The Dark-Hunters (859 page)

She calls to the sensitive humans of the world, those with Atlantean in their blood, begging them to discover the sacred seal and release her from imprisonment. Her cry is like a beacon, interpreted by many as a mad obsession for the discovery of Atlantis. This call was heard by Megeara Kafieri, and other members of her family.

Apollymi protects and uses the Spathi Daimons as her army, keeping a group of around thirty Illuminati as her guards, in addition to Charontes and ceredons. She enjoys finishing off her victims with an iron hammer.

H
AIR
/E
YES
: white blond/silver

Apostolos
    (Acheron) Son of Apollymi, also known as the Messenger. Amorphous and ever-changing, Apostolos was conceived by Apollymi during a night of divine sex with Archon. He is the harbinger that will bring about Telikos—the destruction of the world.

Apostolos was destined to be his mother’s heart, and to aid her in her destructive ways. But when the Fates told Archon that Apostolos would be the destruction of the Atlantean pantheon, Archon demanded Apollymi kill the fetus in order to protect all of them. Apollymi refused. She hid her fetus away from the other gods and when they demanded his life, she offered them a stone baby instead.

Angered by her actions, the gods feared what she would do once her son grew to manhood. Combining their powers, they imprisoned Apollymi and cursed Apostolos to die. It is believed that he perished with Atlantis, yet there are others who claim the baby survived and was taken to Europe and hidden away. Some claim he is the mysterious founder of the region known as Basque. Arikos is positive Apostolos is alive and that he speaks to his mother, calming her down when she’s extremely irate and threatening to destroy the world. (In reality, Apostolos is Acheron, but you’re not supposed to know that. Don’t worry, you’ll forget that soon enough.)

Only black flowers grow in Apollymi’s garden in memory of her son.

Arachne
    The famous and unfortunate young woman who challenged Athena to a weaving contest. Either no one told Arachne that Athena never loses, or Arachne was too vain to care. Her loss. Literally. Arachne hung herself in shame, but Athena revived her … and turned her into a spider, destined to weave for all time.

Archon
    Also called “Kosmetas,” which means “orderer.” Atlantean counterpart to Zeus. He is the son of Chaos and Fegkia (Splendor), and mate of Apollymi.

It is said that Fysia spun strands of Archon’s hair to form Atlantis, and that she used her blood to fertilize the earth (and to create the bloodred Fysian lilies that could only thrive in Atlantean soil). Overwhelmed by the beauty of the continent his sister had created, Archon wept. As his tears fell, the race of the Atlanteans sprang up.

Archon held many epithets: Kosmetas (Orderer), Soter (Savior), and Theokos (the Divine One). He was a god of extreme patience and kindness. The exact opposite of his wife Apollymi, he was said to be the balance that she needed so that the order of the universe could be adequately maintained. He adored his wife and, unlike the other gods, was never faithless to her (at least that’s the story
he
tells). He watched over his children and people with benediction and care. When Zeus banished the Apollite race to Atlantis, Archon welcomed them in, thereby causing perpetual strife between the Atlantean gods and the Greek.

However, Archon’s wrath, when incurred, was every bit as ruthless as that of Apollymi. When the Deridians attacked Atlantis and sacked Kanosis (the capital city of Atlantis), he struck their country with his mighty thorn-hammer and destroyed every man, woman, and child who bore their blood.

He also ordered the death of Apostolos and trapped Apollymi in Kalosis. There are those who say that Apostolos, if ever found, holds the ability to raise his father from the dead and to return Archon to his throne.

As a point of interest: Archon did not like many, but he liked Simi.

Ares (Mars)
    Greek god of War; the son of Zeus and Hera. Born in Thrace. Ares is not exactly what you would call a benevolent god … after all, not even his parents like him. He is a mercenary, fighting for any side no matter what the cause, reveling in the sound of battle, delighting in danger.

The Romans, who glorified war and battle, liked Mars (Roman for Ares) much better than the Greeks liked Ares (Homer had the
cojones
to call him a coward). He was never to them the mean, whining deity of the
Iliad,
but a magnificent and invincible warrior.

Ares has been defeated in battle by his sister Athena (twice), Heracles (Hercules), and the sons of Aloeus.

