Chapter Nine

Epimetheus screamed in Theo's voice, the sound echoing through the room and bouncing back to my ears, nearly shattering my ear drums.

I ground my teeth together, fighting the burning hot pain of Epimetheus' soul in my palm. My powers surged through my veins, boiling my blood and searing my skin. My muscles pulled taut and threatened to tear as I breathed heavily, keeping my palm flat against Epimetheus' chest, just as Rara had told me.

I felt it pooling into my palm. The heat of it scorched my skin, but I refused to let go. The pain ripped and tore through me like a vicious storm, but I kept my teeth ground together and eyes locked shut.

I wasn't going to let go. I wasn't going to let this thing that Theo.

Theo was my master.

I swore the day he had rescued me that I would never, ever betray him. I would give my life for his. I was his loyal servant... I could remember that night perfectly as if it had happened just yesterday.

I was on the verge of giving up. I had been punished in a manner similiar to Cain after he had killed his brother, the first time anyway. Cursed to walk the earth and not die. No one would come near me, they could feel the curse radiating off me. No one would offer to help or leave things behind to sate me. I was a prisoner on a planet that didn't even want me to exist.

I had managed to find rags that a family had thrown out, pulling on what was left of the pants and shirt so at least I was no longer wandering the land naked. But the hunger and thirst continued to claw and writhe in my belly and up my throat, burning its way to my cotton dry mouth.

I sat at the base of one of the temples of Hades in the land of Greece. And how I loathed the land and its people, its pantheon, its riches, its culture. It wasn't something I was used to. I missed the hot desert sands that warmed my feet and back as the wind swept it across rolling dunes that led to great beautiful cities, pyramids that stretched high into the sky and glowed like precious gems in the sun of Ra.

I had gotten together twigs and bits of grass, but it wouldn't give me a fire to warm even my feet in the cold night. My breath came out in clouds as I dug one of the twigs into the ground, trying to mindlessly recreate the city I had been most favored in. It was useless.

I growled in frustration and kicked the construction apart before I forced myself to my feet, turning to face the temple made of prestine white columns, surrounding a hollowed out center where a pool of crystal water sat in the center, before a great statue of Hades, that didn't really resemble the god in the least, or from what I had heard of him at the time. I curled my lip in repungence at the god, walking inside, keeping myself up amongst the columns before I came to the pool.

I dropped to my knees and let my palms fall into the cool water that chilled me, sending goose bumps flying across my skin. The priests that usually took up residence had gone home for the night, giving me the chance to soil their precious god's offering. I scooped the water to my lips, gulping it down, desperate to ease the ache in my throat and belly. I could feel the cool liquid slither down my throat, through my chest, and slosh into my empty belly.

I drank and splashed my face, savoring the feeling of mild cleanliness. I finally rose to my feet, peering up into the face of the god of the underworld. I spat in the water, then turned to leave, pulling up short to see a man standing near the entrance of the temple.

No, not a man.

No human could possibly be that beautiful. Exotic with porcelain skin that seemed to glow in the moonlight outside, the rays making his blood red hair appear in deadly locks down to his slender shoulders that only a silk black cloak covered. His hair matched his eyes, only his eyes very obviously glowed in the dark eerily. Under his cloak was only a loose tunic that fell to his knees, as black as his cloak and the night behind him.

"Who are you?" I demanded in irritation, wiping the back of my mouth and flinging the water to the marble floor. The man leaned on the column for a moment longer before pushing off, his arms still neatly folded over his chest.

"I should be asking you that. You're the one desecrating my father's temple." He replied, stepping forward a bit before he pausing to study me from head to toe. I narrowed my eyes at him, growling low in my throat as a threat, but he didn't seem to care for it as he cocked his head.

"Do you want to die that badly?" He asked dryly.

"I cannot die," I spat angrily, "But if you want to try, feel free. I really don't give a shit." The man studied me, hardly looking surprised by my reaction. And suddenly, he vanished in a split second. I gasped.

He was a god, or at least, a demigod, I knew instantly as I looked around quickly for him. I heard him clear his throat from behind me, making me whirl around to see him sitting at the base of the statue of Hades, one leg folded over the other. He rested his elbow on one knee, his cheek against his open palm, red eyes hooded with an enigmatic stare.

