During the conversation, Aaric suddenly realized something."Wasn't Morpheus kind of a part of your pantheon? Can't form the Sands of Morpheus now?" Aaric asked Hades.
Hades chuckled. "No. There was a time he could, but due to the misuse of the Sands and too many gods in the waking world, only a select few gods have the ability to produce the Sands anymore." Hades looked up as he said that.
"There are gods above us," Hades continued, looking at Aaric. "Vasuki being one of them. They took away the ability from most gods." He shrugged and smiled.
Aaric nodded. "Who else, except you three, is left in your pantheon?" he asked quietly, not wanting the others to hear.
Hades sighed and held up three fingers. "First is Hera," he began, scratching his head. "She recently caused a rebellion against Zeus and is suspended between the sky and the earth with golden shackles and anvils tied to her feet, gazing at chaos itself." He put one finger down.
"Second is Prometheus, who is chained to a rock in the Caucasus Mountains. Heracles killed the eagle that ate his liver daily but did not free him." Hades lowered his second finger.
He frowned. "The third is Typhon, born of Gaia and Tartarus, a primordial buried under Mount Etna, shackled with the help of the Stakes of Law. He grows stronger each day, but so do his shackles." Hades put his third finger down and sipped some tea.
"Those three were shackled or bound, so they could not attend the summons. There are some minor gods as well," Hades concluded.
Aaric took his time digesting the information, then glanced at Luna, who was being fed by the goddesses and treated like a princess.
He looked back at Hades. "Shouldn't we free them?"
Hades waved his hand. "Prometheus, I agree with freeing," he said, then shook his head. "But Hera, I am not certain of. And definitely not Typhon. Even with our current strength, I think he could defeat us all."
"Then how was Typhon even defeated?" Aaric asked.
Hades sighed. "The first thing he did after being born was challenge the gods. It took us three brothers working together to defeat him. We impaled him with the Stakes of Law made by me and enforced by the other two. These stakes grow stronger with him; otherwise, he would have freed himself by now," Hades explained patiently.
"So he grows stronger with time?" Aaric asked.
Hades nodded. "Exponentially."
"Can I talk to Hera after the celebration?" Aaric asked.
Hades shrugged. "Only free her if you deem her sound of mind." Aaric nodded.
After the feast, the girls danced and laughed around a bonfire. Persephone and Hestia performed their sacred dances, flowers bloomed around Persephone while gentle, nourishing fire surrounded Hestia.
Luna danced like a free spirit, twirling and laughing with the goddesses. She looked like an angel.
Aaric and Hades stood to the side with glasses of ambrosia."Go dance," Hades told Aaric.
Aaric shook his head quickly. "You go dance."
"It's just a dance. It's not that important," Hades shrugged.
"Of course. I'm just too full to dance right now," Aaric replied, and they looked at each other and nodded in mutual respect.
That was when Persephone spotted Hades. She smirked and moved toward him with her arms outstretched. Hades knew what she wanted. He looked behind him and saw only a wall.
He glanced to the side, found an escape route but it was too late. His wife had already reached him, took his hands, and pulled him onto the dance floor with a grin.
Hades shook his head and looked at Aaric for help, but Aaric looked away, pretending not to notice.
Hades was dragged to the dance floor, forced to dance as Aaric watched in amusement and gave him a small salute.
However, Aaric failed to notice Luna creeping up on him until it was too late. She caught his hand, the devil's smile on her face as she tugged at his arm.
Aaric glanced at Hades, who mouthed the word karma with a grin.
Aaric was dragged to the dance floor. Luna wrapped her arms around him with a sweet smile, looking at his embarrassed face.
She kissed him and giggled.
"You're enjoying this a lot, huh?" Aaric asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course. I have a boyfriend now; it's my duty to force you to dance," she said.
Aaric smiled and held her waist, kissing her forehead. "Well, if it makes you happy..." he said, and they danced to the gentle music Hestia played on a lyre.
After the celebration, Hades freed Prometheus while Aaric went to speak with Hera. Luna stayed with Hestia and Persephone, learning about her new abilities.
Aaric found a beautiful woman with midnight-black hair and deep blue eyes, suspended by golden chains that stretched from the sky to the earth. In front of her floated a black portal, and her gaze was fixed on it.
Aaric stood at her side and instinctively looked into the portal only to see a colossal battle raging on the other side.
A snake, black as night, opened its maw full of teeth as it fought a god holding an ornate staff topped with a sun disk.
"They have fought since the dawn of time," Hera whispered beside him. "Their power is unimaginable, primordial. That god could challenge our whole pantheon and stand a chance against us."
Aaric stood there, listening and nodding.
"Even if we had a chance, most gods would abandon Zeus in a heartbeat and go to him," Hera sighed.
"He is cruel and unworthy."
"Was," Aaric interrupted softly.
She trembled. "What did you say?"
"Zeus is dead," Aaric told her quietly. "Only a few members of your family are alive."
Tears escaped Hera's eyes. "How?"
Aaric told her the truth. She didn't doubt him; she would have known if a mortal lied to her.
"I remember they were not present for a day, they must have been summoned as well." she whispered, referring to the snake and the god.
"Hephaestus?" she asked.
Aaric shook his head.
"I was cruel to him after he was born. I wish I could have apologized before..." Hera's voice broke, and she sobbed silently.
Aaric sighed and floated in front of her, blocking her view of the chaos. He wiped her tears.
"There are a lot of people you need to apologize to," he said.
She looked down.
"And all of them are dead," she whispered.
"I can free you right now if you wish to be freed," Aaric told her.
She shook her head. "I deserve to be here and atone."
Aaric nodded. "You can do that by helping people."
Hera looked up, locking eyes with him.
"Hades, Persephone, and Hestia are alive. You could be a great help to them," Aaric said, making her sigh and nod.
It took a little time, but Aaric returned, supporting Hera as she walked with a limp.
They were greeted by a worried Hestia, who hugged Hera and began tending to her wounds.
A/N: Power stones and reviews, please, guys.