TITLE: Secrets 2 - Acts of War
SERIES: Shifting Tides (part 4.2)
AUTHOR: Scorpio
ARCHIVE: To anyone who archived the other stories in this series.

FANDOM: Herc/Xenaverse
PAIRING: Cupid/Strife
RATING: R (adult themes - see warning)
CATEGORY: Mpreg, Angst, Darkfic

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters. They belong to various myths, legends and Ren Pics/Flat Earth Prod.

WARNING * WARNING * WARNING * WARNING
This series deals with an Mpreg that resulted in a Miscarriage due to gross negligence and cruelty. The story-tone is very dark and angsty and the subject matter is one that is extremely sensitive. Please don't feel obligated to read this if it is not something you are comfortable with.

PREVIOUS PARTS: The fist parts are as follows: "Hollow", "Mourning Glory", "Three Kings" and "Secrets 1 - A New Home". They can be found at my site: http://members.tripod.com/sentinel-cat/Scorpio/ on the Hercules/Xena page or at the Mpreg Archive at: http://www.blooddance.com/mpreg and the direct link is: http://www.blooddance.com/mpreg/shiftingtides.html

SUMMARY: Hades speaks with his nephew Ares. Each of the dark God's have their own secrets and wonder if they can trust the other with them.

Shifting Tides
Secrets 2 - Acts of War

Hades, Lord of the Dead appeared in a billowing brimstone scented cloud of thick black smoke. Rarely did he leave his gloomy palace on the plains of Asphodel for the brighter and louder Mortal Realm, but this time he had plenty of compelling reasons. All of them revolved around his dark and violent nephew Ares.

Like most of the family, Hades had not been surprised to learn that the God of War had ordered the Spartans to begin preparations for a long and bloody campaign following the death of his granddaughter Glory. Ares often expressed his personal anger and grief by ordering about large groups of armed men. A few villages were razed, smoked billowed in the air and blood ran freely for a while. Once Ares calmed down, so would the sounds of War Drums fade from the Mortal Realm.

This time, it was different. This time, it was far far worse. The incidents of random violence in the Mortal Realm could clearly be traced back to Discord...and not Ares. No, this time, Ares' campaign was far more sinister and far more deadly. Normally, Thanatos would be able to usher all of the injured into death. Thanatos, as Death Incarnate, was well suited to violent and painful ends. Celeste was also Death, but she was a gentler and kindlier death. Celeste's official title was Merciful Death and she often ended the long painful suffering of the chronically ill or the very aged. It was Thanatos' call to Celeste for help that was Hades' first indication that all was not normal in the Mortal Realm.

Then, he began to feel the very earth itself cry out in pain and agony as bits and pieces of it began to blacken and die. It was then, that Hades knew he must oversee this horror personally.

Looking around at what had once been a thriving acropolis, he now saw only smoking and charred ruins. White marble buildings were toppled to the earth, their once polished surface crackled and crumbling, stained gray with smoke and ash. Torn and dirty tatters of cloth snapped and whipped about in the wind, sad reminders of the joyful banners they once were. The stench of smoke filled the air as hundreds of scrolls burned in a blazing fire where the library once stood. Screams of pain and cries of fear battled for dominance with the sounds of horses whinnying, the jingle of armor and the shouted orders of hardened soldiers. Blood had soaked the earth beneath his feet and had been churned by the recent battle, leaving behind puddles of reddish gore filled mud.

Soldiers bearing the standard of Sparta were busy completing several tasks. Some of them were using a combination of captured horses and manpower to topple any of the buildings still standing while others dragged any large chunks of marble away. Some of the soldiers were gathering together the surviving population of this doomed town. Any adults were killed outright. Young girls and children were spared, but they were marched into large blanket lined cages. Others were organizing the spoils they had won; some few animals such as pigs and chickens that had been in the market for sale, carts and barrels of fruits and vegetables. There were even a few bags of gems and valuables that had been looted from burning homes.

