Chapter 11
Sorry for not posting more chapters in a while. I get carried away with story ideas. I did work a bit on this story so as a thank you to those still reading this story, here's some chapters to you.
I continued to explore that corridor, finding rooms ready for children, at least a few. I'm hoping Hades made those to offer his children a choice in which bedroom they wanted and not the hope to have a few children. One or two, I can see. Not five or six.
The other rooms at the end of the corridor, reaching the throne room, were rooms that looked slightly educational, with books, computers and white boards. There were even some cute little desks.
I find it odd that there are some modern things in the Underworld and, in front of his throne, is a water fountain that acts like a crystal ball. Do the Gods carry cell phones or is that too modern for them? Is Hades being rebellious with these computers?
I eventually give in to the Hellhounds, whining for food. I'm at the dinner table, tossing pieces of bananas and apples onto the floor while I make myself a sandwich with the cold cuts. I can't get my mind off that nursery and those bedrooms. I can't stop imaging little kids, two at the most, running around, playing hide and seek with their father, Hades, and playing with the Hellhounds.
At that moment, a realization makes me nearly drop my sandwich. The Hellhounds perk their heads up, staring at me as if sensing I'm troubled.
I had sex with Hades, all natural, no protection. What if I'm pregnant?
Whoa, I can't get pregnant just like that, right? I know there's some couples that have to try several times before getting pregnant just like some couples have sex once and then… bang. Pregnant. Am I the type that… bang, becomes pregnant?
I had sex twice with Hades.
Reyna's whines get me to snap out of my thoughts. However, not really thinking clearly, I toss her some apple pieces, only to realize that she's whining, her way of seeing if I'm okay. I smile as the male Hellhound takes those apples, Reyna not really giving a shit because she's too concerned for me.
"I'm okay, Reyna." I say and she approaches, licking my hand.
At that moment, I hear Cerberus letting out three harmonious howls, which is odd. I leave the dining room, walk down the corridor, into the throne room and then down the corridor, taking me to the front doors. I open them and step out, seeing Cerberus' side head looking at me, letting out a soft yowl. At the shore, I can see Charon's boat.
That's odd too.
I approach the shore, surprised to see Charon. And he had a torch. Also odd.
"Hey Charon. What's up?" I ask him, ready to deliver the punch line of my joke, which is pretty lame, but he hands me a scroll with a fancy red ribbon. I take it and open it, even more surprised to see it's for me.
You are cordially invited to Mount Olympus for a hearing.
That's it.
I look up at Charon whose face is just darkness because he's never removed the hood.
"I'm supposed to go to Mount Olympus?" I ask and he extends a hand for me. "Now?" I ask and he nods his head. "Does Hades know?" I ask and watch as Charon stays still, but then shakes his head. "Hades has to be there too, right?" I ask and Charon nods his head. "So, he'll know as soon as we get there." I say and Charon nods his head once more. "But we're going separately." I conclude and he nods his head again. I take his hand and let out a little laugh. "Do I ask too many questions?" and I laugh even more when Charon shakes his head.
Who would have thought Charon had a sense of humor.
We start pulling away from the shore. Reyna and Cerberus are watching me. I wave to them and I'd say they aren't worried that I'm not coming back.
The torch was for me, which was thoughtful. I told Charon how Hades was just mad, not at me, but at himself for having fallen in love with me. I rambled on like a high school girl talking about her Friday night date like it was her engagement party. The whole time, Charon just kept steering the boat, but I have a good feeling that he was sincerely listening to me.
"Do I talk too much?" I ask and he shakes his head, which makes me laugh. Everyone really has fallen in love with me, just like Hades had said. I just come into their lives and bang… they love me.
Funny how I had to leave my family and my boyfriend just to find that feeling of walking into a place and everyone loving me.
Not that my parents and Steve didn't love. They just had a weird way of showing it, a way that I couldn't see until I saw it in Hades' fountain which is not a good time to finally see it. By then, it was too late.
The boat came just beside the dock and Charon offers his hand to help me as I step off. I turn to him with a warm smile.
"Thank you, Charon." I say and extend my arms for a hug. "You're wonderful." I say and he lets me hug him. Then he helps me off the boat and I wave goodbye to him as I go back up. This was like a déjà vu, except this time, I'm not crying, broken-hearted that Hades told me to get out.
Once I get out, I'm back into a white Grecian dress, and looking up at a bright blue sky, I hear a noise I hadn't heard since I first got into this ordeal, choosing Hades out of all the Gods. I look into the blinding sun and see some large wings.
Pegasus lands before me, tapping the ground with his hooves.
