Chapter 28
Everything was going great Ares and Eris were busy talking to the fake Kol, Curios had contacted his father and sent the kraken on the way. Kol had even nearly finished recording the message for Vasos when everything went wrong. Somehow Ares had figured out he was talking to a fake Kol proving he wasn’t as stupid as he thought and that Kol had to pay Hallthor some money for losing the bet. Instantly the three of them had to move from the attacks the two gods were firing at them. Hallthor summoned lightning attacking the best he could while Curios fired energy from his trident and summoned waves of water to continually try and blind them. Kol shot energy from his staff and made duplicate illusions of all of them to try and fool them while he tried to get back to the eagle. Finally he made it to the recorder and began to finish the message he had to let them know that the kraken wasn’t their enemy. Just as Kol was about to press the button he heard Hallthor yell to watch out. Before he could react to the warning Kol is shot by a blast of fire throwing him into the eagle and then over the side of the ship, he struggles to stay conscious but darkness slowly over takes him. The last thing he sees is a beautiful light forming into a person and catching him before he hits the water.
Hair dark red hair flows backwards as the wind flows through it and her blue eyes are determined and full of confidence. Her immense white wings flap furiously as she shots past the ship high into the air. Her chiton is pearl white and flowing around her is a blue sash, her feet are bare and her body hour glass shaped. In her right hand is a sword luminous in the sun with a silver blade and golden handle.
“Do not worry young demigod I will not let anything further happen to you.” Smiles Nike the goddess of victory as she looks into his eyes.
“But the others.” He manages trying to look at the ship.
“They’ll be fine I assure you, Ares is about to have much bigger problems and I’ll handle Eris as soon as I can place you safely on the ship.”
Just then a ball of light shoots past Nike and Kol heading to the ship like a meteor, when it reaches the deck the whole ship is encased in power and light for a moment. When the glow fades there is a large man standing in its place. He has black hair that is short and neatly trimmed, he has the muscular body of a weightlifter but it’s perfectly proportionate being not too big and not too small. Like many of the other Olympian males he has a beard but it is much smaller and trimmed close to his face, he’s wearing a red Greek chiton and black sandals. In his right hand is a five foot bronze club studded at the end and wrapped at the handle with red cloth. His appearance stops the fighting all together while everyone waits to hear what he has to say.
“Still picking on demigod half-brothers huh Ares?” Questions the man.
“This is none of your business Hercules.”
“On the contraire brother I was ordered here by Zeus himself when he found out that you were again defying his orders. Now I finally get to lose my anger upon you. For too long you helped Hera torment me when I was mortal now is my repayment for your deeds.”
“You will have to deal with us both brother!” Sneers Eris standing next to Ares.
“Will I?” Laughs Hercules as Nike lands next to him with Kol in her arms.
“You will answer to me Eris.” Nike states while handing Kol off to Hallthor and Curios.
“Delighted to.” She smiles crating a ball of chaos energy.
“You can’t defeat us Hercules.” Laughs Ares walking up and standing face to face with the other god.
Hercules answers by hitting Ares with his club so hard that the other god shoots into the sky like a comet leaving the earth and heading into space.
Eris tries to attack Hercules but she doesn’t have the time to before Nike is on her, with a flashing blade she slashes and cuts Eris in several places ending in a kick that send Eris flying off the ship. As Eris flip over and over through the air Nike doesn’t give her a chance to recover, grabbing onto her ankles she spin around in a circle throwing the other goddess back towards Hercules who is waiting with his bat raised. With perfect timing he whacks her with the bat so hard she flies into the sky running into Ares who is just returning knocking them both into the ocean far away.
“You need to leave.” Hercules says looking at Hallthor. “Ares will keep trying to attack you even with us here.”
“The ship has brought you very far and Ktn is close with the speed of the enchanted ship you should be there within the hour.” Nike says readying her sword as the two gods speed towards them again.
Before Kol and his friends can answer Ares is on Hercules fighting sword to club, as the two fight they disarm each other continuing to fight hand to hand with Ares slowly getting the upper hand. Meanwhile Nike is holding her own against Eris but neither of them can gain the advantage, Eris is using discord to make Nike’s attacks chaotic while Nike uses her power to rob victory from Eris. The three demigods want to help but so much power and speed is happening that they can’t get a clear shot on their enemies. Abruptly Hercules is hit hard flying backwards and rolling off of the ship into the water. Taking the opportunity of a clear shot Kol fires a bolt of energy at Ares but to his dismay the god retrieves his sword and bats the attack back at him sending Kol right through the wall of the ship into the cabin. Ares laughs wildly consumed with the bloodlust of battle as he turns towards Nike who is still busy fighting Eris. Grabbing his attention Hallthor hits him with a bolt of lightning. Standing by his side Curios summons a hand made from water out of the ocean grabbing Ares but with a roar he destroys it freeing himself in seconds.
