So, I've been on a kick of writing side stories off the main one and I realized that I had forgotten about my promises to some readers. I said I would write a Hermes side story a long time ago to Menolly, and I never got around to it. I am sooo sorry! But here it is! :) The prologue and chapters to come! Enjoy!
"Hermes?" Athena asked incredulously as the god in question sauntered in the room, his lips parting into a grin at her chagrin. The goddess turned to Hera whose face had not faltered from its stone cold indifference; Athena sighed, "He has always done his duty, but perhaps not in the correct manner appropriate."
"His manner will be as I dictate," Hera stated plainly as an eyebrow rose on her forehead, her tone warning both Athena to quiet her dissent and Hermes to follow her words precisely. The god then hesitated by this tone, his eyes darting between Athena and the Queen, knowing if the goddess of wisdom doubted his fortitude, she was probably right. The question now was whether or not he could successfully avoid Hera's wrath; all of which he would figure out after he knew what exactly he was going to fail at.
"Should I be worried?" he tried to joke with that small grin that flagged his immaturity. Neither woman smiled.
"Aphrodite has provided a list of her mortal children on Earth. Unfortunately, the number is vast and they are spread throughout the planet. We need them centrally located," Hera began to explain and she paused when Hermes' eyes grew twice their size. The Queen's eyes narrowed immediately, clenching her fist as she resisted the sudden, powerful urge to slap him off Olympus. "This is serious."
"Very," the messenger god grinned helplessly, unable to control the humor he found in his assignment. "May I suggest considering Athena's proposal?"
"Hermes!" Hera shouted as her fist slammed into the arm of the chair and she pushed herself into a standing position. The messenger god bowed his head accordingly, asking for forgiveness while hiding his smirk still. "You will carry out this order and you will not use this for your own purpose."
As he bowed again to affirm her command, he nearly turned tail to run but she was fast approaching him. His smirk vanished from his face as his eyes moved up to see her enclosing on him and he had just a mere second to non-verbally ask Athena for help but she did not move. Hera reached down, grabbing the god's shirt and pulled him up into attention, glaring at him with only an inch between their noses.
"You will show restraint and not know a single one in bed," she growled quietly. "Or so help me, Atlas will pity you when I'm through."
As she released him she pushed him from her and lifted her chin, glaring and daring him to defy her. Nodding silently, the god knew when best to flee before his mouth was dumb enough to speak. He sprung into the air and took quickly, fleeing from the marble room and down the pristine halls to Aphrodite's room. For although he could out maneuver any god and hide from the sun itself, he knew he would never succeed in this without someone's help.