Heirs of Olympus

Chapter 3

Apollo steps into Aphrodite's dark and empty temple stretching his senses, limited though they were. Here on Olympus, in another god's place, his powers were 'restricted' unlike in the open spaces or his own temple-home or upon the Earth. He saw a shadow move and turned to see a flash of lights and fires burning from twin torches. The light revealed one who he was not expecting.

"Hecate" Apollo said surprised. "Why are you here?"

"For the same reason as you I presume" the goddess responded haughtily. Though less powerful than him, Hecate was an older goddess and he knew that she did not approve of his appearance as an eternal teenager and, as one who preferred the dark broken only by her torches, she did not like the full revealing light of the sun. But they did respect each other and his twin Artemis and Hecate were actually close.

"I asked you both to come" Athena said stepping out of a shadow to look at the other two immortals.

They both turned to her expectantly but Athena was distracted by something and not really looking at them. She was waiting for something. Hecate was patient and knew the goddess of wisdom would only speak when the time was right, but Apollo was, well humans would say antsy, but he preferred enthusiastic. He went to speak but then paused as he sensed something about his fellow Olympian. Stretching his powers he looked at the grey eyed goddess and felt the power of a Prophecy around her, shimmering in the very air.

But this was different than anything he had seen before. Apollo could identify those for whom Prophecy had spoken just by looking at them. There was a mark upon them, a 'brand' that connected them on a spiritual level with that most ancient of powers. It differed with the power of the prophecy, but it was always there, like the Mark of Fate. He saw that Mark upon Athena and was startled. He had never seen such a mark upon any god or goddess of Olympus or even a lesser god before and he truly did not know what it meant.

He turned and focused on Hecate and was stunned again. She bore the same mark. A Prophecy, that was clear upon her as well. And if he wasn't wrong, and he didn't think he was, it was the same Prophecy. Athena was speaking quietly to Hecate and he had missed the start of their conversation due to being so shocked but then he heard a sound from the door. Turning, along with the two goddesses, Apollo saw three figures shuffle into the temple and approach them.

For a god with the gift of future sight, this night was challenging him in many ways as he was surprised, yet again, to see the Moirai, the Fates, enter. Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos rarely came to Olympus and he was fairly sure that even his father Zeus could not truly command them. Hades honored and respected them, especially Atropos, but he didn't try to command them and he was fairly certain that no other god, goddess, or even the combined Olympian Council could force them to act against their ancient duties. But what nearly overwhelmed the sun god was that the same mark of Prophecy that was upon Athena and Hecate were also upon the three sisters and he knew that this could not be by chance. What force that existed could determine the fate of Fate? And if on them...yes, it took him only a moment to confirm his suspicions that he too bore the mark. A Prophecy, ancient and powerful, had claimed all six of them, six immortals in a way never before seen or even dreamed possible.

"I have not called you here" Athena said not exactly surprised to see the sisters. "How did you know to come?"

"We know the fate of all, even our own, and this day was determined long ago, daughter of wisdom" Clotho intoned.

"We six stand together, bound by an ancient power, in this time and place to face one beyond our power" Lachesis continued.

"For the fate of all; mortal, demigod, immortal, and god must all face an ending in the rising of the Earth. Zeus has Chosen fear over honor and in making his choice, the Prophecy now must stand or fall based upon those here plus one other" Atropos finished.