Past
Artemis sank into her bed in frustration. Acheron was upset with her for some reason. She gave him everything he could ever want. Why was he being so annoying? She thought hard and could not come up with anything she had done wrong to deserve this type of attitude from him. Hm...Perhaps, it had something to do with those pearls he had asked her about the other night. Maybe if she found them and showed them to him, he would stop behaving like this?
With her mind made up, Artemis set about searching for the pearls. She materialized inside of her temple in the human realm as she recalled the last time she had the pearls in her possession. She thought Acheron had betrayed her by revealing their relationship and slapped him on the face with the very pearls he had given her. Focusing on the area where Acheron was strung up between two columns and beaten, she used her powers to scan the floor.
Acheron should be happy when she finds these pearls he wanted to see so badly. Artemis supposed he wanted proof that she was able to take care of something he had given her. Unlike him, who lost the ring she had gifted him. He still refused to tell her where it went. She looked everywhere in her temple but the pearls were nowhere to be found.
It was just her luck!
Apollo materialized next to Artemis, startling her.
"What are you doing here?" Artemis asked in irritation.
"I can't come to your temple?" Apollo asked in the same irritated tone.
"What do you want?"
"Hades is hosting a party in Zeus' temple or did you forget?" Apollo reminded her.
"I didn't forget. I just haven't left for it yet. You don't have to fetch me. I'll go when I'm ready." Artemis assured him and fortunately, Apollo didn't really care much about her and disappeared.
Artemis brought Acheron to her temple for a brief visit before going to Zeus' temple after cleaning herself up. It was a welcome home party for Hades' daughter who had been exiled for some reason Artemis didn't care to know about. They could care less if Artemis attended or not, but she had to make an appearance at the very least. When she arrived, she chose a place to sit and partake in the feast on the table. Lazily, she leaned her back against the soft pillows behind her.
"Get off." came a voice from behind her.
Artemis turned her head around and realized too late that the plush pillows she had comfortably pressed her full her weight on was actually someone's chest.
"What were you doing behind me?" questioned Artemis.
"I have been sitting here. You were the one who came to sit on me."
"I was sitting here first! You wedged yourself under me." Artemis accused her.
"Get off me!" Melinoe said, roughly pushing her.
Losing her balance, Artemis fell on to the cold stone floor. The gods and goddess that had witnessed it stopped what they were doing to laugh at her.
"You bitch!" screamed Artemis. She pushed herself off the floor and was about to physically attack the other woman for humiliating her, but was stopped in midair. She was held in the air, unable to move.
The crowd parted as Hades and Zeus made their way through and stood between them. Artemis was freed from her paralyzed state and straightened herself.
"What's going on here?" demanded Hades.
"She pushed me!" Artemis exclaimed.
"Because she tried to trap me under her huge ass."
Artemis was fuming. "My ass is not huge!"
"Yes, it is and you know what?" Melinoe walked the few steps necessary to reach Artemis and slapped her, hard. Artemis flew back on to the floor. She could taste blood on her mouth. "That's what I should have done."
Demeter and Persephone went to the Melinoe and guided her toward the other direction.
"Enough!" shouted Zeus. "Apollo! Get your sister!"
Artemis pulled herself up again, her gaze turned accusingly to her father for not protecting her and siding with that woman. Who was she? His new whore? Artemis' swollen cheek burned as she blinked back tears. Apollo came forward, grabbed her arm, and dragged her off. She could hear Hera and the other gods laughing at her.
"Watch yourself, sister." said Apollo, once they were far from the others.
Artemis gently rubbed her tender cheek. "Why are you saying that to me? She is the one who started it!"
"You were grinding your back all over her breast." Apollo said with jealousy.
"I was not!" Artemis denied.
"Tell that to dozen others that were watching."
"No! She wedged herself under me! Why is everyone taking her side?"
"Well, it is her party."
Artemis gasped. "That was her? Why didn't you tell me?"
"How can I? It was the first time I saw her. So, tell me sister was she as soft as she looked?"
Artemis snorted. "Why don't you ask those billion demons that have at her? They should know more than me about her. Inside and out."
