Chapter Text
Flashback
“I wonder what Hades will be like,” Michael stated as he sat in the limousine. They were still a long drive away from Las Vegas and Michael was snacking on some crisps.
“These McCoys are really good,” Michael remarked.
“You can say that again,” Annabeth stated as she dived into her own bag of them, enjoying the ‘sizzling prawn’ flavour. “Mmm, fish.”
“You like seafood, eh?”
“Yeah, probably because I’m a daughter of Athena and one of the mindsets I was born with was the desire to eat fish. It’s probably as a middle finger to Poseidon.”
“Athena really hates Poseidon, doesn’t she?”
“Well, Poseidon did rape Medusa and tricked Athena into thinking that the two had consensual sex together. …I’m really glad that demigods eat together based off what cabin they are from as I do not want Talia to see me eat so much seafood.”
“Children of Poseidon hate that, I assume.”
“They can communicate with sea-life so they physically hear the fish scream for mercy and die.”
“That’s dark,” Michael remarked as he sat back into his seat, the black leather plush and comfortable. He wondered how much outrage Talia would have if she ever saw Annabeth eating shrimp or something. He imagined that the daughter of Athena would be swimming with sharks for an hour, with Talia eating popcorn while Annabeth avoided having her limbs being eaten.
“Hey, can I ask you something?” Michael inquired, to which Annabeth nodded. “What is Hades like in the myths?”
Annabeth raised an eyebrow before understanding what he meant. “Like… as a parent?”
“Yeah.”
“…As good as a God can be, given the restrictions placed on them,” Annabeth explained. “He managed to see his kids twice a week while they were alive, which is really good in all honesty. Honestly, there is little information on his parenting style as his children tend to die young. Although, considering how one of his sons is causing mass death willingly for his sake, I imagine Hades must be a really good father. You’re asking because we’re about to meet him, right?”
“It’s more than that,” Michael said. He explained the vision dreams he had of Hades in the past, of how the God of the dad had tried ending his own life and how Demeter and Persephone both had to stop him and bring him back from the brink in their own ways. By the end of his recounting of the events, Annabeth had a hand over her mouth in shock.
“Gods,” Annabeth murmured. “I didn’t think things became that bad… Nowhere in the library at camp is it mentioned that Hades tried killing himself. And that’s saying something considering how nosy Hermes and Apollo like recording everything important in history.”
“Yeah, thank the Gods for Demeter stepping in, otherwise I would not have been born,” Michael remarked. “…Anyways, ever since I’ve been having these vision dreams, I’ve been conflicted on how to view Hades. On one hand, Hades killed several demigods indirectly through the Stygian Knight, something I cannot forgive no matter what. But then there are the vision dreams I had. I can’t stop feeling… empathetic for him. He reminded me of me, especially when he tried to kill himself.”
Michael shuddered at the idea of it. He remembered how hopeless he had felt, how much rage he felt against his tormentors and the world as a whole, how he just wanted to end the pain. The fact that Hades had tried killing himself like that meant that he had felt the same way Michael had, something Michael would never wish upon another being.
“I still cannot believe it… I cannot believe that he was so depressed and self-hating that he decided to kill himself. Like Jeremy did,” Annabeth murmured. Michael nearly forgot that Annabeth had also been the friend of Clarisse’s sibling, and how she had suffered the aftermath of someone killing themselves. She then pointed her finger at him. “And you, don’t you dare try offing yourself again, Mike. I won’t let you, got it?”
“Yes ma’am,” Michael answered with a smirk, but understanding that she was genuinely concerned.
“…So why did you tell me that Hades tried offing himself?”
“Because… I don’t know, maybe he’s not really full of malice and hate towards demigods of Zeus and Zeus’ Godly children. Maybe he’s just, you know, a little crazy right now.”
“Mike, he’s been ostracised from Olympus since he even claimed the domain of the Underworld due to being seen as ‘creepy’ by them. He was also apparently labelled as a Nazi lover despite it being a lie created by Zeus. He’s had to watch his children die over the course of millennia and every member of his family, except for Hestia and Rhea, used to hate him. Well, Demeter does not but still she hated him the most. I think all of that added together and over the course of millennia makes ‘a little mad’ a severe understatement.”
“Yeah… I guess…”
“Are you suggesting this because you are trying to justify whether you can love him or not?”
“Yes! He’s had countless demigods slaughtered over the last few decades-”
“Countless is a stretch, more like hundreds at best, but continue.”
“Hundreds is still a large number. How can I love someone who inadvertently took so many lives and spread so much despair? How can I treat someone who has taken the lives of my friends’ half siblings as my father? Can I even treat him as my father?”
“…If it were normal circumstances, I’d say no. My father, in regard to the suffering he caused, was far less than what Hades did but I would never forgive him. I acknowledge that Hades has suffered immensely, but that did not give him the right to start having innocent demigods slain as revenge. However, since we’re joining up with Hades, we might as well look past all that.”
“What!?” Michael exclaimed in shock.
