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She watched in fascination as the winged serpent slithered alongside Devon as they hunted their prey.
“Devon,” she whispered as she moved to walk next to him on the opposite side of the serpent, who let out a hiss but made no move towards her, instead focused on the unnamed threat in their proximity.
A laugh pulled her attention from Devon, her concern diverted to the Titan that had just manifested far too close to the gate of Tartarus.
“Crius…” she whispered, as she remembered the uncle who had helped her father overthrow her grandfather so long ago.
His long blonde hair was plaited in the braids associated with the Vikings of old. Tan skin, hard brown eyes, thick corded muscle that made him look more youthful than the eras he actually was in age. He wore jeans and a shirt, the casual apparel of the humans, but it made him no less intimidating.
Crius only sneered at her before his gaze moved to Devon and the serpent made of light.
“Boy, who are you?” he called out to Devon, his voice a loud boom in the quiet terrain.
Devon said nothing, only assessed Crius as he did him.
She felt a gust of wind behind her, her shadows moving along the ground after she quietly put out a call of power.
“Ah, niece,” Crius finally acknowledged her, his eyes filled with malice. “Do tell me why this man is in your domain, standing here as if he could withstand even the slightest bit of power from me? Are we bringing strays home?”
She locked her cold demeanor into place knowing he would capitalize on any perceived weakness without mercy.
“How did you get into the Underworld, Crius?” Persephone demanded, her voice that of a Goddess ready to smite this man down, family or not.
Devon still had not unlocked his body, his muscles coiled in preparation to strike, to tear apart this man who dared to enter their territory. The serpent grew larger in size until he towered over Devon, hissing with rage.
“His eyes…” Crius was staring at Devon with interest as Persephone moved in between the two men. “So much like his dear mother. How is she, child?” he asked as he looked at Devon with a vicious smile.
Persephone could feel the strong emotions coming from Devon at Crius’ words through the bond. The bond she now always left open.
Confusion. Anger.
Alongside the emotions, she could feel waves of his power rolling and building up around both him and her. Stronger than when the amplifier triggered his powers causing them to surge, yet he was still in control of himself.
Amazing, she thought. It had taken her so much longer to come into her powers, much less handle them.
Persephone was brought out of her thoughts when she heard an almost feral growl come from Devon, her eyes darting over to see that Crius had taken a small step toward them.
“Ah, what a well-trained dog,” Crius said with a sneer, halting where he was.
“You created the amplifier and used it on him. You’ve known this whole time Devon was of the Demeter line,” she seethed as a malicious smirk crossed Crius’ face.
“Ah yes. I see my little helpers have been playing with my toys,” Crius laughed. “Yes, that is right. This is the whelp of my chosen oracle.”
Persephone froze.
“You did that to his mother?” she murmured.
Devon moved next to her, his hands curled into fists at his sides and Godfire engulfing him in his anger.
“It is hardly my fault she felt the need to open her legs for a man who wasn’t strong enough to handle his powerful offspring. Especially one with the power of a God. However,” Crius crossed his arms and tapped his chin with his pointer finger in mock concentration. “It is interesting that he can wield such immense power when he is so new to this life. Perhaps Atlas had the right of it all along.”
Atlas, Persephone thought, her father’s general from when Cronus had reigned the world and heavens as king. A Titan with the force to change the tide of the oncoming battle. They could not fight Atlas alone, much less if he had amassed an army.
Crius took another step towards Devon but wasn’t quick enough to dodge as the serpent of light struck out with its tail. A line of burnt skin ran across Crius’ cheek from where the serpent’s tail had met flesh. The air stunk of burned skin.
Crius’ eyes glinted with anger for a moment before the skin healed, unblemished, and he started laughing.
“Interesting, indeed.” His dark eyes held little amusement when he turned to look at her, his eyes full of hatred.
