The Lycanwolf

Opening the Depths

Todd looked at the dagger in his hand and smiled at the 2 symbols on it and realized Zeus had no clue what he had. He had helped Hap with the construction of Tartarus, using him as the test for what Zeus had wanted. Hap was the only Olympian that had any clue what Tantalus' powers had been. But they didn't know that his body continued to absorb the magic and become more powerful as he did. Aries had now experienced it first hand.

Todd walked to the two pillars and noticed the door had been mostly buried, Aries impact with it had blown most of the buildup away from the door. Todd walked to the Left pillar, and slid the dagger into the crack, and turned it. He heard the vertical locks disengage, and walked to the other pillar and unlocked the horizontals.

The locks disengaging had been loud inside the first layer of the depths, and Haphestus was eager to kill whichever Olympian was dumb enough to open his prison after all this time. They had planned their ambush for the door to open inward as it was designed to be.

Their initial plan was destroyed when Todd ripped the door from it's hinges outwards, and than stepped into the doorway. "Attack me and you will have no hope of revenge." Todd said into the pit.

"This cannot be, how did you escape brother? Do not attack!" Haphestus yelled as Todd began descending the steps to enter. It brought back many memories, and Todd first noticed the changes that had been made.

No longer was the entrance a foreboding place, it was clear this was a well kept area. And the defences we're impressive from what Todd remembered. "You have done lots in your time, Hap. You were the only one that I truly regretted killing, however now it is time we join together and fight that bastard." Todd said as he saw all the weapons pointed at him from the armaments surrounding the entry.

Todd knew if it had been any other Olympian they would have truly perished several times over before they were able to even see what was happening.

"How did you escape?" Haphestus asked him incredilous.

"I did not, Zeus made a grave error when he made my prison, and where he placed it. My crystal prison exploded several days ago, and as I was at the foundations suspended above the mortal realm, I fell and escaped Zeus clutches. He foolishly sent Aries with the key to the gate." Todd told his long time companion.

"Well, it seems the fates have been doing things that no one expected." Haphestus said laughing.

"The Wolves and Humans have unspooled the loom, and it cannot function at this time." Todd said with a straight face and made Haphestus open his eyes in shock.

"So it is time, the prophecy is true." he said.

"He made many prophecies." Todd said knowing of who he was speaking. "Which do you reference?"

'So long as the Loom remains spooled, the reign of the Olympians shall be secured. Beware thy creations as they are the path to thine doom. Betray them not, and peace shall reign.' Haphestus told him. "He never recorded it as Zeus forbade him, but I was nearby and heard it."

"Zeus has declared war on the mortal realm, and we have a little over 3 weeks to prepare before the army marches." Todd informed him.

"What is your plan? The Humans and Wolves are not likely to join us creatures of the dark." Hap said as his eyes still adjusted to the light after so long away from it.

Todd smiled at this assertion made by Haphestus, as that was exactly what the Wolves and Humans planned. "Don't tell the new War Chief that, she may make you regret your decision." he said laughing now. The look of shock that Haphestus had was astonishing to Todd.

"Tantalus, they will be killed quickly." Hap said as it switched to horror.

"Actually, I don't think they will. Even though Magic has not reached this realm for a very long time, the Wolves and Humans are learning very quickly how to utilize it again. And if you and I join the mix against Zeus, we will bring a level of pain that the Olympians have never dared to dream." Todd said. "And for now, I go by Todd. Tantalus was a name given to me by the betrayer and I will have no further association with him other than enemy."

When Todd said this, the cheers that swept through the many creatures that Zeus had betrayed to this hell, and Todd felt a shiver run down his spine as he got his first hint at just how many were here.

"You hear that everyone, our time is nigh. The betrayer has finally fallen victim to the prophecy, and his time is nigh. Zeus has finally betrayed those that ensured we would spend eternity here, because Todd was who our agreements were with. William said the same, however Todd himself was betrayed by Zeus, and comes seeking us to join his revenge." Haphestus said as they all cheered again. The creatures of the night were stirring now, and Todd was amazed at how many of them were battle ready.

