Chapter 53

Ennina's point of view

I laid in Zeus' arms, my fingers running up and down his chest as he stared off into space. I loved being in his arms. Mera was spending the night with Cronus again, so I decided to come to Olympus to spend the night with Zeus while my mother was with Hephaestus.

"So when is this feast you were going to throw for us?" I asked him. He smiled to me.

"In a few weeks." He told me. "I thought it would only be respectful to wait a while after Helen's death. Of course the gods could use some good news with everything that is going on. What better news than our impending marriage?" My smile grew.

"You should know that I stopped by to visit Hades before I left for my grandmothers." I told him. "I am going to marry him as well."

"So that is where you got the ring." He said with that crooked smile of his, speaking of the beautiful engagement ring from Hades that adorned my finger. "He finally convinced you?"

"I could not say no to him." I told him.

"I am happy for you both." He told me, truly meaning it. "When is the wedding?"

"We do not know yet." I told him. "I would like to wait until Ariston is home, but I know Hades does not want to wait long."

"I do not want to wait long either, but I have to have my son there." He told me. I nodded my agreement. I kissed his chest a few times before kissing his lips. He smiled a bit, but I could tell his mind was in another place.

"What are you thinking of?" I asked him a few moments later, looking into his sky blue eyes.

"The day we captured the Nameless One." He told me. "It was the first time I got the chance to speak with him in my life. He showed no regret, no remorse for what he had done. Instead, he looked at me like I had betrayed him. 'Why would you choose the mortals over your own father?' he asked me. I told him it was because life is sacred, all life. And that he was not my father." Zeus shook his head.

"I know, I was there that day." I said to him quietly.

Zeus turned towards me and buried his face in my hair as he held me close. I held him close, kissing his silver curls and telling him how much I love him. I took a deep breath, knowing I needed to tell him.

"I spoke with him." I told Zeus. He pulled back and looked at me in shock.

"You what?" He asked, his tone did not offend me. "Do you know the danger you were in?"

"Father, I was not in danger. The Moirae themselves said that I am the only one who would be able to kill him." I reminded him. He shook his head, clearly worried for me. I remained silent, waiting for him to speak.

"What did you speak about?" He asked.

I told him the whole conversation. I also told him of the visions that led me to speaking with his birth father. I saw where Ariston was being kept, though I did not know the exact location, and I saw that Ariston is selflessly helping Jason to be a better man.

I knew this was not easy for Zeus. It took him so long to get over what his birth father did and the fact that he would never have him in his life. So now to hear that he had changed seemingly overnight and now wanted to help us was not easy for him to accept. My father is not a man who can be convinced in one way or another by anyone. He hears both sides and will only make a decision when he discovers the truth for himself. His stubbornness is part of what has made him a great king, the fact that he will not close out an idea, but only accept what he knows to be the truth. I inherited that from him.

Zeus was silent after I told him all the words that were spoken between his birth father and I. One thing was clear, Zeus could not let him into his heart again that easily. If he ever forgave him, it would be a long time from now and only after he had proven himself. And even then, it would not be easy for him to trust his birth father again.

"It is a beautiful night," I said. "Lets go for a swim. It will take your mind off of things."

Zeus nodded and we teleported to the beach in front of our mountain home of Olympus. We held hands as we entered the waters of the Aegean. It was a clear summers night and the water was perfect. We swam together in silence for a time before being still, only moving our arms and legs enough to stay above the water as we gazed into each others eyes.

I saw in his eyes how much he needed the comfort of my body tonight, and truth be told, I ached for him. I swam up to him, placing my hands on his shoulders as our naked bodies met. He was perfect, like a carved sculpture, but he was so much more than that to me. His soul, tortured and beautiful, strong and loving, was sacred to me. I knew how he loves me, how much I mean to him and not only as a daughter, but as a lover and soon as a wife as well.

His body was so warm against mine as the cool water flowed around us. I slowly began leaning in as his head tilted to the side, his lips parting in anticipation of my lips. Our lips met in a soft kiss that soon turned into a dozen more long ones. My legs wrapped around him, my arm going up his back to bring his body closer to mine as we began panting and our tongues met in the sweetest kind of madness…