The Five Demigods Who Saved Olympus | Book 1, 2, & 3

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"Phelia, I know I suggested it, but you truly do not have to if you do not want to." Persephone said, standing just a few feet away from Noelle as they stood in the kitchen, regretting saying anything. In all truth, Persephone was tired of being alone. With Hades working and Heath always joining him, Persephone was alone. Hecate was around sometimes, but she was mostly at Hades' side. Melinoe never got along with her. In fact, Melinoe never got along with anyone. Persephone had brothers and sisters in Olympus, but none that she could visit in the 6 month time period that she had to stay here. She could see herself spending most of her time with Noelle. But, to Persephone, Noelle was still young and could be easily manipulated. And that's what she did. Manipulated the poor girl into doing something she'd probably regret for years to come. Noelle cut up the pomegranate with a knife into small pieces. She then picked up a slice and held it in between her fingers. Persephone watched nervously, about the reach forward and slap the pomegranate out of Noelle's hand. But, Noelle slowly sat it down on the cutting board, making Persephone retreat.

"Do you regret it Persephone?" Noelle finally asked as she wiped her fingers clean from the juice.

"Regret eating it?" Persephone wondered. Noelle nodded her head as she stared down at the pomegranate on the cutting board.

"No. No, I don't regret it. I wasn't free before when I was living in the meadows with my mother. I was unhappy. But, then Adonieus came along and brought me back to life. Here I am free. Free to do what I please and be with the man I love." Persephone said truthfully, making a small smile spread across Noelle's face. Persephone then stepped forward, resting her hand on Noelle's forearm.

"But, Phelia. I must tell you if you do choose to eat this. You will never be looked at the same. Everyone will shy away from you." Persephone said.

"All the more reason to eat this." Noelle muttered to herself. Persephone had more to say, but she could see the determination in Noelle's eyes. Persephone had reached her, and she couldn't feel more guilty about it.

"A seed equals a month, right?" Noelle asked.

"Yes, and you will have to be here for each month. You will be unable to leave the Underworld at all. And it will be this way for the rest of your life." Persephone reminded her. Noelle lifted up a few pieces with only a couple of seeds. She then finally found one with 7 seeds in it. She slowly brought it to her lips but stopped. For a moment, she had her doubt. She preached freedom all her life. Once they put an end to Cronus, she got her freedom. She had her taste of it, but unfortunately in the two years she hadn't been with her friends and her family, she felt more alone than she ever had in her life. More than the moment she realized her mother had truly left her. Noelle realized if she ate the pomegranate, she wouldn't have an excuse to stay away from Heath anymore. She wouldn't have to lie to her friends and family about not wanting to throw herself back into this strange world. Her fear of Heath hurting her quickly washed away. She knew at that moment she trusted Heath and his word more than her own mind. More than her own fear. She saw the life she could have if she stayed. The life with not only Heath but all of the others she cared so deeply for. She could see her, Amara, and Donovan getting together often. She could see her and Amphitrite going out with her sisters to collect seashells. She could see her and her father making up for lost time. And if Zander chose to stay on Earth, Noelle had 5 months out of the year that she could use to go visit him. Noelle could see a life where she felt true happiness. She took the small slice of pomegranate and placed it on her tongue. She then shut her mouth and chewed. She leaned her head back, loving the taste of the fruit. She found it to be insatiable. She licked the remaining juice of the fruit off of her fingers and was about to go in for more when Persephone stopped her.

"Eat more, and you'll have to stay longer." Persephone said. Noelle nodded her head and backed away from the counter, keeping herself from eating any more of the delicious pomegranate. Noelle not only felt satisfied, but she also felt a sense of relief. Like a ton of weight had just been lifted off of her shoulders. Noelle sighed contently and left Persephone in the kitchen to spend some time on her own. Noelle walked up the staircase of the palace and to the room she and Persephone had left earlier in the day. She shut the door behind her and pulled a random dress off of the bed. It was a sleeveless, teal, floor-length dress with a golden belt. She then ran a comb through her hair to brush out any tangles. She spotted Cerebrus on the bed, lying there, asleep. Noelle smiled at the dog before opening the door and exiting the room, but leaving it open in case Cerebrus decided to leave when he woke. Noelle then began to wander around the large palace. She eventually stopped and decided to rest. She still felt like she hadn't regained her energy after being forcefully thrown backward after hitting the barrier. She laid down on a couch somewhere on the third floor of the palace and watched the fire dance in the fireplace as she drifted off to sleep. As for Zander and Hermes, they began their journey back up Mount Ida after Heath informed them that Hecate was still working on the spell to get them out of Olympus. Heath mentioned that Melinoe could potentially be one of their enemies. But, the two decided to inform the others before beginning a search for her. As they approached the mountain, they could hear trouble. The two ran as fast as they could to the top. Zander was the first to reach it and see many Olympians being absorbed by the monsters made of mud.

