Warning: This chapter contains themes of sexual trauma that may be upsetting for some readers.

~o0o~

Adiya stepped out of the shower, dabbing her face with a towel. She watched her reflection in the mirror as she wrapped the towel around her. She woke with a strange feeling in her gut today. She was excited about her transition into Hera's handmaiden, but there was an ominous, underlying feeling that came along with it. Her stomach turned and she swallowed the bile in her throat that rose for seemingly no reason.

She looked through her drawers for her hairbrush, keeping a hand on her towel to hold it up. She began to hum as she finally found it and began to brush her hair. She disentangled her now auburn hair and lathered herself in moisturizer. She stepped out of the restroom and out into her room. She changed into a pink dress Hera gave her a few weeks back. She gave a happy smile. Despite the inauspicious feeling in her gut, she tried to convince herself it'd be a good day.

Hera had woken her when she kissed her neck, and she wished the queen would've continued. She loved the kiss on the forehead she received from Hera and her stomach filled with butterflies at the memory of her and Hera cuddling together last night.

She walked over to the window ready to face the day when she looked down at the garden. Hera sat at the fountain, Artemis kneeled in front of her. She continued to watch as the two exchanged words and the latter finally left. Hera seemed relieved but something about her posture. It wasn't Hera. When Hera hugged herself and slumped over onto her legs Adiya decided to check on her.

She turned toward her bed and pulled out a pair of flip flops. She slipped them on and walked toward the door. When she opened it Zeus stood on the other side.

"There you are! Adiya, I've been searching everywhere for you, dear," he stepped into her room and she took a step back. "Where have you been?"

"Hera and I went down to the mortal world. I wanted to visit Israel and she took me. Can we catch up later? I need to go check on her," she began walking toward the exit but Zeus blocked her way.

"Now hold on. You and her have been spending a lot of time together. I think she'll survive a few more minutes. Sit. Sit. Let's talk," Zeus sat on the white couch in the room and patted the seat next to him.

"Zeus, Hera doesn't feel well. I really should go check."

"Oh, what's a few minutes to eternity? Come on. Just two minutes."

"Zeus, please...any other time, but she needs me right now. She's your wife. I thought you of all people would understand," Adiya raised a brow. She was becoming uncomfortable. She didn't like how persistent Zeus was being in her staying here with him. As she said these final words she was hoping Zeus would get the memo and leave. He only stared back at her blankly. Then he nodded and he looked around the room out stretching his arms, "Where is she?"

Adiya shifted her feet, "Outside. She's in her garden."

Zeus stood, "Will it make you feel better if I went to speak with her?"

"I mean-"

"Yes or no? I can see the two of you have grown quite close over the years. If anything I'll send her to you. The two of you seem to know how to, ah, comfort each other better than I do."

"I- really?" Adiya looked up at him and he gave a gentle nod. He rubbed her shoulders and kissed her cheek. "Wait up here, alright? I'll come to get you and let you know what was wrong or she'll come up to talk with you."

Zeus began to leave and Adiya could feel herself breathe again. She sat at the window sill and watched Hera outside. Minutes later Zeus joined her. Adiya could hear the muffled sound of Zeus' voice and Hera standing out of respect. The two spending a couple minutes in tense conversation and Hera finally giving him a nod. Adiya saw Zeus say something and Hera look up at him and smile. The two embraced and Hera walked inside. Zeus looked up at Adiya's bedroom window, he held a hand up to her for her to wait there and walked in after Hera.

Minutes later there was a knock at the door. "It's open," she called. Adiya turned in her seat as she watched the door open.

"Adiya?" Hera walked in. Adiya walked forward toward her, "What is it? What's wrong?"

Hera shook her head and gave her a smile, "No. Nothing, love. I'm just tired from yesterday. I'm sorry for making you worry."

"But Zeus said he'd send you up here if you wanted to talk with me."

"I know. He told me I could come up here. I just-I just wanted to come up here for a moment to get a breather. He was just a bit persistent in his questions and he made me nervous and- I'm ranting."

Adiya giggled, "It's okay. You're cute when you ramble."

Hera turned red. She furrowed her eyebrows together, "Really? You think that?"

Adiya nodded and smiled, "I do."

"I-I don't know what to say, thank you? Either way we should get going downstairs. Zeus is waiting for us to eat breakfast," Hera began to turn away and Adiya reached for her. "No. No. A few minutes. I want to make sure you're really okay. You seem anxious."

"Do I?" Hera turned back with a raised eyebrow. Adiya nodded and stepped forward. She held her hand and kissed the back of it, "Yeah. Sit down. Relax. Breathe. You know you don't have to put up a big act for me. Unwind."

