Myth [h.s au]

Prologue

It was almost impossible for him to be this calm. If any of his servants could see him now, they would stare in confusion, anxiously waiting for him to burst into flames. If his frozen heart could beat, it would surely pound against his ribcage in a quick repetitive pattern. The slightly accelerated rise and fall of his muscled chest and barely flared nostrils were the only signs something was not quite right.

But on the inside, god of the Underworld was fuming.

He was graciously seated on his decaying black throne, a glistening silver goblet of wine embedded with black rubies clenched between his long, pale fingers. Various rings were wrapped around them, the polished colourful gemstones on top of them gleaming. The soft and ruby flesh of his lips was pressed in a tight firm line, accentuating his angular sharp jawline. His eyes, green as a meadow in the early spring, were focused ahead, glazed and clouded with mist. They were open, but stared at nothing. Or so it seemed.

An oracle had her delicate hand placed on the god's strong shoulder as she stood beside him, allowing him to see what she could see, projecting the images into his mind. What the god was currently watching was his younger brother's lavish palace on Mount Olympus, filled with cackling gods and goddesses seated around a long table. Numerous alcoholic beverages and colourful foods were set along its entire length, the sounds of melodic harp music surrounding them. Everyone was blissfully happy.

"Pretentious," Hades muttered with disgust laced in his voice, wrinkling his nose as if he had swallowed something sour.

One particular seat at the table caught his attention. It was empty, like always. It had been empty for almost five hundred years.

His grip on the goblet tightened and he brushed the oracle's hand off his shoulder, making the vision disappear. "Never touch me longer than necessary, this is pure silk." He pinched the material of his ruffled black shirt between his fingertips.

The oracle shot him a quick disapproving look which he didn't notice as she bowed a little and took a few steps away from him, not turning her back on him out of respect. She received an annoyed glare from the god of death when she made no move to leave his throne room. "Be gone, I have important things to do."

The youthful oracle cleared her throat. "I didn't come here today to show you this irrelevant vision. There is another reason for my arrival."

Hades raised his eyebrow, carelessly glancing at the crimson liquid in his hand. "Do tell."

"I have foreseen your escape."

The god's trained calm expression shifted instantly, green eyes widening and brows sloping down. "What did you just say?"

"I do not know when exactly, but your freedom will come to you."

"My freedom?" He leant forward in interest, gripping the armrest with his free hand. "What do you mean? How? When?"

"Be warned, though, a grand price will be paid for it," she said in a solemn tone, eyes widening and focusing ahead as another vision came to her at that very moment. "Moonlight is the key..."

"What price? Stop speaking in codes." The god gritted his teeth. "What was that about moonlight?"

The oracle shook her head, blinking a few times to snap out of her trance. "I have already said too much. I must go before the Fates realise what have I revealed."

Hades leisurely rolled his eyes at the mention of the three Fates he loathed. "Then why tell me? What do you gain from this?" He seethed, green eyes shooting daggers at her. However, she remained unfazed.

"Peace. The visions have been haunting me for far too long now. My duty is now completed."

"I need to know more. Tell me!" He commanded firmly.

"You will be free, Lord Hades. That is all I can tell you. I must return or that future will change if the Fates find out about this. Remember, moonlight is the key."

Lord of the Underworld grunted in annoyance and waved his hand dismissively after a few seconds, leaning back in his seat. "You may leave. Keep in mind that I will need your services again."

"We shall not see each other again until the time is right. Goodbye."

He wanted to ask more and protest, but she quickly left the throne room. When the doors closed, he looked down at his goblet and took a sip of the red wine. Even though he was intrigued by this sudden turn of events, he had been disappointed far too many times in his life, so he didn't allow himself to get too excited. "It appears luck has finally decided to drop me a visit, Amon."

The enormous midnight black hellhound laying nearby stayed silent, only lifting his head briefly upon hearing his name, his pointy ears perking up. His red eyes closed as he slowly went back to sleep, opening his lower jaw to yawn, displaying numerous sets of bloody, razor-sharp teeth.

"I can see you are thrilled for me. " Hades blankly stared at the hellhound and pursed his lips. Letting out a heavy sigh through his parted lips, he slumped in his throne and tipped his head back, bringing the rim of the goblet to his mouth. He downed the rest of his drink as if he was parched, his Adam's apple bobbing with each gulp. The oracle's words echoed in his head and he took some time to contemplate them.

"Moonlight is the key."

Suddenly, his blank expression changed as a realisation struck him. He could be wrong, but it was worth a try; Hades was prepared to do anything to retrieve his freedom. He set the goblet on the table aside and grabbed a small silver bell placed on it, beginning to shake it as a ringing sound spread over the room.

A few seconds later, his faithful servant ran inside, breathless. "Yes, your darkness?"

"Send someone to watch over Selene immediately," Hades commanded. "I want detailed updates every day."

The servant, Niall, raised his eyebrow. "Bored again, my Lord?"

Hades struck him with a murderous glare and Niall lifted his hands in surrender. He noticed his master's usual somber mood was now replaced with something different... darker and dangerous possibly. "My wish is your command, your soullessness." He bowed theatrically, walking backwards until he was out of the throne room.

Niall stared at the large heavy doors as they closed with a thud, feeling pity for his master. The god had been lonely and forgotten by everyone for centuries and the only one who wasn't afraid of him was Niall. The rest of the staff usually kept away, never interacting with Hades unless it was absolutely necessary. Everyone knew how much darkness their master truly had in him and they did everything not to disturb it and awaken his inner beast.

The images of the happy gods on Mount Olympus played in front of Hades' eyes, his anger fueled by jealousy beginning to rise. Like it always happens in these situations, flames began to dance in his eyes before his green irises slowly turned red, his spotless skin starting to glow. But unlike the faint golden glow the other gods had, his was pure fire, the orange flames engulfing the lengths of his arms and torso.

He was death, destruction, and pain.

"One day, everything is going to change," Hades muttered, his voice chillingly terrifying and disfigured. "One day, I will finally escape this prison."

And it was both an oath and a promise to himself. God of the Underworld had been locked away for far too long, letting his bitterness and rage to grow day by day, wrapping around his dead heart like an invasive weed. It was only a matter of time before the world faces one of its creators; the worst of them all according to the mythical tales.

One day, he will return.