"Zander! Do something!" Zeus shouted before Polyphemus crushed him beneath his foot. Zander summoned his lightning rod and whipped at Polyphemus. The rod of lightning wrapped around him like a lasso and pulled him off of Zeus, electrocuting him in the process. Polyphemus fell to the ground. He looked around him, watching the scene. He wasn't sure of how he got there. The last thing he remembered was being in his cave. Aphrodite came from behind Zander with a sword in one hand. Hermes shoved Zander out of the way to keep him from getting hurt. Aphrodite shoved her sword through the torso of Hermes, making him fall to the floor. He coughed up blood and spat it out on the ground beneath him. Zander took his lightning rod, swung it around like a baseball bat, and hit Aphrodite in the jaw, electrocuting her only for a second and making her stumble backward. Zander kneeled down beside Hermes to assess the damage that had been done.

"I'm fine. I'm a God, I can't be killed. Sure does hurt like a bitch, though." Hermes groaned as he winced in pain. Aphrodite lunged forward towards Zander with her sword. Just as Zander was about to be pierced with the sword, he was pushed out of the way. Ares now stood before Aphrodite. He had his hands clasped around the blade of the sword to keep her from moving it. He paid no attention to the blood dripping from his hands. He only kept his glare on his wife.

"Stop this madness, Aphrodite. Put an end to all of it! A woman will never lead, that's the way it is! The way it's always been!" Ares yelled. Ares was the only Olympian who had known that Aphrodite was a part of the group that started all of the attacks. He never shared this knowledge with anyone, figuring she wouldn't do much. It happened often in Olympus where someone tried to kill another out of anger, but when the first attack happened, Ares knew, Aphrodite was now a danger to all.

"Tell me, how'd you know it was me?" Aphrodite asked sweetly as she moved closer to Ares. He had then realized his thoughts were being read, which angered him.

"When you learned of my infidelity with Donovan and didn't go on a crazy and jealous rampage. Your focuses were clearly somewhere else." Ares answered spitefully.

"You mean the pathetic human you lured into our bed." Aphrodite retorted, twisting the sword in her hand, causing Ares a great deal of pain, though he wouldn't show it.

"He is much more than that to me and you know it!" Ares shouted.

"And I am much more than just the Goddess of Love!" Aphrodite screeched as she used the sword to shove Ares back.

"But, you never saw it! Not a soul in Olympus ever did! And when I take control no God nor Goddess will ever treat me as such again!" Aphrodite said as she pulled out a syringe with the same red liquid as before. Zander and Hermes ran over to Aphrodite and pulled her arm back to keep her from injecting Ares. Donovan then appeared and helped Ares up off of the ground. Aphrodite then took out a bottle of purple liquid and smashed it on the ground, making her disappear. The four stood there in confusion, wondering where she went. Zeus then pulled himself up off of the ground and wrapped his hand around the throat of Polyphemus, lifting him up and off of the ground.

"Wait! Please, I beg of you!" Polyphemus begged as he gasped for air. Zander then walked over to the two and set his hand down on Zeus's arm.

"Let's hear what he has to say for himself." Zander said. Zeus turned and glared at Zander before dropping Polyphemus to the ground.

"Aphrodite.." Polyphemus said, taking a break to gather some air up in his lungs. "Her voice lured me. She used her power against me to get me to join her side. I don't know what damage I have caused, but whatever it may be, I am truly sorry and I beg of you to please let me go. Let me return to my island where you shall never hear from me again." Polyphemus said.

"You hear that? He doesn't know what he's done." Hermes said.

"Which means he has no knowledge that could help us. I see no reason why I shouldn't rip his head from his shoulders." Zeus said, lifting him up off of the ground once more.

"Wait!" Zander said. He took one glance at Zeus before turning back to Polyphemus and said,

"You better start remembering."