The Immortal Heart

Chapter 25

Hades awoke at the break of dawn with Demeter curled up against him. His sister was asleep and feverish, her cheeks flushed and hot, but at least she was still breathing. Sometime during the night, Poseidon had relieved Zeus from his shift of keeping watch, and the youngest god was now lying only an arm’s length from Hades himself, asleep in a seemingly uncomfortable position on the cave floor.

Poseidon, Hestia and Hera had set up an improvised hearth near the entrance of the cave and sat gathered around it, eating slivers of roasted boar meat along with vegetables from their garden.

The scent of food made Hades’ own stomach gurgle, and he realized he had pretty much neglected his own needs to focus on Demeter’s. He glanced at his sleeping sister, contemplating if he could leave her just for a short while to still his hunger. Zeus would remain close by; surely he would wake up at any sign of distress from the wounded goddess?

The god gently freed himself from his sleeping sister, making sure she was well covered by Zeus’ robes, and made his way toward his other three siblings. The chilly morning air made him shiver in his practically naked state, but he did not allow this to bother him for long. Sacrificing his clothes to be used as bandages for his sister was something he would do again in a heartbeat.

Poseidon offered his elder brother some meat, which Hades gratefully accepted. Hestia asked how their sister was doing, and Hades answered that she seemed to be feeling a little better, though in truth he was not sure at all. Hera merely gave her brother a sullen glance and continued eating her breakfast.

“When our brother has woken, we will head to the shore,” Poseidon said in a poor attempt to initiate conversation. “If our boat is still in working order, we shall get supplies to bring with us on the voyage.”

“I’ll go with you,” Hera interjected, earning a surprised look from both her brothers. “I can help carry things.”

In truth, Hera’s willingness to help stemmed from an intense dread of being left alone with Hades and her two sisters. Not only did she despise her eldest brother, but he was also too weak and inexperienced to defend them against any dangers.

The notion of waiting was detestable to Hades in present time. The sooner the group departed for Crete, the better. True, Zeus had stayed awake for most of the night, but Zeus was also always the first to brag how strong he was, how long he could go on without pause for rest.

While the others discussed the roles of each sibling, Hades quickly ate his share of breakfast, stood up, walked over to his youngest brother and kneeled over him. Zeus looked beautiful when he slept, and the other god thought he might always think that of him no matter what. Even when his mouth hung open, he looked lovely. Smiling, Hades nuzzled his brother’s face, causing the youngest god to twitch in his sleep until lips pressed against his.

Blue eyes opened and Zeus sleepily regarded the face looking down at him. He smiled in spite of his exhaustion and lifted a hand to rest against a hollow cheek.

“Are you hungry?” Hades asked. Zeus grunted in affirmation. Already he could smell the aroma of tender, delicious meat and freshly cut vegetables.

“Get your own breakfast first,” Zeus said, yawning. “I will look after your sister.”

“I have already eaten,” Hades replied. “Go ahead.”

Receiving a kiss, the elder god watched as his brother rose from where he slept and ate his own share of breakfast, discussing the plans of the day with Poseidon.

“Hades…?”

Hearing Demeter’s voice made Hades start in surprise, and he wheeled around to regard his sister. Though her eyes read of discomfort and exhaustion, she was looking right at him. He quickly reached her side and took one of her hands.

“What’s happening?” she asked tiredly.

“We are leaving soon,” he answered, stroking the back of her hand. “Zeus thinks that our mother may be able to help us… and help you.”

“Our mother…?” Demeter said with a frown. “Where is she? And how will we get to her?”

“Zeus insists that she still dwells on Crete,” Hades replied, but he knew as little of this as his sister. They all simply had to trust their youngest brother to be right. “We must travel over the sea to reach her.”

“But how…?”

“Worry not, dearest,” Hades cut in, not wanting Demeter to get too excited in her state of illness. He brushes her tangled tresses of hair away from her face. “The boat will carry us. All of us. There is no need for concern.”

The goddess inhaled, gathering strength in order to speak again and hopefully communicate what she wished to say. “I meant… how do you know… that she’ll want to help us?”

Hades lowered his eyes, feeling empty and deflated. Indeed, how could they be sure that Rhea, a titaness, would even be willing to help the Olympians, even though they were her own children? Granted she had helped Zeus escape his destiny and allowed the god to free his older siblings, but that did not mean she wanted anything to do with her rebellious offspring.

“Because she is our mother,” he said after a long pause. “And Zeus knows her. He would not have suggested we go to her if he wasn’t sure.”