“Mike, we’re literally going to join him in war against Olympus. Joining him means accepting his crimes as a burden we might have to carry or share as well. If he fails then we’d probably be sentenced like all his other followers would be. In that case, we’d probably be thrown into Tartarus or trapped under a volcano or something. In this case then we might as well not treat Hades any differently to us. We have to accept that we are no better than he is by choosing to join him, basically meaning that we condone his crimes in a legal sense.”
“Oh…”
“And if that is the case, then you might as well have a father and son relationship with him. It might be the only chance you get at having a father.”
“…You are sure you wish to join Hades with me right?”
“Oh, Gods, yes. I need to be there to try and negotiate with him and maybe me being there can at least reduce the casualties and keep my friends at Camp alive.”
“Would you be okay with me treating him like a Dad?”
“Yeah, I came up with this plan for fuck’s sake.”
“I know but there is the Hephaestus plan.”
“There is a reason it is labelled Plan B. Plan A is Hades. If it works out then we’ll stick with him, end of story. Michael, don’t worry about wanting to treat Hades like a Dad. And, more importantly, don’t worry about wanting to be treated like a son.”
“…You really are smart you know that?”
“Yep, it’s one of the parts of being an Athena child I like. I actually do want the Hades plan to work out because, well, then you’d at least get to experience a parent’s love for once.”
“You haven’t experienced it either.”
“I have. On the rare occasions when Athena lets herself be a mother I have. That’s why I know how important it can be. That’s why I know how important this is to you. You deserve to have a loving parent. And judging from what I’ve read, I think Hades is that parent you want.”
“…Thanks wise-girl.”
“Anytime monster prince. Anytime.”
End of Flashback
Michael now stood before Hades, his father. Or at least, someone who claimed to be his father. To say he was nervous was an understatement. The last vision dream Michael had of Hades showed him being a homicidal maniac and ordering the deaths of numerous demigods. What was Hades like now? Looking at him, Michael could not tell. He had the expression of one of the older students from Michael’s old school, a calmness and collectiveness that would cause anyone to be creeped out. It was the expression that someone wore when they wanted people to believe that they were always in control, that everyone else was inferior in comparison to them. Except unlike the people from his school, Michael knew that Hades was in complete control of his surroundings. He did not look as muscular as Ares did but he somehow felt far stronger. He lounged on his throne of human bones and jewels, appearing lithe, graceful and dangerous like a panther. He gave off an impression that he should lead no matter what the circumstance.
He radiated an aura of terror that Michael could not ignore. It felt like he was staring at his parents again, fearing another beating that he knew would come no matter what. He felt like curling up into a ball but snapped himself out of it. He had been affected by a God’s aura once, he knew the signs. It was just an aura of fear. He had to ignore it.
“Father!?” Michael exclaimed. He did not know why, considering they were in the same room, but the God of the dead looked so tall that Michael wondered if Hades could even hear him clearly. Hades’ pitch black eyes glanced down at Michael and widened in surprise before softening. Michael felt the aura of feel fall quickly, first to the level of being in the same room as a dictator like Adolf Hitler, then to seeing a crazed serial killer and then to a desperate mugger who looked like he would lose in a fight with him. He supposed it was the best he could do to make Michael feel more comfortable.
“Michael,” Hades began, his voice kind, a warm smile growing on his face. He stood up from his throne and shrank to a much smaller size of six foot two. His hair flowed past his shoulders and his eyes were filled with whole-heartedness. As he moved, Michael realised that his chiton was made from human souls, undoubtedly from the Fields of Punishment, yet they didn’t seem too in pain but serene instead. Hades was soon standing right in front of him, his tall and muscular frame dwarfing Michael’s four-foot four inch frame and said, “You are here.”
“…Yes, I am,” Michael responded.
“I am so glad,” Hades spoke out of relief as he wrapped his arms around his son. Michael was worried about how the souls would feel yet they seemed to hug him as well, their tiny arms clinging onto him in their attempt of an embrace. Michael allowed himself to relax into Hades’ arms, saying, “Thanks, Dad.”
They stood there for a while before Hades finally released him and took a few steps back. “I am so, so sorry for leaving you with those bastards.”
Michael’s mood instantly soured as he recalled something that Luke had mentioned, about how Godly parents who left their children in abusive situations deserved the worst treatment.
“Why…” Michael seethed, his teeth gritted. “Why did you leave me with them?”
It was one of the biggest questions he had wanted an answer for ever since he learned of how Godly parents worked. Why did Hades leave him in such a terrible situation!? If he is supposed to be one of the best Godly parents then why did the God of the dead abandon him. Guilt flooded Hades’ expression as he said, “I didn’t have a choice.”
“Bullshit!” Michael exclaimed. “You could have taken me down to the Underworld instead! What was so important that you had to leave me with them!”
“Because I couldn’t reach you,” Hades elaborated. Michael raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Eh?”
Hades continued, “When you were born, I instantly tried to bring you to the Underworld. It was part of my plan for you. Unfortunately, Apollo and Artemis had intervened. Zeus had directed them to keep an eye out for me so that I could not do anything on the mortal world, just as a precaution if I tried dragging one of his or his children’s demigod children to the Underworld. To be fair, it is something I would have done. They kept me from even setting foot in the mortal world and they even tried shooting down whatever monsters I sent out there.”
