CHAPTER 2

Prometheus plants his feet on the Earth’s soil for the first time in ten thousand years. Once he was discovered to be the second party in Pallas Athene’s birth, he fled to the darker parts of Olympus, far beyond the safety of the Golden Gates. The titans who took refuge in the wild lands during the Great War found and protected Prometheus, while holding onto their hatred for his betrayal in the war between the titans and their children, the gods. His redemption is that his child with Metis will be a new hope for the overthrow of Olympus; otherwise, he would have been ripped apart on sight. 

The smell of the planet’s vegetation and soil fills his nostrils and reminds him of the night he took the young goddess to the gates of Tartarus, the prison of the fallen and damned of The Great War. Prometheus has no way of knowing what became of the child since he left her at the opening to the dark underworld. There were no decrees of her death. No body. No feast. She must still be there somewhere. The massive black cave opening of Tartarus in front of Prometheus drains his energy, reduces his strength, and renders him feeling both hopeless and powerless. Nevertheless, the silver-armored titan draws a long sword and prepares himself for whatever comes out of the abyss. 

A heavy, stoic breath comes to him as a paralyzing wave, striking into his body, echoing in his brain. A faint scraping sound is followed by deep tapping on a hard rocky surface. Panting and deep growls fill Prometheus’s ears, drowning out all around him. In the darkness, three pairs of large red eyes illuminate long, needle-like teeth, grinding together. An enormous three-headed canine charges from the blackness and circles around Prometheus. The beast’s fur secretes smoke and ash, as if the animal leaped out of fire. It barks loudly at the titan, baring its dagger-sized teeth, and gets closer to sniff his body. The canine steps in front of Prometheus and sits with a crashing thud, docile and waiting. He smells familiar. Prometheus sheaths his sword and pets the large smoking beast. It rests its chin on the titan’s shoulder, causing him to buckle under the weight of the demonic dog’s three heads. “You’ve gotten bigger, Cerberus! What are you eating?”

“Humans. Heroes, to be more specific—whatever remains of them. That is what Cerberus eats.” Prometheus looks beyond Cerberus and sees a black form emerge from the ground, rising into a tall, slender, faceless shape with black strands of smoke coming from it. The pillar of darkness floats closer towards Prometheus. “You are lucky, Prometheus. If he didn’t recognize you, your organs would line the walls of his cave.” 

“Hades. It has been a long time. A very long time.” Prometheus and Hades walk towards the dark opening, and Cerberus follows. “What do you mean? Heroes from what, exactly?” Hades stops moving and chuckles slightly. “Heroes—that is what Zeus calls his bastard sons. He believes Metis’s daughter lives down here in Tartarus of all places. He sends these heroes here to find her and kill her.” “She is alive?” A long silence follows Prometheus’ inquiry. “Come with me, titan, and all of your questions will be answered.” 

The only light in the hall leading to Tartarus comes from the fiery beams of Cerberus’ six eyes. The hot breathing from the enormous hound is the only sound Prometheus can hear other than the beating of his own heart. He has never dared to venture this far into the Underworld, and every step he takes feels like a condemnation. “My brother has done all he can to demonize me. Infest my world with those—pests he calls his sons. He does this to me. ME! HADES! The one who holds the keys to the chains that keep our father Cronos at bay.” Prometheus doesn’t know what to say in response to Hades’ outburst. “It is Ares, Zeus’ son with Hera—he is the real demon. He stirs the humans into frenzies—drives them to war and slaughter, at times, cannibalism. Yet, I admire the boy.” 

Hades laughs. “Cannibalism. Do we not eat our own, Prometheus? Did you not kill your brothers and sisters by joining our side, allowing Zeus to devour Cronos’ kingdom? Did you not relish the idea of turning back on Zeus and conspiring with his wife, Metis, a fellow titan? Did you not satisfy your appetite by partaking of his wife, did you not fuck the Queen of the Olympians and father Pallas Athene behind the King’s back? Did you not escape after filling your heart with sex and revenge, leaving your lover to be torn apart by the King? Is that not cannibalism, Prometheus?” The titan is paralyzed by Hades’ honesty. Has Hades taken me here for punishment for what I have done? Does the child know that I am her father?

 Is it possible they know why I am here?

The titan finds himself now engulfed by the endless ocean of gore and screams of torment before him. He cannot remember how he stepped onto the volcanic cliffside or where the dark hall ended. He turns around and meets a sheer rock face. He looks up and only sees a reflection of what is below. There is no relief or possibility of escape. The air is sulfuric and rotting from the collection of bodies stacked in a pyre of flames atop an immense altar with an inscription carved on top that reads THE ENEMIES OF THE GREAT CHAAK. 

