Chapter 52: Fate of the Gods

Aphrodite POV

"Ares...that place isn't meant for you to take!" Hades, our uncle, hissed the moment he made himself visible in the room. Everyone soon followed: Artemis, Apollo, sited next to his sister, Demeter, Hestia, Hermes, my husband Hephaestus and me of course. That was good right? My brother did want all the power in Olympus present at the meeting.

"I know uncle…I just needed to see everyone, and this angle gives me the perfect opportunity...Take a seat please...!"

My uncle clenched his teeth but did as he was asked to.

My heart was pounding in my chest thinking at what could happen if my brother failed in his attempt, what then? But better not to have all those negative thoughts crossing my head, I said to myself...He needed me and I had to be there for him, body and soul. I gave a quick glance towards my husband, hoping that Hephie would choose wisely this time around if he still wanted a wife.

"So why are we here?" Apollo asked in a grim tone.

"Yeah...and where's Athena?" Artemis added after her brother.

"She should come any minute, Sis...I think we are all here..."

Ares had told me to take care of Thena but then he said that I was needed there, and to let her chained up as she was in my room. She just woke up when I left her and she sure was not happy about her condition.

"Not quite..." an unknown voice echoed throughout the room, as a stunning girl made her entrance, and immediately, all eyes were on her… She was all dressed in a blue like sea gown. Apollo even winked at her...The truth was that she was alluring: dark hair, blue eyes, white skin…just like a fairy.

"I am here to assist the meeting in my grandfather's place: Poseidon. My name is Doris."

Ares simply nodded and she took a seat next to Hades, a place destined for the great God of the Sea.

"So..." my brother started. He looked amazingly good on Daddy's throne. It really suited him, but I don't think he wanted it anymore…Unfortunately, every time things appeared to be heading in the right direction for him, something was likely to happen...and of course, I was referring to Xena, here. The Warrior Babe… it always comes down to her.

"Why the meeting you ask?" he continued. " Because Athena attempted at my son's life today..." I could so easily sense the anger in his voice, even if he truly was holding it all up really admirably for who he was: the God of War…Ar was never calm, and even more in this type of situations but he was smart too. Being sarcastic and actually being him wouldn't be enough to save his cause though.

"Xena is still my Chosen now that I'm back as the God of War so my Sister's deed must be punished."

"True...but you have lied and manipulated us so many times in the past...How are we supposed to believe what you say is actually true, without first hearing what Athena has to say in her defense?" Hades questioned.

For a moment, I thought that Ares wouldn't agree with our uncle, but in the very next second, Thena appeared on her chair, looking as angry as Tartarus. The chain was obviously still around her.

All the gods were staring in awe, me included…. I thought he wouldn't want her there.

"What's the meaning of this?" Doris asked. Who she thought she was to even ask that?

Athena looked with hatred at my brother.

"Athena…" Hades resumed. "Ares has charged you with attempt of murder at his Chosen's son. Is it true?"

"Well…brother why don't you tell everything then?" Athena only focused on my Stud Muffin, now. "How you lied to them for all this time knowing that Eve was alive and well, and even trying to protect her?"

Needless to say, all the gods trembled at the news, obviously shocked because they had all presumed that Eve was gone for good, that the Bringer of Twilight had stopped breathing that same day a year ago on that beach.

"Him..."Apollo started to laugh out loud. "Protecting…someone? Athena it can't be…Ares wouldn't protect his own mother from anyone."

"No he wouldn't..."Artemis joined in, and everyone began talking.

"And how do you even know the girl's dead? I saw her dying just like you have…I was there, remember?!" Hades started.

"I've just found out…but he was keeping it from us, he deceived and betrayed us!" Athena started again and all of them began talking and fussing around the subject and my brother lost it.

"Silence...!" Ares finally shouted, so loudly that my hair rose up and all the room trembled.

"I didn't do anything…at first I didn't even know about Eve but I found out later...And as much as you'd like to believe it, I wasn't plotting against any of you! I was only trying to protect my Chosen's daughter from that monster…" he said, indicated Athena…

"Athena really fooled you all...Eve isn't a treat to us...She's no Bringer of Twilight, she's just a normal girl. We would have brought our dead on ourselves with my sister's smart plan to kill an innocent child."

"Why are you changing words? ...The Fates have spoken to our father...our father Ares, the same father that is now dead because of that innocent child, as you wish to name it. What world are you living in brother? Are you thinking with something else right now?" she suggested furiously.

"Ares…you've lost your powers...that's sign enough…"Artemis said.

"No...I gave them away and that's very different. It was my choice…Look...we only want to leave in peace..."

"See...he even uses 'we'...now. He thinks like them, like mortals, he isn't our family anymore..."Athena continued.

"To begin with…I was never considered part of the family..." he spitted out in rage... "But Eve doesn't deserve to be hunted all her life because of what Athena thinks…At least you can wait awhile to convince yourselves that nothing bad is going to happen if she goes on living."

"And what if it does..?" that Doris said again...Ohh how I wanted to smash her head against the table!

"It would not...I can prove it to you all…"

What? He didn't say anything to me about this. What did he have in mind to do? To bring Eve…but why, what could the little girl do besides conquering their cold hearts with her sweet smile?

"Do you now? Come on..."Athena laughed, mocking him to no end.

"I call upon the three Fates...Clotho, Atropos and Lachesis."

Athena's face changed when we suddenly found ourselves in the presence of the none others than the Fates…It gave me the chills to be around them any time of day.

"God of War..." the grandmother started.

"…how can we..." the mother continued.

"…serve you…?" the child added.

"We want to know about my Chosen's daughter...How will the child affect our lives in the future."

"Your father spoke…"

"…to us…"

"…about it…"

"The child..."

"…will bring the dead..."

"…of the mighty gods on Olympus..."

"See...I knew it...!" Athena stated with enthusiasm.

"…if her life is threatened…."

"Eve won't do anything to our position if no harm comes to her. Zeus must have let that detail out if you ask me and he was stupid and coward enough to be so scared of an unborn child to go after it. Hercules would not have killed him if he had stayed on his little throne." my brother concluded sarcastically.

"That can't be…"Athena answered.

"Do you want for the Fates to repeat it?" Ares mocked her...and I smiled. "I think they were clear enough…Eve is not a threat, she never was and she will never be if we let her live her life in peace as she is suppose to. I propose a vote…"

"No…"Athena yelled. "I won't have it….You must have said something to convince them to lie for you!" she implied.

The Fates looked at Athena with angry eyes.

"You know as well as I do, and as everybody in this room is aware of that too, the Fates can't be compromised…It is as they said it is…"

The next moment The Fates disappeared from Olympus.

"So…let's vote!" my brother repeated.

"You won't vote anything." Athena tried again but Ares shut her up.

"Now aren't you a bit greedy right now Sis? Let them think for themselves."

And that's how you punch gods, by hurting their pride. They all looked furiously at Athena.

"Ok..." Hades finally spoke... "But let us think this through for a moment, first..."

"As you wish..." Stud Muffin consented.