Child of Hades

Warning: you should not be reading this if your one of us but if your not, keep believing what ever religion you believe and enjoy.

Part 1 Who am I?
My name is Kaleb, I grew up in a nice, poor, home, or hut, what ever you want to call it, in Greece; with, Rose and Henry Grant who adopted me when I was at least four years old. I was treated well and had enough to get me through my childhood. I was a very silent child and loved dark colours but most of all I liked to be alone. I didn't go to school like normal kids, instead I worked as a errand boy for anyone who needed one. In my life strange things happened to me, like the time we went to a savannah in Africa and I played with a lion, that was not trained, or the time I drank a whole bottle of Clorox at the market. But what happened to me when I was twelve was the weirdest of all, on my birthday I went to get some fresh air outside but there was a box on my front door. In it there lay a small dog, from the toes to the chest was normal but laying on his chest where three necks and heads on each of them. I showed the dog to my family and friends and told them about it's heads but they only saw one. From then, every one thought I was crazy but I new something was off. After one month of being annoyed and harassed, I ran away. I knew it was silly because I was only twelve but I couldn't take this life any more, I wanted to find my real parents. While trying to get a cab to take me to the orphanage were I was adopted, a tall, lean man stood next to me reading the daily news papyrus. He seemed to be waiting on a ride. He wore a very, very dark suit, he had dark eyes and as he watched it felt like he was staring into my very soul. As I got closer I could tell he has been around the dead many times because his very presence illuminated death. But the odd thing was over his formal attire he wore a beanie hat and a cloak which almost hid his presence. Then he did something very weird he turned towards me, touched my head and said "This is my son." Then a fire blazed above my head with a cloak symbol.

Part 2 Pushed into a pit
"You are my father," I said astonished, "What about my mother? Is she with you?"
"No she is not," He said faintly, "She died the day after you were left you by the orphanage, and was killed by my brother Zeus, who 'claims' to have thought you were with her.
Thunder rolled at the mention of his name (Zeus is the god of the sky after all)."If you are my father, tell me my purpose in this life, I have no where to go and no one to turn to."
"You want something to do, then follow me," he said proudly, still pondering on my mother because I could still hear the cracks in his voice.
He led me into the shopping district and went behind a vendor's store, we waited there until midnight which the vendor thought was weird, it was pitch black though I could see clearly or feel every objects presence. That's when things got weird, Hades waved his arms and the ground opened up. I went closer to the hole and stared into what looks like a bottom less pit. Then I either blanked or couldn't see and the next thing I knew I was on the floor and my head was hurting. When I looked up I couldn't see anything and then a hand grabbed mine. He lifted me up and scolded.
"I expect better of my children" Hades scolded with a more angry note.
"He is still young," another more graceful voice said as I tried to adjust my eyes, "Are you sure my love."
"Yes, I am sure," hades said a little scared.
Then the lights blazed to life all around me and I noticed we were in Hades' castle in the Underworld but I now noticed who it was speaking to Hades, Persephone, daughter of Demeter (goddess of agriculture). She sat beautifully on the throne. I got up and bowed respectfully as Hades sat on his throne of bones, next to his wife. Then I tensed and realized the guards around my father were dead but that didn't scare me. What scared me was the thought that Persephone could kill me at any moment, I wasn't her child and her husband was my father.
"Don't worry yourself son," she said, "We need to make some agreements but in case hold your SOUL!"
"Don't scare him honey," Hades said, his beanie hat turned into a crown of pure madness, and manslaughter and he rested it on his lap and stared into it, "My son, I am sorry I brought you here but it was for a good cause, every year they hold a one on one battle tournament at the coliseum near town, for demi-gods to battle it out and see who is the best. Every year I come in last place because of forfeit or bail but it won't happen again. I will train and enter you into the tournament and you will be victorious." The castle shook and I felt his rage hit me in the gut.
