Oblivion's River

Oblivion's River The New Olympus Book Two Shoshana Rain Copyright Copyright © 2023 by Shoshana Rain All rights reserved. Cover Design by Moorbooks Design Edits by Samantha Edelman No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. This is a work of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Dedication To everyone who has ever felt invisible and unseen. To those just waiting for someone to discover you. Find your sunlight. Author's Note This is a fictional imagining of Greek mythology in the modern world. While I draw heavily on the mythology to inform the characters, story and world, this is in no way a retelling of existing myth. I also took some liberties as far as parentage and other details where I thought it would improve the story. My interpretations of these gods are entirely my own and may or may not reflect current popular views of Greek mythology. This story features a character with a disability, but is in no way a representation of disabled people's stories as the character is still a god. I have tried very hard to portray both with sensitivity and care, and I hope I have done him justice. There are also depictions of kink and BDSM in this book, but they are by no means a representation of those lifestyles and are not meant to educate on kink. Content Notes This story contains violent and sexually explicit scenes not suitable to all readers. All scenes of a sexual nature are consensual. Possible triggers include: Entrapment, magical choking (no chance of actual harm), magical restraints, Emotional abuse from a parent, mentions of past abuse from a family member, past abuse of a family member in flashback, drowning, violence, ableism, mentions of suicide ideation. Dramatis Personae Main Characters: Lethe: Goddess or daimona of oblivion or forgetting. She is imprisoned in Tartarus for poisoning her fellow gods with Oblivion and making them forget themselves. She is the daughter of Eris with no father. Granddaughter of Nyx. Hephaestus: God of smithing and the forge. He is recovering from having his memories taken from him after being poisoned with Oblivion by Lethe. He is a god of Olympus. Son of Zeus and Hera. Brother to Apollo, Ares and Hermes. Ex-husband to Aphrodite and Aglaea. Supporting Characters: Aglaea: One of the three Charites (Charis sing.). Goddess of beauty and adornment. Ex-wife of Hephaestus. Caretaker in charge of the Sanctuary. Apollo: King of the gods. Lover of Eris. God of the sun, reason, poetry, prophecy, music, archery, plague and healing. A god of Olympus. Freed Eris from her imprisonment in order to help find an end to the Decay. Twin to Artemis. Son of Zeus and Leto. Brother to Hephaestus. Aphrodite: Goddess of love and beauty. Born of Ouranos, she rose fully formed from the sea. Tried to kill Eris, and blames her for the near death of Ares. She is wife to Ares. Ex-wife to Hephaestus. Mother to Phobos and Deimos. Her handmaiden is Peitho. Ares: God of battle, war and battlelust. Ares was nearly murdered by the Erinyes and was eventually recovered from the Underworld. He is the son of Zeus and Hera, brother to Apollo and Hephaestus. Husband to Aphrodite, father to Phobos and Deimos. Former companion of Eris. Artemis: Goddess of the moon, wild animals, and the hunt. Is recovering her memories and strength from the Decay and Lethe’s Oblivion. Daughter of Zeus and Leto, sister to Apollo, Hermes and Hephaestus. Atê: Goddess of Ruin and reckless folly. She is famous for leading men and gods to ruin. She is banished from Olympus for tricking Zeus on Hera’s behalf. Her whereabouts are unknown, and she is counted as one of the missing. Daughter of Eris. Sister of Lethe. Calliope: Goddess of epic poetry and music. One of the nine Muses. She is currently recovering from memory loss at the Sanctuary. Daughter of Mnemosyne and Zeus, sister to Urania. Deimos: God of dread. He is son to Ares and Aphrodite. Twin to Phobos, he would pull his father’s chariot into battle. His whereabouts are unknown and he is counted as one of the missing. Eris: Queen of the gods. Lover of Apollo, Mother of Lethe and Atê. Goddess or daimona (spirit) of strife and discord. Was imprisoned in Tartarus for 700 years and on her release, stopped the Decay plaguing the gods. Daughter of Nyx and Erebus. Hecate: Goddess of magic, ghosts and the crossroads. A threefold goddess representing maiden, mother and crone. Serves as advisor to both the Underworld and Olympus. Daughter of Perses and Asteria. Consort to Hermes and lover to Peitho. Hermes: Messenger of the gods. Also the god of roads, trade, diplomacy, and thieves. A trickster type god. Advises his brother with Hecate on Olympus. Is helping Peitho recover. He is the son of Zeus and a nymph. Younger brother to Apollo and Husband to Peitho, consort to Hecate. Mnemosyne: Goddess of memory and mother to the nine muses, including Calliope and Urania. Daughter of Ouranos and Gaia. Is currently recovering from Decay and memory loss in the Sanctuary. Nemesis: Goddess or daimona of divine justice and retribution. Is Eris’ closest ally and advisor. Hunts wrongdoers at the behest of Olympus and the Underworld. Daughter of Nyx and Erebus. Sister to Eris. Lover to Dike. Persephone: Goddess of spring and rebirth. Queen of the Underworld. Wife to Hades. Daughter of Demeter and Zeus. Urania: Goddess of astronomy. One of the nine Muses. She is currently recovering from memory loss at the Sanctuary. Daughter of Mnemosyne and Zeus. Sister to Calliope. Mentioned but not featured: Alecto and Tisiphone: (deceased) Two of the three named Erinyes, also known by their Roman name: Furies. They are lesser goddesses of vengeance and retribution and serve the Underworld. Daughters of