The Quest for Peace: Dark Moon Saga 3,Chapter 3.5

Implications of Jade’s sacrifice were being discussed in length up on Olympus. Half of the gods wanted to see her restored to life, while the other half were content to believe that Xylen’s wrath was satiated; with her death they would no longer be a target of his rage. The range of emotions at the

table had been giving Solan a pounding, massive headache; Zeus still expected that all of them would agree to his position, and that Solan was supposed to make them see that. Solan was fighting the nausea that was accompanying the headache; he wanted to let loose all over the table and

maybe then they would stop being so emotional over the topic…

Hermes: I’m just saying, why bring Jade back? Her death turned the attention off us.

Solan: How do you know that? Chaos could just be ignoring us for the time being.

Hermes: As long as it’s not on us who cares?

Solan: You don’t care who gets hurt do you? As long as it’s not you right?

Hermes: Damn right, as long as it’s not me.

Reias: My son is right, we have to be thinking of more than just ourselves. Chaos is after everyone not just the gods, what good are we if can’t protect our people?

Hephaestus: It’s an old attitude; he still thinks this is Ancient Greece. You can’t teach an old god new tricks.

Reias: This is the 21st century, you either adapt or perish; it’s the law of the jungle Hef.

Hermes: We’ve weathered the storms before; the Crusades and the rise of Christianity, two world wars, and we still survive. Because we thought of only ourselves; that’s why we’re

still here.

Solan: Yeah but you have never come across an evil so great that it precedes even your age of Ancient Greece; that’s what Chaos is, the oldest evil in the known galaxy.

Hermes: And if those damn Elvendian gods hadn’t come here, we’d still be off Chaos’s radar; it’s their fault we’re being hunted now. Your own father is responsible for bringing it

out of whatever prison they put it in.

Reias: You’re so quick to blame others aren’t you? It’s the Elvendians, it’s me, but have you ever thought that maybe it was your own arrogance that gives

Chaos so much strength? I may be just a baby in terms of longevity but I think that gives me a different view point and angle that you can never see.

Hermes: You don’t know jack shit kid; shut up.

Aphrodite: I kinda agree with Reias. He does see things differently than we do.

Hermes: Seriously? You believe the kid over me?

Aphrodite: He makes sense. We are stuck in our ways; I think it’s time to adapt to a new way of thinking.

Hermes: I can’t even believe you’re saying that. Why mess with what’s worked for so long?

Cupid: Because it doesn’t work anymore; mom’s right.

Hera: What do you think husband?

Zeus: I prefer the old ways…however the kid makes a point. Jade died to protect us from Chaos in a way. If he had gotten a hold of Olympian blood we’d be dead by now. Chaos cannot be allowed to get Olympian blood, not like he did with the

Norse blood.

Hera: I am impressed husband, you actually agree with Reias. You never did before.

Poseidon: Okay, who are you and what did you do with Zeus?

Zeus: Funny. You’re hilarious brother. But I stand with Reias on this; we will adapt to this situation.

Poseidon: That’s the first sensible thing I’ve heard you say in nearly 6000 years. Good job.

Batalia: Time to reinforce the fact they’re all doomed, don’t you think brother?

Dalen: Most definitely.

Reias and the other gods leapt to their feet; the meeting hall was filled with the clattering of chairs against the marble floor as they struggled to understand how

and when Dalen and Talia had snuck into Olympus.

Dalen: And you; it’s time to take your place with us. The Dark Triad is not complete without Rebirth. Don’t try to resist; we will break you…old friend.

Reias: You’re as crazy as you are stupid; I will NEVER break and join you!!

Batalia: Oh I think you will; no one can resist Chaos, especially one who was once under his power.

Dalen: Look, I wanted to make this nice and easy because we’re such good friends buddy; don’t make me use force.

Reias: We are NOT friends; you destroyed that when you killed my child!!

Batalia: Bugger this!! MOVE!! I’ll take him down alone!!

Dalen: As you wish sister.

Reias braced himself; her moves were fast and precise and so strong, had he been paying more attention to her fists flying every which way he would have

seen the small shiny point of a needle she had concealed in one of her fists; one tipped with hind’s blood…

He didn’t even feel the cut until the warm blood began running down his cheek; then the red spots in front of his eyes, blurring Talia’s onslaught further. He felt

the strength leave his body and the floor suddenly looked a lot closer than it had been before…

Callisto cornered Bliss as he headed towards Reias; she smiled coldly.

