The first War of the Gods was brutal but Hadriet reveled in every second of it. It was the first time in her entire life that she had been encouraged to torture and slaughter her enemies. It was an extremely dangerous time to be alive, a battlefield popping up anywhere at any time. Mortals were slaughtered for the fun of it and forests were burned to the ground without a single thought. During this time, the Gods still accepted the rules and did not join in the battles.
Hadriet and the rebel forces had won another battle. She sat at the top of a tree, watching over the blood-soaked battlefield. Werewolves and magical beasts skittered through the quiet battlefield, plucking their meals from the abandoned corpses. She scoffed at the beasts and slid down the tree. At the foot of the tree was a large campsite, many tents had the sounds of laughter and joy as the soldiers celebrated their victory.
Each of the soldiers wore the same armor as her, it was blue and smooth, like a calm spring shower. This army belonged to Hadriet’s mother, Halie, Goddess of Rain. The rebel army was split into six branches, each led by one of the Rebel Gods. The Propaganda said that the Rebel Gods were fighting for the right to intervene more heavily outside of the Golden City. Hadriet knew that was a lie, but she didn’t know the real reason. It didn’t matter to her, as long as she got to spill her fair share of blood.
She entered the largest tent in the campsite and bowed respectfully.
“Mother, the dead have not moved.” She reported.
“My little blizzard, beautiful and cold. You are a true force to be reckoned with.” Halie said, placing her dainty hand on Hadriet’s cheek.
A wide smile crept its way across her face.
“Your words grace me, Mother.” Hadriet accepted the compliment gracefully.
“Come let’s look over the strategy.” Halie’s voice was like a harp.
They stood on either side of a large table with a map that sprawled out to the edges of the table. On the map were 7 different colored pieces. One for each of the Attributes and one that was a golden color. The golden pieces represented the forces of the Golden City. The 6 different colors were circling a mountain that was marked with a golden flag.
At the entrance to the Golden City, the Rebel Gods were going to encircle the mountain and with the full power of their 6 armies, destroy the Gilded Gate.
“As long as the Red and Green armies win their battles we’ll have victory within our grasp,” Halie said, a sadistic look in her eyes flashed quickly before instantly disappearing.
“Then we’ll trap those selfish bastards in the city they love so much.” She finished her sentence.
Then the two heard shouting from outside the tent. Hadriet rushed out to see what the commotion was. A large fiery portal had opened up inside the middle of the camp. About a dozen soldiers in battered red armor had stepped through. They were led by a woman with red hair that strongly resembled a blazing fire. That wasn’t the most eye-catching part about her though. She was holding her shoulder, which had been replaced by a bloody stump. Halie rushed to her side, closely followed by Hadriet.
“What happened Summer? Why isn’t your arm healing?” The Goddess of Rain was horrified.
Summer, the Goddess of Magma, grabbed Halie by the collar and pulled her close, a mad look in her eye.
“It’s HIM! The Keeper of Darkness! He already has the other’s hearts! He’s hunting us…” She howled like a raving lunatic.
A harrowing silence fell over the entire camp.
“What are his numbers? How are they equipped?” Hadriet tried to ask.
“You don’t understand, stupid girl! He didn’t lead an army, he came on his own! After the sunset, we began to revel in our victory… then it was as if the night itself had started to attack us. How do we fight them!? They’re the true Gods, we’re just sharks in front of a leviathan!” Summer cried out.
Then screams sounded out at the lookout positions. Hadriet did not hesitate to start barking orders, but most were too scared to move. One by one the campfires fizzled out.
The suffocating darkness seemed to be creeping in slowly. This war had been going on for 3 years already, and a God had never stepped out onto the battlefield. This wasn’t supposed to be happening, this was against the rules. That’s when Halie began to laugh, at first it was a gentle giggle but it soon exploded into full-blown laughter.
“SO WE CAN’T FIGHT BUT YOU CAN!!” She howled at the top of her lungs.
“Summer Grace of Magma, Halie Hydril of Rain. I, Domirak of the Keeper’s Council, sentence you to death for the crimes of treason against the Council and for the murder of two million people. All soldiers who lay down their arms and surrender will be taken prisoner unharmed.” The Keeper’s voice boomed throughout the forest clearing.
Immediately everyone except Halie, Summer and Hadriet dropped their weapons and got on their knees. Hadriet kept by her mother’s side with her weapon drawn. She looked back to her mother, ready to fight. The trembling creature that stood where her mother was, she did not recognize. Then a piercing sensation from her side caused her to fall to her knees. Her mothers blade stuck inside her gut. She fell down to her back and looked up at her mother. The last thing she saw before blacking out was the black tendrils piercing through her mothers body, tearing her to pieces.
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