Hi lovelies. Here we continue with Nemesis' arc. This chapter is a bit more... adult *coughs* so I have to put in another sexual content (we knew it was coming, right?!) warning, even though (as per usual) there isn't anything graphic. I'm trying to go all out with a kind of 'historical dramatic romance' type style with this arc, before slipping back into my normal style. I felt this arc called for it; it'll wrap up next time. Tell me if you love it or hate it. A special shout-out goes to KT01, whose reviews always make me go all huggy ^-^

Chapter Twenty Six

The Temptations of Nemesis ~ Part Two

A battle of wills commenced, and though she was losing Nemesis was determined not to show it. Thankfully she was an expert at bluffing even when the stakes were this high, and years of living in her own private hell, a prison of boredom and dreary strife, had given her a poker face unmatched by anyone. The object of her affections was now playing the same game with her that she'd played with all of her suitors, and she did not like the taste of her own medicine.

-

His eyes met hers while Oceanus read them the minutes of the court, and while he still teased her he did it in a most different way than the first time, when he'd pulled faces to make her laugh. He now burned his gaze into hers suggestively; the mere twinkle of those sunset coloured jewels and the slight parting of his lips driving her to distraction inside. He was taunting her. How dare he! She felt heat rising on her cheeks but refused to give him any other signal of reciprocation. If he wanted her that badly, he'd have to do better than that.

When the briefing was over, Oceanus left the room and Kronus stood from his desk and crossed to the window. The blinds were rolled upwards, allowing in shafts of light from the tall, arched panes, and the waning afternoon sun was hidden behind spreading rainclouds. Nemesis stood unmoving against the dusty bookshelves near the door in the shade of the long shadow cast by the king.

Why didn't he say something? Could he hear her heartbeat pounding wildly? He finally turned to her.

'My dear Nemesis,' he said in that melodious voice of his. She could almost hear heavenly choirs and strings in the background. 'Do you not enjoy working under me?'

It could have merely been a poor choice of words but she guessed it was deliberate, and it had the desired effect; setting off a million unwanted images and scenarios in her mind. She swallowed hard.

'Of course I enjoy it, my Lord.'

'Do you really?' He started towards her. 'You are frowning whenever I see you, so I formed the impression you were unhappy here.'

'Not a bit, my Lord.' He was close now, and it was hard to breathe. There was a wealth of power beneath his veneer; a taught muscular physique barely masked by a light tan and clothing fit for a king. The still waters of her passion were coming to the boil, frothing in a frenzied flurry of sizzling fervour and she wanted him to grab her and slam her against the bookshelves, or maybe throw her to the desk in a violent fit of lust to match her own. Why was he so cool, dammit? She couldn't lose her control first. She wouldn't. 'I am perfectly happy here,' she added, though her voice was now unsteady.

'Is that so? But if you are happy you should show it on your face.'

Oh sweet Gaia, how close he was. He radiated heat, and as she began to tremble she silently cursed how her own body could let her down. Smiling down at her he slowly lifted a hand, and she closed her eyes. There was a sound above her head, and when she opened them again he had pulled down the book from the shelf and began to walk back to his desk.

She quivered with rage, at him and herself. So that had been a test to see his effect on her, and she had failed. Let him try that again. She would show him. The love-and hate-within reached the boil and the bubbling intensity overflowed, searing and scalding her heart.

-

A month after Hades' birth things had returned to normal, and Kronus was once again busy with the heavy duty of running the world. Nemesis, along with her duties as his adviser, was presented for the first time with having to run divine retribution in the world below, and despite her initial enthusiasm for this seemingly fulfilling job she quickly found it was not all it seemed. She could only deal out punishment to the wicked insofar as fate would allow, and so many an atrocious act of evil passed her cynical eyes without judgement. Despite being a goddess Nemesis had never felt more powerless, and became utterly disillusioned with the whole system. It didn't help that she was so tied up with her own work that that she barely got to see the one who tortured her so, and as such the goddess found that retreating back into the chilly abyss of her own heart was the only way to survive.