"That is a false rumor. She was not raped by a horde of demons. She is a virgin."
Artemis rolled her eyes at this. "And you know this how?"
"Zeus said so himself that she slaughtered them all and absorbed their powers when they tried to lay a hand on her. I believe it. You saw her icy glare. She won't hesitate to snapped your neck if the others hadn't stepped in. Keep that in mind before you go stupid and start a rivalry with her. You are lucky you only get slapped. Melinoe is not someone you can fuck with. Zeus and Hera warned us all not to displease her."
"No one told me this."
"They announced it weeks ago. It figures you were not listening."
Artemis huffed. Powerful or not, she wanted to get revenge on Melinoe for humiliating her. She especially detested her now that she knew Melinoe had Zeus and Hera's favor, which was very odd.
"Is Melinoe is Zeus' daughter too or is he sleeping with her?" Artemis asked her brother.
"He is not fucking her. I am a man I can tell. As for her being his daughter I doubt that. Hades would have gelded any man who touched Persephone even if he was Zeus. Demeter and Hera would not stand for that either."
"What about Hera? Why does she care about her? Shouldn't she despise her like she does the rest of us?"
Apollo shrugged. "Maybe she likes her because they are all related?"
"Melinoe, don't let that upset you." Persephone said to her daughter in an attempt to calm her temper. "This is your party. We are all here to celebrate your return."
"How can she not be upset?" said Demeter, "If you let her get away with it everyone else would think they can jump on top of you without repercussions."
When Melinoe was born, a prophecy was foretold about her certain demise if she ever leaves the Underworld. This gave her special treatment by everyone in her pantheon. They know not to offend her.
"Who was that?" asked Melinoe. She had been gone for a long time and was unfamiliar with the new gods and goddess.
"That woman was Artemis, one of Zeus' bastards." answered Hera as she approached them. "What you did was wonderful. You showed her where her place should be. Beneath your feet." she offered Melinoe her hand.
Melinoe hesitated for a moment before taking it and leaving with her. Persephone and Demeter were left bemused, to wonder why Melinoe was going with Hera and when the two had become friends. Hera brought her into her bedroom. She did what she had been dying to do since seeing Melinoe again. Hug her daughter. Melinoe hug her awkwardly back.
"I have missed you, my sweet child." Hera said. She kissed her cheeks. "Now that you are back why don't you stay here with me?"
"No."
"Why not? The curse has been lifted. You don't have to stay in the Underworld." insisted Hera.
"If she doesn't want to stay, don't force her." said Zeus as he entered the room.
Hera huffed at the sight of her husband. "Excuse me, we are having a conversation."
"Stop arguing." ordered Melinoe. She accepts that these two were her parents in her previous lifetime. She owed Hera her love and loyalty for reviving her from the dead, but she had to let them know that she wasn't the same as when she was their daughter.
In this lifetime, she was raised by Hades and he influenced her personality. It was such a shame. She used to be their sweet loving daughter, who mediated their lovers quarrel. Their household was peaceful due to her management. Her lost was felt by everyone on Mount Olympus.
Hera glared at Zeus as if it was his fault alone for provoking Melinoe to talk back to them. Her glare turned into a smile when she saw how distraught he was. She realized he disliked the fact that Melinoe, his dutiful princess in her past lifetime, took after Hades, her new father. Hera did consider the possibility that Zeus would become jealous of Melinoe and Hades' father and daughter relationship. It appears that he was indeed jealous. Watching Zeus getting frustrated over his favorite daughter's indifference toward him was amusing.
Hera had limited choices in picking Melinoe's new parents. When she reincarnated, she could only survive in the Underworld because it housed the dead. The rest of Melinoe's original essence, which Hera wasn't able to gather, was in the human realm. If new Melinoe were to enter the human realm, the remains of her original essence would've called her back, tearing her new body apart.
Hades was the only candidate. Not just for the sole reason that he was the god of the Underworld. He was perfect as Melinoe's new birth father because he was Zeus' older brother. And Melinoe's new birth mother was Persephone, who was Demeter's daughter with Zeus. Hera wasn't too peachy keen about either of the two couple's relationship back when it began. Somehow it worked out in Hera's favor regarding Melinoe's new incarnation. The four people's connections through inbreeding kept Melinoe in their family. No one would be suspicious that Hera cherished Melinoe a little more than the others.