"You're not Greek... Are you Persian?" He asked. He hardly sounded interested, though. I snorted.

"Don't insult me." I responded coldly. The man scrunched his nose up in distaste.

"Fine then, are you an ass or a horse?" He asked instead. I sneered at him in annoyance. Who was this man? No, god. Some kind of god. He was a son of Hades. That made him important. Yet, through all my bitterness, I felt nothing for him, save for a vague sense of physical attraction. I had never been particularly attracted to a man before. Most of the male beings in my pantheon were relatives and while my father and mother were also brother and sister, I found most of my male counterparts to be revolting-- and I had no taste for the male humans that worshipped me.

My job was to whisper in their ears, stir up their hatred and vengeance, mostly during battle. I was there whenever man decided to throw fists at each other, clang their swords together, or shove shields. That was their only use.

"You're rude," The god said at last, standing up and making me roll my eyes at something that was too familiar, "Why are you here anyway if you are not part of this world? Or rather, why are you here if you do not want to respect my father? Have you any idea who Hades is?"

"Oh, I know who he is," I sneered in disgust, "And nor do I care. All you Greeks are the same with your cocky and childish antics. I'm here because I have no choice. And I've already asked for their help, but they do not hear me."

"Maybe you're asking wrong." The god replied flatly, though, he didn't seem to believe his own words, making me scowl.

"I offered my first scrap of food to them after I was banished, but they didn't take it or listen to me. And they're the ones who put me into this mess in the first place. If it wasn't for your pantheon's selfishness, I wouldn't be here right now." I snapped angrily. Something flickered in those deep red eyes as he narrowed them. For a moment, I had expected him to retaliate and get angry with me.

No, instead, he laughed bitterly, folding those arms over his chest again.

"They are a bunch of sick twisted little bastards, aren't they? Beg them as much as you want and they won't help you. Why would they? Doesn't matter what you did for them, they're not grateful. They expect you to be grateful." He answered to my surprise. I frowned, studying the god before me. I could feel the hatred and bitterness radiating off him in waves. It was any wonder it took me so long to feel it.

"And what have the gods done to you that you hate them for so much? Did they give you the wrong chalice of ale?" I asked sarcastically. The god barked a laugh and disappeared before reappearing behind me, making me whip around and almost fall back into the pool before I caught myself. The smile had vanished from those pretty petal soft lips.

"They birthed me. That's what they did." He spoke in a tone so cold and brittle that I could feel it to the core of my soul. I said nothing to that. I didn't know what to say. We just stared at each other for the longest time before the god held his hand out to me, making me frown instantly.

"You and I seem to have something in common," He spoke at last, "And I admire something in you. If you don't want to spend the rest of eternity in nights like these, come with me and be my righthand. I'm in need of someone with your... special talents."

"And why should I do that?" I asked bitterly, still gazing at his outstretched hand. His eyes glowed a little more, flickering like the tender flames of a hearth.

"Because I'm sweeter than death." He replied. I blinked, looked down at his hand, then back up to meet those red eyes. Something in them was magnetic. I couldn't quite tell what it was at the time, be it the power that rippled off him in waves or the pain that flashed in those red irises.

But something possessed me as I reached out and took his hand, stunned by how soft and delicate it felt against my calloused hand. A strange sight to see my olive skin sharply contrasted with his pale skin, his carefully manicured nails and my broken, bloody ones. I lifted my eyes again to meet his.

"I am Theo," He greeted, "Seventh Son of Hades, Guardian of the River of Styx. And you?" I blinked, snapping out of my daze to stare at him.

"Sept. I am Sept." I answered. I almost told him the names of my parents, but caught myself. There was no need to devulge that information now, not while he was accepting me into his service. Part of me was disgusted that I had sunk so low as to serve a Greek god, the very pantheon that had resulted in my banishment. And yet, I found it very difficult to hate Theo. There was something about him that held me prisoner.

Be it those beautiful red eyes that glowed like rubies in the sunlight, or the hair that was as soft as velvet, red as the blood that oozed from the wounds in his back; the wounds he desperately needed in order to numb the pain that churned in his soul. The way he could sound mature one moment and a child the next, because he never quite understood what it meant to be a child or to be an adult. It was as if his soul were trapped in the past.

