title 109

Well, I've been meaning to post this for a while but yeah... nevermind. So, this is the short story my darling brother demanded me to write for his English homework one night. I wasn't really given much time to make a rough draft, research properly on the necessary characters and go into detail. But since it obviously is a short story, so yeah whatever. =) Comments are welcome but since my blogger layout won't permit a comment section, you, my dear readers, are free to message me on my Facebook account. =) Hope you enjoy!

The Book of Olympus

It was a cold summer’s night, the solstice has finally aligned and soon the gates of the dark cage were to open. Poseidon paced back and forth, under the trees of his summer home: he was worried. He knew there was a deadline and until that time, he was given the task to get rid of the one thing his brothers were after: the book of Olympus. After the slaughter of their father, Saturn, Zeus and Hades were blinded by power and greed and the knowledge to take complete control of Olympus and thus the entire world. Poseidon was sweating despite the calm weather and the voice of his father echoed in him.

“The book, my son! It must be destroyed! You don’t have much...” and the memory of him died again in his head.

There was no more time.

The earth suddenly shook and Poseidon’s worry escalated.

“They are free.” His conscience alerted him and that second, he rushed back into his home and took hold of a pocket-sized book resting on his cot.

The earth rumbled and skies grew angry. A storm was brewing and the Aegean seas were parting. The sounds of anger and groan came from that parting and in between the land of the parted seas, laid the encased sarcophagi of Zeus and Hades. And suddenly, it broke.

Poseidon was racing against time. Around his neck, he chained the book, still and cold but he could feel a sort of pulse coming out of it.

“What is inside this book?” he thought.

It answered.

“I am but the words compiled from the moment Olympus stood. Release me!”

He stopped and looked at the tattered book, the cover already ripped and torn. He could see from the outside that the pages were made of gold. But how could something be so light and so small?

“I know you need me. I know you need these secrets to defeat your brothers.” the book tempted. Poseidon’s heart raced. He denied it and continued running. His legs were already sore from the hike up to the highest peak in Greece. Despite his immortality, his body was freezing as he hiked up the mountain. He felt weak. The ground shook again.

The storm grew even stronger and the prisons were already empty. Zeus and Hades walked towards the nearest shore and hungry from its years of imprisonment, they began to slaughter the first town they see.

“We shall find you, brother. You will pay for your treachery!” Hades bellowed as he hacked through the townspeople. The end has begun.

Finally, Poseidon had reached the top of Greece’s highest mountain and entered the temple at the middle of it. There in the center of it was a young and enchanting woman, floating in mid-air.

“Oracle, I have come to ask for your help.” He pleaded.

She stirred and turned her towards Poseidon.

“It seems you were tempted, Poseidon, by the sweet voices of that book upon your covered chest. The only thing I can tell you is to not heed its biddings. Death will befall you.”

“Please, Oracle!” he begged. “It needs to be destroyed. How can it be destroyed? For years I have tried to have it wrecked but nothing has happened. Please, Oracle, I need your help.”

“I cannot help you. It is you who must find the way.” She answered.

Hopeless, he turned to walk away, frustrated and already defeated.

“Wait, Poseidon.” He turned back to her. “There is one. You must defeat the one whose heart longs for it. Only then will the book be really destroyed.”

“Do you mean my brothers, Oracle?” he asked hastily but she closed her eyes and just floated.

Suddenly, the sky above turned black and from the dark clouds, Zeus and Hades flew out and appeared in front of their brother.

“Hello, brother. It has been a while.” Zeus said in his deep voice. Poseidon was out of words, they were not the brothers he knew when they were young. They were painted in blood, their hair was long and their teeth were sharp as razors. They were monsters.”

“You betrayed us, Poseidon.” Hades grimaced with an eerie voice. “We know you have it! We all know that you have no power to have it destroyed... why it is you who suggested that we take that book and use it against our father!”

“Now look what you have done to us!” Zeus yelled. “After all those plans and promises, who would have thought that the mighty king of the seas will back out and abandon his own family. You’re worthless and we have come to take what is rightfully ours!”

Poseidon regained his confidence, “Never! I’d rather die than see this world be condemned under your violent hands! I was wrong. The book cannot be ours! We cannot control it! Father thought so and looked what has happened! Please brothers! We must have this destroyed!”

“NO!” they both shouted and at that moment, they struck Poseidon hard with their fists. They transformed parts of their body into iron and steel and continued to bash him. He fought back and summoned the cold seas and retaliated with enlarged fists of freezing water. The fight was intense and Poseidon was losing. Two against one. It was hopeless.

“Poseidon...” the Oracle’s voice echoed inside his shattered head. “You must defeat the one whose heart longs for it. Only then will the book be really destroyed.”

He was already doing what he was told but why isn’t happening and suddenly, the idea just hit him. He stood up, blood trickling from his face and regaining the last of his powers to summon the waters from the dangerous seas. He looked at his brothers and said, “I’m sorry, Zeus... Hades... We shall see each other again.” And with that last remark, he ordered the seas to destroy himself and his brothers. The waters roared as it suffocated the Gods. It suddenly lit up and started to burn, completely destroying them. Until there was nothing left.

Legends say that after the great battle between the Gods Zeus, Hades and Poseidon, no one else has ever managed to hike up that highest mountain. No one has ever seen the remains of the temple, the Gods or the book itself but you could hear the roaring and gushing of the seas at the top whenever the sky goes dark.

Goodnight. =)