other’s quickly withdrawing footsteps.

Letting a heavy sigh escape him, Poseidon rubbed his forehead. He knew that he ought to tell Zeus about what had just happened, but if Hades decided to stay invisible, the leader would not have more luck in locating him than Poseidon himself. Feeling heavy at heart, he decided to give his older brother some more time and see if Hades would return on his own accord.

*

Hades ran despite the sharp, stabbing ache between his thighs caused by the rape. The world around him appeared to be shrouded in mist and shadows, and for the longest time, he did not even know where he was headed. Only upon feeling sand beneath his bare feet did Hades realize that he had reached the shores.

Falling to his knees, he felt exhaustion come over him and new tears sprang forth in his eyes. A raw, ragged cry erupted from the god’s throat, and for a moment Hades was convinced that the only right choice would be to enter the sea and let it claim him.

Head bowed, he continued to weep, contemplating what to do with himself. He was so immersed in his thoughts that he did not hear a disturbance on the surface of the sea. Only when a gigantic tentacle came into his field of vision did he realize he was not alone. He jerked away, though when faced with something so enormous it was little use to run. Hades was still frightened until a familiar growl called from the waters and reached his ears.

Looking out to the sea, Hades saw a dark shape in the deep water, the owner of the tentacle which now rested around him in the sand. Somehow the Kraken had still found him on that shore, despite the helmet of invisibility. Perhaps his child had felt for the warmth of his body.

“Yes, my child,” Hades said quietly, removing the helm. “I am here.” The god sat there in the sand with the gargantuan sized limb surrounding him, drying his eyes and saying nothing. Clearly his child had heard the pain of his heart and was wondering whatever could be wrong.

Suddenly the limb tightened its hold on him, and Hades wondered if the Kraken had heard his unspoken wish to die and taken onto itself to fulfill it. The grip, however, never became crushing or even uncomfortable, and Hades soon felt his feet leave the ground as he was lifted up by the massive beast.

The Kraken brought its birth parent up to eyelevel with itself, and only then it occurred to Hades that his child had grown even larger since he last saw him. Now he himself was literally just the size of one of the Kraken’s jagged teeth.

Something that resembled a hiccup escaped the beast’s gargantuan maw when it adjusted to breathing air rather than water, and the exhale held enough force to blow back Hades’ hair. To this, the god could only laugh.

“Will you help us win the battle against the Titans?” Hades asked, looking directly into his child’s black, predatory eyes.

The Kraken blinked its numerous eyes at Hades, snorted, and held him close enough that the god could reach out and touch the massive beast’s snout. Hades did, and was then placed back down on the sand. A gurgling growl escaped the Kraken as it gave him one final look before sinking back into the water.

Hades stood on the beach for quite some time, feeling the waves lap up against his feet and staring at the place in the sea where the his child had disappeared. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he knew he had made the right choice. But what mattered even more was that he joined this battle for his family, and not for Zeus.

*

Poseidon was worried. He had not seen any sign of Hades for hours, and the battle was soon upon the gods’ army. The giants were ready for war and would fight viciously, but if Hades and his child did not show up, would the effort even matter?

Just when he had decided to seek out Zeus and inform him about the situation, so that the leader could take a stand on whether the Olympians would stay and fight or pull back in retreat, Poseidon heard soft, padding footsteps to his right. The following second Hades materialized beside him, holding the helm of invisibility in his hand. Though still a sad sight, the slender, dark-haired god was at least able to meet his brother’s gaze.

“Hades!” Poseidon’s relief was so immense and immediate that he did not think twice before enveloping his brother in a suffocating embrace. “Hades, you came back!”

“So I did…” Hades replied, letting the other hold him. Poseidon was a large part of the reason he had not abandoned his allies, but he was not going to share this information with his brother.

When he finally let go, Poseidon looked into his brother’s eyes, regret filling his own. “Brother, I apologize so deeply for what happened. If I had”—

“None of that,” Hades interrupted him, finger out in gesture of silence. His face was of grave seriousness. “We have a war to win now.”

“Still with us, I see,” Zeus stated as he approached his brothers. Hades said nothing and only nodded.

“Our plans will still go as follows,” the youngest god said without pause. “We will fall back and act as though the fight is on their side. We will lead them near the shores, where the Kraken will
enter the battle.” He addressed Hades. “You are certain it will show itself…?”

“He will reduce Cronos to worm’s meat,” Hades replied.

“Good, very good,” Zeus said as he stepped forward, surveying the army he had brought together, a sense of pride filling him.


TBC...