in the lands of gods & monsters

     demetri moves just as fast, providing whatever assistance eden needed in the matters despite his rapidly declining wellbeing. it almost feels like every step is bringing him closer to a state of unconsciousness. pale hues move towards the area eden had motioned to and uses the bits of strength he has to move the rubble, allowing eden the chance to save the wailing child. how natural it comes to the brunette  ⸺ how he’s almost envious of it. one hand coming to rest against eden’s armor and another on the back of the infant’s head, demetri lowers his voice, afraid to scare the child more than she already had been. the young god uses the moment to steady himself - he’s sure it’s evident that he’s close to his breaking point but he has to push through. has to. he has to prove his worth. prove that he’s just as able as his siblings. expression contorting into a much harder one, his attention moves to the entrance of the burning home, as if he’s searching for something in the unknown. “father’s shadows are coming.” there’s a sharp inhale, ribs cracking when he does so as eyes flutter shut for a moment. there’s a very low yet echoing whistle that leaves pursed lips, summoning his hound from the battlefield to appear by eden’s side in a matter of minutes. “nymeria will stay by your side, i will clear the path for the three of you. keep the child safe.” demetri begins to tell eden, moving towards the entrance as he takes in the damage this war against his father has caused. the burning village, the cries of agony  ⸺  “this is the price of war, isn’t it? we are no better than mortals,” demetri whispered to himself, brows furrowing together as demetri stands in the center of the village, trembling hands digging at the earth beneath them, feeling for the heavy footsteps of armored men moving towards them. “nyx, grant me your power,” his prayer begins, eyes fluttering shut as he feels his pulse thumping wildly in his ears. “be my eyes, lend me your strength, use me as your vessel if need be,” were his last words, eyes snapping open as he looks over to eden, a wave of shadows moving around her. it’s a makeshift shield, allowing her to conceal herself, nymeria and the child so that she becomes invisible against the incoming men. nymeria moves first, leading the way for eden to follow as demetri leaves his ravens in his wake, men falling as quick as they raised their swords. it’s almost a bloodbath. but he needed to allow eden safe passage. her and the child’s safety was the priority. 

    due to the power draw that karisa had done to him earlier with early injury  ⸺ hades is beginning to become careless with his defense. and despite ellis’ taunts angering him - he simply couldn’t keep up anymore. karisa moves alongside ellis, almost as if she’s dancing around him if you will. where he lacked, she followed. for someone she supposedly despises, karisa knew his movements all to well. karisa twirls around ellis and hades for a moment, green hues moving over to take in ellis injury before her chest rises in what seems more irritation. the wounds the warrior makes across her father’s chest karisa mirrors on his back, the straps of her father’s armor falling as she renders his chest defenseless. with her back towards her father and ellis, karisa twirls her javelin in between her hands, considering the moments that are coming. this was it wasn’t it? where her and ellis would put the means to an end to use, finally. but it had to be done. for their safety. to put her father out of his misery, to ensure her family’s safety. 

  the strawberry blonde moves slowly around ellis, eyes never leaving her father’s as the emotional conflict is evident in her once bright hues. seeing her father on his knees is something karisa thought she would never see. it’s almost - sickening. the man she grew up admiring, idolized, her father, a god, a king. on his knees. “you would kill your own father, eleni?” hades asked, spatting blood at her feet, drawing blood from the sword that’s pressed at his throat as karisa lips begin to quiver. emotions threatening to spill over. “you’re not my father. you’re just the vessel of a man i once knew,” words that serve as a reminder to herself as her grip tightens on her weapon. “this will make for great ballads.” hades begins to tease, bloodied smile offered in his daughter’s direction, “the lightening warrior and the underworld’s death dealer delivering the god of the underworld to his death.” he muses as karisa’s eyes narrow. “do it, kill me, take my life commander ⸺ that’s what you truly desire isn’t it? to bring me the same pain i brought you?”

“you’ll… listen for me when i tell him? if it goes wrong you’ll, listen?” she asks and places her hand to her chest, like karisa knew completely what she meant by listening. it was the closest thing to it, the pull the bond created, like it was a silent sound drowning you out and you had to answer the other person… even when they were completely alone you’d hear the demand of emotion just like winnie in here, in a bathroom alone.. trying to hide her hearts pain from the world. there would never be a way to hide it from your souls other. “…he’s going to think that he can’t because of the…” she waves her hand near her head and eyes pull into this usual concern she had for the problem. “but he can. i know he can..” winnie gives her eyes one last rub with her sleeve, she looked likes he’d been crying but… there was no changing how her skin was a pinkish hue where tears stained. her words obviously resonated with winnie, no matter what karisa was going to be there.. whenever she needed her most. “aren’t you mad at me?” she asks within quiet whisper. “i said such horrible things last time i saw you… ‘risa i was just angry.. i’ve seen him hurt before, i’ve heard him scream before but not like that.” she admits and lowers her eyes. “i can’t even tell him it’s what i hear when i dream, him screaming, his pained cries... because he doesn’t remember when he’s like that.” winnie starts to fidget with her sleeves, pull the bobbles off the worn fabric. “i’m sorry, that i said those things.. i suppose it’s one thing i’ve learned from poseidon.” she said it in sarcastic jest but.. it did show how bad things could get with the man, given that winnie had shouted that day like she never had before, screamed until it made her throat hoarse and sore. “i... think i want to go tell him, then maybe i can tell you how it goes over tea?… you can tell me all about this crush you have on the lightning warrior too. don’t you think i haven’t noticed!”

                           ♡  ​

     “i will hold you to it eden.” demetri replied, rolling his eyes as he still tries to juggle carrying his own weight so he wasn’t to much of a burden to eden and still continue to shield them from the surrounding threats. the young god turns to eden’s sudden change of mood - brows furrowing as he almost leans into eden’s motherly touch. “stay still,” he whispered, extending his arm outward as his eyes gloss over, summoning his ravens to scour the surrounding areas. “the ravens will show me what we cannot see,” is what he tells her, eyes moving rapidly as he tries to take all these new sights in. “if i move us the shield will be lowered, so if there is a threat, you either stay behind me or raise your sword.” if it’s something demetri has learned in his years of being raised by karisa, it was the fact that karisa had always given him a choice. something he was doing right now. “tell me what it is you want to do before we go.” 

   she promised to come home. sienna did promise that. she never promised in what state but, she did promise that she’d come home. laying sienna down carefully onto the table before them, the raven haired male turns to ellis with an unreadable expression - something in between hurt and worry, maybe even anger somewhere lost in between the two. “ellis.” benji called out in the midst of ellis’ whispered a quick attempt to get ellis to listen. “sienna ⸺ will be fine, the healer will be here, soon and until then i’ll see to it that she rests.” benji reassured, larger fingers brushing through her fly away strands, moving his attention to sienna for a moment before he turns back to ellis. “⸺and the rest of you, don’t overwork yourselves, like karisa said, eight of you went in and eight of you need to come out.” a sigh leaves pursed lips as ellis leaves, benji moves quickly to place blankets over sienna, grabbing her hand into his as he presses what looks like a million kisses against her knuckles. “oh angel,” he whispered, eyes fluttering shut for a moment. “you just had to play hero again, didn’t you?” he asked, a bittersweet chuckle following his words as he takes in her features. “you’re going to come back to me, to us, you’re home, you’re home so you can rest. rest and i will take care of everything else. ellis will make sure everyone comes back.” he tells her, brushing more strands away as he presses a gentle kiss against her forehead. maybe he feels the confidence to say this because of her delirious state maybe because she probably wouldn’t remember  ⸺ or if something were to happen, he knows he said it. “i love you, i think, i’ve loved you since you walked out of my bathroom that night. and it ⸺ it sucks that i’ve only figured it out now. i guess, i guess i was scared to fall in love again, everyone ⸺  that i’ve ever loved has either died or just walked away but you’re different. different in ways that i can’t wrap my mind around so, sienna, i’m begging you to rest so i can spend the next month telling you all the reasons why i love you, so i can do it right this time, please.”

   jack’s grip doesn’t loosen  ⸺  after what ares had done to sienna jack couldn’t risk it. even if winona was ares other half essentially, he didn’t care. with vines constricting his movements, the little struggles are only lodging the blade further into both of their shoulder blades but in ares enraged state he can’t really feel it. jack watches winnie and her glowing fingers as ares eyes seem to gloss into the same color, his physical struggles seeming to come to a halt altogether. and for a moment, jack let’s out a string of curses in relief while ares breaks free from the vines restraint, one hand pulls the sword from his shoulder and the other moves forward to catch the fellow blonde. “beloved?” ares asked, brows furrowing as he truly doesn’t understand what’s happened. leaning forward so that the two could rest comfortably on the ground, blood stained fingers come to brush at her cheeks, pale hues roaming her exhausted features as the worry is written across his bearded features. “the hounds, the hounds were released i tried ⸺ i tried to bring the back under and winnie thought she could subdue them, but, she ⸺ ” jack has to pause, gathering his breath as his own anger at this entire situation begins to bubble once more. “take her somewhere safe, i will deal with the army.” the bitterness in his voice causes ares to raise his brows, attention turning back to winona as his mouth falls agape. “winnie ⸺ what have you done?”

