Twisted Mythology: Three Tales of Greek Mythology Page 11

  “Poseidon, I would like to introduce you to your brother, Hades,” Kelmis said. My brother only nodded. I grinned; like me he was a god of few words. We walked around Hades so I could formally meet the goddesses. “I present to you your sisters, Hestia, Demeter and Hera.”

  As the Kouretes’ voice faded after speaking my sisters’ names, I remembered the stories Kelmis had told me in my youth. “I thought my father swallowed them whole.”

  My mentor nodded, “And that, he did. It is the reason I sent Zeus to Othrys, my lord.”

  I frowned and growled softly for this was another honor that my brother had stolen from me. I wondered what other slight my dear brother would pay me, and I would soon find out.

  “Where is Zeus now?” I asked as politely as I could manage.

  “A prophecy has foretold victory to our side if the Cyclops and the Hundred-Handers can be rescued from their prison in Tartarus,” Hades told me. “Zeus went down to see to their rescue.”

  I snorted. “I could have completed this task, Kelmis, while my brother freed our siblings.”

  “Mayhap, if we had known when we sent Zeus to Cronus’ side,” Kelmis answered. The Kouretes smiled. “Come, my lord, sit with us. My daughters the nymphs have prepared a feast for the evening meal.”

  I should have been famished as I had not had a bite of food since before the dawn, but hearing of my brother stealing more of my glory soured my appetite, and hearing that the nymphs were my mentor’s daughters destroyed it.

  “Pardon me, Kelmis,” I said, “the journey has left me too fatigued to want food.”

  “Rest then, my daughters will put a tray outside your door later.”

  I thanked Kelmis and bid him and my siblings a good evening. I pivoted on my heel and retraced my steps back to my apartments. I kept my eyes straight ahead and barely noticed the nymphs were smiling and batting their eyes at me.

  Chapter 3

  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Hestia lingering by the courtyard hearth. Her soft humming reached my ears and I took a small comfort in her song. Had I been able to speak, I would have called out to her, begged my sister to bring me something to end my thirst. Beads of sweat sliding down the sides of my face seemed to mock me, to remind me that I am a captive in my own kingdom. I open my mouth slightly to speak the curse forming at the bottom of my throat only to be reminded that it would be another torture on top of the many others I had suffered since my kin had lured me here.

  How much longer could I stay in this position? Until Zeus returned from his whoring in Hellas? History told me it could be days if not weeks before my brother climbed up Olympus. Perhaps my kin waited until the chains sawed off my hand. Could I go on with one hand? Did my siblings think me one of those barbarians to the north? Damn my esteemed brother to Tartarus.

  Zeus returned to Olympus from his underworld journey to rescue our uncles three days after my arrival. The days had not cooled my anger. As the Kouretes and the nymphs cheered his return, I wished that were near the seas so I might make my brother drown. I knew my brother could not be killed, but I took pleasure in imagining it.

  The Cyclops wasted no time celebrating their freedom; the three of them hid themselves in the forge to create not only weapons for our upcoming battle with our father and his allies but ornaments and light fixtures for the palace. And the Hundred-Handers took themselves to overseeing the protection of Olympus. They each piled up near the entrance to the courtyard and kept watch on Othrys on the other side of the valley.

  And Zeus did not want to celebrate his success either, and I was glad that he had no desire to gloat. He came to my side and welcomed me home. I forced a smile and thanked him for his courtesy.

  “Now that you’ve joined us, Poseidon,” Zeus continued, “I thought we might spare and start training Hades.”

  I came to my feet. It sounded like a good plan. My displeasure towards my brother had been growing over these last few days and it would be good to show him how much I had learned in his absence. I had yet to visit the practice fields, despite Kelmis’ encouragements, preferring to show my skill to anyone willing to watch me in the courtyard. I could hear the Kouretes warriors mock how I swung a blade, but the nymphs cheered me on. Even my sisters applauded any efforts, though they still stayed eerily quiet.

  “It would be my pleasure, brother,” I said, a grin on my face.