“We need to check on Kol.” Curios urges.
“I know but right now we have problems of our own.” Hallthor says raising his hammers to defend against Ares.
“THAT IS ENOUGH!!!” Booms Zeus’ voice as he walks out of the damaged cabin carrying Kol’s unconscious body in his arms. “YOU HAVE DEFYED ME FOR THE LAST TIME!!!!”
Power flows around his body visibly sparking freely from his skin in all directions, instantly Eris yelps disappearing into thin air leaving Ares to face the wrath by himself.
“I have the right to justice! These demigods…”
“Are on a quest for both Olympus and Asgard!” He finishes for him. “This will be your last warning Ares, should you directly interfere again you will face Odin and myself and when we are done you can join the titans in their sentence!”
“This isn’t over Kol!” Screams Ares turning to flame and shooting into the sky disappearing from sight.
“Forgive us father, Nike and I did our best to stop them!” Hercules says climbing back onto the ship.
“No forgiveness is necessary Lord Hercules.” Zeus replies with a wink as his shape shifts until Kol is standing there in his place and the other Kol turns to light and disappears.
Stunned for a moment Hercules just stares before breaking into a huge laugh that echoes through the air. “Well played young demigod!”
“Clearly there is more to you Kol than meets the eye, Ares’ multiple attacks on you would have killed most demigods.” Nike says eyeing him.
“Just lucky I guess.” He smiles wearily.
“Nonsense!” Bellows Hercules patting him on the back. “You three held your own against two full blooded gods, I am very proud of all of you.”
“You interest me Kol, I can’t put my finger on it but I will keep my eyes on you.” Smiles Nike winking at him.
Elbowing Kol in the side playfully Hercules whispers in his ear. “You dog, first Hypatia and now Nike? Not bad at all you remind me of me when I was a demigod.”
“Hercules, that’s not what I meant.” She says blushing.
“Sure it’s not.” He laughs. “But whatever you meant we should go tell Zeus what happened before Ares finds out about the trick Kol played.”
“Make us proud gentlemen.” Nike says proudly pounding her sword against her chest in salute before flying into the sky.
“Thank you all for the help you have given my great, great grandson and his friends I appreciate it.
Now I must join Nike, good journey my friends.” He says disappearing.
“Well done Kol.” Says Floggen crawling out of a hidden compartment where he was hiding.
“Heart of a lion huh?” Asks Hallthor.
“Don’t judge, I would have fought by your side but I didn’t want Ares to sense what I stole from him.” He smiles happily holding up two small metal disks.
“What are those?” Questions Curios.
“The Dethian trackers I can find you wherever you are so when you finish on Ktn I can pick you up.” He smiles.
“I thought you were only being forced to take us to Ktn.” Says Hallthor with a mischievous smile.
“I was but I’m getting kind of used to having you guys around that’s all.” He answers focusing on the device in his hands.
“So how do they work?” Questions Kol.
Glad for the subject change Floggen looks at Kol. “Simple, you press and hold the middle of the device and say show me the way. Watch.”
He presses and holds the middle of the device repeating the words and instantly a yellow arrow appears on the disk shooting to the edge and then and few feet in the air to Curios who is holding the other disk.
“That’ll come in handy.” Smiles Kol grabbing the disk and running his fingers over it. “Thank you Floggen for getting it and for agreeing to help us along our journey.”
“You are most welcome.” He grins heading back towards the helm. “You’re not!” He says shoving Hallthor along the way.
“Keep walking tuff guy.” Hallthor snaps.
“Everything considered things could be worse.” States Curios staring at the damage done to the ship.
“It could have been.” Agrees Hallthor staring at Kol who is looking to the horizon. “What troubles you Kol?”
“I worry, yes we survived Ares and Eris but the fact that they’re gone means they are free to torment Vasos. I just hope they’re doing ok.”
“I’m sure they are Kol, when the eagle gets back you’ll hear that I’m right. Now let’s get some rest we’ll be at Ktn in an hour and we still have to figure out the riddle.” Says Curios patting him on the shoulder.
Immortals Children Of The Gods Page 28