The Path to Victory

Chapter 14

Hades had found falling asleep to be quite easy once he reached his tent, though he briefly feared being alive was all just some horrible dream, and going to sleep would bring him back to the very real state of death. He slept for several hours as his body healed completely, and was still asleep when Poseidon returned. Hades did not see his brother at first, watching over him like a sentinel, and when he focused on his fellow god, he gave a tiny wince.

“You scared me,” he said.

Poseidon smiled. “How are you feeling, brother?” the younger god asked.

“I am alright. I am in no pain.” Hades stretched his limbs as he sat up, and moving was far less difficult this time. “Where is Zeus?”

“We’ve come to an accord with the remaining Titans,” Poseidon answered. “He is coming to the end of negotiations and trying to be… friendly with them.”

“Why aren’t you with him?” Hades asked, remembering how specific Zeus had been about having Poseidon at his side while he addressed the captured Titans.

“He does not need me present anymore. Our prisoners have been… subdued for now.” Poseidon took a seat next to Hades atop the soft animal fur his brother had slept on. He lifted his hand to touch his brother’s cheek, but the state of his hand, covered in layer upon layer of dried blood, sand and soil, made him hesitate.

The older god smiled wryly. “You could use a bath, brother,” he remarked, eyeing Poseidon from head to toe. The other was still wearing his armor, also in the need of cleaning, and Hades thought he would much rather embrace the warm flesh of his brother’s form than the grimy, cold metal of the armor.

“We could both use a bath,” Poseidon replied, brushing back a wisp of matted hair from Hades’ face.

The two gods stepped out of Hades’ tent and wandered in the direction of the shore, though to do so would bring them through the fields where blood and dead bodies still remained. The Kraken, despite its appetite, had still managed to neglect a few soldiers.

Hades was ready to negotiate the field until he realized he was not being followed. He looked back and saw Poseidon standing still, a pensive look on his face.

“What’s the matter?”

“I have an idea,” the younger god said, and he walked to a clearing where the carnage had not reached. Wearing a look of concentration, he twirled his trident upside down, bringing it into the earth. The ground shook again, and Hades considered stepping back several hundred paces. However, the ground did not crack open with the striking weapon. Instead it sank, taking Poseidon with it.

“Brother, what on earth…?” Hades started as he edged closer to the sight. Within seconds, water began to seep from the dirt, filling the crater Poseidon had shaped. Hades could only observe the impressive sight. His brother was making a spring.

Poseidon walked out of his creation, beaming with pride. Hades could not help but smile back, despite the still blood soaked nature of his brother’s armor.

“I would hope that’s not your blood,” the elder god said. “And not mine either.”

“It is our father’s,” Poseidon replied, grimacing. He did not like to think back on what had happened only moments before Cronos fatally wounded his poor brother and discarded him like a piece of trash.

“I tried to divert his attention from you onto myself, but…” he sighed. “I was unsuccessful, but at least I managed to cause him some damage.” In Poseidon’s opinion, Cronos had met an end far too quick for someone who certainly deserved prolonged suffering. “Your child granted him an easy passing. That is more than I would have done.”

Hades stepped up to his younger brother and put a finger over his lips to silence him. It truly touched his heart knowing that the other had risked his own life to save him. “Hush, my dear brother. Do not dwell on it. Let’s get you clean.”

He started the cumbersome task of getting Poseidon out of his armor, which certainly required a great deal of both patience and dexterity. Once the armor started to come off, Hades could tell that his brother had not come out of the battle completely unscathed. Trailing his fingers over his fellow god’s abdomen, Hades could see some rather extensive bruising and even a shallow puncture wound.

“Why did you try to heal me when you are in need of it yourself?” he asked regretfully.

A reserved sadness came to Poseidon’s eyes as he watched his brother inspect him. “My wounds were nothing compared to yours,” he replied. “I would have rather risked my life if it meant saving yours.”

The level of devotion Poseidon displayed made Hades uncomfortable. “Don’t be so sentimental,” the elder god muttered. “You are one of the most powerful of our small family. It would be a horrid blow against us to lose you.”

“I could say the same of you, and do not argue,” Poseidon replied, stopping his brother from interrupting. “You may not be physically as powerful as Zeus or I, but you are clever. You are intelligent. And from you we made our weapon. Our…” he hesitated. “Your child.”

