We are now getting into the heroes of Olympus part of the series. This point I am not going to have as many stories per book as I once did. As well, they may span multiple books and be even overlap with other stories. Making putting them in chronological order that much more difficult. That won't be an issue with today's post, but it will increasingly become a issue as time goes on. Still, I believe that some of the best stories are in this final section. Which makes the inconvenience worth it. I hope that you agree as I present what is my favorite stories: Hera's Pets.

This one drained me as I wrote and edited. Each one took me longer than the others. For Hera's opinion on the world is not my own. End result is still lovely and fantastic, but saying those horrible figs on paper did take a lot out of me. This is also sadly Hera's final story within this compilation. Although if you love hearing from her I would consider having her come back for another go. Who knows, I might even be convinced to write an original work with her as a main character. That could be fun. I don't know, what do you think?

Anyway, I have talked for a long enough. Let's get onto the story!

WORDS OF THE DIVINE

STORY # 16: HERA'S PETS

Set during the events of the Lost Hero

Hera liked heroes. Really she did. They were the most delightful creatures. Yes, they were a little slow and a little ungainly, but they were still delightful. For if given the right motivation they could do amazing things. Sure, sometimes you had to hold their hands or dumb it down for them, but they were still so very useful. For they could do things that she was not allowed to do directly. Gods had so many rules that it could be a real pain sometimes. Okay, so she wrote a lot of these rules, but at the time it made sense. Demigods were mortals. And mortals were dumb. They needed special treatment. Needed to be cared for like pets or else they would blunder into their own death. They were mortal, after all. It was kind of their thing. It was an annoying inconvenience. For a dead hero was a useless hero. And Hera hated useless things. So she tried to keep them alive for as long as possible. Which wasn't always easy.

She knew that all mortals die at some point. That was unavoidable. Even if she took the best care of her pets one day they will expire. It was part of being mortal. They would die of something one day. Be it from old age or sickness or battle. Doesn't matter, they would die. Hera could not prevent that. All she could do was delay the inevitable. That's it. It was by far the worst part of pet ownership: Losing the pet. She really hated giving them up to Hades. He had enough heroes to play with already. She did not want to give him more than she had to.

Of course when a demigod dies a god could simply create another. Unless, you happen to be Hera that is. For she could not create her own. It would go against her very nature. She had to remain loyal to her lout of a husband. For she was the goddess of fidelity and marriage. That meant that she could not go around his back and create some bastard. And even though it was a distasteful act she wished that she could do it. For demigods were so very useful. Alas, she could not see herself giving birth to those little bastards. For she found mortals quite disgusting and could not see herself mating with any of them. Even if her nature would allow it. It seemed that she was doomed to never to create her own useful bastards. She had to rely on the ones created by others. It was a frustrating state of affairs indeed.

It was why she convinced her husband to let her play with someone else's demigods. She was bored and wanted a pet to play with. So, once every century she could interfere in a quest. She could help or hinder them. However, she wasn't allowed to straight up kill them. Beyond that, she had free reign. No god or goddess could raise a stink without having to deal with Zeus. Which almost no one wanted to do. Save maybe for her brothers. They would get touchy if their children got too roughed up. She had to be careful with them. Beyond that, she was good. No one would mess with her. Making the deal far too amusing to be able to pass up. Zeus would not stop her. So long as she was quick about it that is.

Zeus hated her obsession with demigods. Particularly, his demigods. He would rather that she leave his children alone. Alas, if he did not want to deal with her wrath then he had to indulge her. Let her play her games. Mess around with their heads. It kept her quieter and more obedient. She was even willing to look the other way more often when he 'got down to business.' Overall, she was a less-jealous wife. Which he appreciated greatly. So, he made an agreement with her that left a bad taste in his mouth, but kept her quiet. So he went along with it.