Hera had been secretly spying on Melinoe while she was growing up in the Underworld. This made her aware of Melinoe's nature. She may appear rough like Hades but Hera knew that she was soft-hearted in the inside. Melinoe never could stand the touch of others, an affliction she developed in this lifetime, and only made exceptions for those she truly loved. For her to accept Hera's touch meant the world to her. She wasn't going to be very affectionate but Hera didn't mind. Melinoe shows her love in a different ways.
"You don't have to stay in my temple with me. I had a castle built for you." Hera changed her tone to be softer to Melinoe.
Hera brought Melinoe to the window and showed her the castle next door. "I've got you handmaids to serve you. I've filled it with items you'll like. Come with me, I'll show you inside."
Hera led her away, leaving Zeus behind. The castle was as grand as she said but it didn't convince Melinoe to stay there.
"Thank you, mother, but I'm staying in the Underworld with Hades." Before Hera could protest, Melinoe continued. "I'll visit you as often as I'm can."
Although Hera disagreed with Melinoe's decision, she understood her reasons. Melinoe loved Hades. She was very attached to him, since he practically raised her on his own. Their relationship was something even Hera couldn't interfere with.
"You can live anywhere you desire as long as you always come back to me." said Hera.
After the party was over, Melinoe excused herself and flashed to her bedroom in the Underworld. Mintha revealed herself. She had been hanging on Melinoe's back the entire time. She was invisible to everyone but Melinoe. Much to Melinoe and Hades' surprise, Mintha was a small child with honey toned skin and long blonde hair. Even more shocking was Mintha's reaction to seeing her appearance. She told them that this wasn't right because according to her, she was taller than this. They misunderstood her and thought she meant that she used to be tall while in Melinoe's body.
"Did you have fun?" Melinoe asked her.
"I did until that woman came." Mintha told her.
"Which one?"
"The one that was sitting on you."
"Don't mind her. We probably won't be seeing much of her after this." Melinoe picked Mintha up and put her on the bed. "Let's go to bed. We should be well rested before going to Atlantis tomorrow."
The next day, Melinoe took Mintha to Atlantis to see Chara and Agapa in their temple. Both instantly appeared, having recognized Mintha. Chara, the goddess of joy, was heavy set with greenish-gold eyes and red hair. Agapa, the goddess of love, was voluptuous with blue eyes and red hair.
Chara and Agapa were the goddesses of joy and love and also Archon's daughters. The tale was the two of them had been born parthenogenically the first time Archon had looked at Apollymi, his wife. Together the goddesses had sprung out of his chest because of his love for her. Archon was a deceitful bastard. Melinoe believed he was not the faithful husband he portrayed himself as to the world. The things that come out of that god's mouth are completely fabricated. What fools were senseless enough to believe his false tales?
Mintha had told her that Chara and Agapa were Archon's daughters with a nymph he was with before he met Apollymi. Mintha knew because the nymph was also her friend. Mintha was present when the nymph gave birth to Chara and Agapa.
"Mintha!" Chara and Agapa said in unison as they ran to hug her.
"We thought we would never see you again." said Chara.
"Especially after what Meliae did." said Agapa.
"She didn't mean to do it, you know. She regretted her decision afterwards." said Chara.
"Meliae loved you." said Agapa.
"She loves Archon more than me." That silenced the sisters. They didn't know what else to say regarding the subject of their mother but one of them as to ask.
"Say, why you in the form of a child?"
"I woke up like this."
Melinoe left Mintha alone with the two. She didn't want to invade on their privacy. She stood in the outer area and admired the décor of the temples, comparing the designs to her native Greece.
"Where are my daughters, you?" came a male voice from behind her.
Melinoe paused what she was doing. She recognized that voice and kept her back to him.
Mintha had sense Archon's presence near Melinoe. She excused herself from Chara and Agapa and went to them.
"Archon!" She said.