Hades of course detected the correction in his brother’s words. Uncertain as to how to react, he merely turned away, disrobing and walking into the spring, leaving Poseidon to remove the rest of the armor.

Though he had not expected otherwise, the water in the spring was cold, almost freezing, and Hades shivered when he submerged himself. Practically hacking teeth, he planned on getting himself washed as quickly as possible so as not to draw out on the uncomfortable experience. He shuddered when a warm, solid presence suddenly pressed up against him from behind, and for a brief moment he was about to thrash until his brother’s voice revealed itself.

“Be calm, Hades, it is only me.”

Hades turned around so that he could look Poseidon in the eye. “That is twice you have scared me today,” he said, frowning.

“My apologies.” The taller Olympian gently wrapped both arms around his brother and pulled him close, trying to stop Hades from shivering. “I would like your help in washing my hair,” he said. “And possibly other parts of me, as well…”

“As you wish, brother, but let us be brief. I cannot remain here for much longer, lest I freeze myself.”

Poseidon considered his brother’s words. He was not so affected by the cold himself; water of any temperature did not cause him discomfort. “Should I do something about that?”

Hades could not help but scoff in amusement at the offer. “How? Cold water can only come from cold earth. And even if you called forth water from the shores, it is just as cold there, if not more so.”

“Well, perhaps with some concentration…” Poseidon closed his eyes, his arms still wrapped firmly around his brother. Hades was about to deny that the younger god to do much of anything to the temperature when he realized the freezing nature of the water was indeed fading away. His arms once gathered up away from the surface, he experimentally brought them down into the spring and was surprised to find the water warm.

“How did you…” Hades asked in quiet surprise.

“I suppose you could say I asked the water to become warmer,” Poseidon replied with a good-natured smile, looking once again pleased with himself. He was clearly taking to these abilities quite well, and enjoying their use.

Poseidon’s smile became a grin as Hades broke free of their embrace and walked deeper into the spring, entering a depth where the surface met his shoulders. The older god smiled back at his brother and submerged his head to wet his long dark hair. “Thank you, Poseidon.”

“It was my pleasure, brother,” the other replied, following Hades into the deeper end and wetting his own hair as well. The water around him was coloured red as the congealed blood came loose, and the god concentrated again, willing the offending substance to sink to the bottom where it was no longer visible. Having a part of Cronos with them was not an appealing thought to either Olympian.

“Shall I wash your hair now?” Hades asked almost shyly and slid in behind Poseidon to touch his wet auburn curls. He cupped water in his left palm and proceeded to pour it over his brother’s head.

“Please do.”

Poseidon allowed Hades to work on his hair for a while longer, knowing how fascinating his brother found the differences between Poseidon’s hair and his own. Soon, however, the nature of Hades’ touch changed, and his hands passed over the other’s back, shoulders and chest in slow, intimate caresses that signaled a need for intimacy of a deeper kind than the one they presently shared.

“Hades…?” Poseidon turned to face his brother, and almost instantly Hades’ arms wrapped around his neck and lips were pressed against his with sudden fervor. The water allowed them to be in eye level with each other, and Hades leaned in to whisper a request in his brother’s ear.

“Poseidon… Please, make love to me… Here and now. I need to feel that… that I am indeed still alive.”

Slowly, Poseidon turned to face his brother, looking deep into his eyes. Hades had wondered if he had said something wrong until his face was taken in his brother’s hands. He surrendered fully to the lingering kiss Poseidon placed on his lips. A tongue dipped into the elder god’s mouth and he could taste his brother even after their kiss ended. Hades looked questioningly at his brother as their mouths parted.

“Shouldn’t that be proof enough?” Poseidon asked with a smile.

Hades only stared at him, his mind a haze from the kiss which left his pleasure at an impasse. “I would still like you to make love to me.”

A soft laugh bubbled up from Poseidon’s throat and he kissed his brother again, this time on his forehead. “I have a proposition to make. I shall make love to you with lips alone.”

“That doesn’t sound like something to look forward to,” Hades replied, lifting an eyebrow, unimpressed.

“Give me a chance to explore it,” the younger god urged.

He made his way to the shallower end of the now warm spring, tugging Hades with him. The older god still seemed dubious when Poseidon seated him against a rock which left his lower body submerged underwater. Gentle hands urged him to spread his thighs, and he gasped for breath when his brother cupped his already hard phallus.

