The Eleusinian Mysteries, a cult dedicated to Persephone, the wife of Hades. It had been Azeus plan to contact them. There were rumors that every year they would go to The Underworld seeking out an audience with Persephone. So Heracles would join the cult and when they opened the door, he would go in with them and leave them to their fate.
Heracles followed the rules of the cult for nearly six months. They were not dedicated to Persophone. Thrill seekers, excessive drinkers, promiscuous lovers and those obsessed with the macabre filled the ranks of the cults. When it came time to open The Underworld, Heracles was unaware. There was no celebration and only one person entered in the dead of night. Heracles had been unaware it even happened until the next morning. And with that, Heracles left them and searched for another way to enter into Hades.
He didn't search long. Not long after leaving the cult's compound was he greeted by old friends, siblings. Hermes and Athena had come to meet Heracles. Hermes was glad to see that Heracles had regained his smile and his old personality. Athena was glad that the fog over his mind had cleared and he was once the thinker she knew he could be, no longer relying on just brute strength to get him through.
"It is good to see friendly faces after so long," Heracles rejoiced.
"That it is," Hermes lifted Heracles from his knee. "I never much liked the kneeling thing."
"What do I owe the pleasure of bringing not one but two of Mt. Olympus' greatest," Heracles asked.
"Please stop the theatrics brother," Athena interrupted.
The three shared a laugh, "I am sorry, really," Heracles explained.
"We have come to accompany you to Hades," Hermes explained.
"Why would you do that," Heracles asked.
"Because you can not get there on your own, nor can you fight the horrors alone," Athena placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you," is all Heracles could muster.
With that Athena produced a sword and sliced a hole into the air. There, in the middle of the city a portal directly into Hades appeared. The stench of death filled the air around them and a cold wind blew from the hole. The three contemplated if they should proceed. It was Hermes that broke the silence.
"Well, this sucks. I always hate going here. But I hate Hera even more. Let's go," He stepped in.
"I guess we don't have a choice," Heracles proclaimed following.
Athena entered and closed the hole behind her.
Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter
