The Immortal Heart

A/N: I'm deeply sorry if we upset our dear readers with the events of the previous chapter, but I must ask you to hang in there... 'cos it's not over yet! And so Hades' ordeal continues...


Chapter 19

Days passed and Hades had lost count of how many times he had awoken to realize his loss had not been all a horrible dream. He had become so accustomed to carrying his unborn child that even after a week he had opened his eyes, felt his stomach, and glanced at it in alarm when he realized its misshapen quality, only to remember at least that he had given birth to a stillborn child. Those were the times he cried hardest.

Zeus, however, had not visited his brother’s chambers ever since the birth. Every time Hades was paid a visit by one of his siblings, he would ask for Zeus, and every time he did, his brother or sisters would make some sort of excuse as to why their leader would not come.

“I am sorry Zeus cannot visit. But we all grieve in our own way,” Demeter said one evening as Hades lay in bed. Though he had survived the grueling birth, he was left very weak. When he was not sleeping, he simply lay in bed and ate very little of the food he was given, likely a reason for his diminished strength as well.

“Zeus is finding his own way to cope,” his sister continued.

What about my way? Hades thought miserably as he watched his sister clean up after a barely touched dinner. It would not be so terrible if he were here with me.

Looking down at the meal, barely a few bites taken from it, Demeter sighed, frustrated. “You must eat, brother,” she said. “I know none of us can understand your pain. We all wish we could. We really do. But we cannot stand by while you refuse to eat.”

Hades simply turned his glance away, pretending to ignore her. Glaring, Demeter gathered up her things, picked up the food tray, and said good night to him, leaving the room. When he knew for certain that she was gone, Hades shut his eyes and awaited sleep, letting his tears fall.

*

Zeus had tried his best to purge his mind from the hideous memories of the night Hades gave birth, and he couldn’t think of a better way to do that than pretending that everything was back to normal. Procuring meat and seafood for his family had always been his duty, and Zeus was strongly determined not to let his grief impede on his duties.

“Poseidon, we should head out with the boat and procure some fish,” he told his brother one morning when they were alone. “Looks like the weather will work in our favor.”

The older god raised a questioning eyebrow. “We have plenty of meat; we only went hunting four days ago,” he said. “Also…” Poseidon knew it was hardly his place to question his leader’s motives, but it was painfully obvious that going on a fishing trip was only meant to distract Zeus from the real problem. “How are you coping, brother?” he asked, hoping he did not sound overtly concerned. Zeus did not respond well to pity. “Have you spoken yet with Hades? I hear he is—”

“I am well, thank you!” Zeus snapped back, his eyes flashing dangerously. “Also, I am the only one trying to move on with my life rather than dwell on the dreadful that happened. Why is that so wrong?”

“I never said it was wrong, brother,” Poseidon said diplomatically. “I was merely wondering if you have talked with Hades?” He paused, hesitating. “He has been asking for you.”

“I will speak with Hades when he comes out of his quarters and starts acting like a god!” Zeus said harshly, marking with his eyes that this would be the end of the discussion. “Do I have to do this on my own, or are you coming with me, brother?”

“I shall accompany you to the sea,” Poseidon said, still concerned but also not wanting to be the focus of the leader’s wrath.

Three goddesses were present when their brothers returned from the outing, fish gathered to the brim in woven baskets. Hera was the first to greet them, showering praise upon each of the gods before standing on tiptoe and giving Zeus an affectionate kiss.

“We shall have feasts even the Titans would envy,” she said. “There is no question of your skill.”

“Thank you, sister,” Zeus replied, tone indifferent. “Hestia, would you help Poseidon put our catch away?”

“Of course.” Hestia took one end of the basket dropped to the floor by her youngest sibling while Poseidon, second basket still over his shoulder, grabbed the other end. Together they hauled the quarry down the hall to prepare a meal and store the remainder of the fish.

“You must be tired, brother,” Hera cooed into her leader’s ear.

Demeter did not hear the rest of the conversation, as she found herself more useful elsewhere. She walked down the halls in the opposite direction of Poseidon and Hestia, and when she reached Hades’ living quarters, she softly knocked before entering.

“Only me, dearest,” she said, her presently typical greeting. Demeter expected to find her brother still lying in bed, his weakened form dwarfed beneath layers of blankets. Thus she was surprised to look up from shutting the door and seeing Hades sitting at the edge of his bed, quite naked, elbows resting on knees, and head down, staring at the floor three paces in front of him.

