The Immortal Heart

A/N: I apologize for the "shortness" of this chapter. The next chapter will most definitely be longer. We're very glad you're enjoying this story!


Chapter 31

The eldest goddess’ mood had not improved much until breakfast. Rather than joining her siblings around the dining table, Hera prepared herself a plate with food to bring with her when she retreated into her quarters. However, the brainless, contented grins plastered onto the faces of Demeter and Hades had made her lose what little appetite she had left, and most of the food on her plate was left untouched.

Hera remained in her bedchamber as the rest of the family got on with their chores, even though she knew that her behavior would only earn her a scolding from Zeus. She was not completely averse to the idea. In scolding her, at least Zeus would have to notice his eldest sister.

Shortly after midday, when Hera did not believe the day could turn out any worse, the sound of a nymph arriving told her that she had been wrong.

“Zeus is asking for a reason behind your vanishing,” the slender creature said from her perch on the window frame.

In the silence of the room, Hera could hear the faint click every time the nymph’s large eyes blinked. She ignored her visitor and pretended to preoccupy herself with flicking small crumbs of food from her plate.

“What shall I tell him?” the nymph pressed on.

“You shall tell him nothing, because I will give no answer.”

The nymph cocked her head at the reply, her movements quick and twitching like a bird. Again adopting the movements of such an animal, she jumped into the room. “You are troubled, sister of Zeus,” she stated.

Hera almost sneered at the being. She wondered if the nymphs had bothered to learn or memorize any of the gods’ names, or if they only found importance in the relation to Zeus, conqueror of the hearts and bodies of nymphs everywhere.

“I have been told by your brother that I am vastly skilled in providing comfort,” the nymph said, her face lighting up as she warmed to an idea. Hera had a feeling she knew what this idea entailed.

“And what does that have to do with me?” the goddess asked irritably.

The nymph smiled, golden eyes catching the light from outside. These creatures had to have been created for the sole purpose of supplying pleasure, Hera suspected.

“I can provide comfort to you,” the nymph said, hands immediately parting Hera’s robes without question. Hera’s eyes widened and tried to pull the hands away, but the slender fingers were back the moment they had been parted from the cloth.

When the hands began to massage her now bare breasts as if it was something the nymph did each day, Hera’s eyesight blackened and she reacted without a second thought. A desolate cry of shock and pain reverberated between the walls when Hera’s fist connected with the smaller being’s jaw and sent her sprawling onto the floor in a heap of limbs, her earlier grace all but gone.

“Never touch me again!” the furious goddess snarled, rising to her impressive full height to glower at the nymph lying at her feet. The blood seeping from the other’s bottom lip provided Hera with a kind of perverse satisfaction, and she considered kicking the already cowering creature to cause it further harm.

“I… I…” the fearful nymph stammered, already covering her head with her hands to shield herself from further blows.

“Unless you are going to beg for forgiveness, keep your mouth closed and leave this room at once!”

The nymph scrambled to her feet to do just that, but before she could flee from the goddess’ wrath, the door to Hera’s room opened, revealing Zeus in the doorway.

“What is this ruckus?” he asked, scowling at the scene before him; Hera with the halves of her robe still parted, and the frightened nymph sporting a swollen, bleeding lip.

“This creature assaulted me!” Hera snapped at once. “I was merely defending myself.”

Zeus raised an eyebrow at his sister’s explanation. He knew that wood nymphs were rarely ever violent by nature; by “assault” Hera had to mean something different, and he did not even require a vivid imagination to figure out what.

“Melia,” he said gently, grasping the nymph’s shoulder in order to escort her out. “I know you meant well, but you shouldn’t have done that. Hera is not like myself; she only tolerates the touch of a select few.”

“You make a severe understatement, my dear brother,” Hera all but growled out. Ignoring his eldest sibling, Zeus delicately wiped the line of blood from Melia’s injured lip.

“My dear,” he said sweetly, “go to my other sisters and they will look after that lip of yours.”

The nymph did as told without hesitation, scampering out of the room. Rubbing at his forehead, Zeus stood straight as he faced his sister, his stature that of someone who not only demanded respect, but expected it.

“We are under enough duress as it is, Hera,” he said. “We need not add more by causing strife amongst friends.”

“Friends??” Hera nearly laughed at the word. “These individuals may have raised you and taught you the ways of making love, but they are not friends of mine, and I refuse to be groped and molested by them when enjoying my peace and solitude.”

“We have very few whom we can trust to call friend in such times,” Zeus replied, a glare knotting his features. “Every moment that I hear movement in the nearby wood, I fear that it may be those who wish to expose us to Cronos. The rest of us have been preparing retaliation against the titans…”

“Preparing!” Hera exclaimed, as the noise which kept her awake last night did not sound advantageous to retaliating against the titans at all, but she shut her mouth when she noticed the way her brother’s hands constricted into fists.

