"Hera!" Adiya cried.
She ran over to the shadowed ball Ares had pointed out in the distance. He ran after her, somehow slower than the mortal when they were still back on Olympus. His lungs burnt, something he never thought would happen to him while chasing after a mortal.
He looked down at the girl, she had collapsed to her knees holding a limp figure. His brown eyes surveyed the scene. Adiya was wearing a simple white dress with a red sash and her waist. He remembered it to be the dress she wore when she first stepped onto Olympus. Her golden hair was stuck to her sweaty forehead and her tears, clear and warm, landed on the icy cheek of the woman she held.
He looked closer at the woman. She was pale, with large bruises that mottled her face and arms. She wore a basil dress, which was tattered from the hem and sleeve. Brown hair lay about her haphazardly and her broken, plump lips were slightly parted. There was a golden wedding ring on her finger.
He stepped closer carefully, a wedding ring? Was that what Adiya was basing this woman's identity on? He shook his head. This woman. She didn't look like a goddess. She didn't radiate the power, the aura, that his mother held. His mother would never be crumpled in the snows of Russia this way.
"That is not my mother," he told the mortal.
The mortal ignored him holding the woman tighter, foreheads touching. The way she cried, the sentiment she held. Her wails, he never thought he would hear them outside of the battlefield, he looked up expecting to see a triumphant soldier carrying a bloodied sword but only found the empty flurry of snow Russia could offer. "Hera, please wake up. Olympus needs you,"he heard the mortal cry.
He looked back at the two women and knelt next to them. This couldn't be his mother, this woman was nearly dead; if not, completely dead. However, the prospect of being able to save her mother's shade from the Underworld was preferable o the fate- He blocked the thought from his mind, preferring to believe this woman was not his mother at all; however, as he held a hand out to touch her, it shook with the possibility.
He was reaching out to her, to touch her shoulder when the smell of vanilla reached his nostrils.
"Ares, my love, don't run too far. I can't see you beyond the cave," She called out to him.
He looked back at the woman. She was young. Curly, brown hair framed her face as a white dress wrapped around her petite body delicately. She looked no older than 15. A little girl held her hand, around his age. She was dressed in robes and her black hair was straight and cropped off at her shoulders.
The little girl looked up at the teenager with rusty eyes and then back at him,"You should listen to mommy! The Titans could be out there, brother!"
He stood at the shore's edge, the water tickling his toes and then running away from him. "Ares, come on," the teenager called to him. He looked back out at the broad horizon that stretched out for miles, he tried looking past the point where the sky and the sea touched. He looked back to the cave: where his father was raised, where he and his sister were both born, and where his mother and sister stood now. Then to a point above the cave where a lush mountain loomed over them.
"Ares, if you stay near I'll show you a surprise," the teenager had called.
He sighed, waddling back up to them and taking her other hand.
She led them up and over the cave to the mountain that stood tall and proud. His short legs struggled to keep up with her long ones which strode over the rocks and hills so easily. When would he be able to step over as many rocks as she did?
Eventually, they reached the highest point of the mountain and there he received a splendid view. Grassy hills and blue oceans as far as the eye could see. To his right a dark sea of green trees and just beyond the north of the mountain's rocky shore was a blanket of white where an everlasting kingdom of snow presided.
The little girl gasped at the sight, and gawked at the mountain a few miles away from them, one that was charred black and barren. Mount Orthys, he thought. The location where his aunts and uncles fought. Where his father led a small "would-be" army into what his mother believed to be a dangerous mission against his grandfather. If so, why didn't they just talk things out? Like...like..what did his aunt call it once? Like diplomacy. They could avoid so much violence if they put down their weapons and grudges and had talked it over.
The teenager sat them down as she hugged them both close. They continued to look at the distant mountain with hopes that some miracle would happen for them to win the war, but nothing came. At some point he felt the slender fingers of his mother gently combing his hair as she told them stories of the wonderful home they would build on this mountain. Soon he and his twin were laying in their mother's lap, eyes closed, the scent of vanilla reaching their nostrils and lulling them into a deep sleep.
Ares' hand reached for his mother's and held it tight. She couldn't be dead. She was a goddess, the queen of the gods. There was no way she could be dead.
"How did this happen?" He looked sharply at Adiya. She looked back up at him, her guilt radiating off of her.
He took Hera's form into his own arms, ripping her away from Adiya's embrace,"You did this to her. You caused this. Didn't you."
