The Prometheus Spark

The portal vanished behind them with a final hiss, sealing off the spring and the veil of memory. Silence swallowed them.

Apollo gently lowered Lethe to the stone floor of Hestia's sanctuary. Her breathing was shallow but steady, her skin pale like

moonlight. Colton collapsed beside the hearth, still shaking, still seeing his

father's face.

Kevin stood watch by the doorway, eyes darting. He hadn't closed his eyes once since they returned. The veil hadn't touched him, not the way it did the others, but the weight of what he saw there still hung

over him like a stormcloud.

"We need rest," Apollo finally said, his voice

rough. "All of us. That wasn't just mist—it was memory. It was… too much. Even for a god. Even for a goddess. Surviving that is rare." He glanced at Lethe with concern. "Who knows how long she was in there."

They nodded, too tired to argue. The sanctuary dimmed as Hestia lowered the flames, and one by one they drifted into

sleep—except Kevin.

He sat on the stone floor, back to the wall,

watching the embers burn low.

That's when it hit him.

His vision didn't come like a dream—it came with a jolt, like someone cracking open his skull and pouring something in.

He was somewhere else.

A golden hallway. Columns stretching toward a ceiling of light. Olympus.

Hermes stood with Hercules, speaking in hushed tones. His words echoed strangely, but Kevin could still hear them.

"Zeus needs you. Now," Hermes said. "Cronus is stirring. You have to strike first."

Hercules hesitated. "Without a plan? Without the others?"

"No. Just not with Selene. We don't want to risk the sparkbearer. He doesn't want to risk panic. He trusts you. I trust you. Now go, the council is waiting."

The scene shifted.

Now Hermes was with Selene, standing by a white fountain under the moonlight.

"Hercules is already gone," Hermes said gently. "He didn't want you to follow, but I knew you'd want to help."

Selene looked terrified. "Alone? He went to Cronus alone?"

"He said it was better this way. Now Cronus has him in his clutches. He needs your help. You're the only one who could catch up in time."

Kevin gasped as the vision shattered. His back arched, hands clawing the air.

A low sound escaped his throat. Not a scream—more like a strangled cry.

Colton woke with a jolt, and Apollo rushed over. Kevin was shaking violently, twitching like something inside him was trying to

claw its way out. Kevin's arm smashed

against the stone corner of the fire place, gashing it wide open.

"Kevin!" Colton dropped beside him and grabbed his shoulders. "What's wrong?!"

Kevin blinked rapidly. The seizure passed. Sweat poured down his face. "I—I saw it."

Colton steadied him. "Saw what? Your arm! 

Your arm?" Colton searched for the gash. But there wasn't one. Just some blood. Then Kevin grabbed Colton's shoulders.

Kevin's voice was shaky but certain. "Hermes lied. He told Hercules Zeus needed him—sent him off alone. Then he told Selene that Hercules needed her. She followed. Right into Cronus's trap."

Apollo's face darkened. "So Hermes played them both."

Kevin nodded. "He split them apart. Isolated them. Just like he tried to do to us."

A quiet voice spoke from the side of the room.

Lethe was awake.

She slowly sat up, hair tangled, face pale. Apollo was at her side instantly.

"You're safe now, Kevin" motioning towards Kevin. "Kevin saw you there. In the mist. He went back for you. Dragged you out."

She looked between them, looked back at Kevin and smiled softly.

"What happened to you? Why were you there like that?" Colton asked Lethe.

Voice hoarse. "The last thing I remember… was Hercules betraying the gods. He was trying to help Cronus. And… and… he helped

kill Selene."

Colton blinked. "What?!"

"But he loved her," Lethe said, her voice breaking. "He wouldn't. He couldn't. I didn't

believe it. I needed answers."

She looked down at her hands.

"Hermes told me to go to Mnemosyne. He said she'd help me remember. Said I had to go. Said I'd find the truth there. So I went…"

Her brows furrowed. "But when I got there… it was just fog. Then… nothing."

Colton stepped closer. "You were in that fog all this time?" Colton glanced at Kevin's arm. Where is the gash?

"That was like… a thousand years ago," Kevin whispered.

Lethe looked lost. "I don't know how long it's

been."

Kevin stood. "He sent her there. Just like he sent us. He wanted her trapped. Forgotten."

Apollo nodded slowly. "And when we started asking questions, he tried to trap us the same way. If it wasn't for you Kevin, we'd still be in that mist."

Colton clenched his jaw. "Because we were asking too many questions."

Kevin looked between them. "We can't let him know we rescued Lethe. That she's awake. Not yet. That's our only advantage."

Lethe stood shakily. "I need rest."

They waited until she disappeared into the back room.

That's when the footsteps came.

Hermes strolled into the sanctuary, casual as ever. His hair was swept back, his golden sandals spotless. Did a little bow.

"Apollo," he said with a grim look. "Mind if we

speak in private?"

Apollo didn't flinch. "Of course."

The two gods stepped outside.

Colton and Kevin exchanged a long look.

"I don't like this," Kevin said.

Minutes ticked by.

When Apollo returned, his expression was unreadable.

"I have to leave," he said.

Colton shot up. "What? Why?"

"I can't say." He glanced at Kevin. "But I don't know when I'll be back."

Kevin stepped forward. "You're just going to vanish again?"

Apollo hesitated. "I trust you both. Whatever

happens next… don't lose sight of the truth."

Then he turned and left without another word.

The fire crackled. The silence was heavy.

Later that night, the sanctuary doors slammed open again.

Hermes stumbled inside, eyes wide, voice tight with panic.

"He's gone!" he shouted.

Colton stood, heart dropping. "Apollo?"

Hermes nodded quickly. "He's gone to Tartarus. To face Cronus. Alone."

Kevin narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"He didn't want anyone to suffer like Selene," Hermes said, pacing. "Said he'd rather sacrifice himself than risk another

bearer."

Colton's voice shook. "He didn't even tell us."

"He made me promise not to," Hermes said quickly. "He didn't want you to follow."

Kevin stepped forward. "You said he made you promise not to?"

Hermes nodded too quickly. "Yes. Yes. He said if anything happened to him… you were our last chance. That Cronus is too close

now. That Colton has to be ready."

Colton's mind spun. "So he just left?"

"To keep you safe," Hermes said, panting. "He didn't want another Selene. He said you're not ready. Not yet. But we can't waste

time—we have to act."

Kevin's eyes never left Hermes's face. "He went to Tartarus alone?"

"That's what he said," Hermes snapped, eyes darting. "And time is running out. Colton, we need to move. He'll need you soon."

Colton stood frozen. Shocked. He didn't want to believe it. "So I need to leave now? To Tartarus, to help Apollo. Because Apollo went and is in trouble now?" He wanted to make sure Hermes knew exactly what he was saying. Colton didn't want any doubts

Hermes hurriedly shook his head again. "Yes! Hurry we need to leave now before it's too late!"

Hermes noticed Colton look over to Kevin. They both were shaking their heads as if they were in disbelief. No. As if they were terribly disappointed. 

"What? What is it? Let's go!" Hermes shouted as if he felt he ran out of time. 

That's when Hermes saw Apollo emerge from the shadows. Followed by Lethe.

Hermes mouth gaped. 

His whole body suddenly slouched. 

He knew he'd finally been caught.