“Brother, we were beginning to wonder if you were ever coming home,” Poseidon greeted me with a smile as I approached the throne room. We never used the blasted thing anymore, and I didn’t understand Zeus’ petulant insistence at keeping them at all. Mine was made of black basalt, large and imposing, but I hadn’t touched it in centuries.

“Zeus sent a command, how could I refuse my brother?”

“It’s what I’d expect of you,” Poseidon said. “I told him it was foolish to send the message at all.”

I smirked; he wasn’t wrong. “Of all the commands I’ve ever ignored, I would be the worst of all brothers to refuse to acknowledge this one.”

Poseidon nodded. “Not to mention we’d never hear the end of it.”

“How many others are here?”

“Most… some I haven’t seen in a very long time. Hermes has been busy.”

“I’m sure he has,” I said. “Keep in mind that you haven’t spent much time here either, brother. Just because you’ve found something to keep you here doesn’t make you any different from them. We’ve all been avoiding this… problem in our own ways.”

Poseidon chuckled just a little, which surprised me; evidently, finding Brooke had changed my usually sodden brother more than I had expected. “You’ve been spending quite a bit of time among the mortals yourself,” he said. “Should I tell Zeus that you might have found something… or someone? Or shall we wait until after the birth?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I snapped. I could hear the murmur of voices echoing down the marble hall. We were late. If we missed it, I knew I would never hear the end of it.

“I think you do,” Poseidon said, quickening his pace to catch up with me. “It’s like we’ve both said, brother. When you find your spark, you’ll know. Even you won’t be able to avoid this prophecy, no matter how hard you—”

“And where is your mortal?” I interrupted him. “Have you kept them out of my library as I instructed?”

“You left Cerberus off his chains,” Poseidon said stiffly. “Of course they’ve stayed out. Besides, they’re not mortal anymore; you’d do well to remember that fact. They’re Olympians now, and should be treated with the respect they deserve.”

“Respect?” I sneered. “They are only immortal because of a loophole in a curse… nothing more. If you hadn’t interrupted their simple mortal lives, they would never have known any different.”

“And we would never have defeated Hera’s curse.”

“We haven’t defeated it, you arrogant fool. We’ve only sidestepped it.”

Poseidon opened his mouth to say something else, but a rush of wind interrupted him as Hermes appeared beside us.

“Have I missed it?” he asked quickly.

Poseidon looked surprised. “I didn’t know you’d left again,” he said.

“I forgot something,” my nephew replied. “Ares is here, have you seen him?”

“Ares? I didn’t expect him to be here until after the birth.” Poseidon’s confusion seemed to deepen and I wondered what had happened while I had been away.  

“No, uncle, he was one of the first to arrive. Hephaestus, too.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, and the sound bounced off the marble columns. Hermes made a face, and I relished his discomfort a little more than I’d anticipated. “What a happy family reunion this will be,” I said cruelly. “Wouldn’t Hera be pleased to see us united once more.”

“Don’t say her name,” Hermes hissed. “She’s watching us.”

“You sound very sure of yourself, nephew,” I said. “Have you seen her on your travels? Come, tell us all the news. How is my dear sister?”

“Hades, be careful,” Poseidon said. “If Zeus hears you—”

“What? What will he do?” I challenged. I glared down at my brother and my nephew and they both shifted nervously, not knowing what to say in reply. “That’s what I thought.”

I swept into the room and was immediately wrapped in a pair of muscular arms. Hephaestus’ presence on Olympus was a rare sight, indeed, and I couldn’t recall the last time I had spoken to the god of the forge.

“Uncle,” he welcomed me warmly and shook my hand with an iron grip. His palm was as hot as the heart of the volcano he made his palace in. My fiery nephew hadn’t changed very much over the centuries. Still eager to please, and as hot-blooded as Ares. If Hera hadn’t injured him at such a young age, I had no doubt that he would have rivaled his elder brother in ferocity and power.

His long red hair, woven into a tight braid and secured by a thick band of gold, fell over his shoulder. It was the only finery he wore, but I was surprised that he had kept it. A wedding gift from Aphrodite… if I had been in his place, I would have cast it into the heart of Mount Aetna long ago.

“You are just in time,” he said eagerly. “Father has just announced that the time is near.”

“So it would seem,” I said dryly. The room was full of ethereal light, and delicate draperies fluttered softly in the light breeze that blew through the room. Zeus was doing his best to make everything comfortable and relaxing, if not for his mortal’s benefit, then for his own.

