It had been a few weeks since Zeus and I had entered Mount Othrys under false names and false smiles, pouring drinks for gods who would slaughter us if they knew who we truly were. And yet, we thrived. The Titans had grown fond of us—Ganymede, the older brother that invented wine, and Callidus the younger who entertained the guests. Our names echoed in laughter and praise from lips that had once commanded the heavens.
We had earned their trust with every goblet we filled, every subtle compliment we offered. Zeus played his role with a smile that could light a room, while I kept to shadows, offering drinks spiced with just enough delight to be remembered. The Titans had never tasted wine before, they were used to nectar, ambrosia, honeyed ales. But wine? This beverage was addicting and everyone was getting hooked and drinking more than they should have.
The perfect moment came during a grand celebration: a feast honoring the fall of some long-forgotten monster, or perhaps simply their own power. It hardly mattered. The throne room blazed with torchlight and laughter. Music thundered from the lyres and drums, echoing off marble walls and golden pillars that reached toward the high, domed ceiling like spears. The Titans lounged across couches of silver and obsidian, their massive bodies draped in silk and smoke.
At the far end of the hall, I saw him.
Cronus.
My father.
I swallowed down the memory of a time when that scythe had rested easily across his shoulders, when his laugh had shaken mountains. That Cronus was gone.
Now he raised one hand, and the music fell away.
"Ganymede," he said, his voice heavy with age and wine, "entertain us. Show me what makes you so favored among my court."
I bowed low, careful to keep my tone light, respectful. "As you command, great Cronus."
I took a deep breath and glanced around the massive throne room, where dozens of Titans lounged on opulent cushions and marble thrones. The air was thick with the scents of wine and roasted meats, and their booming laughter echoed through the hall. I had them exactly where I wanted them, and as I stepped into the center of the room, I raised my arms to call for silence.
"Alright, alright!" I called out, grinning wide as my voice carried through the room. "My name is Ganymede, and I'll be your entertainment tonight!"
There was a smattering of cheers, laughter, and a few skeptical grunts from some of the older Titans, who squinted at me over their goblets. I glanced around, letting the silence stretch, as I met their gazes one by one.
"So… Titan gatherings, huh? Like family reunions, only with less awkward small talk and more colossal egos! Seriously, though—no one throws a party quite like the Titans. I mean, take Kronos over there!" I gestured up at him on his throne, flashing a grin.
"Kronos, you're a legend. You've taken two of the dullest things imaginable—time and farming—and turned them into your personal horror show. You're like, 'Why just grow crops when I can grow anxiety about deadlines?' And let's not forget your eating habits. I mean, who knew the ultimate farm-to-table guy would be eating his own family?"
The room erupted into laughter, and Kronos raised his goblet, a grudging smirk on his face. "What can I say?" he rumbled. "It's a lifestyle."
"Yeah, a lifestyle for a legend!" I shot back, the energy in the room rising as the Titans cheered.
"So, let's talk about some of our favorite Titans here." I leaned on one leg, tapping my chin as if deep in thought. "Where do we begin…? Oh, I know! Hyperion!" I pointed to the massive Titan of Light lounging in the back, glowing faintly as he drained a goblet twice the size of his head.
"Look at you, Hyperion, shining so bright that you make the torches look like fireflies. I'm pretty sure we all get our tans just from sitting next to you! By the way, you don't need to be glowing like that all the time—some of us are just trying to keep our retinas intact."
The room burst into laughter, with Hyperion letting out a booming chuckle, clearly enjoying the attention.
"Then there's Prometheus, the Titan of Forethought!" I gestured toward the Titan, who had an intense, faraway look in his eyes as if pondering his next big idea. "Let me tell you, I asked Prometheus how he'd spend his night, and he said, 'I'm planning to create something revolutionary, something that's going to change existence as we know it!'" I paused dramatically. "And what did he do? He went out and started playing with clay." I shrugged, feigning a disappointed sigh. "Seriously, clay? I thought he was going to invent something… anything really. Like a 'wheel' or a 'fire' or a hobby, at least!"
