Chapter 13

Ephus - A demigod possessing the power to repower the gods
Quinn Markov - human wife of Ephus

Norse Deities

Odin - War god, main god of the Norse gods
Freya - a goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, sex, war, gold, and seiðr.

Valkyries

Skuld - debt or future
Skögul - high-towering, Shaker
Herfjötur - Host-fetteror fetter of the army
Herja - devastate
Skeggöld - axe-age

Egyptian Deities

Ra – God of the Sun, the major god of Egypt
Bast - Goddess of cats, protection, joy, dance, music, family, and love
Serket - Goddess of scorpions, medicine, magic, and healing venomous stings and bites
Thoth - God of knowledge

Greek Deities

Poseidon - god of the sea, brother of Zeus

Titans

Cronus - The King of the Titan, and the god of destructive time--time which devours all.
Iapetus - The Titan god of mortality and the allotment of the mortal lifespan.
Atlas - The Titan god of astronomy and the revolution of the heavenly constellations.
Prometheus - The wisest Titan. Son of Iapetus.
Oceanus - Titan of the Sea

Deep within the realm of Hades, Cronus was shaking his head. It was obvious that he and the other Titans had severely underestimated Ephus.

Cronus looked at a very weak Iapetus. He and the others had never seen a power like this. Even when they were at their peak, out in the world, he, the most powerful, had nothing like it.

Even trying to scan Iapetus as deeply as he could, revealed nothing. He needed the smartest of them, though how to trust him.

Most of the Titans couldn’t trust him after the Titans were defeated. Prometheus, most suspected that he had helped Zeus defeat Cronus. The only thing was that they needed his mind. He was their foremost thinker. Still, when they used him, he’d have to have him watched very closely.

Cronus thought longer before he nodded, that plan might work after all. It mattered not about loyalty, it was nothing compared to family.

“Prometheus!” Cronus yelled, “come quick, it is your father!”

A moment later, a tall, well-muscled male with blonde hair appeared. “I am here Cronus,” Prometheus said, then saw his father, weak and pitiful looking. “Father! What has happened?” Prometheus asked.

“I am afraid that he was defeated by a very powerful demi-god, one that wishes to destroy all of us,” Cronus lied.

Prometheus looked over the situation, his gaze taking in everything within seconds. “Hmmm,” he said after seeing no wound upon his father’s body. His eyebrows rose when he saw his friend Atlas, standing well back, suspiciously quiet.

“I see, have you tried to heal him?” Prometheus asked. He expected more lies from Cronus, much like he always did.

“Of course, though, it seems an unknown power was used on him,” Cronus said.

Prometheus took all this in trying to see just what Cronus’ angle was this time. As far as he knew, the only thing Cronus really cared about was power, plus how much more he could get.

There was something going on, his father’s weakness was indeed real, though he could still feel his father’s power. Strange, it was almost as if most of his power was blocked.

Prometheus hid his smile, he’d heard of this. There was one out there that had powers that had never been seen before.

Another look at his father seemed to confirm a lot of what he had heard. Obviously, Cronus thought about using this against him. HA! Well, Cronus and the others were in for another rude awakening. His father had always been a cruel, back-stabbing god, really? Prometheus, could care less about most of the Titans.

Another look at Atlas, had Prometheus, wondering if they had something on him. He’d have to get Atlas alone to find out exactly what.

Finally, Prometheus looked at Cronus, “So, what the hell do you want of me? If you can’t heal him, then I sure as can’t. Please no lies, you really don’t do it as well as you think.”

For a moment Cronus had a look of anger cross his face, then it was gone even faster. “Well, I thought that since he was your father you might want to take revenge for him.”

Things were starting to make more sense now, it was obvious that this new problem dumbfounded Cronus. So, Cronus, even though not trusting him, still needed his mind to figure it out.

Now Prometheus just needed the facts, as well as the truth. An inner laugh had him thinking that would be the day.

For the next hour, Prometheus listened as Cronus spun his spheel. Surpringly, almost all of it was in fact true, damn Prometheus thought, Cronus was desperate.

“Alright, I’ll be back as soon as I have a...” Prometheus started.

“I think that you should stay close in case something happens to your father,” Cronus quickly said. Prometheus smirked, then nodded. Cronus was indeed desperate.