Hera looked up at the couch and then back at Adiya. She walked over to the couch and sat. She looked up at Adiya curiously. The mortal noticed Hera was getting redder, she walked over to the fan in the corner and turned it on, "Rather hot today, no?"

"Yes, it is."

"So, uh, what did- what did Zeus tell you?"

"He asked me what was wrong. He insisted I tell him an answer even though I was really just tired. I'm alright, love. I promise," Hera leaned forward and gave her a smile.

Adiya wasn't convinced. She kneeled in front of her the same way Artemis had earlier. She cupped Hera's cheek, "Hera. You know you don't have to hide your feelings from me. I care about you a lot."

Hera and Adiya held a lengthy gaze. Something in Hera's eyes seemed hard. It made Adiya want to shrink away. What was wrong with her? She was usually so open to talking, "Hera?"

She gave a sigh, "I know you care about me. I'm just tired is all. I had a nightmare two nights ago and then yesterday's expedition. I've just been feeling a bit down is all."

"You had a nightmare? Why didn't you come see me?"

"Come see- Oh, well, I woke Zeus by mistake, love. He was worried and I stayed with him for the night. He helped me to feel better."

"Really?"

"Really. Come on, Adiya. Zeus is waiting downstairs as we speak. We really must get going-"

"Wait. You said my name."

"I- well, of course. Why wouldn't I?"

"Yesterday, you couldn't. Why can you now?" Adiya looked up at her with a confused expression.

"What's with all of the questions? So what I couldn't yesterday, now I can. Isn't that what matters?"

"I-I guess so…"

"Ah, Adiya, you get worked up over one bad morning. Drop it."

"Hera, I just want to show you that I care. I'm sorry for being annoying."

"It's fine. I just wish you'd stop being so obnoxiously-" Adiya cut her off with a kiss on the lips. Hera tasted different than she expected. There was a slight tingle on her lips that felt familiar. Hera held her by the waist and pulled her closer when they separated Hera's hands ran up her body and rubbed her shoulders, "Well. That explains a lot."

"What is it?"

"Just a few questions I had...but what about Zeus?" Hera's eyes widened in worry. Adiya cupped her chin, "He's not here. He's downstairs."

Adiya reached up to kiss her again when Hera closed her eyes and pulled away, "No. You shouldn't."

"Hera-"

"Adiya, he's not downstairs."

"What-what do you mean?"

Hera opened her eyes and Adiya realized the mistake she made. In place of Hera's warm, brown eyes were Zeus' cold, blue ones. He glared at her and Adiya fell backwards as he stood, towering over her, "This is why you've been avoiding me. Why you two spend so much time together. She's been bedding you."

"No. No! We haven't-!"

"Silence! I won't speak a word to her, but you. I have a punishment in mind for you, wench."

"Zeus, I apologize-"

"Shut up. You, you stay away from her. Those daily outings. Those private conversations. No more. Either you reject her advances or you come up with a petty excuse."

"But Zeus-"

"I should've listened to my instincts. I took you into my home because I pitied your existence. I brought you here to help you escape your abusive household in exchange for your service to me and me only," Zeus grabbed Adiya's arm and pulled her to him. "I intend to keep it as such, on the bed."

"Zeus-"

"Bed. Now, or would you prefer me to be in my wife's form, traitor," Zeus' eyes flashed and he pushed her toward the bed. Adiya fell backward on it. She scrambled to sit up but Zeus pushed her back down. Adiya cried out but Zeus muffled her screams with his hand. He began to pull off her dress and she scratched at his shoulders and kicked at his stomach and legs but he pinned her bottom half down with his legs and weight. He was too heavy and strong to push off. He let out a growl and his eyes had a dangerous glow to them. He ripped her dress off.

Adiya began to cry. She shook her head as she continued to pry him off but eventually he forced himself inside. She tried moving his hand to call for help. To call for Hera or Artemis. One of the servants in the temple, but no one heard her. Nobody came. Zeus lifted himself so they were eye to eye. He was so different to when they first met. His eyes were merciless. Cruel. He snarled at her. She continued to cry, it hurt. Her stomach felt sore and there was a sharp pain in her vaginal area. Then he did something he hadn't done before. He sealed the fate between Hera and Adiya the way it always went down between Hera and a mistress of Zeus. She felt him reach his peak and let go inside.

As he finished, he stood and readied himself. Adiya curled up into a ball and sobbed. She covered her face with one hand and hugged her knees with the other. As he left he told her, "Get dressed. Breakfast is cold."