“I still don’t see the meaning of this…” Hades began, but Poseidon’s next action took him by total surprise.

The younger god dove beneath the surface and though Hades could see the outline of him through the clear water, he could never have guessed Poseidon’s intentions. Hades’ hips jerked by their own accord when he suddenly felt something adhere to his member, and it took his lust-clouded mind a moment to realize his brother was indeed using his lips in a very interesting fashion.

A few moments of contact were simple kisses, randomly placed at first, then closer to the base of Hades’ phallus. A kiss on the head of his organ brought a sharp whimper from Hades, and he arched his back, a subconscious attempt to encourage the younger god. Poseidon took this as a good sign, opened his mouth, and took in his brother’s entire hard phallus.

The throbbing of his member seemed to radiate out from Hades’ loins into his entire body. The sensation of Poseidon’s mouth did not give the same sort of satisfaction as it did when he was making love to his younger brother in the most traditional sense. And yet Poseidon’s mouth could move. The lips could gather around his rock-hard organ, and the tongue could stroke and lap at his firm flesh.

“Ohhh… ahhhhhhh… oh, Poseidon, youu-ohhhh…” Hades could barely speak without being interrupted by the relentless tremors of pleasure coursing through him. He peaked as he gripped at his brother’s curls of hair, moaning long and loud.

Hades’ moan took some time to die down as he breathed heavily following his climax. He leant back against the rocks, body limp and quivering, as Poseidon rose from the water, throwing his hair back behind him. Smiling, the younger god kissed the center of Hades’ chest, causing one final spasm.

“How long were you down there, Poseidon?” Hades asked minutes later as they relaxed in the shallow end of the spring.

“Oh, I wasn’t paying much attention to that,” Poseidon replied, chuckling as he held his brother close. He was simply pleased that he had managed to give Hades a release, and doing so underwater had not even been a problem.

“Your lungs… did they not strain for air?”

“Like I said, brother, I did not give it much thought. In fact, I did not even feel the need to draw breath…”

Hades found the statement both surprising and amusing at the same time. While it could not be disputed that his brother’s powers were largely related to the water element, the idea of Poseidon behaving like a sea creature that did not even need to breathe air was almost surreal. Had he perhaps passed on this particular trait to the Kraken?

“It seems your powers are evolving,” Hades pointed out, regarding the other quizzically. “Like our brother’s, ever since the death of our father.”

“As are yours, I’d imagine,” Poseidon replied, though he was truthfully not sure what Hades could do.

The older god gave a sad little sigh at this. “I would like to think so… But there was not much I could do to begin with.”

“Hades…” The younger god cupped his brother’s face and placed another kiss on his lips. “What have I told you about belittling yourself?”

“I merely speak the truth…” Hades murmured as Poseidon once again held him close, and he soon found himself sitting on Poseidon’s lap, facing the other. His brother’s arousal was obvious against his thigh, but even though he had pleasured Hades, he had not even bothered to mention his own needs.

“You will still need a release,” Hades mused aloud, taking the hardened organ in his hand and giving it a gentle tug. Poseidon went quite red at the feeling and pulled his brother close. His breath beat upon Hades’ neck as he spoke.

“Do not feel obligated…” he gasped, and with another tug, he gave a quiet moan. “Oh yes… like that…”

Hades chuckled at how easily he was able to change his brother’s mind. “Perhaps that is my power,” he mused. “The power of seduction…”

“I wouldn’t—ohhh… be… surprised… oh… oh…” Poseidon placed a hand against that which stroked at his phallus. His eyes met with those of Hades and they stared for several seconds, breathing hard. “Are you certain you want to do this?” the younger god asked.

“I want to pleasure you, brother,” Hades replied with a smile, and he lifted himself, hands on Poseidon’s shoulders.

“We have no oils, Hades,” Poseidon reminded his brother. “But I can try to prepare you as best as I can without them.”

Hades trailed his fingers over his fellow Olympian’s handsome features. “You’re so considerate, brother,” he said softly, grateful for the care the other showed him. Memories of the horrifying treatment Zeus had subjected him to just a little over a day ago briefly resurfaced, but Hades did not let this stop him from having another wonderful experience with his lover.

