The night faded fast, the day ushering itself in quickly. Zeus descended the staircase, his golden brown hair combed back, dressed in flawless sky blue and white ceremonial robes, his expression somber and unreadable. Cronus walked behind him soundlessly, dressed in black robes that matched his hair.
They spotted Gwen near the door of the downstairs library, her fingers clenched around her plushie she'd carried since childhood. She only held it when she was unsettled.
Zeus knew that.
"What happened?" He asked.
Gwen exhaled sharply before responding.
"They've been arguing in there since dawn."
From behind the heavy doors came the faint sounds of Metis raised voice, and Zoran's controlled voice.
"They never argue," She added.
"Not like this."
She was frustrated, fear in her tone.
She stepped forward. "I am going in."
Zeus caught her arm, holding her firmly. "No."
Her eyes flashed, tears threatening to spill from the rim of her eyes. "So we're just going to stand here?"
"They'll handle it."
"You don't know that." She whispered.
For a moment, neither of them moved. The silence between them felt heavier than words.
Zeus expression softened. He pulled her into a gentle hug, and to his surprise, she leaned into his side, her body shaking as she cried silently.
He tightened his hug, trying to offer what little comfort he could. He knew the past months had been too much for her to handle.
He rested his chin on her head, holding her close.
She slightly nudged his chin with her head, and he raised his head in response. She looked up at him, her eyes red, her face streaked with tears.
"Do you really have to do this?" She asked, her voice trembling. "Even if you say you won't, mother will talk to father, and he will understand. You don't have to put yourself in danger." Her voice cracking as she spoke.
Zeus backed away, shocked at how the talk had gone from their parents to him.
Gwen's desperate gaze landed on Cronus who was leaning against the wall. "Cronus, please talk some sense into Zeus. He can't participate, not when he could die."
Cronus looked at her dumbfounded.
Zeus looked away from her."It's beyond me Gwen." It was his duty as his father's son to participate and win.
She continued crying, pleading with him to change his mind, for Cronus to convince him, and Zeus snapped. "Enough Gwen."
She froze.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. "It is time for you to get ready for the press conference."
He nodded curtly towards her maid Lilith.
Lilith stepped forward, her face sympathetic. She gently took Gwen's hand, trying to lead her away, but Gwen resisted.
She stared at him, swiping at the tears that spilled down her eyes. Zeus did not look her in the eyes again, he looked beyond her, staring at some point past her shoulder. It hurt him that they were like this, but he could not forfeit
"See to it that she is ready on time." He ordered Lilith, and she nodded.
Reclaiming her teddy from Lilith, Gwen turned around, letting herself be led away.
The library doors opened shortly after.
Metis stepped out first.
Her expression was smooth, but her eyes were sharp enough to cut.
Without waiting to be greeted, she pulled Zeus by the sleeves, to the room behind the grand staircase.
"You are not walking into that dome unprepared."
From the cabinets, and the shelves, she retrieved concealable weapons, hiding them in parts of his body where they would not easily be found.
"I won't need them," Zeus said quietly, trying to resist, but Metis grip on him was strong.
"That's not the point." She replied.
The press hall shimmered with artificial lights trying to portray the sun.
Dogan stood before the crowd, composed. He was their sovereign.
Ministers, and dignitaries of Olympus almost filled the hall, their children seated besides them.
"I have listened to the discussions of the people. Some questioning the heirs that are handed the crown, and their worthiness of it." Zoran said calmly, looking into the flashing cameras, and the faces of all who were in the room. "I have listened to your complaints, and have set this tournament to prove to you that I only have your interest at heart." The whole crowd watched him as if spell bound.
Parchments with the concept, and the rules of the tournament were passed out to everyone.
"Any of you willing to participate may step forward, and receive your tags." Zoran said calmly.
No one moved.
There was no guarantee of safety, and only one would come out alive.
At the end, only seven stepped forward.
Three ladies, and four guys.
Zeus moved from behind his father, down the podium, to stand besides them.
Zeus. Cassian. Raven. Athane. Elora. Loke. Kane. Damen.
The cameras went off, snapping in rapid succession.
This were the candidates for the primordial bouts.
After the declaration, they moved to a reception, to soften what had been announced.
Only the elite political class in attendance.
Many were gathered around Zoran and Zeus, vying for a moment of Zoran's attention.
Zeus was trapped in the suffocating aura of his father's presence, but somehow, he managed to slip away unnoticed.
