Demi-God: The Lost

Fourty-Nine

"Our goal isn't to destroy the Tartanians. I believe we can help them find peace." Kalirn's voice comes through the other end of the wooden door. Riley rests her head against it and sighs deeply.

"My Prince. Surely you jest." Another man's voice comes through too. "The Tartanians have made their choice. We must end this war before it grows to be unstable." He has a point. But if they throw peace out the window then what happens to the children like Orie?

"I understand your worries but I-" The door pulls open and Riley screams as she falls flat on her face.

"It would seem we have an eavesdropper." A Nightmare crosses his arms next to the door he had opened.

Riley pushes herself to her feet and wipes off the nonexistent dirt from her dress. "Why am I not surprised?" Kalirn walks over and grabs her hand gently. "Where is Orie?" He whispers quietly.

Orie appears similarly to that of a Nightmare, the only difference being the markings on her skin. For her safety Kalirn and Riley had lied to the Queen, a mistake they will very soon realize.

"She is with Leila." Riley mutters quietly. The talk with the Queen is seared into her memory.

"Are you alright?" Kalirn leans closer with a slight worry in his tone. Riley's face turns bright red but she makes no effort to back away. She nods her head slowly. The many gazes in the room are staring intently at the two of them.

"Pardon my intrusion, my Prince and my Lady." Riley takes this chance to pull away a few steps. A man stands in the doorway, a white outfit matching that of a hunter and a similar bow strapped across his back along with a quiver full of arrows.

"Vine'al." If Kalirn had noticed Riley pull away he didn't show it. The man kneels before Kal and places his hand over his chest.

"My Prince. The eastern border has been breached. We've sent soldiers of the dozen there to refine our defense." Kal nods briefly. His back is straight and his gaze harsh. His eyes are not the ones of her friend, Kalirn. They are that of a Prince, that of the future king of the Nightmares, K'alirn Ori'naoe Sukn'onoe.

A voice burns in the back of her head, "Riley Rykeres, the one true Demi-God." She quickly shakes it off and looks back at Kalirn.

He turns to Riley and grabs her hands gently, "I do not know what's wrong with you. But whatever it is, please handle it while I'm gone. Once I return we can set out for the City of The Lost and we'll then find out a plan of action."

She barely manages a nod before he pulls her into a hug. Maybe she should tell him what Queen Sybil told her. She opens her mouth to say it but stops at the last second. He's already doing so much for her, the last thing she wants is to tell his people to help the very creatures that want to kill them. A large frown forms across her lips when he pulls away and leaves with his archer friend.

Riley shakes her head quickly and rubs her eyes. Now is not the time for men. She scolds herself internally and turns towards the now empty room. There's maps everywhere and base locations on a table. It's got all of Asphodel mapped out, even the Lost Region has notes and maps.

All of Asphodel is around half the size of the United States, if not more. And that's just one of the four underworld locations. On another map is Elysium. It's slightly smaller than Asphodel, having four main areas rather than three, Gardens of Eden-where greatest heroes rest, Fields of Sun-Where those seeking peace rest, Theater of Hades-where those seeking to battle go, and The River of Sybil- where the Asphodel and Elysium connect, it was made so the warriors could visit their lost ones.

The Rivers of the Underworld are all one river, Ocenal, but hold different names. In Elysium it is the River of Sybil, in Asphodel it's the Sea of The Dead, and in Tartarus it is the Heart of Chronos. It's called that because there is no river in Tartarus anymore.

The river once flowed through Tartania giving it life. Once the war ended and the titans were locked away, the river was sealed up and all life to the realm was killed. The name is to spite the god of Time, as his heart is dried up and gone.

"Riley!" Orie shouts and rushes to her. She hugs Riley from behind, knocking her from her thoughts.

"Orie." Riley mutters and pulls her gaze from the maps. She returns the hug tightly. Leila rushes in with Foxy leaping behind her.

"Orie! Orie! It's almost time for dinner! Let's go! They have dinner rolls in the kitchen and we can steal one of them!" Leila doesn't give Orie the chance to speak another word before she drags the poor Tartanian out of the room.

At least Orie is fitting in well. Riley leaves the war room and makes her way down the hall. The Queen's words echo through her mind. "God Killer." The words send chills across her body.

Surely she's wrong. Riley would never kill the gods-she stops in place. The few light there is in the hallway suddenly grows increasingly darker. The thoughts in Riley's mind send even more chills through her body.

Would she kill the gods?

She shakes her head quickly. Why would she even consider that? The gods have given her a welcoming home in Olympus and her father is finally opening up to her. Besides, she has Flynn and Blake. Aeo and Boe and Aelius and Felix, heck even Carver and Verace all waiting back home for her.

But they aren't like the major gods. They're minor gods and demi-gods.

Riley keeps walking down the dark hallway. They're all good. They'd never hurt Riley or any of the innocent Tartanians. Zeus brought Riley to Olympus out of fear that she would become dangerous. He always knew she was there and he never bothered to come visit even once. He watched her being with Joe and Mary and all the horrible things Joe had done to her family.

And never once did he do anything.

Riley's hands close into fists. The other gods all wanted her to die in a challenge she never wanted to participate in.

Zeus admitted to trapping all of the innocent Tartanian's in an endless he–. And still he wonders why they're so angry and vengeful.

The look in Hestia's eyes when she saw what Riley had done at the portal. And all the damage she had caused in the garden.

Hades abandoning his people and creating this mess, the Oracle lying to her and leading her down the wrong path. They're all horrible.

Maybe the Queen is right. Maybe Riley is supposed to save HER people FROM the gods. Maybe Riley really is the God Killer. Maybe she is a true Demi-God.

No. Not A Demi-God. The Demi-God. And this Demi-God is going to prove just how stubborn she can be.