Karras

Zeus

Max popped up out of bed suddenly. He was sweaty. Mel woke up too and put her arms around him. "Hey, it's okay." She kissed his back. "Nightmare?" Max nodded then got out of bed. He walked by Lydia sleeping in a bassinet and went over to his desk. Mel followed him. "Max, what are you doing? You should sleep. Lydia's been sleeping good lately", Mel whispered. "I just...have to do this okay?" Max took a seat at the desk and opened a book. Mel crossed her arms and looked at him with tired eyes, "Your next move isn't in a book." "Could give me an idea." "Twenty minutes then sleep, please." Max smiled. "What?" "You're cute when you care." Mel laughed quietly.

—

Zeus was looking around at his surroundings then saw Max approach him. He cocked his head to the side, "Karras. How can I help you?" Max nodded, "Um, yeah. Have you communicated with your brother recently?" Zeus was a bit taken aback by the question, "This an uh...interrogation or something Karras?" Max shook his head, "No. What? Look, I know you two aren't close." "No. Not at all." "Just figured I'd ask. Thought there's a chance you'd talk from time to time." Zeus crossed his arms, "When we do it's very brief, savior." "Well, I was thinking up a plan. And as a first phase I was thinking of a distraction." Zeus heard a voice, "He wants your throne. Your throne." "Distraction?" Zeus tried to pay attention to Karras but kept hearing the voice. Max nodded, "Yeah. For that I need some deities." Zeus heard two words repeated, "Your throne. Your throne." Zeus looked off to the side. Max noticed he was distracted, "You alright?" Zeus heard, "He wants to rule and lead your people. Your people." The voice sounded evil. Max continued, "I was thinking I could begin the plan tonight." Zeus kept hearing, "Your people. Your people. Your throne. Your throne." Zeus gritted his teeth, ignited a lightning bolt in his hand and shoved it through Max's torso. Max's eyes widened. 

Zeus spoke in Max's ear, "You're supposed to defeat Hades on your own, Karras." He shoved the savior god to the ground. Zeus started yelling at Karras, "I know what you're trying to do!" Max put a hand to his wound. It was not bleeding much but it punctured his lower gut and burnt some of his skin. "I know what you're doing!" Max struggled but finally got to his knees.

—

Max stumbled through the front door of the academy. He fell to the ground. "Hello?!" Misty and Mallory entered, their eyes widened seeing Max on the floor. "Max?!", Mallory said with concern in her voice. "Get him on the couch." Mallory and Misty brought him to his feet and guided him to the couch. "Lay back." He laid back, his chest jolted suddenly. "What happened?" "Lightning bolt...shoved through me." It hurt to speak, he was sweating a lot and the wound was starting to bleed more. Cordelia and Mel rushed over to him, hearing all the commotion. Cordelia mopped his brow, "Who did this?" He could barely get the words out, "Zeus...he thinks...I want...mm!" A sudden jolt of pain coursed through his body again. "It's okay." Mel took a hold of his hand. "Mallory could you get the first aid kit?" Mallory rushed out of the room. Cordelia felt his forehead, "You have a fever." Mallory came back with a first aid kit and popped it open. She handed Cordelia some gauze pads. Cordelia applied them to his wound.

Persephone entered the room. She saw what was happening and grew concerned. "Oh...darling." Mel looked at her mom, saw the concern in her eyes and walked over to her. "News?" "Mellie...poor timing I know but your father, he's going to attack." "Zeus stabbed him with a  lightning bolt." Mel pointed at Karras. "I always knew he was a douche." "We need more time." "I got him to stand down as long as I could." Persephone looked at Max who was in pain, "I know someone who can help."