Poseidon grasped the perfect round globes of pale flesh and carefully parted them, giving Hades enough time to voice an objection in case he wanted to stop. None came, and Poseidon slid a finger into his brother’s channel, and then another one, doing his best to stretch the narrow passage in preparation for the entry. He did not want Hades to feel any pain, and should the other wish to end the coupling, Poseidon would comply with his brother’s wishes.

Hades groaned when he felt the fingers exit his passage only to be replaced by something much bigger. Poseidon groaned too, face against Hades’ neck, when his brother, crouching over his lap, lowered himself onto his hardness. Hades felt his brother’s flesh inside him pulsate in time with his own, and though there was pain, it was minimal, and he was certain that the pleasure derived from this act would compensate for it.

“You can move…” Hades panted, arms around Poseidon’s muscular shoulders.

“In this position, it will be easier if you move,” the other whispered back.

Breath heavy and loud, Hades moved his hips and both gods began to moan as they exhaled. Hades wondered if he would even be awake should he climax a second time so soon to the first. If he did, Poseidon would have to make sure he did not sink into the water and drown himself. Such a sad twist of irony if he died of trying to prove he was truly alive.

“Ah… ahh, Hades…” Poseidon threw his head back and his hands clasped over his brother’s hips, a gesture of affection and guidance.

“Mmmmn,” Hades moaned sweetly into the younger god’s ear. “Brother… ohhhh…. So… soon… I think…”

Hades arched his neck and keened his pleasure, grip tight on Poseidon’s shoulders. Already he was coming, still so fresh from their previous coupling. Poseidon groaned as well as his brother’s snug passage tensed around him, and he proceeded to thrust faster.

“Ah, ah, ah…” he moaned breathily. Minutes later, he too was peaking, and he barely noticed the small kiss on his forehead as he finished.

Neither moved from their positions directly afterwards, and Hades tenderly cradled his brother’s face against his shoulder. Poseidon’s softening member was still nestled inside of him, below the surface, and Hades enjoyed the intimacy, particularly the connection between them, physical as well as emotional that it provided.

“Do you feel alive now, brother?” Poseidon asked, his voice low and husky.

“It certainly feels no other way…” Hades breathed back, sagging against the other. He did feel slightly light-headed now, almost as if intoxicated, and probably would have lost his balance had Poseidon not been holding him upright. “Only you can make me feel this much alive, brother…” he added, planting small kisses on the other’s brow and forehead.

“That is odd, I don’t recall there being a spring here,” Zeus’ voice suddenly said, and his two older brothers both jerked at the sound.

The Olympian leader himself stepped into view, eye riveted on the two lovers with their limbs still entwined, but this time, there was no scorn or malice in his gaze. In fact, Zeus looked oddly pleased with himself, in a way that could not only be attributed to the victory in battle.

Based on the way the youngest Olympian had reacted to their lovemaking in the past, Poseidon was generally surprised at his leader’s expression. But this time, Zeus did not appear to be jealous.

“May I join you?” Zeus asked, and when he saw the look on Hades’ face he smiled amusedly and corrected himself. “For a bath,” he said, holding back a laugh. “May I join you in the spring?”

Both gods nodded suspiciously. As their leader stripped nude and entered the water, Hades saw it fit to disengage from his brother, and both of them winced when he pulled himself off of Poseidon, and hence off of his flaccid organ.

“A strange thing,” Zeus said after submerging himself to wet his hair, dirty from battle. “I suppose this water was one of your doing…?”

“My doing,” Poseidon answered him. “We needed a place to cleanse ourselves of the dirt and blood.”

“Most impressive, brother,” the youngest god said with a gracious smile. “And most considerate.”

Poseidon cocked an eyebrow. “You’re looking rather pleased with yourself, Zeus,” he observed. “… what have you done now?”

Zeus feigned offense as he playfully swam around in the small spring, eyes constantly returning to his brothers. “Am I not allowed to be in high spirits without an ulterior motive behind it?” he asked, trying to sound hurt even though it was blatantly obvious that his mood had not changed for the worse.

“Did your attempts to sway the Titans go as well as you had hoped, brother?” Poseidon asked, wondering if perhaps this was the cause of Zeus’ behavior.