"But why must I help you father, what will you give me in return?" I said with a hollow voice.
"I will train you and help you unlock all your powers and give you a choice of weaponry," as he said that two guards rolled in with a long, metal tray and rest it on the floor. I unsheathed some of the weapons an they looked amazing, I can tell some have been in many battles because they look old, dented and broken, but what caught my eye was the long katana made of stygian iron.
I grabbed the o katana and a o tanto and said, "I'm in."
He looked at me and laughed like I didn't know what I was getting myself into. He gave me a pen and told me to sign my name in the air, which was weird but I did and gave him back the pen then he said, "Before you go to your room I will give you this." and he handed me a small pouch and told me to wake up early.

Part 3 What is your name?
As I was escorted to my room by three guards I found all my things on my bed including my Cerberus who I even forgot to name. I sat up on my bed after putting my clothes away and was thinking of named for my pet and swords. Then it hit me literally my dog was giving of heat but not just heat he was on fire and it stung a lot and there was his name, Sting and I really liked it and so did he at the mention his new name he would light himself on fire. For my sword it was different I stayed up all night thinking and still got nothing. When morning arrived, if there is morning in the underworld, a cute, five year old girl walked into the room with a tray of food. She rested the tray on my lap and sat on a chair near my bed and stared into the window. Then I realized she was dead because she was almost transparent. I sat up on my still made bed and ate all my breakfast, just saying it was the best I ever had in my life, when I was finished she stood and took the tray and said in a weirdly driven voice, "Would there be anything else."
"Yes, what name would you recommend for these blades?" I said as I unsheathed both blades.
She took her eyes of the walls and said, "Those blades are made of stygian iron, like celestial bronze because it can't harm humans but anything mythical. Stygian iron also sucks away part of ones soul with every cut."
"Like a reaper," I said slowly, "That would be your names, Twin Reapers."
The little girl smiled faintly and put a weird sweat suit on the bed and told me to wash up, and she left with out another word. Just when the door closed a new bathroom appeared just beside the exit. So I got ready put on the clothes she gave me and left with my blades and Cerberus by my side.

Part 4 Training Begins
I entered the throne room, although I didn't know how I got there and then I bowed respectfully at Hades, of whose wife was not there. "I see you named your weapons, let me take you to my training grounds where you will learn to control all your powers." We walked through many dark rooms and corridors that were dark and damp. Most rooms were so dark I couldn't sense the presence of anything in them. At last, we entered a large room the size of a football field. There in the middle stood three men including to Hades who now had a smirk on his face.
"These fine men or ghost, and I will be your trainers," he said with a powerful voice like he was ready to battle, of which he was, "I will train you in power and strength, the one in the track suit will train you in speed and agility, and the one in the one in the exercise clothes will train you in stamina. You will begin your training now." Then everything went black and when the room lit up again there stood the man in the exercise clothes.
"My name is Zero, I was a very famous athlete back in the day. Shortly after a race I died and now I am here," he said displeased ,"You have three months until the tournament , so let us begin. He told me that the first thing that I should learn is to summon the dead and a number of warriors to fight with me, but since it is a one on one tournament I could learn that another time. "So, the first thing you would learn is how to shadow travel, but you must understand it takes am great deal on your body, so that's why I am hear," he said and then he shows me how to shadow travel on a video that was shown out of tin air. I try doing it from one corner of the room to the other and when I reach I am ready to sleep. While doing it I move very fast enough to make my face peal off and I hear strange noises but other than that it was pretty cool.
When I regain stamina Zero snaps his fingers and I feel a tug on my body but that's not the only thing that change. The room starts shifting into a circular maze and me stuck in the centre. It feels weird like a mouse trying to find a slice of cheese in a giant maze. Then I Zero's voice and his face comes up across the ceiling, "You must find your way out the maze but not fully using shadow travel or else you would be in deep trouble and I would have to punish you. You must submerge your self into the shadows but not fully, stay near the surface so that you can move slower than in shadow travel and not end up directly at your destination but would be able to control yourself. The disadvantage of this is that you would be seen by the opponent and it still drains your energy as much as fully shadow travel but it helps you move faster while in battle and can give you an advantage. You must pass this stage and the next within a month." and as he finished speaking a ten minute timer appears where his face was, "You must finish before the timer is up. Ready! Set! GO!
