Zeus's Chambers | Mount Olympus
Seething he threw open the door to his chambers, the handle leaving a dent in the wall with the force. He stormed into the room making his way to the decanters of nectar on his bedside, ignoring the sounds of his wife following him in.
"Zeus, calm yourself" Hera snapped, shutting the door behind them.
"How do I calm myself when my wife undermines me in front of our family. In front of a titan. What if she sees this as weakness? Defects to their side? How long until everyone joins her." He spat back at the goddess, finishing his drink and pouring himself another.
"Leto would not defect; you know this as well as me. Even if she did feel you would not win, she cares for her children too much to fight against them." Here rationalized. Taking a seat in the armchair across the room from him, she watched her husband as he looked out of the window. They remained in silence for a while, Zeus processing the words his wife had said. Until he spoke up again, turning to face her.
"How can, you be sure? What if- "
"Zeus enough. You claim you want to be seen as strong, yet lately you have been letting your paranoia get the best of you." She rose from her chair and made her way over to him. Gently she took the glass and decanter from his hands and set it back down on the bedside before cupping his face in her hands. "I know this is your cross to bear, amongst others. But you cannot let it affect you this way. What you did to Artemis, it was unthinkable, and now you continue to spiral. Lashing out at any who would question you. Tell me husband, what has happened to send you so far over the edge?"
"A prophecy or, maybe a premonition. I am unsure which. It came to me in my dreams a few weeks ago now. It told of my downfall, how someone I trusted, someone I loved, would make a choice that would damn me." He sighed as his eyes closed. "I know, I know I should not have done what I did to Artemis. My little girl. But I had to, don't you see? She was the only one I could think of who would have motive. When I heard from Hades about the titans, when I heard her titan lover was among those who had been taken from Elysium, I knew it would be her."
"That is why you have been so paranoid. So angry. You are…afraid?" Hera questioned. Zeus moved out of the grip of her hands, making his way out to the balcony that overlooked Olympus.
"I don't want to end up like my father. I have my flaws, I have made mistakes, I have hurt people. You most of all. But I always tried to be a good king. A good father." He explained.
"And you are, but you must also trust your family to be good in return. Not push them away for fear of betrayal." Here replied as she made her way closer to him.
"You do not know what it is like!" He snapped as he whipped round to face her, eyes blazing. "I killed my own father. He killed his father before him. The cycle of sons damning their fathers is strong! How long until it is me?"
"But Artemis is not your son!" She shouted back. She could not believe she was defending the huntress. They had never seen eye to eye, though even she admitted she felt sorry for the girl when she heard the news of her lover. Still, it was an odd turn of events.
"She is still more powerful than most. Her, her brother and Athena are second only to us and our siblings. Does that not make you fearful? They must be shown their place, and Artemis has a habit of overstepping." He growled, turning to pour himself more drink.
"Can you not hear yourself Zeus!?" Hera exclaimed "One minute you are referring to her as your little girl, claiming you are sorry for what you have done, and the next you are accusing her of trying to usurp your throne. You are behaving erratically!"
"Then get out! If you do not see what I see you are a fool! I alone will protect my throne, and Olympus with it, from those who would take it from me! I am, and always will be, the king!" Zeus screamed as he through the glass to smash behind Hera's head.
"You need to control yourself. Before it is too late" The goddess seethed as she turned to walk out of the door, slamming it behind her.
Marin Headlands | California
Lamia had travelled further north than she had thought. She had been tracking her from the air all day, starting in San Jose, following her up to the Marin Headlands moving swiftly in the form of a hawk. She was dangerously close to Mount Othrys, so close she could practically smell the titans scheming there. Still, she had to find Lamia and send her back to Tartarus. As she perched on a tree, she caught scent of her again, dropping to the rocky floor she swiftly turned into a wolf and gave chase.
'I can't let her get too close to Mount Tamalpais.' She thought as her 4 legs carried her north once more, through the golden gate national recreation area. Using the mist, she avoided walkers and tourists as she made her way closer to Lamia. Suddenly, her head started pounding as her wolf legs tripped over one another. Falling to the floor she rolled, turning from wolf to woman in the process, coming to a stop laid on her back. Visions overtook her once more.
She was tracking something, something big. She had a feeling she knew what it was but couldn't be sure. Slowly she made her way up Mount Tamalpais, coming to a stop at the edge of the garden of the Hesperides. Her lover's old home. She knew she should turn back but something wouldn't let her. Something was drawing her to the peak of Mount Othrys. Slowly she snuck through the garden, avoiding the remaining Hesperides and Ladon in turn. Arriving at the top of Mount Othrys she saw something that made her heart clench. A young girl was in Atlas's place, holding the sky. Her hair was turning grey with the strain as her muscles tensed under the weight. It looked like the daughter of Athena, Annabeth she believed her name was, the one she had seen fall.