“Hades…?” Demeter addressed him, approaching and taking a seat next to him. “Are you alright?”

Hades was listening. He gave an almost imperceptible shrug, but he avoided his sister’s gaze. Demeter placed an arm over his shoulder. His skin felt quite cold. He had to have been sitting like this for quite some time.

“Are you sure you should be out of bed like this?” she asked.

Hades ignored her.

“Darling…” The goddess was running out of things to say or ask. Hades’ grief had him wrapped in a thick fog of desolation and despair, and it was hard for anyone, even Demeter herself, to reach through to him. She had dealt with him in a depressed state before, previously when Zeus turned him into a goddess without his consent, but even then his depression had not reached this level of apathy. It was as though Hades had simply lost the will to live altogether.

“Darling, what are you doing out of bed?” she asked, not really expecting an answer this time either. Therefore receiving one surprised her.

“I was… about to… take a bath…” Hades murmured, still looking at the same spot on the floor.

“Oh… I see.” Demeter supposed that she should be happy that her brother was actually making an effort to do something on his own, but she feared what might happen if Hades tried to take a bath in his current state of health. He might slip in the stairs, hit his head, and…

Another thought, even more terrifying, suddenly occurred to her. What if Hades deliberately went into the water to drown himself? Hours might pass before anyone found him, and by then it would be too late to save him.

“You shouldn’t bathe by yourself,” Demeter said with a sudden urgency to her voice. “Not until you build up your strength. Do you want me to help you? We could go to—” She was about to suggest that they could make a little trip to the spring in the forest, where Hades normally took his baths during the warmer months, but he cut her off before she could finish her proposal.

“No, there is no need. I will stay in bed.” The god lay back down, as still as a statue, and stared blankly into space with eyes that did not even acknowledge her.

Still Demeter did not want to leave. She feared what might be going on in her brother’s head, devoid of thoughts though it seemed. If Hades was planning his own demise, she had to make sure he did not put his plans into action.

“Our brothers just returned from the sea,” she said, trying in vain to catch his attention. “I did not see an octopus this time, but there will be a feast this evening. Would you care to join us? It might...”

“I don’t think so, sister,” Hades said.

“I would hope you are not deliberately avoiding eating,” Demeter finally said, losing patience. Hades would not end his own life if she could help it. “It is one thing to have lost your appetite, but steering clear of your meals on purpose is an entirely different matter. How do you think Zeus would feel if he knew you were sabotaging your own health?”

“He wouldn’t care,” Hades snapped. “He has made no effort to show concern for me, and he has not even seen me. He hates me.”

“Hades, he doesn’t—”

“He hates what I created and he hates the sight of me now because of it,” the god interrupted his sister.

She was surprised at his fervor, not only because of his bitterness, but because this anger was the only emotion she had witnessed from him after a week of depressed silence.

“So what would he care that I do not eat?” he demanded. “Answer that.”

“He would care,” Demeter argued, though she knew she was engaging in a lost battle. “You know how he behaves. Just give him some time…”

“He did not have a stillbirth,” Hades said, his voice returning to a cold, emotionless state. “He did not risk his health to keep a child. I gave him everything, and what did he grant me in return?”

Demeter was speechless, and she had no idea what to say or do. “Hades…”

“Leave me alone,” the god said, turning onto his side, back facing his sister. A tear slid down his face, but his expression remained unfeeling. “Just leave.”

Feeling thoroughly defeated, Demeter knew she would get nowhere else with Hades now. If she pushed him, he would only retreat further into himself, and she would never be able to get her brother back out again. Leaning forward, she kissed him on the temple, rose from the bed, and departed. Hades remained where he was.

Something has to be done, Demeter thought, walking down the halls. Hades could not stay alone for very long. Something had to be done.

After the supper, which was consumed in a most oppressing silence, Demeter took two of her siblings aside for a private talk. Zeus quickly retreated to his chambers once finished with his meal, and Hera seemed to have gone as well, which suited Demeter excellently.

“It is Hades,” she explained to Hestia and Poseidon once the three siblings were alone. “He is getting worse, not better, and I fear…” She had to pause, as he felt a tremble in her voice. “Our brother must not be left alone. Someone must stay with him at all times until we find some way to draw him out of his despondence.”