After a few centuries the agreement lost it's luster. It was no longer enough. She needed more. She needed a demigod of her own. One that she was free to play with as she pleased. So, she renegotiated the agreement. She could still interfere with a quest once a century, but she would now receive one Zeus's demigods as her personal pet. She could do with that demigod as she pleased. Save kill it. He did not want any of his children murdered by her. In fact, that was also part of the agreement. She was not allowed to mess with any other of his children ever again. Nor harm them in anyway. He would not tolerate that. She may only control one of his children at a time. The rest were off limits. Zeus was very clear about that. Their deal would be off if she reneged in anyway. She did not want that.

She loved playing the role of patron. Even if she hated the little bastard. She could pretend that she was their 'loving mother'. Take care of them the way the others took care of their bastards. She would teach them to become better than their pig of a father. Send them off to risk life and limb on heroic quests. Which would help them rise above their mortal existence and become true heroes. In other words, Hera was having the time of her life. It made his sexual escapades almost bearable.

Sadly, no hero lasts forever. They eventually die and the difficult process of choosing a new bastard begins. This was also part of their agreement. She could pick one new demigod to keep after the previous one died. Starting the process of training all over again. It was an exciting time for Hera indeed. With Zeus' veracious appetite she had the pick of the litter. The best of the best to claim as her own. And her husband could not stop her! Hera would always take her time and choose wisely. For there were no do-overs. Once she choose that was it. She could not pick another one until that one died. She had to be precise. She preferred to claim a younger specimen over a more mature model. For they were a lot easier to mold than their older siblings. Yes, it took longer for them to be useful, but the payoff was worth it. They tended to be more loyal and docile if raised properly. She could easily scare the fear of god into them. Particularly, if their annoying mothers were removed form the picture early on. Technically, that was against celestial law, but it didn't really matter. It was only Zeus's children that she was messing with. And he was willing to look the other way. Leaving her in the clear to snatch the child as soon as it was out of diapers. She would leave the bastard's mother to that task. That was beneath her.

The system worked great until it all came to grinding halt. Another great prophecy was made. It predicted that one of children of the three elder gods would make a decision that would either save Olympus or raze it. A worrying prophecy indeed. For it foretold the end of her family. Which she could not tolerate losing under any circumstances. It was at the very core of her being. She could not afford to lose it. Not now, not ever. Something had to be done. A sacrifice had to be made in order to preserve her family. Unfortunately, that meant that Zeus would not be having anymore demigods. Making it impossible to replace the one that she lost.

She understood her husband's decision to forgo having any more mortal children. And indeed at the time she even supported it. There was nothing that the goddess of marriage loved more than fidelity. If Zeus was serious about abstaining from mortal women then how could Hera say no? It was the very thing that she harped on for centuries! "Zeus, stay away from those damned mortals!" She told him over and over again. And yet he did not listen. He kept siring little bastards with those women. Pissing off his wife in the process. Until the great prophecy that is. Now, he made a concerted effort to 'keep it in his pants.' He stayed away from mortal women, even those whom he found devastatingly beautiful. He remained loyal to his wife. Exactly as she always wanted. Yet, it was for the wrong reason: It was not due to loyalty or concern for her. Instead, it was due to the fear of a terrible prophecy. To preserve the family and life itself on Earth. Something that she supported full heartily at the time. She didn't care about his reasons, he was staying true to her.

Alas, it was not as good as she hoped it would be. While Zeus chose to stay away from mortal women he did not pay more attention to her. If anything he paid even less attention to her. He treated her as if it was all her fault. Like she wanted it all to happen. How little he understood her. Hera would never do that. Yes, she wanted Zeus to stop having romantic interludes with random females, but she would never threaten her family to do it. For she loved them more than she loved her husband. She would never threaten them. It was not in her nature. Not that he cared. He blamed her for anyway. He looked at her with distain whenever they were alone. Hell, he hadn't touched her in over a half a century. He just kept running off with dammed nature spirits! It would almost drive a goddess to cheat on her husband, almost. Again, that goddess of fidelity issue got in the way. It was quite annoying. For husband was a worse than the bastards that he sired. He insisted on ruining her fun. Why couldn't he remain loyal to her?