"Ares-"
"Didn't you."
The mortal held her breath, she looked him in the eye, her breath shaky. His eyes were glowing a bright shade of red, a bloody shade of red and his body trembled with rage. She stumbled over the word but eventually she managed a "yes."
His breath hitched. He stood holding the goddess's body close to his chest and turned away from the mortal. After taking a couple steps away he turned his head sharply to her,"If it were up to me I'd leave you to die. But you're not my whore, so hurry up."
Adiya stood shakily, unsure as to whether she should follow or not, but her legs moved on their own accord following the god of war.
She held onto his shirt with a shaky hand, on instinct she had closed her eyes, but she forced them open.
The vacuum sucked them in. It was nauseating seeing the swirl of different shapes and colors combine.
Her feet landed hard on the floor, causing the soles of her feet to sting with a surge of pain.
They were standing in the middle of the throne room. Cold and grey. The thrones that stood around the hearth loomed over her as if judging her, ready to send her to hell. In front of her were the charred and cold remains of what used to be the eternal fire. Tears welled in her eyes.
They were too late.
Ares lay Hera in front of the hearth as if he handled glass. He looked back at Adiya tensely. His eyes scorched her skin, she could feel it crawl under his gaze.
"Since you're special enough to cause all of this. I want you to call the rest of the council. All ten of them. No shortcuts. No help. Now, go before I lose patience and smother you all over these walls."
Adiya gulped and ran out of the throne room. It was strange running for her life when she didn't care for it. Hera had formed her entire world, and now with her gone it felt empty. She didn't want to live if Hera wasn't the one threatening her life.
She knocked on the doors and windows of every temple, calling out to the council to meet at the throne room. She looked in every nook and cranny in the Square. She traveled to the Northside where the winter gods presided and looked for any there. She traveled to the Westside of Olympus where the wilderness gods inhabited and searched for any council members there. She went East where more of the grassy hills of Olympus hid the more obscure gods. She went South where the water washed up against the Rocky cliffs of the mountain. Everywhere she went she called out their names individually. She was sure she had gotten their attention, and ran back up the mountain. Her feet bled from running barefoot across the forest and snow and she was drenched in her sweat from the constant running. She had trails of grime on her dress and skin due to her tripping over her own feet several times.
She reached the mountain's peak, passing by Hephaestus as he struggled to climb the steps to the large double doors, and stepped into the throne room, stubbing her toe on the closing doors. It was silent. Stunned faces standing a good distance away from Ares and Athena. One who held onto Hera, the other comforting the mourning god. Adiya couldn't catch her breath, but she looked around the room to see if everyone was here.
Not everyone was here.
Zeus and Demeter were missing. Adiya stepped back out as Hephaestus finally limped inside.
She ended up running back downhill and losing herself in the endless maze of halls of Zeus and Hera's home. Eventually, she walked up to the doors that held Zeus' office private to the world. They were two large emerald doors with a mountain carved into them. She had never been here before. She had never thought of going in and no one ever really mentioned it.
It would be a lucky guess if he was even inside. Would he be upset? Would he kill her?
She stepped through the doors at the thought. It was a large chamber. A red carpet lay on the wooden floors and bookstands lined the walls neatly, glass doors protecting the contents on their shelves. Two chairs stood in front of a neatly organized desk with a dusty green lamp, what she assumed to be a typewriter, and a cage with papers stacked in it. Three windows broke the formation of the book stands and shed light into the room. One window stood just behind the antique, oaken desk and the other two on the walls that were on either side of the room. Velvet curtains draped the windows elegantly.
He was here. In his leather recliner chair, his head bent over something on his desk. He hadn't even heard her come in. She stepped forward and he didn't look up. Not until she cleared her throat. He looked up at her with a hard look that sent a shock through her body, but then it softened at the realization of who it was.
He stood with a loving smile and stepped toward her,"My lovely Adiya, what a pleasure it is to see you. I didn't think you'd ever visit me in my office but I suppose it was bound to-"
"Ares is calling for a council meeting in the throne room, Zeus. You must go immediately." She had spat out his name in such a hostile manner it made Zeus flinch. He tilted his head at her, confused with her behavior and reached out to hold her hand. She slinked away from him, leaving to look for Demeter.