Across a large sea of fire that flows in the middle of Tartarus, there are bodies partially buried, with the lower half of their body exposed, being bitten by small demons. Each time the creatures rip off a chunk of flesh, blood gushes from the wound, and the body regenerates, allowing the creature to continue eating. The other half of the imprisoned are submerged under the surface with only their faces showing. They scream in agony, pleading for death, every time the demons rip off their skin and muscle. Other damned beings are chained upside down, naked, and being whipped mercilessly by large demons and gods of the underworld. 

“This is where all prisoners of Olympus, and the damned, are brought to suffer until existence ceases. I share the reign of this world with the Great King Osiris, who rules lower Tartarus. In the upper world, I keep the Hekatonkheires, shadow beasts, cyclops, dragons, and titans.” Prometheus sees a familiar face embedded in the shore of the fiery sea, scarred with cuts and weary from living in torment. The face looks towards the titan and screeches, “PROMETHEUS!! YOU BETRAYER! WE SUFFER HERE IN TARTARUS BECAUSE OF YOU!!” A giant winged demon soars down and lands on the face and defecates on it. “That is Atlas, the general of the titan army. Why is he here?! I thought he was—-” 

Hades laughs and replies, “Did you really think he would be punished by holding up the Earth? That is simply a tale mothers tell their children, titan. There are powers even beyond our control that move the worlds. Have you never heard of The Creator?” The winged demon turns, faces Prometheus, and asks, “Lord Hades has taken you down here?” Prometheus nods. “Then, you must be dead—or don’t know you are dead yet.” Prometheus looks at Hades, enraged and paranoid. “Did you bring me down here to imprison me!?” Hades laughs at the outburst. “Why would I go through the trouble? Eventually, you will end up here anyway. Everything has a time to die, titan. Even immortals. 

Hades points toward a tall figure with a skeletal body and long canine-like skull. It is dressed in a white skirt and golden headdress similar to the humans of the Dark Continent. In one hand, he is carrying a whip made of jagged metal, and in the other, a large golden sickle. The figure begins to whip two titans hanging by chains, being held by Typhon, who is encased in a cocoon made of magma. The tormentor stands on the encased tail of the father of all monsters as he swings his metal device back and forth, tearing away from the bodies, causing the titans to cry in hopelessness. The sight brings great pain into the heart of the great betrayer. “MAKE THEM STOP! NO MORE!!!” 

Hades yells, “ANUBIS! Silence the prisoners and come here.” Anubis dips his sickle into the large lake of fire, and when he pulls it out, it glows a brilliant red-orange color. He then begins to silence the titans by sealing their lips together, causing the titans to violently scream muffled sounds, unable to move from their tombs on the volcanic surface. Prometheus trembles at the sight of his people being tormented on the ground—tormented, and being forbidden the release of death. This is what he caused. This is his doing. 

Anubis jumps into the air and hovers in front of the two, still standing on the cliffside. “Lord Hades, how can I assist you?” “Anubis, this is Prometheus, the titan. He has come to see Pallas Athene. Will you take him to her?” “Yes, Lord Hades. Follow me, titan, and I will take you to lower Tartarus, the kingdom of The Great King Osiris and The Great Queen Isis. You will find what you seek there.” Prometheus asks Hades, “Why can’t you take me there yourself?” “I can only move within my own kingdom unless I am invited by King Osiris into his world. That is our agreement. Besides, Anubis is from Lower Tartarus and has the authority to move within both kingdoms. He will take you there as safely as possible.” 

Anubis and Prometheus descend deeper and deeper into the dark chaos of Tartarus. The titan feels more hopeless and vulnerable than when he bowed to Zeus, promising to betray and kill his race to save the lives of Metis and himself. “Have you met Pallas Athene?” asks Prometheus, attempting to get the guide to speak. The two have not spoken in the last one hundred years, when they first began their descent from Upper Tartarus. “We are almost there, titan.” 

In the distance, there is what seems to be a horizon, growing steadily and pulsating like Prometheus’ heart. “Is that the horizon?” asks Prometheus. Anubis looks at Prometheus, confused, and asks, “What is a horizon?” 

As the two approach the source of light, it is revealed to be a large citadel made of a type of Tartarus metal that is both solid and molten at the same time, constantly folding and reforming upon itself. The tall metallic gates are heavily guarded by four faceless ghosts draped in black tunics, holding large swords. 