I tried to tell myself all these years that it was my loyalty as a servant that kept me fighting for Theo. It was my duty to keep him safe, to do whatever he told me to do. He saved me from eternal damnation. He held his hand out to assist me when no one else would, not even his pantheon would reach out to me.

It was Theo who accepted me.

It was Theo who understood me.

And it was Theo whom I'd fallen in love with. I had never meant for it to come about, but it did and now was the ultimate test. I was not about to fail that and let some pathetic sniveling Titan have his way with the one I loved.

I could feel the weight of Epimetheus' soul under my palm, gathering there as I readied to take it away and send it to where it rightfully belonged. The pain was hot in my veins, making my temples throb and blood drip from my nostrils. I gritted my teeth and pulled harder, feeling my muscles bunch and cry out at the power that boiled inside me.

Epimetheus' scream had faded and now was replaced by Theo's. I had never heard Theo scream before. He'd always savored pain. Any physical pain that could distract him from the agony brewing in his soul was a relief to him, but to have him scream in true, real pain made my heart wrench. I was literally ripping Epimetheus' soul off his own, pulling it forcefully from his body.

Theo trembled, his back arched as the white glow slowly began to fade from his eyes and mouth. He screamed and dug his claws into the sheets, ripping the mattress open. His muscles were taut and hard under his porcelain skin, his legs drawing up until his knees were clasped on either side of my hip. His red eyes flashed and glowed a bit more as his soul tried desperately to take its regular place. He choked and screamed again, claws tearing through the mattress until he reached up and grabbed the bars on the headboard, that rattled from the force of Theo's grip.

A sharp pain crackled through my palm and shot up my arm as I blinked, gasping for breath.

"Noooo," Theo screamed, throwing his head back against the pillows, "Stop! Aaagh! Sept, stop!" I almost obeyed when I remembered what Rara had told me before.

Do not let go, Sept. If you do, Epimetheus will only jump back inside and devour the rest of Theo's soul. Do not let go.

I gritted my teeth and pulled harder. The sensation of something ripping apart came after I pulled one last time as hard as I could, feeling my god powers shudder at the force. I started to slowly clench my fist around the searing hot soul that writhed in my palm. Another sharp pain bolted up my arm and pierced my chest as I winced.

"Stop," Theo shouted, choking off to howl in pain before he writhed, "Stop! Sept, stop!" I let the rest of the Epimetheus' soul ball into my fist as I pulled it away.

As soon as I did, I realized my mistake.

Sharp pain after sharp pain exploded up my arm and burned its way into the center of my chest. I gasped, shuddering at the feeling of Epimetheus' soul trying to force its way into me. I kept my fist clenched, watching Theo slump back on the bed, breathing heavily as sweat created a warm sheen on his skin. He looked like he was struggling to stay conscious, mumbling something incoherent under his breath.

I tried to reach for him, but my arms wouldn't obey. I writhed and tried to reach out to Theo, whose eyelids fluttered shut and he sighed, slipping into unconsciousness. I tried to move, tried to speak, but nothing was working.

No, I wanted to moan in agony as my chest tightened sharply, making me throw my head back with a growl of pain. No, no, no!

Oh yes, came Epimetheus' voice from somewhere in my skull, your desperation to save your precious little master was all in vain. You fell into every trap that I laid out for you. The dreams that I forced Theo to use to get in contact with you. The memories that coaxed you to hold him. Killing that pathetic little imp so you had no choice, but to return to your pantheon for your powers. And how sweet are they! The flavor of an Egyptian god's powers... It's like honey. It's so much sweeter than Theo's. His soul was bitter and cold...  The soul of an abandoned demigod. It was so pathetic. I had expected to stumble upon a soul pulsing with power, but instead, I found a curled up little boy trying to hide from everyone in the dark.

Shut up, I thought angrily, trying to move again, but my arms didn't move according to my will. They moved as Epimetheus wanted them to move. He held my hands out for me to see, studying them before my eyes shifted to Theo, who still lay beneath me, unconscious.

"He's a pretty little thing, though," Epimetheus spoke in my voice, reaching his hand out and taking Theo's chin, turning his head toward us, "It was fun while it lasted."

