Athena’s face reddened at the dig. “Pig.”
“Harpy,” Poseidon returned.
“Can you not banish him?” Athena asked Zeus.
“Banish him?” Hera asked. “Such a punishment would serve you both, I think.”
Zeus regarded his outraged daughter, then his brother. “Perhaps, wife.”
Hades sighed. “I leave you to your justice, then. And go to serve my own. My enemy waits to challenge my dominion over the Underworld. Though I seek no help from you.” He glared at Poseidon, meeting his brother’s pale gaze with his most ferocious scowl. “Such a request would earn me a sword in the back.”
Poseidon hesitated, his face awash with confusion, sadness, and anger. But Hades no longer cared.
Apollo stepped forward, his grin quick. “I would help. And promise not to stab you.”
“As would I.” Ares smiled, pushing up from his chair for the first time. He rubbed his hands together. “As long as I get to stab someone.”
“I fear there’s little stabbing to be done,” Athena said. “Since those you would challenge are dead.”
“A valid point?
?” Ares’ eyes narrowed. “Fire.”
Apollo clapped Ares on the shoulder. “Light, yes. It weakens them.”
“Clever, Ares.” Athena nodded. “Clever indeed.”
“How does one harness light?” Aphrodite asked.
Ares’ gaze lingered on her briefly. “There’s no need to harness it.”
“Demeter will not thank you for destroying her…” Hera interjected.
“There’s little to destroy,” Apollo said with a shrug. “Demeter’s grief ravaged most of Greece.”
Hades took this news to heart. If he’d sent Persephone home, would less damage have occurred? Would Erysichthon be dead? Or would his curse have been discovered, and cured? Would the crops…
“So we burn it,” Ares’ voice was hard.
“Greece?” Poseidon regarded them with wide eyes.
“The risk is too great.” Hades looked at them, one at a time, surprised by their readiness to help. “I would have them driven to my realm. Once inside, they cannot escape and they cannot win.”
Ares nodded. “Fire will flush them out.”
“Fire will flush who out?” Hermes joined them.
Hades glanced at the door, again. She was well. She was with her mother. She was not his concern.
“Erysichthon and his men,” Apollo answered. “We’re to drive them into the Underworld.”
Hermes nodded. “Ah.”
“Hades is right. The mortals have suffered enough.” Zeus shook his head, his brow creased in concentration. “You must control the fire.”
“How?” Hera asked.
Hera echoed his very thoughts. Fire would serve his purpose, but…