Once Scott managed to calm himself enough to ask questions, he asked her if any of what she had said was true. He looked at her through watery eyes as she acquired a scandalized expression.

“Why, big brother. Do you truly accuse your cute little sister of lying to you?” she asked him, a tinge of hurt in her voice.

He quirked an eyebrow at her. “Hmm… You know, I can’t remember whether or not you’re even capable of lying…”

She stuck out her tongue then giggled at him. It was all the answer he would get on the matter. Even so, he was glad of it. Whether a Tenacious D cover song had caused the big bang, or not, did not matter. That ridiculous conversation had lightened his heart considerably.

They continued their discussion for a while, and then it was time for lunch. Scott followed Persephone into the hall. Hades was already seated, and he nodded to Scott as he walked into the room.

“I see you are in better spirits, brother,” said Hades.

Scott nodded to him. “It’s a lot to accept, but I think I can handle it now.”

“Good,” said Hades. He gestured to one of his servants. The spectral warrior rushed forward and filled Scott’s wine glass.

Scott looked down at the glass of wine. Unlike when he drank, or ate, the ambrosia he understood himself fully now. Rather, he understood his current incarnation.

The glass of wine, alcohol, brought a series of unwanted memories to the surface. Hades noted the haunted look on his older brother’s face.

“Is the wine not to your liking brother?” asked Hades.

“I’m certain it’s wonderful…” said Scott quietly. He closed his eyes and felt the inrush of many things that he had temporarily put on the back burner of his mind.

“I sense there is a story there,” said Hades.

Scott nodded to him. “It relates to my current incarnation. Please forgive me if I seem reluctant. It has nothing to do with your hospitality.”

“Would you care to speak on the matter?” asked Hades.

The lord of the dead glanced at a servant. The soul rushed over and carved him a large piece of ham from an even larger cooked beast lying atop the table.

Scott looked between him and Persephone. “Yes, this might be something you want to hear.”

“Oh?” asked Hades. He did not notably grow more attentive, but he did slow the manner in which he ate.

Scott regaled them with the tale of his early and recent life. The more he spoke of the interference of the gods, the youngest of all their parents’ children, the quieter the feast hall became.

“This is disturbing news, indeed,” said Hades. “As for what transpired with your sister, I will send my cohort out to search the abyss within my realm. If she is among the denizens of my realm, she will be found.”

“Thank you. I appreciate your help,” said Scott. The likelihood that she would be in a Greco-Roman version of the underworld was practically non-existent, but if she was in the area Hades would certainly be able to locate her.

Hades nodded to him. “She does not belong in this realm. Many of those coming from your most recent version of Earth do not, it seems.”

The dour divinity closed his eyes for a moment. “There is little that we can do to intervene in mortal affairs of the younger children. That’s really more of a concern for the seraphim.”

Scott nodded to him. “My memories of that sort of thing are lacking, but I do recall that much. It was the purpose in our change.”

Hades agreed with him once more via a curt nod of his head. “I will spread the word among your cohort. The other realms might have heard something and will certainly search on your behalf.”

“Thank them for me as well,” said Scott. “It is my hope that she did not end up here in the abyss at all, but I want to be certain.”

Hades gazed thoughtfully at him for a moment. He rose from his seat and spoke in an authoritative tone. “It is here. You should have it.”

“What do you mean?” asked Scott.

“If you are going to be dealing with unruly children who do not mind their elders, you will need a link to your original self,” said Hades. “It is but a fragment, but it is here.”

“I appreciate any help you can give me on this, but I’m not certain of what you mean,” he replied.

“You will understand when you see it, brother,” he turned away swiftly then strode toward the feast hall doors. “Come with me.”

Scott rose form the table, smiled at Persephone, then rushed to catch up with what amounted to one of his younger siblings in some ways. She waved lightly at them, a smile on her face as she did so.

“Oh, boys and their toys…” she said lightly. She then looked down at her plate then clapped her hands together happily. “Also, waffles!”

Hades lead Scott through a series of twisting corridors then down into the ground. They walked down a set of stairs that never seemed to end for quite some time, but eventually they were indeed proven to have a bottom floor.

They approached a massive set of red and gold doors guarded by what had to be the biggest guys Scott could remember having ever seen. The titanic men had but one eye in their heads, and immediately made him think of the old cyclops myths.

Hades brushed his hand sideways and they drew to the side reverently. The massively muscled one-eyed men did not speak. Instead, they knelt as one and inclined their head.

“Our brother lent them to me for this task. I am sure they will be happy to return to their homes by the sea,” said Hades.

“No doubt,” agreed Scott. He was not entirely certain of what he was agreeing to, but certain mythological scenarios arose inside his mind in search of his consideration.

The two largest of the cyclopean behemoths rose from their kneeling position by the doors then began to pull at the hoops which served as doorknobs. Even their great muscles heaved and strained as they attempted to open the entry way.

Little by little, the doors crept open. Soon, Hades stepped forward. It was time to enter.

Beyond the doors there was a small antechamber. Beyond that there was a large well-appointed room lit only by shining crystals along the walls. As Hades stepped onto the carpet that led into that main room a column of light speared downward from the ceiling. In the center of the dais which also sat at the center of the room an ephemeral shape began to take form

As Scott drew closer, the shape became more substantial though still semi-transparent. He stopped short when he realized what it was that hovered gently in the air. “That is…”

“A fragment, nothing more. It is not the entire feather,” said Hades. “Still, it is yours.”

Scott stared openly at the softly shining feather that floated in the air before him. There was a story behind it, but he just could not remember it. Yet, he knew what he was staring at. This unassuming dove-like feather was the key to everything. He need only unlock its true meaning, and the nightmare could end.

He reached out his hand but did not take the feather. “Why do you guard it so reverently?”

“We do not know. We merely guard the fragments of this feather,” said Hades.

“Whose feather is it?” asked Scott, though somehow, he already knew the answer.

“It is your feather, brother… plucked from your own wing by your own hand long before the time of seraphim and this never-ending dream…” said Hades.

“Beyond that we know nothing. Only our brother Luci-El could tell you more,” said Hades. “He is, as always, busy defending the garden.”

Scott could vaguely recall who this Luci-El individual was supposed to be. One of the Archangels, the first children born of the efforts of Eros and Logos to recreate what they saw within the depths of his soul fragment. Though they did not bear the names of the Archangels that he knew of from mythology, there was one that was somewhat similar to a specific angel from the myths that he knew.

The Archangels each were incredibly capable, but they had a design flaw in their personality. Luci-El was kind, generous to a fault, always willing to help those who needed him, and undeniably valiant. He was also incredibly vain and pretty much the textbook definition of prideful. He was not arrogant about it, at least not in an insufferable manner, but he certainly did believe in his own hype. The worst part of that belief was that is was well-warranted. He was the dawn star, just as the other Archangels were the evening star and the midnight Star. Each named such due to their connection to Scott, whom was the first star in the heavens.