No longer being close to him each day was so difficult for her; he was the most radiant, lithe being, her white knight, and she was not allowed to so much as touch him. He still hadn't made his intentions with her clear and she was growing tired of the game he was playing. Having had enough of the palace, Nemesis told her father that she couldn't keep up her own duties while still attending to the king in the manner that he deserved. Oceanus was disappointed but understood, and gave her permission to leave court; as long as Kronus agreed.

-

It was a dark and cold day with the wind whipping outside when she miserably went down to Eden, to find the object of her affection planting a tree in his flower enamelled glade. Even the blooming fields, meandering valleys and gushing springs of Olympian paradise could not lift the heaviness that Nemesis had to bear as she approached him.

He was so engrossed in the planting that he didn't hear her call, and it was only when she lightly touched his shoulder that he turned around. Her first thought was that he looked as worn and weary as she.

'Nemesis,' he greeted, dusting off his hands and standing. 'To what do I owe this pleasure?'

She studied his face warily, but couldn't tell what he was thinking. Was it her imagination, or did his eyes come alive as he looked at her?

'I am saddened to give you my notice, Lord Kronus,' she said mechanically. 'I can no longer be your adviser as my duties as Goddess of Divine Retribution are highly demanding and time consuming. If it pleases your majesty, I can still retain my place in your court and occasionally attend meetings-'

Her well rehearsed speech was cut off as the king snorted, and she glared at him indignantly.

'Why would you lie to me so blatantly?' he snapped.

'My Lord…'

Of course it was a lie; she was the sharpest minded goddess on Olympus, able to take on any chore without problem. She just couldn't bare his indecision a moment longer; she hated being toyed with, and her new job had worn away her spirit.

His face was in hers, glowering. Even now he was beautiful to her. A million curses upon him. 'Nearly a year you have been at my side, yet I can never tell what you are thinking. Are you honest with me, Nemesis?'

'Always, my Lord. I am your faithful servant,' answered her smitten lips without consulting her brain. She'd heard these words poured a million times from the boot-licking drones around her and she'd sworn never to say them. Yet here they were, achingly truthful.

'If you are truly my faithful servant, allow me to see the real you.'

So he did want her...but was he really to take her so coldly, so cruelly? To hell with him then. She would give him his desire, but he would pay for it; she wouldn't leave this garden without his blood on her lips and his skin beneath her nails. She would show him his divine retribution. He would be marked by the one he defiled, and she would be forever tainted by her first and only, the one who had broken her. Her dull eyes were half veiled by dark lashes as she reached to undo her corset, and he actually gave a dry chuckle as he stopped her.

'No, Nemesis. Your smile. Show me your real smile?'

Faith and hope endeavoured to refill her heart, but it was like divine elixir trying to fill a damaged, broken grail. It wasn't enough. She shook her head. 'I cannot my Lord. You can command me, or torture me, but that is the one thing I cannot give you.'

He seemed wounded by her words for a moment, and she felt a glimmer of satisfaction. It served him right. Two could play at that game, and even if all was lost she was prepared to go down fighting. If he didn't want her, want all of her, then she didn't want him either. Except that she wanted him more than life itself.

His expression quickly turned angry once more, and he dismissed her by turning away.

'In that case, I do not wish a woman as cold and unfeeling as a corpse to remain in my service a second longer,' he said. 'Get out of my court.'

-

Nemesis climbed the stairs to the turret of her small room wishing that she was a corpse; a lifeless body would not feel the knives of anguish against her heart as the man she loved stabbed her into inconsolable despair. She would be gone by the morning, and she would never again have to think about or look upon that divine entity that had caused her so much trouble. As she was packing her bags the door was thrown so violently open that it rebounded against the wall, slamming shut again, and Nemesis turned in shock.

The King's eyes burned into hers, hot and glowing like the coals in the fireplace, and they stared at each other for only a second before he crossed the room in two strides and lifted her into his arms.

