Pain sears through my chest like red ice. My shoulders crumple in as I dare to take in a deep breath. I can't breathe. But I can. It's merely panic. I look down at the ice pick protruding from my chest. Smears of my blood coat it. I don't know how I'm getting out of this one alive.

"You're no mortal," growls a voice behind me.

I clutch the icicle even though the ice burns my hands. "And you're a coward," I hiss, my chest heaving with shallow, hollow sips of air. "Striking me from behind." I can't even turn to see him - all I know is he's not perched on his throne now.

A snarl sounds behind me. "I do not fear you, boy."

I need my sword. I need to move. My hands tighten around the ice, until black veins rise from my skin, turning the ice black. CRSKK! It shatters to the ground. I gasp as the air goes through the wound in my chest. I look down and see the red tissue turn into a void. The black suctions it back into skin.

My body feels weightless. I rip my sword from my scabbard and whirl around, slashing Nader in the face. His white skin and black beard has morphed into icy blue flesh and a white mane, on the face of a horned beast. He towers over me, letting out a monstrous roar as crimson lines his cheek.

He raises a clawed hand and snatches me up by my collar, pinning me against the wall. "You will regret ever stepping a foot in here," he vows, his scarred face warped with wraith. "Why did you dare come here?" He demands, pushing into my collarbone - hard.

"I come on behalf -" I choke from the pressure. My hand shakes for my sword, which is knocked onto the ground. "I come... on behalf... of Erebus," I manage to strangle out.

His glowing blue eyes dim. "What does he want?"

I grasp my hand around his wrist - thick and heavy against my neck. "Unhand me," I grunt, watching my black veins resurface on my hand.

His eyes glance down to them, then back at me. His beastly nose crinkles in contempt, and he drops his grip entirely. "Speak now!" he roars, still towering over me.

I land with a slight thud onto the ground. My ribs ache as I inhale. But I pick myself and my sword back up. "Then change," I insist, gripping my sword firmly. "Unless you are so threatened by me that you must remain a beast."

His dark lips curl up in response. With a guttural growl, he pushes past me and through the waterfall, his figure shrinking to his former state. Like Erebus - mortal-like, but far too giant in height and muscular culture to be human.

I follow him through the waterfall, my blood pounding with adrenaline. Every part of me says I should not trust him. And I don't. Not a single bit. Water drips down my face. My entire body shivers. I grit my teeth together as I stalk after him.

His thick, dark fur coat trails behind him. He turns to sit in his throne, with his large, ripped chest protruding with anger. "How did you reach me?" he asks, his voice rumbling through the icy colosseum like an earthquake.

I move closer, my jaw set against the chills surging through me. "The trident," I answer, staring down at his piercing eyes, that seem to cut through the cold itself. He isn't so different from Erebus - a sharp face, framed by long, black hair that sweeps back in a wild, untamed grace, and a beard that brings forth the edge in each of his features.

Except, everything about Nader screams an unbridled anger, one that cannot be contained. A desire to assert his dominance wherever he decides.

"Heavy hearts will sink," he declares, as if I am to know what it means. "Yours," he says, pointing to my chest. "Is heavy. And yet, you didn't die."

I sheath my sword. "Because my purpose for being here is greater than any forged fate."

He lifts his chin, a glare still carved into his face. "So, what is your purpose? Why does Erebus send you?"

"Because I am his son," I announce, watching his face flicker with surprise. "And we plan to put Avel's head on a pike. Whether you would like to be on our side or be a head piece is up to you."

His hands curl into fists, resting on the ice arms of his throne. "You can't pull off such a feat," he denies, his lip pulling up in annoyance. "Son of Erebus or not, neither of you are a match for Avel. To even come to me with such a plot is treason in itself."

I grind my teeth together before I speak. "As I said," I continue, "you are either with us, or against us."

Nader stares me down, ancient, angry power diffusing from him. Unconvinced. I can sense it - his desire for domination, his fear of not obtaining it.

"Do you truly want to hide under this cave forever?" I press, taking a step forward. "Remain under Avel's heel? You know he will never let you rise to your true power."

Nader shifts in his seat. His chin rests on his hand, a finger hooked over his mouth. "You cannot promise such a defeat," he says, decidedly, although his eyes dart with uncertainty.

"I can," I object. "With Erebus, you, myself and any of the other Gods that elect to join us, we will surely have victory against him."

He kisses his teeth and shakes his head. "For a half-mortal, you have the heart of a more powerful God than you will ever be."

I swallow my vexation at his words. "We'll see," I return, ensuring not to shift my gaze from him.

Nader knocks his knuckles against the arm rests, his mouth set in a hard line. "Fine," he snaps, rising from his throne. His large, ornate belt glints against his rugged, worn leather pants. A slight elegance to his savage appearance. "You have my alliance, mortal. Make it known to Erebus that this is only temporary. Once it is over, there is no truce between either of us."

I nod, feeling a twinge of satisfaction. "As you wish," I say, pausing, before I turn on my heels to leave. Even though I haven't the faintest idea of how to get out.

His cold-daggered gaze stabs into my back. "Azael," he says, his voice booming.

I turn slightly to face him, not showing that I'm confused as to how he knows my name, or that this feels like deja vu to the moment I parted from Erebus.

His eyes flash blue, even from here. "Avel knows everything," he tells me. "He will know you, and he will try to kill you along your journey."

I trace my tongue over my teeth, considering my words. "He will surely try."

With that, I take my leave, walking back through the waterfall. White light floods me. When it disappears, I find myself on top of the frozen lake, with Omen waiting in front of me. He neighs in greeting, and I reach to pet his mane.

One God conquered. Three more to go.