The Second Big Bang

Chapter VII

I woke up in a very bright room. Immediately, I squinted from the sheer volume of the room. I mean, seriously? White walls, white floor, white ceiling, and bright electrical lights built into the ceiling?! What the Tartarus?!

I groaned tiredly, already annoyed with whoever put me here. "You're awake!" A voice exclaimed with delight, grabbing my hand in theirs. I looked over, seeing Zoë at my side with a wide, cheery grin. "Yeah, I am. Can you quiet down now?" I asked, rubbing my ears.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, Perseus. When you said long nap, I didn't know you meant 3 days," another voice announced. In walked Apollo, wearing white clothing.

He did a quick scan of my body with his hand, before summoning and offering me a cube of ambrosia. I gladly took it, gulping it down without chewing. I sighed with content, as my body felt reenergized.

I made to get up, but Apollo gently put a hand on my chest. I gave him a confused look, while he gave Zoë a pointed stare. With a slight blush, she quickly left, leaving me more confused.

Once the door closed, Apollo let me stand up, and I got my answers without needing to ask anything. Apparently, someone had removed me from all of my clothing, so I was nude in that bed.

"I gotta hand it to you, Perseus, I'm a little jealous," Apollo muttered, gesturing to my dick. "Alcmene was one lucky gal. And it's too bad you aren't even a little bit attracted to guys," he complained, writing stuff down on a notepad he summoned.

I rolled my eyes at the sun god, before snapping my fingers. I was now dressed in a form-fitting body suit that left the hands and everything above my neck exposed. Black metal armor, which had a blood-red gleam under the light, formed around me. A cloak formed out of the darkness of the pit beneath Tartarus was draped over my shoulders. Various weapons of many types, shapes, and sizes appeared sheathed to my body.

I tapped the center of my chest once, and the battle gear transformed into simple, cotton clothes. Hunting pants and boots, form-fitting t-shirt, and a hunting jacket left open.

Apollo gave me an impressed look, before shooting me out of the room. Zoë was waiting for me, as was Hermes. "How have you been, Perseus?" Hermes asked, patting my shoulder.

"I've been well, my friend. I may have been gone only a few months, but for me, it's been a few centuries," I explained, letting them lead me through the seemingly endless hallways of wherever we were.

"How so?" Hermes asked, curious. "I was in Tartarus, training to be stronger. I may have been taught by Chiron, but I had a lot to learn," I answered, remembering what my mentor had said.

"So, that rumor was true! I wonder else is true?" He mused, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "You were married, and had a kid?" Zoë said, with a hint of sadness.

"I was. Alcmene, Heracles' mother. Our firstborn was named Thana, and had the powers to control death, though, she only knew how to cause it at the time. So, I took Alcmene and Thana into my realm, a plane like Tartarus, that has its own time. I tied Thana to that realm, so she would grow old and die, no longer connected to our world. We lived together for 20 years, leaving Thana and her 4 siblings to rule over the realm. The kingdom was named Alcmene, and my monstrous form was their royal crest," I explained, tearing up as I remembered the years.

"She died about a year before I met you, Zoë. Not before giving birth to a son, Paine. He was both mine and King Amphitryon's son, and that fact was a visible through his eyes," I finished, looking down sadly.

Hermes patted me on the back comfortingly, and Zoë had a guilty expression on her face, as she looked down. "But, no worries. I am sure she has made it to Elysium. If not because of me, then because of Zeus," I reassured, smiling.