She decided to leave using the halls Ares used to get out the back door. In no time, she found herself back in Hera's garden and wandered around into what eventually led to Demeter's garden. She looked around. There was no way this was Demeter's garden, it was all dead. She wandered throughout the dried garden calling for Demeter when she finally came across the statue of two women. A younger one holding an elderly woman tightly in her arms. The young lady was crying stony tears, the old woman's eyes were shut with years of miserly wrinkles and her lips turned down in a frown. Why would Demeter have this in her garden? It was depressing. Who would spend so much time giving it this much detail. It almost looked...real.
"Dem-Demeter?" Her voice squeaked, she looked around her, hoping to see some kind of life and stepped closer to the statue and her hand brushed against the older woman's face. Her hair seemed thin despite being made of stone, but her clothes seemed familiar. Adiya remembered Demeter wearing this once, last year when Persephone left for the Underworld once again. Her breathing turned into a panicked inhale as her eyes moved to the young lady. She wore glasses, the same one's Hestia wore. Her hair was cut short, to her shoulders and there was a band in her hair; and her robes. Only Hestia would be so conservative.
She took a step back and fell to the ground. She looked at the two goddesses, stone-faced in their grief. But why? They'd been alive for years. Why did they finally give in now? Is this how gods faded? Did that mean...all those ancient Greek statues...no. No way, but then again, she had never seen a god fade. Adiya was spared from watching the fading of the first three members of Pandora's Four, and she wasn't even alive when Helios and Selene had faded. However, Hera was cold and unmoving, but she wasn't stone. No, this couldn't be the end result of a god fading. It just couldn't be.
She kneeled in front of the statue, her hand rested on Demeter's knee.
All three sisters, in one hour. You good for nothing whore, she heard her mother cry. You did this. You've killed everything. You've ruined everything like you always do. Worthless. Pathetic.
"I know. I know. I know. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Hera, I'm sorry. Please, come back. I'm sorry," she stayed still, sobbing into her palms. What had she done? How was it that she made everything crumble right before her just by uttering a single name to Zeus. A tear rolled down her arm and onto the dry ground. Eugh, she heard. What have I told you about crying? It's not very appealing.
"I know, but look at what I've done. I've killed everything. I've ruined everything. I should've fallen that day. I should've died that day."
Don't flatter yourself too much, Demeter has always been a tad bit dramatic.
"But, she's faded. And Hestia-"
Mmm, yes. That is quite troubling, but Demeter will be fine, after all, it is only January. Persephone should return soon to help her mother rise again. She hasn't faded. No, no. But Hestia, I don't know... it'll be touch and go. Though, Hades has never met you, maybe there's still time to save someone. Surprisingly, a little vex like you holds much potential.
Adiya finally looked up from her hands. She was alone with the statue in the garden.
She knew what she had to do. Good thing Ares hadn't given her a time limit.
~o0o~
Zeus sauntered into the throne room deep in thought over the recent events that unfolded. Why had Adiya looked at him in such a way? He kept seeing her blue eyes glaring at him in such a wrathful manner. They weren't intimidating like Hera's, but they held some kind of power that had been previously untapped. Whatever it was that made her upset, he needed to fix. Curse the Fates if Hera had something to do with this, again.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sight of Ares holding a woman tightly in his arms, his nose was red and eyes were puffy, when he looked up his eyes were glassy. They were full of stubborn tears, he scowled at Zeus. An exact replica of Hera's own glower stared him down.
"You did this. You and that whore. I'll be damned if I let you get away with this," Ares hissed in a guttural manner. Zeus responded with an indignant and confused stare.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Look at her! LOOK AT HER! LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE DONE! YOU'D RATHER GIVE HER LIFE FOR A MORTAL'S!"
The ground trembled, as Ares pupils turned into a bloodthirsty red. Zeus saw his reflection in them. He mistook himself for Hera for a moment. He held the same stupefied look she did when his rage took him over earlier. Is this what he looked like in his own rage? Merciless? Cruel?
He took a step closer in order to calm his son and Ares tensed. The only restraint holding back the god of war was the limp form in his arms and Athena's hand on his shoulder. Zeus looked at Athena, he stared into his own stony gaze. She scowled at him in a lesser degree.
"Are you still confused, father." Ares held such venom to the word, Zeus found himself flinching again. Ares stood, Athena flanking him, he carried the woman in his arms bridal style and he walked stiffly toward him,"Don't you recognize her? You've seen her like this countless times. I still remember. I still have the scars. You still don't recognize her? Then look at her. Look at her face. Look at her hand. Her finger. This is your wife. Or has your mind been blinded and erased by your lust for that wench."
