“I’m not afraid of Zeus.”
“I didn’t say that you were. I didn’t even say that you should be. I’ve warned you to not underestimate him, and that’s what I’m reminding you of now.” Hades’s voice was firm but understanding, and he didn’t try to talk Erebus out of the confrontation. Erebus gave a short nod and stepped away, crossing the hall to where Zeus was hiding. Some of the other gods moved out of his way when they sensed him coming, power stronger than all of theirs’s coming off him like a frequency.
Erebus pulled opened the door to the receiving room and cursed. Zeus was leaning back on a bench, a nymph sitting astride him and undulating her hips while Zeus gripped her waist. The angle blocked Erebus from seeing the most offensive bits, but there was no mistaking that he was catching Zeus at a rather occupied moment.
“Hera isoutside,for fuck’s sake,” Erebus hissed, slamming the door behind him.
The nymph startled, turning around and letting out a little shriek at the sight of Erebus. He turned on his heel to give her some privacy while the rapid readjusting of tunics rustled in the room. After a few moments, the nymph scuttled past Erebus and slipped out silently. Zeus hadn’t said a word, and Erebus turned around, raising an eyebrow.
Zeus was still leaning back against the wall, a smug expression on his face without the hint of remorse.
“Look, Erebus—”
“I don’t want to hear it,” Erebus cut him off as his shadows picked up in intensity. “There are a lot of gods out there that are fighting for you, however, and they won’t be too pleased if they end up with a shrieking Hera on their hands. Just a thought for keeping your troops satisfied,general.”His tone was undoubtedly mocking, but Zeus only shrugged.
“What about keeping a general satisfied?” The leer in his eyes was even palpable in his voice, and it made Erebus want to vomit. He refused to answer.
“I’m leaving, Zeus.” His voice was definitive, and the god’s expression changed immediately. Erebus watched as Zeus’s face morphed from shock, to anger, to disbelief, before trying to quickly recover and plaster a placating expression on his face.
“Erebus, you wouldn’t imagine leaving on a night like this. On the eve of a battle? A primordial, such as yourself—”
“I’m not battle-hungry or starved for glory, so don’t try the same approach on me as you would Ares.”
Zeus tilted his head to the side in acknowledgement, and Erebus watched as he changed directions, a true charlatan.
“A primordial, such as yourself, would never miss an opportunity to prove his love to his consort, no?”
“This is no way to prove my devotion to Nyx. I was wrong about that when I agreed to this. I won’t say it again. I’m only telling you now as a favor.” Erebus was resolute, standing at the edge of the room near the door. He struck an imposing figure even when he was materialized as a man, shadows smoking around him. Everything about him was darkness, from the color of his chiton to the blackness of his eyes. Zeus sat across the room from him, white tunic nearly glowing and gray hair shining in comparison. The two of them squared off like the forces of light and darkness themselves. He could see Zeus running calculations in his eyes as his expression remained stoic. When Zeus opened his mouth to speak again, Erebus wasn’t prepared for the angle that he tried.
“You know that Nyx is too powerful, Erebus.” Zeus’s voice was harsh and cold, his brow furrowed. He was no longer trying to cajole Erebus into staying with any promises of grandeur or good-will. Erebus couldn’t keep the shock off his face.
“I’m sorry… what?” He visibly recoiled a step in surprise, his mind going a million miles a minute.He can’t be serious. Nyx is more powerful than him, than all of us. The angle is that she istoopowerful?
“She threatens all of us.” Zeus waved his hand in the air. “She threatens the balance of our world. How can we survive with the knowledge that she might plunge us all into darkness at any time?”
“You should be more worried that I will plunge us all into darkness for a comment like that, Zeus,” Erebus growled, taking a step towards Zeus while his shadows spread out over the entire room like spider webs. The shadows covered the walls like veins, pulsating with power and trapping Zeus within the net. Zeus paled slightly, holding his hands up.
“It’s a thought, Erebus. How long do you think she’ll be content in this world? How long until even you bore her… unless you already have?” Zeus’s voice dropped lower, not in anger, but in a devilish, coaxing voice. Erebus felt the knife twisting in his chest and fought to keep the hurt off his face.
“She’ll have me until the day she decides she doesn’t want me.” There was a resoluteness to Erebus’s voice that seemed to echo through his shadows and shake the room.
“What happens when she’s tired of this world? When she grows annoyed with mortals? She could swallow the world. No one deserves that much power—”
Erebus was on Zeus in a second, tightening his hand around the god’s throat. He leaned in, his voice dropping an octave as his lip curled.
“You should be very fucking careful what comes out of your mouth next, Zeus,” he hoisted Zeus up by the neck, slamming him into the wall. His shadows swarmed the god, weaving across his body and pinning him there. Erebus released his hand, and Zeus sucked in a gasp.
“Erebus, this is—”
“War?” Erebus finished for him as he spat at Zeus’s feet. “You don’t know the meaning of the word. I will promise you one thing, if you follow me, or you bring the slightest hint of harm to Nyx’s door…” The shadows tightened around Zeus, absorbing every bolt of power that attempted to flicker off the god’s body. “I will redefinewarfor you.” Erebus finished with a shout, turning on his heel and storming across the small chamber. His shadows recoiled immediately to follow him, letting Zeus fall to the ground with a thud. The god sat there, seething, as sparks flew off him like a dying battery. The door opened and slammed as Erebus left.
This has only just begun, Darkness, Zeus thought to himself, running his hand over his neck and letting his mind drift to images of Nyx and Erebus, imprisoned forever.
The sound of the chamber door slamming shut echoed over the great hall, causing most of the gods to turn and look at the source of commotion. They were met with the sight of Erebus, glowing with dark power, nearly vibrating out of his body. His shadows were still trailing along behind him, weaving and interlocking across one another like a dark, malicious veil. Hades and Poseidon were deep in conversation in a dark corner of the room, eyeing the departing Erebus but making no move to stop him.
Erebus left and was on the steps, his feet beginning to disappear as he prepared to descend back to the Underworld, when a low voice got his attention.
“Erebus.” He hadn’t expected anyone on the steps of the colonnade and turned around in surprise. He couldn’t see anyone on the landing, and the doors to the great hall were closed. Erebus’s feet reappeared as he walked up the steps, looking around one of the columns.
