Pray that it won't be eternal, dear mortal.
"Just step in, if you want I can help you bathe. I know you're used to showers and such."
"Why do I need to do this?"
Pray...
"Well if you're going to serve me you need to be chaste."
"And then what happens after?"
That it won't be eternal...
"And then we'll go to the council. Request for your transition into my handmaiden."
"I'll be immortal?"
. . .
Adiya looked over at Hera with unsure eyes. Her hand gripped the bath robe so tightly her knuckles turned white. Hera didn't seem to notice. She stepped into the river excitedly and held her hand out to her, "C'mon then, Little Vex!"
Adiya bit her lip, unsure whether to take her hand, "Do I have to be immortal?"
Hera rolled her eyes, "Well of course. You can't serve the queen of the gods as a mortal. Unless you become a priestess
"I don't know about this Hera..."
The queen stepped out of the water. She walked over to the mortal girl and held her hand, "I understand, you're nervous. Immortality isn't something to trifle with. But it's truly a wonder. Besides, you'll have me for all eternity."
Adiya looked over at the water. If she went in she'd start something she might not ever be able to get out of.
"Come on. Don't you trust me?"
The mortal looked back at the goddess. They shared an intense gaze with each other. Hera's eyes glowed in the sun and an excited smile lay on her face. It wasn't forced. It wasn't sadistic. It was natural. She was so beautiful when she smiled. Adiya took her hand.
The two stepped into the river together.
~o0o~
Hera poured a cupful of water over the mortal's head. She had a full view of Adiya. Her breasts were poorly hidden under the water, and when the trickle of water would fall from the cup Hera was holding her nipples would be exposed. Hera was glad she wasn't a man. She would have some serious explaining to do if she were. "Hera, where are we?" Adiya asked.
"Kanathos," Hera replied. She grabbed a bottle of shampoo and gently massaged the sweet-smelling liquid into her hair.
"You would come here annually, right? To renew your virginity?" Adiya's eyes were beginning to close. The spring was peaceful. A small waterfall trickled nearby, and soft rays of sun shone down on the spot where she and Hera had decided to sit. Adiya wished she could stay like this, the sun warming her exposed skin, the water lulling her body, and Hera. Hera was the best part of this place. If they were to be together for eternity, she would want to be here with her for eternity.
Hera didn't answer. Something about Adiya's hair caught her eye. When she lifted her hand she could see faint traces of what seemed like watery yellow paint. She looked at Adiya's hair and could see its colour fading. The water around them began to adopt faint traces of yellow, "Do you dye your hair?"
Adiya's eyes flew open, "What?"
"Do you dye your hair?"
"I, uh, yeah. I, I do."
"I thought you were naturally blonde this entire time."
"Oh, no. I'm, I'm not. I was hoping to take the secret to my grave, but-"
"Why do you dye your hair?" Hera shifted in her seat so she and Adiya were facing each other.
Adiya looked away from the goddess's eyes. She stared at Hera's chest. The goddess wasn't completely nude like Adiya, Hera wore a thin, silk gown which floated around her thighs. Her brown hair was pulled up into a loose bun. Adiya gulped. She was glad the water was there to cool her off. She could see Hera's breasts poking through the cloth, and she felt her neck go red, "I, uh, I-I remember wanting to be like the other girls. Fair and delicate. I felt like a fish out of water. All the kids around me were white with blue eyes and blonde hair. I was the only brown skinned kid there. I've had it dyed blonde for as far as I can remember."
"Your parents didn't say anything?"
"Mom and Dad were separated by then."
"Let me guess, your mother allowed a six year old child to dye her hair an unnatural color because she hated her daughter's appearance."
"I was four actually."
"Your mother is a bloody sociopath. If you tell me you're wearing contact lenses I will condemn her to Tartarus."
"No, no. I inherited my dad's eyes. If my mom ever complimented me, which was rare, they'd always be about my eyes."
Adiya looked away from Hera and the latter gave a sigh. The goddess scanned Adiya's face. She was near tears. Hera could feel her heart break, she hated seeing her like this. She cupped the girl's chin and forced her to share her gaze, "Your mother, and excuse me for saying this, but your mother is one of the worst human beings I have ever had the displeasure to meet. Anything she's ever told you, pay no mind to it. As for this?" She gently caressed Adiya's hair and shook her own head lightly, "You don't need it. Come, let me take the dye off. I want to know what you look like without it."