B
IRD
: vulture

A
NIMAL
: dog

Ariman
    Ancient Phoenician god who visited Atlantis while it was being destroyed and is now stuck in human form. Not to be confused with the god that follows.

Ariman
    Ancient Persian god, not to be confused with the deitically challenged Ariman in the above listing.

Aristaeus
    Demigod of Hunting, Husbandry, and Beekeeping. Protector of cattle and fruit trees. Son of Apollo and the nymph Cyrene.

Artemis (Diana)
    Daughter of Zeus and Leto, and twin to Apollo. Greek goddess of the Hunt, the Moon, Virginity, Childbirth, and Wild Animals; creator of the Dark-Hunters. She, like Apollymi, is a study in contradictions. A very possessive goddess, she does not easily give up what is hers. The Dark-Hunters are decidedly hers.

Also known as Amarynthia, Diana, or Cynthia (she is sometimes confused with Bastet and Selene … though trust me, after that bow-and-arrow mark, you’re not going to confuse her with anybody). Common epitaphs are: Potnia Theron (mistress of wild animals), Kourotrophos (nurse of youths), Locheia (helper in childbirth), and Agrotera (huntress). Her bows are made for her by Hephaestus.

When Apollo called upon Artemis for help with his cursed Apollites, Artemis turned to the Atlantean hero Acheron. She convinced him to help her hunt down and destroy the Daimons. At least … that’s how the story goes. No one’s really sure what the truth is behind Ash and Artie. But if you do look at her in a certain light, you can see her fangs.

And watch out for the crazy talk—our beloved goddess is not the most adept at colloquial slang. (My favorite is still when she says, “You’re baked bread!” instead of “You’re toast!” Kind of loses its edge, doesn’t it?)

H
AIR
: red

S
YMBOL
: double bow and arrow

Asag
    The demon who was used by Enlil to create the gallu demons. Sin’s brother Zakar battled him once; during the fight Zakar absorbed some of Asag’s powers, thus making him resistant to the bite of the gallu.

Asclepius
    Greek god of Healing. Son of Apollo and Coronis.

Asteros
    The Atlantean god of Heavenly Light: stars, comets, and fire. The eldest son of Chaos (who birthed the universe) and Fegkia (Splendor), Asteros was born to give light to the heavens. His tale is a version of the Greek myth of Prometheus: It is said that Asteros looked down out of his golden chariot one night and saw the Atlantean people huddled in the dark. Taking pity on the humans, he reached up into the sky and took a handful of stars and gave them to the people and showed them how to make fire—their own version of heavenly light.

Astral Blast
    (See Godbolt.)

Astrid
    Daughter of Themis, and youngest sister to the Fates. She is a justice nymph, an impartial judge sent down to earth to rule on possible Rogue Dark-Hunters. Since her eyesight becomes forfeit when she is sent to judge someone (in order to remain impartial), she turns to her Were-Hunter friend Sasha during these times for protection.

Astrid is married to Zarek of Moesia (bless her patient soul), the first Dark-Hunter she ever judged who lived. Her favorite book, given to her by Acheron, is
The Little Prince.

H
EIGHT
: six feet

H
AIR
/E
YES
: honey blond/pale blue

F
EATURED
N
OVEL
:
Dance with the Devil

Athena (Minerva)
    Virgin goddess of Wisdom and War; daughter of Zeus. She was the first to teach the science of numbers and all ancient women’s arts, such as cooking, weaving, and spinning. She never loses a battle, and does not bear arms in times of peace. But watch out, she often borrows weapons from her father, including but not limited to: the aegis, the buckler, and thunderbolts.

Athena’s mother was Metis, a woman who spurned Zeus’s advances much as Daphne fled from Apollo. But Zeus was not as easily dissuaded as his son. Once she was pregnant, it was prophecied that the second child of Metis would overthrow Zeus … so he swallowed her whole. (Gods are so melodramatic.) Zeus later ran to Hephaestus with a splitting headache (sorry, I couldn’t resist). The smith opened Zeus’s head with a blow from his ax, and out popped Athena, fully grown and in full dress armor.

Athena was fond of many Greek heroes and assisted them in their quests, helping many of the Greek superheroes attain their goals. Those she helped included Perseus, Jason, Cadmus, Odysseus, and Heracles. While she could be tough, Athena was a modest, generous, and benevolent goddess. The Greeks built the Parthenon as a temple to her. Athens is also named in her honor.

