The Ancient Prophecy

44 : Success - Phedora

   The four demigods continued their journey through Tartarus , this time being attacked by suspiciously less monsters . They could not deny that they were glad , given that all of them were injured . Phedora's head injury healed , leaving a little bald spot at the back of her head . Luckly it was covered by her hair .
   Phedora led the group again , her eyes on the seemingly endless dark ground .
"Do you feel Athena's presence , Phedora  ?" she heard Sot ask at her back .
"Not yet ." Phedora said .
"How much more do we need to walk around this place .." Petros murmured .
I wish I knew that .
     Just as Phedora thought that , a cold wind blew the brown strands of hair from her face .
"Wind ? In this place ?" Petros said , the confusion clear in his low tone .
"Could this be it ?" Charis asked .
"Maybe ..." Phedora looked in front if her "..Athena ?"
     Suddenly the wind got stronger .
"Athena ."
     Phedora's hair waved faster in the wind .
"Athena ."
     The wind got even faster , seeming to swirl in front of the four demigods . Slowly , Phedora could make out a dim light sillhouete .
    When it got more visible , the girl could see a tall woman dressed in full armor . She had long strands of wavy hair peeking out from behind her helmet . She wore a chiton underneath the armour .
     To Phedora's surprise , the soul behaved like any other she saw along the way . Floating , had lifeless eyes and a empty expression .
That is kind of weird for the soul of a goddess but it is not like I do not mind..  ,Phedora quickly got her backpack off her shoulders . She opened it and got out the Gorgoneion necklace .
"Do you remember the spell ?" Petros asked , right at her back . Phedora did not even hear when he got closer . Startled , she turned her head to the demigod "Yes , I do ."
"Just hold the artifact in from of you and say it , that shall do it ."
"Alright ." Phedora held the necklace in from of her . She took in a deep breath "Το αντικείμενο που κρατάω μπροστά μου είναι η νέα σου φυλακή ."
The object I hold before me is your new prison . The words got out of Phedora's mouth without much effort , as if she had practiced them her whole life . They felt right in her mind so she said them , even if she had no clue if she spoke them right . 
    Nothing happened . The soul was still in front of them , staring with a lifeless expression .
"What ? Did I do something wrong ?" Phedora wondered out loud .
"No , you said the words perfectly . Maybe I missed something ..." Petros put a hand on his chin , deep in thought "That should have been enough to trap the soul .." he said in a low voice .
"Maybe it is because it is an olympian ?" Charis suggested .
"It could be ...but this is the strongest spell you can use to trap a soul .." Petros said , confusion clear in his voice .
     Then the son of Hecate frowned and turned his head to Phedora "Can I try too ?"
"Sure .." Phedora handed him the Gorgoneion .
     Petros took a step closer to the soul and held the necklace in front of himself "Το αντικείμενο που κρατάω μπροστά μου είναι η νέα σου φυλακή !" he spoke , louder than Phedora expected .
     To everyone's surprise , the soul seemed to move closer to Petros . The cold wind proceeded to blow again around them , making their hair and clothes wave along with it .
It's working ! , Phedora smiled . But she did not have enough time to celebrate that she saw an approaching horde in the distance . No.. not again .
    It was another horde of cyclopses and hellhounds . I knew it would not be this easy ..
    Phedora turned to look at Petros . He had his eyes closed , probably concentrating . I can not stop him from the spell , all this effort would mean nothing .
     She looked behind at Charis . She already had her bow out .
"Try to get rid of how many you can , Char . We can not let them get near Petros or the soul ." Phedora said , taking out her daggers "Sot , get prepared in case they get closer ."
     Sot nodded , taking our his long daggers and Charis started aiming her arrows .

     It did not take much until the horde got closer to the demigods . Charis managed to kill at least half of them with her clever shots , but it was not enough .
     Phedora decided to throw daggers at the cyclopses' eyes . Sot ran to slash at the hellhounds .
     A cyclops fell to the ground . Phedora threw other daggers at the monsters as she ran to retrive the one from the fallen cyclops .
     Charis' arrows were still hitting the remaining enemies , but Phedora knew her friend would run out of arrows at some point .
      Then she heard a loud thud . She turned her head to see Sot knocked out on the ground unconscious . Oh gods ..!
      Before she would do more , the remaining hellhounds were running to her too , leaving Sot behind . She was getting surrounded with an immense speed .
      Phedora tried to throw more daggers at their eyes and slash at the ones that got too close . It was a good strategy but the girl felt her muscles ache slowly . She knew she would not have much energy left nor daggers if they kept coming .
    