“Uh, what about the hellhounds are already out there?”
“Those are the ones that actually made it through. Believe me, the entire world would have been flooded by hellhounds and skeletons and ghouls if those two archers didn’t take care of a majority of them. …I couldn’t reach you. And believe me, I did want to get you. I wanted to send some monsters after you or even the Stygian Knight but then the Olympians would see it and realise you were connected to me, and then you would have been locked under a volcano before you even reached two years old. …I am so sorry. I’ve seen how much you’ve suffered under those bastards, and trust me when I say that they have a personal spot carved out for them in the Fields of Punishment. I am sorry for failing you.”
Michael felt his heart clench but also joy spread through him. Hades did care about him. His father had wanted to save him for these years but the damn Olympians kept him from doing it.
“Father is telling the truth,” Eduardo said. “He really did want to come and save yo-”
“I forgive him,” Michael said with a smile.
“Wait, really, already?” Rosa asked.
“Yeah, I do,” Michael affirmed more confidently.
“Huh… you know I thought it was going to take longer for you to do that,” Fiore remarked.
“Yeah, same here,” Chimera chimed in, causing Michael to look back at her. She shrugged. “What? If you are my father’s son then forgiveness should be the last thing you provide. He’s literally a walking rage machine.”
“…Yeah, that’s something I’ve been wondering about too,” Michael started, turning back to Hades. “You said that I’m your son, yet I’m apparently also a son of Typhon! So which one am I!?”
“Both,” Hades stated plainly.
“Uhhh…” Michael faltered. He was the son of both? How. Unless… “Did you and my father somehow have sex?”
“WHAT!?” Hades, his demigod children and Fiore exclaimed in shock, eyes wide in disbelief.
“It’s the only thing that makes sense-”
“I swear on the Styx that I will explain everything but it is not that!” Hades yelled, still in disbelief while thunder boomed in the background. It took a minute and several deep breaths for him to fully regain his composure, although his children and Fiore still looked taken aback. He continued, “For now, just call me fath-”
It was then that his eyes darted towards someone behind Michael and his eyes flared with black flame.
“Michael, would you be a good son and step to the side,” Hades requested, though the aura he gave off made it feel like an order. Michael was about to when he realised who was behind him.
“Father, please I-” Michael began before Eduardo, Rosa and Fiore guided, or rather pulled, him away, leaving Annabeth, Grover and Chimera exposed.
“Hmm, I’ll let you off Chimera since you are his sister,” Hades said as shadows wrapped themselves around Chimera and pulled her towards where Michael was. Hades then refocused his terrifying gaze upon Annabeth and Grover.
“Now, what are you both doing here, filthy Olympian supporters!” Hades bellowed, his voice filling Annabeth and Grover with the dread that souls would feel if they were sentenced to the Fields of Punishment for hundreds of years.
“I-I am Annabeth Chase,” Annabeth began, fear noticeable in her voice. She looked like she was trying, and failing, to make herself sound more confident.
“And I-I am G-Grover Underwood,” Grover stuttered.
“Hmm, you’re the satyr who left Michael at that abusive household for a year,” Hades regarded him coldly. “And you are a daughter of Athena, Annabeth Chase. So tell me, what gave you the grand idea to come to my domain considering the… burning hatred I wield for your mother.”
Michael had never imagined that Annabeth could look more frightened than when she saw spiders. This experience, however, seemed to pull it off. Annabeth struggled to regain her confidence as she stared into the eyes of a God who probably wanted to throw her into the River Acheron right now. However, after a full minute of complete silence that seemed to stretch for an hour, Annabeth Chase stared up at Lord Hades and said, “We wish to join you.”
Hades stared at Annabeth as if she had gone mad. “A daughter of Athena, joining me? Even though I’ve practically committed genocide you’re your siblings!? Has Dionysus warped your mind or something?”
“N-no, he ha-as not, for-for both of us,” Grover affirmed, even though he still sounded scared. Hades regarded them for a moment before asking, “And what makes you think I will allow you to join me?”
“Because we’re your son’s friends,” Annabeth stated firmly. Hades turned to Michael, who nodded in agreement.
“You are honestly friends with this Athena spawn!?” Hades exclaimed. Michael nodded. “Yes, they are and I won’t let you kill them!”
“They will just betray yo-”
“I’ve already sworn on the River Styx that I’m not manipulating Michael,” Annabeth declared.
“So, that was what made the river thunder, eh? …You made a vow on the River Styx just like that?”
“Yes.”
“And I swear on the Styx that I’m not manipulating Michael either,” Grover affirmed. Thunder boomed loudly and Michael thought he heard the sound of water boiling. Hades looked at Grover in shock, “You do something like that so easily!?”
“Yes,” Grover stated, sounding more confident. “Michael is my friend. I will not fail him and I will not betray him.”
Hades gave a nod of approval. “I can believe you, satyr, but you, Athena daughter, are a mystery. Your mother would have sided with Olympus and so would all your siblings. They would have considered Zeus the better option for ruler. So, what makes your opinions different? What drives you to choose me over your family and ties to Olympus.”