“Better than I had dared to hope,” the youngest god grinned back. “Infinitely better, if I may say so myself…”

A scowl marred his older brother’s features, but Poseidon decided not to press the matter further. Clearly Zeus was not too keen on sharing anything with him, and unless it concerned their entire family, he saw no reason to pry.

Hades could not help but twitch nervously when Zeus’ naked form brushed against him under the surface, not having forgotten what happened the last time he and his youngest brother were naked together. Poseidon was immediately there, eyeing Zeus warily and taking Hades into his own arms, even attempting to shield him from his younger brother’s view.

Zeus noticed the unsavory response in his brother and merely smiled indulgently. “Worry not, Poseidon. I was not going to touch Hades. I have, in fact, found release elsewhere.”

“Oh Zeus, you didn’t…” Poseidon immediately replied, though he knew it to be true. “With whom did you mate?”

Zeus chuckled at his brother’s response and hesitated in his answer, a childish attempt at causing suspense. He swam on his back into the shallow end and stood, squeezing the water from his long hair.

“Metis. A beautiful and very welcome subject under my rule.” He glanced back at his brothers and remedied his statement. “Under our rule.”

“And what would Hera think of that?” Hades asked, curious.

“She will not think anything of it,” Zeus replied, vaguely annoyed at the question. “Because she will not know.”

The look in the younger god’s eyes finished his statement without speaking… Hera would not know of her brother’s infidelity because no one was going to tell her.

“Speaking of rule,” Zeus said, changing the subject. “The Titans no longer control the world around us. I have taken mantel of ruling the skies. What would either of you take as your domains?”

Hades was frankly surprised that Zeus was even going to offer him a domain to rule over, let alone asking for his opinion on the matter. Stunned in silence, the older god could only stare dumbly at his brother until Poseidon spoke up.

“I would very much like to rule over the seas,” he told Zeus. “I have always felt a natural affinity for water, and this feeling has grown stronger since Cronos was slain…” He paused for a moment. “Like my powers.”

Zeus nodded, gave Poseidon a knowing glance, and then eyed the spring itself. “So it would seem, brother. I promise I will give your request some serious thought,” he said and started to walk out of the water, clearly finished with his bath.

Hades, meanwhile, had still not uttered his opinion, and he realized that his chance to do so had passed when Zeus turned his back on his brothers and left the scene. Poseidon’s arms tightened around him once they were alone again, and his voice pulled Hades from his thoughts.

“Which realm would you like to rule over?” Poseidon asked, curious of why his brother had not suggested anything to Zeus.

Hades looked down, feeling both confused and troubled. What was there left for him to rule, if Zeus claimed the sky and Poseidon claimed the seas? The land? Somehow he doubted that Mother Earth would agree to be ruled by anyone at all, and least of all someone like Hades himself.

“I… I do not know, brother,” he sighed. “I hope he will agree to let you rule the oceans. No one could do that better than you.”

“No one would enjoy it more,” Poseidon replied with a grin. “Of that I am certain.”

“Precisely,” Hades said, his eyes distant in their focus.

“Hades…?” the younger god said, looking at his brother’s expression. “What troubles you so?”

“I’ve no inkling where I would belong,” Hades admitted, breaking from his brother’s embrace, sweet though it was. He soaked his hair one more time, a brief sadness in his eyes as he felt its brittle texture. “Where would I rule, Poseidon?” he asked out of genuine inquiry. “What good have I done that would warrant my domain?”

Poseidon automatically stepped forward to take his brother in his arms once more, but Hades avoided his touch. He did not desire comfort now – Poseidon’s gestures, however well-meaning, would not help solve the problem.

“Hades…” his younger brother called to him. “Don’t turn me away. I only want to help you.”

“How?” Hades replied, his voice cold and unfeeling. “How will your coddling help me?? For all I know I will never rule anything. The rest of you will grow spoiled over your power, and I will have nothing! And Zeus will laugh at me all the same!”

Poseidon did not like where Hades was going with his assumptions. After what they had shared even moments ago, would Hades truly cast him aside as though none of what had happened mattered?

“Stop it,” the younger god finally said, his tone impatient, and he hurried to take his brother in his arms to calm him.

“I SAID LET ME BE!”

Hades raised both his hands to physically shove Poseidon away, but before he could even touch the other, something was emitted from his palms – an invisible force – which knocked the younger god back into the water with a splash.