Zeus watched from a distance, sighing in relief as his eyes scanned the room with a mixture of disdain, and boredom.
As he watched what was happening in the hall, Merva's figure caught his eye. She stood between a tall guy with an army build, and a girl slightly shorter than herself.
They all shared the same piercing purple eyes, only that the two had silver blond hair, and Merva's was black.
She seemed to enjoy being among them.
'Cousins maybe?'
They were smiling and chatting, lost in their own world. Her eyes wandered around for a moment, observing the scene with a quiet intensity, and their eyes met.
Time seemed to stop for him, as she smiled and nodded in greeting. He felt a warmth spread in his chest, and couldn't help but return the smile, but her gaze did not linger on his for long, she returned her attention to her cousins, joining their conversation with ease.
Zeus watched her, he was drawn to her. He unconsciously took a step forward, but before he could take another step, Metis was in front of him, blocking his view of Merva.
"Son, can we talk?"
"Hmm. Yes." He agreed noncommittally.
He tilted his head to the side, glancing at Merva before he turned his attention to Metis.
"What is it mother?"
"You don't have to do it. I've spoken to your father. You can back out." She said, her eyes pleading.
He felt frustrated that she had no faith in him, even Cronus wanted him to back out, and had skipped the reception because he refused to.
He shook his head, determination settling in his chest. "I've made up my mind, mother. I want to do this. I am doing it for myself." He told her, hoping that she would understand.
"But you could be erased from existence, no ascension, no rebirth. Nothing." She said shakily.
He knew. But he also knew that his father would not take such risks if he wasn't strong enough.
His father never cut corners in such.
Which meant he was either sure of his win, or that he wanted him dead.
But he was willing to find out.
"Just have faith in me. I'll be fine."
She sighed, her expression a mixture of sadness and resignation. Both of them were stubborn, but he had won.
"Very well Zeus. But promise me you'll be careful. And that you will come back alive."
And he promised.
She took his hands, squeezing them softly before she left to join her husband.
The crowd began to disperse, the time for the contestants to depart near.
Zeus found Merva again, leaning against a pillar, watching her cousins with one of the prime ministers.
"Is he family?" He asked her, grabbing her attention.
"Yes, grandfather." She replied, straightening. She looked at him quizzically.
"Would you care to walk with me?" He asked her, and she agreed, falling into step with him.
They walked past the soft music, going to a place where eyes barely reached.
"I heard I missed your birthday." He said to break the awkward silence.
In his hands, a large bouquet of the exotic flowers -her eyes had lingered on during their time in the shadows- manifested.
She gasped, accepting it carefully.
"How did you find out?" Her gaze softened as she looked at the flowers. "You remembered."
Of course he did.
"I just wanted to give this to you, in case..."
She rose slightly on her toes, and pressed a brief kiss to his lips, and stepped away.
"Come back alive." She whispered, her face serious.
His jaw tightened, but his voice remained steady. "I will."
He turned to leave, and she followed him behind. Outside, she stood back, as the call was made for all the contestants to get into the vehicles.
Their eyes met, and she smiled at him uncertainly, and he got into one of the vehicles.
The three retracted, the car with guards taking to the sky first, followed by the contestants and their families, the chief prime minister, and then the supreme leader Zoran and his wife Metis.
Synedebad was located far away from the divine state. It was a large desert land dotted with cactus. A huge part of it was covered in a glass like forcefield that rose high into the sky, and made a dome. Inside of the dome, it was formless. Dust, colors, and shadow mixing inside.
Zeus felt dust, and sand spray on him, as the wind blew at the ground strongly.
They had all changed into leather suits, their long hairs tied into a bun up their head.
It suddenly felt real. Either he died, or all the others did. He knew they all thought the same too.
"I don't want us to hate each other, I still want us to be playful siblings." Gwen said to him, holding back her tears.
"Me too." He answered, hugging her.
Metis approached, and joined the hug. "I've told your father that I'll stab him to death if you don't come back." She said swallowing a sob.
Zoran joined them, watching as they hugged each other.
He patted Zeus on the shoulder strongly once the hug was broken up. "You heard what your mother said. Don't let her make do on that promise."
"Yes sir." He answered, watching his father smile at him for the first time.
It was an underlying threat.
"Contestants, please step forward."
They all left their families behind, and walked towards the glass like dome.
This could be their last time alive.
They looked at one another, back at their families, and took a final step. The force field opened up, and swallowed the eight of them.