Young Writers Society

Chapter 39: Little Flame

The throne room of Olympus was as imposing as it was beautiful. The high domed ceiling seemed to stretch into eternity, while the marble floor shimmered like a million stars. Massive pillars flanked the room, etched with stories of old Olympian feats, and the air buzzed with a low hum of power that made Josephine’s skin tingle.

Josephine felt a tight knot of anxiety in her stomach as she entered the room. This was the heart of Olympus, where the gods gathered to make decisions that could change the fate of worlds. Jase walked beside her, his expression serious but calm, while Persephone held her head high, determination etched into every single one of her features. Ares, Hermes, and Apollo rallied other gods that were busy in the mortal realm—trusting Josephine to be influential in rallying the gods help. Zeus, who already knew the gravity of the situation, had called this meeting, but it was up to Josephine, Persephone, and Jase to sway the others.

The gods were seated in a semi-circle, their bronze thrones reflecting off the shiny floors. At the center sat Zeus. Hera was beside him, her gaze cool and unreadable. To Zeus’s right sat Poseidon, his trident resting casually by his side, while Artemis and Demeter sat further down, each radiating their own distinct auras—one of calm strength, the other of intimidating beauty.

Josephine swallowed hard, feeling the intensity of their stares. It wasn’t the first time she’d been in the presence of gods, but it never got easier. Still, there was no time for nerves. They needed every ounce of their composure to pull this off.

Poseidon was the first to speak, his voice deep, “You’ve brought us here to talk about Hades. What exactly do you need from us?”

Jase stepped forward. Josephine had no doubt that Jase would sway his own father, “Hades has taken a portion of Josephine’s power, and he’s planning to use it to upset the balance across the realms. Zeus is holding him at bay for now, but it won’t last. We need your help to stop him before he can break free completely.”

Artemis leaned back in her throne, her expression skeptical, “And what exactly are you expecting us to do? Zeus is handling the situation, isn’t he?”

Josephine nodded. “For now, yes. But Hades is cunning. He’s waiting for the right moment to strike, and when he does, it’s going to take more than just Zeus to stop him. We need to act before it’s too late.”

Hera’s eyes flickered with interest, “And you’re certain this isn’t just some ploy to gain favor with the gods? To make your name known?”

“Her name is already known,” Jase’s neck snapped to look at the goddess of marriage, “She is the Girl Who Breathes Fire. Flameheart. The Burning Lady. Flames Daughter. Perhaps you’ve heard of her?” he said, almost sarcastically.

Hera raised an eyebrow at Jase’s response, her expression cool but curious, “Titles are one thing, boy, but they don’t sway me,” she said, her voice as sharp as the crackling embers Josephine could feel in the pit of her stomach. “Actions do.”

Josephine stepped forward, feeling the weight of the gods’ gaze on her, “I don’t care about titles or recognition,” she said, her voice steady, “What matters is stopping Hades before he can do any more damage. He’s taken a part of my power, yes, but he’s also found a way to use it against us all. We need to act together if we’re going to have any chance of stopping him.”

Demeter, who had been silent until now, leaned forward, her expression concerned, “And what of Persephone?” she asked, “She is in danger as well, isn’t she?”

Persephone nodded, her eyes meeting her mother’s. “Yes, Mother. I’m okay now, but Hades’ power is growing, and I fear he’s becoming more ruthless by the day. We can’t let him go unchecked.”

Poseidon let out a thoughtful hum, his trident tapping lightly against the marble floor. “So, what’s the plan?” he asked, his gaze shifting between Zeus and Josephine. “How do we stop Hades before it’s too late?”

Josephine glanced at Jase, who gave her an encouraging nod before she turned back to the gods. “We need to confront him head-on, but not just with brute force. We need to outsmart him. If we can weaken his grip on the power he’s stolen, we might have a chance to trap him before he can cause more chaos.”

Artemis crossed her arms, still skeptical, “And how exactly do you plan to do that?”

Josephine hesitated for a moment, feeling the pressure of the room closing in on her. But then she remembered the fire within her, the power that had driven her this far, “By using his own tactics against him. Hades is patient, cunning—he waits for the right moment to strike. We need to be just as strategic. We’ll create a diversion, something that will force him to reveal his hand, and then we strike when he’s vulnerable.”

Zeus, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up. “It’s a risky plan, but it might just work,” he said, “Hades will not expect us to take the fight to him in such a way. This path you’re proposing will be dangerous, and it may cost you more than you’re prepared to give.”

Josephine met his gaze, “I’m ready to face whatever comes. We can’t afford to hesitate.”

The gods exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of concern and agreement. Finally, Hera nodded, her earlier skepticism replaced with a respect, “Then we stand with you,” she said, “But, Josephine—this battle isn’t just about power. It’s about heart. Don’t lose sight of that.”

Josephine felt a surge of relief, “Thank you,” she said, her voice filled with gratitude. “We’ll need all the strength we can muster.”

“So where do we start?” Jase asked, “Does anyone know where he could be hiding? We thought he was dead after Ares and him battled. And… uh, Aphrodite. Aphrodite has fallen.”

The god’s eyes were struck with shock. Josephine felt guilty for pushing the emotions she had towards her mother’s death aside. But she never imagined that she’d have to be the one, sitting in front of the gods, telling them that their beloved goddess had died. She gulped… hard.

“Gods never truly die,” Hera repeated Persephone’s words from earlier, “They simply drift. Relocate, and build up strength.”

A heavy silence fell over the throne room as Hera's words lingered in the air. The gods exchanged uneasy glances. Josephine felt a weight pressing down on her chest.