Hades could see both Thanatos and Celeste wandering from one injured mortal to the next. As they touched the writhing humans, their innate power would shuck the person from their mortal coil, sending them spiraling into death. Thanatos' touch was painful and frightening, but Celeste's was a gentle easing of pain. Both were busy.

Looking around at the mass destruction, Hades was absolutely certain that this town, once a bustling place of learning and culture known as Mesatonia, would never be rebuilt. It was, in a word, doomed. With a soft sigh, Hades began to walk in the direction that he felt his nephew's power pulse the strongest. His jaded eyes wanted to calculate just how much extra work this whole mess would create for him, but he pushed that thought aside for later. He knew that the real reason behind this attack was Glory. Ares was doing what he could to punish Zeus for her untimely and unnecessary death by killing Zeus' worshippers and pulling down his Temple.

Turning a last corner around a pile of smoldering cloth and burnt flesh, Hades found his nephew. Ares stood tall, his black armor splashed liberally with blood and gore, silent testimony to the fact that he had participated in this battle personally. The God of War held his shinning Sword in one hand and a large clay vessel in the other. Walking over, his black velvet cloak swirling about his legs, Ares turned to face him, a grim look of satisfaction on his handsome face.

"Hail, Uncle. Welcome to my party."

Hades nodded somberly, acknowledging the taciturn War God. "Ares." He made a point of glancing around with mild interest. "It seems that you've been busy."

Ares smirked at him and also looked around. Sheathing his Sword, he then cradled the clay bowl in one muscled arm. "Yes, I have. But this," Ares gestured to the razed city of Mesatonia, "is just the beginning."

Then, he reached into the bowl with his free hand and pulled out some Olympian Salt. With a sweeping gesture, he scattered the salt upon the ground. Instantly, all plant life that was hit with the falling crystals withered and died. The earth went from a deep rich brown to a hard blasted black. Water evaporated from the ground and great cracks and rents pulled apart from themselves. It would be centuries before life would be able to flourish in that spot again.

Silent as the tomb, Hades watched as Ares systematically destroyed every last trace of the once thriving society that had called this land home. He was witness as life became death, love became hate and hope became despair. A small worry in his brain made him wonder just what the cruel and bloodthirsty God of War had meant when he had said that this was merely the beginning. Did he mean to repeat this gesture with other cities that were loyal to Zeus or did he have other entertainments in mind? For just the briefest of moments, Hades felt the need to ask or perhaps demand an answer. In the end, he held his tongue. What he did not know he would not be forced to prevent, nor could he be compelled to tell to others.

As Ares finally finished desiccating the lands where the ruined city once stood and his Spartan warriors began to lead their captives away, Hades watched his own servants finish with the task of gathering the dead. Turning his head to watch the sky begin to darken as the sun began it's nightly journey across the sea, Hades considered the secret that was lying heavy on his own heart. The secret of just what his beloved Queen had done with the spirit of Ares' granddaughter. Even now, she was once again alive and well, sheltered within the body of Poseidon.

Did he dare tell Ares?

With narrowed eyes, he studied the War God. Hades was certain that Ares would be relieved to hear such news, even if he had often had conflicts with the Sea God. What's more, Hades didn't believe for a moment that Glory's safety would stop or stay Ares' hand now that he had turned his mind towards vengeance. However, would he be able to keep that knowledge from Zeus? Of all those involved in this sorry mess, Ares was the one that held Zeus' attention the strongest for he was the one that posed the biggest threat.

With a sigh, Hades once again decided to hold his tongue. He would speak with his brother first. Once Poseidon felt it was safe for the secret of Glory's return to life to be told, then and only then would Hades approach Ares. For now, he would merely take on the burden of extra work from all of the dead that the War God sent to his realm without complaint. Hopefully, the massive bloodshed would ease his dark nephew's aching heart.

"Nephew." Ares looked up at him with eyes as black as night. "I return now to Asphodel." A smirk twisted his lips with morbid humor. "For some reason, I do believe that I too shall become very busy."

Hades slowly faded from sight in a shower of black sparks and a billowing cloud of brimstone scented black smoke with the sound of the God of War's harsh laughter ringing in his ears.