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The Immortal Heart	By : amandalee Category: 1 through F > Clash of the Titans (2010) > Clash of the Titans (2010) Views: 7819 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: We do not own Clash of the Titans or the characters portrayed in this story, and we make no money from writing this.

Chapter List
- 45
- 46
- 47
A/N: CondemnedForLife, this chapter will reveal how Zeus reacts to Hades' violation. Hopefully you will find it as well-written as the previous two chapters.

Chapter 46

“Poseidon should have reached the camp by now,” Zeus said with a frown some time later. He was critically regarding the continuous smoke column still rising from the location of their campsite. “Why have they not put out that fire?”

Chiron regarded the Olympian leader contemplatively. “You believe something might be wrong?” he asked.

Zeus did not want to admit it even to himself, but his half-brother was right. “We have done enough scouting for today. We should head back and find out what they are doing.”

Chiron’s pointy ears twitched, already signaling his disagreement before he had said it out loud.
“Poseidon is capable of handling this himself,” he said. “There is no need to check up on him. We ought to follow the titan tracks and see where they—”

“Why is the fire still burning?” Zeus cut in, his tone sharp. He did not like to be questioned. At all. “How do you explain that?”

Chiron shrugged. “Perhaps our brother got distracted on the way,” he suggested. “Those river nymphs can make even a god’s resolve crumble…” He quietly chuckled at his own jest, but Zeus’ response quickly made him stop.

“I do not see the humor in this!” Zeus growled. “We must go back as quickly as we can! Chiron, you have to let me ride on you. You can make ten times the speed I can.”

“I beg your pardon??” Chiron asked with a frown, sounding completely taken aback. Clearly this was not a request often made.

“You heard me,” Zeus said, his glare deepening.

“I am not one of your horses,” the centaur argued, the offense taken at his half-brother’s order clear in his dark eyes. “I am not to be ridden like a mindless beast.”

“I am not asking as though I should do this as common practice,” Zeus snapped. “And I am making no gesture out of deliberate disrespect. But you are faster than I am, and if we are to hurry, we would do better if I rode on your back, and I swear you my word: if you resist, I will beat you until you have less of a brain than one of our horses.”

Chiron instinctively stepped back at the threat, but he saw the sense of haste in Zeus’ eyes. He understood that the Olympian leader was actually feeling something very close to panic.

“Fine.”

Some places of the journey were rockier and more uneven than some, and Zeus resisted the urge to hammer his heels against the ribs of Chiron’s horse half. This much the half-god appreciated, and he hurried as fast as he could.

*

After he had done his best to clean his miserable brother’s wounds, Poseidon was at a loss. Where could he keep Hades until Zeus and Chiron returned from their scouting? What if the titans had returned? The anger Poseidon felt for the brutes left him with the urge to take on any number of them, to tear them down piece by piece to avenge the atrocities done to his elder brother, but he knew he did not stand as much a chance fighting them unless he had help.

He had to think reasonably, he reminded himself. Hiding for the time being was the most reasonable option, and Poseidon’s main priority now was assuring that Hades was spared from further harm.

Giving the wounded god a sympathetic glance, Poseidon wrapped the cloak around Hades’ form again and lifted his brother into his arms. The screech of pain that Hades gave at being lifted stung Poseidon’s heart, but he steeled himself and once again encouraged the older god to be quiet.

“T-titans… are they…?” Hades mumbled, his swollen, cracked lips making his speech slurred.

“They’re not here, dearest,” Poseidon soothed. “But we’d better hide in case they come back. Just stay calm, Hades. You’re going to be alright.”

Poseidon had no idea if Hades would ever be alright again, but he hoped his words sounded convincing enough. Carrying his brother to a nearby thicket, the god put his injured fellow Olympian down as gently as possible. Hades, despite his agony, heeded his brother’s admonition and stayed mostly quiet, though his face revealed the level of his pain.