  Zeus returned my grin and yelled for Hades to accompany us. Along the way, our brother asked Zeus to recount his ordeal in Tartarus. I paid his tale little attention, knowing that I would have to endure its reciting more times that I cared to listen. In my mind, I reviewed all the lessons in weapon work that I had learned while my brother had been away. I had no doubt that Zeus’ time in our father’s court and dulled his skill considerably. My body was stronger despite the rest.

  I chuckled quietly as I let my brothers walk ahead of me. Zeus was weak, I reminded myself, and Hades but an infant when it came to knowing how to wield a sword. They both would soon discover the warrior I had become. At the edge of the practice fields, I stopped, the grin on my lips bigger than before. This place was more expansive than anything we had used on Crete. It would be my pleasure to defeat Zeus on the terraces that had been carved into the mountainside.

  I remained behind and closely watched my brothers approach the walls where the weapons had been displayed. Zeus pointed to each weapon, and even from where I stood, I could hear his voice describe the weapon’s uses. I had to admit my brother knew much about fighting and he had a gift for explaining things that I did not. I should have seen it then that my brother was is using his tongue to sway the other gods against me. I was born to rule over the gods, no Zeus.

  I could not linger there any longer. I had to prove to Hades that I was a skilled warrior that he should admire and follow. Slowly I made my way to the weapon’s wall, and by the time I arrived, Zeus had donned his armor and was explaining to our brother what he was looking for in a weapon.

  “What do you look for in a weapon?” Hades asked me as I reached for my breastplate.

  I chuckled. “A weapon,” I told him and left it at that. As I strapped the armor to my body, I watched Zeus take our brother aside to show him some moves. Hades did his best to mimic the motions. He was worse than an infant wielding a weapon, I thought; it would make him an easy target.

  With the armor securely on me, I reached for the nearest sword, a heavy blade I was certain would break my brother’s weapon in two with the first swing. Hades retreated to the wall as Zeus and I raised our weapons. We circled each other as I contemplated if I wanted to take the first swing and give the honor to Zeus. If my dear brother had not stolen so many of my honors recently, I might have kept circling. I lifted my weapon over my head and swung it towards my brother.

  My time away from Zeus now worked against me. I had forgotten just how agile my brother was. He quickly moved out of reach, for the next several minutes, he simply avoided the blows: he stepped back, to the left, or to the right. My arm grew tired hefting my blade from my side. He would wear out soon, I knew.

  Kelmis providing commentary to Hades broke my concentration. I looked towards my brother and mentor –for an instant too long. Zeus took the opportunity to swing his blade and strike my left shoulder with it. I cursed my mother. Another insult directed at my brother escaped my lips when Kelmis praised Zeus for his skill.

  For the next hour, Zeus made me look like a fool, and no amount of encouraging words from Kelmis could ease my frustration. The longer this embarrassment continued, the more mistakes I made. Only the evening dinner bell put an end to our bout. Hades and Zeus quickly slipped away. Kelmis lingered behind to help me out of my armor. He had something to say, and as much as I wanted to barge off or wish we were near the seas so I might drown him as well as Zeus, I could not show my mentor such disrespect.

  “Your need to impress Hades made you look stupid, boy,” Kelmis snapped. “You are easily distracted and easily angered. How many times do you need
to be reminded that you will not always be near the seas?”

  I collapsed against the wall once I had my armor peeled from my body. I waited to hear what other criticisms Kelmis had to throw my way.

  “These are the main reasons among many that show Zeus is a better warrior than you,” Kelmis continued. “I would list more for not only do I think that my words would fall on deaf ears, we have little time. Cronus is gathering his allies around him as we speak. We have little time to get Hades trained to fight.”

  Grateful that the Kouretes warrior had ended his lecture, I pushed myself off the wall. “I will see to Hades’ training myself on the morrow,” I told my mentor.

  “You will do no such thing, Poseidon,” Kelmis barked. “I have already given that task to Zeus. I will train with you. Now clean yourself up and get yourself to the courtyard for the evening meal.”

