T he gods were still dying.

Forgotten and weak, Olympus was faded, and the mortals were unaware. But the gods were not going to watch helplessly as their own demise consumed them. They had not stopped caring. Not yet.

Though many gods were already gone, the ones that remained were the strongest. Though they were existing on borrowed time, it was still time. And the little time that remained would be enough for their plan.

Demigods to become gods.

Zeus, King of the gods, was prepared and alert. His throne was left vacated as he travelled around Olympus, preparing the gods for what was to come next. His selection was simple, and he was assured that all would be well. Lightning crackled in his wake, reminding everyone of the power that he still possessed. He no longer longingly gazed towards the lands that once praised his name; Zeus found that his name upon his wife's lips was a holier prayer.

Hera, the Queen of the gods, no longer had to wait alone. Her husband was alive with a mortal energy, as was she. Next to Zeus, they plotted and planned, his lightning and energy filling the immortal air with renewed life. Her husband was finally home.

Poseidon, the Lord of the Seas, left the ocean, and returned to Olympus, where Athena told him her plan. Though the tides had long ago slipped from his control, he did not mind. Another power took control of them, and Poseidon was happy to see the gentle waves break as if his selection chose itself.

Hades, the King of the Dead, left the Underworld with Persephone. They returned to Olympus, and agreed to help. Though his selection was difficult, he was certain of himself. The Fates has revealed who would embrace and escape the darkness, and so he had chosen. The falling darkness still loomed ahead of Hades and Persephone, but they were not afraid. The darkness could never kill them.

Artemis, the goddess of the Moon, halted her eternal hunt. She returned to Olympus, where they told her of their plan. She looked, and selected the one who was unrestrained and unconfined and unafraid. The one who would never fall to a mortal death, and who would run wild and free.

Apollo, the god of the Sun, reunited with his sister in Olympus. He selected the one who was hope and healing incarnated. The one who would forever be a bright light in the rising darkness. For now, Apollo was that light. He was no longer that distant shadow he once was.

Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was not alone. Her selection was almost too easy; she chose the one who loved unabashedly and freely. Though she no longer had the power that she used to, she was still in love with love. And she was not afraid.

Ares, the god of war, selected the one who had never yearned for the bloodlust of battle. Who had never lived for the clash of metal on metal, for the bloody deaths that only war could bring. Ares selected the one who prayed for peace. Who prayed that one day, there would be no need to fight to the death. The one who eternally prayed for forgiveness. Ares was rarely afraid, and he was not now.

Hephaestus continued to construct ancient wonders with ancient metal. But he no longer worked alone. Certain with his selection, he created depictions of the victories that the gods had won. He placed them in the middle of Olympus, and felt the untrusted hand of hope touch his shoulder. But, for once, he trusted it.

And Athena, the goddess of wisdom, rejoiced in her plan. Her triumph for Olympus was dawning, a final sunrise before the darkness. But the Sun would rise again, and so would an Olympian victory. It just would never be the victory of these gods.

But of demigods who became gods.

A/N

i'm back! i hope that you enjoyed the (rewritten) prologue of "Waiting on You: Book Two of the Demigod Selection". if you haven't already, read "The Demigod Selection" first, or else you might have no idea what's happening.

this book, as well as TDS is being rewritten in order to make more sense (seeing as i wrote this three years ago when i was so young and incredibly oblivious towards the wonderful world of plot development and grammar). so there will be some changes, and i'm excited to see what you think of them.

And last but not least, i'd like to thank all of you for reading this book,  and helping "The Demigod Selection" ever happen.