In utter shock of what he had done, Hades could simply stare at his hands and simultaneously question his own eyes. Had that truly been his doing? He was weak; his abilities do to anything by the power of his mind had been extremely limited, if not absent altogether… until now, at least.

“Poseidon…?” he asked shakily as his brother re-emerged, his hair once again a mess that covered his face. “Are you… well?”

Brushing his wet curls back, the younger Olympian looked at his brother as though he did not even recognize Hades for a moment. His visage signaled the same shock and confusion that Hades felt within him. “Did you really do that, brother…?” Poseidon finally asked, taking a cautious step toward the older god.

Hades trembled despite the comfortable temperature of the water. “It would appear so…” he said. “But I didn’t mean to… Did I hurt you?”

“I’m alright,” Poseidon said immediately. “But what about you? What happened?” He reached his arms out again, but Hades flinched.

“No!” he blurted out, hands up. He hardly wanted to harm his brother again with… whatever he had done. Poseidon recoiled as well, expecting to be thrown back a second time. Oddly enough, seeing his brother react affected Hades even more. Hands still shaking, he looked back and forth between them and his brother, whose look of concern could be detected from a mile away.

“Brother… please, do not be frightened,” Poseidon said softly, hands out to carefully take his brother into his arms. He did not care if he was thrown back time after time. His older brother was discovering a new ability, and he was clearly frightened of it, on top of the fear he felt over what might become of him by Zeus’ command.

But Hades shook his head, sidling away out of his brother’s reach. “I can’t…” he muttered. “I cannot take your sympathy now. I would only hurt you.”

“Hades…” Poseidon tried, his voice like a plea. “You did not hurt me before, and I know you won’t do it now. Your… previous response must have been caused by stress, so if only you calm yourself, nothing will happen.”

Hades looked at his hands again. He knew he should be excited rather than terrified of his newfound power, but the way he had discovered it was cause for alarm, and he did not want to use it to harm anyone close to him. Drawing a series of deep breaths, Hades did his best to slow down his rapidly pumping heart. If Poseidon was right, it was of vital importance that he stayed calm. It was not until he felt a hand against his back that Hades noticed his brother’s approach. While still tense in general, at least he was calm enough to tolerate Poseidon’s touch.

“That was an impressive display of power, my dear brother,” the younger god said encouragingly, pleased that Hades did not reject him this time. “I’m proud of you.”

Hades did not reply but simply kept looking at his hands. Soon the hand against his back was replaced by an arm around his shoulders, and he felt himself being led toward the shallow end of the spring. Poseidon continued to hold his brother close, strongly determined to show Hades that he was not frightened of or repulsed by him.

*

“I am alright now,” Hades said as they walked on the grass, their destination the campsite. Neither was clothed, but they carried their armor and robes at their sides. “I can fare quite well by myself.”

Poseidon jostled Hades closer to him for a moment, a jovial attempt to show brotherly affection. “Maybe so, but I am only being courteous,” he stated. “It would be in bad form to leave you all alone in such troubled times.”

“I am flattered,” Hades said with a chuckle. “What if I had wished to be alone? Would that not also have been in bad form? Besides, you never did offer to dress me.”

Poseidon laughed. “You’re only making fun of me. Quite a feat for someone like you, I take it…”

Hades could not help but laugh, despite finding a bit of offence at the comment. “I will strike you should you continue to mock my disposition.”

Hades was escorted back to his tent by Poseidon, who entered with him and wrapped him in blankets of furs.

“Would you wish that I stay here to look after you?” the younger god asked.

“Look after me?” Hades replied, amused at his brother’s protectiveness. “Did my ability concern you so much?”

“I was referring to…” Poseidon hesitated, cautious bring up such a sensitive subject as he did at present. “In case Zeus should decide to pay you… an undesired visit.”

Humor gone from his face, Hades had a sharp intake of breath. The thought had occurred to him as well, even though he had done his utmost not to dwell on it. Surely Zeus’ sincere apology to his brother meant that he would not do anything of the kind ever again?

Hades wrapped the animal fur tighter around his shoulders. “Thank you, brother, but I’ll be alright. Should he attempt to…to rape me again, I will not hesitate to use my newfound ability against him.”