"As beautiful as always." I say and he makes some noise that I believe is gratitude for my comment. I approach and he bends himself down to make it easier for me to climb onto his back. "Just remember, nice and easy." I say, remembering the first time I flew down with Pegasus. If I was afraid of heights before, I sure as Hell was then.
I get onto Pegasus' back with ease and he gets ready to fly, taking off gracefully, flying without making my heart jump into my throat only to be swallowed down to my stomach. I stroke Pegasus' smooth neck.
"Thank you." I say and he snorts. I can't help but find that a little insulting. I don't say anything more and we fly way up, past the clouds that suddenly become blinding, and then we're soaring up to Mount Olympus, this giant floating kingdom of glistening silver and gold, beautiful forests and streams and stones that seem to suggest that homes and temples just sprung out of the ground.
We glide overtop and then Pegasus slowly drops down to the corridor I had seen back when I first arrived here. We land and I dismount, stroking his neck as I meet Pegasus' beautiful glimmering eyes.
"Thank you. It was a real pleasure." I say and Pegasus snorts, but seems to thrust its head against me in a sort of hug. "Stay beautiful." I say and back away to watch the wonderful winged legend fly away.
I turn and walk down that same corridor I had first thought was just a vivid dream. At the end are steps going up to a domed room with thrones all around. As I climb up, I can already see the Gods in their thrones, waiting for me.
I step up and approach them as they stare down at me from their thrones. They're all here, including Hades off to my right, giving me a slight smile in his Godly apparel with his long dark hair.
I prefer his short dark hair.
I stand in the center, folding my hands in front of me and bending my head down in a slight bow to the Gods, giving them respect.
"Congratulations, Leland." Zeus' booming voice says. Wow, I forgot out loud he talks. I look up into his face, looking at the glistening gold trimmings and the bright white of his apparel. "You have fulfilled the prophecy." He adds and the Gods seem pleased. "We offer you a gift." He concludes and I can't help but wonder what kind of gift?
All that goes through my mind is Pandora's box, which was actually some sort of jar, or a baby.
And in that regard, I might have them beat.
"How would you like to be a Goddess?" Zeus asks and I'm completely baffled. A Goddess? Me?
I slowly glance over at Hades, only to see his soft, but impassive, expression. I'm pretty sure he's not giving me any indication on how I can respond. This is clearly my choice, as everything else was.
"Don't you want to be with Hades forever?" says that charming voice. I glance over and Aphrodite smiles at me. "As a Goddess, there's no worry of dying as a mortal and having such a short time together." She adds and there's a bit of condescending humor to that. However, she's right.
I look at Zeus and I smile.
"I would be honored." I reply and Zeus seems satisfied.
"You're not born a Goddess, thus to become one, you must be blessed by the Gods." He replies and I just give a slight nod. It's nice to know. "Well, not all of us. Hades certainly can't." Zeus adds, which makes me sort of want to smile.
In a way, Hades might have blessed me.
With a baby.
Aphrodite stands up from her throne, looking down at me with a charming smile. She really is beautiful.
"I, Aphrodite, Goddess of Love and Beauty, bless Leland for her warmth and compassion." She says and steps down, walking to me, shrinking a little.
So I was right to feel so small this whole time. I really am small.
"I believed in you." Aphrodite whispers and places her soft hands on my cheeks, bringing her luscious lips to my forehead. In that moment, I feel a tingling sensation that goes through my body. I can't even think of any words to describe this feeling.
Enlightened seems to fit, but it doesn't cover the whole thing.
Aphrodite pulls away, giving me a wink that makes me wonder if she knows I might be pregnant. She's the Goddess of love! I'm pretty sure she's the best pregnancy test around.
As Aphrodite sits back in her throne, my heart flips as Artemis stands up from her throne.
"I, Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt and the Moon, bless Leland for her conviction and for being true to herself." She says and as she steps down to me, also shrinking down, smiling at me. She's beautiful! "Thank you for your admiration." She says softly to me, and then hugs me.
The tingling starts up again, but it seems to intensify and my skin starts to glow, like my skin is covered in tiny diamonds. I can see my dress glow and shimmer, turning into an ancient fashion style.
Artemis steps back and sits back in her throne.
Then, Hera stands up, which sort of seems to stun everyone.
"I, Hera, Queen of the Gods, bless you, Leland." She says and steps down to me, shrinking to a small size. She steps up to up and holds my chin high, sending another wave of tingling sensations throughout my body. This time, it's overwhelming like I drank a whole bottle of wine without eating anything and I feel like I have to run just to stop that strange feeling in my legs.
I stare into Hera's dark features that make her beautiful and fierce.
"With a good marriage." Hera adds in a soft voice and before she goes back to her throne, she takes a quick glance at my stomach.
Oh, it's Hera who's the best pregnancy test around.
And I'm definitely pregnant.