“Zeus will be here soon,” Poseidon said, hoping the idea of being reunited with his mate would bring Hades some well-needed comfort.

*

The sight of the huge bonfire became visible to Zeus several hundred yards before reaching the campsite. The sight shocked him so profoundly that he started drumming his heels hard against Chiron’s sides to speed him up, completely unaware of the discomfort he caused the centaur.

“Do you…?” he asked in a panic.

“I see it,” Chiron shouted behind his shoulder, and he tramped through the brush, ignoring the scratch of brambles against his belly as he galloped. Now he too felt the rush of fear in his veins that told him to reach the encampment as fast as he could.

Chiron’s pounding hooves did not go unheard. Poseidon could hear him approaching and, knowing the titans clearly could not use horses, grasped his trident nonetheless. Fortunately his suspicions of an oncoming enemy were proven wrong.

“Poseidon?” Zeus’ voice rang through the air. “Hades? Is anyone here?!”

Relieved at his brothers’ arrival, Poseidon stood up from the hiding place, quickly apologizing when he heard a tiny whimper from Hades. He watched as Zeus, riding on the equine back of
Chiron no less, galloped into view, frantically looking around for survivors of the chaos around them.

“Here!” he called out, carrying his poor brother out of the thicket. “We are here!”

“Hades!” Zeus cried out, and before Chiron had come to a stop, the god was throwing himself off of his mount. The moment his feet hit the ground, Zeus was running towards his older brothers, his heart constricting in his chest when he saw the broken figure in Poseidon’s arms.

“Hades! Hades, my dear… Oh no…!”

The heartbreak in Zeus’ voice was tangible when he reached the two elder gods. Poseidon did not speak but merely stood as still as a statue, quietly observing as Zeus’ hands flew over the badly abused form of Hades and desperate words of console were uttered.

“Poseidon, what in the name of Gaia has happened here?!” Zeus shouted in his brother’s face, his gaze moving keenly between Hades’ swollen, discolored visage and the grief-stricken face of the younger god. His right hand remained on Hades’ forehead, rhythmically stroking the matted hair back.

“Titans,” Poseidon replied, hoping Zeus was ready to hear the truth. “I have not been able to get much information out of him, understandably, but judging from the tracks I found around the camp, they were at least three, perhaps four. They must have launched their attack shortly after we left. I’m sorry.”

The shocked, almost bemused expression on Zeus’ face quickly began to shift into anger, and Poseidon quickly caught on to what was going to happen. The electric blue light, which was present only when the Olympian leader used his lightning powers, appeared in Zeus’ eyes, and his brother respectfully stepped back a few paces, giving Zeus the space he needed to vent his anger.

The cry that broke out of his throat was so piercing and loud that Chiron suspected it could be heard several leagues. Lightning shot out of Zeus’ hands and struck the still burning fire, sending scraps of broken metal flying. Chiron narrowly dodged a piece of armor that surely would have decapitated him had he been only a little slower.

Hades could not see his youngest brother, but nonetheless the display of rage affected him. A whimper of distress rather than pain left his lips, and he turned to bury his face in the crook of Poseidon’s neck, as if he believed Zeus’ anger was directed at him.

The very moment Zeus had paused in his tirade, Poseidon spoke up.

“Brother,” the older god said, “...please, Hades is already frightened enough. Besides… you should hold back some of that fury. Save it for when we find the monsters that did this.”

Zeus looked at his eldest brother and his anger ebbed away. Hades was hiding his bruised face and shivering despite the cloak and the warmth of Poseidon’s form. Anger finally gave way to sadness at the sight of his mate and he placed a hand over the unfortunate god’s head, gently caressing the tangled locks of hair.

“We are here, sweet brother,” he murmured. “You do not need to be afraid anymore. I am here, and I will take care of you.”

Once he was certain Zeus’ outburst had come to an end, Chiron hurried to each scattered piece of the pyre and used his heavy hooves to stamp out the flames. The gods were again thankful that their half-brother did not fear fire as horses did.