His voice teetered again. It was on a scale of danger. Zeus looked down at the woman. Her hair, her lips, her chin. He looked farther down. Her clothes, her skin. He looked at her hand. Golden bracelets hung loosely from her wrist threatening to fall, her finger held a golden band. It looked familiar. He instinctively looked down at his and found its twin.
He looked up with an airy gasp. This couldn't be. He couldn't have done this. He'd had hit her before, yes. But he had never gone this far. His mouth parted in surprise and there was a slight crackle of electricity that was heard in the air. His hands reached for her face when Ares slapped his hand away.
"Don't you dare cry for her, Zeus."
The king looked his son in the eye. There was a tense and electrical gaze the two shared. He looked at Hephaestus who gandered at them from the hearth's rim. There was something cold in his eyes he couldn't understand. Athena held the same gaze Hephaestus did, too. Artemis' eyes were glassy. Apollo's looked wise. None of the other council members seemed to sympathize with the king of the gods.
"We've been waiting for well over an hour, I wouldn't have doubted if you and your little prostitute had been fucking before her last meal because the moment she walks in here I'm blasting her to pieces. She hasn't brought everyone like I've asked her."
"I'm afraid you'll have to delay your execution, Ares. For she's brought me now. She had to take a detour on her way to get to me."
Demeter stood in the doorway looking like a young woman in her thirties. Adiya stood behind her. Grime lined her face and her dress was torn. The door was open behind her, outside the snow was melting. Persephone, a younger woman with black hair, olive skin, electric blue eyes, and black dress, was on the road, helping a tree grow its flowers for the new season.
"I'm sorry, but spring had to come early this year. I hope none of you mind," Adiya wheezed.
Demeter finally noticed the figure in Ares arms and stepped toward. She walked calmly and the god of war held onto Hera protectively. Demeter looked him in the eye, she watched his face carefully as if he were six years old again and gingerly took Hera into her own arms, slowly letting him now that she was in safe hands. She sniffed lightly, holding back frustrated tears and placed her sister at the foot of her throne. She turned toward Zeus sharply, "You idiot. You absolute buffoon. What have you done?"
Adiya stood in front of the god,"Don't punish him. It's my fault. I should've never come here-"
"No one was talking to you, you insolent little-"
"Ares, watch yourself," Zeus snapped.
"Watch myself? You should be the one watching your back, you two timing mother fu-"
"Ares! That'll be quite enough from both of you. At the moment, we need to help Hera. Once that is done, we'll continue here," Athena intervened.
She snapped her fingers and Apollo jumped into action as if he'd been waiting for this moment his entire life. He made his way to Hera and began tending to her wounds.
"Hypothermia, intracerebral hemorrhage, syncope."
"What does that mean?" Ares asked.
Athena sighed, "She's fainted due to a temporary reduction in blood flow and therefore a shortage of oxygen to the brain, partly due to the hemorrhage within her brain. And she's got hypothermia."
Apollo sighed with relief,"She's still a goddess, and she isn't fading. This'll make healing her a lot simpler than it seems. Someone hold her so she's sitting."
Adiya ached to go and hold her but she was shoved to the side by Ares. His eyes glowed like embers in the dark as he looked back at her, they glued her to that spot unwilling to let her feel anything but the want of suicide.
Apollo placed his hands on Hera's forehead and chest and his palms began glowing. The larger, openned wounds left on her body closed and cleaned themselves up leaving behind white scars from where they were before. He finally snapped his fingers demandingly and Hermes gave him a golden goblet and Apollo poured its contents down Hera's throat. A second later her skin retained its divine glow and her deathly pallor vanished supplanted by a healthier skin tone. The white scars lightened to a fading brown and other marks on her body began their process of healing as well. Her eyes fluttered to life.
Adiya couldn't believe it, she was one goblet of nectar away from losing everything. Why didn't Apollo do anything from the moment he saw Hera, did Ares intimidate anyone that got near?
Hera looked around confused, "What-? How did I? Why are you?" She looked at her dress and Adiya could see the humiliation on her eyes. She didn't want anyone to see her like this. Beaten. Defeated. Her prized dress was torn to shreds by the very man who had given it to her.
Ares hands squeezed Hera's shoulders reassuringly and the goddess looked up into Ares dangerous, volcanic eyes, "It's relieving to see you're okay. Now if you'll excuse me." He let go of Hera as he lunged at Zeus.
"Ares, no!" Athena cried.