Archon turned his attention away from Melinoe and directed it to Mintha.
He smiled and walked to her. "Mintha? When did you return?" He was going to kiss her lips but she turned her head. He kissed her cheek instead.
"Recently," replied Mintha.
"I've missed you. Where did you go? I've searched everywhere for you."
"I went here and there. How about you? How are you and your wife?" She asked him to see how he would respond.
"We are no longer together."
"What happened?"
"She abandoned me."
"I'm surprised she was able to stay with you for so long."
There was a pause. Archon must have registered Mintha's backhanded comment. Melinoe laughed, gaining their attention.
Mintha went to Melinoe and took her hand. She brought her to stand next to her, facing Archon.
"Archon, this is Melinoe. Melinoe, this is Archon." Mintha introduced them.
Melinoe and Archon assessed each other. He appeared to like what he saw. Being around so many gods and goddesses growing up, Melinoe was not impressed by him.
"Hello," he said in a low seductive tone and gave Melinoe a charming smile.
"Don't try to seduce Melinoe, Archon. She won't fall in love with you." Mintha told him straightforwardly.
Archon was silent as he studied Mintha. He was stunned by her words. Where was this sass coming from? She was never like this before.
Archon gathered his wits and composed himself. "Mintha, what happened to Meliae was unfortunate. I lost the mother of my daughters and you lost your friend. I'm not saying we should forget her but we should move forward. Honor her memory by celebrating life."
Melinoe bit the side of her cheek to prevent herself from snorting. He was skilled with his words. No matter how much Melinoe detested the ruler of the Atlantean pantheon, she couldn't directly object to Mintha seeing him. He was one of Mintha's dearest friends from the sounds of it. They have known each other prior to her meeting Mintha and she couldn't come between them. All she could do was advise her to beware of him.
"You are right. We should." Mintha said.
Archon nodded in agreement. He opened his arms, waiting for her come to embrace him. When she didn't, he lowered his arms, feeling dis-hearted by her cold reception.
He cleared his throat. "Melinoe, was it?"
Melinoe ignored him. "Where are Agapa and Chara? I want to meet them."
"I'll introduce you." Mintha led her away from him.
Archon was going to follow them but Mintha stopped him.
"It's only going to be us women."
"We will talk later, then." He said and disappeared.
"So that was the infamous Archon?" Melinoe said.
Mintha nodded.
"Remember that story I told you about those two gods that tried to seduce me when I fell into the human realm?" said Melinoe.
"The Atlantean and the Sumerian gods?"
"The Atlantean was him."
Melinoe had shared with Mintha that when she first came to the human realm she encountered two gods, an Atlantean and a Sumerian. They were having sex in a meadow. They tried to seduce her. She tried to get away but they blocked her path. Being a head and a half shorter than most people and having a small frame, she didn't look threatening. But once endangered, Melinoe's instincts took over and she started stabbing at them. A chthonian interrupted. She thought he was with them and attacked him as well. Once the misunderstanding was cleared he sent the two gods home and punished her for attacking him by putting a chastity belt on her.
"I'm sorry." Mintha said.
"You have nothing to apologize for. I don't want to upset you but it is something you should know. Archon is in love with you. It is why he has not done anything to you. Most men don't care about age. I was fourteen at that time. They normally take what they want no matter if you are willing or not."
"I should not have introduced you to him. What if he wants revenge?" Mintha said. She realized that she had put Melinoe in danger. "To be safe we should leave as soon as possible. From now on, I won't come to Atlantis. I will have Agapa and Chara meet me in Greece. As for Archon I will speak to him alone and end our friendship."
"You don't have to take such extremes. He does not recognize me. I don't look the same. It was a long time away. I doubt he remembers me." Melinoe said. "You love Archon even if you did not know it yourself. Archon was a big part of your life. Can you really discard him so easily?"
"How can I love someone I don't know?" Mintha asked her.
After what the twins told her and Melinoe what just shared with her, Mintha realized that she didn't truly know Archon at all. It seemed like he would act one way while with her and then another with other people. She cared for him deeply but she loved Melinoe more. It would break her heart if she lost Melinoe like how she lost Meliae.