She trembled as he wordlessly laid her down upon the soft pillows and covered her. She tore without hesitation at his clothes, warm and willing and needing him, and he took control, crushing his mouth down on hers, kissing her until she was mindless and breathless; until an exhilarating madness made them both shiver with unrestrained passion, until she felt the infinite power of the universe swell within her like the tide as she finally allowed her love to take full control.

-

When she awoke he was beside her, and she breathed in his scent like a women deprived of oxygen breaths in air. He smelled of pine trees in a forest; a woody, musky, masculine aroma of the wilderness in springtime, a heady scent that combined the raw lushness of nature with powerful sophistication. She had expected their lovemaking to be frenzied; she'd craved it, in fact, but he'd seemed determined to draw it out, to slowly drive her insane. The knot of burning need in her heart had not unravelled as it usually did when she secured what she desired; instead it had grown tighter.

Not wanting to wake him, Nemesis sat up and fully admired his appearance.

She hadn't thought it possible but he looked even more magnificent without his finery of gold, white silk and pearls, without the rings of emerald and ruby adorning each of his powerful hands. He was a natural beauty. His well defined chest rose and fell in sleep, bearing the scar of a wound he had attained in the battle against his father, back in the days before he'd become immortal and able to heal himself. One imperfection on the perfect man. Nemesis realised that only she and one other woman had ever seen this scar, and she bent over and kissed it. She suddenly felt the king's arms encircle her, and she was pulled close to his hot, sweaty body. Their eyes locked, he smiled at her lazily.

'My dear Nemesis.'

Why, oh why did her name sound so good falling from his lips? Her own lips were still stained with the devastatingly delicious taste of him, but it was his breath, his lips she tasted of, not his blood as she'd intended. Had she ever intended to hurt him? But no, never, that had been someone else, that simply couldn't be... She regarded him with her usual uninterested manner, unwilling to let him see the havoc he was wreaking on her senses.

'Now I know what I mean to you,' he remarked softly. 'You are not that good an actress.' She coloured. 'It is a good thing I am immortal,' he continued, eyes twinkling.

'Why is that?'

'Because your father would kill me.'

He grinned wryly at his own joke, but his eyes were now serious. Nemesis propped herself up on her elbow and watched him carefully.

'I shan't tell him,' she said, 'though he never takes much interest in me anyway, so I doubt he would ever find out.'

He was silent, and she continued.

'I imagine you are now going to tell me that this can never happen again?'

Now he looked surprised.

'Why would I say that?'

Her eyes were dull. 'You love your wife?'

'More than any man has ever loved a woman.'

'Then why are you scared of her?'

The question was out before she could stop it. She kept thinking of the terror in his eyes, of that night in his office when he'd been ranting…what did it mean? He didn't seem willing to tell her. Instead he asked in a whisper;

'Do you think I deserve divine retribution for my actions, Nemesis?'

'My Lord…'

'Did I discard my morality in doing what I did? Was it acceptable to build the foundations of my palace using hands stained with the blood of my family? You, better than anyone, should be able to answer.'

This was the one thing Nemesis never wanted to answer, and yet now the response came so easily.

'Yes, my Lord. In your case, the end justified the means. Your way was the right way.'

'My way is the right way?' Kronus repeated this over and over, running his hands down her silky hair while she tried to remain inexpressive. 'So I did the right thing? You will never cast your judgement upon me? You…truly need me?'

'I am always yours, my Lord,' she said simply.

'Then do not leave me, Nemesis. Stay.'

His kiss was deep and searing, and the guards around her heart finally gave up:

'She's serious about this one. Better let him through.'

From each other's arms they listened to the howling winds rattle the window and the warming roar of the fireplace that lit the room. Nemesis decided to stay.

