New Excerpt: Introduction of the Titans

This is a small introduction of some of the key players on the Titans side, keep in mind that a focus group is reading it and will be giving suggestions for some rewrites, so this may change just a little bit. Comments are greatly appreciated. And if you like what you are reading please follow the blog.

“The newborns have finally come,” a voice said in the darkness, rousing Cronus from his slumber deep beneath the Earth. Traveling on the surface was forbidden, watched too closely by the Father's servants. But here, in the deep caverns of the world, the Titans could sometimes find a reprieve from the unending war, a place where they could rest and sleep and, at times, create beings that weren't to be used solely for the war against heaven. The latter was becoming less and less common.

“What does it trouble me, if the newborns have come?” Cronus asked, sitting up from his bed of crumbled stone. The warmth from the Earth's core had put him in a lethargic mood, masking his usual abruptness.

“It troubles you because it troubles me,” the voice said. “These are the first sentient creatures the Father has created since he created us Titans in eons past. If they have but a fraction of the power we ourselves possess, then they will make formidable opponents, if our children are allowed to teach them the art of war.”

Cronus grunted.

“The Father will never create beings like us again,” he said. “Even the Olympians he believes to be too powerful. He fears them, as he fears us. Fears that one of us will one day overthrow him and claim the heavens and the Earth for our own.”

“Do you forget what happened the day we marched on the throne?” the voice said softly. “Do you forget your own fear at the Father's wrath? Do you not remember how your own son pledged his allegiance to the Father at the mear threat of the Father's wrath? I have not forgotten our failure then, Cronus, and neither should you.”

At these words, Cronus was at last stirred. The stones crumbled beneath him as he hastily rose to his feet.

“We were but children!” he shouted, stretching to his full height and causing the cavern around him to shutter and creak at the power of his voice. “The Olympians call themselves gods, even as they make war against we who created them! We will show them who the true gods really are! We alone were gifted with powers rivaling the Father! We alone shall surpass him!”

“Then what of the newborns, Cronus?” the voice asked, sounding pleased.

“We shall slaughter the lot of them!” Cronus said, and at his words mighty boulders fell from the roof, shaken free by his anger. “We shall prove to the Father that no creation of his can surpass that which we have created to destroy him.”

“Very good,” the voice said. “But you cannot hope to tread those heavenly fields unnoticed by the Father's eye. Only the fell-beasts can slip in and out of that territory unmarked.”

“I have creatures of which the Father knows nothing,” Cronus laughed. “And plans that even you have no conceived. We shall see if the power of the newborns can match my servants in battle. Even if they manage to reach the Father's throne, they will learn to fear us as the Olympians never have.”

“As you wish,” the voice said. “Release your beasts. I have other matters to attend to, father of Zeus.”

For a few moments Cronus stood still in silence. The only sound that he heard was the faint bubbling of the lava flow deep in the heart of the cavern. The mighty Titan clenched his fists twice, then spoke out to the voice again.

“Do not taunt me again, Oceanus,” he said quietly. “King you may be, but I am master of my own life and fate. I will not be goaded or manipulated.”

“Do what you will,” the voice of Oceanus said. “But remember who it was that stood longest in the Father's presence, who matched his strength the most of all the Titans.”

“We were children...” Cronus said, before mustering all his power and disappearing from the cavern in a flash of fire and light.