The sheer draperies also served as a protective screen between the other gods and the birthing couch. I could see Cameron, stretched out upon it; a thin sheet covered his torso and I could see the curve of his belly clearly. Apollo stood nearby with Zeus, and Poseidon’s mortal was seated on a chair next to the couch, and bathed Cameron’s head with a wet cloth.

“I see Brooke has settled into his place on Olympus quite comfortably,” I murmured to Poseidon.

“Shut your mouth,” he snapped.

“Always second, brother.”

“I said shut up.” Poseidon’s hands curled into fists and I smiled down at my brother. He was so easy to manipulate. That would never change.

“How long until Brooke is lying under Apollo’s hands?” I asked quietly.

The look in Poseidon’s eyes told me everything I needed to know and I chuckled quietly. “You are terrible at keeping secrets, brother. When did you plan to tell Zeus?”

“Shut. Up,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Hush, now, our brother has something to say,” I said soothingly as Zeus stepped through the curtain blocking our view. He held up his hands and smiled out at the immortals that had gathered.

“My brothers… my sons… Olympians, all. Welcome. I can’t even begin to tell you how important this day is.” I coughed loudly, interrupting him. Zeus fixed me with a stern glare, electricity snapping in his gray eyes. Next to me Hephaestus chuckled, but quieted at a nudge from Hermes. “Today we take back Olympus for ourselves… today we send a message to the goddesses who cursed us.”

There was a groan from behind the curtains and I saw Apollo bend over the couch. Brooke was holding Cameron’s hand tightly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Poseidon shift uncomfortably, and Ares stepped forward.

I turned my attention to my nephew… I hadn’t expected that reaction from Ares, or any reaction at all.

“When my child is born, the first of the New Olympians, you will see for yourselves that there is a chance for us to take back what was stolen from us. A new god or goddess will join our pantheon, and Olympus will once again be a place of joy.”

The sound of Cameron’s groan filled the air again, and Zeus’ expression took on a shade of panic. He disappeared behind the curtain and a hush fell over the room as we listened to the ruler of Olympus comfort his mortal. Soothing words that were soon drowned out by Cameron’s cries of pain and fear.

Beside me, Poseidon’s hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white with the intensity of his grip. I knew he was thinking about Brooke, and what he would have to go through. I shifted my gaze to Ares, who seemed to be in a similar amount of distress. I would have to remind myself to speak to my nephew after this was all over…

“Don’t worry brother, your spark is immortal now, just like Zeus’... soon this will all be just a memory.” I had meant for my words to be soothing, but Poseidon’s furious answering glare was an indication of how terrible I was at soothing.

There was another cry, and Zeus’ triumphant bellow. And then a different sound… one I had not heard in centuries. The squall of a newborn god.

The child’s cries echoed off the marble columns and the draperies fluttered in a fresh wind that swept through the room, one that smelled of flowers and summer rain. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding as the room erupted in cheers and applause.

It was Apollo’s face I saw next; his expression was unreadable as he pushed aside the curtain to reveal Cameron lying upon the birthing couch.

The former mortal looked tired and pained, and his cheeks were stained with tears, but he glowed with pride… as did my brother. Zeus took a swaddled bundle from Cameron’s arms and rose from his seat next to the couch.

“Behold… the first of the New Olympians.” He held the child aloft, and I did my best not to roll my eyes at his dramatics. “Behold… Alkira, Goddess of the Spring Winds.”

“I’m so glad he took my advice and named the child himself,” I murmured to Poseidon. My brother looked at me in confusion, but Zeus seemed to have heard me and his expression hardened just a little.

“Brothers… my sons. See for yourselves, Hera’s curse holds no power in Olympus now.” Zeus paused, making eye contact with each and every immortal in the room as his words vibrated off the marble columns. “If you wish to rebuild Olympus as I do, you will go forth and find your spark… the goddesses have been arrogant in their revenge for too long.”

“How do we know this is not just an anomaly?” someone cried. I did not see the speaker, but Zeus cradled his child against his chest and stroked her cheek gently before replying.   

“This is not an anomaly…” he said softly. “My child is not an anomaly. She is an Olympian, just like you. These sparks… these mortals. You will be drawn to them. At first, you won’t be able to explain it, you might even resist the pull of that attraction. But these mortals have been placed in your path for a reason… one that even I cannot explain.”