“He seems to want to be alone,” Hestia said. “Perhaps we should let him.”

“No, you don’t understand, sister,” Demeter protested, gripping her by the arm. “I fear he is… planning something. Something harmful.”

Poseidon couldn’t stifle the laugher that suddenly bubbled out of his mouth. “Demeter, please! This is outrageous. Hades has not been out of his bed for over a week! Are you actually suggesting he is plotting something?”

“Yes, against himself,” Demeter snapped, and her hands briefly itched to cuff her younger brother for his callous response. “Hades might try to end his own life if left unattended.”

Hestia paled at once. “Has he… has he said?”

“No. But I know him better than anyone. I can almost tell what he is thinking. I suspect that he already made an attempt earlier but became indecisive at the last minute. He…” She straightened her head. “I know this is a lot to ask from you. But will you help me?”

“Certainly,” Hestia said. “He is our brother, after all.”

Poseidon hesitated only for a moment before nodding as well. “It is our duty to take care of him.”

*

While Hera was more than pleased at how her plan had worked out, she was a little disappointed in Zeus’ recent lack of interest in her, along with everything else that did not require spending hours outside the fortress. They had not made love a single time since Hades’ miscarriage, and Hera was certain that Zeus had not used anyone to relieve his sexual needs. As it seemed he would not propose her, the goddess figured that she would have to be the one to take the first step on steering Zeus back on the right track.

Shortly after his bath, Zeus heard a knock on his door and begrudgingly asked the visitor to enter. Hera did so, holding a jar of wine in her hands, a seductive smile on her lips.

“I thought I might bring you something to relax with,” she offered, sauntering in. Her hips swayed as she approached him, her intent as obvious as a mountain. Remaining seated on his bed, Zeus watched her display with only slight interest.

“Poor dear,” Hera said, easing herself into her brother’s lap and placing the wine down on the table beside them. “Poor, poor dear… you look so distraught. Please… let me help…?”

Zeus stared ahead, even as his sister sat down in his lap, and so his vision rested on her chest. Her state of dress had been clearly planned for the purpose of her visit, as her breasts were barely swathed in a thin, translucent fabric. Looking up, his eyes met with hers. Hera leaned in and their lips connected perfectly.

“I just wish I could help…” Hera continued, kissing every part of her brother’s face. “If only… there was some way… that I could clear your mind…”

Zeus closed his eyes, leaning his head back and allowing her to kiss his neck, but he barely felt any satisfaction. The youngest Olympian would have thought that in his misery he might have jumped at the chance to distraction through fornication, but strangely he found himself indifferent.

If someone were to enter the room and spot their one-sided attempt at lovemaking, he could not have looked more bored and distracted from his sister’s maneuverings. Turning his head, Zeus glanced at the nearby table and saw the wine jar, recognizing the solid black glaze. This wine was part of the set he had made with Hades’ assistance.

Any thoughts of indulging in carnal pleasures quickly dissipated when he laid eyes on the wine. Thinking back on those times caused nothing but pain in his heart, and being with Hera, though he appreciated her attempts at help, would not set anything right.

When she reached in beneath his clothing to fondle his member, Zeus caught her wrist and promptly pushed the goddess off his lap. “Not now, sister,” he said. “I do not desire company tonight. Please leave.”

Hera stood up, her expression of shock and disdain being almost comical. “But, Zeus…” she tried. “You have not allowed yourself a release for such a long time… Don’t you think it would help?”

In one last, desperate attempt to convince her brother, Hera let her gown drop into a heap on the floor. She had an impressive body, and the goddess was aware of this. Not a slender sylph like her two younger sisters, she was toned and muscular almost like a god, yet when unclothed, one could plainly see that her curves were all in the right place.

It was a body Zeus had seen and coupled with countless times, and this time it left him unimpressed. “I do not like to repeat myself, Hera,” he said. “Leave now, or I will escort you out myself.”

What angered Hera even more than his blatant rejection was the fact that Zeus did not even look at her as he spoke his command but kept his eyes trained on the wine she had brought with her, even though he made no moves to reach for it.

“Suit yourself,” Hera hissed out, picked up her discarded gown and stomped out of Zeus’ quarters, practically seething with anger and wounded pride. “Poseidon,” she blurted upon seeing her younger brother as he just walked out of sight down the hall.

