Aricia wondered if she could make babies the normal way or if she would have to take the path of pathogenesis that had created her. As Hera's daughter, the urge to have and protect a family one day was an ever consuming thought that gnawed at her stomach every time she saw a woman with a baby carriage. Back in Ancient Greece, it would have been completely appropriate for her to be married and with child by now, but these times were different.
The demigoddess sat on her bench in the park and watched as mothers played with their little ones, unaware that they had a guardian angel watching over and protecting them. No one would ever assume a 13 year old girl alone on a bench was blessing the scene with her presence, ensuring no cuts, no scraped knees, no kidnappings or lost toys.
She envied the children, jealous that their mothers could openly love them so strongly. She had wished Hera and herself had had such a time together, simple and magnificent as going to a playground to mingle with the mortal children just for a single hour. Just once, it would have lasted Aricia a lifetime of happiness. Aricia never doubted her mother's love of course; it wasn't Hera's fault Zeus was the way he was.
Suddenly, a child caught her eye. She was alone standing by the swings, her eyes very bright, as if they were flames dancing in the fireplace. She stared at Aricia, as if she were expecting something to happen, or Aricia to do something.
Hesitantly Aricia stood and slowly walked towards the child. She knelt down in what appeared to be an attempt to match the child's height, but it was truly in reverence.
"Goddess Hestia?" Aricia whispered.
"It is I, both eldest and youngest of Kronos and Rhea." The child smiled and patted Aricia's face gently. "It is good to see you are still alive little niece. But you must be wary danger is always near you."
Before she could remember her manners Aricia scooped the child form Hestia was taking up in her arms and embraced her merrily. "Oh!" Aricia blushed when she realized what she was doing. "Forgive, me; it is just so wonderful to see a familiar and friendly face."
However, when Aricia opened her eyes her arms were empty. She was sure that the goddess has been there mere seconds before. Now though, she was only hugging herself and the air around her. Had the presence of her aunt Hestia been a sign that she had divine protection of some sort? She knew that her mother, Aphrodite and Athena all vouched for her, for each had protected her openly already.
"Hi!" A small voice erupted through her thoughts.
Aricia turned to see a little boy waiting for her to answer him. "Hello." Aricia said brightly. This wasn't new, little children had a way of approaching her since she gave off a protective aura. "How are you little one?"
The boy scrunched up his nose. "I'm not little!" His chest puffed up. "I am six and three-quarters!" He proclaimed proudly.
"You are littler than I am." Aricia jested and ruffled his sandy colored mop of hair. "But my you are already quite the little man."
Blushing with pride the child took her hand and urged her to her feet. "Come with me." He begged, pulling her to the direction of the slides. "We can play!"
Aricia accepted, glad for a brief vacation from the stabbing loneliness. He led her to the slides and like a monkey scampered up the ladder and took his turn. The slide was red and styled like a giant tube so Aricia watched as the child disappeared until his ride ended at the mouth of the contraption.
"Aricia." A voice echoed in the back of her mind. "Be careful darling."
"Mother?" Aricia thought to herself but then shook the thought away.
"Your turn!" The boy insisted, lightly shoving Aricia towards the latter. 'Now you go!" He urged again.
A pit began to form in Aricia's stomach. Something was starting to make her sick, and she did not know what. She looked around and all the other children were still playing happily, not a sign of danger anywhere. She chuckled at her paranoia and climbed to the entrance of the slide.
Then things went horribly wrong. She felt the hands grab at the back of her shirt, wrenching her upwards, and when she exited the slide the playground was gone. There were no longer any children, parents or play equipment. There was only an abandoned alley. It had been Mist, but had Hesti?
"No…" Aricia moaned as she felt herself being forced to her knees. She felt all her strength instantly drain from her limbs.
There was dark laughter above her. "Foolish, weak hearted child. You are too easy to lure into a trap."
"Father…" Aricia moaned without thinking.
Lightning crashed to the ground inches from her, so close the heat burned her face. Zeus, 20 feet tall was glaring down at her, she was trapped in his giant hand. The Lord of the sky closed his fist and trapped her between his massive fingers.
"You are mine now you little whelping." Zeus taunted and slammed his fist against the ground.
Aricia screamed as the shock of the blow rattled her bones. "Stop it! Please!" She begged. "I don't want to die!" Tears poured from her brown eyes. "Father, please don't kill me!"
"I am certainly not your father." Zeus thundered and slammed his fist to the ground once more for good measure. "And nor do I intended to kill you just yet, for first you will serve my purpose." Zeus chuckled again, causing Aricia to sob harder. "I will use you to break your mother."
In a flash, Aricia suddenly found herself back on Olympus, still in Zeus' massive fist. A few gods were already there, Ares and Hermes stared in shock, as did Demeter. They all just stood there as Zeus screamed, "HERA!"