“I’ve recently formed a friendship with your son,” Annabeth said in a formal tone. “As one of my friends I’d rather not see him obliterated for simply being who he is or worse, being banished to Tartarus. Furthermore… I’m questioning my loyalty to the Gods. I’ve seen what they are like, what they can do when they are in a particular mood. Ares has corrupted his children into violent rage monsters. Athena turned Medusa into a monster because she was filled with rage and did not listen to her. They hurt so many people intentionally and unintentionally. They need to answer for what they’ve done.”
After a short pause, Hades said, “Fair enough, Annabeth, was it?” Annabeth nodded. “I thought the same thing. Olympus must be held accountable for its crimes. Both for their crimes against my children, and their crimes against others. But I also knew that Zeus would try and imprison Michael after realising he was a son of Typhon, which is why I claimed him in order to force him to come to me. Zeus must have wanted Michael to return the Master Bolt for him, the fool.”
“Uh, where is the Master Bolt by the way?” Grover inquired.
“Check your backpack, Michael,” Hades replied. A weird feeling struck Michael. The weight in his backpack had been growing greater and greater and now itwas like a bowling bowl.
‘…Was it…’ Michael thought as he slung the bag off his shoulder and unzipped it. Inside was a sixty-centimetre-long metal cylinder, spiked on both ends, humming with energy.
“Michael…” Annabeth began, a look of shock on her face, “h-how-”
“Give it to me,” Hades requested. Michael was about to throw it to him when Hades shouted, “DON’T THROW IT!”
Michael stammered back at the volume of his voice before simply giving it to him. Hades grasped the weapon with a maniacal glint in his eyes. “Yes, yes. At last, the Master Bolt is mine! Hehe, with this I will finally be able to wage war against Olympus and take my rightful place as the true ruler of the Gods, the place that should have been given to me in the first place! I was the oldest brother so I should have been king but no, I foolishly caved into Zeus’ desire to split the land into three domains. Well, no more. I will be the rightful ruler of the world and my children and I will finally receive the admiration and respect we deserve!”
“So, you were the voice coming from that pit,” Michael said. Hades looked at his son with confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“The voice from the pit who talks in my dreams. The one who was talking to that servant of his, wasn’t that you?”
Hades’ face filled with concern. “Michael, I am afraid that was not me. That was Kronos.”
Michael felt fear course through his veins. He remembered reading about Kronos in the library and hearing about him from Chiron’s lessons while he was disguised as Mr Brunner. He knew that Kronos was the king of the titans and that he was bad news. Michael turned to see that Annabeth, Grover and even Ciro were visibly frightened. Michael stuttered, “K-Kronos. H-How-how is he still alive?”
“He never died Michael. Gods cannot die, the same applies for Titans,” Hades explained. “He was cut into a thousand pieces and thrown into Tartarus alongside most of his followers. He is still alive and is apparently trying to escape Tartarus and rise to our world.”
“If Kronos is rising, shouldn’t you join the other Gods?” Annabeth questioned, audibly shook by the idea of that titan coming back. “If Kronos rises, won’t the others join him too?”
“Ha, of course not, defeating Zeus is the priority.”
“How will you defeat the Gods?” Grover asked. “I mean, it’s basically you against everyone.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised about how many would be willing to join my side. I’ve heard that half of the Poseidon cabin at that Camp Half-Blood is choosing to align itself with me. Ares has already been convinced-”
“Ares!” Michael spoke in realisation. “He gave me the backpack! He took the Master Bolt!?”
“No, no, Kronos’ servant did that but the servant, with Kronos’ help, managed to convince Ares to join them. It was something about how Kronos would liberate his children in return for allowing the servant past. Ares took the bolt instead and vowed to give it to him. I gave Ares what was basically the same offer in return for arranging for the bolt to reach me instead. Fortunately, for me, millennia of nightmarish bedtime stories and the remnants of common sense in Ares’ head told him not to trust Kronos and that I was the better option. …Regardless, Hecate and her breed are choosing to my side and many more Gods are joining me too. Besides with you, Michael, I will have more than enough to defeat Olympus. Kronos, in comparison to them, is an easy victory.”
“But how?” Michael demanded.
“Because your father inspired fear throughout all of Olympus and Zeus only defeated him because he caught Typhon sleeping and unprepared. Even those in my heard the ferocity of their great clash and shook in terror. You are a direct blood descendant, son, I made sure of that, therefore you will have all of his powers. Maybe to a lesser degree but it will still be enough.”
“What do you mean by ‘you made sure’?” Michael demanded. “Also, how are you my father if Typhon is my father?”
“Because I created you,” Hades said plainly. Michael, Annabeth and Grover raised their eyebrows in confusion, not understanding what Hades was suggesting. The God of the dead continued. “Follow me, you three. It’s time you knew how you were born, Michael. Eduardo, Rosa, Fiore, are you planning on staying?”
“I am afraid not,” Fiore said. “I have retribution to bring upon souls of the damned.”
