The Pantheon: Rebirth

We Reap What We Sow

"Helen!" Parker yells as he lays Zander down on the ground. Careful not to let him hit his head on the floor. He runs over to the girls. Aurora is struggling to her Helen in a comfortable position, the metal spear glistening with her blood.

I have to get up. She needs help.

Zander tries to move his body, but it won't work with him. He feels like every ounce of his energy was sucked from his body. The wound from Cerberus causing waves of pain to shoot through his body. His vision slowly starts to blur as he sees the outline of the horror show in front of him being replaced by welcoming darkness.

After a few moments, Zander is strong enough to open his eyes. Instead of seeing the familiar glow of Hell, he's surprised to be on the cement. He looks around, trying to find where his family was. He turns himself over and manages to push himself off the ground. He immediately notices that the agonizing pain from before is gone. He looks to check on his wound, but he cant find it.

Weird.

Zander looks around, his mind racing from the traumatizing image of Helen impaled with the spear. His heart begins to beat at the speed of light. His mind kicking into overdrive.

Did I die? How come the cycle didn't restart? Where am I?

He calms himself long enough to analyze his surroundings. He finds himself in the middle of a giant circle of concrete. Along the edge are the same statues that he first saw in the museum.

"Where the hell am I?" He mutters to himself.

"We're on Olympus, jackass."

A smile spreads across Zander's face. He turns around to see Parker walking towards him, still rocking the robe he had on in Hade's throne room. His trident in his left hand.

"Oh, thank gods," Zander responds as he walks towards his brother. "Where's Helen?"

"Who?" Parker looks at him with utter confusion. "Have you had too much wine? Damn Dionysus. I told him that concoction of his was too strong."

"Wine? I'm not drunk. I just saw her. She was impaled by Ares' spear. Is she okay?"

"Ares? You sent him to retrieve something from the Pacific. What's going on with you?" Parker rests his hand on Zander's shoulder. Zander jerks his shoulder away in frustration.

"This has to be another illusion." Zander mutters as he walks in the direction Parker came from. "I need to go find Helen."

Parker stares at Zander as he leaves, choosing not to pursue his brother any longer. "I gotta get me some of that wine."

Halfway down the infinitely long flight of stairs, Zander notices a woman up ahead. He takes off, nearly missing a step in the process. The unmistakable curls bounce as Helen walks down the stairs, carrying a basket of fruit in her hands.

"Helen!"

Helen turns around, a scorned look spreads on her face as Zander reaches her.

"Don't call me the name of one of your whores."

Zander is taken back. He wasn't used to Helen talking to him this way. She seemed completely different. Then it clicked.

"Hera my love. My apologies."

"What do you want? I have things to do."

"I just had the feeling that you were in danger and I wanted to make sure you were okay."

Hera scoffs. "The only thing you care about is yourself."

She turns away and begins to head down the steps. For a moment, Zander hesitates to call out to her. In his mind, it seems worthless to try and reach out to her. He can feel the hatred she has towards him.