"Zeus, what have you done?" Aphrodite's voice cried out in horror. "Leave the child be! She has done nothing wrong!"
"Silence!" Zeus turned his rage towards the Goddess of love. "Or you will feel my wrath as well!"
Aphrodite quailed at the threat but did not back down. "Please my lord, she is innocent of any harm against you."
"Aricia!" Hera shimmered in to view and tried to grab for her child.
Zeus battered her back and sneered at his wife. Hera stood and stared wide eyed as Zeus tightened his grip around Aricia's small body.
"Ah!" Aricia whimpered and tried to wiggle her way out of his hand. "Please, let me go!"
Zeus looked down at her and released his hand, allowing Aricia to plummet several feet down to the ground. She hit hard and crawled in pain towards her mother. Hera covered the distance between her and her daughter. "Baby, are you okay?"
Aricia was only semi-conscious, having hit her head when she landed in addition to Zeus draining her energy and strength. "Mama." She said softly and rested her head on Hera's lap. "Am I dead now?"
"No darling, you're here, you're on Olympus." Hera whispered and smoothed back her child's hair. "I won't let him…"
But before Hera could whisper reassurances to her daughter Zeus resumed his torment on the child. With his massive hand he grabbed her again and held her high in the air. Aricia's body was nearly limp by now and Hera was desperate. "Whatever you are planning, please do it to me! I am the one you want to punish!" Hera looked up at Aricia in distress. "She's only a little girl."
Zeus looked at Hera and then to Aricia and closed his other hand over the child. When he opened his fists she was gone. Hera felt something inside of her shatter.
"What have you done!"
Zeus smiled and directed his eyes towards the side of the mountain. There, her wrists chained to the mountain and heavy anvils around her ankles Aricia hung as her mother had centuries ago. Hera's muscles recalled the agonizing pain she had suffered and she wept in desperation for her child. It was clear to all the Olympians that in addition to her captivity, Zeus was sending wave after waving of electricity through the child's body.
"Zeus, I must protest!" Athena said, appalled. "There is no logical or reasonable need for this to be so."
"I am Lord of Olympus!" Zeus screamed, "And will do as I see fit!" He looked at the gods and goddesses. "You all know of her jealous spite!" He pointed at Hera. "She created the little brat to insult me! That girl will raise rebellion against me if she goes unchecked!"
"The world does not know she is Hera's daughter." Aphrodite said timidly. "She dwelt in my cabin! She is believed to be one of mine!"
"And when her mother's stubborn pride grows into her, she will march to Cabin 2 and proclaim who she truly spawned from!" Zeus turned back to Hera. "It is your choice wife, either she remains there where she can do me no harm, or I will let her go…all the way down the mountain side. Do you think this creation will survive such a fall?" He leered. "Care to test it?"
"No!" Hera screamed. "Just leave her be! Let her return to me and I will keep her from your site for however long you wish it! She will do you no harm, she is innocent of all crimes you accuse her of!"
On the mountainside Aricia could hear the voices in her head trying to commune with her. This time she was sure it was Hestia.
"Hold strong little one, so long as I protect the hearth and home of this family I will not allow murder here."
Aricia couldn't speak; her body was tearing itself apart in pain. She knew now how Prometheus felt as the eagle of Zeus tore apart his flesh each day for all eternity. She was sure that her suffering would not stop until Zeus snapped her chains and allowed her to fall to her death.
At least she had seen her mother again, in person and not just another dream. She had felt Hera's love and concern, her mother's wish to see her safely at her side once again. She could die happy, knowing that. She was grateful she had been permitted to be held by Hera for a final time.
Electricity shot through her body once more, causing more screams to erupt from her mouth. Those on Olympus felt themselves flinch at the sound, even Ares. Athena was furious, never before having seen just injustice of a demigod. She questioned herself on what she would do if it had been one of her own in such a predicament. The thought made her queasy. The air shimmered and Artemis appeared.
"Father! Oh Father how could you do such a thing to that maiden!" she frantically looked down at Aricia. "Give her to me, let me make her one of mine!"
Zeus looked down at Artemis, who had always been able to get what she asked him for. She and Athena were truly his favored children. "I am sorry, dear daughter. But this one cannot be allowed to be free."
That night, Zeus found Hera still weeping, peering over the mountainside at her imprisoned daughter. There was nothing anyone save Zeus could do to free the girl, or even help her with the pain. Zeus looked at her triumphantly; Hera was broken, and would never defy him again.
The Queen Goddess turned and faced her hated husband, eyes red with both grief and rage. "You monster." She hissed, "You are a monster!" she stood and pointed an accusing finger at Zeus and glared. "She is yours too!"