Thanatos, where are you? 

The plea entered my mind like a racing truck, bouncing in all four corners of my mind. A prayer of sorts. It was strange, I hadn't heard a prayer directed to me in a very long time. People had stopped worshipping me over a century ago, ever since technology and the distaste for religion had prevailed. 

I heard that voice and I knew who it belonged to. 

Just less than a minute ago my phone lit up with an alert, a portal had opened in the underworld leading to the field of punishment. I'd spent the good part of my last two hours tracking down Janus, the god of progress. When I set out to find him I knew he would be able to hack into the underworld and get me access to the system. 

When I'd taken flight from the ski resort both anger and fear drove me, fear for what the world would become should Hades have his army. Should the Titan's win and rule again, our parents were old and out of touch, they'd rule with an iron fist. Us gods weren't much better, I had to admit to myself but we were the lesser evil. 

I flew with urgency and accuracy, my wings gliding through the air as I shot forward with speed. It took me an hour to reach the land of America and another twenty minutes to reach Silicon Valley. The only place Janus would be, in the heart of progress, whispering in the mortal's ears influencing their great ideas. He was like a Muse, but he did not do this for artistic purposes, no he always had a more sinister agenda. 

I'd easily overpowered that bastard, he was on the top floor office running the damn place from behind his swanky mahogany desk. An earbud in one ear, and a phone in his hand while also typing on a laptop. I'd bust through one of the floor-length windows announcing my arrival. The idiot tried to make a run for it but I'd taken all of four steps and pinned him to the wall. 

"Give me a device that's hacked into the underworld's system," I demanded as I gripped onto his neck. 

Janus had gone utterly still in my grasp before he handed me his phone wordlessly. I snatched it out of his hands swiped the home screen up. 

"What app is it on?" 

"The one that says underworld," he said snarkily. 

I squeezed his neck tighter as a warning but searched for the app on the phone. There, under a red square app icon, were the words underworld. I clicking on it and waited for it to load. I went straight to the menu bar hoping there'd be a section covering portals and low and behold there it was. 

"Do you get alerts when portals open and close?" I asked not bothering to look at Janus. 

"Uh, yes. In fact, any activity with the portals gets reported back to me. You, know as whose stepped in and out. It's a bit glitchy with demigods but I'm working on that for the next update." He seemed rather proud of his work as he spoke through my grip on his neck. 

"Does anyone else have this app downloaded?" I asked narrowing my eyes. 

Janus shook his head frantically, "No, this is just a prototype. I only put out things that are flawless. This is not ready." 

I knew Janus took pride in his work and I had no choice but to believe him, I let go of his neck and brushed down his suit. I didn't need another enemy trying to stop me and that was the least I could do at this point. 

"I'll be taking this," I said holding up the phone, "You'll get it back via Hermes if all goes well." 

Janus swallowed, "Don't forget to leave a review!" 

I rolled my eyes as stalked out of his office and fell from the window into the empty sky.

Now still in flight I raced towards the nearest sky portal, a mix of elation and determination pulsed through my body. 

Where are you?

Again Girogo's voice entered my mind, I could taste the fear in his words like sourdough bread. I pocket the phone and closed my wings as I approached an oncoming portal. I steeled myself, ready to enter my home with a vengeance. Cool crisp air washed over me one minute then a blazing hot sticky heat clung to me as I entered the underworld. 

I fanned my wings out pulling myself to a stop as I took a moment to glance around. Flames danced along the edges of my vision, and the tortured screams of mortals filled my ears. I'd heard these screams so many times I'd gotten used to it. What they did to them though, I did not get used to their faces. I made it a point not to venture out this far into the underworld. This was not my jurisdiction, and I respected that. 

A loud crack splintered through the noise, and my godly hearing picked up its exact location. I flew towards the small alcove that Pain called and office.  It had been thrown together by him in a fit of rage as his paperwork and computers caught on fire because of the open flame. So this building was enchanted, flameproof for everything inside. 

The door had already been kicked through and Pain was standing over the boy arm held aloft ready to strike again. 

"Pain!" I shouted, all the rage I felt exploded in that one word. 

He turned around and froze, he knew he was no match for me it was written all over his face as his eyes darted around looking for an exit. 

"There's no way out of this one, " I said, "You're going to pay dearly for this one." 

Before he could reply I was upon him like a wraith, it didn't take more than three blows for him to go down and land heavily on the concrete floor. 

Giorgio was standing in the corner, his eyes wide as he stared down at Pain, a sword gripped tightly in his right hand. 

"You did well," I said, nodding my head at him. "It's time for you to leave. The portal is open, it will take you where you need to go." 

"Does this mean my mother is safe?" He asked taking a step towards me, his eyes were hard as he assessed me. 

"For now," I admitted, "I do not know how much damage has been done, but I have a bone to pick." 

"I have a friend out there, Isabella." he went on, "She was taken on a side quest by Lethe, can you check that she gets back ok?" 

I raised my eyebrows at such a demand, the boy had grown some balls after all. Feeling in a generous mood I said, "Sure." 

Giorgio hesitated, "Swear on the River Styx you'd try to find her." 

I let out a small chuckle, "I swear. Now go. I can't be here babysitting you when things need to be done." 

He nodded and brushed past me, "Hades has an army," 

All traces of humour vanished in my voice as I said, "I know." 

..

I landed outside of Hades' building, my wings rustling as I stalked in looking for the god.  I knew all the secret hidden nooks and crannies in the damn place and I had an inkling that Hades would be sitting in his throne room today. All high on the power he thinks he's wielding. 

I walked down a long stone corridor to the throne room, tall candles lighting the way to a large arch. I tucked my wings in to fit through the arch and walked into the throne room. It was dark in here, only a few flickering candles lit up the place casting shadows upon old dusty bookcases and the throne itself sitting in the middle of the room. 

To the left was a fireplace, a pit used for communication across the underworld. The flames in it flickered and sputtered, it was weak. A clear sign Hades was using his powers on something bigger than ever. 

I approached the back of the two Throne, the one belonging to Hades had a back a few feet taller than me. Its very foundation was made from the bones of his enemies, from demigods to mere mortals. The one for Persephone, was smaller, more delicate as it was made from flowers that bloomed all year round. 

"Hades," I called out as I walked around to face the throne, as I faced the god in question. 

Hades was sitting upon his throne, his dark hair brushing the shoulders of his armour made of bone and flesh. His dark coal eyes followed me as I stood before him, he regarded me cooly, unbothered. 

"You're raising an army against Olympus?" I questioned, "Surely you know that it won't end well." 

Hades smiled slowly at me, his eyes going glassy like he didn't see me. 

"Now son, I thought I told you to stay out of this," a familiar female voice said coming out of Hades mouth. 

I jerked back in surprise, "Mother." 

She'd somehow taken over Hade's mind, somehow used her power to possess the god himself. It was impossible, no Titan even as old as she could enter a gods mind. 

"Nyx," I said coldly addressing her by her name, "Let go of your hold on him. It's over now. I am back in the underworld. You won't get your army."

"I think you're a little too late." Hades' mouth moved but my mother's voice still came out. 

I shook my head, no. It was not true. 

Hades stood, "I think it's time you're put in your place."

Dark tendrils of Nyx's power kissed my skin in a smooth caress. In a gentle farewell. A wave of darkness rushed over me, seizing my limbs and mind. Blinded I felt the air shift into that familiar rancid smell as I was thrown into the depths of Tartarus. Unable to spring myself back up I fell and fell and fell. 

Down I went into the depths of hell.