“I would think far better away from the negative energy of this place. There are far too many here whose energy,

does not allow for the best thinking,” Prometheus said.

Cronus was immediately compliant,” I can create, with your help, a small area that can block the effects of this.”

Prometheus smirk of disbelief, had Cronus putting a hurt look on his face. Again, Prometheus shook his head, Cronus wasn’t just a bad liar, he was the worst at acting.

“We shall see Cronus. Now tell me just who is this demi-god that defeated father,” Prometheus said.

“He used to be a human, though years ago he started to develop godly powers. Now he has more power than almost any out there. His name is Ephus,” Cronus said.

Prometheus nodded, he had heard of the man/god. In fact, he had tried to contact him, finding that quite a few of the Titans were keeping a close eye on him.

Quiet for a long time, Cronus was thinking that Prometheus was going to refuse. Finally, Prometheus nodded, “I will need a great deal of my things, plus a great deal more. We are dealing with something that hasn’t ever been seen, not even in your time.”

Cronus was nodding, looking at Prometheus through narrow eyes. Yes, they were going to have to watch him very closely.

Prometheus wasn’t stupid, he saw the look Cronus was giving him, this was going to take all his mind to do.

Quinn sat on the divan. She’d been practising now for hours. She still felt as if she had no control at all over her power.

Obviously, Ephus had done something to her that had helped a great deal. Still, she had no idea what it was, nor what her powers were. Then the big thing was, what she was now.

Bast and Serket could see the emotions playing across her face. Though she hadn’t started to manifest her power, they were afraid that Quinn might lose it again.

Thoth, their brother had been gone for over half the day, doing whatever he thought was so important. Both let out a sigh, they just hoped that he could find something that would help.

Thoth was actually starting to get a little frustrated. For the absolute first time in his existence, he couldn’t find anything about what he was looking for. He had gone through the library of Alexandria, the library of Ra. Several ancient libraries that were still in existence though well hidden.

He’s also looked through the library of Olympus (with permission). A sudden thought struck him as he contacted Zeus’ brother, Poseidon. After only a few moments after explaining that it was to help Epus and his human wife, Poseidon agreed.

Thoth and Poseidon, appeared within a library that was by far larger than any Thoth had ever seen. Thanking Poseidon after he explained that it was, Thoth went to work.

It was another twenty hours later, Thoth was only about half the way around the library that he finally started to get answers. Thoth sighed, he would love to remain here a few more days. He’d gleaned a few things that were actually refreshing. Finally, he found after another four hours what he was looking for.

Calling Poseidon, Thoth thanked him. “You do not wish to read the rest?” Poseidon asked.

“I was only here to find an answer to help Brother Ephus. Though I have found a great many answers, they have raised others. No, I have what I was after,” Thoth said.

A shocked Poseidon nodded, “Ephus has affected you as well as a great many other gods. Have you ever have need of a friend here, do not hestitate to ask,” Poseidon said as he grasped Thoth arm, nodded, then they both vanished.

Bast and Serket had waited for two days. They still hadn’t heard from Thoth, both of them a little worried. Thoth smiled as he appeared a few miles from Ephus and Quinn’s home.

A look around showed that there was no one within miles. A look of determination and confidence on his face, Thoth started.

Shock passed across his face, he felt part of his power shift. A smile started to replace the shock as he started to go faster. Thoth’s face held confusion as he felt as if he was powering up by an outside power. A little late he realized that the power in the shift was feeding back to him. “Ah shit!” Thoth yelled as he tried to shuit it down, then puish it out.

Miles away, Ephus and Quinn’s home shook from the titanic explosion not far away.

Both Bast and Serket’s eyes were wide, they both had felt something right before the explosion. “We’ll be right back,” Bast said as both goddesses vanished.

The black area they appeared in had both of them in shock. Both goddesses could only stare at the destruction.

They were also both shocked to find small body parts all over the place. The most shocking thing though, was Thoth’s head on the top of a tree.

“Uh brother?” Bast asked. “Just what did you do to end up like this?”

“I had gone to all the libraries that I could to find an answer. I finally did, in the sunken city of Atlantis. Though,” Thoth said as several pieces of his body melded back together. His legs walked up, with the pieces joining them. “I was impatient, which I have to say was very unlike me, so I pushed far too fast, getting the present result.”