Chapter 3

Once again the intimidating marble columns of Olympus surrounded Hebe as she returned to the palace in the clouds. She looked at the blinding beauty around her and sighed. Already she missed the shadowed court of Hades and the laughter that rings through the spacious hallways. It wasn't that bad, though, Kore had come back with her for her months she had to stay with her mother. The smile that was trying to expose itself made Hebe's lips twitch.

She had a marvelous time with Persephone and her friends who made their home under the earth. Nobody to hassle her, or demand a drink without looking at the bearer even though she was a daughter of the king. Just laughter and watching the Queen slowly morph into the laughing goddess of Hebe's memories. The curl was back in Kore's hair and her eyes glowed caramel. Her heart warmed at the memory of the nights the two of them spent by the fireside drinking warmed ambrosia and giggling like godlets again.

It wasn't just Kore who made Hebe's lip curl into a smile of pure happiness. Hecate was often poking in out of the Dark Court with her wild laughter and schemes of mischief and mayhem; quiet Hypnos and his twin Thanatos often came for gossip and walks in the garden; Morpheus and his throng of dreams came to regale them with fantastic stories and images; Not to mention her dearest uncle, Hades.

Hades was a man of few words but when he did say something it was always useful. Hebe had always been one of his favorite nieces and enjoyed her company alone or with Persephone. The two had spent days together wandering the realm in silence or talking about important issues of the day. Hades was never one to give a smile for no reason; So, whenever Hebe did win a grin from the serious king, it made her glow all the brighter.

She smiled at the memories that she had collected over the months of living in the Dark Realm and straightened her back before entering the marble palace where her father lived. Home.

She didn't get very far before she heard the quick flapping of wings hurrying her direction. It was the fast beating of wings that a pheasant makes after being disturbed by hunting dogs. It was someone flying away in a hurry, of being chased. She wasn't surprised when she saw Hermes hurrying down the hall towards her, his winged sandals working hard.

"Hey Hermes?" She gave a wave as he skidded to a stop in front of her.

"Oh Be!" He gave her a hurried hug, "Am I glad to see you, baby girl!"

She laughed at the enthusiastic messenger god. He panted a little and fanned his slightly pink with a hand. Even overworked and tired he was smiling that imp grin of his that betrayed his mischievous nature even while his wide brown eyes try to convince you how guileless he is. "So here's the low down. Pops is in an epic battle with Hera… again. She's found out about his little tryst with the Queen of the House of Perseus and is furious. Well, obviously. But apparently, it's really bad this time. Zeus was really callous and said something along the lines of: if she wasn't such a frigid bitch then he wouldn't have to look else where. So, either we're going to have a new king soon or Hera is going ruin those poor mortals."

"Oh no!" All of Hebe's happy glow was slowly draining, "Poor Alcmene! Was her husband furious when he found out about his wife being seduced by Zeus?"

Hermes laughed at her worry, "Mortal lover! Well, not really… She explained and he understood. I guess. I mean, she's still queen. Haven't really thought about that."

"For a messenger god," Hebe laughed at her half brother, "Your really not good at the details. Iris would know!"

"Iris loves mortals just as much as you do, crazy goddesses! You should go to earth and be a chthonic goddess so you can surround yourself with mortals all day long."

"You think I haven't though about that!?"

"Before you forsake the wonders of Olympus, go run and give your parents a big ol' goblet of your divine nectar and ambrosia. We've been relying on the Charities recently and it's just not the same." Hermes gave her a kiss on the cheek before flapping his wings once more and hurrying off down the hall, "I got another message to relay, but love you, Be!"

"You too, Hermes!" Hebe called before rushing to her storeroom where she had a barrel full of the divine food and drink on store for emergencies like this. Calling in a golden pitcher she filled it to the brim and then paused with her goddess ears alert.

When Zeus and Hera fight, everyone knows. Not only do their voices echo through the expansive halls of their kingdom, but the whole palace shakes with the power of the royal couple. Zeus is the most powerful god that has ever been born and his voice can make buildings crumble alone. When he is angry, his whole form shakes with his power and lightning begins to shoot through his hair and beard; it fairly dance across his strong form. What most people forget is that Hera is almost as powerful as her majestic husband. Cronus's ichor runs in her veins as well and though she appears the dutiful wife, she has a power to her that unsettled the very foundation of the earth. It's a deeper, more subtle power of femininity but runs strong and Hebe could feel her mothers anger just as much as she could feel her fathers.

