Hades

Alex's hand was still on my thigh. It slipped off as the god took my hand and helped me up.

He said he's taking care of grandma, but she's gone. Could he be related to death? He had red eyes that means he's related to hell. He is really nice, for a hell guy, I thought.

''Elly,'' he started with his deep tone. ''This is not the first time we meet.'' He was looking deep into my eyes, searching for a memory.

I shook my head at him. He held my hand and stirred me into the park.

''Oh,'' he said a little disappointed. ''Of course, you can't possibly remember. Okay, Elly, hear me closely and pay attention.''

I nodded at him as I passed next to a bee, frozen in time. It's yellow and black stripes shone brightly as a breeze touched its little hairs. His palm was warm and soft. We continued to walk as he spoke.

''After Alex's birth, Apollo, the god of prophecies,'' he gently said. ''made a prophecy about the arrival of Alex and the future of the world. His words cost him his place in Olympus, and the prophecy was forbidden to be said by any soul. Apollo was forever imprisoned in his temple in Delphi. The poor guy just did his job, but my lousy little annoyingly bossy brother, didn't like what he heard. Good thing he wasn't small or he would have swallowed him like he did to poor Metis. She was such a darling.'' He stopped, inhaled, frowned, and then continued.

I was too distracted by the people frozen. I wish it would be that peaceful forever. A dog had his mouth half open; a man had a bubble made by pink gum still on his face. I felt like popping it. Kids were making funny faces, stuck on slides and their swings stopped half way in the air.

I finally heard silence for once in my life. No cars, no buzzing, not even my thoughts rushing, just silence. I felt safe next to the god who I didn't even know his name.

''Well, moving on,'' he coughed, trying to catch my attention. ''After six months of Alex's birth, a mother birthed a baby girl. Unfortunately, the child passed away when she was only seven months. Then off she went to the Underworld, to my place.''

I stared at him. He was the God Of The Underworld? I thought. There is no way. He was too kind. Too sweet. I couldn't even stutter a word out, a word all I did was listen.

''Yes Elly. My name is Hades, God Of The Underworld, and God Of Regrets. You summoned me as soon as you wanted to go home. Well, when the baby was with Charon at The Styx, I was watching the boat sail, as I usually do when I want some peace. Midst the peacefulness a sound tuned in my ear. I didn't know what that was. It rang three times. At the fourth, I decided to appear at Charon's boat to see who dared to disturb the cold peace of the underworld. I emerged in front of the fresh souls, fire fusing out of my horns and body. I was in my fearsome shape, no one could stare at my figure or they would die once again from fear. No one even dared to breathe. '' He grinned proudly.

''But Elly,'' he softly said. ''The noise sounded again like a bell in the silence, spreading warmth in the air. I moved towards the noise as souls opened the way with their heads bowed. There she was, a baby girl in a roller coaster moving her beautiful mouth erupting the sound midst the darkness. She punched the air with her little fists entertaining herself, and then she held her right foot with her left hand. It was a scene I would never forget. I stared into her eyes and purposely flamed even brighter to scare her. She looked softly with her hazel eyes into my flaming pupils and imitated the same sound. It was innocent laughter, so pure and fresh it melted my flames. I felt something in here,'' he pointed at his heart. ''She warmed the cold part of my body. I took her soul in my hands, rocking her slowly,'' He demonstrated his previous actions while walking.

''Then I took off with her pure soul in my hands.'' He stared at me. I saw his eyes twinkle with a tear in his right eye.

''Elly, I made her live. She saw something in me no one saw, no one could see except for her, and I see her now in front of me, big and well,'' he gave me a warm smile. ''Well… not that tall, but good. And she sees what she saw in me the first time we met.''

I stared into his red eyes. He took my free hand into his and said, ''Elly, the baby. It's you.''

The world gave off a spin. I slowly took my hands out of his and sat on the grass. Hades sat next to me patting my back. ''I know it's too much to take in.''

I couldn't feel anything. I couldn't even feel my heart pounding in my chest anymore. My mind was now beating with memories trying to dig up any information relevant to his words.