  I frowned and lingered behind despite my growling stomach. I waited until my mentor had vanished from sight before I took a hold of the blade I had used in my duel with my brother and fought an imaginary foe until my muscles refused to lift over my head. I let the blade on the ground where I dropped it and imagined using it against Zeus the next time we sparred.

  My path back to my apartments took me through the courtyard where I found Zeus flirting with Demeter. Had I not been so fatigued from my workout, I would have throttled my brother then and there. I cursed Zeus for out sister had never smiled that way with me.

  Chapter 4

  I must have slipped off into a light slumber. How else could I have not seen Demeter with a goblet of nectar in her hand? My sister smiled at me. I so wanted to smile back at her but the pain in my lips and mouth rivaled that of the cuts that tore my wrists and ankles. The goddess spoke not a word as she helped me take several precious swallows of liquid.

  Despite the pain the kept me imprisoned against the pillar, I felt desire for my sister rise in my groin. Of my sisters, I always found Demeter to be the loveliest. But no matter what sweet words I whispered in her ear, she never came willingly to my bed. I enjoyed her once, and then I had to take her by force and while she grieved. It was another reason I could be called a cheater, and that she had gone to Zeus’ bed on her own accord provided more fuel in the increasing jealousy I felt towards my younger brother.

  Zeus proved an excellent teacher. A mere morning working with Hades had increased our brother’s skill with weapons a thousand fold. Soon, it appeared, Hades might be able to challenge me and win. I cursed my brothers and worked on focusing on the lessons Kelmis tried to hammer into my head. I had a thick skull even then, but I am also a proud god. I hated to admit that I could not perform a move he first time it was shown to me.

  For the next fortnight, we worked from dawn until dusk, much as we had on Crete, and only stopped in between to eat the food the nymphs brought down to the practice fields. Sometimes our sisters joined us. They cheered us on when they stayed. And in an attempt to impress Demeter, I swallowed my pride and asked Kelmis to show me difficult moves a second time. I so wanted Demeter to share my bed, I suggest that my brothers and I spare together. Kelmis praised my suggestion and joined my sisters on the sidelines. To give my dear sister an even better impression of me, I took my time in considering which sword I was going to use. In the end, it only got me more praise from my mentor and the ability to last longer in the bout.

  I considered my strategy as I joined my brothers on the field. If I could convince Hades to side with me against Zeus, I would make short work of my elder brother once Zeus was sidelined. It was a good plan, but it became clear that my brothers had other plans: they gained up on me. Again I wished that we were near the seas so I might drown them. Victory would impress Demeter greatly, I was certain.

  The longer my brothers remained united against me only added to the darkness of my mood. Hades had preferred our brother’s company to mine since Zeus’ return. They consulted with each other off the practice fields and had a trust that I knew that I could not break. I cursed their names silently as I struggled to hold my own against them. My plan to convince Hades to join my side changed: I could handle Zeus by myself so I needed to get my elder brother out of the way.

  But each time I tried to push Hades to the ground or disarm him, Zeus came to our brother’s defense. I pushed myself harder but gained nothing to show for it save tired muscles. I shot a glimpse towards where my sisters were standing to find that only Hera remained. And I could see that my sister’s eyes were focused on Zeus, not me. I growled at the slight. I would allow my brother this pleasure, for I assumed I could convince Demeter to come to my bed.

  The bell announcing the evening meal brought an end to our bout. I gave my brothers thanks for the practice. Hades nodded and I could see Zeus’ grin on his face. Neither said a word, and I found myself thankful for it. I walked behind both my brothers as we headed towards the wall of weapons.

  “Kelmis has done well in your training,” Zeus told me. “There were moments when I believed that you would knock my blade out of my hand.”

  I mumbled my thanks as returned my sword to the wall and Kelmis came to my side to help me take off my breastplate. Hades added his compliments to our brother’s. A small grin formed on my lips. Perhaps at last I was getting the respect from my brothers that I rightly deserved.

  “You held yourself well,” I told Hades. “Perhaps we can spare for a time tomorrow.”