“I have to go soul collecting with Thanatos,” Rosa moaned. “Why do so many mortals keep having to die.”
“And I’m on my break period so-o-o good luck you two,” Eduardo said with a grin towards Fiore and Rosa, causing the two to glare at him ferociously. The three then left the way they came, leaving Michael, Chimera, Grover, Annabeth and Hades alone.
“Come, Michael, it is time to show you your origin,” Hades said as he led them out a door to the right side of his throne of bones. Once again, Michael found himself marvelling at the sheer opulence of Hades’ palace. Whilst walking through the different corridors, they passed the exit to a garden inside a greenhouse. It looked weirdly spectacular, with artificial light beaming down on everything and flowers that Michael would associate with spring growing within its bounds.
“Oh no…” Hades groaned, “I forgot to tell her.”
“Tell who, Hades?” Chimera inquired.
“Sorry, Michael, but we have to take a detour. She’ll kill me if I forget to tell her,” Hades apologised before entering the greenhouse. The garden itself was massive, filled with flowers of different colours and kinds. There was even a section for the growth of crops, like tomatoes and pomegranates. There was even an ornate fountain spewing some of the best looking water Michael had ever seen in his life. Sitting in a corner was a stunning woman in her mid-thirties with eyes the colour of daffodils, hair the colour of red-bud tree wood and a black crown with silver patterns came marching down the corridor. Michael recognised her as Persephone. She was sat with who was probably two of her children but also two souls wearing orange jumpsuits with the word ‘SERVANT’ down the leg. They both were sixteen year old twin girls with blonde hair and blue eyes.
“Persephone!” Hades called out. Persephone turned to see them and, inadvertently, saw Michael too. A large smile grew on her face.
“Michael!” Persephone exclaimed as she rose to her feet, ran towards him and hugged him tightly. Unfortunately, it was so tight that Michael felt his bones crack.
“Oh, Gods, I’m sorry son,” Persephone apologised as she released him, Michael’s regenerative ability healing the damage. Persephone continued, “Hades, when did he come here!?”
“A few minutes ago,” Hades responded.
“And you had forgotten to tell me, eh?” Persephone guessed. Hades shrugged in an attempt to avoid answering the question. “Anyways, Michael, this is Persephone.”
“You can call me ‘mom’ if you want,” Persephone said. “I’m already considered a mother to a lot of souls here.”
She gestured towards the souls in the jumpsuits, the two still sitting next to the two children of Persephone, but seeming to shy away from Michael and his other quest-mates upon seeing them.
“It’s alright girls, you don’t have to feel ashamed,” Persephone said soothingly, causing them to loosen up a bit.
“Who are those souls?” Michael asked.
“Souls who are sinners but only had a minor sin level,” Hades explained. “They don’t necessarily need any form of torment, but rather, rehabilitation and stability. Of course, their homes are like prison cells, but outside they get access to counselling whilst also doing house chores to keep this place clean.
They have been lawfully handed down their sentence and they’ve made peace with their fates. Their sins are often so minor that they can afford such treatment.”
“These souls are examples of that,” Persephone said as the two girls approached her, allowing Persephone to put reassuring hands on both of them. “They were drug addicts and dealt low-level drugs to feed their addictions. They died in a police shootout, which basically means that a police officer shot them on sight. They’ve changed a lot over the last few months, believe me.”
“It’s true,” one of the girls said. “I haven’t had any cravings for drugs since dying.”
Persephone then gave them a nod and the two returned to the other two kids. The Goddess of spring turned to Michael, regarding him with a look of concern. “Michael you are… awfully short for a boy of your age.”
“Well, getting starved your entire life does that to you,” Michael remarked bitterly. Persephone’s grimaced in understanding. “Yes, Hades told me all about those bastards. Rest assured that once Hades rules the world, they will suffer a fate worse than Tartarus.”
Michael grinned, “Well, that’s good to know.”
They all spent some time in Persephone’s garden after that, just talking about random topics. Throughout the conversation, Michael felt a surge of warmth flow through him. This was it. He had finally gained a proper family. He finally had a mother and a father who loved him unconditionally. This was truly one of the happiest days of his life.
“Uh, honey, as much as I would like to continue this conversation, I needed to show Michael where he came from,” Hades declared. Persephone stared at him with concern, “Darling, are you certain that is a good idea right now?”
“He requested it and I-”
“Please, let me see,” Michael pleaded, pointing at Hades. “This confusion is killing me! How am I a son of Typhon and a son of him at the same time!?”
“…Very well, show him. But, Michael, please be warned that… you may not like what you see,” Persephone cautioned. That sent a shiver up Michael’s spine. What could be that bad? Before Michael could turn to leave with Hades, Persephone gave him a small kiss on the forehead. “Good luck, son. I hope you find your place here, even if what is revealed terrifies you.”
“…Thanks Mom,” Michael responded as he followed Annabeth, Grover, Chimera and Hades out, although he did feel a longing to return to his mother’s side again.
They travelled down more hallways, with Hades actually starting to give a tour of the areas. Skeleton guards were present everywhere, armed with miniguns, rocket launchers, and even hand-held railguns.
