|| Author's Note:
I'm sorry for the delay in this chapter. It was difficult for me to write, and I expect it will go through some editing in the future. I didn't want to keep you all waiting any longer, however, so here it is- the final challenge in the Competition. ||
- Hades -
Zeus had outdone himself this time.
I glanced at the elaborate maze as several shades helped me with my armor. We had no way of knowing what lay inside those stone walls of the maze, and I wasn't about to be caught unprepared. Around us where the rest of the champions working to get ready- but I could tell many where uneasy.
My eyes flickered to Apollo where he stood at the ready, the armor of the Sun God glistening in the sun. I snorted, glancing at my own obsidian black armor. We couldn't be two more different pictures, and yet we were both fighting for the same girl.
Kore. I turned my head towards the box where a picture of beauty sat. I could tell even from this distance that she was nervously eyeing the maze, and knew her hands were probably twisting and playing with the fabric of her skirt- a nervous tick she had.
My heart tightened. I had been fortunate to win the chariot race, which gave me a ten minute head start into the maze- but would it be enough?
I didn't know what I was going to do if I lost. My grip on my sword tightened as Kore's eyes met mine. Losing wasn't an option, I reminded myself. I had to win- for Kore's sake, and for our future.
We stayed that way for a moment, staring into each other's eyes as mutual feelings of fear and panic flowed between us. The moment ended too soon, however, when Zeus stood and cleared his throat.
"Champions!" He called out, his voice booming around the maze. "You have arrived at our final task today- the Labyrinth of Olympus. Inside you will face several challenges as you work your way to the center. However," he continued as he glanced over us, "You will have to rely upon your own wit and strength. Once you enter this maze, your individual godly powers and talents will be stripped away."
A murmur rose from the group. I wasn't surprised- this was Zeus's chance at humiliating us as well as holding some entertainment- but I could tell it was a surprise to everyone else.
Everyone else, that is, except Apollo. I eyed him suspiciously as he remained completely calm. His eyes were fixed on Kore, and it made my blood boil.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to pay attention. I couldn't let that ridiculous boy get under my skin before the challenge had even started.
"As winner of our first challenge," Zeus continued, gesturing towards me, "Hades will be first into the maze, and given a head start. My eyes met Kore's yet again, and she offered a weak smile. I gave one back as I tightened my grip on my sword. It's almost over, love, I thought as my eyes turned to the opening door of the maze.
A gong sounded, and I started into the maze. I intended to make the most of my time, but I knew rushing in was just asking for problems. As I rounded the corner of the stone walls, the sounds of the celebration started to fade. As a test, I tried to summon a shade.
No luck. My powers really had been limited. Godly strength seemed to remain, and I betted my basic powers of speed and endurance had as well, but everyone had those same advantages.
I had been walking through the maze for five minutes, trying to map out my turns in my head as I worked my way to the center. I turned around a corner to my right, however, and was immediately greeted with an ear-piercing scream. Something swung at me, and I immediately ducked and rolled out of the way.
My heart was pounding, and I could feel a rush going through me. I looked up at my attacker, and felt my stomach drop.
Hyrda.
It was a huge and hideous beast, with almost impenatrable scales and sharp claws. It towered over me like a mountain, and I could distinctly make out three heads snapping.
Snap! As a pair of teeth came at me with intense speed, I rolled out of the way, trying to keep my wits as another head came at me.
Fighting a Hydra was nearly impossible. You had to cut the heads off to avoid being eaten, but if you cut a head off, two more grew in its place. I was trying to avoid that happening, but with its teeth snapping at me every two seconds I-
I whirled, my sword cutting through the thick neck of the Hydra as I narrowly avoided being a snack. I grimaced as I felt the warm splash of blood splatter on my face, the smell of decay immediately hitting me. The two new heads were already forming quickly, and I didn't have much time to loose.
I ran alongside the maze, taking the moment of distraction to try and lure the beast elsewhere. It started to chase me, its feet thudding on the stone floor as it let out another piercing and bloodthirsty screech. I ducked behind a corner, praying it would take the bait as I hurled a rock along the path, hoping it would make enough noise to keep the beast moving along.
I held my breath as the five-headed beast raced past me, not realizing the trap it had fallen into. I ran from behind it and jumped, my sword raised above my head as I leaped. I landed on it's scaly back, plunging the sword deep into the beast.
I let my guard down to early, however. A head swung back and hit me with full force, knocking me from the back of the beast as it thrashed around. I went flying into a rock wall, hitting it hard enough to bring a section of the rock down. I groaned as I laid in the rubble, my body immediately stiffening and aching as the dust settled around me. My eyes flickered to the beast as it stumbled this way. My eyes widened as I watched it come closer, and turned to scramble out of the way just in time as the huge monster came crashing onto the ground where I had just been.
The Hydra lay there, dead as could be. I sighed, my shoulders slumping as I stepped forward and yanked my sword from its body. The smell was awful as I cleaned the green blood from my blade, forcing my injuries to the back of my mind as I continued onwards.
"One challenge down," I muttered.
I was on edge now as I turned around the darkening corners. Was the sun really setting, or was this just another trick? In this maze you couldn't really tell what was real and what was Zeus's doing. I could feel my body aching- the horrible side effect of godly powers being taken away- and I was praying that there would not be another monster to slay.
I came around the corner, and froze as the stone walls started to box me in. I whirled, sword in hand, my eyes scanning quickly for the next threat.
"Hades, son of Cronus, King of the Underworld."