Without a second thought she rushed forward to take the weight from the girl, no one should endure this punishment. When she got there, she whispered words of encouragement to the girl as she looked around, ensuring there was a clear exit for the girls escape. When she looked back the blonde girl was gone. In her place was another. Stumbling backwards she studied the girl in front of her. She was taller than Annabeth, older too. With tanned skin and long black hair pulled into a braid, wisps coming out of the intricate pattern to frame her face. As she looked up toward the goddess Artemis saw her deep blue eyes, so dark they appeared black, and her breath caught in her throat. No. No this was all wrong. This is not how it happened.
"Please. Help me Artemis. I can't hold on much longer" The girl pleaded. Zoë. This was Zoë. The low grumble of a laugh came from the darkness.
"How pathetic. The goddess sacrificing herself to save the girl." Suddenly she found herself under the sky, Atlas in front of her with one hand gripping Zoë's arm and the other holding his sword to her throat. "Good luck saving her now." Abruptly, he thrust his sword into the girl's chest.
"No!" she screamed, sitting up from where she was laid on the floor. Her breathing was labored, her heart hammering in her chest. The vision faded, all except one. Zoë's face as the sword plunged into her chest, eyes pleading with Artemis to save her, to help her, and Artemis. Powerless to do anything to save her. Pulling her knees to her chest she hugged her legs as she rested her forehead on her arms, head still pounding. Hot tears spilled from her eyes. Her hands clenched tried, in vain, to tame her anger. Why couldn't she remember? Why was this happening to her? Who in Hades name was this girl? All at once she raised her face toward the sky and screamed in frustration, cold silver light pulsing from her body in waves as the animals nearby scattered away from the goddess.
Laying her head back down on her she focused on her breathing. Calming herself as the pounding in her head diminished. The face from her visions plagued her mind, but she pushed it to the side, trying to think rationally. This was the strongest vision she had had yet. That could mean something, if only she could remember where it took place. Thinking of the face of the girl again she willed herself to look further, using what she remembered as an anchor point to start from. She remembered her face, her long black hair, her slender neck, shoulders, an arm across her chest. No, that wasn't her arm. It was someone else's. Holding a sword. 'Follow the arm' she thought as her eyes squeezed together in concentration. The arm was strong. A man's arm. It had armor on it black as night. A shining breastplate. A helmet. Beneath the helmet was…Atlas. She remembered. It was Atlas. Which means it must have been Mount Othrys. Jumping to her feet she took off running toward Mount Tamalpais, completely forgetting about Lamia or the impending danger of breaching the Mountain. All she could think of was the face of that girl. Her name. And the answers Mount Othrys would hold for her. She needed answers. That is all she cared about.
Titan base | Mount Othrys
Her body was numb. Her mind was numb. Even her sisters antics could not pull her from her trance. Sitting on the floor with her back to the tree, she stared into the middle distance. The cuff around her ankle digging into her skin as her foot rested on the earth. Her father had kept her chained to this tree, still not trusting she would stay. She didn't blame him. Given the chance she would run as fast as she could away from this garden. Not that she knew where she would go. Her home was a person, and that person didn't know who she was anymore.
"Stand girl." Her fathers voice broke through her trance, she hadn't even seen him coming. Before she could respond he had grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to her feet, Ladon growling and curling his tail tighter around the tree's trunk. Her father brushed the leaves and debris off of her dress as he scowled at her appearance. "Do you not take pride in how you look girl? I thought I had taught you better" He gruffed. He was around 6 feet tall and wearing his black Greek armor, shined to perfection.
"You didn't teach me much of anything from what I remember father. You were a little preoccupied holding the sky" She replied, smirking. "Besides there isn't much I can do about my appearance being chained to a tree" She snapped, turning to glare at him.
"You insolent bi-"
"Now Ares, is that any way to talk to your daughter? Such a delicate little flower, you should be gentle with her" a voice came from behind the tree. She turned to the source of the voice as her father grumbled in response. From around the corner a man appeared. He had short, cropped hair and a long, trimmed beard both blue-white in color. His eyes of the same shade glistened coldly and his smile as bright as the sun itself.
Koios.
"She is far from delicate uncle. She betrayed her family and ran off with that impertinent goddess." Atlas snarled as he pulled her closer to him, his hand tightening on her arm as his nails cut into her skin.
"The impertinent goddess that just so happens to be my granddaughter?" Koios questioned, eyebrow raised as his smile turned into a thin line.