The response increased Poseidon’s concern rather than alleviate it; Hades fighting him would most likely just cause Zeus to anger, which would not end well for his older brother. He didn’t think Zeus would go as far as using deadly force, but already Poseidon could imagine Hades beaten black and blue for not willingly letting Zeus bed him.

He did not mention this to his brother. Poseidon knew he had to respect Hades’ decisions, and if he wanted to sleep alone, he was fully entitled to do so.

“I see, brother,” the future lord of the seas said, pressing a quick kiss to his fellow god’s brow. “Should you need me, just cry out my name, and I’ll come to you. Alright?”

Hades smiled, moved by his brother’s concern. “I will.”

He received a peck on the cheek and bid Poseidon good night, wrapping himself in blankets and curling into a ball. He was asleep in minutes, less time than he would have expected.

*

Sleep was tragically not a welcome reprieve. In his dreams, Hades found himself lost in a cavernous labyrinth, the walls sinking with his touch like wet clay, and a throbbing pulse thundering amidst the tunnels. As he stumbled through the passages, he heard agonized wails and rattling chains. When he reached the end of the tunnels, he was but a small figure in a massive space, dark and shadowed, yet bright enough that he could see large bodies shackled to walls.

Titans.

“Belong with us…” they moaned over and over again, their breath showing in the frigid air like smoke.

Meanwhile, Poseidon had been asleep in his own tent when he was awoken by what sounded like a scream. Fully alert, he listened again and recognized Hades’ voice, crying out in fear or very possibly pain. Disregarding the fact that he was naked, Poseidon jumped from his bedding and ran out of his tent, hurrying to his brother’s side.

Hades sat up, covered in cold sweat and stiff as a board, blinking in the darkness that surrounded him like a quilt. Where was he, and why couldn’t he see anything? Was he still trapped in the Underworld, or was his mind playing tricks on him?

The god reached out a trembling hand to touch his surroundings, and soon he could feel damp canvas against his palm. He blinked again, shaking his head and trying desperately to clear his thoughts. A dream… it must have been a dream. The place was silent except for his labored breaths and the faint sound caused by his eyes when he blinked. He was in his tent, above ground, not below it.

Hades came to this realization just when his tent flaps were flung aside and the shape of a large man entered. The poor light provided by the moon and the stars only allowed Hades to see blurred outlines of his visitor, but he could make out enough to instantly fly into a state of hysterics. The shape had long hair and was unclothed. In Hades’ mind, this could only mean one thing; Zeus had indeed decided to pay his unfortunate brother an undesired nightly visit.

“No!” Hades cried out on reflex, frantically scrambling to put some distance between himself and Zeus, but his attempt only resulted in a collision with the tent fabric.

The dark figure only continued to advance, and so Hades continued to panic. One thing registered in his mind though, and it was what Poseidon had told him, so he called his brother’s name. “Poseidon!” he screamed. “Poseidon, help me!”

“Hades!” Poseidon exclaimed in hushed tones. “It is only me! It’s me, dear brother.”

As he grabbed the wildly flailing arms and gently pulled his older brother to him, he felt Hades slowly relax against him. He no longer fought to escape, but his body was still wound tight like a serpent ready to strike. His breathing was close to uncontrolled and gasping.

“Relax, brother…” Poseidon whispered, rubbing his brother’s back and patting his hair. “It is only me.”

Hades breathed heavily, desperate to calm himself and shake the images of his nightmare out of his mind. “Poseidon…” he said, grasping at his brother’s shoulders.

“Yes, brother, I’m here.”

“I… I thought you were Zeus,” Hades confessed, voice still unsteady. He continued to cling to Poseidon despite feeling deeply embarrassed for his behavior. “I thought you were Zeus, and that you were going t-to…”

“I understand, Hades,” Poseidon soothed. “I heard you scream and I thought that perhaps…” He realized now that his sudden entry had frightened Hades rather than calmed him, and his state of undress was a likely cause of that. The younger Olympian personally didn’t think he bore any greater physical resemblance to Zeus, but when one was already frightened and lighting was poor…

“I had a nightmare,” Hades explained. “I dreamt that I was… that I was back in the Underworld. It was so dark, and so vast, and I didn’t know where to go…”

“It was only a dream, brother,” Poseidon whispered, not knowing what else to say. It was obvious that his stay in the realm of the dead, no matter how brief, had left its mark on Hades.

“What if I’ll keep having these dreams every night? What if I will never again sleep peacefully?”

