Wrath "Rise of the Fallen"

The three god-brothers found themselves back in the desert, staring down at the valley. The silence and lack of menace was startling. Zeus eyed his brothers. Both seemed as disoriented as he felt. Reema stood there too, not looking nearly as magnificent as in that dark temple. In fact, one of her wings seemed broken.

“Is that thing dead?” Hades asked, arms crossed, green fire fluttering timidly above his helm.

Reema smiled tiredly. She looked ill. “One does not kill a general of Hell with little bits of light and an earth tremor.”

Zeus narrowed his eyes, annoyed at the slight.

“General of what?” Poseidon asked.

“Hell.”

“That a place?” Hades asked. “Was that where we were?”

Reema’s smile spread a little. “I suppose you could think of it as the underworld under your underworld, Hades.”

“Tartarus?”

“Think lower,” Reema said. “A place of lost souls, eternal torment, corruption, and demons. And no, below you is the Shattered Vale.”

“Care to explain?” Hades said.

Reema moved her broken wing and winced, shrugged. Hades glanced questioningly at Zeus, who said, “Do you want your… wing tended to? We can return to Olympus for ambrosia.” Reema shook her head, another smug little smile. “I’ll be fine soon enough. It’s healing as we speak. Belum was still weak, so the curse lacked punch. Lucky for me. Lucky for you, godlings.” She may have shrugged again.

“Wish you wouldn’t call us that,” Poseidon said, light thrilling through his tattoos in nervous waves. “We are supreme gods.”

“There is only one supreme God,” Reema said quietly, mouth drooping into a frown. Fingers danced absently on the strange golden hilt of the long dagger in her belt.

Zeus remembered. “I’ve seen a being like you before.”

“In a vision I am guessing,” Reema said, pointing to Zeus’ ring. “Courtesy of the Fell Stone.”

Zeus flicked a look at the white rock on his finger. “Like my brother said, care to explain?”

Reema steepled long fingers in front of her mouth. Her violet eyes sparkled. “The fact is,” she said, “none of you are gods at all.”