Darkness Awakens. 1 Book II

Deep in the underworld lived many different beings. Some there by choice, some in a prison of the own making. All of them evil in there own way. There are many different types of evil that can cause you to be imprisoned down there. Murder, rape, conquest, deception, crimes against people, crimes against the different gods. It all depended on who's hell your in and why your there. Some hells are all fire and brimstone where you can burn in hell. In some, as in the hell of your own making, its not a physical pain. It can be so much more. As in the hell where your buried to your neck in shit and refuse, or the hell where birds pick at your liver all day and it grows back at night. Many gods have great imaginations and come up with very interesting punishments. To roll a boulder up a hill and never make it to the top, only to have it roll over you and start again. Oceanus, the ex sea god. He defied Delacus by taking a certain princess as his wife and she died in the sea. As punishment, Delacus trapped him in a desert hell to wander until he found the ocean. Or Helion the war god, destined to fight for all eternity and always lose. These are places no man or god would wish to be in. But what of the others? What of the hells of the older gods? Gods these days no ones even heard of. Some of them are still imprisoned in the private hells to never be free. Then again, maybe some will break free.

Down in a secret place hidden from prying eyes there are places humanity has no idea exist anymore, with prisoners that include men and gods. Men who have done terrible things like sacking cities and putting the people to the sword. And the gods that have caused men to do these things. In one such prison resided a certain goddess. A horrible one, she would rather do all her horrors herself then to have men act for her. Nothing and no one could stand in her way. All she really cared about was the god trapped in there with her. How she got there she could no longer remember. All she could think about after so much time was him. How she loved him, even though he was the one keeping her there. In there prison still she worshiped him. But in all the eons they stayed in there prison, still she had ambitions. Still her thirst to control a world she hadn't seen in many millenniums burned like the fires of hell. Hot and fierce. And she knew there was a way out for them both. She remembered a certain creature she liked to play with. A creature called man.

In a civilization far more advanced then now, in a time eons ago. Gods still ruled the heavens and the earth. Man had built tall buildings and beautiful cities. There were roads and machines all brought to them by their gods. Powered by their gods. They had put ideas into man's heads. Medicine and ways to build. Farming technique. Even machines that moved them from place to place. The only place that was restricted was the skies. The gods wouldn't abide men in the air. Not even on the tops of mountains. That was there domain. Man built wonderful shrines to there gods of marble, jade and other precious metals and stones. Statues of marbles that were so beautiful they brought men to tears. Their gods, The most powerful beings on the planet. Life and death was there providence. Some gods were happy to sit back and watch as man developed, not really caring where man was heading, but glad to assist. Some gods wanted to rule over man. Never really happy with any of mans decisions, so sure there's were better. As gods they were more powerful yes, but better? That was still to be discovered. Some gods were vain to the point of killing people for being more beautiful or more handsome then they were.