The mortal's eyes were reluctant to give in to Hera's hard gaze. After a bit of silent persuasion, Adiya slunk back toward Hera's body, in between her legs, her back facing her. Hera got to work determined to cleanse this girl head-to-toe from all impurities. By the time Hera was done, the sun was beginning to hide behind the hills. Hera admired Adiya's hair. It was a dark and silky brown that cascaded down her back. She had Adiya shift positions so the two faced each other again. The mortal's knees were bent underneath her, in between Hera's thighs.
It was as if Hera was staring at Adiya again for the first time, Her brown hair framed her round face and her cheeks were red from embarrassment. Adiya's eyes avoided Hera's. Her usually plump lips were pulled into a thin line awaiting the non-existent criticism. Hera cupped her hand gently, "Look at me."
Adiya looked up at her. Hera's eyes glistened and her lips were slightly parted, "You are the most beautiful of all of Zeus' conquests." Adiya's face flushed and Hera felt herself go giddy at the sight.
The two began to inch closer. Adiya shook her head as she rested her hands on Hera's arms, "That's not true."
"Why not?" Hera's hand held Adiya's waist.
"Because I think that title is solely yours," Adiya's hands travelled Hera's arms up and around her neck.
"Once upon a time I would've agreed," Hera's eyes stayed glued to Adiya's own. Her face was level with the mortal's breasts and this was all she could do to keep herself from taking one of them.
"I'll always think so. Whether you hate me, or not."
"I don't understand how I could have ever hated you."
"It's easy to see why."
"But I didn't even give you a chance."
"Within reason."
Adiya's head had lowered and her legs were on either side of Hera's body. Hera's free hand had reached up to hold the back of Adiya's head, her fingers entangling themselves within the mortal's wet locks. Their lips were inches apart and they had both begun to shut their eyes in anticipation. Hera heard what sounded like a branch snapping and opened her eyes.
She looked past Adiya and saw a pair of eyes staring from the bushes. She immediately sat up and gently placed Adiya next to her. She looked back at the bushes and in a hard but obviously flustered voice called, "Who's there."
The bushes rustled and they heard what sounded like a pattern of footsteps. Hera jumped up and rushed to the other side of the river, but by the time she reached it they were gone. Hera sighed, "We have to get going. Remember, what I told you, Little Vex."
"Who was that?" Adiya began to stand.
"I don't know. Get dressed."
"Hera-"
"What do you want," Hera hissed at her. She had been walking back to where they came from. She turned on Adiya sharply. She gave Adiya a glare and the other stepped away.
"I-I just wanted to know who-"
"I don't know! Do you think I would be in such a rush to leave if I had caught them!? Use some damn common sense!" Hera snapped. Adiya flinched and looked down at the water. Hera watched her intently and felt her insides squirm uncomfortably. She gave a soft sigh and walked back toward the mortal. She held her forearms and her thumbs rubbed against her skin, "I-I'm sorry. I just- Listen, I just don't want to trip at the finish line. We've made it this far. I don't want anything to screw this up."
"I understand," she started to walk past Hera and the latter sighed. She turned around and grabbed her wrist, "Don't do this."
"Do what?"
"This. I do it to Zeus all the time. Please look at me," Adiya could hear what sounded like desperateness in her voice. She gave a tentative turn of the head and looked at Hera out of the corner of her eye. "Please, Little Vex."
Adiya turned to look at her fully, "You've never called me by my name."
"What?"
"You've never called me by my name. Why is that? It's always 'Little Vex' or some other name but never 'Adiya'. Why is that?"
Hera stayed quiet. She wasn't sure exactly how to respond. Quite frankly, Hera had never even said her name when she was in private or with Zeus. Back then, Hera would avoid using the name because she felt it to be sacrilege on her tongue. Now, she had no excuse. Maybe it was a habit? Old habits die hard is what Zeus always says.
Adiya cupped Hera's face and the two shared a tense gaze, "Say it. Say my name. At least once. That would be enough."
Hera rested her hands over Adiya's and her lips parted slighted. Her voice caught in her throat, "A-Ad-" Why couldn't she say it? She cleared her throat but the name stayed there. Hera's chest rose with panic. Her body began to tremble and her knees turned to jelly. Why couldn't she say her name?
"I-I can't-" Hera looked away shamefully. "Why not? Hera, I know what you feel. Why can't you just-"
Adiya stopped talking. She noticed Hera's eyes begin to glaze over with tears. Suddenly she understood. She wasn't ready. Adiya sighed. Why did the gods always have to be so...complicated? She looked away from her and nodded, "I'll get dressed."
She pushed past Hera who turned in a fit of panic, "Love-"
"No. Not now. Not now."