Get your filthy hands off him, I snarled, fighting against what felt like a tight wrap of cold blankets around me. While I could easily see and feel everything Epimetheus could, I couldn't control it. I was trapped underneath of him.

This was how Theo felt, I realized in agony. Theo had felt and seen everything going on around him, but he couldn't stop it. My heart ached for him, but there was nothing I could do now, but watch Epimetheus stroke Theo's cheek with his knuckles.

"Well, switching bodies sure is exhausting," Epimetheus mused, yawning as he slowly rolled off the bed and stretched, bones cracking and popping, muscles pulling, "But there's still so much to do and such little time to do it in." I couldn't do anything as Epimethus walked to the door, pausing to glance back at Theo, who was still unconscious on his bed. I ached to go to him, but Epimetheus only laughed out loud at my thoughts and continued out of the room.

He walked down the hallway and I almost expected him to teleport at some point or leave the palace, but instead, he made route for the kitchen. As he did so, my stomach sank lower and lower. Or at least, I got the sensation that it was, but I could feel Epimetheus writhing in anticipation inside me. He approached the kitchen and opened the doors, peering inside until he spotted Rara, who was leaning against the wall near the doors that led outside. She looked up, then grinned slowly.

Something about that unsettled me further.

Epimetheus swept across the kitchen as if he owned the place and approached Rara, who took his hand gently and tugged him outside. The doors closed and Rara reached up, putting her arms around Epimetheus' neck, pulling him down for a deep, passionate kiss that made me sneer in disgust as I sat back inside, trapped inside my own body.

All I could do was watch, and worst of all, feel Rara's tongue invading my mouth like a slimy wet eel before she pulled away to cup my face-- Or rather, Epimetheus'. Her deep green eyes searched my face as she smiled dreamily.

"I'm glad you're back." She whispered, pecking Epimetheus on the lips again. He smiled with my lips, reaching down to her cheeks, cupping them and stroking her soft, dark skin with his thumbs affectionately.

"You've done well, my precious. A bit longer than I expected, but good nonetheless. How do I look?" Epimetheus stepped back and did a slow turn, making Rara squeal with delight and throw her arms around Epimetheus' arm, leaning up to kiss him.

"You're absolutely gorgeous. I'm glad you chose Sept. He has the best body of the group." Rara added, making Epimetheus pause and scrunch up his nose.

"And what of my real body? Will you be disappointed once I'm contained inside my own body again?" He asked. Rara punched him playfully in the arm before kissing him on the cheek again, giggling the whole time.

"Aside from your original body, prince charming. Anyway, what're you going to do now? Did the others believe you at the meeting?" She asked, pausing to peer into Epimetheus' face. I wanted so badly to grab her and throw her down to the ground, rip her into pieces for what she'd done. I'm sure Epimetheus heard that thought because he snorted and pulled Rara close against him, brushing the hair back from her face tenderly.

"It's much easier to play a spoiled demigod than I had thought. I've bought us plenty of time. I'm going to see Cronus now and then to find Prometheus. I'm going to release him first... I haven't seen my brother in... centuries." Epimetheus breathed the word softly, as if thinking about it pained him and Rara stroked his chest gently, peering up into his face with a sweet smile.

"Don't worry, my love. You'll be with your brother again, I promise you. But be cautious when you go to Tartarus. Do not let Zelios see you. He'll know instantly that something is wrong if you appear there unannounced." She advised, earning a nod from Epimetheus, who released her to step back.

"I'll return momentarily then. Do not let the demigod leave the palace. He'll most likely be in Recharge. If that's the case, he cannot use his powers and will be bedridden. Be sure that it stays that way." He ordered. Rara beamed, clasping her hands behind her back and purring like a cat.

"Fret not, darling. I know the plan." She answered. Epimetheus smirked at her before vanishing, appearing just outside the door that led to the main lobby to Tartarus. I fought hard, once again to escape, but it was no use and slowly, I could feel everything depleting.

The power that had coursed through me not too long ago was slowly emptying into Epimetheus, making the cold walls around me close in tightly. I felt as if I was becoming smaller. I wondered if, for a moment, that it would be like it was with Theo. Would I age backwards or was that just something that happened to Theo?