Then I start running, jump, and I sink into my shadow on the ground and I am in the shadow travelling but I was staying near the surface so that I can control my movements and not reach the end of the maze automatically. At the beginning it gets weird because I can't see a thing and I continue bumping into walls as I move along the maze but that's when I hear a voice in my head, the three main things my children must learn, of which power comes through me. Then I know who it is, Hades, is in my thoughts. You must learn to summon the dead, see in the dark and control everything under and above ground, it would come to you eventually my son. I gaze out and emerge out the shadows, and I notice the time is up and the maze is not there.

Part 5 My Weapons
"We will continue training tomorrow, and don't worry you will be able to do it in no time," Zero said.
The next day I get up early and do some exercising to get more in shape. Although I felt lazy I still got twenty push ups, fifteen sit ups, and thirty pull ups. I went to the training arena, where Zero is and he set up the feel again' and it went on like that every day. After twenty days I was able to pass through the maze in under twenty five seconds. When I go into shadow mode, my little name for the new skill, I can fell the earth around me and still not able to see but feel the earth and darkness bend to my will. I can now travel through the entire castle and I now all the rooms in the castle of which no one is in, there are many guards, maids, butlers, and chiefs and all of them are ghosts. That's when I notice the last time I saw my puppy, well Cerberus, was the day after I came. I entered the throne room and meet Persephone sitting on her throne looking very disappointed.
"Are you looking for the dog Hades gave to you," she asked.
"Yes, I am," I said afraid of how much she knows, "You know where he is?"
"He's in the court yard."
"Ok," I said rushing out the door of the throne room. The castle is made of sand and I am able to make a path from the throne room to yard and seal it back again. When I arrive at the court yard I see Sting, who has grown very tall in the time I didn't see him, but he was with an older, much bigger Cerberus.
"I see you finished training early today, and do you like my little present, he will be a great asset in the tournament you know," Hades said coming out of the shadows.
"Yes, I do like him, but how would he help me in the tournament," I asked.
"Do you still have the pouch, I gave you," he asked.
"Yes I do."
"You will learn how to use him soon," He said leading the older Cerberus away.
I went back to my room and did more exercising but realized that no matter how much I exercise I wont be able to use my katana. I am already fit, 5 feet 7 inches, very thin and pale skin but I don't have a fighting style yet. I went back to the training ground and learned to summon the dead. I brought some good from the kitchen food and spill it on the floor and will for a martial arts master to accept it, three seconds after a form shimmered to life above the food and ate it. "My name is Xin Fung. What do you need young one," he asked.
"I need training in martial arts."

Part 6 Speed Training
That afternoon I learned the basics Tai chi, Judo, Kendo, Ninjutsu, and Kenjutsu of which I can use my hands and I can use twin reapers in battle. The next day I spent the hold day in the training grounds. I did the maze and this time I pass it under fifteen second without be, coming tired after and for once I saw a smile on Zero's face. "I knew you could do it, but your not finished." he said and snapped his fingers again and I realize that I am in another maze but this time the maze itself is moving. I don't realize but a big smile is across my face. I run straight into a wall that is about to hit the floor and I emerge into the shadow knowing it is the last time for a long time. While in shadow mode I sense the passage out in the easiest way. Everything is just coming to me and I don't know what I am doing but relying on instincts, I make a left, two rights and another left and I am out the maze and Zero is gone.
