The Heart of Hades

5

"Lilia!" Hades yelled, flying out of the office, the minute he heard the explosion. He immediately pulled her into his arms and examined her from head to toe. He cradled her face in his hands, touching the cut on her cheek, grimacing.

"What happened?" Poseidon asked, surveying the outer office, taking in the exploded phone and the way his brother was gently holding her to his chest.

"I was on the phone with Phillip and he wanted to know if James had asked for my engagement ring back. We got into an argument and when I hung up on him. The phone exploded from something sparking down my arm," she explained, slightly hysterical. She was staring at her own hands in horror until James spoke up.

"He knew I was coming here and wanted me to ask. I think I will leave," James said, heading straight to the door without looking back. He didn't want what happened to the phone to be directed at him next.

"Are you all right, Ms. Heart?" Poseidon asked, watching James escape.

"Yes, just a minor cut on my cheek, nothing major," she replied. Slowly stepping out of Hades' arms, she suddenly realized he'd been holding her close to his incredibly warm body.

"Good, now I need you to come in here and talk about what just happened, you too Hades." Poseidon purposefully used his given name and Lilia looked at him in confusion. Hades smiled and ushered her into the office, closing the door behind them, locking it so they would not be disturbed.

"Lilia, what we tell you will sound impossible, but just hear us out. My name is not Don but Poseidon, God of Water. Harry is Hades, the God of the Underworld. We are what you learned in school as Greek gods," he explained, snapping his fingers and gone was his suit. In place he wore a sea-green tunic and brown sandals, his hair became wavy as if an ocean breeze had swept through it. He also had a glow around him, the same color as the sea. Turning to look at Hades, he too had changed. His tunic was midnight black and his glow black edged in silver.

"So this means what for me?" she asked, too overwhelmed from seeing their authentic forms to freak out.

"Your father is a descendant of Zeus. Your great, great grandfather was a son of Zeus who married a mortal woman. The sparking that exploded the phone could be his power you inherited," Poseidon shared, walking over to sit opposite of where she sat.

"Your mother we believe to be Aphrodite. Zeus is on Olympus trying to talk with her," he continued.

"So you're telling me that the Goddess of Love is my mother? The woman who abandoned me to live with my father, who wanted nothing to do with me? The second I was old enough, he shipped me off to boarding school, so he could go off on his adventures and not be pinned down by a six-year-old," Lilia stated in disbelief. How could this be her life?

"Well, she isn't known for sticking with one lover for very long. She isn't Hera the Goddess of Family," Hades commented, gently taking her sparking hands in his to help her calm down.

"Why are my powers showing now? Does Ian have the same powers?" she asked, taking a deep breath to calm down and make the sparking go away.

"No Ian does not, you have different mothers. He has Zeus like characteristics like your cousin James. You are unique because we believe two different godly types of blood are mixed in your veins. As for why now? James explained that you know meditation and were a dancer. We think until the events with James and Phillip, you have been able to keep your powers from slipping out uncontrolled. Now that you are still trying to come to terms with everything that happened, your body has less control. Your Aphrodite power has been slipping out while here at the office. You helped Chimera calm down before he spoke to me and I saw it with my own eyes," Poseidon shared, leaning against his polished mahogany desk.

"How do I keep this from happening?" she asked, a strong, determined gaze replacing the scared deer look in her eyes.

"That is where I come in. I train demigods and mythical monsters at my gym. The days you do not have night class, you will come to my gym and learn how to harness and use your powers. Your meditation and dance skills will be an enormous benefit to you, so I think you won't have much trouble getting the hang of your aura," Hades explained, still holding her hands and giving her a comforting smile.

"What will I learn to do with my aura?" she asked.

"First, we will teach you just how to control it so it doesn't slip. Second, I can teach you to defend yourself or if you want to go on the offensive to see what Aphrodite and possibly Zeus' powers combined can do," Hades answered, watching her reaction,

"I don't know what I want. An hour ago, I had no idea gods and goddesses existed. Now you are telling me I am related to two and I have a dangerous power? I will need some time to process everything. If it is all right with you Mr. Waters, I will go home." Lilia slipped her hands out of Hades' grasp and stood.

"I'll see you in the morning, Lilia." Poseidon nodded worriedly, watching her walk away. She looked lost and overwhelmed by everything.

"Should one of us go check on her tomorrow morning?" Hades asked, as he too watched her gather her things without blinking and head for the elevators.

"Yes, James said she runs in the mornings, why don't you go to her home and meet her for a morning run. This will help build your relationship with her while also keeping her safe. I'm sure I don't have to say this but Hades, she has been hurt badly by James and Phillip, proceed cautiously," Poseidon warned, giving his brother a pointed look letting him know he had missed none of the times Hades had touched Lilia.

"I am just going to train her. I am not looking for a date. I'll run with her in the morning. We don't want others to discover her abilities and try to capture her," Hades replied, regarding his brother. Poseidon knew he meant Medusa and her gang.