“Everything may be damaged beyond repair,” the centaur stated with regret. “But if not, I will see what can be salvaged.”

“Very good,” Zeus replied, though at the moment the atrocities done to his beloved brother were more distressing than broken weapons. He raised arms as though to take the elder god.

“Place your arm around my neck, dearest,” he said as Poseidon attempted to pass Hades to him. “I will look after you now.”

Hades would have complied had a stabbing pain not shot through his entire arm when he moved it. He cried out at the agony and Zeus stepped back in abject shock.

“Put him down!” the youngest Olympian ordered, and Poseidon was swift to obey, though he still took great care in placing Hades on the grass.

“Have you checked him for injuries?” Zeus asked worriedly as he unwound the piece of fabric – Poseidon’s cloak, he surmised – from Hades’ trembling frame. The fear that his wounded brother was bleeding internally and might die despite the best care possibly given made Zeus’ heart cold as ice.

“I have, but I am no healer,” Poseidon replied, noticing how Hades, despite his dire condition, grew even more anxious as his body was bared. He knew the reason for this and once again assured his older brother that he had nothing to be afraid of.

The various cuts and bruises that covered Hades’ slender form were overwhelming in themselves, but what immediately drew Zeus’ attention was the odd way Hades’ right shoulder jutted out, looking so distorted that it more resembled two shoulders rather than one. Hades’ right arm hung limp from it, and a simple touch against the damaged limb was enough to make the poor god scream from pain.

“What shall we do?” Poseidon asked, looking at Zeus for advice. The arm did not appear visibly broken, and yet it had been rendered completely useless.

“I do not know…” Zeus said with a sigh. “He is in a lot of pain. If we could find something to give him…”

Chiron stepped up to the gods and looked at Hades over Zeus’ head. “His shoulder is dislocated,” he said. “You will need to set it back in place.”

Zeus did not visibly react to the half-god’s words, continuing to look over the pitiable sight that was now his eldest brother. “I will do it,” he simply said. “Poseidon, would you hold onto him?”

Poseidon did not nod or speak, but he immediately knelt behind Hades and, whispering an apology before the act, lifted Hades just enough so that the eldest god could lean against him in preparation for the resetting of his shoulder. Indeed, no matter how careful they were, they could not do anything without renewing the pain in Hades’ broken body, and he yelped as he was handled. Chiron walked over to their side and handed Poseidon a belt.

“Here. He will need this when it happens.”

“Thank you,” Poseidon took the leather strap and placed it into his brother’s mouth. Hades resisted at first, instinctively refusing anything between his lips, but after further whispered encouragement, he understood and forced his jaws to open.

“This will all be over in an instant, brother,” Zeus said, trying to keep his tone sweet and friendly, though he knew from the looks of the dislocated limb that even an instant of this kind of pain would be a horrible experience. He closed his fingers around his mate’s upper arm, keeping his grip carefully firm. He did not need to make a mistake and let this last any longer than it needed to be.

Hades took a deep breath as Poseidon held him close and closing his eyes, finally nodded.
A swift movement combined with a dull pop. Chiron flinched at the awful, muffled sound of Hades’ scream. Jaw tight and teeth clenched in the leather gag, Hades heard words of encouragement, saying he had done well and that it was over.

The stabbing pain in his right shoulder lessened considerably after his shoulder had been popped back into its socket, and he found he could move his arm again, even though movement still hurt. Hades leaned his aching head and stiff, swollen face against Poseidon’s chest, letting out a long, tormented exhale.

The sun had now completely disappeared behind the treetops and left only a small sliver of light in the western sky. The air temperature had already dropped considerably, and all three gods wished badly for a tent to curl up in. Zeus knew that he himself and Poseidon could manage a night under open sky, uncomfortable though it was, but Hades was a different matter. Their brother needed warmth lest he succumb to his wounds even quicker.

