Demi-God: The Lost

Fourty-Two

"You know who it is then?" Flynn asks. The look Hades gives him is enough to answer it for him.

"You, a Nightmare in Asphodel, a Tartanian, and two minor gods currently in Asphodel-" Hades cuts himself off. "Two currently in Asphodel. One in Tartarus." Persephone's eye's darted to Hades' with worry and even fear in her eyes.

"Does that mean-" Persephone stops.

"Six minor gods got caught." Hades finishes.

There's no reason for any minor gods to be in the Underworld. If anything it might be something to do with the challenge-but even then why the Underworld when it's in so much chaos? "Who's the two minor gods?"

Hades holds eye contact with Flynn for a few minutes before giving in and sighing. "You won't be happy." Flynn storms up to the god of death and slams his palms onto the king's throne arm rests.

"Hades."

"Riley Rykers and Aeolus, Son of Poseidon." If Aeo is one of them then what about Boe? "Currently, Aeolus is the only one of the two captured."

"The other's I'm unsure of. I just know they're in asphodel. They need to capture the other four. If they get Riley they're almost guaranteed to open the gateway." Flynn shakes his head quickly.

No. Riley and Aeo won't fall for old man Terrin's tricks. They're too smart for that. And if Aeo is there then Blake probably is too. His assumption that it might have to do with the challenge is likely. That would mean the other challengers are there.

"Riley and Aeo would never open the gate. You don't know them like I do." The man shakes his head slowly.

"You're right Flynn. I don't know Riley." He stands up slowly, his gaze burning into Flynn's. "But you don't know her as much as you like to think you do. Riley is unpredictable. From the moment she was born she was different. And don't even get me started on Aeolus." Hades walks up to Flynn, forcing the smaller boy to look up at his now step father.

"That woman is a threat to all of us." He stops just a few inches from Flynn's face. "You have no idea what you're getting into, Flynn. You want to know the full truth about this war?" Flynn nods his head slowly.

"Riley is the offspring of Tartanians." Flynn stares at him in shock. "Her mother was a child of Tartania. The war of the Titans happened because Zeus broke the rules and fell in love with her." Hades starts pacing in front of his throne like he's teaching a history lesson to a class.

"Hold on." Flynn looks at Persephone but she doesn't meet his gaze. "The War has been over for centuries. That doesn't make sense." Hades finally stops pacing and sits back down in his throne.

"The Challenges were a lie to bring Riley to Olympus. Poseidon and Zeus found out about Riley after her power awakened. No one knows where Riley came from. When the war ended her mother was killed by Kronos and Riley was too." Flynn brushes his hands through his hair.

"But she isn't dead." Hades rolls his eyes.

"Thank you for stating the obvious."

"So what does that mean then?" Persephone walks up to Flynn. Her hands come up and she rubs her thumbs over his cheek gently. A look of a worried mother fill her eyes.

"Riley doesn't know about her past. If she ever finds out about it, we fear she will side with the Tartanians." She whispers gently.

"And if that happens, Flynn. We need you to kill her." Hades finishes.

"Kill Riley?" The words fall numb on his lips. She would never betray them. Hades just doesn't know Riley like Flynn does. And he still hasn't explained how Aeo is a Tartanian. How could he be one if Boe isn't? They share a mother don't they?

"Hades!" A dark shadow emerges from the ground like a puddle of mudd. To Flynn's surprise, a female jumps out of it and runs straight to the throne. It's a woman with long black hair and even darker skin. She looks like a Tartanian.

"Malin." She kneels, her breathing is heavy like she's been running.

"The Tartanians attacked The City of The Lost. The life tree is dead and there's chaos everywhere." Flynn looks back at the door. "They captured some villagers, and a few minor gods were among them."

The pit in Flynn's stomach grows larger, "Then they really did catch Aeo and the others." Malin's gaze remains stuck to the ground in front of her.

Hades stands up and brushes his hair back with his fingers. "Alright."

Flynn backs up, his gaze firm on the door behind him. He has to go check on the people of the Lost. And then he's gotta free Aeo and the other challengers before they fall for the old man's tricks.

"Malin. Go with Flynn." Hades places two hands on Flynn's shoulders, "If you kill Riley I will give you a home here. You'll have everything you ever wanted and more. I'll even save the city of Lost for you."

Flynn looks at Hades, a burning hatred in his own eyes that painfully mirrors the man before him. "And if I refuse?" Hades waves over Malin.

"Then my other child will."