-

He spent the days working but the nights; the nights he came to her, and he was hers alone, filling up her empty void and making her whole. It was as though he could not get enough of her and of their passionate couplings, and Nemesis was more than happy to oblige and encourage his every whim; his newly found eagerness for lying with her all night long. Despite her hidden ecstasy and joyful giddiness that her wildest fantasies were being fulfilled, Nemesis' calculating mind still knew enough to take advantage of the situation. She knew that being the King's lover carried with it many advantages, and began to realise that through him she would finally attain the powers and status her brilliant mind deserved. Just in case their liason didn't last-and how could it, he wasn't flaunting their involvement but he was hardly hiding it either-she intended to make the most of it. And yet, despite this attempt at logic, it turned out that when their secret finally wriggled free into the open air of the court and their borrowed time together should have ended, Nemesis would find herself unwilling to let go.

He was playful, gentle and sweet with her, showering her with gifts and moving her to a bigger, better room of the palace with golden tapestries hanging the walls and a massive four poster bed upon luxuriously soft carpeting, but he always made one thing clear.

'I do not love you, Nemesis,' he'd told her one night. 'You understand this?'

'I do not wish you to love me,' she'd lied effortlessly. 'Nor do I offer you love. That is what your wife is for. But let me ask you; does she understand you the way I do?'

Kronus had smiled and stroked her face. 'You understand me better than anyone,' he'd admitted, and this alone was enough for her.

-

Oceanus was puzzled when he received the summoning from Rhea. He spent much of his time in the palace, but usually accompanying the King on errands or joining the family for dinner. It was very unusual for the Queen to ask to see him privately in her own quarters.

He knocked, she answered, and he entered the royal bedroom. Immediately he knew his gut feeling had been right; something was gravely amiss.

The only colours in Rhea's face were the circles around her blotchy red eyes, which she dabbed at with a silken handkerchief. She was wearing a thin beige nightgown and woollen shawl, and she looked thinner than usual.

Without saying a word Oceanus crossed the room and put his arms around her. He had known her since they were small; he had played with her and Kronus in the brief spells of happiness under Uranus' oppressive regime, he had been the one to comfort her when the war began and she feared for her beloved's life, and he had been the best man at their wedding ceremony. She sobbed against his shoulder as he rocked her from side to side, until she eventually controlled herself and pulled back.

'What in the heavens can be wrong, Rhea?' he asked softly. 'It breaks my heart to see you in such misery. Are you ill?'

'If I am sick,' she replied, her voice tremulous, 'it is heartsickness that ails me. Oh Oceanus, what do I do?'

She looked as though she might cry again, and the titan patiently patted at her hands as she regained her composure.

'I fear,' she confided, 'that Kronus has taken a mistress.'

Oceanus could not have been more stunned if she'd slapped him. He regarded her sceptically, and his expression said it all. She gave him a wry smile through her tears.

'I have not lost my mind, Oceanus,' she said, 'nor am I overly emotional from the birth of my son. Please try to grant me more credibility than that.'

'Lady Rhea,' he started carefully, 'I have known the King for a great many years. I have watched the two of you grow up, and I have never seen a man more devoted than he to you. I find it highly unlikely that he would ever-'

'He never comes back to me anymore; he must be sharing the bed of another.'

'You know how busy we are in office,' he replied feebly, and Rhea's eyes flashed.

'But do you not see?' cried the queen shrilly, gripping his hands. 'He has been busy running the world for twenty years now, and it never stopped him returning to our bedroom before. I know he is having an affair!'

She seemed to have convinced herself of this fact, and Oceanus hated himself for what he was about to say.

'On earth, it is not entirely unusual for human kings to take mistresses,' he said quietly, and once glance at her told him this was not a good thread to pull at.

'I did not know who else to ask about this,' Rhea sighed, rubbing her swollen eyes. 'I planned to ask Nemesis; as she is always around him I supposed she may have seen something. But it is not fair to involve her, she is only a child.'

She was too distressed to notice, but Oceanus had paled at his daughter's name.

'Yes,' he replied hoarsely. 'Only a child…'