In the heart of the magnificent temple, nestled deep within Mount Othrys, its walls are encrusted with gold and shimmering jewels.
A tall, beautiful woman lay on the bed, her nails digging deep into the sheets. Her golden hair, as if carved from starlight and earth, was dishevelled and clung to her sweat-dampened skin. The twin fires of her emerald eyes usually so full of compassion and warmth, now glistened with tears that gathered at the corners like morning dew. She is Rhea, queen of the Titans and mother of the gods.
Another wave of agony seized her, and a raw, guttural scream tore from her throat. "Aaaahhh!!!"
Rhea's breath caught in her throat, from the pain of birth, a servant wiped her sweat and another servant held the baby and bathed him in warm water.
She gently washes his pale, almost ghostly white skin. Then she carefully rubs his dark black hair and black wings, which gleam with a metallic sheen; each of his feathers is like an obsidian blade.
Servant's eyes widened, and she furrowed her brows because warm water had completely changed into cold, chilling water. This baby is not like other babies; his body is cold instead of warm, and a black haze drifts from his skin.
"Give me my child", Rhea said, her voice weak but brimming with eager joy, her arm outstretched. "Let me feel him, I am sure he radiates with a legendary aura just like his father."
"Y-Yes…, my queen", the servant stammered, unable to meet Rhea's eyes ", H-He…he radiates with the king's aura. Just…just like lord Cronus."
' How can I say that this child was born under the worst constellation time as ever, like the star itself telling that this one fate to be a calamity.… Leave it, it's better not to say something.'
The moment she placed the child in Rhea's hand. A deep unnatural chill seeped through her skin. She looks at the child's black eyes with a purple hue. She was suddenly sweating too much to wet all her clothes, her body shivering with unknown fear, and she was taking long breaths as she was having difficulty breathing.
"M-Madam, I must take my leave" servant blurted out, already backing away, her face pale. "F-Forgive me…my queen. I…I suddenly feel unwell."
Rhea doesn't say anything, just waves her hands.
She didn't wait for dismissal, turning and nearly fleeing the chamber. The other servant quickly followed her.
From his back stretched a pair of black wings with a metallic sheen, reflecting the torchlight like forged obsidian blades.
Rhea wrapped him gently in the warm, tender embrace of her, and the strange chill of his body slowly softened, comforted by her heartbeat.
Rhea leaned forward and kissed his forehead, and a loving voice whispered close to his ear, "From now on, my child… your name shall be Hades." The name echoed in his soul like a distant memory, familiar yet new.
Hades tried to open his eyes, struggling to see the face of the one who held him, but his newborn eyes were not yet fully developed only blurred shadows and warmth greeted his sight.
Despite his confusion, he felt something he hadn't felt since before the void, peace.
Slowly, the strange haze around his body calmed, and lulled by the soothing rhythm of his mother's breath, Hades drifted into his first sleep in this new world.
Rhea gazed down at the sleeping infant in her arms, his pale skin and black, metallic wings a stark contrast to the warmth of her embrace.
From the moment he was born, she had known this child was different. His cold body, the black haze that clung to him, the unnatural stillness in his sleep… it all stirred a deep unease within her.
Her thoughts drifted darkly, unbidden, to the ancient curse Ouranos had laid upon her husband, Cronus a prophecy that one of his own children would bring about his fall.
Fear crept into her heart, whispering old memories of how Cronus, driven by terror and madness, had swallowed Hestia.
'Would he do the same to Hades?'
The thought made her arms tighten protectively around the sleeping child. For a moment, dread threatened to drown her, but she closed her eyes and pushed it away.
'No.'
She refused to believe that Cronus, the man she once loved so fiercely, would harm this child. Her love for him still lingered, still fought to overshadow the growing fear.
And so, Rhea sat in silence, holding her strange, cold child close, torn between prophecy and love between a mother's instinct and a wife's devotion.
*Knock *Knock
The sound was an unwelcome intrusion. Rhea's eyes narrowed in annoyance, her peaceful moment with her child shattered.
"What's the matter"
From the other side of the door, a nervous voice answered. The servant, knowing better than to enter without permission, recited his message to the wood of the door. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. Lord Cronus has returned. He wishes to meet the young prince."
"Go!"