“Well now, aren’t you the gorgeous one? I had heard about how hot you were but to see it myself…”

Bliss: MOVE HALFLING!! You are no match for me!!

Callisto smiled broader; “ Oh I think I am more than you can handle hottie.”

Callisto: Have you ever felt what it’s like to have all the water in your body sucked out all at once?

Bliss: Oh please, if you could do such a thing I’d not be standing here now.

Callisto: Why you son of a bitch!!

Hades: You think I was not going to come back to make sure you suffered for trying to replace me??!!

Zeus: Yeah, kinda did there. Coward. You ran like a scared chicken from me once I had gotten my strength back.

Hades: Oh please if you had real strength again, I wouldn’t be able to challenge you like this!!

Zeus: I’ll show you real strength!!

The lightning lit up the meeting room like a blazing sun…but most were too engaged in their own fights to notice.

******

Part B:

The attack on Olympus shook the whole city; it was if the skies themselves opened, the rain was relentless. Flash flooding caught many people by surprise and many were lost in the vast flood waters, they were unfortunate enough to

be caught by the run off from the hills. News spread fast, disasters always make quick rounds. While the mortals suffered through the storm below,

another was suffering above in Olympus…

The fighting raged for hours; leaving Zeus and Bliss particularly hurt and injured. Until Dalen called them all off; they had what they were after anyway. Solan buried

his head in his arms at the table; crying. They took his father, and most likely poisoned him while doing so. He knew about hind’s blood; it was the only thing on Earth that could kill a god, which was why Zeus ordered all of the golden hinds to

be destroyed 5000 years ago. How they got it, he didn’t know.

And Solan couldn’t stop Dalen from kidnapping his father. He wasn’t strong enough.

Which was why Solan didn’t sense someone watching him from across the table.

Aiden: Hey. Are you Solan?

Solan’s head shot up; “Who the hell are you? How did you get in here?”

Aiden wasn’t surprised; Hope warned him that Solan might not want to talk to him.

“My name is Aiden Salica, I’m Dalen’s son.”

Solan: Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you right now!!

Aiden: Because if I wanted to fight, you’d be on the ground right now begging for mercy. I want to help you get Reias back from my father and aunt.

Solan: Why should I trust you?

Aiden: I’m your only chance, and besides, he took my daughter too.

Solan’s eyes widened; he could sense immense power in this guy but it was somehow clouded and unclear. He wasn’t lying or being deceptive; Solan could

tell that much, but everything else was shielded.

“Why can’t I read your colours?”

Aiden: Because being Exiled kinda makes you immune to the powers of this pantheon. At least that’s what I was told on Elvendia when they found me.

Solan: How can we get my father back? What’s your plan of attack?

Aiden: You remember the Adriels? Your father and my father both had one, we need to find them again. Chaos, or Xylen as they also know him on Elvendia, is

more afraid of them than the heir of peace at the moment.

Solan: How do we find them?

Aiden: That’s why I need your help. Your son in law is the oldest of the fifth generation heiress Pandora, the Adriels usually respond to the legacy heirs and spares calling them

rather than someone like me.

Solan: How can Icarus help find the Adriels? Last I heard, since the thing with Atalanta when she was a teenager; they haven’t been seen.

Aiden: We need them, particularly Botan and Drinn, they have the strongest connections to our fathers.

Solan: I see. Well I can ask Pandora or Atalanta if they’ve seen them.

Aiden: Thanks. And I just want you to know, I am nothing like my father.

Solan: That remains to be seen; I just met you so how do I know for sure?

Aiden: All I can ask is that you trust me.

Solan: As long as you know, I will be able to tell if you’re lying. That much I can read from you.

******

Reias woke up in a strange, cold room. He had no idea what had happened to him or where he was. All he could remember was the pain and the burning as the

toxic hind’s blood coursed through his body. He should be dead; but he wasn’t.

That scared him.

He touched his cheek; the wound was still fresh, and still bleeding. His blood burned like acid on his fingers. He couldn’t even teleport out of here; it was as if

his strength as a god was gone. He had never felt so weak.