He backed up and looked around the corner as she came rushing towards him, barely wrapped up in her robes. “Is everything alright?” he asked, staring confusedly at her appearance.

“Where are you off to?” the goddess inquired, ignoring his question.

“Helping our sisters look after Ha—”

“I require your assistance,” Hera interrupted him, in no mood to hear her eldest brother’s name at the moment.

“Why? What’s the matter?”

Hera sighed, pushing her hair behind her shoulder. This required her to let go of part of her robes, which fell off of her left breast as she released her hold on them. Poseidon could not help looking at the exposed nipple. Hera smiled.

“Follow me,” she said. “We need to talk.”

Puzzled, the god did as told and followed her back to her living quarters.

“What on earth is this about?” he asked doggedly. Hera opened the door to her quarters and turned, taking her brother’s hand.

“The events of the past week have affected all of us. Zeus remains hidden away in plain sight, indulging in the hunt.”

Poseidon nodded, memories clear in his head of how the youngest god reacted to so much as sympathetic wheedling. He felt his sister’s hand squeeze his own.

“He has no time for fulfilling certain needs,” Hera continued. Her expression became quite sad. “Not even mine. I did not realize how lonely it could be.”

Gently, Poseidon pulled his sister toward him until their bodies touched. Her left breast, still exposed, rubbed against his chest, and he felt a nipple harden.

“Would you care for some company?” the god asked. Hera nuzzled his neck, her arms reaching around him in a seductive embrace.

“Would you?” she asked. “Come in.”

Poseidon had mixed feelings about Hera’s sudden interest in him. He had made advances on her several times in the past, but his oldest sister had always turned him down, stating that she would not let anyone except Zeus take her to bed. He desired her, of course, but knowing that she sought his company only because she had faced rejection from their youngest brother made Poseidon feel used, and not in a good way.

“Hera, perhaps this is not such a good idea…” he began, but before he could even begin explaining his viewpoint, his sister grabbed the front of his robes and roughly pushed him against the wall, kissing him. The god was too stunned by her aggressiveness to do anything except return the kiss, and soon he felt his body responding to the contact.

“Hera, I…” he tried again, but once again he was silenced by the goddess.

“Do not speak,” Hera commanded between the kisses. “This will be much more satisfactory for us both if you keep quiet.”

Poseidon only had experience with Hestia and Demeter, both much smaller than he, and he was surprised at not having to bend down to kiss Hera, who was only a couple of inches below him in height.

“You only want me because you cannot have Zeus,” he gasped and started panting heavily when Hera shamelessly pulled up his robe and began to pump his quickly hardening member.

The goddess gave him a wicked smile. “Even so… I hope you can convince me that I am not simply wasting my time.” She tugged none-too-gently on his organ and led him toward her bed, where Poseidon soon found himself naked on his back with his sister leaning over him like a predator.

By the third stroke as he lay on the bed, Poseidon did not care that he was being used. Now as good a time as any to give and receive pleasure, and his sister was right: the tragedy of the past week had affected everyone, not just Hades who had taken the worst, but his family, who mourned the loss and felt their eldest brother’s pain.

Hera, more than ready to couple with him, stretched over his body like a feline, and if Poseidon did not know better, he could have sworn he heard her purring. Her fingernails trailed over his skin, bringing the faintest contact, and he felt tiny jolts of energy pass through him from the stimulus. Her eyes locked with his, he watched, feeling rather helpless as she manipulated his phallus until she could literally back herself onto it. The snug sensation caused Poseidon to arch his back, and he moaned as skilled fingers caressed his neck and stomach.

“That’s good,” the goddess whispered. She grabbed one of her brother’s hands and guided it towards her, letting it rest against her own sex. Poseidon experimentally felt the downy fluff of hair there, searching for the sensitive parts hidden below.

This time it was Hera’s turn to cry out, and she leaned forward, taking Poseidon’s member with her. Poseidon grunted at the sensation of his sister tugging on his phallus without the use of hands.

Breathing hard, the god proceeded to finger Hera’s inner lips as she made love to him as though riding a horse. Poseidon’s chest heaved with the immaculate pleasure which rose within him, and he knew he could never regret allowing Hera to manipulate him as she did. He felt used, but he loved it all the same.