Laughter erupted, and Prometheus shook his head, laughing despite himself.
"Of course, we've got Atlas," I said, nodding toward the hulking Titan of Strength, who crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at me. "Atlas, the brawler, the bruiser, the guy who thinks a 'gentle pat on the back' is only acceptable if it results in someone's back cracking." I lowered my voice as if confiding a secret, "He's so strong, rumor has it he's been banned from all of the Titan wrestling matches because last time he… Well, let's just say we're still trying to find Hyperion's missing tooth." Atlas snorted, shaking his head with a smirk as the crowd roared in laughter.
"Then we've got the four Titans holding up the sky—give it up for the East, South, North, and West!" I pointed in each direction. "Seriously, these guys are the real MVPs. I mean, without them, we'd all be, what? Flat as a pancake? They're the original pillars of support around here!" I held up my arms and pretended to shake under the imaginary weight. "And let me tell you, this isn't an easy job! You've got to keep the heavens nice and steady, make sure no stars slip through, and—oh, don't even get me started on what happens if one of you gets a cramp mid-shift!"
The crowd was in stitches, and the four directional Titans exchanged looks, chuckling.
I turned my attention to the bearded figure with a crown of seashells, Oceanus, the Titan of the Ocean. "And there's Oceanus, the calm in the storm. Well, usually. I hear he likes to stir things up every now and then, just to keep everyone guessing." I leaned in and whispered loudly, "Between you and me, I heard he once got drunk and tried to turn the Aegean Sea upside down. Poor dolphins didn't know which way was up for a week!"
Oceanus slapped his knee, his booming laughter nearly shaking the room.
"And then we have Themis, the Titaness of Law, Order, and Justice." I nodded toward her, where she sat, serene and composed, overseeing the chaos around her with a slight smile. "Themis—you ever notice she's got that expression that just says, 'Try me'? Like, I have a feeling that if someone sneezes the wrong way, she's already got a ten-point list on how to restore order."
Themis chuckled, her calm exterior breaking as she shook her head in amusement. "Someone has to keep you in line."
"Exactly!" I raised my goblet toward her, grinning. "And I think I speak for everyone when I say we'd all be lost without you. And by 'lost,' I mean… maybe in a pile of rubble somewhere."
Finally, I looked up at Kronos himself, who was watching me intently, amusement in his golden eyes. I took a steadying breath—time for the grand finale.
"And now, my dear Titans, let's wrap this up with a shoutout to four of the finest among you. I've saved the best for last, of course—so let's dive in."
I turned to Mnemosyne. "First up, Mnemosyne—the Titan of memory! The original walking encyclopedia. Mnemosyne, you must be the life of the party… as long as the party is a trivia night. Seriously, though, how do you keep up with everyone's embarrassing secrets? Do you have a filing system, or is it all up here?" I tapped my head, grinning as the room laughed. "I mean, who needs gossip when we've got Mnemosyne, the ultimate archive?"
Next, I gestured to Crius. "And Crius, the Titan of constellations! The guy who thought, 'You know what would make this sky better? A connect-the-dots game that lasts forever.' Seriously, Crius, your legacy is looking up—literally. Though I have to ask: what's with some of these constellations? A crab? A scorpion? Were you running out of ideas, or did you just really hate the zodiac?"
Then, I looked toward Tethys. "Ah, Tethys, the mother of rivers, streams, and all things wet and wild! You've got quite the family tree—or should I say, river system? I can't imagine the chaos of family reunions for you. Do you just flood a valley and hope for the best?" The Titans roared with laughter as Tethys gave a knowing smile.
Finally, I turned to Eos. "And last but definitely not least, Eos—the Titan of the dawn! The one who wakes up the whole world every morning. Eos, you're like the universe's alarm clock, but instead of a snooze button, we just get blinding sunlight. Honestly, I don't know how you do it. If it were me, mornings would never exist. But hey, thanks for making every sunrise Instagram-worthy."