But Reias still has his instinctual reaction, as soon as he sensed Dalen teleport in he jumped up. The smug look of triumph on his face made Reias want to

knock his lights out; if only he had the strength to.

Dalen: Comfy are we? I do hope we weren’t too rough with you.

Reias: What do you want? Can’t you leave me in peace?

Dalen: ‘fraid not my friend; the master wants to see you.

Reias: You serve a master now, like a common dog. How pathetic.

Dalen’s lip twitched angrily; but he kept his temper under control.

“You’ll see soon enough. The master will win this, and you will help him do it.”

Reias: Doubtful. I will never be a common boot licking dog like you.

Dalen: Why you--

Dalen held back and let Xylen take over.

Xylen: I remember you. I had you once, and I will again.

Reias: I see you’re as deluded as Dalen is.

Xylen: Defiant as always Rebirth; you haven’t changed a bit.

Dalen: Can’t I just wail on him for a bit? I so want to.

Xylen: You know as well as I, that whatever you do to him will have no effect. He will always come back. That is the nature of Rebirth.

So that was why the hind’s blood didn’t kill him; he couldn’t die because he was Rebirth. He would always come back; renewed. But that obviously didn’t apply to

the hind’s blood burning within him, it seemed to come back when he did.

Xylen: This would be so much easier if you just accepted me as you did before. This transition is necessary for a new world to be born; it doesn’t have to be a painful one.

Reias: I told you; you will not break me again. I have more positive energy this time around.

Xylen: Ah, yes that little self delusion must be so comforting to you. But that is all it is, a delusion. Your heart is dark Reias; I can feel it pulsing with hatred for Dalen and Batalia, it’s

like the steady beat of a war drum; music to my ears.

Dalen: I dare you to strike at me; you know you want to. Go ahead; I’ll even give you a free shot.

Reias could feel the urge to do it; it was there underneath the surface, clawing at him like a thousand, tiny, sharp nails. He could see himself pummelling his smart ass face to a bloody pulp; relishing in the satisfying crunch as his fist connected with bone and cartilage; the thrill of feeling the hot red blood gush over his fist

and down his wrist…it was so tempting…

Reias: Oh you would like that wouldn’t you? For me to let my carnal rage loose and beat you senseless, thereby cementing Chaos in my heart again. But no, I

will not give you the satisfaction of seeing me break. I will not let your chides and jabs get to me, I am stronger than you; always have been.

Dalen: Or I could just kill your other child; that would work wouldn’t it?

Reias: You will never kill Solan!! You are far too weak to even scratch him!!

He felt the rage again; the hind’s blood boiled in his veins. He saw the redness of anger; but with great effort he pulled back, the rage was quickly extinguished. The

angelic face of his wife Roxie flashed through his mind; her love kept him under control.

Reias: That was a good try, but you failed. I won’t give in.

Dalen: Only a matter of time buddy; only a matter of time.

******

Solan and Aiden didn’t know, but the Adriel Guardians never left Hidden City. They just managed to hide themselves from the gods’ sights. Botan poked at the

sputtering fire; winter was coming and their little cabin was drafty and cold.

“Got any marshmallows?” Drinn asked.

Botan: Not today. Lunala ate them all.

Botan: Too bad we can’t go buy more. The gods will find us if we leave the sacred grove. Oh well, it’ll be daylight soon and I need to fish.

Drinn: Uhh, fish. What I wouldn’t give for a nice steak.

Botan: Agreed, but we can’t leave here remember?

Drinn: It’s like being a prisoner again, being trapped here.

Their sacred grove was not so secret after all. As soon as Sora sensed the presence of his old lover, he was out the door like a shot to greet her.

Sora: Lanta…how did you know where we were?

Atalanta grinned; “You’re my Spirit Guide Sora, I can track you anywhere through meditation.”

Sora: Why did you come here?

Atalanta: Didn’t you miss me?

Sora: Of course, but why now after so many years?

Atalanta: Solan contacted me, Olympus was attacked by Dalen and Talia, they took Reias. We need your help to get him back.

Botan: And you came here to tell us that?

Botan: You expect us to reveal ourselves to save him? We’re not exactly on the friendliest of terms with Olympus if you recall.

Atalanta: But Reias is your master, aren’t you worried about him in the hands of Chaos?