“Yes… yes…” he moaned, his voice a pleading tone.

He did not indulge in carnal pleasures nearly as often as Zeus, and could thus build up quite a lot of pent up frustration between the times that he did. Poseidon could only hope that he would last long enough to bring Hera to climax as well.

All too soon it was over, Hera’s channel tightening around Poseidon and triggering his release, which he spilled into his sister howling almost like a wolf. Knowing that this might be his first and only time with Hera, he wanted to make it last, but sadly the god went flaccid soon after his climax and felt his sister withdraw from him.

He reached for her, looking for confirmation, wanting her to say that he had not been a complete disappointment, but Hera was not interested in any afterglow with her brother. The one she wanted was Zeus, and Poseidon was not nearly sufficient to fill that void.

“Hera, I…” he began, rubbing the goddess’ neck with his hand, which Hera immediately shook off.

“I believe we are done here,” she said coldly, gathering her sheets to her chest. “Leave, brother.”

While Poseidon had not expected Hera to proclaim her undying love for him, the cold shoulder she gave him was still somewhat of a shock.

“Leave…?” he asked. “Did you not finish? If you allow me, I can help you…” He reached down to touch her sex again, but this only instigated a more violent response from Hera.

“I told you to leave!” she shouted in Poseidon’s face. “Leave at once! Do you hear me?!”

Giving a simple, stunned nod, Poseidon left the bed and went to get dressed. As he pulled on his clothes, he remembered that he was supposed to have relieved Demeter in Hades’ chambers over an hour ago.

By the time he had arrived at Hades’ quarters, he was quite flushed and sweating, not only from his recent coupling with Hera, but also from running nonstop to the room whilst haphazardly throwing on his robes. He knocked on Hades’ door, expecting Demeter to answer it shouting, but instead he came face to face with Hestia.

“Where have you been?” she asked, bewildered.

“Indisposed,” he answered, out of breath from his sprint through the halls. “I apologize, truly. I am so sorry I was not here sooner.”

“It is not a problem,” the goddess replied. “I had arrived when you were meant to. Demeter and I thought we might discuss who would look after Hades between you and I, but… here we are. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Poseidon insisted. “How is our brother?”

Hestia’s expression saddened. “The same. Sleeping for now. But he has not attempted anything similar to what Demeter suspects, so at least he is not that far gone.”

Her brother, no longer winded, nodded and looked beyond her so that he could peek inside the bedchambers. Hades lay in bed within, indeed asleep and unaware of his siblings’ conversation.

“For all our sakes, especially his…” Poseidon said, “I hope he does not try.”

*

Hera’s departure from Zeus’ quarters had hardly affected the leader of the Olympians. In truth he could not have been more grateful to see her go. His only wish now was to be alone, away from Hades and the memories he brought, and away from his siblings, who tried their best to shower reassurance on him as they did to their eldest brother.

Brother… what a travesty, Zeus thought bitterly. Hades might as well have remained a woman. Perhaps then he would have birthed an actual god and not a monster.

But that monster was not just created by Hades. Zeus was its father. How much of himself had created that misshapen creature? How much of its appearance could have been blamed on his seed alone?

Holding the jar of wine in his hands, Zeus stared at it resentfully, trying to figure out HOW everything had gone wrong so quickly and why, WHY did it have to happen??

A very sudden and intense fury welled up inside him, and before he could stop himself, Zeus had thrown the jar of wine against the wall, where it shattered in a thousand pieces and splashed the drink in every direction possible.

The fury did not last long, however, and soon gave way to an even stronger feeling of grief. Zeus realized for the first time that perhaps his siblings were right; he had not allowed himself to do any actual grieving over his child, and instead tried to find distraction in mundane activities of everyday life. Until he did and accepted it as a fact, he would not find peace.

Also, he had Hades to consider. Zeus had not spoken with his brother or even gone to see him after the dreadful moment when he forced Demeter to show him the carcass of his child. Did he still love his brother? Zeus did not have to think long to find an answer to that question, but was that love strong enough to survive something like this? Did he still want to make Hades his consort and plan a future with him by his side?

Until he had figured out the answer to those questions as well, perhaps it was for the best if he did not interact with his oldest brother, though it pained him to stay away. Zeus rested his head against his hands and did something he had not allowed himself to do in decades: he wept for almost a full minute.


TBC...