I turned as the voice echoed through the stone box I found myself in. Behind me sat a Sphinx where there had been nothing a second ago. I paused, slowly lowering my sword. I knew the rules of the beast- answer the question correctly, and the creature would allow you to face. Answer wrong, however, and you would face a battle even worse than the Hydra.
"Great Sphinx," I greeted, bowing my head as I sheathed my sword. "I had not expected you to be here."
The beast tilted it's human head, studying me. "No, I don't think you did," it responded cryptically. There was a pause for a moment before it smiled, an eerie sight that sent a chill down my back. "Son of Cronus, you have been alive for a long time. I doubt you need me to tell you my rules."
I gave a brisk nod. "I am aware of the Sphinx agreement," I replied shortly.
The beast nodded before its eyes suddenly seemed to grow brighter, staring at me like it could see my soul.
"This thing all things devour: birds, beasts, trees, flowers; gnaws iron, bites steel; grind hard stones to meal; slays kings, ruins towns; and beats high mountains down."
I studied the Sphinx quietly, my mind turning over the riddle's words. At first thought, it was some kind of beast- my father fit the description nicely, I thought with contempt.
But that was too easy, and knowing the Sphinx, the answer would be much more cryptic.
What devours all things? What eats away at everything living, and ruins what is not?My mind flickered back to Hagania, for some reason. Had something devoured us there?
I looked up, my eyes meeting the Sphinx as an answer hit me. "Time," I replied simply.
That was something Kore and I never had enough of- time. And time had eaten away until we found ourselves here.
The creature smiled and bowed its head. "Best of luck on your journey, Lord Hades," it replied just as simply as the wall behind it moved away. I bowed my head again before stepping around the beast and making my way towards the distant light I could see.
"Hades? Hades!" A voice cried out.
My head snapped up. In front of me was an opening in the rock, but instead of being clear, there were vines blocking the entryway and hiding what was on the other side.
"Lady Kore?" I called back as I paused, my eyes glued to the vines. Was this another trick?
A sob tore me from my thoughts. "Hades, help me!'
With that, all rational thought went out the window, and I raced through the vines. They tangled around me, trying to keep my in place as I slashed and hacked through them. Finally, I came to the other side..to find myself in a meadow.
A very familiar meadow.
It was where Kore and I first met, but the sight now was chilling. Kore stood in the middle of the clearing, bound by what looked like Zeus's lightning. Her eyes met mine as I took in the sight for a split second, a tear running down her face as a small smile turned the corners of her lips up. "I knew you'd make it," she cried softly. "I knew it would be you!"
I raced forward to release her, falling to my knees beside the girl. I took her face into my hands, wiping away the stray tears falling down her face. "I'm sorry it took me so long," I apologized, my eyes taking in the burns the lightning had caused. I'd kill Zeus for this when this was over, mark my words.
"Why has he done this?" I growled. Kore's eyes watered again, but she continued bravely.
"He isn't acting right, Hades," she whispered hurridly, like she was scared he would hear. "He said I had to be the damsel in distress, and that I had to really be in distress. The lightning isn't hurting me now, but I'm not sure why. He's acting erratically and-"
"Get away from her!"
We both looked up to see Apollo emerge from the opposite side of the meadow, his face twisted with rage. "I said," He started slowly as he raised his sword, stalking towards us, "Get away from my bride, Hades."
I bristled, my face hardening. I turned to Kore once more, studying the girl carefully. "I love you," I whispered.
She gave a teary smile. "I love you too, Hades. I- I'm sorry for how I've been acting, I-"
I pulled her closer, ignoring the biting pain of the lightning as I kissed the girl soundly. The familiar feel of butterflies rushed through me as I savored every second, trying to put all the love and worry and hope I felt into the kiss.
I pulled away and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I'm the one who should say sorry, love. You have nothing to apologize for- not now, not ever."
With that, I turned and stood to face Apollo, who was staring at me with murder in his eyes. His hands were shaking, I noticed, and I quickly realized my kiss with Kore had nearly undone him.
"I'll kill you for that!" He screamed before rushing towards me. Our swords met with a sharp clang as I pushed back, my focus set. I had to win- I had to protect Kore.
"Be careful!" She cried as I narrowly dodged the sword's swipe. We were fighting more furiously than I had fought in centuries. The swords were clanging and biting into each other, and rarely landing on either fighter.
I could feel it in the pit of my stomach. Something was wrong. I had years and years of experience over Apollo, but he was somehow holding his own. My body ached from my landing on the rock earlier, but I had to push through and keep fighting.
In the blink of an eye, Apollo's hand had grabbed my chest plate and yanked me closer. His eyes gleamed dangerously as he smiled, and I started to feel an intense heat in my heart.
My eyes snapped up in shock to meet his. "You still have your powers."
Apollo gave a smug grin. "I don't intend to lose to a scum like you- even if it means a little cheating. The God of the Sun isn't just able to control sunsets, you know."
The heat intensified, and Kore's pleads behind me where the only thing keeping me rooted. I reached for my sword, but couldn't hardly move as the fire inside me seemed to burn inside and out. I lashed out, my sword trying to meet something, anything before it was ripped from my hands and flung away. My eyes opened to see Kore's watching me in horror as I fell to the ground, hardly able to move as I writhed in agony. Was this what Tartarus felt like?
Above me, a gong sounded. The fire disappeared as soon as it had started, and I realized that I was lying on the ground with Apollo's sword at my neck.
Apollo had won the competition.
- End of Book One -