Botan: I do miss my master, but we haven’t spoken in years. I figured he was too busy being an Olympian.

Atalanta: I don’t blame you if you’re hurt; but we have to get Reias back from Chaos. Did you know that Chaos has already made two attempts to get the

power of Olympian blood? And that he already has the blood of the Norse gods?

Botan: We know; but we don’t interfere. The earth tells me tales of what has been going on, much more

so in recent days.

Atalanta: So what are you going to do about it?

Botan: What do expect us to do? We leave here, they come after us.

Atalanta: Chaos is more afraid of you guys than he is of me. That should tell you something. He

knows you four could easily take him out but you still hide here, in your grove, hidden from the

world save for those of my blood line.

Botan sighed; she had a point. In the years since they had arrived on Earth and at Drinn’s

insistence, they had been honing their powers. They were much stronger now than they were

then, their new robes reflected their power levels.

“If we leave here to help recover my master, can you guarantee with absolute certainty that we will

not be hunted by Zeus and the gods?”

Atalanta: Believe it or not, the order to enlist your help came from Zeus himself. He has decided to adapt to the situation rather than hide from it. And it only took the kidnapping of Reias and an attack

on Olympus to make him change his mind.

Botan: You’re right; I don’t believe it. Zeus actually wants our help, it’s inconceivable to me.

Atalanta: So will you help us?

Botan tugged on his line, thinking. No fish were biting, which made him believe they were doing that on purpose so he would have no distraction

while he thought it over. “Alright, we’ll help.”

Sora: So it seems we’re going to war. I never thought I’d see the day where I’d have to fight again in one.

Atalanta: I know, and I also know that this isn’t the best thing for us to be doing right now. I am married, I have two daughters…

Sora: Then why did you agree?

Atalanta: Why did you change your mind? I seem to recall you saying it would never work between us.

Sora: A man gets older, he gets wiser and he reflects on the mistakes of his youth. I was new here, you scared me when you said you wanted to love me; I

had no idea what that meant. I had spent most of my life as a golden eagle guarding a Bow.

Atalanta: So you’re saying you regret it now? Letting me go?

Sora: I suppose so, in a way

Sora: But as you said, you have a legacy to carry on. And that we could never have had a life together.

Atalanta: Yes, I saw what being separated from my immortal father did to my mother. I didn’t want that to happen to me, or if we had any children together.

Sora: I know. I never knew we Adriel Guardians could have children, until Drinn produced twin boys.

Atalanta spent the rest of the day talking to them, catching up on news and soon enough it was dark again. She had missed them so much, the brief time they had when she was on her vision quest was so long ago now, but she never stopped

thinking about the four of them. There were nights when she would think and dream about what her life would have been like if she had married Sora instead of

Iolaus. She wondered if he thought about the same things.

Lunala missed having another woman around to talk to. She loved the fact that Atalanta had two beautiful girls. Her powers as the Guardian of the Crescent Adriel gave her the ability to control the moon and the tides, it was a powerful gift but not as powerful as the male guardians. She figured it was because her experience was a lot less in terms of battle than theirs was; and that they still

had masters to tap the deeper powers. Her mistress, Xena had not come back for her in a long time. When Atalanta mentioned Lyra, her hopes were raised

greatly.

Lunala: This Lyra is the granddaughter of my mistress? I cannot believe it!! I may have a new mistress after all!!

Atalanta: It was one reason why I came here today, Lyra could really use your protection. And since she’s the blood of your mistress, there’s little chance of incompatibility between

you two.

Lunala: May I meet her? I would love to get to know her.

Atalanta: I’ll see what I can do Luna.

******

Pandora: I heard what happened on Olympus, are you alright? Are you hurt?

Pandora threw arms around him, he winced his injuries were still healing.

Bliss: I’m still sore, but alive as you can see.

Pandora: I was so scared for you baby.

Bliss: I’m alright Dora, really.

Pandora: But not too sore for a dance I hope?

Bliss: No, that I can deal with.

Pandora: You should meet more of your grandchildren, and the next heiress. I know they’d love to get to know you better.

Bliss: I will, I promise.

Bliss: One good thing to come from the attack was that Zeus is not restricting us to Olympus anymore. Lesson learned in adaptability I suppose. I can now see you

whenever I want to.