I tried not to focus too hard on it now as I paid attention to Epimetheus coming into the lobby, where Zelios' door keeper, Diodorus, was talking to someone through a headset and playing with an Xbox controller until he looked up and saw Epimetheus coming. He instantly blushed, apologizing into the headphones.

"S-Sorry, Xenon. Al. Rox. I have to go... No! I'm on duty, I gotta go now, bye!" He dropped the headphones and stood up, then winced as the headphones unplugged from the computer. He blushed again and looked at me.

"Is something wrong, Sept?" He asked, squirming under Epimetheus' gaze. I tried to call out to Diodorus, but he didn't seem to notice. Epimetheus cleared his throat.

"I need to enter. I have a message from Theo. He would have come himself, but he's currently experiencing a bad case of Recharge." He explained, making Diodorus blink, then nod quickly as he sat down and typed a few things in before looking up as the locks clicked and fell open.

"I hope he gets better, I mean," Diodorus licked his lips nervously, frowning down at his desk, "Cuz, I don't think he's a totally bad guy. I mean, like, he just seems like something's bothering him. Sorry if that wasn't polite or anything." Epimetheus smiled a smile so plastic that it made me sick to my stomach.

"Of course. I'm sure he'll be happy to hear that, actually." He replied. Diodorus looked up, looking a little curious, but the door opened and Epimetheus promptly made his way through. I seethed the whole way as Epimetheus calmly, but stealthily made his way down the steps toward the entrance that led to the darkest pit of Tartarus.

You're a fool, I sneered, you won't get away with this. Theo isn't one to sit back and take things like this. He'll go to Hades and you'll rue the day that you even thought of escaping Tartarus.

Oh, please, Epimetheus drawled, smirking as he walked down the steps toward the trench below, I have no need to fear Hades anymore. I'm a god now just as he is. I'm going to use your powers to tear him apart. Just you wait. I'll go before Hades and happily inform him that Theo killed Regulus.

You killed Regulus!

You think that buffoon will know? Tsk! He'll go after Theo and punish him so harshly and once I have Hades right where I want him, I'll send a god bolt ripping through his soul. Then I will become the ruler of the Underworld and free my brothers.

You think a simple god bolt would kill Hades? Fine, feel free to attempt. The sooner you leave, the better.

Shut up. You have no idea what's like to be punished, as if you were a child. Pah! Child! I was just trying to save my brother! He didn't deserve what he got! He was only helping man when the gods refused! Prometheus was helping the humans! And that was his reward-- chaining him down and having vultures pick at him as if he were just another useless creature left for dead. And that's the worst part, the inability to die to escape the suffering.

I know far more than you know.

Shut up, Epimetheus fumed, throwing open the door to the stairway that led down to the Titans holding cells, you are only making me wish to kill you. In fact, if I don't kill you by the time I return to my body, I'll make sure to torment you for eternity afterwards. I said nothing now, just silently fumed as Epimetheus made his way down to the bottom, entering the chamber that was shaped like a horse shoe with the cells containing the Titans.

Even I could feel the sudden heavy sense of dread as we entered. The gloom felt far heavier now than it did before. I squirmed as Epimetheus made his way toward a dark cell, then paused a couple feet from the bar, as if even he were frightened to approach the king of the Titans.

"Cronus... Are you there? It's Epimetheus." He whispered, then paused as there was a heavy gasping, then suddenly someone vomiting violently. Epimetheus cringed, then jumped as Cronus approached the bars, breathing harshly as drool hung from his lip, then fell to the floor, mingling with the blood that was caked against his obviously weak body. His black hair hung in stringy, greasy locks to his shoulders, his gold eyes faded and exhausted.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He sneered. Epimetheus stiffened for a moment, then cleared his throat and bowed lowly before straightening.

"My Lord Cronus, I have come to warn you that I will come to release you. All of you," He added, looking around at the cells as the other Titans crept closer to the bars, peering through at Epimetheus, who turned back to Cronus, "I am currently in the body of a servant to one of his sons. I am going to infiltrate the Hall of Hades."

"And what? Kill Hades?" Cronus asked flatly. Several of the Titans snickered wildly, some choking and coughing for breath as they moaned in disgust. Epimetheus bit his tongue on any sarcastic remarks and cleared his throat again.