Until now, Poseidon had gracefully made sure that Hades’ body remained covered below the waist, remembering his promise to the other not to tell Zeus about the titans’ violation of him. However, he knew that the rape would not remain a secret for long as he observed the blood soaking through the cloak covering the eldest god.

As expected, Zeus was not slow to discover the bleeding and his visage paled from sudden fear.

“Hades, where are you bleeding?” he asked, grabbing the edge of the cloak to investigate the cause of the blood flow himself.

His mate’s response took him aback. “Please brother, don’t look…” Hades pleaded, feebly trying to hold on to the fabric which covered him. The wounded god began to ooze tears again. “I don’t want you to look…”

The shame which was now so much clearer on his brother’s face gave Zeus all the information he needed. He feared what he would find beneath that cloth, but he had to look. He had to take care of Hades’ wounds.

“Hades,” he said, his voice gentle yet stern. He would not take a refusal for an answer. “I need to look after all of your wounds. Let me see.”

The older god shook his head at first, an instant reaction to what was to come, but finally, he looked away from his youngest sibling and let go of the cloak.

Zeus pulled the cloth away and shut his eyes at the horrible sight which greeted him. His mind refused to believe in what he had just exposed himself to, but he opened his eyes again, this time ready, and he knew he had not imagined things. Blood was still seeping from the worst of his beloved mate’s inflicted wounds. His fears were confirmed: Hades had been violated. Peering past the smeared crimson, he could see gauges made in deliberate shapes.

A sickle. For Cronos.

“Curse them…” Zeus muttered, and his fists clenched as he tried not to fall under the influence of a second outburst. “Damn them to eternal despair.”

As Poseidon looked at him, he saw the flare of a spark deep within the Olympian leader’s eyes.

“Zeus… please forgive me.”

The words snapped Zeus out of his dark thoughts and he looked with confusion at his eldest brother. “What must I forgive?” he asked.

“I am sorry,” Hades answered, tears falling in twin streams down his bruised face. “I did not want them to do it. I tried to struggle. They were so strong.”

The spark of rage immediately died out from the Olympian leader’s eyes, leaving only sadness behind. “I know that, little one,” he said, his voice hoarse, as if Zeus himself was fighting back tears. Hades’ eyes, though swollen and bloodshot, had not lost their inherent beauty. Only now they also held a great deal of fear.

“Can you name the ones that did this to you, brother?” Zeus asked, taking Hades’ small, pale hand in his own. One of the fingers was clearly disjointed and shot out at a strange angle. “So that I can avenge you.”

Hades shook his head. He hated to make Zeus disappointed, but at present he could simply not recall any names. “Wait…” he said, suddenly recalling a name being shouted repeatedly by one of the male titans. “Metis…” he whispered. “I remember… Metis.”

Zeus frowned at the name uttered by his eldest brother. He did not think that Hades was delirious, yet he could not believe that a titaness was responsible for the atrocities committed upon the oldest god. Females could not rape, and there was no doubt about Hades’ violation.

“Metis is female,” Zeus said gently. “She did not do this to you.”

“No, she…” Hades blinked. “She tried to… stop them… But they didn’t listen. She told them to let me be, and they hit her so she would not interfere anymore.”

“What a surprise…” Poseidon mused. “Perhaps not all titans are like their leader.”

“One can only hope,” Chiron added, still watching the sad sight before him. “You will need something to make up for your lost tent and blankets. I will search for replacements.”

“How?” Poseidon asked. “Are you to find more nymphs?”

“If it helps,” the centaur replied, readying his bow. “But I was thinking of something closer to a bear. A hide large enough to provide warmth for all three of you. I will hurry as fast as I can.”

Inspecting the direction of the giant footprints, Chiron galloped in the opposite direction and disappeared into the forest.

Hades shut his eyes, as Zeus moved on to reset his finger. It pained him greatly, but not nearly as much as the relocating of his shoulder. He simply focused on his thoughts, muttering the titaness’ name over and over again, knowing another name was lingering somewhere in his memory. It had sounded similar, and yet…

“Atlas.”

