The Elysean Trials (The Holy Bloodlines, #1)

by D.N. Hoxa

“One never truly grows up, simply becomes more experienced at being who they are."

‘…the King of the Underworld, god of the dead, said, “Life is about choices, about sacrifices and gains. How do you determine what is worthy and what isn’t, when you know there is an end to everything?” And that is the only question that matters.’

“Mistakes are not your friend, but pay close attention for they shall be your greatest helper."

The Cyclopses were called Steropes, Brontes, and Arges. Once freed by their brother, they went hard at work to prepare for the War of Gods, forging the Trident for Poseidon, the Helm of Darkness for Hades, and the Lightning Bolts for Zeus.

“Know yourself; the secrets of the entire universe are written within you.”

Angry that Zeus had put her firstborns, the Titans, in Tartarus, Gaea unleashed two terrible creatures onto the world—Typhon, father of all monsters, and his mate Echidna. Typhon was so mighty and so big, that his heads touched the sky, and his eyes leaked venom, and magma dripped from all his mouths. So mighty he was that when the new gods saw him, they all turned and fled in terror.

…thus Zeus looked upon his creation and said: “Not everything is as it seems, rather what you make of it. Even fear can be your worst enemy when you treat it as such, and your best ally when you put it to good use. So, see, not only what is, but what could be.”

“Love is not peaceful. Love is a thunderstorm that shall not leave a stone untouched in your mind and body when it is felt right. Love is alive.”

“Death is the price and the prize.”

The new gods sat on their high thrones in the Palace over the clouds, and Zeus sat highest of all with his thunderbolts at his side. Only Hades, the eldest of them, god of the dead, remained in his own Palace in his dark kingdom—the Underworld. There were no more wars, no more monsters coming to claim their right to rule, but only they, among themselves, sometimes argued and sometimes fought. Zeus with his thunderbolts, stronger than all other gods combined, had but to raise his thunder, and order would fall in place among his fellow gods once more.

The Second War of Gods left the earth barren and unpopulated, and so wise Zeus gave the titan Prometheus and his brother a number of invaluable gifts and tasked them with creating life. Prometheus shaped the new man in the image of the gods with great care, while Epimetheus created the animals, and used up most of the gods’ gifts on them, leaving for man only a few. Therefore, animals were stronger, had enhanced senses, and coats of fur to shield them from the cold, while men nearly died in the long winter nights. Thus, kind Prometheus traveled to Olympus to ask Zeus for sacred fire to give to his creation. Zeus refused.

“A kiss shall never be just a kiss. It shall be a soul served into your body. Lucky are those who’ve tasted the true kiss of love, and unlucky, for they will never again find satisfaction in the ordinary.”

His brother had used all the best god gifts on the animals, leaving mankind vulnerable to the biting winter cold, so Prometheus set out to Zeus to ask for the sacred fire to save his creation. Zeus refused, for fire belonged to gods and gods alone. But Prometheus loved his creation dearly, and he refused to stand by and do nothing to ease their suffering. That is why, despite knowing how angry Zeus would be, he decided to steal the fire and bear any punishment the gods would see fit.