"I am Rick. I will train you in speed. In order to pass this stage you must beet me in a race." he said and the snaps his fingers my body feels really heavy and I know why, its the sweat suit, it must add a couple pounds on you every time you pass a stage. Then I realize there is a 400 metre track on the field. There Rick is on the track with another ghost holding a gun in his hand. I step onto the track and stand next to Rick on the 400 metre start line. Then I hear ready, set, and a gun blast and I take off. Sprinting down the track and breathing steadily, still a bit surprised of how much the stamina stage did for me. Then I feel a wave and Rick pass me in a blur, I try to catch back up but I know I can't make it. I pass the 200 metre line and know I already lose but I don't give up and I continue. I don't stop and continue making laps around the track. After my twenty third lap, I pass out, thinking I shouldn't have pushed myself so hard.
When I wake up I continue exercising and perfecting a technique I made up by combine Ninjutsu, shadow mode, and my o tanto. I start running again when I was satisfied with the technique. Every day is the same thing, I race with Rick I lose and run the track more times and faster than the day before, then I go to sleep and when I wake up I perfect a technique different from the day before, then I would run some more and then go to my room and the routine starts over when I wake up. After fifteen days of the same thing I get tired and take of my sweat suit because I know it was keeping me back but in the end I always end up wearing it to training. I go back to train on the field and I know today would be different.
I step onto the track and get into a standing start that allows my lead foot to be light and put all my strength into my trail leg, I know it's weird but I do it anyway. "Ready. Set." the ghost said and then fired the gun but what's weird was we both don't start. What I do is transfer all my strength into my lead foot, wait two seconds and I start running but I don't swing my hands. Instead I use Shinobi-iri which is stealth skill in Ninjutsu, making my body lighter and faster than it actually is. Before I know it I am at the 100 metre line sprinting my all, with Rick on my tail running like cheetah, but is too late and I pass the finish line with amazing speed, with Rick three seconds behind me.

Part 7 Are you ready?
For once I am out of breathe after a race and when I finally catch my breathe, which is four seconds after the race, the track is gone, along with Rick and the ghost who started the races. In the field stood Hades standing in a box outline on the floor. "This is the power stage my son, if you pass this test, you will move on to the final phase," Hades said with a smirk, "It's simple, move me out of this box." That's when I pass out, I didn't know how tired I actually was. I woke up the next day at two pm (I am now able to tell time without a clock and I still don't know how), I went and ate some food in the kitchen and when I finished I went to the training grounds. Hades stood in the same box he was in yesterday, but his face expression told me this won't be easy and that the stage begins now.
I punched him ten times a second, I try hitting him with the dull side of my blades, I tried a three kick combo, and I even try to body slam him but he didn't even move an inch, his like a punching bag that has boulders in it but I continue day an night only stooping to drink some water and eat some food from the kitchen and when I'm done I go straight back to the training ground. I already knew this whole me getting a power test from a god would be unwinnable but that's when he moved after a punch to the gut. It wasn't a lot but it was noticeable an that gave it away I started punching and kicking until his armour was messed up and had my knuckle prints on them but I still wasn't able to move him out that box. The last day of training came, three days before the tournament, and I got ready for the box training but there was no box or hades there where three dummies in the centre of the room wearing amour and different weapons.
"I have trained and now we will put to the test and see it in combat," Hades walked into the room saying and then snapped his fingers. Instantly I am rushed by the dummy with the double edged axe, I instantly unsheathed my short katana and blocked the attack but the other two were right behind him. I instinctively dropped and gave the first dummy a spin kick sending him flying, went into shadow mode and went behind the two guys coming towards me and cut of the head of the dummy with the sword. Before I could take out the third dummy with the dagger she swung her dagger (and yes there was long hair on this dummy) and almost cut open my stomach but luckily I had my short katana and quickly adjusted to the attack and blocked it and the dummy straight down in half. The axe dummy was just getting up but his head was already on my katana.
"Well done son and now your training is complete," Hades said, "but you are not finished with me, put on the what I gave you at the beginning of your stay here."