   “eleni.” the god of the underworld whispered, causing the hair on the back of her neck to stand. “this realm is your home and you’ve let this war you decided to wage on me, destroy it. think of all the men you and your friends are responsible for killing,” he begins, the tip of his blade dragging against the earth as he begins to close the distance between the two. “all the blood that will stain your hands, what will happen after you’ve killed me? you think you’re fit to rule? that persephone is? that either of you are capable of keeping a realm in line?” hades asked, canting his head as karisa just stands there and listens. “that my men will listen to either of you? that either of you will keep the souls from wandering or that you will be able to represent the underworld in the summits?” the closer he gets, the more men he begins to summon and for a moment, ares and jack meet eyes. how were they to fight a war with just the four of them? when it seems hades had men at his disposal? hades places one strong hand against his daughter’s shoulder and she lets him and ares is convinced he’s about to witness his cousin’s beheading. “bend your knee karisa  ⸺ beg for forgiveness and i will let everyone walk away with their lives,” it was a tempting offer  ⸺ as the two meet eyes, karisa debates it. pledge her allegiance once more to her father and face eons of torture all over again but if it meant the safety of her family - it would be worth it, wouldn’t it? “karisa! don’t you dare!” ares shouted, pulling himself up with winnie cradled in his arms as jack shakes his head, “we can handle the men, you handle father! we can take it!” jack added as karisa’s eyes never waivers from hades. it seemed the more that time passed the more men continued to appear and it was only a matter of time before demetri’s skeletal warriors were overrun, what choice does she have? “very well, have it your way.” it takes one hard push, that forces karisa onto her knees, a dent forming beneath her as she her father’s sword at her crown, the muscles in her jaw clenching. “you have proven me wrong eleni, maybe you truly weren’t worth the sacrifices i have made.” 

   it’s the comment that tips her over, hot tears begin to finally pour over as she remembers everything that’s been done to her in her life. “sacrifices? sacrifices you have made?!” karisa shouted. the next moments move far more quickly than jack could process. this black energy that karisa releases floods the battlefield within seconds, wrapping around her father’s men  ⸺ men she’s trained, fought alongside with and floods their senses, their cries ringing out as the excruciating pain from their insides being torn apart begins to settle. a childhood stolen  ⸺ the weeks on end of training until her palms were raw, the missed meals because she wasn’t strong enough, the hounds, the days where she had spent in the hounds pit because she disobeyed an order  ⸺ winnie is right, was right. leaping to her feet with her hair flowing behind her, summoning her javelin once more as she twirls it in the air, pointing it in her father’s direction. “i will cover the two of you, but, it’s time for us to move.” jack tells ares, placing a hand on his cousin’s shoulder as he feels the shift between his sister and father. “give me the signal and i’ll move us, use whatever sterngth you have to hold onto winnie.” jack whispered, watching as his sister tears apart the men his father sends after her with ease. it’s almost sickening watching their blood splatter across her features. “i have become indomitable father! you can’t kill me,” karisa taunted back, arms extended in their usual welcoming gesture, “you are mine karisa, i brought you here and i can easily take you from this realm just as easy.” moving in a blur of ravens, the father and daughter duo are moving far more quicker than usual, all that could really be heard was their blades meeting and when one of them would go down  ⸺ and then quickly recover. 

      “skeletor,” demetri repeated, bloodied smile across dirt torn features as he continues using whatever strength he has left on keeping the shield around him and eden up. “you have siblings?” the younger god asked, trying his best to keep as much weight off of eden’s arms. his eyes flutter shut for a moment, face contorting to one of agony. “i need to heal, i need to  ⸺  i need to help jack take on ares,” demetri let’s out a shaky breath, turning to face eden for a moment, taking in her expression and taking in yet another breath. “tour guide, maybe when  ⸺  ares and hades aren’t trying to kill us all?” he teases, out of breath and sparing a look to see that jack had in fact taken off to face ares at full speed, while karisa was steadying herself with the help of ellis. “day and night those two,” demetri pointed out, chin jutting into the direction of karisa and ellis as he mumbles a quick prayer to the fates to watch over them as the initial battle seem to have intensify in tenfold.

   he isn’t sure where this newfound anger has stemmed from. maybe it was because he nearly killed his brother - maybe it was the way he flung karisa as if she meant nothing, or the way he nearly killed sienna  ⸺  whatever it was, it brings jack here. the moment he appears before ares, he kicks him dead center in the middle of his armor sending his enraged cousin through the air as jack turns into winona’s direction, expression hardening. “i’m not my sister, i will show him no mercy until our ares is back.” his version of an apology as he points his sword in ares direction ( who is currently scrambling to his feet quickly ) , practically growling. “you dare oppose me? have we not come here with a mission cousin?” ares shouted, arms extended to his war axe and sword, clashing them together almost like he’s welcoming jack’s challenge. “do you know who i am?” ares asked - taunting almost, taking the first step forward and lightening cracking around him when he does. “i’m the god of war, you can’t defeat me at my own craft.” another taunt, another step forward as he moves quickly towards jack - something jack welcomes, arms extended outward as he sidesteps last minute. it gives him the chance to appear behind the older god, placing him in a chokehold. “and do you know who i am? you’re in my realm ares.” he says in his ear, tucking his leg in front of ares and slamming the two of them into the earth beneath them. the moment the crater forms beneath them - ares strikes them both with lightening, but jack doesn’t budge - just welcomes the pain and remains his death grip on his cousin. “i will beat this affliction out of you if need be ares, do not force my hand.” jack pushes ares off of him, the two blonde’s recovering as ares quickly moves again. 

   “take sienna, take her to benji.” is all karisa responds, newfound emotions coursing through her. hers and winnie’s. she would deal with winnie’s wrath later. ares was out of control. she wouldn’t risk their lives over the relationship the two shared. and if it made karisa the villian, so be it. “i’ll hold hades off until you’ve returned.” a hand comes to rest against sienna’s forehead, offering a sympathetic smile, “i’m sorry.” is all the strawberry blonde could offer, giving ellis a look. “go.” finally steadying herself, karisa’s attention moves to her father whose attention had settled on winona. the goddess purses her lips together, a low whistle following as it only takes mere seconds for the three headed beast to come charging to her aide. with the skeletal warriors and cerberus how could they lose now? attention turning to hades who had turned his path to winona, veins in his skin darkening as it seemed that whatever light was left in the realm was quickly diminishing. she leans forward, fingers grazing the ground beneath her as she turns to cerberus with a dangerous smirk playing across freckled features. “it’s been a while hasn’t it boy?” she asked, the two of them weaving in and out of the crowds of men, a desperate attempt to reach winnie before hades did. and they barely make it. karisa launches her javelin into her father’s shoulder, quickly turning to winona with an unreadable expression. despite the blade in his shoulder, hades raises one hand towards karisa and winona, he was power hungry  ⸺  with intentions to try to draw from winona but karisa interferes. 

    jack isn’t sure if the blood splattered across his armor belongs to him or ares but, that was a matter to be dealt with later, wasn’t it? “you’re out of control ares  ⸺  look at what you’ve done!” jack shouted, pushing his blade against ares with much more strength this time. “call it collateral damage kastos.” the answer comes through gritted teeth, an answer that surprises jack to the point where he falters, giving ares the opportunity to bring down a nasty cut against jack’s already wounded chest. her younger brother’s cry for help prompts her to turn but before she could move, hades appears behind her. larger hands wrapping around her elbows, as karisa’s emerald hues flicker to winona, karisa didn’t need to say it. she hoped - despite the ill feelings winona currently felt for her, that she would leave karisa to tend to her father and go help jack and ares instead. “my little crow, you’ve outdone yourself today.” he whispered into her ear, shadows swarming around the both of them as he begins to conjure up men from mere shadows to surround her - preventing an escape as he continues to tighten his grip around her elbows. eyes flutter shut for a moment as she takes in a sharp inhale, shifting her foot to let it sit behind her father’s and sends them into the ground, much like jack had done to ares earlier. except, karisa’s javelin is still lodged in her father’s shoulder and the movement only drives it further into hades shoulder and it manages to cut karisa’s cheek. scrambling to her feet and pulling her weapon from his shoulder, the strawberry blonde’s father moves just a tad bit quicker. his blade pointed at karisa’s neck, drawing blood from where it lies as karisa doesn’t move an inch. “do you think your brother’s little warriors will defeat my men? that the men i conjure from the shadows would be subdued by cereberus and demetri’s hound? come on karisa i thought you were more sensible than that. you have to much faith in this band of yours.” hades cooed and karisa’s hands snap upward to capture the sword between both of her hands, twisting it and pushing it upwards so she could move forward to head butt him. 

the rubbing of karisa’s hand down her back was the most soothing thing she could’ve asked for right now. thankful too, that she held her hair back because she certainly wasn’t going to manage it herself right now. she didn’t lean back until she was sure the sickness passed. “would he though?” she questioned, that lip quivering doubt. “i think he’s going to be dubious, i think he’s not going to know what to say and the way he’s going to-... to look at me..” she sniffled, oh winona, in such a state. “i’m sorry ‘risa.” she sounded so defeated and it wasn’t like winnie, but she knew she’d feel the same nausea that she currently was. maybe not as extremely but she’d still feel it. “’risa i’m scared what poseidon will do..  i’m not scared to face him, it’s his actions that terrify me. everybody knows he can have a temper, they all can. if he’s going to lose his temper i don’t want anyone else to pay the price of it… not for me.” what winnie didn’t expect was the fact karisa pulled her into an embrace that the blonde very clearly needed. there were a few moments that winnie just, cried, that she just let it all out and leaned into the embrace that she wasn’t even sure she deserved. “i have to tell him don’t i? if i just.. say it, then it’s done.. if i just go see ares and tell him, then i don’t have to keep thinking about it, he’s the hardest to tell..” she finally sniffled and leaned back with the rubbing of her eyes, the tears had stopped, fighting to feel like she had control again. she sort of wafted her hands and brushed herself down. “i can do this right? if it… ‘risa if it all goes wrong, i’ll still have you… right?”

                            ♡  ​

          "kas, kas, you have to get up. this isn’t where your story ends brother, please.” the broken whisper leaves bloodied lips as she flips him onto his back, attention moving to the hole in the center of his armor and she feels her throat tighten. stained fingers reaching to grab ahold of one of his colder ones, the strawberry blonde feels hot tears build at the corner of once bright hues, “come back to us brother,” karisa pleas, turning her attention to her friends who were currently waging war on her father  ⸺ watching as sienna was overdoing herself and how winnie had fallen, how ellis had pinned her father and how ares fist continued slamming on the ground beneath him. “we have to kill him.” demetri whispered, kneeling besides his sister as karisa turns her attention back to her brother who began to stir in her arms. “can you still fight?” demetri asked, hand hovering over his sister’s armor as karisa nods quickly, “my power will return ⸺ until then, i will rely on my javelin, i’m a commander after all aren’t i?”

   the moment winona began rolling across the floor, something within the god of war snapped. truly snapped. his usual concern for who stood around him when he was at his full potential suddenly, didn’t matter. there’s a streak of lightening in his wake - stronger arms settling winona in his arms before she could cause any further damage to herself. “beloved,” the nickname comes out in a mixture of a growl and some tone laced of concern, lightning filled hues looking down at her for a moment as he turns his attention back to his sister and best friend. “if it’s alright with you, i’ll return to you quickly.” his voice is eerily calm, setting winona down and steadying her before pressing a quick kiss to her temple, turning on his heel quickly as he just, vanishes. it was no mistake that the next few movement where ares  ⸺ the way their hair stands up when he moves past them, the streaks of lightening scattered in the field as men begin to fall carelessly. “we  ⸺ we need to help,” jack slurs, pushing himself out of his sister’s hold as karisa nearly cries out in relief. “you need to heal, you’re no good in battle if the hole in your chest doesn’t close. father took power from the both of you, let the others turn the tide for us until the two of you are healed.” demetri silently pleas, the fear that he could lose his siblings in this battle was now more present then ever. ares’ attention finally turns to his uncle, now that his line of sight was clear, his pinned position only makes the god laugh. how amusing it was that the very god who had just nearly killed his cousin was now, pinned. “hades!” it’s bone chilling the change in ares voice, karisa’s posture straightens and before she can move to do anything ares appears merely inches away from his uncle. calloused fingers reach to wrap around hades’ throat in the same fashion he had done to karisa  ⸺ lightning cracking around the two as demetri watches in awe. “send the dead gods my regards.” and just like that, there went hades soaring through the underworld’s air  ⸺ ares soon appearing behind him and slamming him into the earth beneath them, two fingers aimed in the mad god’s direction, directing a strike of thunderous lightening to jolt him. “ares!” demetri shouted, watching as the sky above them began to crawl with his usual thunderous clouds, “raise the army, let them deal with our father’s men, the rest of us will aid ares before he tears the realm apart.” karisa tells her younger brother, who shakes his head. “look at him, he seems as if he could take the entire realm on his own, heal.” jack manages to stand, placing a hand against his younger brother’s cheek, “listen to our sister, she’s been in battle, she knows what she’s doing, the two of us will be fine, go.” 

    “lend me your hound, i need to find eden.” jack tells his brother who nods, giving his brother what he wanted before he followed karisa’s orders. her attention moves to the thunderous sky ahead of them, chest rising and following as the pain begins to settle. “oh ares,” she whispered to herself, the earth beneath them begins to tremble for the moment, skeletal remains pushing themselves from the soil still dawning their old olympian armor as karisa watches her brother levitate in the night’s air, lips curving into a proud smile despite the current circumstances. “eden, eden.” jack called out, approaching with caution with demetri’s hound on his heels, “hey, it’s me, it’s me i promise, look at me.” jack says, laying his weapon in it’s holster behind his back with surrendering hands held in the air as if he’s trying to prove himself. “i’m alright, i’m alright, just a flesh wound, i’ll heal.” demetri tries to focus, despite ares and hades cries of war as their swords clashed one another ( well, if he were being honest it’s more of ares’ unleashing his rage against his father who can barely keep up ) as karisa raises her palm in the air to summon her javelin once more. there’s a sharp exhale, almost like she’s trying to steady her emotions for what’s coming. her father would die here, tonight. she was going to render the underworld without it’s king, they would kill a god  ⸺ she would leave her siblings without a father, steal the chance for jack to know what hades had truly been like before this affliction. warm tears begin to pour down her cheeks, eyes meeting with winnie’s for a moment, a desperate plea for her friend’s kind words because karisa feels like the entire world is going to crash around her. maybe it was. with ares clouds striking lightening across the battlefield and demetri’s skeletal warriors finally joining the battle  ⸺ maybe it was. maybe this is where her home ( the only home she knew, finally meets her demise. ) 

   "you bleed just like the rest of us,” ares taunted, something out of his character as his axe meets hades chest, swinging it in the air as hades narrows his gaze. ares and karisa weren’t siblings like him and sienna, hell, they weren’t as close as ares and ellis but karisa, she knew when someone was dancing with control. the way ares’ fingers itch around the hilt of his axe, the temptation to behead the god then and there was growing with every second that passes. it wasn’t that karisa didn’t want ares to kill her father  ⸺ because that was the goal now wasn’t it? the ending that needed to happen? it’s what was happening now, what would happen after to ares  ⸺ it was clear that his emotions were in control. but it wasn’t until hades finally gets the upper hand  ⸺ sword driving into ares abdomen and twisting. it wasn’t enough to kill the blonde of course this was the god of war after all, but, it’s enough to piss him off. ares quickly places his hands on top of hades, dangerous smirk playing across bloody features as he laughed, actually laughed in death’s face and says, “thank you.” as if it was the fuel to allow ares to unlock his true potential. something that causes the battlefield to come to a standstill.  jack brings eden close, raising his shield above them as karisa  ⸺ now with the others, twirls her javelin in the air and slams into the ground, casting a dark ‘shadow’ shield around them to shield them from ares’ little lightning show. the lightening strikes practically wreak havoc on the field, showing no remorse and even striking both karisa and jack’s shield. “he’s losing control!” karisa shouted, arms parralel to her as she’s struggling to keep the shield up. “demetri! you need to stop!” jack shouted, watching as the strikes are barely missing demetri and of course, a particular one strikes demetri, causing the young god to fall from his position in the air, leaving an alarming crater in the ground. 