Both Poseidon and Zeus looked at him.

“What did you say?” the youngest of them asked. Hades opened his eyes.

“I think his name was Atlas.”

“You are certain?” Zeus asked his mate. Hades grimaced with the memories of the monster’s name, and his horrible grinning visage, and he nodded.

“He was their leader. They did everything he said. He used a dagger… nearly red-hot…”

Even retelling the events made the god’s wounds ache as if the evil titan had returned, and his broken body tensed, causing him to bite back a whimper. A hand belonging to Poseidon patted Hades’ hair, brushing the tangled locks aside and stroking a sweating brow.

“That evil creature…” he heard above him. “Zeus… is it really…?”

“Yes,” the younger god replied, his eyes quite dark. “He is one of Cronos’ most trusted warriors. Our mother had mentioned him numerous times as I grew to manhood. But I had never expected his cruelty to be this great. When we meet with him on the battlefield… he will know what cruelty truly means.”

“Zeus, we should focus on looking after our brother,” Poseidon carefully remarked, not wanting Zeus to slip back into his previous rage. Hades needed to know he would continue to be loved and looked after now more than ever, and Poseidon feared that uncontrolled anger might distract Zeus from where he was needed the most.

“Atlas will pay for this… with his life!” the youngest god vowed, as though he had not heard Poseidon. “But before I kill him, I will rid him of the part he used to violate my mate!”

“We cannot stay here, Zeus,” Poseidon tried again, noticing that Hades was now shivering from the cold. “We need to find shelter. You will have time to plot revenge against the titans later.”

Zeus’ eyes turned to his brother, and for a moment Poseidon feared that the Olympian leader’s anger would instead be directed at him. Then the glow of fury faded once again and Zeus gave an acquiescing nod.

“Yes, you are right,” he said. Turning his gaze to Hades, the youngest god wondered if his brother had any chance of surviving even if they managed to stop his bleeding from down below. Recalling Demeter’s condition after the fire and the fever which raged within her body, he was suddenly doubtful.

Zeus gathered Hades up from the ground and held the wounded, shivering little god against himself for both warmth and console. As soon as Chiron returned, they would leave their old campsite in search of a new one, hopefully more secluded.

“We need not stay out in the open,” he mused aloud. “The trees will provide just a little more warmth. And it will keep us hidden without staying out of earshot.”

Poseidon nodded and waved towards the wooded area. “I will show you where we stayed prior to your return.”

Moving into the thicket, the three gods huddled against one another, mostly to provide warmth to Hades, as well as comfort through their physical presence. Zeus kept his eldest brother as close to him as physically possible. He was mindful of the wounds, but Hades did not seem to care. Despite the pain, the battered god’s desire for the contact of his brothers was far greater.

Night was falling by the time the three Olympians heard their half-brother’s return.

“Zeus?”

“We are here,” Zeus called out to the centaur. He and Poseidon made themselves known, Hades in his arms, only to find Chiron was empty-handed.

“What’s this?” the youngest god demanded.

“I have shot down a bear. Its pelt will make more than an ideal blanket.”

“Where is it?” Poseidon asked, eyebrow raised. Both he and Zeus shared equal perplexity.

Chiron gave a small smile of pride. “Back where I found it. Come with me.”

The gods complied with their half-brother’s request and were led uphill through the woods. Zeus was about to ask how long reaching the destination would take when he saw something up ahead. Encouraged by the sight of it, he held Hades closer to his chest and trudged up the hill faster.

A cave.

“Thankfully this was not occupied by a mother and cubs,” Chiron remarked, trotting over to his kill and nudging at it with a front hoof. “Otherwise I may not have returned. Its occupant was old and alone.

The bear, a mature male judging from its size, lay on its side, an arrow still jutting out of its huge, shaggy skull. The predator’s mouth was open in a perpetual growl, baring its fearsome canines and long, red tongue which hung limply out of the maw.

