Title: The Heirs of Olympus (2/?)
Author: Kate R.
Disclaimer: Own nothing and no one used herein. All belong to their respective creators.
Returning to Asphodel, those who had come with the Heirs of Olympus just watched and waited. Darius conjured chairs for all of them but Hades provided food. That was said because it would protect them from Zeus and because neither Giles nor any of the others was a particularly good food conjurer.
“So, Darius said as he flopped in to the chair. What’s going on you want to know?”
“Yes, please,” a boy with dark hair and eyes, said as he looked at Giles who was so Not Tweed Guy right now.
“What’s happening,” Giles answered the boy, “Is that our father was hurt. He’s been hurt to the point that he cannot sustain his duties. So, Xander, his sons were called home to take his place until he can. Wesley, Hugh and Spike are the sons of Death and Joy. They are the House of Humanity. Buffy, Spike is The Guardian of Slayers. Any Slayer he’s killed should consider it an honor that he ended their loneliness and suffering himself instead of letting it be a demon of some kind. Ethan is the son of Lust, over there, the mother of Vampires. They are not evil by he way, not all of them, and Asclepius, God of Healing. Lust is Goddess of Debauchery. Ethan was intended to be God of Passions but something interceded. We think it was the old bastard upstairs. Ethan is, however, The God of Chaos. So, something fouled Zeus’ designs as well because Ethan now has more power than most, if not all, of Zeus’ children.”
“So, do I slay here?” Buffy asked. Faith’s looked mirrored the question.
“Absolutely Not,” Lust said. “You shouldn’t be Slaying where you are without reason and you do. Both of you do. The Council is so full of shit it isn’t funny. My children aren’t all bad but you don’t seem to care about that and---“
“Mother,” Ethan said gently. “Calm down. They don’t know the truth. Show them so they do.”
“Children?” a weak voice asked from the doorway. The three turned and smiled. Darius was the first to move. He ran to the leather clad man and hugged him tightly. Ares returned the hug just as tightly. Then he moved to each of his other children as well. He hugged them both so tightly it was as if he were trying to imprint them into himself.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked each of them. “Once you begin, Darius, you cannot return to immortal status. Giles, you can still watch the Hellmouth but you wont be able to hide your nature anymore. Gryphon? Well, you know what it will mean.”
“We know, father,” Darius said. “We would not have come now if we didn’t. I think that answers your question enough.”
“I had to be sure,” Ares said to them. They nodded and then looked at their groups again.
“We’re here to put a stop to Zeus,” Gryphon finally spoke. “If you don’t want to help, go to the rooms Hades will give you and stay in them.”
“We’ll help,” Faith said as she looked at Giles and Wesley. Okay, so Wes wasn’t the perfect Watcher. Big deal. He was something else that was more important and this was important to him.
“I’m in,” Buffy said. Xander, the dark haired boy, nodded as well. Angel nodded hoping William’s demon would be rewarded for what it had done. He would miss Spike.
Buffy’s mother and sister both nodded. Caine, Peter and the Ancient nodded as well as Blaisdale. He had sworn to Kermit that if this time ever came, he would join in the war.
The group with Darius watched for a moment but they, too nodded. Jenny stood next to him, joined by Richie and finally Duncan as well. Duncan did not fully understand but Darius needed him.
“What, exactly, do you do, old friend?” he asked. Darius chuckled and nodded as if he was waiting for that question.
“I absorb and direct the world’s aggression. I keep the levels sane and balanced. Not an easy job but one I am well suited to.”
Duncan nodded and looked at his best friend. This would take some getting used to but this was important to Darius so he would deal.
Giles was looking up then, when something caught his attention and he cursed fluently. He looked at Ares for permission and when it was received, he flashed out.
“Where is he going?” Buffy asked.
“To help his other father,” Ares said. “And I pity the blond bitch for this one. Ripper has always been protective of Joxer.”