“WHO DARES TO APPROACH THE THRONE OF OSIRIS!?” asks the faceless ghosts in unison, now pointing their swords toward Prometheus and Anubis. Prometheus begins to ask a question, but is quickly attacked by one of the guards, who rushes so quickly, the titan barely dodges the attack just in time. Prometheus jumps into the heavy sulfuric air and shoots a concentrated beam of orange light at the faceless ghosts, obliterating all four of them. Suddenly, Prometheus is hit from behind by a bolt of light, causing him to crash to the ground. His sword is taken away, and he is quickly chained from head to toe. Unable to move to see his assailants, he yells, “Anubis!! You’re supposed to take me to see her!” 

“And I have, titan. Now you are in the presence of the one you seek.” 

Prometheus looks around as best as he can, but sees no one. He can feel the air of his attacker moving about him, studying him, but can see no one. Suddenly, a bold, feminine voice comes from the outer darkness, asking, “Why are you here, titan? Who do you wish to speak to?” “I come to speak with Pallas Athene.” Prometheus is suddenly lifted and thrown closer to the citadel. He yells in agony from the impact. He is kicked over and over again and punched hard in the face numerous times. He becomes so enraged that he breaks off the chains and staggers around, looking for his attacker, but sees no one. 

“WHERE ARE YOU, COWARD!? STAND AND FIGHT ME!” The titan is hit hard in the body, causing him to double over. When he looks up, he sees a naked female standing before him, covered in black oil and ashes. Her eyes are completely blackened, and her teeth are covered in dirt. “Why do you seek me, titan? Who sent you here?” 

What Prometheus sees frightens him more than anything in this hell. His child is now the black demon that haunts the path of Osiris’ throne. What happened to her down here? “I am Prometheus, your father. Metis, your mother and former queen of Olympus, ordered me to bring you here for your safety.” The black attacker rushes toward him, but is met with a powerful blast of light, which she deflects with a shield that was hidden behind her. The reflected beam hits Prometheus, knocking him to his feet. 

The attacker jumps on top of the titan and rams his sword into his side. He yells in pain as the blade is twisted, rupturing his organs. “I know who you are, titan. You are not my father. The Great King Osiris is my father. He found me after I was abandoned in Upper Tartarus, sought after by Zeus and his dogs. I lived alone, hiding, fighting every day, feasting on the carcasses of my enemies. Osiris shielded me and made me his own. Metis died bravely, defending me.” 

The woman pulls a dagger from the ground and stabs Prometheus in the groin, causing him to double over in blinding pain. “You are no father. You raped my mother with promises of peace and hope…then you abandoned her.” Prometheus spits out blood and replies, “I am sorry.” “Oh, you will be, titan. I will let you know what it means to feel sorry.” “Pallas—I wish I could have kept you. I didn’t want to leave you!” 

“SILENCE, LIAR! My name is not Pallas Athene. I am Nemesis, daughter of Metis and child of Osiris, and the agent of your damnation. Zeus sent you to me to be imprisoned, you fool.” Nemesis commands the dark creatures in the shadows to collect the titan and place him atop a rock on a cliffside south of the citadel. They imprison him there using fiery chains of Tartaric metal, covered in spikes. He yells and pleads for help, but to no avail. The demons laugh sadistically as they stab him with stones and knives, creating cuts in his skin.

 “No one will save you, titan!” 

“You are forever damned!” 

“You betrayed your kind and must suffer!!” 

Nemesis stands over the prisoner’s body and says, “You are condemned to live an eternity, chained here while your organs are ripped out and devoured. You will never know death because you are not deserving of such peace.” The demons tear open his torso in bloody gashes and eat the titan’s intestines and stomach. He cries in pain, wanting to die, but his organs redevelop and are eaten again, over and over. 

Nemesis turns around to find her white haired twin clad in black and gold armor standing behind her. The sister’s white, glowing eyes illuminate the contours of Nemesis’ tightly muscled body, and a smile forms on her face. “Are you pleased, Athena?” The sister looks past Nemesis to observe Prometheus engulfed by demons, eating his body. Even more demons congregate around the fallen titan’s body, waiting for their opportunity to fill their stomachs with his flesh. She can hear her father yelling in agony as his skin and hair are torn off by ravenous creatures and consumed. 

Athena laughs and embraces her naked, black, oily sister. “Yes, I am. Come, we must join the feast Zeus has made in our honor. Aphrodite is waiting with father and mother at the front gates.” The two leave the titan to his fate. Prometheus sees the two sisters run towards the fiery citadel, welcomed into the open arms of the great gods Osiris and Isis. He ceases to resist and accepts his imprisonment just as a small demon bites off his genitals. He is no longer a threat to Olympus. He is the only meat to feed the swarming legion. In the distance, sounds of the laughter and acclamations of justice of his fellow titans can be heard from the upper levels of Tartarus.