"Little Vex, please! Don't-" Adiya turned to give her a sharp glare and Hera stopped in her tracks. There was something in Adiya's eyes that scared Hera. There was potential in there. A glimmer of power that shined through. Hera took a step back.
Adiya gave a frustrated sigh and turned her back to Hera again, "He was right. You are just teasing me."
"H-he? What do you mean by he?"
"Nobody."
"I don't want to fight again. Tell me. Who is 'he'? Was it Zeus?"
"No. Some guy. He had purple eyes, he had on a clamide. Brown, curly hair. Brown skin."
"Scar on his arm?" Hera straightened her back. She couldn't believe this. The little creature wasn't even a main fling of Zeus' anymore and Ganymede was still making her life into a comedy show.
"Yeah. He told me you did that to him. That you would try hurting me too. I see what he meant," Adiya stepped out and slipped on her robe.
Hera waded out of the water after her, "You're being ridiculous. You're taking the opinion of someone who's not even a third party in this and has absolutely nothing to do with us. Why would you base how I feel because of someone else's opinions and thoughts that they have about me? I care about you. I care more than I wish I did. Would you look at me, dammit!?"
Adiya looked back toward the goddess. Her eyes were filled with tears again but Hera didn't let it bother her, "I need you to understand that I can be in major trouble if news of this gets out or if the plan doesn't go accordingly. So I need you to show me more faith and respect than you currently are. The only opinion that matters about me and the relationship I have with you is the opinion that you and I hold. I'm sorry I can't say your name. I really am sorry. I wish I could tell you why I can't but even I don't understand why. But I swear on the Styx that I would never hurt you deliberately. As I've said before. I care about you."
The two women stared at each other in the eye. Eventually Adiya caved and hugged her, "I'm sorry. It's just..the timing. He said you were just waiting to turn on me and to hope that it wouldn't be for all eternity. Then we come here and you lead me on and you can't even say my name without breaking down. I just-I know you wouldn't hurt me on purpose. Let's just… can we? I just wanna go home. "
Hera rubbed her back and kissed her neck, "Love, me wanting to make you immortal has nothing to do with me wanting to make you suffer. All the contrary, if I make you immortal I feel like I'll have better control in your safety. You don't need to worry."
They stayed together a little while longer and they finally separated. Hera went to pick up her things and led Adiya back to Olympus.
Once on the mountain, Hera looked around at the other gods defensively. No one gave them suspicious glances. No one paid them any mind really. They all continued on their way.
Eventually they were back in Adiya's bedroom. The two were changing out of their wet clothes and into dry ones. It was the first time they had both been naked in front of each other. They blushed, gave a nervous giggle, and turned away from each other to give themselves privacy. Hera's heart was racing. She wanted her. She had never wanted something so badly in her life. Before she could turn toward the mortal she felt arms wrap around her. She could feel Adiya press her breasts against her bareback and Hera felt herself go warm again, "What are you up to this time, Little Vex?"
"Nothing, I just want to...cuddle."
"Let me change first."
"No, we both have the same limbs and parts. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Please? For me? Just this once," Adiya rested her head on Hera's back and the latter gave a sigh. "You're going to get us in trouble."
"We're not doing anything. We're just hanging out in our birthday suits. How's the bedroom any different than a sauna."
Hera gave a chuckle and waved her hand. They heard the door lock and Adiya took it as her cue. She took Hera's hand and led the goddess over to the bed. Hera felt her knees start to shake and her breathing constricted. If Adiya was trying to get her to sleep with her Hera wasn't ready. She didn't have a plan to cover it up in case someone walked in. What if Zeus walked in? What if he just saw them like this? Her mind wasn't functioning properly to come up with something on the fly. Hera could feel herself become nauseous. She tried to pull her hand away but her body just didn't have the strength. Adiya's grip started feeling cold. The numbness in her hand began to spread and her vision began to darken. The couldn't. Zeus would find them. Adiya would get hurt. She couldn't let her get hurt. She couldn't. She couldn't.
She shut her eyes and was about to faint when the feeling returned in her body again. She opened her eyes and saw Adiya laying down. She left a spot for Hera and patted it and then turned over to reach for the remote in her nightstand. She turned the TV and gave her no more attention.
Hera slowly got into bed with her and Adiya shifted positions so Hera's arm rested comfortably under her head. Her heart was still racing, but she felt at ease. The more relaxed she became, the more generous her touch was. Hera fingers lightly traced Adiya's arm and the latter started to receive goosebumps and give small giggles. They stayed this way, watching TV together. Eventually when they fell asleep, Hera's arm cradled Adiya's waist and Adiya cradled Hera's head.