As I finished, the hall erupted in laughter and applause, some of the Titans raising their goblets in salute.
Hell the jab at Kronos would have gotten me found out and murdered. And yet there Kronos sat, drinking, eating and having quite the merry time. And I accidentally mentioned a damn app that doesn't even exist and none of them even noticed, or maybe they just assumed it meant something else.
Across the grand hall, I watched as Cronus raised his empty goblet with a booming laugh, his voice slicing through the revelry like a blade. The music quieted, conversations paused.
"Enough!" he bellowed. "Another drink—one worthy of the King of Titans!"
Callidus—Zeus—bowed with perfect poise, a grin tugging at his lips. "Of course, my king." He turned, casting me a brief glance. It was time.
I—Ganymede—stood at the long marble table lined with golden pitchers and crystal decanters. My hands moved with care, calm on the surface, though my heart pounded like a war drum in my chest. Each motion had been practiced to perfection.
I poured the wine first—rich, dark, smooth. Then I added the poison, using a sleight of hand trick that I had practiced, pouring the mixture in. The goblet glowed faintly—then stilled, looking like any other glass of wine.
But before I could lift it, a shift in the air prickled the back of my neck.
I turned, slowly, instinct on edge.
Phoebe stood behind me.
Tall, elegant, timeless. Her silver hair flowed over her shoulders like starlight, and her sharp violet eyes shimmered with quiet understanding. She tilted her head, lips curved in a sly, knowing smile.
"What exactly are you doing, nephew?" she asked, her tone velvet-smooth. Calm. Measured. Dangerous.
My breath caught, but I met her gaze with a courteous smile. "Preparing a drink for Lord Cronus, Lady Phoebe. As he requested."
She didn't buy it, and I could tell by the smirk playing on her lips. "Save it. I know who you are, and I know why you're here."
There was no use denying it, so I held her gaze, my voice low and steady. "Then what do you want?"
"To help you," she said simply. "You're not the only one who wants Cronus off that throne. Some of us have grown... weary of his rule."
I studied her carefully. "You're not affected like the others?"
Earlier in the day, we had prepared a spell in the entire castle thanks to several runes that I had created from days of practice. The Runes of Order. Carved on each wall was a simple order that would weaken the Titans senses.
She chuckled, clearly amused by my question. "I actually am affected, and so are my friends. Though as the Titan of Wisdom and Prophecy I have a greater control of my mind. Once I realized what you have done I had my friends leave."
She nodded subtly, and I noticed a small group of Titans slipping away from the hall, unnoticed by the others. I kept my face composed, gave a short nod, and lowered my voice. "Take them to Mount Ida. Tell Adrastea I sent you. But if you or any of them betray me, you'll be dead before you even blink."
Phoebe's smirk only grew, and she inclined her head. "Understood Gayn.... uhm, what is your real name?"
I hesitated.
"Hades."
Her eyes twinkled. "Thank you, Lord Hades."
Then she vanished, slipping into the shadows like smoke on the wind.
I took a slow, steady breath, then turned and handed the goblet to Zeus. "Go."
He nodded, taking the cup with a subtle smirk, then crossed the floor toward Cronus.
The Titan King's gaze sharpened as Callidus approached, his golden eyes gleaming with that familiar blend of pride and suspicion. "There you are," he drawled. "I was beginning to think you'd kept the finest for yourself."
Callidus bowed smoothly and offered the goblet with both hands. "Apologies, my king. My companion crafted this blend especially for you. A drink to sharpen the mind. Strengthen the body. Worthy of Cronus himself."
Cronus chuckled darkly and took the goblet, swirling the wine as he peered over the rim at Callidus. "Flattery," he mused, "goes down easier with fine wine."
Then he drank.
And I watched—stone-faced, silent—as the future tilted on the edge of a poisoned cup.