Of Death and Love

The mortal world is a playground for us. The forgotten gods. A place of business, pleasure, and worship. It didn’t used to be that way. We once ruled over everything with unconditional loyalty and an abundance of servants and worshippers.

Then, one day, every mortal began to forget us. Who we are, what we did, and why we exist. Our stories became lost to time, and thus, we’re embellished into dramatic fables. Incest, patricide, and bizarre rituals were abundant.

All of these fables were known to the mortals as Greek Mythology, but to us, it was our living history. Proof of our eternal existence and trials. I wasn’t around during the harshest of times, of which the mortals documented heavily.

I narrowly avoided sibling uprising and division of domains and powers, among Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, among other ludicrous stories. However, I was born before the War of the Titans. In fact, I was partly the reason for its occurrence.

You see, there was a misunderstanding regarding my birth. Nobody knew who my father was. My mother, Persephone, goddess of spring, grain, and the dead, was loyal and devoted wholly to Hades. The King of the Underworld. He was to her as well. Naturally, he would be the #1 choice. This was not disputed, at least not among those of the Underworld.

On the other hand, several Olympians, those who lived above us, believed that Zeus was my father. This is because he tried to force himself on her. Believing it to be his right as King of the Gods. She was able to stop him, but barely. Leaving her exhausted and frightened.

Hades found out, and they battled for days, resulting in severe mutilation. Not long after, Zeus appeared in the mortal world as a snake to my mother while she tended to her duties, slithered up her leg, and bit her on the privates. Injecting her with his essence. Such an incident would have worked, had it not been for a spell Hades placed on her. Cursing any who would try and force sex or breeding on her for eternity.

This poisoned Zeus, weakening him, but not for long. Mother fell pregnant shortly after this, leading him to believe he was my father. Fortunately, the curse also removed any foreign essence from Mother, not allowing his seed to take root. Making Hades, my blood father.

Zeus didn’t believe this, and still doesn’t hundreds of years later. Neither did Hera, goddess of marriage, women, and family. Zeus’ wife, my aunt. She fell jealous at the thought of another bastard child from Zeus.

She awakened the Titans, abominations kept locked up in Tartarus for centuries. Then once I was born, she sent them after me. Killing me. All of this discord caused the war to begin. After a decade had passed, the war ended, and I was reborn.

It was… a strange incident. Buried and mourned for a decade, just to arise from my grave covered in ashes and blood. But I wasn’t myself entirely. I became a being known as Dionysus, who then spat up a bone. From that bone, my body was reformed. Returning to my infant self.

The other half, Dionysus, became his own deity entirely. Creating a group of followers who drank excessively, engaged in copious amounts of sex, and believed life should be celebrated fully. I try not to judge. His creation wasn’t ideal, and he is part of me. Even though we couldn’t be different as beings.

After all of this, the Universe was displeased with how things turned out. Every godly being, including Zeus, were bound into a physical, semi-mortal form. They still had access to some powers, like immortality and some abilities, but no access to Olympus. Oh, and they had to eat and live amongst the mortals on earth.

Many did not mind this change, as our ways of living had changed so much already. What’s one more change? Zeus was and still is a petulant child over it. Stomping about and cursing at the Universe for forcing this on him. I should feel remorse for him, but he kind of deserved it.

Who am I in all of this information that I have provided? That’s quite simple: I am Zagreus, also known in various cultures as Orphic Dionysus, Bromios, Sabazius, and Lacchus. The eldest son of Hades and Persephone, rulers of the Underworld and all its darkness.

I am but only 325 years old, but have lived through a cosmic rebirth and an all-out war between godly races and horrific monsters. Firmly, I believe that I can survive anything. Given my history.

Little did I know that thought process would be my ultimate undoing. Why is this? Well, it all began like any other day. Attending to my duties as Prince of the Underworld.

Notes:

1. Zeus is the god of sky and thunder, who rules as King of the Gods over Mount Olympus. He’s kind of a jerk with a wandering hand who has fathered many gods/demigods in Greek Mythology.

2. Hera is his wife and sister.

3. Hades and Poseidon are his brothers. Their powers and domains were divided after they defeated the Titans. In a game of chance.

4. Zeus got the best draw, so he got the most. Poseidon was given the seas, storms, and earthquakes, the second largest domain on the earth, and Hades was third. He got the worst draw, so he obtained the Underworld, which housed Tartarus, a hellish dimension of torture that held the Titans at bay after the war.

5. Persephone is the wife of Hades, making her Queen of the Underworld, but is also the goddess of spring, death, and grains. She is the daughter of Demeter and Zeus.

Most of these things will be similar, but with a twist.