I took out the pouch and opened it for the first time. In it was a ring with a skull, I put on my finger and a small but faint, black light came from it. I thought it was pretty cool and I finally understand why I am goth because my father is the god of death, I know, it was a little late. "That ring is an activator, it activates weapons, pets, and even amour," he said, "it will come in handy don't worry. It also acts as a key and can unlock anything even this book." He handed me a book that had no title just different monster and creatures on the cover. When I took the book the fire on the ring took the form of a key and I inserted it into the keyhole. It opened and I began to read there were pictures of different creatures like naiads and centaurs and different information about them. When I closed the book it locked back by itself. Suddenly I am wrestled to the ground by Sting who was now as tall as me. When I finally get on my feet hades is gone and there is a message on top the door to the training room that said 'You have to get to the Coliseum by yourself.'

Part 8 I can fly
I got all my weapons and a suit, that I have been preparing for the tournament, and left the palace. My Cerberus who I told to shadow travel to the coliseum, would be very weird to have just wondering about on the surface. When I got outside I elevated the floor beneath me and got to the surface in my very own make shift elevator. When I got to the surface I know I am no longer in Greece, I'm in Rome which I know because my father is the land man, well god. Anyway, I use geokinesis to shoot me in the direction of the coliseum, which I know where is because I now most of the land marks on the planet and can locate them. In a few seconds I land in the middle of the coliseum and all eyes where on me, I always wanted fly like super man without the cape but that was way cooler I walk quietly to the Hades section with the banner of a Cerberus, where I am met by Hades and my dog.
"The tournament starts tomorrow so you will have to wait till then," hades said, "and one more thing you cant die in the coliseum and any damage you get her is just o stimulate pain it's magic."
"I'm going to explore the coliseum," I said in a rush and dropped my stuff in the corner and left. I guessed that only the major gods children would be participating in the tournament because there where only the twelve banners hung up. Zeus of course was there, along with Poseidon, Hera, Aphrodite, Hermes, Hephaestus, Apollo, Artemis, Dionysus, Ares, and Athena. I passed by Zeus' an Poseidon's room to scared to look in and went to the other waiting rooms. Hermes' room where full of demigods cheering on the biggest guy there. Apollo's room had a guy writing poems that where really hard to comprehend. Athena's, Artemis' and Ares' participants were practicing and Dionysus were growing plants. Hephaestus' room where full of undone weapons and armour. Then a dark haired girl passed me with hair that had waving like the sea, dark blue eyes, and the warm sea breeze smell coming off her.
"You got no chance dude." the guy leaning on the wall said, "that's Celia, Poseidon's child, If you get her, I can get an Aphrodite girl."
"Thanks for the encouragement," I said embarrassed, "I'm Kaleb, child of Hades.
"One of the big three, you might have a chance, assuming you can fight," he said, "I'm Brendon, child of Hephaestus, anyways I have to go finish my work, beat you at the tournament."
And he went back to work. I went to the Aphrodite room and I don't think I should have, there was a bunch of beautiful girls putting on makeup and looking in mirrors. I thought I wouldn't leave until Celia took me from the back and held a dagger designed with seashells at my neck. "Do you think you have a chance," she asked. I held her hand and shadow travelled to the corner of the Hades waiting room and grabbed my o tanto the moment we emerged and held it at her heart.
"Yes, I do," I said with a smug on my face, "checking out the competition I see."
"Just overheard the conversation," she said, "You know the gods want you dead, right."
"Wasn't thinking about it but, okay," I said stepping back just in case I lose my neck.
"Don't worry, I won't bite," she said smiling, "I have to go, Father calls." Then she disappears and I'm alone. That night I went to sleep thinking about Celia and her beautiful face but I now I can't let Hades down and that I don't have the slightest chance with her.