    jack moves first, keeping his grip tight around eden as the two move towards his fallen brother, “demetri! demetri!” jack shouted, quickly pulling the young god in his arms as demetri barely, barely manages to cast a shield around them to prevent them from getting hurt, the same hand that comes to fall on eden’s, giving it a quick pat. a silent ‘you’re okay’ if you will, demetri held his own, took down soldiers and hounds - raised the skeletal warriors to aid them so they could focus on hades. he did good, right? he could rest now? “keep your eyes on us demetri,” jack pleas his younger brother who still has lightening radiating throughout his body. karisa’s attention turns to where demetri fell, attention turning to both winnie and sienna with narrowed eyes. there’s an apology written somewhere in karisa’s eyes but demetri was her brother first. it was her job to protect him and ares knew better  ⸺ he knew how dangerous he was at full potential and yet, here they stood. the inner turmoil evident in her expression. she knows it isn’t ares but it is and it’s still hurting her. karisa loved winona. she loved sienna and somewhere  ⸺ some part of her loved ellis too. which is why she moves without warning, she knew how much it would hurt them to see ares in pain but, what choice did she have left? her crows swarm around her feet first, circling her body until there’s nothing left of her, shield falling as soon as she leaves it. “enough!” karisa shouted, hands in both ares and hades’ direction to use her shadows to push them from one another. her left hand begins to draw the same power her father had stolen from her and the other raises in ares direction  ⸺ she knows ares wouldn’t stop until hades head was at his feet for what he had done to winnie but she couldn’t afford ares becoming his father. so, she looks him in pale hues with tears pouring out of her eyes. for the pain she’s about to put him in, the pain that demetri was now in, for winnie  ⸺ for everything she hadn’t cried before. “karisa!” ares shouted, moving forward to strike her and karisa curls her fingers, shadows snaking their way around his legs, invading his senses as he let’s out a loud gasp. 

   drawing power from one god and restraining the other was no easy task, it’s draining and it’s evident the way her boots are beginning to dig up the earth. but, in order to defeat hades - if they could just fight him at a weakened state, things would be alright, wouldn’t they? “ares! stop fighting back!” karisa cried out, falling onto one knee as ares pushes through this power of hers, one hand moving to launch karisa into the opposite direction, sending the strawberry blonde flying through the air as he tackles hades and goes tumbling into the ground with him.

             “you better,” the taller male grumbled, hands moving to hover over hers, she is right  ⸺ this could rage on for days but he wouldn’t rest. how could he? when the lives of the people he’s grown to care the most about are fighting against a god? “i’ll try but i can’t promise you anything,” he answered truthfully, emerald hues roaming her features, taking them in for what they were, the underlying fear that this could be the last time still very present in his mind. “try to remember that i’m an old man who can and will suffer a heart attack if any of you ⸺  you especially come back with any grave injuries.” it’s meant to be a tease but there’s some honesty hidden in there somewhere. 

    “despite my earlier comment i am truly happy for you and that you have found, happiness with eden.” karisa informs her brother, the two siblings watching the interaction between benji and eden as jack let’s a small smile reveal itself across bearded features. “i hope one day you can experience the same happiness. you deserve it,” is all her brother offers her as she ironically turns in ellis direction, brows furrowing as she wonders if ellis shared the same doubts she had. they were both warriors, with their own political affairs and duties, surely, if anyone were to understand her doubts it would be him. “ah, ellis, that’s  ⸺ he suits you sister, the two of you seem to be one in the same, despite the rivalry the two of you have goin⸺” a hand quickly covers jack’s mouth, causing jack to swat immediately, surely the commotion between the two warrants the attention of the others. “another word and you will not be joining us on the battlefield.” benji turns his attention from whatever debate karisa and jack were currently having to the petite femme who is trying to calm ease his worries. “it isn’t just sienna  ⸺ it’s all of you. so whatever happens, if you need to be the voice of reason, be it. i can’t lose any of you  ⸺ especially you or sienna.” 

    karisa and hades initial clash sends a shockwave throughout the battlefield and as quick as the two were separated  ⸺ their at each other again, iron meeting steel as hades doesn’t give karisa the room to recover if she needed it. the two are a blur, dancing around one another, dodging each hit and blades nicking at the exposed skin in one another’s armor  ⸺  if ares were able to, he would’ve watched the fight between his uncle and cousin. it was always fascinating to him how his uncles had fought - hades was swift and lethal while some of his other uncles were slower but hit harder. but now wasn’t the time to bask in the battle happening between the two. it was no surprise that ares would thrive  ⸺ this was his element, war hammer dancing in between his fingertips as the other hand welcomes the new wave of enemies. with each coming hit more deadlier than the last, the blonde turns to seek out winona in the crowd, eyes narrowing at the incoming sound of heavy and obnoxiously loud thudding. 

   karisa was right. the same blood that coursed through her and demetri’s veins, coursed through his. that same raw power that he could draw from being here, in the underworld, was very much present in his movement. swift in his movement, the god finds himself at a newfound level of strength, quickly weaving through the ranks of men as if they were merely bowling pins in his path. all while demetri finds his spot next to eden, “father’s released his hounds, it’s only a matter of time before they come to aid him in battle,” the younger god informs the brunette, watching as his own personal hound tore at the nearing men with no issues. “but i see you fair well sister, i think it is you who has to save me,” demetri teases, ears perched as he tries to search for the direction the hounds were coming from. pale hues searching the very chaotic battlefield for any one of his siblings for what comes next and when he doesn’t, the god takes matters into his own hands. thick, scorched fingers wrap around karisa’s neck, dark, cerulean hues narrowing in her direction. “foolish girl, did you really think you could hide from the man who taught you how to move within these very shadows?” hades asked  ⸺ giving no room for his daughter to answer seeing as he quickly slams her into the ground, armor cracking beneath her as he moves at an exceptional speed to drag his eldest child against the earth beneath them. the enraged god doesn’t stop until he flings karisa into a nearby rock. “tell me, goddess of chaos, how does it feel to be rendered weak?” her father taunted, squatting Infront of her as karisa let’s out a soft groan of pain. 

     “ask yourself that question, father.” karisa says through gritted teeth, planting her hands into the soil underneath them to give her balance as she lifts herself off the ground, using the heels of both of her armor cladded boots to drive them into her father’s chest  ⸺ the impact sends the god flying back as her attention comes to a screaming demteri  ⸺ an alert that the hounds were beginning their attacks. “ares!” karisa shouted for her cousin who understood completely what the goddess wanted. the god of war raises one hand in the air, palm extended to the sky as karisa uses whatever strength she could muster to launch her weapon for him to catch. all while demetri pulls eden to his chest, using his free palm to vault over the hound’s snapping jaws and quickly pushing eden behind him. was eden capable of taking care of herself during battle? probably. did demetri care? no. “aim for the center of it’s snout when it comes back around!” demetri shouted to eden as jack quickly makes a break towards the pair. 

    the moment ares feels karisa’s javelin in the palm of his calloused hand ( despite the excruciating pain it brings since it’s no longer in it’s owners hands ) , ares had stolen sienna’s trick, lighting the weapon up and taking a few large swiping motions to eliminate the growing crowd of hounds. the woman in question uses the very hounds that now lied deceased as a makeshift trampoline to vault herself in the air, giving her the necessary boost to move over the ranks as she lands in front of her blonde cousin, eyes roaming the battlefield as she makes notes of where her family stood. “whatever it is that you’re going to do, do it now! we can only hold these damned beasts for so long!” ares shouted to karisa as once emerald hues fade into a haunting black, extending her arms opposite of her body, fingers curling inward as there’s a dark mist that floods the field  ⸺ demetri keeps a hand over eden, eyes drifting to the smoke that surrounds their legs, watching as it crawls up the soldier’s legs and floods their senses. all while jack takes his place besides his older sister, squatting so that his hands could rest against the earth, aiming to close the cracks the hounds seem to come from. karisa wouldn’t reach all of the soldiers of course  ⸺ but, it would be enough to turn tides to their favor while jack would return the hounds back into the core of the underworld. and it worked  ⸺  ares was sure it would have worked but hades, would always be one step ahead of them. 

   hades moves quicker than ares could anticipate. there’s a quick slash across ares armor, cracking it and causing ares’ hands to quickly come to try to arm himself but again, how could he move as fast as hades? “to be my brother’s son, you have disappointed me ares, i expected you to be more attentive to your surroundings.” the god taunted in the air, driving his sword into his nephew’s calf to bring him to his knees, and then pushing it through the center of his back, pulling it out quickly as jack turns to the commotion behind them. it wasn’t enough to kill the god but it would bring him out of commotion for a few minutes, blood soon pooling from his lips as ares struggles to get onto all fours. the next few moments move in slow motion - she couldn’t see her father coming but she could her him. 