Tolcantia, a rather large continent in the southern Lauric ocean. It was one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Warm tropical lands, no carnivorous animals, plenty of water and peaceful people. This was the perfect place for her the beautiful goddess thought as she descended down to just outside the city. The city of Ellyisia. She was dressed in a golden gown as fits a goddess of her statue. Bronze tanned and beautiful red locks covered her head. She had grey eyes today with long lashes. She looked on her new city and was happy. Time to go in and claim her place here. With her head up she walked boldly through the gates. There were many people in the streets and the market. Everyone turned to look at her. All the woman were envious and all the men wanted her. She knew what effect she had on people. This wasn't her first time among these beast. She taken many other cities simply by walking in and taking what she wanted. She'd do it again. As she walked through her city taking account of what she knew was hers by her godly right. A man walked up to her smiling. He was dressed in the garb of a noble but he had a bad smile.
"What a beauty." He said as he put his hands around her waist. "Come, I will make you my princess."
"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME!!" Her eyes flashed red as her anger exploded on him. She grabbed the front of his expensive tunic and pushed him away. He fall to the floor dead a crumbling skeleton in rich clothing. Everyone on the streets run screaming. They didn't know who or what she was. Some thought her a sorceress, some thought her a god. They were right. She walked off laughing at the beast.
Further on she saw the palace of the king. That would be the place to go. Surely he would recognize what she was. His palace was meager. Small by her standards, then these were only men. When you live with the gods, how could a human dwelling suit you? Minutes later she found herself in the audience room of the king. Everyone stared at her. It made her uncomfortable. They were sitting in her presence. These people were really beginning to anger her. She walked to the front of the room as everyone watched. All along the walls nobles talked and whispered in low tones. She stopped before the throne and looked up at the king. He casually looked at her.
"Who is this person before me?"
He looked to his chief adviser at his side.
"Sire she came in and demanded we show her in to see you,"
"You have you audience," The king said. "What do you want?"
"Your total and complete submission to me." She said folding her arms.
"Who are you?" The king asked.
"Your new god." She said."You should be on your knees."
Laughter rang out from everyone in the room. She looked around. Men and woman were pointing at her. She had had enough.
"We worship no false gods." The king stood to dismiss her. "Begone from my sight vile woman. Guards take her away!!"
Four guards rush out from the sides and grab her by the arms. Suddenly they all turned grayish in color and fall to the floor. As everyone watched them wither and turn to dust, her laughter rings out through the room. The king looks at her in horror. A witch he thought.
"I'll give you one more chance." She said. "Bring me a glass of wine now."
"GET OUT YOU WITCH!!" Shouts the king. "Archers,I want archers in here now!!"
She raised her hands and the room was suddenly filled with freezing cold winds. She turned and pointed to a group of nobles behind her and lightning struck them from her hand.
"You dare treat me with such disrespect!!"
Thunder and lightning crash all over the palace. Walls were blasted out. People were struck trying to run from her anger. They all knew know the she was no false god now, but it was to late. The king and his staff tried to run and get away. But there was no escaping her wrath. Freezing rain pelted the towns people as they ran for cover. Up in the clouds her imagine could be seen laughing and throwing lightning at people running.
"I. WHO HAVE PASSED CENTURIES SHOULD NEVER BE TREATED AS YOU HAVE TREATED ME."
A bolt crashed into the towers of the palace and sent them down to crash into the throne room. Her anger tore through the city. Markets and docks were destroyed by earthquake. Homes burned as she raged.
"IT IS YOU WHO SHOULD BEG FOR MY PATRONAGE!! "
The seas boiled as she tossed everything around. She slammed her fist into the ground again and again until the continent began to break up. Boats tried to get away but to no avail. With a strong blast of her breath, she sent them all to the bottom of the ocean. She raged on and on, finally she balled her fist up and slammed them down into the mountains. Boulders and debris went flying everywhere. The continent cracked in many places and the ocean began to run in and drown everything. Tolcantia fragmented and in one last blow, she sent it down to sink into the Lauric ocean.

High in the mountains, in the palace he shared with his beautiful mate, Vitale sat and ponder his set of circumstances. He looked around and realized he was home in his own palace. How did he get here? And where was Muerte? Vitale stood and walked to the door and bathed in the light and power of the sun. It felt so good to be free again. But how? His mind was a total blank. He knew who he was and that he had been in exile with Muerte for eons. He even remembered why. He had trapped her there himself to stop her evil ambitions to overthrow his father the high god.
He had come into his immortal life the fifth of eight brothers and sisters. His mother was Saila, the goddess of the sky. His sire was the high god Rimnar, the god of eternity. He was the most powerful god of the realm and sat on the high seat in his sky palace called Fortis. From there he ruled over all in their realm. He gave his children and a few others power over different aspects of his realm. The sea he give to bold Sazar, his oldest son. He controlled the waves and all the sea creatures. The harvest he gave to the motherly Rhee. Rhee like Vitale loved man and worked hard to feed the world. Love was the province of the youngest of Rimnar's children handsome Atol. The strongest of his daughters Serina became the goddess of war. Then there was Muerte, beautiful power mad Muerte the death goddess. So feared was she that she was denied the control of the underworld. It was once foretold that if she ever took control of the underworld, she would have the power to kill the gods. That could never happen. So the underworld was given to Nester, brother of Rimnar. The forest and jungles were the province of the handsome Tyree while Day and night were given to the twins Alee and Alea, never together but always following each other. Last of all was Jax the trickster. The god of justice and celebration, always looking for a party. They had control but Rimnar watched over all. Vitale was given rule over life. He nurtured all life. He protected life and created new life. All life was precious to Vitale, mortals especially. They were his favorite. He loved watching and interacting with them. Unlike many, he treated them with respect. He rarely let them know who or what he was. It was more easier to let them think he was mortal when among them..

As he sat there in thought, A loud scream and pain lanced through his head. Something had just happened. He could feel it. Millions of people had just died. Vitale had no idea what had happened, but he would find out. He reached out and followed the trail of pain back to its source. It seemed to be coming for Tolcantia. What could have happened there he wondered. Down through the mountains and across the sea his consciences traveled to the place were Tolcantia should have been. But there was nothing there. The whole continent was gone. Vitale sent his probe to the center of where Tolcantia was and radiated out in a circular pattern looking for any evidence of what had happened. There, at the bottom of the Lauric he found the remains of the continent. All those people dead. This was horrible. He had to find out what happened here. Vitale concentrated on the ruins and he was drawn to Ellyisia, this was where it started. He felt something familiar here. His eyes jerked open in surprise. Muerte had been here. He could feel his mates essence everywhere. This was it. She had just killed millions of people. For what? They had upset her? Vitale loved her with all he was but she had to be stopped. He couldn't let this happen again, ever.