Bane La Mortis, The Son of Hades

A Tampered Mind

Hermes sat down on his throne when he and Bane walked in. Hades was standing in the centre of the chamber so Bane stood next to him.

"We have heard Hades' explanation and listened to his defences," Athena announced, "And now we will look into the memories of Bane La Mortis".

At her words, both Hypnos and Morpheus came into the chamber. Morpheus stood to the side so he could see if anything was going wrong while Hypnos placed his hands on the side of Bane's head. The Prince of the Underworld looked to his father, fear showing in his eyes. Hades nodded encouragement while he held Cerberus back from attacking Hypnos.

Images instantly rushed through Bane's mind as Hypnos projected them into the air for the Olympians to watch. Bane saw everything from the moment he was born to his life at the orphanage. He saw himself running away and living in a dumpster. He saw the day he found the violin and the times he performed on the streets. He saw the day he met Thanatos, but nothing about how he gave his money to the old man.

He saw himself meeting his father for the first time as well as his room. Then a pause, as if someone was playing a scratched disk. Then it skipped straight to him on the bridge. But Cerberus wasn't there. He saw himself jump over the side of the bridge into the darkness where the Manticore snatched him out of the air. The entire time, Bane had a sinister looking smile on his face.

The Manticore dropped Bane onto the floor of Tartarus. But instead of crashing into the treacherous ground, Bane dropped and rolled to his feet where he spoke to the Cyclops. There was no sound, but it looked as if they were talking about something bad.

Then fake-Bane looked over his shoulder as if he heard a noise. He quickly told the Cyclops something, to which the one-eyed monster banged his club over fake-Bane's head.

The images paused again like an old movie before resuming as normal.

Bane fell to the ground as the monsters laughed before Hades, Thanatos, Cerberus and the undead soldiers came charging in to rescue him before Hypnos removed his hands.

Real-Bane felt as if he had been forced to run around the Underworld over and over while carrying a boulder. He clutched his throat before keeling over onto the marble floor. Cerberus broke free of Hades' grip before bounding the Prince. The three-headed Hellhound stood protectively over Bane, growling towards the Gods, daring them to come near.

Hades just stood there with an outraged expression. "I CHECKED HIS MEMORIES!" the God yelled making the shadows of the room curl and twist like serpents. "AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT CERBERUS WAS WITH HIM ON THAT CURSED BRIDGE BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONE WHO CAME TO GET ME!".

"Hades," Athena said, trying to calm the God, "No one is accusing you or your son of anything".

"I beg to differ," Zeus growled, locking eyes with his brother. "It seems to me that the boy knew exactly what was happening down in the Pit".

"HOW DARE YOU..." Hades started but Zeus cut him off.

"You have always wanted my throne!" Zeus spat, "So you sent your son down into Tartarus to plan and scheme with the Monsters and Titans. You thought that we wouldn't examine his memories but I saw through your charade!".

Hades held out a hand and his Bident flew out of the shadows to his hand, which he pointed at Zeus. "Listen well brother," Hades stated, barely raising his voice, "I admit that it was unfair that you should become King while I was forced to the depths of the earth. But I know my place and I will submit to your will, but I will NOT stand you, or anyone else, say that my son and I are liars that plot to overthrow the balance of the world!".

By the end of his declaration, Hades was almost shouting.

Zeus stood up while thunder boomed outside. His hands started crackling with arcs of lightning but before he could strike his brother, Cerberus leapt at him, clamping a set of jaws around his wrist while the other two started snapping at his face. Zeus threw the Hellhound at one of the marble pillars.

Cerberus smacked into the smooth stone, his spine making a huge crack. The faithful canine fell to the ground, his body already dissolving into dust. While the King of Olympus was distracted, Bane lassoed his father's ankle with a shadow before using the death of his friend to give himself enough power to take both him and Hades back to the Underworld where they would be safer.

Not safe, but safer.