Ace lies awake the next morning, listening to her husband breathing. A smile creeps over her lips as she thinks back to the day before. She still feels as though she's walking on air. A discrete stretch, careful so as not to wake Seraphim, shows her that her muscles are a little stiff, but overall she's fine.
"Mmph," Seraphim mutters and rolls towards Ace. She adjusts her position so his elbow isn't digging a hole in her spine and returns to her thoughts.
With a sudden flash of golden light, Zeus appears in the tent. Ace gives a squeak of protest and pulls the covers further over herself while Zeus puts a finger to his lips, shushing her with a serious expression. He extends his hand then over Seraphim's face and uses his power to pull Phantasos, god of illusions, out of the demon leader's mind. Seraphim wakes with a shout of "No!", almost tossing the blanket off them both, but Ace clutches tight to it, more than a little frustrated. The dream-creature sticks around for a second longer, yet flees quickly when Zeus turns to it and flashes lightning in his eyes.
"Ugh," Ace mutters, snuggling into Seraphim's chest for warmth as he wraps his arms around her. "Way to kill the mood."
Zeus ignores her, his hands clasped behind his back as he stares out of the tent entrance.
"The dreams of the Oneiri can't be trusted," he says gravely. "And neither can the goddess who sent them."
Seraphim growls and directs his bident at Zeus with one hand, the other firmly clasped around his wife's waist. The god stops the weapon.
"Hera's been filling your head with false confidence," he continues, sending the spear to rest in a corner of the tent, "and lies. She blames me for what happened to you, which is only half right. Yes, I thought you'd be better off at the palace. But that was a mistake." He turns to face Seraphim. "I underestimated your uncle's greed. For that, I'm sorry."
"Um, do you mind?" Ace cuts in, glaring daggers at Zeus. "We're kind-of… you know…"
"On your honeymoon, yes, I know," Zeus replies dismissively. "What about it?"
"I guess you could put it that way," Seraphim sighs. "But I think what my darling Achalia wants to say is that could you please turn back around because she is trying to protect her modesty."
Zeus shrugs and turns back to face the tent's entrance.
"Don't call me Achalia," Ace hisses.
Seraphim sighs again. "Yes, well, please do go on."
"Well, I'm sorry," Zeus repeats. "That's why I've always tried to help you."
He turns to Seraphim again, ignoring Ace's glowering. He stretches out his hand and shows Seraphim the truth of his past. "When you were hungry, I was the one who fed you. When Acricius's sons were going to kill you, I was the one who saved you."
That part of the vision finishes, but Zeus continues. "You think your mother's death was your fault. But it wasn't. It was Hera's."
And he shows Seraphim just how it happened.
"I tried to help your mother," he says, "but Hera interfered. And she led you to her. She hated your mother and loved the idea of being cut down by her own son. She manipulated you and has been deceiving you ever since."
"Do. You. Mind!" snarls Ace. "Look, I get it. Trauma, traume, Hera's fault, blah blah blah. But could you give us some privacy for just one second? Then you can get back to the sob story."
Seraphim looks at Ace in horror.
"Well, this is new," he says. "Since when have you been so brash? And harsh…"
"I'm angry," snaps Ace, "because Zeus's presence is preventing me from getting up and putting some clothes on."
Zeus chuckles. "You're a bold one. Seraphim was brave to marry you. And alright, you can have your privacy. Call when you're decent."
He leaves the tent. Ace is up in a flash, looking around for her clothes.
"You're so beautiful," Seraphim breathes. Her mood softens a little and she turns to face him.
"I love you," she says.
"I love you too," replies Seraphim, getting up and kissing the top of her head. "But where are our clothes?"
Just then, Ace gasps as she spots two neat piles of clothes and armour by the side of the bed. "I think those might be our wedding present from Hera."
So they put the outfits on and marvel at the style and durability.
"I can't find my hair ties!" Ace laments, and Seraphim laughs.
"Leave your hair out. It's gorgeous."
Ace laughs in delight and spins into his arms, their armour clanging together in a weird sort of dissonant harmony.
"Can I come in?" asks Zeus from outside, and Ace calls back a yes.
"Why should I trust you?" Seraphim asks as Zeus re-enters the tent.
"Here," he says and tosses a coin to Seraphim. "Hera lords her promises over you so you'll do her bidding. I offer it freely. So that justice may be served."