     Phedora got to her last two daggers , which she used to slash around the horde with her last bit of stamina . I will not succeed .
      She breathed heavily as she fought with the cyclops and the hellhounds . Let the others at least finish the spell and bring Athena's soul out from the Underworld , Phedora thought as she finally took down one of the cyclopses .
      Her members were shaking and aching with pain from the effort and all the scars the monsters made .
     Then Phedora felt something slash at her back . A hellhound , isn't it ? A new wave of pain rushed through her body . She turned to the direction of the hit and slashed at the big hound .
      As she fought with the hound , something kicked her off her feet , making Phedora lose her balance and fall to the ground . She was vulnerable now and she knew she would not manage to get up in time .
     She put her arms in front of her head and closed her eyes , bracing for the impact of the blows .
      Then everything went silent . Phedora would not hear the hellhounds' barks nor the cyclopses' grunts . W-what ..?
     The demigod slowly opened her eyes , taking her shaky arms from her head . She saw a giant pair of black wings spread around her . Then she saw him . The pale white skin , the long black hair and dark eyes . The big scythe in his hand .
"T-Thanatos ..?" Phedora managed to say .
"It is not your time to die yet , Chosen Demigod . Not until you fullfill your Prophecy . Not until you awake the gods . You have yet to restore the peace ." Thanatos said , an almost human smile playing on his lips .

                                                    ***

      The god killed the last monsters . Fortunately , Petros' spell was finished at the same time .
      After Charis helped Phedora walk back to their spot and Petros carried Sot there too , Thanatos created a shadowy shield around everyone . He said it would make them invisible if they stood inside it . Charis settled upon patching up Phedora's wounds . Phedora flinched as Charis cleaned the scars on her back .
"How did you get into Tartarus , Thanatos ?" Petros asked the god "I thought the gods can not get here ."
"Nothing can stop Death ." Thanatos responded with a smile "I am the only god that can go anywhere and  anytime he wants ."
"How did you knew we were in trouble ?" Phedora asked .
     The god turned his head to her "I have been watching you four . I have been tasked to do so ."
"By who ?" Phedora would not maintain her curiosity .
"Rhea herself ." Thanatos smirked .
"So you did talk with her ?" Phedora now had a wide smile on her face .
     Thanatos nodded .
"Wait.. how many chapters did I missed ? When did you plot a plan with Thanatos , Phedora !" Charis said from behind her .
"So that is why you took so long to get out of the palace ." Petros nodded to himself slowly .
"Guess I forgot to tell you guys about the plan.." Phedora awkwardly smiled .
"You sure did !" Phedora could see Charis' grumpy face behind her as she said that .
"Well..thank you for not letting us die , Thanatos ." Phedora said .
"I could have been stupid to let our only hope of restoring the gods die ." Thanatos chuckled .
I suppose that is his way of saying 'no problem' 
"So now what ?" Petros asked . The son of Hecate was bandaging Sot's wounds . Phedora saw the Gorgoneion hanging from his neck . Maybe I should let him keep it until we get out of here .
"We patch ourselved up and get Sot conscious again . I get my arrows back and Phedora her daggers ." Charis turned her head to Thanatos "Then , if you are willing to help us again please , you can make a portal out of this place so we can finally get back ."
"I was intending to do that anyways . There is no actual way to get out of this place without needing a boat to ride the rivers back to the surface , which , I assure you , is not a pleasant experience ." Thanatos spoke .
     Phedora felt happiness surge through her . They did it . They got Athena's soul and had a safe way to get back from Tartarus . She would finally do the ritual and awake the first god . After that everything would go smoothly . Athena would help them make a strategy . They would gather all the forces they had along with the army Thanatos had and lead an attack on the Finders base . They would take the keys to the Vault and finally take the artifacts back . They would awake all the gods again and banish the titans to Tartarus .
     Then Phedora realized a thing . What about the Finders ? What do we do with them ? Do we force them to join us ? That would just make us the same as they were . And killing them... that is just not right . She frowned .
"Charis , do you have some strong salts to wake Sot with ?" Petros asked Charis , snapping Phedora out of her thoughts .
"I do but they do not work . Sot is a heavy sleeper . If he does not wake up until we get ready , you will have to carry him ." Charis chuckled .
      Petros raised his eyebrows in surprise . Charis chuckled again .
"What is so funny , Char ?" Phedora whispered to her friend .
"Nothing.." Charis whispered back .
I rather not ask more .