     “you denied my offer,” hades whispered into his son’s ear, driving his hand into jack’s chest as karisa turns with wide eyes, letting out an ear splitting shout, one that brings the underworld to a standstill. “⸺little crow, should we tell your brother what happens when i don’t get what it is that i want?” hades taunted again, fingers curling against the beating organ as demetri quickly tightens his grip on eden and karisa moves forward to reach jack. “another step and i will rip his heart from his chest.” she knows he means it, she watches the blood pour from jack’s mouth quickly, arms falling limp by his side as jack’s body tries to begin it’s healing process and karisa feels a newfound anger course through her veins. “well, karisa, i will extend the offer to demetri instead. demetri.” hades begins as demetri tenses up  ⸺ something he’s sure eden could feel. the fear practically radating off of the young god. “join me and i will not rip kastos’ heart from his chest and kill every single one of you for trying to overthrow me.” hades offers it as if it’s something simple and karisa shakes her head quickly, “take me instead, if it’s power you seek, take me instead, leave my brothers out of it.” a statement that jack disagreed with but he has no room to plea with karisa. demetri knew he promised karisa he wouldn’t play hero but he couldn’t sit and let jack and karisa sacrifice themselves, so he gives eden a quick, stay here gesture and uses his ravens to move forward. karisa extends an arm out, slamming it into demetri’s armor cladded chest to stop him in his tracks, quickly shoving him behind her. “very well.” hades shrugs his shoulder, pulling his hand from jack’s chest and the moment he does, jack is falling onto his knees  ⸺ barely concious as hades raises his hand to draw from demetri’s power (only for karisa to nearly send her poor younger brother flying backwards from how hard she shoves him from harms direction, which, only irritiates her father more) so he places one hand in karisa’s direction and another in jack’s, eerily familiar black mist leaving the center of their chests as hades begins to draw (painfully, of course  ⸺ as if their desperate cries of agony weren’t evident that this process was painful) the underworld’s power from the two as demetri watches in absolute horror. 

                           ♡  ​

at first winnie shook her head because she wasn’t sure how to even say it but she knew.. if anyone, she could trust karisa with anything. “no!” she blurted at the mention of getting ares and sniffling, using her sleeve to try and wipe away some of her distress. “no, don’t get him i can’t..” she tried to breath a bit slower and get some control back but it was almost alarming to see her like this. winnie was the calm one, the soother of storms… but she was having her own storm right now. “sort of– something sort of happened he just, doesn’t know about it and i d-.. ‘risa i don’t know how i’m meant to talk to him about this.” she kept trying, kept rubbing at her face but it wasn’t helping that much. winnie showed her the test she’d had, the positive lines. “i’m pregnant and i didn’t know– i didn’t think i just.. i forgot all about it you know? i don’t know what i’m meant to do, i haven’t even told poseidon about us yet and he’s not going to be happy and what if..” there it was, the was she stammered on the word, how it seemed to get stuck in her throat, the thought that was really bothering her becoming verbal. “what if ares isn’t happy.” winnie knew that touch wasn’t particularly easy for her, it’s why she didn’t lean in or try to touch her hand over hers and just let her thumbs move across the stained cheeks. “god i feel sick with it a--and then i.. i’ve just really messed up, what if he thinks i’ve just messed everything up? poseidon, ‘risa he’s going to say so much and i don’t know what he’ll do, i know how he is..” her head ever so slightly leaned into her head but it was how scared her infamous pout looked right now, but winnie suddenly took a stop back, hand moving to her mouth and when she turned she was on her knees, vomiting down the toilet again. when she could speak, winnie couldn’t stop trying to apologise.

                             ♡  ​

     benji nearly, nearly let’s out a sigh of relief when his fingers come in contact with sienna’s. eyes fluttering shut for a moment as he pulls her in for a loving kiss. hands that were once interlaced - now come to rest against her cheeks, caring very little on who saw. “you better come back to me. to our family.” he added, forehead coming to rest against hers for a moment before pulling away. “i know ⸺ that i can’t, tell you what to do in situations like these but, please,” there’s a hint of exhaustion in his voice, it had become evident in the days leading up to this one that he’s lost sleep fretting over this very moment. “..promise me you will do whatever  ⸺ whatever it takes to make sure you come back home.” with emotion riddled in green hues, benji quickly clears his throat, turning his attention to the group before turning back to sienna. “..all of you. as chaotic as we all are, i wouldn’t  ⸺ i don’t want to think of what it would be like without you, any of you, so.. please.” the raven haired male trails off, unable to really stomach the thought of what could happen.

    “you do actually, you’ll be very distracting.” he teased, lips curving into a smile at his new nickname. “and i promise the same.” jack reassured, pressing a kiss against the hand he pulls from his hair, resting it against bearded cheek. the god has no problems basking in the moment that the two were having and he does it even more when she begins rambling about her armor. as if he couldn’t haven fallen in love with her anymore than he already had. “that’s good, it’ll be easy for you to move around in your armor.” jack begins to tell her, attention moving to karisa as he watches the exchange unfold in front of him. “you look as if you could take on an entire army.” karisa teased but there’s some truth underlying in her words as jack stands there in nothing short but pure awe. “i’m pretty sure the angels are coming down, singing and the sky is opening up, heaven’s light is shining down on your right now,” he complimented with a series of laughter as karisa rolled her eyes, pushing her brother’s armor cladded shoulder with a laugh. “leave the dramatics for demetri please,” karisa whined as jack shrugs his shoulders, turning back to eden. “look at her, she’s breathtaking, carved by the gods themselves, how am i meant to focus in battle?” jack asked, half serious as he rests an arm around eden’s shoulder, pulling her in for a kiss as karisa raises her brows slowly. “well, eden, as much as i love the both of you, i ⸺ rather not see the two of you do that.”

     leave it to winona to tame the beast. steel hues roam winona’s features for a moment before the sharp inhale and audible exhale, lips pursed in disapproval. “using my own words against me?” he asked with a huff, fingers drumming against her armor as he shakes his head for a moment. “i hate waiting, the more time passes, the weaker our strategies become,” he whispered, muscles in his jaw tightening before continuing his small rant. “i’m aware of the promise, i’m aware of how strong the lot of us are when we fight together ⸺ but my uncle isn’t some rebel, he is no king, no ordinary man, he’s a god. one of the big three, a deity of the twelve, we’re going up against something we have never faced before ⸺ and we choose to sit here like bait.” 

    karisa turns her attention to ellis for a moment, eyes roaming his newly improved armor as she let’s out what could be mistaken as a small chuckle. “if it isn’t the ebony armored warrior.” she retorted, adjusting her posture as she listens to his offer, considering his words as she maps out the many possibilities in her mind  ⸺ perks of being a commander, wasn’t it? being able to see the possibilities before the battle had even begun. a gift that was given to her through practice, really. “hades moves quickly, we should aim for his legs first, like you had done when he came into jack’s shop,” karisa offered, attention on ellis for a moment as jack clears his throat, brows furrowed. “and we don’t have just his army to worry about, we have the hounds to, don’t we?” jack asked as karisa bites the inside of her cheek. “if father releases the hounds, demetri and i can bring them back under, so as long as we’re provided the room to do so. the hounds aren’t are problem.” the possibility of hades pitting the siblings against one another was the problem.  demetri takes the necessary steps forward to stand next to ellis. “what else would i do? miss the opportunity to join the infamous band of warriors?” demetri asked, standing shoulder to shoulder with the olympian as his eyes flutter shut for a moment. almost as if ellis had jinxed the whole thing. it’s an odd thing  ⸺ the uneasy feeling in the god’s chest as he let’s out a small gasp, for demetri, hades has just spotted the raven and approached it, sword pointed in it’s direction as a warning and the poor boy frets for his raven’s life.

    "demetri? what is it?” benji asked, brows raised in the younger male’s direction as demetri shakes his head, “he knows we’re coming.” is all he responds, brows furrowed as he continues to watch through his raven’s eyes. “if we are to strike, it is now, we meet him at the grounds close to the royal palace ⸺ where the first rebellion took place, if things are to go weary i can raise the skeletal remains underneath the ground to aid us.” he explained as karisa takes in a sharp breath, eyes falling to her ivory armor as she contemplates her next move. “no sacrificial plays, eight of us are leaving to the underworld and eight of us will come back, do you understand?” karisa asked, turning to face her makeshift family with jaw set, demeanor completely changing. benji takes note that the usual sarcastic karisa was now long gone  ⸺ whatever this version of karisa was, wasn’t the one he was used to and it was fascinating to him how quickly she could fall into her commander role. 