Rhea looked at the sleeping Hades, she tightened her hold. She rose and left the room, carrying her son toward the throne room.
---
In the throne room, a grand throne made from gold and gems. But this throne is empty.
*Thumb!*Thumb!
Earth shakes a little, and a heavy stomping sound echoes in the hall.
Suddenly, a giant opened. A big giant with the size of a mountain, wears a white chitton with gold embroidery. As he entered the chamber, the torches guttered, their flame bending towards him as if bowing.
He sat on his grand throne. The air grew heavy and thick, pressing down on Rhea's shoulders. The vast space around him wrapped to accommodate his presence, making the vast room feel, suddenly, so small.
He is Cronus, King of Titans. Almost all the realms are under him.
Rhea bows lightly and greets him with a loving voice," Welcome back, Cronus".
Cronus hummed in her response, staring at the sleeping boy in her hand.
"Hmm… Rhea is he my newborn child?"
Rhea, remove the cloth that hides Hades' child and show it to him.
"Yes, this is our child, I name him Hades".
"Let me take a look "
Although she hesitated, she followed her husband's order.
She placed Hades in his giant hand, Hades awoke with an uncomfortable and sudden loss of motherly warmth.
He opened his eyes and saw a massive, mountain-sized figure, but was unable to distinguish it due to his blurry vision. Still, his instinct tells him this domineering and majestic being is his father.
From the shadowed archways of the golden temple, Cronus approached in silence, his eyes narrowing as he gazed upon the newborn in Rhea's arms.
The child's appearance was unlike anything Cronus had ever seen. Cronus gazed at Hades' mysterious black-purple eyes. A cold and ominous chill seeped into his skin; Cronus's sense was alarming him of danger. Suddenly, the voice of his father, Ouranos, whispering in his ears, "Just like me, how I betrayed and was dethroned by you. You will also face the same."
'This child is not normal. Maybe…he?'
Cronus's jaw tightened.
Without a word, he reached down and gently hooked his finger beneath the baby's tiny leg, lifting Hades slightly into the air examining him like a creature under judgment.
In that moment, a surge of raw instinct exploded within Hades. Though his body was still fragile, his soul carried the soul of a warrior who faced near-death situations countless times. He feels something ominous, like something bad, no, something very bad is going to happen.
Hades writhed, his tiny limbs flailing, black mist flaring erratically as he struggled with everything he had.
But the grip of Cronus was absolute unyielding, divine, and terrifying in its calm cruelty. The infant god's efforts were futile, a whisper of resistance against the titan's crushing will.
And yet, from behind Cronus, Rhea's trembling voice called out, "He is just a child… our child…"
Cronus did not reply. But his eyes lingered on struggling Hades, his gaze is cold and calculating.
Rhea's heart stopped, and her breath caught in her throat as she watched her husband's eyes turn cold and deadly.
"Cronus...." she whispered, but he didn't reply.
Before Rhea could take a step forward, before she could protest again, Cronus made his decision.
With terrifying swiftness, he lifted the infant to his lips and in a single, merciless motion, swallowed Hades whole.
Rhea cried out, her voice choked with disbelief and anguish. Tears welled in her eyes as the temple's golden walls echoed with the sound of her broken plea. The warmth of his presence vanished from her arms.
For a moment there was silence. Then the silence broke, shattering into thousands of shards as Rhea let out a scream and fury that broke every shard of fabric of existence.
She summons her powerful sword with a golden hilt that once faced the sky primordial Ouranus, killing hundreds of titans.
She holds the sword with both hands and high in the air. She jumps in the air and swings with full strength.
But Cronus already has his scythe and meets Rhea swinging. These two clashes make the earth tremor, the sky torn out.
Still, he easily overpowered her and the force of it threw her back and slammed her against the wall.
She gasped, golden blood trickling from her lips as she struggled with her feet, her eyes blazing with hatred.
Cronus regarded her with a cold, unfeeling gaze. He sighed, his voice a low, hollow rumble that seemed to echo from a place beyond life and death.
"Enough, Rhea, this had to be done . For my kingdom, for my rule . You know as well as I do. what he could become". He went quickly as he came.
As the golden doors closed behind him, Rhea's sorrowful screams echoed
Hooded through the palace. This sorrowful wails haunt the hall of oryths.