Zeus hoped that the beast’s fur was not too badly flea-infested, though at present he hardly had the luxury to be selective. All he needed was something warm to wrap Hades up in, and the bear skin would do just fine.

The three gods entered the cave, Hades still in is mate’s arms, while Chiron stayed outside to skin the bear and turn the hide into a fur blanket. Poseidon offered his wounded brother some water from his water sack, and Hades gratefully swallowed the liquid, hoping to get rid of the taste of soil and Atlas’ fingers digging deep into his throat.

Chiron entered after some time, the bear’s pelt now slung over his forearm. Poseidon had already begun the task of making a hearth by collecting pieces of wood found in the cave. Hades rested his heavy, aching head against Zeus’ chest, edging to fall asleep despite the pains that wracked his body.

“If you are hungry, we have plenty of meat,” the centaur said, dropping the fur by Zeus’ side. “It would be a shame to put it to waste.”

“Thank you,” Hades rasped, a regretful look on his face. “But I confess I am not hungry.”

“We understand, brother,” Zeus said, patting the older god’s hair. “What you need now is rest. There will be time for food when you are ready, but for now, you should try to sleep.”

“Something must be done with this,” the centaur said, arms folded as he considered the sizeable supply of meat. “It will tide us over for many days and it should be kept well preserved."

“And it might attract other predators,” Poseidon replied, stepping out of the cave once the fire was properly made. “At the very least we should hang it out of reach from animals.”

“Good idea.” Chiron drew out a gathered loop of rope and tied a heavy branch to one end as a weight. Two attempts later, he had managed to throw the weighted end over the high branch of a tree. “This should be a challenge,” he said, approaching the skinned carcass. “I’m going to need an extra pair of arms.”

Whilst Poseidon and Chiron continued their attempts to suspend the meat, Zeus remained with Hades, tending to his brother with the care of someone far more practiced in medicine. So gentle was the Olympian leader that if Hades shut his eyes, he could almost imagine Demeter was there. Zeus had not spoken for some time and without even looking at his youngest sibling, Hades could tell that his brother was deep in thought.

“Hold still, brother,” Zeus finally said. “I wish to try something.”

Though fear still lingered in his mind and would make itself known at the slightest provocation, Hades obeyed, but his shivering could not be fully helped. He did not ask questions and only hoped that whatever his brother would attempt would not cause him much pain.

“I apologize now if I hurt you,” Zeus warned. “I do not mean to. Just try to remain still…”

Hades did not like being exposed to Zeus’ eyes at present, dreading the thoughts which he imagined passed through his brother’s head. The younger god’s brooding silence only made his fear grow, and finally Hades made an attempt to close his legs despite the pain which arose from the movement.

Zeus grabbed his brother’s knees and gently parted the quivering thighs again. “Hades, I must see,” he said. “Try to endure.”

Zeus forced himself to look at his loved one’s bleeding orifice, lacerated and swollen, and then at the horrific gauges cut into the flesh of his thighs. The cuts would soon become infected unless something was done, and already Zeus could imagine green pus oozing out of the marks sliced to resemble his father’s symbol. Taking a deep breath, Zeus placed his hands directly over the brands. Hades cried out hoarsely, his hands twisting fistfuls of the bear skin he was now lying on.

Closing his eyes, Zeus focused. He hoped he would have better luck with his brother than he did with Demeter and her burn wounds, since he was stronger now. Hades obediently stayed as still as possible, but he could not help the shivers which passed through him on occasion. Zeus’ touch, though gentle, burned his scalded skin anew, and Hades wondered what his brother was hoping to accomplish.

After approximately two minutes of intense focusing, Zeus finally opened his eyes and slowly lifted his hands from Hades’ thighs.

Though promising, the sight which greeted him was a disappointment nonetheless. The wounds were less irritated now, smaller and no longer weeping with blood. Anyone unfamiliar with Hades’ ordeal would have guessed that his wounds had been successfully healing for the past three days. However, the wounds were not fully healed. Already the broken skin was being replaced by scar tissue. Zeus sighed.

