Sam's pov:
I am sitting in front of the fire in the main hall. I had been talking with Hestia.
"Try it again." Her nice voice says.
I open my hands.
"Now focus on the heat of the flames and feel it in the palm of your hands." Hestia continues.
I did as she asked. I close my eyes and focus on the flames. I imagine them in my hands. I imagine the heat spreading from my heart, through my arms and into my hands. When I open my eyes I see a small flame burning brightly.
"Well done Sam!"
Pride fills my body. But it's not mine. It's Hestia's. I know I can make bigger and better flames. I watch the flame in my hands a bit longer.
Suddenly someone ruffles my hair. The pretty flame dissappears because I lose my focus. I twist and see Ray standing there in his armor.
"Playing with fire again?" He asks.
"It's just so pretty and so fun. I can't help it." I say raising my shoulders.
"Where are you going?"
Around us all the others started filling the room. Each of them with their own set of armor. I saw Artemis fill her quiver with some new arrows and when I turned my head I was just in time to see Phineas morph into Hephaestus.
"It's about time we fought back don't you think?" Hades replied.
As I had been looking around Ray had changed as well. Hades' shiney black armor glistened dangerously in the light of the fire. Ray's usual cane had taken it's original form. A bident. Basically a trident, with only to pointy ends.
"Don't worry. We'll be back soon enough." Hades said, but it was Ray's voice.
"Can I come please?" I ask.
They always leave me home when this stuff happens. I almost never leave this place. As much as I love it here, I want to be out there. I want to help protect it.
"Absolutly not." Hades spoke up.
"What, why not?"
"You're way too young kid. Stay clear from this as long as you can. Trust me it's for the best." He continues.
"But I wan't to help too!" I argue.
"I know and you are going to. You're staying here with Skyler and Athena. They aren't ready for a fight yet either. Stay here with them and protect our home front okay? And make sure the outposts remain stocked up." Ray says.
"Really you're going to leave me with the dirty work?"
"Sam. Let it go. For now they need us here. That is where we will be. We make sure home is still a place to return to, so stop argueing." Hestia speaks up.
I sigh. I know she's right.
"Yes Hestia."
Hades' pov:
I leave the child and follow the others up and outside.
We found out Nemesis has been gathering troops and supplies. From our spy we heard they'll be coming for us from the seaside. Since Poseidon is with us we figured it's a great advantage and opportunity we couldn't miss.
When we are all there the chariots are summoned. I find mine next to Poseidon's. Great.
As I check to make sure my skeleton horses are all good to go, I hear Zeus saying:
"Where is my chariot? And my charioteer?"
Oh no. By the furies, not again.
"What do you mean where is your chariot?" Poseidon asks.
"Exactly what I'm saying you idiot. Where are my chariot and charioteer?"
I sigh.
"We don't have time for this Zeus. Get in with Hera or something. We have to go now if we wan't to catch Nemesis' forces by surprise." I say stepping into my own chariot.
"No. I'm not going to battle without my charioteer." My brother says, crossing his arms like a pouting toddler.
I can't believe I'm related to this a**hole. I can't believe he's king of the gods for that matter. Around me I can see the others are getting impatient too.
"Dude, just get into a damn chariot!" Poseidon adds.
"Are your ears filled with kelp? I'm not going without my charioteer!" Zeus said as little sparks sparked from his eyes.
"Good thing you're charioteer is here then." A female voice says from behind me.
Pretty much immediatly I feel a sense of pride wash over me. The kind you feel when you win something.
"How nice of you to join us." I hear Poseidon mumble.
"Ah yes Nike my dear!" Zeus says as an angelic being rides up to him in a golden chariot.
"Sorry for the hold up sir. Traffic was a pain in the a**. " The angel said as she halted right in front of my brother.
"Naturally." Zeus replied getting in.
"Still no escort from lady Athena sir?" Nike asked.
A gloomy look appeared on my brother's face. Oh please, she came back. She's here. Jeez, acting like that little brat is dead.
"Not yet. But soon she will be joining us once again." Zeus nodded.
"Can you two catch up on the road? We have a battle to fight remember?" I say, lacing my voice with an extra layer of annoyance.
After a nod from my brother I urge my horses forward. All of us clatter towards the beach. This was going to be one hell of a battle alright.
Artemis's pov:
Who fights a battle and leaves the goddess of strategic warfare at home? Apparenlty we do. Not our finest moment I'll admit.
Most of us didn't want to bring her to be honest. I mean, what if she dissappears for another century? We only just got her back, if she leaves again it's over.
But I think now that we see what we're facing we all wish we brought her. Out of the sea in front of us thousands and thousands of monsters rise. I spot some gods as well. Amongst them are my brother Dionysus, dear Aphrodite and colorful Iris.
To say that this is bad would be the understatement of the century.
"So I'm guessing I didn't bring enough arrows." Apollo says next to me with a slight shake to his voice.
I snort.
"You think?"
"One might call it a hunch." He says, flashing me his trademark smirk.
I shake my head. He's such an idiot, but truth be told, for once I'm actually happy with his idiocy. It lightens the mood a bit.
"What do you say we kick some monster a**?"
"Is there any better way to spend your afternoon?"
With a loud battlecry all of us rush forward to meet the treat that is coming out of the sea.