     he wears a dumbfounded expression for a moment, brows furrowed at sienna’s words as he shakes his head. “i’m okay with as long as you are okay with it.” benji informs her with the best reassuring smile he could offer, expression quickly softening at the new topic. “if it were up to eden, it would probably be something that honors our grandmother.” benji considered, head canting for a moment as he really let’s sienna’s comment settles. “may i ask why you’re so curious on how good i am with smaller kids?” the male asked, a laugh quickly following as butterflies seem to wreak havoc in the pits of his stomach at the possibility of what sienna truly means. “eden is kind. she’s ⸺ i don’t know if i’ve ever voiced this to her but, if it weren’t for her or grandma millie i don’t think i could  ⸺ or that i would have been able to keep the boys and raise my siblings,” the somber thoughts soon vanish the moment the topic shifts to karisa and ellis and he nearly bursts out into laughter. “do you think that they’ve always had feelings for one another  ⸺ if that’s what they have now? or do you think they just hate each other?” he knows very well that the two have a very ... friendly rivalry going on with one another but he doesn’t think they hate one another. at least he hopes. the next few moments feel like they move in slow motion, considering her words with eyes following this jagged scar she speaks of. lips curving into a deep set frown. attention moving to where her hand is on his wrist with a sigh. “sienna.” her name leaves his lips barely above a whisper, scared to disturb the peacefulness in between the two in his bathroom, emerald hues meeting her darker ones. “we can spend the entire night going over every single one of our scars and i promise you i will never look at you any different.” he reassured, hues roaming her expression. “i will still love every bit of you, scars or no scars, goddess or not.“ he begins his explanation, careful with his movement, he uses the fingers that were wrapped around his wrist and places them on his shoulder. closing the remaining distance between the two as he presses his lips against her forehead first before leaning down to steal a kiss. “let me run a bath, i can clean all this up tomorrow, i want you to get the rest you need so you can heal properly, if you aren’t  ⸺ comfortable enough with me seeing you like this then i can go, i have no problem with it. all i care for is that you’re taken care of and you’re happy.” benji continued, pressing his forehead against hers for a moment. 

    ares would respect winnie’s wishes but it didn’t mean he liked it. the thought of winnie having to face poseidon’s possible wrath alone was something he didn’t want her to go through. “only if you swear to me that you will come to me if something arises so that i can be your side to help you face it.” the blonde doesn’t open his eyes, though he’s somewhere in a state of consciousness and slumber, the god simply pulls winnie closer, a kiss pressed against his hair as he rests his chin against it. “one day, we will have it, if it’s something you want.” his words are a bit slurred when he says it, but, he means it. “a family, a home, here or in olympus, or in poseidon’s realm, maybe, maybe a dog  ⸺  not a hound, divines i’m tired of the hounds.” his last few words are a mumble, snuggling closer as he thinks about his next words closer. “karisa will be to busy with trying to deal with ellis  ⸺ eden and jack will be with the child and my sister and benji will probably never leave their room, so, i suppose that means i have you all to myself, doesn’t it?” ares asked inwardly, nose scrunching like it usually does when he’s fighting his sleep. “would it be selfish of me to ask you to stay here? for a few days? avoid our responsibilities in our respective realms?”

    “cinderella,” jack repeated, making a note to bring it up later, the god continues with the task at hand, letting out a breathless chuckle at eden’s statement about the blanket. “i suppose your grandmother isn’t psychic is she? i’m sure she would fit right in with the lot of us.” jack teased, reaching behind iris to turn the sink off. “am i? here i thought we were going to have to compete on who the favorite parent was, but obviously, it’ll be me.” another tease as he pulls iris from the sink and reaches for the towel, wrapping her in it as quickly as he can and turning to eden again. “do you want to get her dress? that way i can tend to my wounds, get cleaned up and see if this healer of ours can make sure iris is okay?” jack asked, already handing iris off to eden. 

     with a very heavy sigh, karisa accepts ellis words for now and continues dwelling in her own thoughts as she tunes out the conversation between ellis and the women in the room. a means to an end: so that was it wasn’t it? her father was dead  ⸺  persephone would reign and they could live in peace for however long they could before the new threat came storming along. “hm?” karisa asked, attention moving back towards him as she looks down at her chest. “i’m not sure ⸺ besides the obvious, i have this, feeling, i can’t seem to shake. but the more i think about it the more i realize it’s not mine.” and for the first time that night, she laughs, a genuine one, unlady like as her father would once tease. “of all the things you could be displeased with it’s tea?” karisa asked in disbelief, shaking her head as she squeezes his hand once more. “believe it or not, i’m … pleased to see that you aren’t to hurt.” the goddess tells him, taking in a breath as she tries to choose her words carefully. “if i’m being honest, i wouldn’t forgive myself if something were to happen to you because of my siblings and i’s quarrels with our father.” she tells him, pushing herself off the bed with a small groan, fingers quickly moving to undo the straps of her armor that feels restricting. “my father isn’t ⸺ wasn’t always this way, he would take me to olympus to watch the sunsets whenever i asked.” the strawberry informs him, undoing the straps of her chest piece to reveal the torn and soaked cloth underneath it. “he would call me his little crow because well,” there’s a small laugh, an inward one as she basks in the memory, “⸺he found me in the garden’s one day, trying to nurse a crow back to health, it stayed with me and we became best friends.” at this point, she’s rambling, turning to face ellis with tears brimming the corner of her once bright hues. “and then, he wasn’t, i couldn’t ⸺ i still can’t figure out what changed.”

she knew when she was sick yesterday that something was off but.. three days in a row of this woozy feeling that only felt like it lasted the first half of the day? she didn’t realise she’d missed her time of the month but for olympus’ sake, they’d had more than enough on their plate battling and taking down hades, taking down a literal god.. that’d certainly been the last thing on her mind. it’d come to her mind yesterday, became all she could focus and hyper fixate on.. and she knew it was a case of just needing to know the answer and put the thought to rest. only it wasn’t put to rest because she felt panic rising at the pregnancy test she stared down at. positive, very clearly positive and it wasn’t like it was one of the things.. it was three, because one could be a mistake, maybe two was a far fetched coincidence but.. three? not a mistake. she was really pregnant and it was the god of wars child, of course it was his, there was nobody else that winnie hd ever loved like she loved him. 

it all just started to come down on her shoulders and quickly, a pressure that rose. she hadn’t told ares she even suspected this, hadn’t faced poseidon in the fact she was with ares yet.. she kept saying she would and just.. hadn’t found the bravery yet. tears quickly started to sting at her eyes and this dreaded feeling washed over her. how was she meant to tell him? after everything that’d happened in that damn battle? how? how could she tell anyone?  “c’mon, c’mon winona you’re better than crying in a bathroom, you’re better than crying in a bathroom.” she repeated at herself when she felt herself starting to tremble and the tears start to spill down her cheeks. 

winnie heard the familiar flapping of crows behind her, knew the presence instantly and she found that when she turned after a few seconds she’d held her nose and  tried to stop the onslaught of tears that fell, her hand moving to anxiously rub at her neck and try and do something with the fact she was shaking, try and hide it. winnie watched her eyes find the other tests around the sink and the one in her free hand. “’risa.” winnie squeaked in a tone that wasn’t her usual but it’s what she came out with next that hurt because her voice cracked. “i don’t know what to do.” winnie never, heavens… she never let anyone see her cry. in all the times she had pushed and exhausted herself, all the times poseidon tested her, she would never cry.. there was only one person that’d seen it and that was ares but even then, it wasn’t like this. she was vulnerable, for the first time she was showing someone that knew her so well.. that she was vulnerable. @godsweep​ !

                              ♡  ​

       karisa knew that this somberness that had flooded her senses weren’t her own. despite the battle that had taken place and the loss of her father  ⸺ finding out her mother was very much alive and well and... well, whatever the hell was going on between her and ellis, this worry, this overwhelming sense of panic wasn’t her own. so it only meant that it was winona and the strawberry blonde couldn’t have moved any faster. to hell with the underworld and it’s politics  ⸺ winnie needed her. her friend. her sister. the goddess barely has time to remove her royal garbs - frantic hues searching winnie’s distressed state. “winnie?” karisa asked, brows knitting together in confusion as she tries to figure out what could be wrong. she wasn’t hurt  ⸺  not physically at least, so that relieves some of the stress off of karisa’s chest. “what is it? what’s happened? is it poseidon?” karisa asked again, taking a step closer to her friend. if she had faced her father in his most enraged state and killed him, she’s sure she could take on poseidon if needed. if it were for winnie she would go to the end of each realm to ease the pain she was in. “⸺has something happened between you and ares?” she continued asking, closing the distance between the two until karisa’s hesitant hands reach out to wipe winnie’s freefalling tears. “whatever it is that has you in this state i can assure you we can face it together, i’m here for you. whatever it is, i am by your side.” the goddess informed the other, searching her hues, pads of her thumb rubbing reassuring circles against her friend’s tearstained cheeks. “tell me what troubles you so i can fix it. i ⸺ i can’t bare to see you like this winnie. shall i fetch ares?” 

