The Unknown God/Goddess

Hybrid

Third Person's P.O.V

After their battle with the Elven Kingdom, they immediately went back for Austin, who was still locked up in the shrine - or so they thought. They were appalled when they saw Austin, standing, and the divine chains blessed by Mine was broken into pieces on the ground. Everyone was tired from the battle with the Elven Kingdom. Layla senses something very dark lurking and lingering around Austin's body. 

It was so dark that it made Layla's fangs come out and her eyes changing color. Austin was very dangerous at the moment, but he wasn't doing anything. His hands was tucked inside his pockets. His head looks above him, seeing something interesting. 

"Ah," Austin speaks up. His voice went down low, sending chills down the three humans' bone. They shiver at the coldness Austin's voice brought. 

The three are human but they can still sense the dangerousness of Austin's. Pharsa and Mine got ready for battle stance. 

"Stay back," Pharsa says to the three. 

They weren't sure if they can handle Austin. Layla feels that Austin is going to be more powerful than the entire Elven Kingdom. There was something Austin that made Layla feel afraid, not for the safety of the others, but for hers as well. 

Austin turns around with a scowl on his face. 

"Can I please get back my divinity back?" he asks.

He took out his hands from his pocket. Layla grits her teeth. He was much more fearsome when he was facing them, Layla thought. Layla's legs tremble, already picturing their deaths, particularly hers. She had wanted to die, but not so gruesome so as to beg for her life to be spared. She was a proud vampire, and she didn't want to beg. She was the right when she saw them sparring the first time. 

He's something else. That's what Layla thought. 

"Uh, ah, yeah, yeah." Sarah couldn't take a step toward Austin, she was, as well, afraid. 

Austin was different from usual. He was cooler and way more unapproachable. His power was oozing out of him. His aura was scattered and they could feel it. They were a little thankful that it wasn't a killing intent but it was still dangerous. His strength is being portrayed while they try to defend from the fear. There was no reason for Austin to make known to everyone how dangerous he was. 

But he has no choice. 

"I'll get it from you." Austin takes a step forward. 

His every step was like death to everyone. His heels made clanking sounds, echoing around the shrine. The moment he took a step, the divine barrier that Mine set up was instantly broken. With the second step, his hair turned white. Each step that Austin takes was getting heavier and heavier to their ears. That until Austin was already in front of Sarah.

Austin closes his eyes and lifts his hand. Layla, Mine and Pharsa couldn't move. Austin was too much. His aura was preventing them from moving an inch. They were trying so hard but they still couldn't move. It was as if their bodies know of the danger if they ever go against Austin. 

The same light orb that came from Austin was no in mid air. Sarah was still scared, but somehow, when Austin came to get the light orb, Sarah doesn't feel threatened anymore. She heard something. 

"Erebus," was what Sarah heard. It wasn't hers, she knows of that, so she drew to a conclusion that it was Austin's. 

The darkness in his purple eyes made Sarah feel sorry. She didn't know why. She hadn't done anything wrong to Austin, so why was she feeling sorry for him, and what was that word, or name. Sarah kept pondering until Austin finally got his divinity back. 

But the darkness remained. He was still fearful in their eyes. His hair didn't turn back to its natural black hair color. It was still white. His facial features now more prominent because of the sudden hair color. He looked more handsome, and more appealing. 

I didn't know that he could be more handsome. Thought Rafaela. 

"I'm not going to hurt you guys." Austin says, calming his power down. 

Austin turns his back towards everyone. 

"What happened?" Pharsa asks, her voice a little too soft. 

Pharsa gulps, waiting for a prolonged response from Austin. Little by little, the scattered aura surround the room was lifted, or more specifically, went back to Austin's body. They could breathe again with fear of getting killed. 

"I know what I am," Layla, Pharsa and Mine looked at each other and loosened up their stature. 

