Villainous

Chapter Two

The six of us ran over to greet our friends and the newbies they bought with them. Hades immediately took Persephone in his arms and hugged her tight. Despite his tough guy demeanour he was a big softie especially when it came to Persephone or 'his kids' (Cupid, Eros and I).

"Who's the fresh meat?" Artemis asked her silvery blue eyes looking over the boy and girl that had been bought in.

They both had to be roughly our age and from the way they looked I could tell they weren't related at all. The boy was tall, with tan skin and had toned muscles, his hair was dark brown and it fell over his green eyes in a side swept style. The girl was petite with soft calf brown eyes and curled light brown hair that reached her waist.

"Family, met Hecate and Poseidon" Zeus introduced his electric blue eyes flitting between the duo and our group of six "Hecate, Poseidon met The Family".

Eros was the first to introduce himself while Apollo fixed the 'injury' on his arm that was barely more than a scratch. What a baby!

"Hey newbies" he said shooting them one of his bleach white grins that was probably a wince "I'm Eros and this is Apollo". Apollo waved.

Artemis, Cupid and Diameter introduced themselves together then it was me.

I stepped forward. "Hi, I'm Hestia" I introduced looking once more at the new arrivals. The girl looked familiar for some reason.

Hecate looked up at me with her large brown eyes. "You're Aurum's sister" I gasped.

Hecate glowered at the name of the hero. "He is no brother of mine" she scowled in a manner very unlike her childish features

Arum was a member of the four Divine Materials. Aurum, Argentum, Aes and Alectoria. Each named after a precious metal or mineral.

The Divine Materials were the main enemy of our team. Just like Batman and The Joker. And like all hero/villain tales. They always won.

Hades cleared his throat. "Well seeing as your acquainted with each other. Persephone, Zeus and I have to go".

"What!" Eros protested his red eyes blazing "you guys only just got back!"

"Well if you guys want dinner in the table we have to leave" Zeus said calmly as he combed his fingers through his blonde hair.

"We'll see you later" Persephone continued "Don't argue and please take care of Hecate and Poseidon"

Eros sighed in annoyance but nodded anyway. We all did. And with that we watched the only parental figures in our lives leave the bunker.

"So, what do we do now?" Poseidon asked raising his eyebrows above his sea green eyes.

I shrugged. "I guess we wait" I said walking to the couch "but first I want to know..."

I looked pointedly at Hecate and Poseidon, the others copying my action.

"Who are you guys?"

*~*

In the two hours we were together I learnt that Poseidon was a total smart arse and he grew up with Hecate and her brother. I also learnt that Hecate was generally innocent but had a fierce hatred of Arum which had developed after he turned them in when Poseidon and Hecate ran away from their orphanage.

In those two hours we decided that Persephone, Hades and Zeus were taking too long.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

There was a loud knock on the door starting us.

BANG!

The door flung open and Zeus and Persephone rushed in, carrying someone between their shoulders.

Hades.

They put the older boy on the coffee table and Apollo rushed forward.

"Oh shit" he cursed and Eros rushed over to help his friend as the young boy's knees buckled.

For Apollo to collapse like that the injury would have to be bad.

Noticing that Eros was struggling with Apollo I ran over to help, only to gasp in shock at the wound Persephone and Zeus were trying to patch up.

"What happened?" I gasped in shock.

"Ambush" Zeus explained through gritted teeth as he worked to still the bleeding "at first we thought it was those Material kids but it was this one kid, a lone boy. He turned Hades own powers against him"

As Zeus pressed down on the wound with a cloth I'm guessing was once his jacket, Persephone held onto Hades hand with tears glazing her dark eyes.

I helped Eros bring Apollo to his feet. "I-I've never seen an injury this bad" he trembled "I c-can't fully heal him".

Zeus looked at the boy who could've been his brother. "Just do what you can"

Apollo nodded and placed both hands onto the injury.

Hades groaned in pain, his complexion was paler than usual and his eyes remained closed.

The place around Apollo's hands lit up igniting Hades stomach with a sunshine glow.

Both Hades and Apollo yelled in pain. Never had we asked him to heal an injury of this magnitude.

Gashes formed over Apollo's body as Hades began to heal. Slowly and then not at all.

Apollo removed his hands from the injury and fell to the ground, Eros managed to keep the boy from hitting his head.

Blood still seeped through Hades t-shirt as he stirred and opened his eyes just a fraction. "Persephone?" He turned his head weakly to the girl by his side holding onto his hand like an anchor.

Persephone smiled weakly as tears caressed her cheeks and the others rushed to help Apollo who lay shivering in the arms of his best friend.

"Can you please get me a needle, thread and some scissors?" Hades asked Persephone, who nodded and left the room. She came back quickly and put the things on the table.

"Hestia, I'm going to need you to go find the antiseptic and help the others with Apollo" he continued and I nodded, dashing to the cupboard.

I searched amongst the medicine, the Tupperware and the cups only to find the antiseptic with the cutlery.

I ran back over and handed the antiseptic to Persephone before turning to the others. "Guys we have to get Apollo into his room, he'll be able to heal himself but you know he loses body heat when he does so"

Eros nodded as he, Artemis and Cupid picked up the blonde boy and made their way down the hall.

"Hestia go help the others, I'll stay behind to help Persephone" Zeus said his electrical gaze looking over at the deeply tanned girl who tremblingly cut off Hades black shirt.

I nodded and took off down the hall. This kid Zeus had mentioned would have to have been strong. To hurt Hades like that, his powers would be unbeatable.