Another of his lover's is being led to the Underworld. Her name was Semele. There will be another bastard that Zeus will love and will hate. My plan worked, she can't seduce my husband any more. Why do I still feel so empty?
I love him. Even after all of this pain, all of this humiliation. I take out all my anger on these poor girls who stand no chance when he wants them. I know that. Didn't I try to resist?
I just can't hurt him. Not really. I can rage at him. I can yell. Who am I kidding? I do rage and yell at that man.
To really hurt him, though? Never. And the Fates know I could, if I wanted to.
I just always remember back when the world was knew and he loved me. Really loved me. I always turned away from his advances. What strength I had as a Virgin Goddess. I was so young. So naïve. So convinced I could dominate this lightning god.
You have no idea how hard it is to say 'No' to Zeus when he's looking at you with those piercing blue eyes. He radiates power. He has since the beginning. Just standing beside him makes you tingle with his energy. He is exhilarating.
I resisted though. I told him that I was Virgin and would stay one with a coquettish smile. I am beautiful. I know that, just as other goddess know it. I knew he wanted me so badly it hurt him.
I was driving him crazy because he couldn't demand things of me that he could of others. He had decided to share his power with his siblings. That meant me. He couldn't start off by going back on a decree.
So when he made that storm, I was completely unsuspecting. Sometimes a storm just is a storm. Other times, it's Zeus. I remember seeing the pitiful little cuckoo being blown by the wind. I was born to be a mother. I knew that even when I was a virgin. I instantly swept the poor thing up in my arms and held it close.
One moment I was holding this poor little thing in my arms and the moment after I was held equally as close in the arms of the greatest god on Olympus. How can I explain Zeus's presence to anyone who hasn't experienced it? He is intoxicating. Sweeter than any nectar or ambrosia. I knew I was lost as soon as he brushed a wet strand of hair off my rain swept face.
"Be my queen, Hera" His voice was so soft. So low. It still rumbled like thunder and I could feel it in my chest. I could barely breath. "Be my love and my wife."
He knew I was his when I looked up into those piercing eyes. I remember how happy his smile was. He looked like he had just won the greatest prize on Gaea's sweet earth. He knew I was his soul, heart and body. That is a tremendous thing in the lives of Immortals. Few love as deeply as this. Immortality is an inconceivable to you mortals, with Death marking every move you make. You say you will love forever. But you can never know the truth of those words unless you have forever to look forward too. I loved him, though. I love him still.
That just makes it hurt worse. Every time he looks at one of those garish nymphs or one of those mortals he loves so. Every time hurts like that first time I found out he strayed from our marriage bed.
So what do I do? I hurt those who love him like I do. I yell. I rage. It's all I can do to keep my dignity and my husband. I know that I am considered a bitch. A shrew. It's because I am. He and his lovers have made me hard.
It is because of my love for him. All of it is. That's the only way I can defend myself as I watch another of his lovers follow Hermes to the Underworld… because of me.