As the decades wore on she began to develop a bit of an itch herself. All of her playthings had long turned to dust. Zeus had no more demigods. So, she could not pick a new one for herself. She had no one to play with. All she could do was watch as the other gods and goddesses had their fun. They kept siring children and sending them off on quests. Quests which she could not involved with. Unless she wanted to spend her 'once in a century card.' Then wait for the next hundred years before she could interfere again. That would not do. Hera needed a new plaything. She needed to send someone on a quest. To watch them fight for their life. And to shower them with gifts. In other words, Hera was bored out of her mind. She had begun to hate that dammed pact. It ruined all her fun.

Then one day after over 60 years Zeus screwed up. He found a mortal woman far too tempting to stay away from. He found her so invigorating that he bedded her not once, but twice. Once in his Greek form and then once in his Roman. She had hit pay dirt. She had found herself a demigod! Hera threw a fit. She pretended that she was more upset than she really was. She rubbed his failure in his face. Then threatened to tell the others of misdeeds. Which would have put both children at risk. That was not something that she wanted, but Zeus did not need to know that. She also threatened divorce for the millionth time. Even though she couldn't divorce him if she tried. It wasn't in her nature. Finally, she demanded that one of those bastards to be given to her as tribute. She threw herself into the role of jilted wife. Which wasn't too far from the truth. She did hate his little bastards and his propensity to make more. The only reason that she tolerated it was that it suited her needs. That's all. Otherwise, she would serious in her threats towards the little bastards.

After working on Zeus for a while, he gave way. He offered up his son to her. He did not allow her to choose. It was the boy or no one. He would let her to use him as she saw fit. So long as Hera stayed quiet and left his sister alone. Which she readily agreed to. For the boy was young and Roman. Hera or Juno would get to play with him with her Roman Aspect. Which suited her just fine. She had what she wanted. She wanted the boy. So what that other little bastard was still alive? She had what she wanted. And to hell with boy's mother. She had no say in this. Juno was the boy's mother now. He belonged to her. No one would get in her way. Just the way she liked it. Soon, she would have a plaything once again.

Taking possession of Jason was almost as good as having one of her own. She could play with him and make him do whatever she wanted. He would have no say in the matter. He would bow down to her like a slave bows down to it's master. He would accept her as his patron. As his godly supporter. Accepting her help and her favor as required. It would be as it was before. She would be in business again!

Once he was properly trained, of course. A owner must always take time to properly instruct one's pets. Teach them right from wrong and beat fear into them. Indeed, that was the most important element of the equation. The boy had to fear the Queen of the Gods. Understand that he belonged to her. Accept that his father wouldn't help him. For Jupiter had used his son as a bribe to get her off his back. He would not lift a finger to help him. He would stay far away as his wife made a living hell of his life. The boy's fate was sealed. Jason was hers now. He could not escape his fate. He could only rise to it. Make his patron proud. Then, maybe, one day she would release him. So that she could get a younger and better model. One who hadn't learned to talk back.

Fortunately, the boy was Roman and they tended to respect authority a lot more than the Greeks. He may not love the Queen of gods, but he obeyed her. He played by her rules for now. He took her word as law. That was enough for Hera/Juno. She did not care if 'her' demigods loved her or not. All that mattered was that they obeyed. The rest was inconsequential. It was why she preferred the children of Jupiter over the children of Zeus. The Greeks were far more likely to talk back. Which Hera/Juno did not appreciate. Her pets needed to be loyal to a fault and die for her without question. Or else they were not worth her love. And if if that was the case then she 'retired' them then demanded another. So long as Zeus or Jupiter didn't know that she had anything to do with their 'retirement' then she was good. She would get another.

And she always wanted another. For no other god would give her such free access to their children. Only her husband would tolerate her obsession. Would humor her. The others would block her at every turn. She couldn't have that. For Hera/Juno wanted more. She wanted so much more. She was entitled to everything! After all, she put up with a lout of a husband. She deserved a little fun once and a while, did she?

Well, that's it. That's Hera's Pets! What do you think of it? See you all next time!