Part 9 The Tournament
My face feel wet, and like sandpaper is wiping my face. I wake up and see that it's only Sting with his three heads and same amount of tongues. Standing over him is Hades in his royal garments. "I have something for you," and he takes out a picture of my mom and gives it to me. "It's time to start, go get ready," and he leaves.
My first thought is, why only now does he show me this. I stare at the picture while putting on the suit I prepared. I put my ring on, my katana on my back, and tanto on my side. I look like a ninja except I don't have a head piece and I'm wearing body amour over my chest, arms, and legs. I also made a collar for each head of my dog with three different names, the one on the furthest right is Bite, the middle is Strike, and the one on the furthest left is Burn, I know it's weird having a three in one dog but it works for me.
When I'm finally ready, I step outside with Sting right behind me.
Outside there were all the major gods sitting on a balcony with Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus in the middle, and the other gods, with the exception of Hermes who was hosting the event, on their sides. Then I realized that the whole audience where gods and demigods because I recognized Hercules, Nemesis, Hestia, Iris, and Morpheus who are in their seats. I am also not the only demigod to leave their room. There's Celia who I notice first in her blue armour and twin daggers, Brendon just has no armour just a box and a remote control with a lot of buttons. There also is Ares, Hermes, and Athena's demigods with swords, Aphrodite and Hera's demigods have daggers and Apollo and Artemis' demigods have bows and arrows and Dionysus' demigod with a staff but there was one demigod missing.
"It's time to begin but there is on competitor missing," Hermes begins as he looks towards Zeus who doesn't budge, "Okay..."
Just as he said okay lightning strikes, as the static zooms throughout the croud, when the smoke clears there's a boy standing on dragon designed staff, in no armour and when he brushes his hair back you could tell it is full of electricity because you there are little shocks running in his hair, then he looks up at his father.
"Do I really need to be here old man," He shout at Zeus an the second he ended man he is stroke by lightning, when then smoke clears again he is holding his staff, " Okay, I get it."
"Now are the introductions, representing Aphrodite is Sarah the beautiful, representing me is Zane the slayer, and my star, representing Hephaestus is Brendon the machine, representing Apollo is Mike the sun, for Artemis is Rayan the moon, for Dionysus is Dillon the vine, for Ares Jack the monster, for Athena Amy the wise, for Zeus is Zeke the bolt," Hermes said with a rusted tone, who could blame him, they both had the same father, " for Poseidon is Celia the wave, for Hades is Kaleb the shadow,"
Everyone stared at me and Sting and I felt used but who cares, this is going to be fun. "All participants remember the pain you feel here is not real so go all out, don't hold back," he said staring at Zane, "Now let's begin, 3, 2, 1, start!"
The moment he said start Zeke already hit Zane in the neck with his staff, it was so sudden and easy I almost laughed. I ran towards Amy and Jack with my o tanto drawn. Sting just sat where he was like nothing was happening. Amy saw me coming first and drew her sword, I went into my shadow before Jack could see me and came up behind him and swung at his back but he blocked me with his sword and Amy swung at me in unison. With my free hand I unsheathed my o katana and deflect her attack. At that time I look around to take in everything. On Sting's left Rayan and Mike are sending arrows, one after another towards Zeke but none of the touch him with Zane right next to him unconscious and Hermes sulking . On Stings right, Brendon was typing away on his remote siting right next to his box as three mini robots with armor and swords run after Dillon who readied himself with his staff. And right next to me, Celia armed herself with her twin daggers and struck the ground with one as water spouted from the crack her dagger made, and she dived into it and moved rapidly towards Sarah, who was looking at her reflection in her dagger.
With my strength I pushed them back and flung my tanto at Amy who was the smartest, so of course it didn't hit her, but alerted Sting to come help. Next to Jack Sting jumped through the wall and bit Jake in his right arm while I used geokinesis to trip Amy up and take her out. When Sting was finished playing with Jack he got back my tanto and I used geokinesis to make road over head intersecting at the center just incase I have to fight an air battle.