Author's Note: Really quick Chapter 2! I probably won't keep up this pace, but I really wanted to get this story off the ground. I appreciate all the feedback I've gotten, it means a ton! As long as you all keep reading, I'll keep writing!
Also, for anyone who was confused: Hecate is the Goddess of Witchcraft and Crossroads. She lives in the Underworld, and in most stories I've read she is one of Hades' closest friends. I thought she'd be a great character to develop. If you have any other questions, leave a review or send me a PM!
Italicized text represents thoughts of one of the main characters. I'll do my best to make it obvious who is thinking what.
Enjoy Chapter 2!
There was truly no sight on Earth quite like the gardens of Olympus. Green vines snaked all over the open air building, budding with fragrant flowers of all shapes and sizes. That being said, Apollo could not see them. He had been lazily sleeping in the gardens all afternoon. This attracted the attention of many passing deities, who got a laugh at his expense. It did not matter to him though, he wanted to be well rested for the important meeting later.
However, his twin sister, Artemis, had other plans for him. She had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of her lifelong friend, Persephone, who was finally in Olympus. Now that the two were finally together, they wanted to make the most of their time. And unfortunately for Apollo, that was at his expense. The Goddesses quietly crept up, and Persephone placed a chalice of water on a branch above Apollo's head. The Goddess of the Hunt, Artemis, drew her bow, and let an arrow fly. It whizzed through the air, and found its mark. The cup lazily stood on the branch for a second, then it tipped, seemingly in slow motion. The water hit Apollo first, and he sat up, extremely startled. He looked up, only to see the metal chalice dropping right for his head. Miraculously, he caught it. Soaked and extremely upset, he looked to see his aggressors. He locked eyes with his sister, who could not contain her laughter. His blue eyes burned with rage and locked with her soft, brown ones. Any fate was better than to suffer to humiliation, especially humiliation to his twin sister. He stood and began to move towards her, his fists clenched in rage.
"Woah, woah, woah! What are you doing there, little brother?" she gasped out between fits of laughter. She never missed an opportunity to rub that in. She was only a few seconds older...
"Why, you little..." he began, but paused when he saw her companion. Those emerald eyes...
He remembered it all too well. The first time he laid eyes on her, he knew she was something special. He'd been subjected to so much pressure from all the other Olympians about finding a wife. Could she be the one? As he began to court her, his feelings for her continued to grow. That one night, sitting on the cliff overlooking the city of Athens... those emerald eyes... when she said she felt the same way... All that he had to do was get her parents permission to marry her. Zeus happily consented. Her mother, Demeter... not so. Her scorching glare when he asked her gave him an answer before a word left her lips. She angrily rejected him, saying no one would ever have her daughter. Heartbroken, he wanted to explain to her why they could not be together. He knew she would cry, but at least he'd be there for her. It was strange how at that moment all he wanted was to be able to be with her when she heard the bad news. But it was not meant to be so. That night Demeter whisked her away to that far removed cabin where no one other than his sister and Athena could visit...
Then he heard the news. Hades had kidnapped the Goddess of Spring and taken her to the Underworld. He was furious. All that he had done for her... To try to win her... And he could just steal her? At the trial, he remembered the pure hatred he felt at Hades stone cold expression. How he would have liked nothing more than to have her back... Then, at Hephaestus' wedding... How happy she and Hades looked together, and how they had danced. He had felt such jealousy when he saw them kiss. That night, he could have danced with almost any girl in the room. But it didn't matter, they weren't her. He had left early that evening, feeling nothing but sadness and emptiness inside. As for their wedding? He did not attend. It was all the talk of Olympus for days to follow, and not wanting to hear any, he retired to his room. Even Artemis, who loved nothing more than to bother him, showed concern at this new behavior. He dismissed her and all the others who commented on it. He was not one to publicly express his feelings. Only one Goddess ever seemed to know... Athena looked on him with such a sad expression. She knew she was a major reason Persephone was with Hades and not him. How did she always seem to know?
But that was long ago. He was over her now. Right?He quickly realized the sad, longing look in his eyes, and corrected back to his usual, reserved self. Brushing aside an errant lock of golden hair, he stared down his twin. "Be ready for the meeting tonight," he growled, not even acknowledging Persephone. He stormed away.
"He isn't much fun," complained Persephone.
"Sometimes I have no idea how we're related," commented Artemis. She quickly cheered up. "Come with me now, Persephone! There's so much to be done!"
Hecate did not go directly to Olympus. In fact, she tried to spend as little time as possible in that wretched place. All the Olympians besides a few were self absorbed, and it seemed all they cared for was power. And as for some of the Gods... their methods of bedding females were questionable, at best.
Hades wasn't like that. He was different. That's why she liked him so much. And she knew he'd be the best for Persephone. Lucky her.
Every God and Goddess had a city dedicated to them. Hers was nothing extravagant like Athena's city Athens or Poseidon's city Corinth. No, hers was more of a village. A small coastal fishing village named Madissia. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful place, and she loved it there. Wearing a hooded cloak over her chiton, she sat on a cliff overlooking the village and the sprawling Aegean Sea. She sat in silence and her thoughts overwhelmed her.
It was strange. She had been so happy when Hades had met Persephone. She had been so happy when Persephone moved in. She had been so happy when they got married. But... on that warm summer evening when the God of Death and the Goddess of Spring were married, she felt something else... she couldn't put a finger on it. Sadness was as close as she could guess. Not full on sadness. It was more of a feeling hidden in the back of her mind. But it was always there. Always trying to break free...
A thick fog had begun to roll in over Madissia. Starting on the coast, the tiny rooftops began to disappear one by one into fog and dark.
Hades' palace was so lonely sometimes. Before that girl came, she was Hades best friend. She was never alone. But now... things were different. She was second best in his eyes now.
What was she thinking? She was glad to have Persephone. The moon's soft beams breaking the horizon on the Aegean Sea illuminated a single tear in her violet eye.
She quickly wiped the tear from her eye. She never had feelings for Hades. She still didn't. She was happy. And she was happy for them. "Pull it together, Hec..." she muttered to herself. "You've got a job to do." She began to walk slowly towards Olympus, dreading the upcoming evening. Her cloak billowed out behind her in the wind.
A storm was brewing.
Author's Note: Chapter 3 is shaping up to be a long one, but I don't think that should be a problem. I'll try to have it up in the next few days!