  Hades nodded and walked with me to the courtyard. We spoke of the techniques we had learned from the bout as Zeus walked ahead of us with Hera at his side. I held back a chuckle at the sight; with my brother so focused on Hera, I thought, maybe Demeter would give me the notice I deserved. And I was encouraged when we reached the tables when my sister begged me to sit next to her. Demeter also included an apology for not staying to witness the end of the bout.

  “Hestia and I,” she told me, “we promised to help the nymphs with the evening meal.” She smiled. “Hestia has learned that she has a gift to control fire.”

  “And what are your gifts, dear sister?” I asked.

  Demeter giggled. “The flowers that decorate the tables were not here this morning.”

  The grin on my face widened as my eyes shot to the flowers in the vase at the center of the table. They were enormous, and while I did not have an eye for such things, I still told my sister they were beautiful. The light from the sun above us sparkled in her eyes.

  “But they are not as beautiful as you,” I told her.

  “Your words are kind,” she replied as nymphs arrived with platters of food and goblets filled to the brim with our nectar.

  I watched my sister eat, trying to think of words to make her smile, to convince her to come to my bed, but my tongue failed me. Behind me, I could hear Zeus paying Hera many compliments. I part of me wanted to say these words to Demeter, but I knew they would have no effect. I thought up a list of curses aimed towards Zeus for his easy way with words where the goddesses were concerned. I had a lot to learn from Zeus, although then I only saw that he was inferior to me in every way possible.

  And when Demeter excused herself for the evening, I again found myself wishing that we had some body of water nearby so I might try to drown my brother in it. As I watched Demeter cross the hall, my thoughts turned to Hestia. Perhaps she would be more willing than our other sisters but she was nowhere to be found. Zeus and Hera had vanished long ago, leaving only myself and Hades.

  My brother suggested we spare for a time that evening, and I reluctantly agreed. I would have rather enjoyed the company of our sisters that evening in my bed, but they had no interest it what I had to offer them. I did not realize just how angry I was until I reached for my weapon. I made Hades pay for his lack of experience until dusk when Kelmis and his fellow Kouretes warriors came rushing to the practice fields to alert us that the Titans had finally decided to attack.

  Chapter 5

  I could hear Zeus’ voice in the distance, letting me know that he had finally decided to return to Olympus.
I cursed myself for asking myself whether or not he would be merciful when he ultimately decided to notice me. I could not make out the whispers of the other gods as they spoke to my brother. I leaned my head back and took a deep breath, the air scraping against my dry throat. Would there be other matters that would prevent Zeus from showing me any consideration? I had an ally among his children. Would he see to Apollo’s punishment before mine? Zeus has a long history of doing things on his own time, like joining us against the Titans.

  I followed Kelmis from the practice yards to the entrance to the courtyard from the mountain trails. I could see several Titans beginning their ascent through a storm of rocks hurled by the Hundred Handers. I growled as I tightened my grip on my blade.

  “They cannot be allowed to reach the summit,” Kelmis shouted beside me. “Your kin will run out of rocks soon.”

  I nodded. “Let’s take the fight to them, my friend.”

  “Should we wait for Zeus?” I heard Hades ask behind me.

  “No!” I snapped as I started down the path towards our enemy. A grin formed on my lips. I would show my brothers and the Kouretes that I was the one among us who deserved to be respected, to be King. The rocks my uncles threw from above barely missed me on several occasions as I ran down.

  With Hades and the Kouretes behind me, I was able to push the Titans back to the valley floor. The skill of these gods rivaled that of the Kouretes. We had not been on flatter ground for long before Kelmis had to carry Hades back up to the safety of Olympus. By then, Zeus had finally decided to join us. And he proved just how skilled with a sword he was.

  Zeus joined me. I could not recall having seen my brother as angry as he was this moment. As he helped me push the Titan I was fighting back, I could not help but notice clouds forming above us, and soon water poured out of them. I grinned; something I could control! I used my power over water to send every drop towards our opponent who quickly retreated. I gave the same treatment to every Titan who came to challenge me after that. But not every Titan ran away in fear.