A New Flame

Jason stood from his blood throne and glanced at the dark waters before him. The moon shone brightly by his side and illuminated a path that glittered across the sea as he sighed with a heavy heart.

"It's time to end this," he said with a sneer.

The fledgling death god opened his fist and watched the blood dance gracefully in his palm like a ballerina. Flicking his hand in an upward gesture, he quickly dissolved the throne and materialized hundreds of blood spears into the night sky.

He snapped his fingers, and within an instant, plumes of white flames burst from the weapons.

"STOP!" a distraught voice screeched from beneath the sea's surface.

The hate reader swiveled his head as the violet gleam of his gaze followed behind. Squinting his eyes, he made out the figure of a mermaid with a stunning golden sword, pointing directly at the young man.

"Oh, a threat, is it?" he hissed in a deep and soulless voice. "Try me."