The pain in his brother’s voice stung Poseidon’s heart. He was powerless in this matter and had no idea how to soothe Hades’ troubled mind. “Shall I remain here with you for the rest of the night?” he offered. “You shouldn’t be alone, feeling like this.”

“I thank you, brother… but I… I don’t wish to go back to sleep,” Hades replied, frightened of the prospect of more bad dreams.

As if he knew his brothers had been discussing him, Zeus entered the tent, a blanket wrapped around his waist in a hasty manner. Hades jerked at the sight of him, a reflex left over from the fears of his horrid dream.

“What is the commotion?” he asked, eyes wide with concern. “Is something wrong?”

“A nightmare,” Poseidon answered, “of the Underworld. No need for worry.”

Sighing with relief, Zeus stepped backward, hand on the entrance of the tent. “You gave me cause for concern.”

The way the youngest Olympian spread his arms gave the impression that Zeus was trying to conceal something. Suspecting his brother’s failed attempt, he lifted his head and looked beyond the entrance. Someone was standing outside, similarly wrapped in a blanket.

“Who is your guest, Zeus?” Poseidon asked with suspicion.

Grimacing, Zeus stepped aside and allowed his brother’s full view of the woman standing outside. It was Metis, smaller than she would have normally been. Somehow she had shrunk from her previous titanic size to the height closer to that of a god. She was still taller than Zeus, but at a size which would likely fit far more easily into his tent.

“Zeus, I cannot believe this!” Poseidon hissed, enraged at his younger brother’s callous and downright foolish behavior. “You have brought a Titaness here? To our campsite? Have you perhaps forgotten that her kind have done their best to annihilate ours from the face of the earth for decades? Do you care so little, Zeus, or has your need to sate your carnal urges clouded your judgment?”

Scowling, Zeus threw a glance over his shoulder at the Titaness he had so enthusiastically bedded several times already. Metis was truly a magnificent specimen of the Titan generation, and she had willingly submitted to him and sworn to serve him for as long as she was alive. How could he possibly resist that?

“I have it under control, Poseidon, I assure you,” Zeus replied to his brother’s criticism. He did not like being openly questioned about his judgment, especially before the eyes his new concubine. “There is no need for concern. Metis has understood and accepted the new order of things. Isn’t it so, my beautiful?”

Metis looked down, appearing truly submissive despite her towering height. “I live to serve you, my king,” she said quietly, pleased to be the new ruler’s subject of attention.

“Besides,” Zeus said with a broad grin. “She knows not to betray me. Metis is fully aware of where traitors are sent.”

Though Zeus’s tone was light-hearted, Metis clearly looked terrified at the prospect of being sent to Tartarus with the other Titans who had refused to cooperate. In fact, the joking way that Zeus spoke made the threat all the more eerie, as though the youngest Olympian hardly cared if he had to dole out such punishment.

“I trust neither of you will speak of this when we are all safely home…?” Zeus said, looking at both of his brothers. The two older gods complied, though Hades scowled at the idea of keeping such a secret for his brother, who deserved any fury Hera might throw upon him should the secret be revealed.

Poseidon waited for Zeus to return to his own tent, Metis in tow, before he spoke up again. “Zeus does not need any help in keeping his coupling with Metis a secret,” he remarked. “Something like this… it will come into the light on its own in no time at all.”

Hades was compelled to think his brother was right. Hera had already shown her disapproval of Zeus bedding their other sisters, and he could only imagine how she would react to the news of her would-be consort coupling with a Titaness.

“I assume that Zeus will want me to keep quiet on… what he did before the battle as well,” Hades reluctantly mentioned. While Zeus had not explicitly told Hades to keep the rape a secret, he feared the outcome of a possible revelation. Hades also dreaded to think which Hera would consider worse; that Zeus had lain with another or that he had forcibly taken his own brother for a release? The oldest goddess was not exactly known for her compassionate side.

“Have you forgiven Zeus for what he did to you?” Poseidon inquired, regarding his brother’s angular profile in the faint light the stars provided. He could only think that even if Hades forgave their leader, Poseidon himself might find it more difficult. The image of Hades pinned under Zeus’ towering form and the sound of his anguished cries would stay forever fresh in his memories.

“I… I suppose I have,” Hades finally admitted.


TBC...