“She was… she was fighting alongside us,” Josephine said, her voice barely above a whisper, “But Hades, he was too strong, and he… he took her.” The lump in her throat made it difficult to continue, but she forced herself to go on, “We couldn’t save her.”

Poseidon’s face hardened, his trident digging into the marble floor with a low thud, “Hades has gone too far,” he muttered, his voice filled with barely restrained anger, “If he’s capable of this, then there’s no telling what he’ll do next.”

Zeus clenched his fists, lightning crackling around him as his rage simmered beneath the surface, “Hades has overstepped his bounds. We will make him pay for what he’s done.”

Josephine took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, “But first, we need to find him. He’s not in the Underworld—at least, not where we could reach him. He’s hiding somewhere, gathering his strength, waiting for the right moment to strike again.”

Persephone stepped forward, “I might be able to help with that. I’ve spent enough time in the Underworld to know its secrets. If Hades has relocated, I can find traces of where he’s gone.”

Artemis nodded, “We’ll need to move quickly. The longer we wait, the stronger he becomes.”

“And what of Aphrodite?” Demeter asked, “If she’s not truly gone, if she’s only drifted… we have to find her. We can’t leave her in Hades’ grasp.”

Josephine felt another fresh wave of guilt wash over her. She had been so focused on the immediate threat that she hadn’t allowed herself to think about what might have happened to her mother after Hades had taken her.

“I’ll find her,” Josephine said, “Whatever it takes, I’ll bring her back.”

Zeus stood and placed a hand on Josephine’s shoulder, “We’ll face this together,” he said, “No one will face Hades alone.”

“If Persephone can track Hades, then we should prepare for whatever comes next. We can’t afford to be caught off guard,” Jase murmured.

Zeus nodded in agreement, “Persephone, you’ll lead the search for Hades. The rest of us will gather our forces and prepare for the battle ahead. We’ll need every ally we can muster.”

As the gods began to strategize, Josephine’s thoughts drifted to her mother. She had to believe that Aphrodite was still out there somewhere, waiting to be found. And when they finally confronted Hades, it wouldn’t just be about power or revenge—it would be about heart, as Hera had said. The heart that would drive them to save Aphrodite, to protect the realms, and to defeat Hades once and for all.

Josephine’s mind raced as the gods continued their discussion, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. They were standing on the edge of something immense, something that could either save the realms or doom them all. She glanced at Jase, who nodded at her as if sensing her thoughts. They had come too far to back down now.

But as the plans were being laid out, a strange sensation began to gnaw at the edges of Josephine’s consciousness. It was a faint, tingling feeling that started in the back of her mind and gradually spread through her body. It was almost as if… something was calling out to her.

“Josephine,” Persephone’s voice cut through her thoughts, bringing her back to the present, “Are you with us?”

Josephine blinked, trying to shake off the sensation, “Yes, I’m here. Sorry, I just… felt something.”

“What is it?” Zeus asked, his gaze sharpening.

“I don’t know,” Josephine admitted, “It’s like… something is trying to reach me, but I can’t make out what it is.”

Before anyone could respond, the throne room suddenly grew colder, a sharp chill that seemed to cut through the very air. The gods stiffened, and Josephine felt her heart rate spike as the strange sensation intensified. It was no longer a faint whisper—it was a roaring presence, something dark and ancient, clawing its way into her mind.

“Josephine!” Jase shouted, stepping toward her, but his voice seemed distant, almost drowned out by the overwhelming noise in her head

And then, in a blinding flash, everything became clear.

A voice, deep and menacing, echoed through her mind, vibrating with the force of a thousand storms, “You should have stayed out of this, little flame.”

It was Hades.

Josephine gasped, clutching her head as pain surged through her skull. The world around her spun, and she could barely hear the gods’ concerned voices over the chaos in her mind.

“You think you can defeat me? You and your pitiful gods? You’re nothing more than pawns in a game you don’t even understand.”

“Hades,” Josephine managed to choke out, her voice barely a whisper, “He’s… he’s in my head.”

Persephone’s eyes widened, and she quickly moved to Josephine’s side, “Fight him, Josephine! Don’t let him in!”

But it was too late. Hades’ voice grew louder, drowning out everything else, “Did you really think you were in control, Flameheart? I’ve been watching you, guiding you, and now you’re exactly where I want you.”

A sudden realization struck Josephine like a bolt of lightning, and her blood ran cold. This was all part of his plan.

Hades had never truly been hiding. He had been waiting for them to gather in Olympus, waiting for the moment when they would be most vulnerable. And now, through Josephine, he had found his way in.

“Welcome to my domain,” Hades hissed, “Olympus will fall, and you, little flame, will be the one to light the torch.”

As those last words echoed in her mind, Josephine’s vision blurred, and she felt herself being pulled into a void. The last thing she saw was the horrified faces of the gods as she collapsed to the ground, Hades’ laughter ringing in her ears.

The throne room erupted into chaos as Zeus bellowed in fury, lightning crackling around him. Persephone knelt by Josephine’s side, desperately trying to reach her, while Jase stood frozen, horror etched on his face.

“Get her back!” Hera commanded, “We can’t lose her to him!”

But even as they tried to pull her back from the brink, Josephine’s consciousness slipped further into the darkness. Hades’ grip tightened around her mind, and she realized with a sinking dread that she was no longer just a victim—she had become the key to his plan.

As the darkness consumed her, one final thought pierced through the haze of terror:

This wasn’t just a battle for Olympus. This was a battle for her soul.

And in that moment, Josephine knew that if she couldn’t find a way to break free, she would be the one to bring about the destruction of everything she had ever loved.