“Erebus.” The voice said again, coming from behind him this time. Erebus spun around, and there was the source of the voice, stepping out from the shadows.
Erebus nearly took a step back in shock. In all his long years of existence, he had never seen or spoken to the god in front of him. Erebus could only identify him through the process of elimination. There was only one god that he had never met at least once. He didn’t recognize him, which left only one possibility.
Hephaestus.
Hephaestus wore a shining Corinthian helmet of bronze, which only revealed his eyes, mouth, and a great, black beard. The metal seemed to glow, each rivet and seam fused with utter perfection. He expected nothing less from the great blacksmith. Hephaestus was taller than Erebus, with a barrel chest and arms and legs like tree trunks, a casualty of the trade. He was shirtless, a thick, leather apron covering most of his torso over roughly-sewn trousers—unusual for a Greek. Parts of him were covered in soot and ash, but there was something in his eyes that glowed like a forge. Erebus paused over the combination of a helmet and an apron, until it dawned on him that Hephaestus was likely hiding his scarred face from view. There were silver rings on a handful of his fingers, each of them looking like they had been cut from one solid piece of metal.
“Hephaestus,” Erebus finally recovered his voice, nodding his head once in a sign of respect as he stepped forward. The god’s expression was utterly unreadable under his helmet, but his voice sounded like embers.
“I have a warning for you.” Hephaestus’s tone was clipped like he had something urgent to say and wouldn’t waste any unnecessary words. Erebus stepped closer as his brow furrowed. He had never met the god before, and now here he was, removed from his forge under the mountain with a warning for him?
“I have been told many a time over the past few days to not underestimate Zeus.” Erebus shook his head. “I don’t need another vague warning.”
Hephaestus shook his head.
“I don’t mince words. You do need to be wary of Zeus. This war is not only about Kronos.” Something tightened in Erebus’s chest. He could have assumed that there were ulterior motives; every god in the great hall behind him had a different motive for the war.
“Other than overthrowing his father and legitimizing his claim as king of the gods?” Erebus fought the urge to roll his eyes, but it was replaced with a cold chill when Hephaestus nodded once.
“Kronos isn’t the only threat to Zeus.” Hephaestus’s hand went to the sword at his side, which had been partially covered by the heavy apron.
“Everyone is in some way a threat to Zeus.” Erebus pushed for more information. “He isn’t winning a popularity contest anytime soon, no matter what he may think.”
“Listen to me,” Hephaestus snapped, his voice raising. “This isn’t about fickle fighting amongst the gods. Zeus is worried aboutyou.Even more so, Zeus is worried about your wife.”
“Nyx?” Erebus felt anger rising in his chest. “She’s more powerful than him. He’s always been threatened by her. There’s nothing he can do about that.”
“He’s going to try,” Hephaestus warned, shaking his head slowly as if he couldn’t believe that Erebus wasn’t understanding the severity of what he was getting at.
“You’re going to need to be more specific.” Erebus crossed his arms over his chest, feeling impatient that this was holding him up from going home. “I’ve already told Zeus that I’ll have no part in this war.”
Hephaestus cursed sharply, shaking his head.
“You shouldn’t have done that. You should stay here.” The shadows began swirling around Erebus once more.
“I’m getting really tired ofgods,”he spit the word, “telling me what I should and should not do.”
Hephaestus sighed, looking over his shoulder before turning back to Erebus and leaning in.
“Zeus wants to overthrow Kronos, but he’s planning on taking you and Nyx down in the process. The both of you.”
The anger in Erebus’s chest amplified as he felt his power beginning rippling underneath his skin, the urge to go and rip the God of Lightning’s head from his body threatened to overtake him.
“Hewhat?”
“I know. Most of the time, I would ignore it but it’s real. He wants to throw Kronos in Tartarus and imprison you both there with him. This crusade is a war on you and Nyx as much as it is on Kronos.”
Erebus sat frozen for a second before running his hands over his face and letting out a long sigh.
“Then why ask me to fight for him? Why ask Nyx to? How does he even plan to do this, anyway? He can’t overpower us.”
Hephaestus shook his head. “Maybe he thought if he won you over, you’d be easier to control. It would work out better for him if he got you both to fight for his cause instead of fighting you himself,” Hephaestus grunted, a displeased and ornery sound. “He can’t overpower you. He aims to trick you. I’m not sure of all the details, but I do know that he wants you and Nyx locked up in Tartarus.”
“How can you be so sure?” Erebus pressed, leaning in and trying to look the god in the eye.
“Because…” Hephaestus let out a long sigh, “he asked me to build something to help him.”
26