Demeter nodded, still doubtful but not wanting her siblings or herself to lose hope. “I am thirsty,” she said. “Hades, can I please have some water?”

Her brother nodded and left to do her bidding at once.

*

Zeus ate in haste and quickly readied himself to visit the fortress once more. He raised an eyebrow at Hera’s request to accompany them but did not object to bringing her along. Their eldest sister was strong for a goddess and they could use an extra pair of arms to carry supplies. As his robes were still being used as a blanket by his wounded sister, Zeus was left to clothe himself in naught but a belt with a scabbard attached to it.

“Hopefully we will find more with which to clothe ourselves when we reach the fortress,” he muttered, regarding the way Hera stared at his exposed form. Hera did not mind at all to see Zeus unclothed, and her pleased smile told him so.

“You must look after your sisters,” the youngest Olympian said as he approached Hades. He gently grasped his eldest brother’s shoulders so that they could look one another face to face. A trace of doubt must have flickered in Hades emerald eyes, because Zeus rested his forehead against that of his brother, a gesture of reassurance.

“Take care of them.”

“But I am not a warrior like you or Poseidon. What if we are attacked?” Hades asked him. “Or if you do not return… what should we…?”

A kiss was placed against his lips, silencing his doubts if only for a moment. The kiss was broken and their lips hovered a breath from each other.

“We will return,” Zeus said. “We will reach the sea and find our mother.”

He refrained from mentioning anything about Demeter. He did not want to promise anything of her fate, but he hoped deeply that she would live from this horrible ordeal.

“I will try my best,” Hades finally said. A large, warm hand stroked his cheek before Zeus turned and joined Hera and Poseidon. Hestia and Hades lingered at the mouth of the cave, watching their siblings depart with a mixture of sadness and blind anticipation, hoping that things would not turn out for the worst.

*

Zeus, Poseidon and Hera all approached the shore with both hope and dread in their hearts, hoping that the fishing boat would still lay tied to the bridge, but fearing that it would be gone or be as damaged and beyond saving as their home. Prepared for the worst, the two gods and the goddess were overjoyed at the sight of the small construction steadily bobbing up and down on the waves passing beneath it. Hope had been rekindled.

Zeus considered ordering his brother to guard the boat while he and their sister went to look for supplies, but it occurred to him that since the titans had disregarded their little fishing boat the previous day, they would not waste time or energy to return just to destroy it.

The fire which had consumed the Olympian fortress had died out during the night, and all that remained now were blackened ruins of their once proud home. At first glance Zeus figured that heading inside would not only be risky due to the danger of falling debris but also a waste of time, but once they had circled the ruins it became clear that the western wing had survived the attack better than they had expected.

“My living quarters used to be in that wing,” Poseidon mused. “Perhaps we could see if there’s anything left to bring with us?”

“Hopefully some of your robes have survived as well, brother,” Zeus muttered, not really bothered by modesty as much as the cold. Sleeping last night had been a grim ordeal without any clothes or bedding, and he dearly hoped that this little trip would be able to remedy that. Also, the family needed clothes for both Hades and Demeter, as well as something to use as bandages for the goddess’ burn wounds.

“One of us should go back and report our findings to the others,” Hera suggested.

“None of us should be traveling alone,” Zeus replied, pushing debris aside to find several vials of medicines. Being experienced in weapons and combat, Poseidon wisely had kept his own stock of ointments and ingredients for treating wounds, and Zeus brightened just slightly at the discovery.

“We will be fine as we are,” he said. “We will all return to the cave together once we are done here.”

Hera restrained her look of disappointment. She had been hoping to convince Poseidon to leave so that she might have some time alone with Zeus in order to bond with him, but such strategy would have to wait until later. Instead she gathered what she could of blankets, sheets and chitons.

Poseidon, with weapons gathered, had also come upon his fishing spear, and he could not help but smile at the find. Despite Hades’ nausea interrupting that day, realizing the success of his new weapon had been one of the happier memories concerning the time spent between him and his brothers.

“Perhaps I might be able to catch something for us at sea,” he mused aloud, indicating his spear to Zeus.

The younger god smiled at the thought, his mind also taken back to the day he and his brothers spent on the edge of the river. He could almost laugh now at his frustration with catching eels in the murky waters, grabbing at them like a clumsy beast. Zeus’ heart sank a little at the thought of Hades, who had suffered so much already with a lost child, a lost home, and now the possibility of a lost sister.

Possessions gathered in his arms, Zeus tramped out of the wreckage and back to the cart. He would have his family happy and safe again, he was certain of that.


TBC...