"No, I am going to bait Hades into killing his son. Then I will make my move. I promise you I will return and set you free... After I set Prometheus free." That last part didn't seem to sit well with Cronus, his gold eyes igniting with hot rage.

"Listen here, you arrogant little worm," Cronus sneered, "Even if you did manage to set Prometheus free, you will bring far too much attention to yourself. In case you've forgotten, Zeus is the one who punished Prometheus and he has his pathetic little guards on watch at all times of the day. Your brother is a lost cause."

"He is not," Epimetheus protested angrily, "He's my brother--"

"And Uranus was my father, but I had no problem castrating him," Cronus snapped back harshly, making Epimetheus flinch, "You can save your brother after you manage to set us free. That is, if you can. You do not know what Hades is capable of."

"Aye," A hoarse voice agreed from the cell beside Cronus', the Titan Cirus appearing behind the bars with sunken in black eyes and brown hair that fell across his face in dirty locks, "Trust in Cronus, Epimetheus, trust me. Hades is very good at causing indigestion." Cronus glowered, but Cirus only shrugged as a couple other Titans laughed at the statement. Epimetheus gritted his teeth and stepped back.

"If I were you, I wouldn't taunt the one who plans to free you." He retorted, causing all the laughter to cease abruptly. Cronus turned his cold gold eyes on Epimetheus, his lip curling back to reveal a single fang that was intact, the other being broken in half, rotting.

"If I were you, I would not taunt your master," He seethed threateningly, "You are not the only Titan on the other side of these bars, Epimetheus. I have a friend who owes me a favor." Epimetheus stiffened.

"He won't help you." He answered stiffly. Cronus barked a laugh that was joined by his siblings. It was almost like a scene from a prison movie. The Titans were pressed against the bars now, peering out at Epimetheus hungrily as if he were a toy waiting to be chewed on. Some were worse off than others, their shackles jingling as they moved. Only a few had remained deep inside their cells, cowering from the dim light outside and the plotting of the others.

It was amazing to see that these Titans, once the great rulers of the Greek pantheon, had been beaten down so harshly that they were reduced to common criminals, trapped away behind bars and thousands of doses of grigora.

And if they were to escape, they would take no mercy on anyone. They wouldn't give anyone a calm and peaceful death. No, not death at all, but years upon years of torture and misery-- just as they have suffered.

"Leave," Cronus ordered darkly after he had sobered, "You are causing danger for all of us by being here. Feel free to make your attempt, Epimetheus, but it's all in vain... and you will suffer in the attempt."

"Fine," Epimetheus spat, clenching his fists and backing away, "Sit there and rot for all I care. I'm going to save Prometheus and I'm going to kill the rest of the Greek Pantheon... And call me a fool if you want, but I'm not the one who swallowed a rock, thinking it was my son." That earned wild laughter from the other cells and Cronus' face to turn red with rage as he bellowed so loud that the cavern shook. Epimetheus vanished from the chamber and reappearing in Theo's palace.

"Forget it," Epimetheus seethed, "I don't need them. Always mocking me, laughing at me. Just wait. Once I free Prometheus, I will make damn sure they stay there and rot a little longer."

Epimetheus' rage was hot and burned me as the walls closed in tighter around me, making me gasp for breath as I squirmed. It felt as if I was being crammed into an oven with the heat cranked up, and at first I thought it was Epimetheus' rage at being humiliated when I realized it was him activating my god powers, causing them to shudder through me as I seethed.

Stay away from Theo. I managed angrily, making Epimetheus laugh out loud as he pulled to a halt.

You want me to stay away from your precious little demigod? I don't think so. You are in no position to be making orders. Besides, don't you want to pay a little visit to your demigod? I'm sure he's still unconscious and suffering even more from Recharge without someone nursing him back to health.

I said stay away from him!

Make me. Epimetheus swept down the hallway toward the hallway where Theo's room was when Rara suddenly appeared in the hallway, looking flustered.

"Epimetheus, Malachi is calling another meeting and you have to be there on behalf of Theo if he's unable to make it." She rushed, wincing as Epimetheus cursed under his breath. He looked around, annoyed for a moment before straightening.

"Fine."

You're lucky, Egyptian. That pathetic brother of his just saved his life... But you won't be so lucky next time.