the gods

The month of fear became a topic throughout Olympus. Smaller gods approached the deity council explaining how the long and cold nights were killing crops. The room was filled with chatter as these five deities listened to the concerns.

Aphrodite bounced from Ares to Athena. Disagreeing and agreeing with certain blessings the smaller houses should receive.

“Enough.” Zeus raised his hand to bring silence, inhaling Olympian air as he stepped down from his throne. “Why have you come?” The question brought confusion to his fellow deities. “Step forward.”

“Brother.” Hades moved silently from the shadows he hid knowing it was a matter of time before Zeus felt his presence. Only this time it took a little longer. “You’re losing your touch brother.” Hades knew his brother held impatience when he stepped foot into Olympus.

“Speak.” His voice formed thunderclouds, a roaring tone that would scare even the strongest lion.

His eyes rolled at the authority Zeus was setting, Hades even considered not speaking about the misfortune until he knew this would be blamed on him. “My boats are full of souls which is not normal. Every day, a new soul is appearing screaming for help as if they can never find peace.” And those screams were driving him over, Hades walked in a circle while he popped a couple of grapes in his mouth. “What do you plan to do?”

Zeus followed Hades with a suspicious gaze. There was never a time when Hades visited Olympus for fun unless danger was present. Not only for his house but the rest of the houses. “I cannot help you. I have no intention of helping you with reaping duties.” The clouds formed above each god and goddess as his anger grew within him. Something else was at play here and Zeus had no other choice besides to ask Hades for more information. “Tell me. What is the real reason that brought you to Olympus?” 

Hades halted his pacing, staring straight ahead at a statue of Zeus. A disgusted expression formed at the thought of someone having to view Zeus naked for hours before building the creation. “It’s a shame. They could’ve made it a little bigger.” Hades chuckled under his breath, fingers circling the fruit. “Have you checked?” A snap of his neck, eyes coming into contact with Zeus as they spoke without words. This ability was between brothers, careful not to cause the others to panic, and it only worked during times of desperation. “You haven’t checked. You’ve been too busy indulging in women and gifts from below to even check and you call yourself a god.”

Zeus held back the power to send Hades back where he came from. Thunder drummed throughout clouds, prepared to strike down his brother for his disrespect, but Hades spoke nothing but truths. Zeus had left those ungodly down below and refused to step foot in the sinister world. “Why are you bringing this up?” They stood there in complete stillness. “You’re afraid and you’re never afraid. What is going on, brother?” 

“It’s not what’s going on, it’s what’s already happening.” Hades peeled away, raising a hand to the sky as the clouds circled him. “Your actions as a god have put everyone in grave danger. Speak her name for she has returned.” 

His fingers balled into fists, the thunderbolt sliding into his enclosed fist, and Zeus wasted no time aiming the bolt toward Hades. An aim ready to kill except the swift dodge had divine gods standing. No one was able to dodge a bolt at that speed not even Ares. “Kakia.” His focus remained on the woman, the coat she wore melted away as she revealed herself to him. 

“You call yourself a god?” Kakia laughed, disturbing the peace of Olympus as her walk dissolved the blessed ground, chains along her body swaying with her movements, and at first glance, the darkness surrounding her looked like dust. Scent reeking of monstrosity. Goddess of pure evil. “You’re afraid. The almighty Zeus is afraid of a good-for-nothing goddess like myself.” Her palm rested against the god's chest, tapping away at the immortal body. “I’m going to show you something beautiful. Everyone screaming for mercy.” 

Zeus wrapped his fingers around her wrists, the hold so tight it would snap her wrist without warning. “Your reign will be short. Do not threaten me, Kakia.” He dropped his gaze as she held on to the broken wrist, not a single scream of pain only laughter past her lips. It was a terrifying view for all the divine, wanting to approach the goddess, but Zeus had ordered them to stay at their thrones. 

Kakia staggered away, head tilting to the side as a smirk formed at his words. She once feared him, but after spending decades in a holding cell and planning for this very moment. She was no longer afraid. “You think I was threatening you? Only you?” A twirl made her face to face with the rest of the divine. “I’m threatening all of you. All of you shall feel my rage.” She could feel herself fading away, the energy source was losing too much blood on the other side, and once the human was dead then her body would flicker away back home. “Each of your houses has been cursed. If you interfere with me, well, let’s say you don’t want to find out.” 

“Kakia!” Athena raised her voice, reaching for her sword as she was well-equipped to battle the lowly goddess.

“At ease Athena.” Zeus held a chuckle, Kakia couldn't make contact with the world above her, let alone curse each house. There was no truth behind her words and Zeus watched as she gradually began vanishing. “Who are you trying to fool, Kakia?”

“Don’t be tempted, Zeus.” Her last words as she slipped back into the redness of her world, creatures crawling in with a new body to restore her strength. As she drained the human, Kakia tossed the body behind her where it landed on a pile of lifeless and unfortunate souls. It was her time to reign, destruction had been on her mind for over 100 hundreds of years, and Kakia planned to abuse it. 

The divine spoke amongst themselves, each coming down to confront Zeus about what had unfolded. “Should we prepare for war?” Ares spoke eagerly, wanting for one to come. “War? Should we not think of our people?” Aphrodite spoke with fear. “Are we not going to speak about how she was released?” Poseidon directed his question to Zeus, wavering was not ocean-like. “And this curse she speaks of, does she hold enough power to curse all of our houses?” Athena questioned the ungodly. 

Zeus held his stomach as each question was asked. Taunting the woman as if she were something for the powerful gods of Olympus to fear. “There is nothing to worry about. Now return to your houses and collect your fortunes. Let’s forget all this happened today.”