"Ah yes, well, what I mean to say is-" Atlas spluttered, trying to save himself as Koios looked on unmoving. After a few moments of her father squirming, Koios let out a boisterous laugh and clapped Ares on the shoulder.
"Oh nephew, you are too easy" He laughed, smile lighting up his face. "I only jest, in truth I could not care for the girl or her brother. Only for their usefulness to the cause. That is where you come in" She could see where Apollo got his awful sense of humor from. Turning to Zoë he appraised her, looking her up and down, his eyes tracing over every curve. It made her feel naked, exposed. The eyes so similar to her lovers held none of the warmth, just coldness. Growling she spat at the elder titan, causing him to stagger back in surprise. Her father stood still, not knowing how to react. Koios raised a hand to his face, wiping the offending mark off of his cheek. Being around half a foot taller than Zoë in this form, the shot was impressive. She smiled to herself as his face tensed with rage. Just as he raised a hand, she assumed to hit her, a light breeze brushed across her face and there stood Leto.
"Father! What are you doing?" She questioned, hands on her hips like a mother scolding her child.
"Not now Leto! We are trying to teach this girl manners" Koios growled. Before the hand could come any closer Leto placed hers on his arm, effectively stilling it. Zoë and her father watched the exchange in awe and disgust respectively. Both of them not understanding how Leto got away with it. "Daughter, would you kindly remove your hand." Koios said through gritted teeth. The Hesperide could see he was desperately trying to control his anger and not lash out at the titaness.
"Father you said no harm would come to her. That she would be my handmaiden. You promised." She said, eyes flicking toward Zoë quickly before settling back on her father. She brought her other hand up to hold her fathers' arm more tightly. "Please father?" She asked. The whole scene made Zoë want to laugh. Here was a millennia year old titaness asking her father for something like a mortal child would ask their parents for a puppy. The most shocking thing was, it seemed to be working. Sighing Koios lowered his arm.
"I suppose I did promise. Very well daughter. But we need her to do something for us first, then she is all yours." He smiled as he put his other hand over his daughters, squeezing her hand on his arm.
"Wh-what just happened? The wise Koios foiled by his own daughter pleading for a present? No wonder Kronos had no faith in you, you are weak!" Atlas lashed out, shoving Zoë away from him so her back hit the tree, he marched up to Koios, fire in his eyes.
"I would watch your mouth if I were you Atlas. You are only free by my grace, if it were up to my brothers, you would still be under the sky." Koios seethed.
"Please. I am stronger than both you and your brothers! Second only to Kronos himself!"
"And that is all you have. You do not have the intellect to defeat the gods, you proved that last time there was an uprising. You may be physically stronger, but do not try and claim you are wiser than me and my brothers because you are not." Koios stated. Before Atlas could argue further her sister came running through the garden.
"Father! Come quickly!" Aegle gasped as she ran up to their father.
"What is it now!" Atlas yelled as her sister flinched and stepped backwards.
"The silver archeress, Artemis, she is here!" She exclaimed. Atlas and Koios looked at each other before turning to Leto.
"Daughter, do you know the meaning of this?" Koios questioned.
Leto looked between the two titans, shock evident on her face as she struggled to formulate a response. "I-I do not know. I haven't spoken to her in months, I swear it," This, technically was not a lie. The titaness hadn't spoken to her daughter for a couple of months now. The last time she saw her she was laid unconscious in Apollo's chambers, but they did not speak. Seeming to know his daughter was telling the truth Koios turned back to Aegle.
"Take us to her child, we will deal with her." And with that both he and Atlas marched after her sister and disappeared from view.
When they were out of sight Leto rushed over to Zoë. "Why is Artemis here?" Zoë questioned as Leto pulled something small and silver out of her pockets.
"I do not know, but it can't be for any good reason. Here, give me your foot." Confused, Zoë lifted her bare foot into Leto's outstretched hand where she quickly inserted the small silver item into the lock on the cuff.
"You have a key? How long have you had that?" Zoë questioned. As the cuff slipped off of her ankle.
"A while, I had Hephaestus copy a set from the ones I stole from your father." She replied.
"You stole them from my father? How?" the Hesperide questioned as she flexed her, now free, ankle.
"My cousin may be smart in ways of combat but when it comes to where he leaves his things, he is a fool. All I had to do was wait for him to be bedding one of the nymphs he has taken a fancy too and steal them from his belt. I returned the originals before he put his trousers back on." She rolled her eyes as she explained. "Now let us go and find my daughter before my father does."
"We should go towards the entrance to the garden, we will most likely run into her on the way." Zoë suggested. Leto nodded in agreement and the two set off to find Artemis before it was too late.