But the three humans with them didn't understand. They were confused. One was thinking, 'isn't he a god?', and another was thinking, 'what does he mean what he is?', and another one was, 'they didn't tell us?'. The three of them have their eyebrows furrowed due to the confusion and questions. 

"We can talk it over once we get home." Mine says, attempting to calm down the building tension. 

"No," Austin says, "I'm going to Olympus." 

"Woah, woah, hold up. Why are you leaving so suddenly?" Earl asks. 

"I need to ask my father, and tell him that I already know what I am." Austin turns around and faces Earl. He had this sad look on his face that made everyone feel bad. 

Austin clenches his fists, tired. The truth came flooding in his mind. It ran in his mind so softly that he didn't have time to process everything. It was beyond painful for him. Now he knows who he is, so there is no more reason for him to be afraid of going to Olympus. He is not a true prince, as he is a treaty. 

"Will you come back?" Rafaela takes a step forward and gets close Austin, forgetting that she was scared until seconds ago. 

"Of course, I will. Now that I know who I am, I am no longer entitled to the throne." 

"I'm not sure I follow but I'll wait for you." the two was sharing a moment while everyone else stared. 

"Take care of them for me, yeah?" Austin asks the three.

"I'm doing what I want to do regardless of what you're saying." Pharsa pouts, a little upset that he didn't disclose anything to them. 

"You can count on us, Austin." Mine says positively, doing everything she can to understand what this situation calls for. 

Mine was done doubting Austin. This was his big reveal and he was still too shocked to tell them anything. Mine was ready to wait for him for as long as it takes. 

"Take care, Your Highness." Layla says without an ounce of sadness. 

"I'll be off then." Austin kisses Rafaela's forehead before transforming into a raven and flew away. 

The six that were left behind watches as how Austin was disappearing from their vision. Pharsa pouted again and Sarah saw this. Sarah takes a look at everyone's faces and decides to tell them what she heard when Austin took back his divinity. 

"Father," Austin calls to Zeus. 

Zeus and Athena was discussing something causing them to not notice Austin's presence. The familiar voice of his son made Zeus smile and look  to where the voice came from. But when Zeus' eyes met Austin's, he immediately knew what was happening and what was about to be talked about. 

Athena read the atmosphere and excused herself. When Athena was gone, Austin takes a step forward, keeping his head low. 

"He reached out to you, did he not?" Zeus asks his son, although he already knows the answer. 

"Yes," 

Without a word, Zeus hugged Austin. Acknowledging the truths was meant to be hard. The two, father and son, embraced each other. Their hearts were mourning over the truth that was meant to be sealed until Austin was deemed ready. Zeus wailed inside, internally hurting. 

Zeus always thought it was going to be him that would tell his son, Austin. But Erebus had gone to him first. After all, Erebus was said to be the most powerful god, even more powerful than Zeus himself. 

"I'm sorry, my child. I had thought that it would be me telling you this." 

"It's quite alright, Father. I had always wondered why you did not stop me from wandering around the human world."

The two broke their hug and decided to sit down on one of the chairs. They were in a for long talk, a serious talk, heart to heart. 

"I knew of how you were uncomfortable here, you may be half of us, but that doesn't mean you're completely alright." 

Austin lets the words of Zeus enter his ears. He listens and understands slowly why Zeus was keeping him locked away for many years. 

"Is he still alive?" 

Austin thought about how the possibility of Erebus visiting him, just like how Zeus was as well. 

"Yes, he is. What did he tell you?" 

Zeus wanted to hold his son. It doesn't matter if Austin was born because of their treaty, Austin was still his and he doesn't want to change that. Zeus didn't mind Austin's origin. He has come to love the unknown god that he watched blossom into fine young deity. 

"He didn't really tell me. He made me watch something in my own consciousness, like it has always been there and I was turning a blind eye on it." 

Zeus sees how Austin clenches his fists, angrily. 

"After our war with the titans, there was one other god left. He is the most powerful god, up until today." 

Zeus remembers what happens. 