"The only question is, do we join with those that betrayed us, to be betrayed themselves? Or do we fight them all till the bitter end?" Haphestus said as they cheered to the first and boo the second.

Just than the gates of what Todd thought was the next barrier opened, and he realized just how much they had worked and defended this place. Hap had originally designed it as a prison, and than redesigned it into a fortress against Zeus. Todds jaw hit the floor when 3 Battalion of Soldiers made up of the different species marched through it, clearly planning for the defense of their homes. Haphestus held up a hand, and the battalions halted their March and stood at ease.

"It has been decided than, the denizens of the deep shall fight with the Humans and Wolves, if we can come to an Accord with them. Todd my brother, it is time I meet this new War Chief." Haphestus said. "Gregor, keep the men here, and begin setting defenses around the new exit. We will need to move carefully if we are to avoid a blood bath with the Humans and Wolves.

Don't allow anyone to leave with weapons or armor, as much as we may hate it, this place may be home for some time."

With that the two of them turned and walked from the place, Todd still carrying the dagger even though it was now useless as he had destroyed the door.

It took them a day before they were nearing the southern border of the pack, and the two of them cam upon a strange sight. Todd could just feel the connection to a few of the pack, those that were most sensitive. Todd walked among the shards of his prison that law strewn across the ground as Haphestus started jumping for joy.

"That moron brother of mine has given us the best weapon to use against him." Hap said clapping as he spied the super powered crystal. It was so charged it was a solid blue color instead of a clear blue that it originally was.

"What could you possibly use this for?" Todd asked him.

"These crystals were what the 12 weapons were made of. Charged on Olympus and plunged through the atmosphere to the mortal realm to turn them to a substance harder than any metal that exists in nature. With this many, I should be able to make hundreds of weapons, and thousands of trinkets to increase the power of whoever wields them."

On the North side of the Pack territory, where the pack had just purchased, they found an even larger segment of the crystals, and the Wolf that had found it managed to bring the smallest of pieces back, so that it could be examined.

The magical power eminating from it surprised Jane as soon as she saw it, and she ordered the entire field to be carefully harvested and transported back to the clan vault. She had plans to do some testing.

Back where Hap and Todd were, Todd agreed to allow Hap this horde, in exchange for 20 weapons that he would get to Dole out.

"After you meet the War Chief, I want you to design one particularly for her." Todd said.

"That's the way it works, I will need to meet the other 20 as well, each weapon must be specially forged to the wielder for maximum benefit." Hap explained as they began making way to the Pack.

It was 6 hours later, and Todd, Haphestus, and Jane all arrived at the Administration Building at the same time. They had felt each other for hours, but they both had ignored it as they were too busy. But as soon as she saw Todd she ran to his arms, and knew instantly that the tingle was the same as Ashley's. It was disturbing her now that she already knew who it was.

"What bothers you my love?" Todd asked as he held her ignoring Hap.

"Nothing I wish to discuss with company, very brave bringing an Olympian here." she said looking at Hap for the first time and instantly seeing his power.

"How did you know?" Haphestus asked looking himself over. Not a glimmer of his power was being projected for anyone to see. Todd had even raised his eyes.

"Don't worry, no one else will know, so long as you don't draw that dagger you have. Even though you are hiding the power, I can feel it move through you. Don't ask how, I don't know yet." she said as the three of them walked into a small conference room.

"When will I get to meet this new War Chief?" Hap asked and Jane rose her eyebrows.

"When the time is right. First, I need to introduce you to my mate, Jane Anna Esvolt." he said to Hap. "Jane, this is an old friend of mine, Haphestus. The Architect of Olympus and Tartarus, as well as many of the weapons the Olympians use. He was betrayed by Zeus after he completed Tartarus, and thrown into the very depths he built." Todd told her as his introduction.

Jane nodded as they shook hands, Haphestus grabbing her wrist in the traditional method. "Greetings Hap, what is it you need to see the War Chief about?"