Hades would be stuck with these brands for the rest of his life. Though he knew such a fate would be awful for his eldest brother, Zeus could not help but think of how such a sight would affect him. Would he ever be able to make love to Hades again without those scars interrupting his pleasure? Would Cronos’ evil never be fully eradicated from the lives of his unfortunate children?

“I could not heal it completely,” Zeus said with a disappointed sigh as Hades – eyes inquisitive and frightened – awaited an answer. He wiped his hands clean and avoided his brother’s gaze. “There shall be scars. I am sorry.”

Hades nodded and appeared lost in thought, likely imagining how his life would continue with such ugly markings permanently spoiling his beautiful white skin.

“You tried,” he quietly said. A large, warm hand gently pressed against his cheek, and he leaned into the warmth. How he loved that contact, that closeness.

“The brands still remain, but how do the rest of the wounds fare?” Zeus asked. “I know I was unable to do all that I wished to, but…”

“I’ll live,” Hades replied, although he was not quite sure that he would. The next few days would be of vital importance. Even if I died now, it would not be so bad, the wounded god thought. I am with my family, and Zeus is taking care of me. Dying in his mate’s arms would not be as horrible as dying all alone or at the hands of cruel titans.

“I am here, dearest,” the Olympian leader reminded his unfortunate sibling. “I hope you can get some well-needed rest with me by your side.”

Hades nodded, weary despite everything that had been done to him. A small, nagging fear remained at the back of his mind, whispering to him that if he went to sleep, he would not wake up again.

Zeus noticed his older brother’s swollen eyelids sliding shut and kissed Hades on the forehead, trying to find a spot free of swellings or scraped skin. He carefully maneuvered himself into a position curled around the smaller god’s form, well aware that he could not hold Hades like he used to because of the other’s injuries.

The bear skin was hardly fragrant to lie against, but at least it was warm and that was all that presently mattered. Zeus wondered if either Poseidon or Chiron would stand watch outside the cave, keeping an eye out for approaching enemies. He had promised not to leave Hades’ side, but he could also not risk their group being caught off-guard by Cronos’ men at sunrise.

Poseidon entered the cave sometime later, trying to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb his brothers’ fragile sleep.

“Who is standing watch?” Zeus suddenly asked, making his brother jump almost out of his sandals.

“Chiron volunteered to be the first,” Poseidon answered, visibly shaken by the scare. Zeus might have laughed if his heart had not felt heavy as it did now. “Afterwards I will trade places with him.”

“Hopefully we will not be disturbed tonight, vigil or not,” the youngest god remarked. He lifted a corner of the makeshift blanket “For now, come lay down with us. Try to sleep. You look terrible.”

Poseidon rubbed his eyes. “I feel terrible. Nowhere near so much as our brother… or Chiron for that matter. It surprised me that he took watch first. He has already done so much, but he stayed put and told me to go get some rest.”

“Perhaps he does not like caves,” Zeus said, and to this Poseidon chuckled.

“How often do you see horses living in caves?” the older god replied. Yawning, he strode over to his brothers and began to settle himself beside Zeus, but his brother would have none of it.

“Go to Hades’ side. He needs all the heat he can get.”

This command surprised Poseidon, though he did not express it. Zeus could be very territorial at times, especially with Hades, and considering all that had occurred within the day, Poseidon expected that such feelings mixed with a need to provide protection would leave the eldest god untouchable by anyone except his mate.

Not questioning his order, Poseidon did as told, laying down beside Hades and pressing himself against the eldest Olympian’s back. He could feel a shiver that seized the unfortunate god even in sleep. With the greatest care, Poseidon placed an arm over Hades and rested it on his youngest brother’s side. Zeus, looking into his conscious brother’s eyes, did the same.

TBC...
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The Immortal Heart