“Right there is our armoury,” Hades said as he pointed towards the forges. The area looked as large as a football stadium, with souls who were likely blacksmiths in the past hammering away at weaponry, crafting intricate blades, machine guns and all kinds of ammunition.
“Lord Hades, how are all these weapons able to be effective?” Annabeth inquired curiously. “I mean, with all these machine guns and rocket launchers here, I don’t see a single piece of ammunition being forged-”
“Oh, I asked Hazel to make the Styx supply me with some essence to handle that,” Hades explained.
“…Hazel is willing to help you even when you keep her locked away in that dome, and don’t speak to her for more than once a year!?” Michael asked with curiosity. His parents usually did something similar to this when they locked him in the attic over the whole summer break and only gave him scraps of food and measly amounts of water to survive off of, and that made Michael despise them, alongside all the other tortures they put him through of course. He could not imagine Hazel being so forgiving either.
“Who says I only visit her once a year?” Hades inquired, a mischievous yet sinister grin on his face.
“You’re defying the rules imposed by Zeus and the other Olympians?” Chimera inquired.
“Eh, I don’t really care about those pathetic rules anymore,” Hades stated. “Not since over eight decades ago. I’ve basically been visiting my daughter once a day.”
“But, your kids say they are only allowed to visit Hazel once a year with you,” Grover pointed out.
“Eh, they’re probably lying to you. It is true that rule was imposed but they’ve stopped following it like I have. They were probably deceiving you in case you decided to turn on us and report all this to Olympus.”
Grover nodded in understanding. Hades continued, “Anyways, long story short, Hazel convinces Styx to lend me portions of her power by draining certain amounts of water from her river which the blacksmiths and armsmakers use to fill our guns with infinite ammunition.”
“Styx really lets you do that?” Michael questioned.
“Hate is in an infinite supply these days,” Hades answered. “All the hate in the world fills her river. The only problem is, there is so much hate that it causes the river to overflow she has to constantly make her river deeper. I think she would have insisted on me using her water had I not asked for it first.”
Everyone agreed with the Lord of the Dead. They continued on, with Hades showing them statues made from souls of the damned, souls who deserved immobilisation while being completely aware rather than endless torture for their sins. Whilst traversing the corridors, they saw more souls with orange jumpsuits on with ‘SERVANT’ running down their legs.
One of them caused Annabeth to stop in her tracks, gasping in shock. Michael and everyone else stopped too, wondering what was so unique about this soul. He understood the moment he turned around, causing Michael to gasp too.
The boy looked like he was in his early teens, probably thirteen, with light brown hair and… maroon eyes. He had the frame of a wrestler, albeit smaller and thinner. Michael recognised this boy but just to be sure he asked, “Who are you?”
“J-Jeremy,” the teenager replied, seeming a little uncomfortable by Michael’s stare. It was then that he noticed Annabeth. “Annie…”
“Jeremy…” Annabeth breathed as she laid eyes upon her friend once again, a friend she had not seen in over a year, not since that dreadful day.
Flashback
Annabeth sat on her knees in the Ares cabin, tears flowing from her eyes as she sobbed. Clarisse was holding her brother in her arms, her now dead brother who had slits in his wrists and a sword through his heart. Jeremy had killed himself. Jeremy had killed himself and Annabeth had been completely unaware of it.
‘How could this happen!?’ Annabeth thought to herself. ‘How did I not notice!?’
There was no note, no last words from Jeremy. Just a corpse.
Annabeth sobbed harder, just wishing that she knew why Jeremy had done such a thing to himself. What drove him to take his own life!?’
End of Flashback
Annabeth stared at his dead friend for a moment, seeing whether her eyes were deceiving her or not. They weren’t. This was Jeremy Ashworth. Annabeth instantly ran towards him and wrapped her arms around him.
“Jer…” Annabeth sobbed as she buried her face in his uniform.
“Annie,” Jeremy responded as he hugged Annabeth tightly, tears also leaking from his eyes. They stayed in this embrace for a while. Hades considered intervening but Michael held him back. The two needed this moment.
“I-I’m so sorry,” Annabeth apologised. “I-I didn’t know how much you were struggling. Charles, Rachel and Clarisse and I… we’re all so sorry. I’m sorry for not being there to help-”
“You did help,” Jeremy said while crying. “Don’t ever think otherwise. You all just being there with me helped”
“But I- I didn’t notice how much you were-”
“It’s nothing to do with you, trust me. You could not have known since you weren’t around for that time, nor did you know everything about me.”
“…What are you talking about?” Annabeth asked curiously.
“…I was born with severe depression,” Jeremy explained, causing Annabeth eyes to widen with shock. “It was due to my genetics so… yeah. I was always miserable, but I had medication to help me out with it. Then, while I was in the mortal world, I was getting bullied at school for being a ‘quiet kid’. It wasn’t a lot of bullying, but for a guy with clinical depression, even just the occasional jibe can be damaging, at least it was for me. …I was barely scraping by if I’m being honest. I wished I had stayed in camp year-round but… I couldn’t abandon my father, my mortal father. Not that it makes much of a difference now, I suppose. The cherry on top was when I got cornered by two empousai.”