He looked her over and shrugged his shoulders. Why not he figured, the more who knew and could talk to this Chief was good in his book.

"I wish to negotiate a truce and pact with this war chief. The creatures of the night have escaped the depths of Tartarus after these many long years, and we wish for a chance to seek our revenge against the betrayers." Hap summarized succinctly.

"I was under the impression that Tartarus was sealed for all time." Jane said as she looked at Todd. She felt through the link he knew exactly what had happened.

"Aries foolishly brought the key to the outer door. I hoped Zeus was dumb enough to betray others as he had me, and I figured they would be there. More enemies of Zeus in our alliance is a good thing for us." Todd said explaining the rest in the link to her. She nodded her head as she understood.

"What is it you wish to trade for a Mutual Defense Pact?" Jane said knowing this would be the kicker.

"Equal chance to seek our revenge, equal access to supplies, training and weaponry. And when the spoils are tabulated they be done so equally among the three factions so far." Haphestus said.

"Most of those I think are only natural, if you join us you will have every opportunity you wish to engage with the enemy. All forces will be formed from the 3 factions, and once those assignments are made they will fight side by side. They will eat, sleep, and train together for their chance. However I will only sanction their revenge so long as they follow orders as any Pack or Clan would be expected to." Jane said and Hap nodded.

"You mean to truly do this as a combined force?" Hap asked.

"I do, it took the blood oath of Wolves and Humans to break the Loom. We will work together for our mutual survival, if you can agree to that, you are more than welcome. Any who do not follow orders will think their time in the depths the first time was a walk in the park." Jane told him so he knew exactly what she expected.

Hap was surprised such an oath had been sworn as it was the one thing Zeus was eternally afraid of. And he knew a binding like that would be enough for the loom to be utterly destroyed. "You War Chief is very wise, as this is the one thing Zeus would never expect. Even without the rest of us, the Wolves and Humans alone working together would shock him. We accept your terms, however the vampires will remain in the Depths, and if we are successful, they will be the eternal guardians of Tartarus."

"Well thank you for the compliment." Jane said slashing her palm and extending her hand making his eyes widen again. "If you wish to join us, we accept allegiance by blood oath and an oath of fealty to the War Chief. As one, there can only be one who leads us."

He nodded once, and hoped she survived the process. "Should this oath not be made with the War Chief?" he asked trying to stall.

"You are making a bond with the War Chief." Todd told him as he held up the dagger.

Hap grabbed it and slashed his hand, grasping that of Jane, and they both saw Selene appear with a blinding flash.

"I may require a bit more convincing before I accept this oath." Selene said looking right at Haphestus.

"Mother, what are you doing?" Todd asked knowing that Hap was the only Olympian who tried to interfere with Zeus' plan.

"I was under the impression you couldn't interfere?" Haphestus looked at her and knew who she was.

"Normally you are correct, however your army is made up of 23 species, each of them also by blood oath. Never before has the fates of so many been tied to one race, more specifically, one individual." Selene said. "It is my right to grant or reject what is happening here, as you well know no Wolf has ever survived the blending of blood with an Olympian."

"My oath is what it is Selene, I swear fealty to this War Chief, in the hopes that one day this coalition of creatures will be able to overwhelm the Olympians, destroy the well of souls, and throw them all into the Maw of Tartarus to join their parents. I vow that none under my command shall betray this alliance, and if any do so, they may find a Swift execution." he said knowing he could give nothing else but his word.

Selene nodded to him once. "Very well, but you and the leaders of each race are about to have a painful few hours as you join the ranks." Just as she finished she placed her hand on the two of theirs and they both knew she cast a very powerful spell.

Jane could now feel the many Kings and Queens of the races, as the last remnants of her Pack link were severed. She know had a mind link with the leader of each race, and knew that the Humans were the only ones saved from the pain of her spell.

"May you all venture forth and secure your victory. May this day make peace for all creatures a reality on the future. Blessed be." Selene said as she disappeared, and Haphestus grabbed his head as the Link to Jane established itself into 24 creatures that had never been meant to experience it.