"Erebus," Zeus calls out to him, tired and drained from the battle with Cronus, his father, and the other titans. 

Erebus was standing tall, standing straight and without one bruise. He stands mighty against the remaining gods. They were done with the battle against the titans, but there was still Erebus. 

Erebus looks around and smiles. 

"Even with you all against me, I will still win. Even if you are well, I will still win. But I am kinder than your father, so I have a proposal." 

Zeus looks around his beaten up comrades and decides for himself. He weighs his option and thinks hard whether to accept the proposal or not. 

"I accept," Erebus smiles and reaches out a hand to Zeus. 

Zeus grits his teeth and grabs Erebus' almost invisible hand. Erebus is the god of darkness, misty and all but without a solid body. 

"I will spare your life, in exchange for my exception." 

Zeus didn't need to hear anymore. Zeus has no choice. Erebus is dark, dangerous, and chaotic. Yes, this was what makes him dangerous. Zeus kept his guard up the entire time they were talking. Erebus' black eyes screamed nothing to Zeus, but that doesn't mean it was safe to look him in the eyes. Zeus avoided Erebus' eyes. 

"If we let you be, will you not wreck havoc in the future?" Erebus laughs. 

"I prefer calm nights while others suffer, but I will give you my word." 

Erebus turns around,

"Why did you propose such a thing when you could've easily killed us yourself?" Erebus laughs again and turns back to Zeus. 

"I hated your father, Cronus, seeing him killed by his offspring was much more entertaining and more satisfactory than me killing him." 

"Was that all?" 

"Yes, child of Cronus." 

"Do you not hate me? My brothers and sisters?"

Erebus takes a necessary pause and asked himself as well, before answering. 

"We share the same hatred towards the same entity. I do not hate you nor your brothers or sisters. Rest assured, I will not go after you." 

"Then, for assurance, we shall sign a treaty," Zeus gathered his courage and proposed. 

"I do not hate the idea, but I will arrange the treaty. Wait for it to appear right before your eyes." 

"Erebus disappeared after that and never came back. I had thought that he has forgotten about the treaty but then you appeared out of nowhere after how many years." 

"How did you know I was the treaty without anything being said?" 

"He has your symbol on your left chest." 

Austin blinks multiple times, not once remembering that there was something of that sort. 

"But I did not see it with my eyes." 

"Remove your clothing," 

Austin did as he was told and slid off his clothing to the side, revealing his muscular chest. Zeus brought out light from his finger and touched a specific part of Austin's chest. It was a warm feeling and soon after, a dark symbol appeared. 

"If you touch your other chest on the same area with darkness, my symbol will appear. But I haven't confirmed that as I can not wield darkness. Will you confirm that for me?" Zeus smiles at his son and persuades him to do it for him. 

Austin gulps and nods. He brought out a tiny orb of darkness and touched the specific part on his chest like how Zeus did. Suddenly, he felt a little cold and indeed did a symbol appear. 

"It's.." Austin looks at his chest in amazement. The symbol was crackling, as if it was a true lightning imprisoned on his chest. It glowed a hint of light blue, almost looking like white. 

"I apologize for keeping it from you."

Austin slides his clothing back. 

"Am I still allowed.. to call you father?" 

Zeus smiles, a tear escaping the end of his right eye. He was beyond thankful for Austin's understanding. Zeus's tiny drop of tear turned into tears streaming down his cheeks. He was scared in the beginning of what Austin will bring in the future. That was why Zeus locked him in Austin's early years. Zeus had thought that Austin was going to hate him for doing something so cruel to him. 

"Of course you are. You are still my child. I brought you up. I love you as my own." 

"Thank you, Father." 

The two shared a family moment, embracing each other and relieving anxiety and depression brought by recent happenings. After they had shared the moment, another topic was needed to be issued. 

"But father, the deities of Olympus, will they understand that I am not the Prince anymore?" 

"I'm afraid they are persistent. They still see you as their Prince. We can not change that for them." 