     stronger arms come to fold across broad chest, leaning against the wall as he watches the exchanges happening in their kitchen. if you were to tell him just a few months prior that he would have actual deities in his childhood home he would have laughed. he would laugh hysterically if you told him that he would find love in one and his closest friends with them as well. he hasn’t known the lot for long but this was his family. just as much as the warrens were his family. and it’s evident in his eyes that he’s worried for sienna and his newfound family. “this isn’t their first battle,” demeter whispered to the raven haired male, hand coming to rest on his shoulder as the male places his own on top of it. “but it’s jack’s isn’t it? how are you not, worried that something is going to go wrong? or that one of them won’t come back?” benji asked, turning his attention to the older goddess who let’s out a sigh. “i fear for them everyday.” demeter confesses, turning her body to face him and to avoid the others from eavesdropping. “and it’s up to the fates to decide when our last day is but, they protect one another, where one falters, the other picks up and it’s that, desire that urge to ensure the other’s survival that brings me comfort. if it’s sienna you’re worried for ⸺ ellis and ares would never let anything happen to her, not if they can prevent it. and sienna is very lethal in her nature, she will ensure that nothing happens to the others either, as they all will. the battle against hades will be hard and they will get hurt but ⸺ i know they’ll come back. to you. to us.” she reassured, offering that familiar smile that jack does and benji gives her a slow nod, posture easing as demeter motions for him to join sienna and the others.

    jack continues to adjust the straps in his girlfriend’s armor, steel hues laced with concentration as he’s well aware of how important it is to ensure that it’s placed right. “and here i thought you couldn’t get anymore beautiful.” a compliment said under his breath as he stands up, looking over his work, fingers trailing the insignia’s and letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding to begin with. “i love you eden o’connor, always have and always will.” jack tells the brunette, one hand coming to rest at the back of her neck, eyes boring into hers for a few moments. “and although i have complete faith in you and that you can take care of yourself, do not throw yourself into the heat of battle if something happens to one of us,” there’s a hidden plea somewhere in there. “⸺if it’s one thing i have learned you can’t let your emotions cloud your judgement. do you understand me? i will never be able to live with myself if i let something happen to you, so please, for my peace of mind, fight with your brain and not your heart. please.” it might have sounded harsh  ⸺ but he couldn’t risk losing eden. not when she’s become half of his soul. “how does the armor fit? it isn’t to heavy is it?” jack asked, eyeing it onver once more. “may i?” came karisa’s voice from behind the couple causing jack to turn his attention to his older sister, brows raised. “i have a gift, i would have given it to you sooner but, traveling from realm to realm has been a bit exhausting.” karisa explained, motioning for jack to move. “jack informed me of your training and how he would give you one of his swords for battle, so, i thought it would be fitting as it’s your first battle that you have your own, made for you.” karisa continued, holding said blade in hand in eden’s direction, “i made it for you ⸺ hopefully it’s a bit lighter than my brother’s blades,” for some, odd reason, the gesture causes jack’s emotions are evident in his eyes. something about the exchange brings him a newfound joy. “now you’re one of us, with your own armor and blade, you fit right in.” 

    “what are we waiting for? hades to come bring his quarrels here?” ares asked, larger hands coming to rest against winona’s arms, as he stood behind her. “patient nephew, we’re waiting for demetri to give us word that we can go.” demeter tells the anxious god causing ares to only scoff. of course, battles where the god of war thrived in, it was his home. the adrenaline  ⸺ the sound of metal meeting metal but this, this one, made him nervous. this was his uncle. a man he once looked up to, this was a god, these weren’t rebels or outsiders trying to overthrow a king, his family’s wellbeing was at stake. “and i suppose we’re meant to negotiate a truce with the mad god and if that doesn’t work we place him an eternal slumber? wait for him to wreak havoc in our lives until the end of time?” his irritation and sarcasm is meant to mask his underlying fear.

    “we’re putting a means to an end, ares.” karisa corrected, arms folded behind her back as they usually were, ivory armor shining underneath benji’s kitchen lights. “whether it be a truce, a slumber or my father’s death, we will do whatever it takes to ensure that the realms can coexist with one another in peace, without the threat of either of them being invaded by hades and his armies.” she continued to explain, eyes narrowed in the god’s direction. “we wait for demetri’s word and we will depart for the underworld, until then, we enjoy the few moment’s of peace while we have them.” irritation laced in her words, the goddess takes in a breath, attention turning back to the group. “the underworld is his home. it’s where he thrives the most and he will draw every bit of power from every corner of the realm in order to stop us. which means we can no longer show mercy,” the weight of what their about to face finally begins to hit jack  ⸺  his hand soon finding comfort in eden’s. “but it is your realm too jack, so when the time comes ⸺ because it will, you cannot be afraid to show hades what you’re capable of. you might hate him for who he is but there’s no doubt that your power runs in his veins as much as it does mine and demetri’s.” 

    and in true, demetri fashion, the youngest god is known for his dramatic entrances. a small vortex-esque shape of ravens begin to form a few inches away from ellis, ravens that soon take form of demetri. in ebony plated armor, the god rests his war axe behind his neck, hand coming to rest on the hound’s head that is besides him. “and if any of you are as good as the ballads and stories claim you to be then we will have no problems facing my father, will we?” the god asked, head canting in amusement as ares scoffed once again. “and you’ve come with a message?” ares asked, trying to focus at the matter at hands as demetri rolls his shoulders. “i have ravens positioned all over the underworld as we speak, the moment hades moves, i will know and we will strike. but until then, i suppose you can’t be a brute and go killing all of our enemies can you?” another jab as karisa gives her brother a warning look, “where is father now?” karisa asked as demetri places his war axe to rest against his leg. demetri has his hound trained well enough to only move when needed so, demetri has no issues focusing his attention elsewhere. with his sister’s question, hands are extended parallel to him, dark blue hues soon glossing over to what resembles a raven. “he’s in the throne room your highness, he’s giving order to some of your lieutenants to stand guard, ares would you like to know what color my father’s wearing so you can spot him better in battle?” ignoring the jab karisa turns towards ellis ⸺ despite their ongoing feud for what seems like eons, karisa didn’t trust anyone in battle like she did him and if it were anyone that could help aid the battle in their favors, it was him.  “what should we do?” 

     “then, let’s get you cleaned up first. everything else can come after.” benji tells sienna, looking down at her with a soft expression as he makes his way to his bathroom. he doesn’t say anything at first, contemplating on what the best way to help sienna undress without inflicting further harm to injury. “i’m going to put you down, put all of your weight against me while i help take your armor off, okay?” benji offered, waiting for her to ready herself as he helps her stand on her own. fingers quickly moving to undo the straps of her battlefield attire, “i haven’t properly met the kid, but i’m sure she’ll melt my heart the moment we make eye contact. i have a soft spot for kids, as you probably can see.” benji laughed, brows furrowing in concentration. “as for ellis and karisa, not to sound like every parent ever but usually, boys bully the girls they like, so i think this is the best prime example of that.” not that he believes in that, he’s only joking about it but  ⸺ if ellis and karisa, were, well whatever was happening, he hoped that the two could find happiness with one another like they all had. like he and sienna had. undoing the last few straps, his attention moves back to sienna, lips curving into a small smile. “would you like a warm bath or a cold one, your highness?” benji asked, teasing smile as he awaits her answer. “the kids are at roman’s for the weekend, so, if you would like to spend the weekend in bed, we can. whatever it is that makes you feel better  ⸺ comfortable, we can do that. i know you all might have to leave soon to report or do whatever it is you do after battles but your wellbeing is very well connected with mine. i can’t  ⸺ be at peace unless you are, so, after this bath, you’re going to lay your ass in that bed and not move until it’s time, alright?” 