They were in the throne room. Hebe could pinpoint where the power was coming from and after taking a deep breath to stabilize her nerves, she summoned herself there.

"DO NOT EVEN TOUCH ME!" Hebe's mother screeched at her husband as Hebe entered the room.

She looked at her parents and realized how serious their anger was. Zeus was barley in control of his human like form. He was slipping into what his true nature was. The fury of a thunderstorm. Dark clouds that flashed with bright energy and crackling lightening was filling the nearly empty hall and the pale bolts were skating across his skin as if he was the source of the storm; which in all reality, he was. The only clear feature was his bright flashing eyes that burned a cold blue at the woman standing arrogantly before him.

Hera was equally magnificent in her fury. She was gowned in the royal blue of the peacocks throat. A color no mortal could reproduce as it shined like the birds feathers. Her girdle and jewelry flashed with the glowing green, browns and purple of the finer colors of the sacred bird. Drooping from her ears was two eyes taken from a peacocks tail, a reminder of her follower who once watched another of Zeus's former lovers.

It wasn't just her dress that was magnificent. She was glorious in her regal beauty and control over the shape that made her recognizable. Her skin was pale as as marble but shone with life and beauty. Her eyes have often been referred to as bovine in form; if you've ever seen the beauty of a jersey cows eye, you will recognize this compliment. Large liquid brown eyes that hold so much emotion and sadness in thier depth graced her perfect face. Surrounded by thick eyelashes that brushed her heated cheeks and made you want to lose yourself in them. Her pursed lips, that poured such insults, were perfectly formed and dark rouge. She was more beautiful then Aphrodite in some respects, though lacking the goddess of beauty's more voluptuous and seductive attributes. It was a wonder that Zeus wasn't on his knees before this regal creature begging for forgiveness. However, he had seen this shape before, and any beauty can become commonplace when centuries of it have passed.

"Fine!" Zeus turned and stalked to his throne where he slumped and glared at the woman who he made his queen. This is when he saw Hebe, "Oh, good. Please pour me some. I've been drinking shit since you've left."

"Hi Hebe." Hera said shortly but didn't even look at her youngest daughter. She then turned back to her husband. "So the first born child of the House of Pericles is going to be king."

"Yes." Zeus raised his piercing blue eyes at his wife. If Hebe ever had to deal with that glare, she'd curl up and never leave her storeroom again. She couldn't imagine how Hera dealt with it coming from her lover.

"You've decreed this by the river Styx?" She asked, her voice low and full of the anger she felt against her husbands infidelity.

"Is that what you want, woman?" Zeus thundered. "I swear by the River Styx then!"

Hebe felt the presence of the Underworld River goddess who bears testimony against the gods. One can never refute a swear in her name.

"Good!" She lifted her chin arrogantly and gave one last glare before calling herself away. Presumably to her private chambers that Zeus had gifted her after they had reconciled after their first fight.

"Aww, daughter." Zeus groaned and leaned back in his throne of power as he sipped at her nectar, "I must find a replacement for you when you are gone. I cannot abide the sludge those followers of Aphrodite make."

He gave a sigh and Hebe knew it was better not to talk, just listen when her father was in this mood. "I just cannot understand that woman. She knew what she was getting into when she demanded that I make her Queen as well as lover. She's nonsensical. Of course he will be a king! Why did she have to bring Styx into it? You like those mortals, don't you?"

"Yes." Hebe barely answered it was in such a hushed voice. She couldn't tell her father how angry she was for almost ruining their love. Not now.

"Look after them? Look after the son that the sweet woman will bear me? I know he'll be a son. He'll be great if your mother doesn't turn him into a beast or kill him."

"I'll look after him, Zeus." Hebe agreed sadly, the poor child would have a hard life. Hera hadn't been this angry in a long time.

"Father. I'm your father!" Zeus grabbed her chin gently and made her look into his piercing sky blue eyes that showed all of the sadness he felt over this affair. "I'm not a bad one, am I?"

"Oh Father," Hebe couldn't help but leap into his arms and bury her head in his shoulder, "Not at all. I love you."

"I love you too, little one." He sighed and hugged her close. "I need to make amends with Hera. Will you be okay?'

"Yes, Father." Hebe assured him and watched as he disappeared to Hera's rooms. She was left in the barren room feeling abandoned and worried over the fate of the child Zeus had spawned. How was a Goddess of Youth going to take care of someone hated by the Queen of Olympus?

She sighed and brought herself to her own chambers before summoning an image of the very pregnant Alcmene. It wouldn't be long until the little king was born.