Poseidon stepped through the curtains and took Brooke by the hand to lead him forward. Cameron was sleeping on the couch, exhausted from his ordeal. Apollo stood behind the couch, a protective presence, and a reminder that though this was a happy occasion, the goddesses still posed a very real threat.

Zeus smiled as his brother joined him. “More than my own child, we will soon welcome another to our number… my niece or nephew will soon be born. Another testament to the power of our sparks. The power of the prophecy deciphered by Hades and delivered to all of you. You have chosen not to believe it… you have argued against me. But now, now you can no longer deny it.”

Poseidon pulled Brooke’s tunic aside to reveal the swell of his belly. There was a collective sigh as the gods beheld the new pregnancy—another immortal waiting to be born. The mortal blushed and covered his growing stomach with his hands. Poseidon’s indulgent smile made my own stomach turn.

Was it going to be like this every time? Some saccharine ceremony for every birth, every pregnancy? It was almost too much to bear.

I felt an elbow nudge into my ribs. “When will it be your turn, uncle?”

“What?”

Hephaestus, I had almost forgotten about him.

“When will we see you standing there to present your child?”

“Me?” I scoffed. “No, nephew, this prophecy is not for me.”

Zeus’ red-headed son smiled crookedly at me. “Are you so sure? If I were to see you with a child in your arms, it would give me some hope.”

“I am not here to give you hope, Hephaestus. Prophecies, and those who believe in them are fools. If you think that the goddesses have been defeated… that Hera will turn a blind eye to this defiance…” I paused, realizing that the eyes of all the immortals in the room were turned upon me. Including those of my brothers.

I didn’t give a shit about angering Zeus. I knew my place, and it was in the underworld, in the confines of my library. Not in the nursery. Let them have their sparks… their mortals. I was the only eternal god. The eldest… the chthonian.

“Hades!” Zeus’ shout reverberated off the marble walls and the child in his arms began to cry. Cameron stirred on the couch and Brooke rushed to his side.

I was done with this. I swept from the room before my brother could lecture me, and the shadows that accompanied me left a darkness in my wake that only faded when I allowed it.

I strode through the colonnade towards the marble stairs that led down to my library. I could hear Cerberus’ growl as I approached and I smiled at the familiar sound.  

“There now, your job is done,” I said softly. Cerberus, ever faithful, ceased his growling as soon as he smelled me; ash and bone... comforting and natural. This was my home, and the silence was comforting. Poseidon had told me once that the quiet was overwhelming, almost oppressive… but this was what I craved.

I poured myself a goblet of wine and took a long drink. After today, Olympus would never be the same. The sound of children—their laughter, their tears… their cries of sorrow and joy. Olympus would never be quiet again. This library would be my only sanctuary.   

The face of the librarian at the Biblioteca Vallicelliana flashed across my mind. Specifically the expression on his face when he had finally submitted to me on those spiral stairs… it had been delicious. I hadn’t believed that it could be possible, to find someone who would bend to my will in such a way—to challenge me without fear. Persephone had never given in to my proclivities, and others, well, they had not survived it.

But Gideon. Gideon was different. I wanted to test his boundaries; I wanted to see how much it would take for him to writhe and beg me to take him. My brothers had made too much noise about how they had known their sparks when they found them. But I refused to believe it. I could not deny that I had felt something when my lips had touched Gideon’s skin. A gathering storm in my chest, the billowing of clouds in my mind… and a cold rush, as of the Acheron overflowing its banks.

What if I was lying to myself?

Did I owe it to my brothers to discover the truth of it? If I was meant to be a part of this rebirth of Olympus, I would have known it by now. I was the elder brother… I should have been first. I slammed the cup down and watched the dark liquid splash onto the floor. Cerberus, ever helpful, lapped up the mess greedily and I reached down to fondle one set of his dark ears.

“We don’t need any company… do we?” I murmured as I sank into one of the great chairs Hephaestus had made for me. A fire crackled in the great hearth in front of me. The dark flames gave off no heat, but for some reason, the flickering core gave me no comfort.

It wouldn’t be long before Zeus would come stomping down those marble steps to scold me for ruining his pompous presentation ceremony.

I had to return to Rome. I couldn’t stay here.

Cerberus rested his heads on my knee and looked up at me expectantly. I stroked each muzzle gently, and smiled down at him. “You’ve been cooped up here too long, my friend. Would you like to see Rome again?”

One of Cerberus’ heads raised a canine eyebrow as the middle one let out a small yip of excitement. His thick tail thumped against the marble paving stones and I smiled wider.

“That’s what I thought.”