Pandora: That’s wonderful honey. I’m so glad.

Bliss: You look so much like your mother when she was your age, Ilea.

Ilea: I get that a lot, but why haven’t I seen you until now? I am the heiress after all.

Bliss: I had commitments I couldn’t break; that’s all done now.

Ilea: You don’t look any different than in the pictures of mom at my age. Immortality must be nice.

Bliss glanced over her shoulder at Pandora; “Not as nice as you’d think.”

Pandora heard the clock chime…

“I just wanted to tell you how much I really loved you Bliss Hunicke…one last time.”

Bliss: What? What do you mean…oh shit…no Dora not now!! Please!!

She smiled sadly.

“Always on time aren’t you Solan? I always knew that.”

Solan didn’t want to do this; not after what just happened recently. He hated that infernal list; really hated it. In the wake of his father’s kidnapping it was his job to

collect the generation five heiress.

“I hate this as much as you do Dora, really.”

“I know, it’s alright honey, I’m ready.”

I could stay awake, just to hear you breathingWatch you smile while you are sleeping

Far away and dreaming…

I could spend my life in this sweet surrenderI could stay lost in this moment forever

Well, every moment spent with youIs a moment I treasure…

I don’t wanna close my eyesI don’t wanna fall asleep‘Cause I’d miss you babe

And I don’t wanna miss a thing…

‘Cause even when I dream of youThe sweetest dream will never do

‘Cause I’d still miss you babe,And I don’t wanna miss a thing…

Lying close to youFeeling your heart beating

And I’m wondering what you’re dreamingWondering if it’s me you’re seeing…

Then I kiss your eyes and thank the gods we’re togetherAnd I just wanna stay with you

In this moment forever and ever…

I don’t wanna close my eyesI don’t wanna fall asleep

‘Cause I’d miss you, babeAnd I don’t wanna miss a thing…

‘Cause even when I dream of youThe sweetest dream will never do

I’d still miss you, babeAnd I don’t wanna miss a thing…

I don’t want to miss one smileI don’t want to miss one kiss…

Well, I just want to be with you

Right here with you, just like this…

I just wanna hold you closeFeel your heart so close to mine

And stay here in this momentFor all the rest of time…

Don’t wanna close my eyesDon’t wanna fall asleep

‘Cause I’d miss you babe,And I don’t want to miss a thing…

‘Cause even when I dream of youThe sweetest dream will never do

‘Cause I’d miss you babe,And I don’t wanna miss a thing…

I don’t wanna close my eyesI don’t wanna fall asleep

‘Cause I’d miss you, babeAnd I don’t wanna miss a thing…

‘Cause even when I dream of youThe sweetest dream will never do

‘Cause I’d still miss you, babeAnd I don’t wanna miss a thing…

Don’t wanna close my eyesDon’t wanna fall asleep

I don’t wanna miss a thing.

Song: I Don’t Wanna Miss A ThingArtist(s): Aerosmith

Soundtrack: Armageddon

Pandora Reed: Generation Five HeiressMother of: Icarus, Dade, Atalanta, Xenon, Iolaus and Dione

Grandmother of: Minos, Aeson, Ambrosia, Ilea, Aegina and BellAge: 78

Meanwhile:

Callisto: The news is confirmed grandfather; the generation five heiress has died.

Dalen: And how is our old friend upstairs taking it?

The three of them looked up as they heard him let out a loud cry of anguish; he knew.

Batalia: Excellent. If that doesn’t make him more vulnerable then I might have to go on a killing spree of the rest of the fifth generation.

Callisto: Great Aunt, you are truly wicked.

Batalia: Thank you dear. I do try my best.

Callisto: If you will have me, I would like to join you if you choose to act on that plan.

Batalia: Even if that includes your own mother? She’s also fifth generation.

Callisto: Mother…oh yes. I would have no problems with it.

Dalen: I would though; we might bring too much attention to our plans that way. No killing the fifth generation, not yet anyway. In time, we shall but not now. We have to break Rebirth

first and foremost.

Callisto looked disappointed, but resigned to Dalen’s decision. And so was Batalia, she really wanted to hurt Reias enough to force his will to submit to

Xylen.

End of Entry Thirty-Eight.