“…and your desire for solitude is not helping us in the very least,” Zeus continued.

The goddess saw something dangerous in his eyes.

“What would you have me do?” Hera asked glumly, not wanting to be the subject of Zeus’ fury despite the fact that she considered his actions to be deeply and wrongfully unfair. The slinky little nymph had deserved that blow and more; Zeus need not scold her for something that she had no blame in.

“You can begin by helping your sisters make this place more homely. You were the first to complain about the state of it, so I also expected you to be the first to take steps to correct it.”

Zeus did not stay to hear his sister’s response to his statement; he had more important things to do than wasting time bandying words with Hera. The oldest goddess’ behavior was a constant source of aggravation, however, and Zeus wondered what was truly eating away at her.

Granted their situation was dire, and this new home did not provide a fraction of the comforts the old fortress had to offer, but even though Hera was not alone in this, she was the only one to constantly complain.

Demeter narrowly escaped the clutches of death, and not once has she complained, Zeus thought. Unless Hera’s dispirited mood soon changes for the better, something has to be done.

Preparing for another hunting trip, Zeus thought back on the way Hera had reacted to Melia’s advances, and it struck him that perhaps his sister should have accepted them instead of violently rejecting the nymph. His eldest sister was far too edgy and tense, and Zeus knew from personal experience that nymphs excelled in providing distraction from such.

*

The following week passed at an agonizing pace, and the slow dredge of time was affecting everyone. Though thankful for the warmth and safety of a shelter, the home was nothing like the gods’ fortress, especially when compared in size. The fortress was big enough to provide privacy, the siblings were feeling cramped against one another.

Homesickness had gotten to everyone in some capacity, further darkening their moods, and just a few hours after dawn Hades had to step in between Poseidon and Hestia concerning the trivial matter of where to store dates. Even the nymphs were growing agitated, but this was likely because Hera continued to rebuke their advances through threats of physical pain.

Zeus of course avoided most of the aggravation through the excuse of keeping vigil and hunting, but both were activities he could only perform so often. Hades, feeling the shadow of gloom just like the others, was more than happy to oblige his youngest brother in bed. At least in their mating the two gods felt some iota of peace, however brief.

Three more days passed after that week before the gods received any kind of news. Rhea’s face appeared in a river just as Zeus and Poseidon were about to fish from it. The image of her unearthly countenance quivered on the surface with the ripples of the water.

“The giants have informed me that their weapons are complete,” the flickering face said.

“Is it true?” Zeus immediately asked, promptly releasing his hold on the fishing net, which would have sunk into the river had Poseidon not caught it. “Can you tell me more about these weapons now, mother?”

“It is better if I do not,” came Rhea’s answer, her voice accompanied by the lapping of water against their boat. “It is of utmost importance that Cronos does not learn of this before you are ready to face him in battle.”

Zeus did not pressure his mother for more information, but unless the weapons arrived soon, his curiosity was going to be the end of him.

“When will we see them?” he asked instead, hoping that Rhea could at least provide an answer to that question.

“The Cyclopes will send a messenger to deliver them within the following days. Until then, my children… Try not to do anything rash or foolish.” The titaness did not bother to elaborate what she meant by that. Her features were erased from the water’s surface before her sons could ask any more questions, and they both knew that Rhea was no longer present to listen to them.

*

“Zeus, you look distraught,” Hades remarked when his brothers returned from their fishing trip with no fish to bring home. “Did something happen?”

“Rhea appeared,” the Olympian leader replied curtly.

“And…?”

“She said that our weapons have been completed.”

Hades’ eyes widened at the news. “But that is fantastic! What troubles you, brother?”

“She told us nothing about the nature of these weapons. And as it turns out, our allies won’t even deliver them by themselves. This had led me to start doubting the merit of our gifts.”

“Remember all of the care we have taken to hide ourselves,” Hades said as they walked together. “Giants are likely too big to be inconspicuous when we have enemies all around us.”

Zeus had to shake his head as he smiled. He grabbed Hades’ elbow, stopping him and turning the older god to face him. “When did you become so helpful?” he asked, looking into beautiful green eyes.

Hades blushed and averted his gaze.

“It was only in jest, sweet brother,” Zeus added, realizing his words may have sounded spiteful.

“Apologies, Zeus,” Hades said, rubbing at his face as though to will away the blush. “I fear that I am not often of any use at all.”

“You could not be more wrong,” the younger god said with a smile. “Who is that soothes my nerves at night in bed?”

Hades looked as though he thought very hard for the answer before he finally spoke. “Poseidon?”

Zeus laughed, a look of surprise on his face. “You actually made a joke…?”

Hades managed a small, timid smile. “I tried anyway.”

His attempt at humor was rewarded with a kiss.


TBC...