“Empousai?” Michael inquired with a raised eyebrow.
“They messed with my head, making me feel the full weight of my depression and the things the bullies did to me. Not only that, but they made me believe my anger towards them was wrong and I was the problem. …I don’t know why, but it was then that I decided to die. So, the moment I got to camp, I took my sword, slit my wrists and then stabbed myself in the heart when I reached the Ares cabin.”
Somehow, Annabeth looked more miserable. “…How could I miss this. I’m so sorry for failing you Jeremy-”
“What, no, don’t blame yourself! You and the others made me happy even though I had clinical depression weighing me down. You were only eleven too!
“But-”
“Annabeth Chase, do not blame yourself!” Jeremy ordered. Annabeth nodded reluctantly, still clearly filled with guilt and remorse. Jeremy continued, “I’m just sorry I didn’t realise what I was giving up before it was too late. I’ve accepted this one-hundred-year punishment and I’m happy with it. I deserve it for doing something so stupid as committing suicide when I had so many who cared about me.”
“One hundred years!” Grover, Michael, Annabeth and Chimera exclaimed. Michael demanded, “Why is it so long!?”
“Because suicide is a terrible sin, unless it’s for a heroic reason such as to sacrifice yourself to save another’s life,” Hades answered. “He inflicted a lot of pain with that one action. He is going to spend the next ninety-nine years of his punishment sentence as one of my servants.”
“I’m sorry,” Jeremy said, his face filled with a sort of emptiness and misery. Annabeth and Grover pulled him into a tight hug and Michael managed to hear some sobs coming out of the dead teenager. After they finished with their embrace, Jeremy noticed Michael, “Who are you?”
“I’m Michael Davison, a son of Hades slash Typhon,” Michael replied.
“Oh, interesting,” Jeremy noted. “But how is that-”
Hades then ordered, “Back to work, Jeremy.”
The servant nodded and continued to clean.
“Why is Jeremy being forced to serve for so long!?” Annabeth demanded. “He was in so much pain! Does that mean nothing to you.”
“When it comes to an Ares child… no, their pain means nothing to me,” Hades said with a plain expression. It was then that Michael saw it, the hint of madness and evil in Hades’ eye. He knew of Jeremy’s pain yet he did not care in the slightest. As long as it made Ares suffer, therefore making Zeus suffer, then it was worth it. Hades had even gone so far as to, most likely, use children like Jeremy as leverage. This was the type of man that Hades had become. Michael had to make peace with that.
The God of the dead then continued their journey but Michael noticed that Annabeth looked gloomy, asking, “Hey, are you alright?”
Annabeth turned to him and replied, “Yeah, I just… I prayed he would get into Elysium and rest in peace. I really thought he would.”
“Oh… I’m sorry,” Michael said. It was all he could think of as a response to Annabeth’s inner turmoil.
“…At least I know he isn’t being tortured for all eternity so that’s a relief.”
Michael somehow knew that Annabeth would be alright. It was the question of when she would be alright that was a tricky one to answer.
Although, numerous thoughts surrounding one particular topic consumed his mind as they continued on.
‘What am I?’ Michael thought. ‘How was I born? And why did Persephone warn me about how it could be concerning?’
…………
After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached their destination. They stood in front of a solid steel door that said ‘Laboratory’. Did Gods even believe in science?
“This is it, Michael,” Hades informed him. “This is where you were born.”
Michael didn’t like the sound of that. Michael also noticed that Annabeth, Chimera and Grover had the same concerned expression he did. Hades opened the door. Michael braced himself as he walked inside.
The laboratory was a sight to behold. It may appear to look like any old lab but there seemed to be a hint of mythology in the area. It was as if Greek mythology and modern day collided together to form this place. The lab was rather large with another room connecting to the main area. Numerous staff consisting of what Michael could only assume to be dead scientists were walking around, performing different tasks. There were computers but they weren’t connected to any power source, yet they somehow functioned, and there were weird vials of liquids. There were animal parts and golden blood too, but what was odd was what labels each one had. Keto, Scylla, Antaeus, Charybdis, Phobos, Boreas, Ophion, Leviathan. The names all seemed important but Michael just couldn’t put his finger on it.
“What is all this?” Michael asked curiously.
“These are names of monsters and Gods,” Annabeth said breathlessly.
“She’s right,” Grover added. “Charybdis and Scylla are powerful creatures in the Sea of Monsters and Keto is a Goddess but is the mother of all sea monsters. But some of them are from different mythologies.”
“He’s right,” Chimera declared, gesturing to some of the vials. “Leviathan is from Christian mythology, Fenrir and Jörmungandr are from Norse mythology Qinglong the Azure Dragon is from Chinese mythology and there are other monsters from other mythologies. But why does Hades have all of this?”
‘I… I don’t know,” Annabeth admitted.
Hades chuckled.
“Oh, it is amusing to see you, a daughter of Athena, confused. Well, don’t worry, you’re about to figure it all out,” he said as he led them to another door that said ‘Clones’. When they entered, they were all filled with fright.
