Epilogue
Olympus
Staring down at Earth, Ares smiled. Relief coursed through him as he heard, as much as felt, the cementing of the bond between Mikhail, Gareth, and Camilla. She would be safe, at least from the alpha’s vile intentions. She couldn’t be used as a key to open Hades’s prison, not now, not ever, unless of her own free will.
He knew the girl, and she’d never do anything to release that monster, no matter what duress she was placed under. Ares just prayed she never had to be tested.
He turned to the well of life and gazed into the waters as they rippled from some unseen force. The well allowed them to look upon the people of the Earth and see their charges without being present upon the Earth. No other gods were in the chamber, but that was fine. He didn’t really want company. He’d need to go and see the Fates again soon enough.
Today was a win, one he knew that Hades wouldn’t take lying down. There would be punishments doled out. What worried him still was the unknown third party at this damn mixer. He leaned in with his hands on the well and stared deeper into the waters. Sometimes it would show you what you wanted to see, what you needed to see, even, and other times it would show you something you were better off forgetting.
Each of the Heroes had been in the same position he was now, studying the impossibly clear waters. What each saw, he couldn’t say—he didn’t know, after all. It was for the Heroes alone to know and reveal at their own discretion.
A presence had him stiffening, only for a moment, though. “She’s safe, Artemis,” he said softly, never pulling his eyes from the waters.
“Thank you for watching over her for so long,” she said from his left side. “She meant more to me than I expected. When her parents died, I felt the loss of them, her mother, in the depth of my soul.” She looked toward the well and smiled. “She was one of the best of my Descendants. One of a kind, and then Camilla began to come into her own. She is wonderful. Your Descendant is well. I know you never ask of her, but she is well. She is much more than you could imagine. So yes, she’s okay. Do you need anything more, Brother?”
Straightening, he looked at her and shook his head. “No, thank you for that, though, Artemis.” He rubbed a hand over his neck. “I spoke with the Fates earlier. Apparently, there is a lot they’ve been leaving out from this round of Zeus and Hades’s game. Did you know that one of the Descendants of this round will be his—Hades’s, I mean?”
“What?” Artemis moved closer to Ares. “No, that’s not possible. How could he have a Descendant?” she demanded, and then snorted. “Then again, this is our father we are talking about.” She touched the well and looked down. “I believe that there is much that your Heroes will need to battle. I do not envy you the position that you are in. At all. You will have to fight alongside of them I’m sure, before this is all over.”
“Anything is possible, Artemis, you should know that. Besides,” he said, “if you remember when he was tossed down there for good under lock and key, it’s very possible. It’s also part of the reason he got kicked out of the Earthly realm for good.” Hades had taken up with the whole raping and pillaging, in a huge way. Heavy on the raping. Sighing, Ares turned to sit on the edge of the well. “I have a bad feeling about all this, Artemis. Listen, I know you have connections I don’t, and I hate to ask. But there was something, or someone, blocking me from getting to Camilla at the were compound. I mean, I couldn’t sense her until I came up here and spilled blood. Even then it was weak, really weak. At the compound, I got to the main road and was allowed no further. Every time I tried to flash, I was tossed on my ass. Can you dig around and see what you can come up with? But keep it between us, and discreet, please.”
That had Artemis frowning. “That shouldn’t be possible. I had tied you to Camilla’s line personally to ensure that you were always able to find her.” She looked to him once more and nodded. “I will see what I can find out. I will learn all that I can so we can ensure you are always able to connect with the Descendants.”
“I need to be able to, Artemis. If I can’t…” He didn’t have to say what would happen if he couldn’t find one of them. He might not be able to help sway things in the favor of the Heroes. “Anyway, thank you. Do what you can, but as I mentioned, please be discreet. This could just be a ploy from Hades, or it could be something much darker than that. The fewer we have knowing about it, the better I’ll feel when I’m on Earth.”
“I’ll do all that I can to find out what I can.” Artemis was already looking at the well and bit her lip. “Prepare your heroes. Do what you must.”
With a nod, he headed for the arched doorway, but then turned to look at her. “I know we’ve not always seen eye to eye, Artemis. Your trust, first with Camilla’s care, then with the help you’re giving me…” He pressed a hand to his chest and bowed in her direction. “Thank you,” he said softly.
“You’re welcome.” Artemis watched him leave. She didn’t try to stop him; she simply let him go so that she, too, could begin to search for the answers he needed.
Artemis looked into the well, her soul troubled and mind not fully cleared. When she saw when the ripples parted and the water smoothed out, she had to bite back a scream.
The End
www.april-zyon.com