''Child, I did a terrible mistake. I shouldn't have brought you back to life. I didn't know the prophecy yet. I didn't know that Apollo made one. My behaviour proved that his prophecy was coming true. Elly, you're a curse casted on the world and you're the only one who can break it.''

I inhaled slowly, trying to take in his words. ''Is…'' I said with a shaky voice. ''Is there more I need to know?''

''Yes, actually, there is an awful lot more. You will meet a lot of gods to tell you each a part of this story. Zeus even made a program. Poseidon first, then me, then… well you should find that out by yourself. My part isn't finished yet. Elly, don't you notice anything different about yourself?''

I lightly shook my head. The scent of earth was fusing into my nostrils. '' Elly, your emotions.''

''What?'' I said almost in a whisper. I know I have a lot of them, I thought.

'' Hope, Love, Sadness, Anger, Anxiety, Care, and Courage. These are not just words, they are connections, and you Elly, and you possess them all. You see,'' He started to draw in the earth a circle with twelve dots around it.'' Us gods, without our emotions, we are nothing. Let me explain,'' He placed his hand on the dot at top of the circle.

''The purpose of being the king of gods is courage to take that throne.'' His finger moved to the left, '' moving water needs emotions so that the waves will respond to your command.'' Then he placed his finger in the center. ''Being the ruler of the underworld needs hope for being alive among all the dead.'' He moved to the point that cuts the circle halfway. '' The purpose of love is care.'' Then he moved it to the point in front of that,'' The purpose of war is Anger. You get the point.''

I nodded in response, trying to absorb his words. Those are normal feelings. What power these give me? Super anxiety?

''Now, you my child, you can activate them all at once. This is not just special, but fatal. Imagine merging all the major gods into one person. The world would be imbalanced leading to chaos. Since Alex was born a demi god, there should be someone to equal him. That equal cannot be created because of our vow, so we believe that his equal is you. Someone powerful enough to shake the world with a twitch of her heart and mind. Now, imagine the son of gods blessed by all, plotting with the girl that connects all. That would be as equally as dangerous.''

''I don't understand,'' I mumbled.

''Elly, Alex felt that power, but of course he knows none of this. The moment you crossed that border, you altered the world. The prophecy was coming true. The curse was casted on the world. They felt the world alter. They felt the imbalance.''

''Who are they?'' I asked in a whisper.

''That is an answer only Apollo can answer.'' He stared grimly at the circle.

I inhaled and then built up the courage to ask,'' The prophecy, what does it say?''

''All I know is that it starts with a terribly blessed child with an equal that rose from the dead. And that equal is you. Elly, you should seek the full prophecy. You and Alex are now sensed by everyone, not just gods, but also monsters. I believe they won't hurt you, but they will kill Alex our only son. If he dies, the world will fall into chaos by our own hands.''

I nodded. My mind stopped functioning. I only gazed at the circle. Hades' words were repeating none stop in my mind. Me Alex's equal? No way.

'' Elly, I'm going to get Alex to join us. He must not know a word about what just has been said.'' He stood up and headed towards the white rug where all teenagers were stuck in time.

What now? I thought. What should I do now with all of this information? I heard footsteps behind me. Alex tapped my shoulder and sat next to me on the earth. I couldn't look at him. Pressure was beating my mind. A question popped up in mind.

''Hades,'' I said. ''How can I break the curse?''

''Child, once again this is a question only Apollo can answer,'' he replied.

Hades stood in front of us, ''you two are to go to Delphi in Greece. Meet Apollo in his temple and get him to tell you the two prophecies. The tickets are booked to Greece and there's a payed cab waiting for you on the street. Right there.'' He pointed towards the entrance of the park.

'' Your parents, friends and anyone you know, won't realize you're gone. Now kids, do what you can to force him to tell you the prophecy. Ell… Eleanor, don't hold back and trust Alex. I am afraid I can see you no more children. Now quickly you should go.''

Hades disappeared and time gained back its control on the world. The child's swing fell down. The man's bubble gum popped. The smiles moved into laughs. The bee continued its way to its hive. Alex was next to me speechless as much as I am.

At the entrance of the park, a yellow cab was honking. ''It's time to go,'' I whispered.