Athena is lovely and wonderful, yes, but don’t ever let your guard down around her. Despite her benevolence, even Pallas Athena has succumbed to moments of petty godliness. (See Arachne.) Above all, never forget:
Athena always wins.

H
AIR
/E
YES
: curly black/blue

B
IRD
: owl

T
REE
: olive

S
YMBOL
: aegis, helmet, shield, spear

Atlantia
    Ancient Atlantean goddess; the eldest sister of Archon. Her name means “graceful beauty.” Atlantis was named after her.

Atlantis
    An ancient island civilization with an advanced culture, and its own pantheon of gods. It sank into the Aegean Sea more than eleven thousand years ago, legends say, at the hands of a vengeful Apollo.

Atropos
    Nickname: Atty. Eldest of the Fates. Responsible for cutting the threads of lives. Atropos is the smallest of the Fates in stature, but the most feared. Atropos and Ash do not get along (really, none of the Moirae can stand him).

Badb
    Irish goddess of War often known to take the form of a crow or a wolf. Badb was the sister of Macha and the Morrigán. She also was reported to have prophesied the end of the world.

Basi
    The Atlantean goddess of Excess and Intoxication, Basi is the daughter of Epithymia (Desire) and Misos (War). She is said to have been conceived the night her father won a major battle against the Greek pantheon. Drunk on his own power, he ravished Epithymia. (In some more popular versions, it was Epithymia who ravished him.)

Completely hedonistic, Basi takes numerous lovers and is seldom seen sober. She is a mischievous goddess who loves to create havoc in mortal lives. Basi is often blamed for illicit affairs and for greed.

Bast
    Egyptian goddess whose name means “devourer.” The protector of Egypt, she is often depicted as a fierce lion. Bast was originally a goddess of the Sun (serving Ra), but was later changed by the Greeks to a goddess of the Moon: the source of her enmity with Artemis.

Blood-Bond
    The vampiristic (and very sexual) bond between two people where one has to drink from the other in order to survive. There is a blood-bond between Acheron and Artemis, as well as between Sin and Katra Agrotera.

Boreas (Aquilo)
    God of the North Wind, who brings the deadly winter. He also saved Athens from attack by the Persian King Xerxes. Fond of horses, Boreas lived in Thrace.

Bran
    Also known as “Bran Fendigaid” or “Bran the Blessed” in Celtic mythology, Bran was the son of the sea god. He can bestow upon souls the right to be reborn into the human world.

B
IRD
: raven

Brigid
    Daughter of the Irish god Dagda, and keeper of the sacred flame. Her powers and aspects are much like that of the Greek goddess Athena.

Calliope
    Chief of the Muses. The Muse of Epic Song. A great friend of both Meatloaf and Celine Dion.

Camulus
    Black-haired Gaulish god of War, forced into retirement. Runs with Ares, Kel, and Ara.

Caradoc
    Charonte demon.

H
EIGHT
: four feet

T
RUE
F
ORM
: black wings, yellow eyes, skin marbled black and dark green

Cassiopeia
    Constellation; queen of Ethiopia and mother of Andromeda. In her vanity and pride, she boasted that she and her daughter were more beautiful than the sea nymphs, thus incurring the wrath of Poseidon. To thwart his curse, Cassiopeia chained Andromeda to a rock as a sacrifice, but she was saved by the hero Perseus. Poseidon’s punishment for Cassiopeia was to place her in the heavens, upside down on her throne in disgrace for all to see forevermore.

Catubodua
    Gaulish goddess of Victory, often synonymous with Badb.

Cerberus
    Three-headed snake-tailed dog who guards the gates of the Underworld. He keeps the living from entering, and the dead from leaving. And he does a good job … when he’s not drugged or magicked by someone who’s cleverer than his master.

Ceredons
    Creatures with the head of a dog, the body of a dragon, and the tail of a scorpion. Protectors of Apollymi. They are forbidden to leave her realm (at least, they’re
supposed
to be).

Chara
    The Atlantean goddess of Joy. It is said that Chara and her sister Agapa were born the moment Archon first looked at his half-sister Apollymi. His heart swelled to ten times its normal size and out of it popped Love (Agapa) and Joy (Chara).