"What is this?" asks Seraphim, looking at the image on the coin.
"It's where you'll find your vengeance," Zeus replies, then glows golden and disappears.
"Well then," says Ace brightly. "Let's go kill your uncle."
But Seraphim is worlds away. He stalks towards the chimera, coin clutched tightly in his hand, and Ace can do nothing but follow.
"Hey, wait!" she protests as her husband pushes her gently away, keeping her from mounting the steed behind him.
"I have to do this alone," he says. "I love you, Ace, but you can't come with me. This is my own mission to accomplish."
Pouting, Ace lets him go. For a while, she wanders the camp, chatting with Seraphim's followers. They all look on her with wondering eyes and treat her with great respect. She eventually gets bored, though, and goes back to the main tent.
"Someone, anyone," she prays, "give me something to do!"
"You called?" Zeus asks from behind her. She yelps and spins around, lashing out with her whip, which Zeus catches.
"Oh, it's you," she sighs. "Why would you answer my prayer personally?"
"I didn't actually," says Zeus. "It was just a coincidence, and I couldn't resist. But as to the real reason I'm here - did you say your name was Achalia?"
"'Was' is the correct word, my lord," Ace replies, remembering her manners in time. "I am called Ace now."
"I don't believe it," Zeus breathes, staring. "Even after what Hera said, I didn't think it could possibly be you."
"Ok, what is going on here!" Ace demands, forgetting all politeness. "I'm fed up with how cryptic you gods are being. I want answers!"
"And answers are what you shall have," soothes Zeus. "Have a seat, and let's talk."
The two of them sit on rocks that serve as chairs in the tent, and Zeus tells her everything.
"You are my sister, Ace," he says. "Born of the same father, although not the same mother."
"What?" Ace cuts in, looking incredulous. "But my father is Georgios, a simple mortal man from Kadonia! And my mother is his wife, Thea!"
"Georgios and Thea are the ones who raised you, yes, but they are not your true parents," replies Zeus. "Your father is Kronos, the titan lord of time, and my father also. Your mother was a woman called Lana, a mortal, but a strong and courageous soul. As you probably know, the gods fought the titans and won, and we thought we had killed them all. But my father, although gravely injured, managed to escape death. Hermes, my son, brought news to me that Kronos was alive but harmless, as his power was greatly reduced by the injuries he had sustained. He had been found by Lana, who had nursed him back to health, and he was now living with her in the form of a mortal. They had fallen in love, and Lana was with child. Tragically, however, when Lana gave birth, it ended up killing her. Kronos, not knowing what to do or how to raise a child, in a cowardly act he left the baby girl out in the wilderness to be devoured by beasts.
"Luckily for her, she was found by a couple who could not have children, and they adopted her and raised her as their own. Their names were Georgios and Thea, and the child…"
"Was me," Ace finishes in wonderment. "I am the daughter of a titan!"
"Yes," says Zeus, "and you have only scratched the surface of what you can do. You are very powerful, my sister. Almost as powerful as a god."
"So you really are my brother?" asks Ace. "I've never had a brother."
"Now you do," Zeus replies jovially. "You have all six of us original Olympians as siblings. Me, Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Hestia, and Hera, although I wouldn't wish Hera on anyone."
"She's been nice enough," Ace hedges.
"She's afraid of you," Zeus explains. "She's not just being nice because you're sisters. Believe me, there is a lot of fighting within my family."
"Oh, I believe you," says Ace, laughing.
When Seraphim arrives back at camp, his new clothes are streaked with blood and gore. In fact, there is not one inch of him not splattered. Ace runs to greet him but stops short and gives a screech of outrage.
"What have you done!" she shrieks; Seraphim winces and covers his ears.
"I killed Acrisius," he growls. "I thought you'd be proud of me."
"For that, yes I am," Ace replies, also in a growl. "But you ruined your clothes! I am definitely not proud of you for getting blood on everything. Have you any idea how hard it is to get bloodstains out of fabric?"
Her eyes bore holes through Seraphim, frightening in a way he's never felt before.
"Were you always this tyrannical, or is it just since you married me?"
Ace huffs at this. "All I'm saying is that it won't be my job to clean up your messes. It's your responsibility to clean up after yourself. You'll be the one trying to wash out those bloodstains, so good luck with that."
"Yes, mistress," Seraphim grumbles, sloping into the tent.