    "she has no need to forgive you because there is nothing for you to be apologetic for. karisa is well aware of how desperate you are to be by her side and i can only assume it is the same for her.” ares informed his girlfriend, fingers moving through her hair. the god of war doesn’t answer at first, simply just lies by her side and let’s his free hand wrap around hers. he knows it’s no use trying to argue with her  ⸺ and at this point, it’s more for her sake than his. there’s a low hum that comes from the depths of his chest, bringing her healing hand to his lips as he pulls her into his chest. stronger arms coming to wrap themselves around winnie as he pulls the comforter over the two, “the battle is over.” is where he begins, with a sigh as he presses a kiss against her hair. “now we focus on resting and healing in the days to come, be there for one another and help karisa, jack and demetri overcome their father’s death, we make sure the others are handling it well.” ares continues, “and the child that eden saved in the underworld, we treat her like she’s family and look out for her and as for us, we⸺..” trailing off for a moment the blonde god takes in a rather sharp breath. “it’s entirely up to you, you will always have me, i will always be yours, i loved you before i knew what love was and i can no longer imagine a future that doesn’t have you in it. and if that is to remain so, we can continue in private or..” trailing off yet again he shakes his head, relaxing in the embrace as he feels the fatigue getting to him. “we’re just fine. we can worry about everything else tomorrow, right now, i would very much like to lie here in bed with the woman i love and pretend that we haven’t just aided my cousins in killing my uncle.” 

      jack nods slowly, taking her words into consideration as he keeps his attention on their daughter. “i know my love, i know.” words accompanied with the best smile he could muster, the god continues moving the finger that iris has a near death grip on as he let’s out a huff of air  ⸺ that is somewhat of a laugh as he shakes his head. “she might have everyone wrapped around around her finger, like she has me. isn’t that right, princess?” jack cooed, leaning downward to press a kiss against iris’ forehead as his attention moves to eden again. leaning in to steal another kiss, “what will help⸺” he trails off for a moment, face contorting in pain for a moment as he just pushes the pain down again. “⸺is if we sleep for the next week, if that’s okay with you, raincheck on the walk, the armor is starting to weigh on me.” it isn’t the armor, but, a white lie couldn’t hurt? could it? “i’ll start getting her cleaned up, you get the clothes and then we’re going to bed.” jack doesn’t really take no for answer, moving towards the bathroom and sets iris down on the counter ( one large hand holds in her in place while the other runs the water in the sink ) , a quiet hum as he tries to get things going. “i’m sorry for the way fate has brought you into our lives,” his apology begins, settling her inside the sink as he crouches down to get at eye level with her, washcloth in hand as he begins to wipe the remnants of battle off of iris’ skin. “⸺there will never be a day that’ll pass that you won’t know how loved you are and one day, i will take you back, but for now, i’ll show you every corner of this realm and make sure you bask in the suns rays, grow and flourish,” he continues his rambles, pausing for a moment as he just locks eyes with the infant. head canting to follow her head movements, offering a soft smile. “iris o’connor,” the name rolls off easily off his tongue, almost like it’s meant to be. “⸺i promise i will keep you safe. and if the time where ever to come, i will put you and eden first, always.” as if iris could really understand the severity of his words. “and i’m certain the others will do the same, petal.”

      she ponders it for a moment, plumped lips forming a pout as she begins to relive the battle all over again. which is evident in her once again, clouded eyes. but those emerald hues that hold a storm behind them finally meet with ellis’ darker ones one more, clearly in her most vulnerable state when she says the following: “only monsters kill monsters, isn’t that what we were taught? does that make me a monster as well? or the lesser of two evils?” karisa asked, not really expecting an answer, it’s just her voice her deepest thoughts aloud. but the goddess stays put, finding it relieving that it’s becoming easier to breathe again. though the goddess grip isn’t as firm as it was before, she refuses to let go of ellis’ hand ⸺ for whatever odd reason, turning to the healer awaiting some form of answer. “the others fair well, sienna is awake and winnie will soon follow.” althaia explained as karisa’s head bows in relief, brows furrowing for a moment. “and what of my brother? has his wounds been tended to?” worry evident in her voice as althaia let’s out a small huff of air. “he will have his wounds tended to as well and i will relay the message you’re worried for him,” with their questions answered, althaia turns on her heel to leave, lips pursed. surely, there would be a more appropriate time to inform her daughter of who she truly was but  ⸺ tonight, wasn’t that time. “we will prepare teas and soups for you all, it’ll help bring your minds to ease and encourage your body to continue healing, but the two of you need to rest above all.” demeter added, pointing a finger at ellis. “no royal duties, tonight, you are soldiers who are recovering from battle, so rest.” and like that, the two older woman are gone as quick as they came and karisa feels the weight of the worlds on her shoulders again. the hand that wasn’t occupied with his comes to rest against her chest, she couldn’t place if these new oncoming emotions belonged to her or winnie. “how do you feel now?”

     as expected, sienna was in no state to carry herself the way she usually does. it’s almost ironic how different winona, karisa and sienna were yet, so alike. benji was willing to bet his entire life that karisa and winnie shared the same sentiment sienna does, the urge to jump into action to help one another even if they, themselves are falling apart. the moment she waivers, muscular arms are reaching down to scoop her into his arms ⸺ bridal style if you will and he nearly laughed. “angel, winnie is fine as is your brother, their up in the guest room together resting,” benji starts, making his way to his bedroom with sienna in arms. “and eden is with jack and the uh, kid she brought back from your field trip downstairs?” benji added, brows furrowing together for a moment as he shakes his head and continues up the steps, careful not to cause to much motion to irritate injury. “and... believe it or not,” his voice comes to a whisper, like the two are children on the playground exchanging secrets, it’s meant to make her laugh, bring her joy in the somber matters at hand. “ellis is alright, actually i think he’s more than alright.” the tease in his voice is evident as he crouches slightly to reach the door knob and enters the room, heel of his shoe closing the door behind them. “he’s with karisa now, door closed, so their either tearing each other apart or, maybe, their setting their differences aside. i guess we’ll see in the morning,” he mused, looking down to the brunette with a soft expression. “tell me, sostarte, what is it that i can do to help you feel better? hm?”

    his own hand comes to rest on top of hers, thicker fingers wrapping around her smaller ones, giving them a gentle reassuring squeeze. a small gesture to reassure her that he was fine  ⸺ majority of that stems from her being awake now. “my beloved,” bringing their intertwined fingertips to pink lips, he presses tender kisses against her fingertips and then against her knuckles. “you and karisa share the same pain do you not? how good will you do our karisa if you’re pacing around for her? rest, be at ease with me, here with me and let your peace aide my cousin to find her own.” it sounds harsh but, winona was his priority and he knew karisa well enough that if it’s comfort she seeks, she would get it on her own terms. there was no need to push his poor cousin out of her comfort zone at a time like this. “she’s fine, as are the others, we’ve all been seen by althaia, we’re healing and we’re alright. now come,” his voice grows lower and lower the more he goes on, caring very little of the armor he’s currently dawning. he moves around to the other side of the bed, pulling the comforter as he goes and settling besides her all in one quick motion. patiently waiting for winona to adjust herself first so that he could get comfortable, ares’s free hand runs across the healing wound that’s sprawled across his chest. a brutal reminder of the things he’s always done for the people he’s loved. “i love you,” the confession is whispered against her hair, a kiss following as he settles closer, eyes quickly fluttering shut for a moment. “i love you more than you’ll ever know winnie.”

  the god welcomed her touch and continues to listen to her  ⸺  reassurances, despite the dark cloud looming over his head. a once, sheepish smile is now curving into a soft frown, one that deepens at the mention of how iris will view him. as comforting as the words were, jack couldn’t help but wonder if the ailment that had driven his father mad would soon plague him  ⸺ would iris have to deliver him to the gods herself? what if it were karisa that would go mad? or demetri? how was he to be sure that he wasn’t already going mad now? “not today,” he finally says, chest rising as he takes in a rather alarming sharp inhale and exhaling through his nostrils. turning his attention to iris for the moment before letting out yet another breath, this one to steady his own pain and emotions. “iris and i will get cleaned up and the three of us can take a walk, get some air and ⸺ i can grieve another time.” jack tells eden, avoiding her gaze for the time being. “and i don’t see myself resting with everything that’s happened in the nearing hours, so.” there’s a moment where tears brim the corners of steel hues but they seem to disappear as quick as they had gathered. “please just, be here with me. please.” it’s the first time he’s ever begged ( if you exclude the moment in battle where he begged his siblings to choose everyone’s lives over his ) but , here the god stood, begging eden o’connor to not leave. 

    princess. the nickname brings the corners of her lips into a soft smile, something that seems to only be reserved for ellis and for once, she’s okay with that. emerald hues move towards the extended palm and for a moment  ⸺  a small one, she wonders what had caused their centuries long rivalry to begin with. “i trust you,” is all karisa offers, slender fingers curl against his palm as she nods slowly. “it’s almost sickening how alike we are.” a rather random confession, attention turning towards the opening door that is soon followed with althaia and her aunt close by. and for a moment, the goddess forgets all about their injuries and out of instinct tightens her grip around ellis hand.  not that she’s scared of some witch and her healing but the uncertainty of it all isn’t an emotion she wants to add onto her plate as of now. “i can heal the two of you at once, it’ll make the process much quicker.” the witch explained, clearly sensing the tension rising. demeter stays close by, ready to aid in any way all while althaia just extends palms outward. one hand comes to rest against ellis shoulder while the other is pressed against karisa’s chest plate. karisa narrows her eyes at the familiar woman. she can’t place it. not yet at least. but the witch knew her name, so, the two must know each other right? but that was a situation for another hour, her attention moves back to ellis, her free hand coming to rest on top of their already intertwined ones. a silent, are you alright written across freckled features as althaia continues her work.