"Even if they learn the truth?" 

"It will sound like an excuse to escape from the responsibility of being the Prince." 

Austin felt sad. 

"Then I will fight them, Father. I will fight for my own freedom." Zeus pats Austin's head. 

"Do not shed any blood, my son." 

"I will not, Father. I will fight and fight until they deem it unworthy to stand up again. I will take them on myself." 

"Indeed you are part Erebus. I will bless you with my permission to do so. From this moment forth, you will no longer bear the title of Prince." Zeus gives Austin his final embrace. 

"But you will still be my father." 

"I am," 

"Is Erebus also my father?" 

"Yes, as he is your creator." Austin purses his lips together and nods timidly. 

"Understood, Father." 

Austin stands up and gets ready to leave. 

"My son," Zeus calls out to Austin, causing Austin to turn around and raise his brows. 

"Yes, Father?" 

"Expect Erebus to visit you as well." 

"I would rather not as that would cause a ruckus, but if he will, then he is welcome." 

"Take care, my child." Austin smiles at his father before flying away. 

"Did you hear that?" Zeus asks no one in particular, until someone from the shadows emerges. 

"Yes, I did. I thank thee." 

"Pharsa was right. It was easier accepting it than the first time I discovered it." Austin smiles at himself as he flies back home. 

On the other hand, when the word 'Erebus' came out of Sarah's mouth, Layla, Mine and Pharsa was shocked beyond imagination. The strength from their legs gave out and Pharsa fell to the floor. Mine gripped her head, trying to process what she had heard and Layla collapsed and leaned her back on a pillar. 

"What's wrong? What's with Erebus?" Earl asks, oblivious to the terror it brought to the three. 

"Please don't utter his name with such ease." Pharsa pleads and hugs herself, shivering. 

"Why?" Rafaela asks, wondering what was happening. 

"That name," Layla started, "he was the last titan god standing after Zeus and the others defeated Cronus and the other titans." 

"Is he that powerful?" Sarah asks. 

"Yes, even with all of us combined back then, and well, he could still could have killed us in an instant." Layla answers with honesty. It hurts her pride but it was the truth that she doesn't want to happen again. 

Earl looks at Layla's sorry state and thought to himself, but decided to voice it out. 

"But what is his relationship with Austin?" 

Mine shakes her head, refusing to accept it. 

"No. I think we need to hear it directly from Austin." 

"Hear what?" Austin appears out of nowhere and with a smile on his face. He was quite happy with his conversation with his father and how well it had turned out. 

"Erebus," Pharsa says.

"Ah, I did owe you an explanation." 

All of them settled in an unsettling manner. Austin caught up to this and understands why it has come to this. 

"Okay, uh, so Erebus is my creator." 

"WHA?" 

"HECK, NO." 

"THAT'S, whaaat," the three screamed. 

"Father told me everything. I was the treaty that the two talked about, ceasing the aftermath and Erebus' restraint from causing chaos." 

"Indeed, I did hear something of that sort when the war finished, but I did not know it was in the form of a deity." Layla remembers after the war had ended that Erebus was still standing and talking with Zeus, hearing something about a 'treaty'.

"You're a creation of a primordial god. That's insane," Mine says, exasperated at the fact that a creation of a primordial god was with her all this time. 

"I don't understand what's the difference?" Earl asks, confused.

"Titans and primordial gods are all gods - but not all gods are Titans or primordial gods. The term primordial relates to the oldest generations of the Greek pantheon, and a primordial god is typically the first, or one of a pair, to represent an aspect of the universe." Pharsa explains. 

"You got that from google?" Sarah asks, making light of the matter but Pharsa just gave her a look, which made Sarah smile in shyness. 

"Wait, that does also translate to one of the strongest?" Rafaela asks, 

"Yes, yes it does. And it happens to be Erebus, the god of darkness, who can also easily overpower Zeus." 

They all turned to look at Austin who displays a sheepish attitude over the matter.