There were six identical, large tubes filled some sort of green liquid and there were kids inside each one of them. Their features were obscured but they looked about as old as Michael was.
“What the hell is all this?” Michael demanded in shock. This was where he was born!?
“Have you ever heard of Dolly the Sheep?” Hades questioned. They turned to Annabeth, expecting her to know.
“W-Why are you all looking at me?” Annabeth stuttered. “How am I supposed to know about something I’ve never heard off? Just because I’m a daughter of Athena doesn’t mean I know everything in the world. I am still twelve!”
Hades nodded, understanding her. “She was created through the process of cloning when an adult mammary gland cell was implanted into an unfertilised egg cell. Now, what if I were to use that concept but with Typhon instead?”
The demigods, satyr and Chimera tensed at that statement. Michael felt a chill run up his spine. “You mean that I-”
“Like I said, Michael,” Hades began, “I created you. You are my son too because without me you wouldn’t exist. I took a DNA sample of Typhon and an unfertilised human egg cell and, through the use of magic and science combined, I was able to create a successful clone offspring of Typhon: you. It took a while to finally create you but you were worth the wait.”
“Did-did you use Lily’s egg cells?” Michael inquired.
“Yes, surprisingly enough,” Hades remarked. “You see, when I was conducting these experiments and I tried making clone babies, I had to use the egg cells of countless women.”
“How did you get so many?” Annabeth demanded, sounding afraid of the answer.
“Eh, from nearly dead people,” Hades stated. Female children of Apollo or Dionysus or Ares who were close to death and who I honestly couldn’t care less about. I tried using their egg cells to make a clone baby by combining them with the monster DNA I had accumulated over the years. That war we had with the other mythologies yielded a lot of the DNA I had gathered. The pieces were originally trophies my brothers wanted me to keep but I decided to use them for this purpose. …I was met with zero success for sixty years every time I tried do combine the DNA with an egg cell. I did everything I could but it just would not work. It was then that I stumbled across Lily Davison, a regular mortal, who was close to death and extracted her egg cells. I was finally able to successfully create an offspring of Typhon, you. And after making you I used the egg cells to create the other six clones in the tubes.”
Michael looked at each one of them and noticed plaques at the bottom of each one. ‘Jormungandr and Fenrir’ for one ‘Keto and Ophion’ for another, ‘Wendigo and Thunderbird’ for a third and three others with two monsters combined per clone.
“So… every one of these guys is a demigod with two monsters or Gods per one while I only have-”
“Typhon DNA. Yes, it was because a, Typhon’s DNA was so strong that it would not allow for any other DNA to be combined with it alongside mortal DNA, b, I only learned about the ability to have a demigod have the abilities of two monsters after a random test,” Hades explained.
“W-Why… did you make me?” Michael asked, the shock of what Hades just said still taking its effect. He felt horrified. He was just a clone, not even truly biologically related to anyone at this point.
“Because you will be able to command monsters,” Hades explained. “You have all of Typhon’s abilities, albeit to a lower scale so far, and as such you should be able to order all monsters to obey you, or at least a large proportion of them. After all, Typhon is the father of all monsters. With all those monsters at my side and with your abilities, Zeus and his allies will easily be felled. After that, then Kronos can easily be dealt with. Besides, you won’t be alone. I’m planning on adding these clone demigod sons to the mix too.”
Michael wondered at that moment if Hades had become a typical mad scientist. Annabeth nervously said, “Lord Hades, is a war truly necessary? I mean, an assassination on Zeus could work.”
“Ah, so that is why you came,” Hades noted. “You wanted to see whether I could be stopped from going to war or not. I can actually see the plot now. However, I am afraid a war is going to happen, daughter of Athena.”
“Hades, please, listen to reason.”
“No, I will not. I wish to kill Zeus with my bare hands and if I even attempt to step on the grounds of Olympus, all the Gods there will rain on me like a pack of hellhounds. No, war will happen and I am afraid several of your demigod friends and mortals will get caught in the crossfire.”
“But they are all innocents!”
“They are not innocent! The Gods and their children continually make my children outcasts in their own ways. Athena children consider them risky, Apollo children find them too dark, Zeus children have killed a lot of mine, I could go on forever! Worst of all, in World War 2 he personally murdered two of my children and a mortal lover. She was innocent in all of it and she was caught in the crossfire. Those children were nine and eleven and he murdered them! I’ve had enough of Zeus and his pathetic order. I don’t care how many people die, I don’t care how much blood is spilled, I will have revenge! Zeus will pay for what he did to my children!”
“We can’t let you do that,” Michael said defiantly. He could not let Hades succeed, not if it meant harm coming to his friends back at camp.
“I am afraid you don’t have a choice. If you try to stop me and return the Master Bolt, Zeus will obliterate you and send you to Tartarus. You have no other option but to join me.”
“I don’t care. I’d rather die than let you kill my friends!”
“Your opinions will change later on, I assure you. Think about this though, what has humanity ever done for you but let you continue to live your life of misery,” Hades said. He put a finger to Michael’s head and his vision immediately went dark as sleep overtook him.