Chapter thirteen
Christian
Entering the front room after calming the twins down all I wanted to do was go to bed and be alone with my wife and I wanted her away from Hades more than anything. I fucking hated the way he kept looking at her. I had never felt so fucking helpless in my existence and all I wanted to do was beat the fuck out of this prick but I knew if I did, I could fuck everything up.
Zeus wasn't wrong when he said that we all wanted to be able to get on with our lives and I knew the one way that would make it more likely to happen was getting help from fucking Hades but I didn't like it. I didn't fucking like it at all.
I took note of the fact that thankfully Hades had only briefly glanced at Ana when we entered the room. Right now, Hades was too busy looking from Zeus to Pythia with a curious expression on his very punchable, fucking face. Which, if I was honest even though I was relieved his attention wasn't on Ana I was worried that it would now be on Pythia who I come to think of as family.
"So, Zeus, dear brother, I'm guessing that this lovely extravagant throne that the incredibly beautiful oracle, herself, is sitting on, is of your creation. It looks very much like the thrones you've had in the past. I'm curious, why you would allow anyone to sit on your throne when you have never done so before. Not even Hera was allowed to sit on your thrones. This beauty must hold a special place in your heart. Could she be the reason for the changes I have seen in you?" Before Zeus could answer Ana spoke.
"No. He actually made this for me. Apparently, because I am a Queen I should sit on a throne, as you can see by my allowing Pythia to sit in it I do not share the same feelings as Zeus. He glamoured his throne away when we left to come to you. Like you said he doesn't like anyone sitting on his throne, but him." Zeus looked so relieved with Ana's intervention and I noticed Ana staring at Pythia and giving her a look that screamed for Pythia to go with what she had just said. Luckily Hades couldn't see her face and hadn't noticed their silent exchange.
It was becoming very clear that Zeus's relationship with Pythia was now something that needed to be hidden from Hades, because Hades was making it very obvious, that he had no respect or regard for anyone else's feelings, and if he wanted something or someone, he wouldn't hesitate to take it no matter who he upset.
Hades frowned and I could see that he didn't fully believe what Ana had said, and it would seem that Zeus also noticed and decided to speak up. "What can I say I am nothing if not traditional. I do not like seeing My Queen sitting on a sofa when her rightful seat should be nothing but a throne. Alas, she will have none of it and young Pythia here decided she found it comfortable. So, Ana chose to keep it and allow Pythia to use it, and as it is hers who am I to disagree." Zeus shrugged his shoulder and glamoured another throne, far away from Pythia.
"You are her King, brother. I find it very odd as I said before, that you allow a woman to disobey you. If the changes I see you are not from any other woman I can only conclude that your beautiful Queen is, in fact, the reason. She must be very special indeed."
I wanted to fucking kill him I could feel my body shaking with rage and as if sensing the same thing Ana stepped over to me wrapping her arm around my waist and cuddled into me, making it very clear that she was interested in no one else other than me and it calmed me instantly.
"As you can see brother the only man that Ana has any interest in is her husband. So, I can assure you any changes you see in me have nothing to do with her. Other than she makes a wonderful Queen. So, you can stop speculating about the changes you see in me. I am the same as I have always been just a little more respectful of women. It has been a very long time since you last saw me, brother. I have been very different for a lot longer than you think."
I was getting pissed off now and I just wanted Hades to fuck off. "I don't know about anyone else but I think it's time we called it a night. We have children to get up soon and today has been a very long day." I took in the rest of the room and who was here and felt relieved to see that Beal and Huldah were nowhere to be found.
"Well, then I guess I will take my leave and see you all soon. I believe you may have been right, brother, when you said that I don't spend enough time above my home. I believe that may change after tonight. I now understand why you have taken to spending more time in this world." As Hades spoke, he looked at all the women in the room lingering longer on Pythia and Ana.
"Good night, brother. Thank you for your help. We'll see you soon." Zeus chose to ignore what Hades had said, and he looked like he was as desperate for Hades to leave as I was.
"Goodnight. I will see you all very soon. It was a pleasure to meet you all and I look forward to getting to know you all more." With that, Hades was gone and I felt Ana sag against me with the relief I too was feeling.
"Zeus, do we need to worry about him?" Ana spoke as she watched Zeus shimmer over to Pythia not even wasting his time walking, causing Pythia to squeal at suddenly being on his lap.
"I don't know, yet, but we will need to keep an eye on him. We may be powerful but we have to understand, so is he, and there are places in Tartarus even I can't go. His palace being one. The only reason I could walk into his palace tonight was because he allowed it. As you know I couldn't shimmer into his palace, but the second we appeared outside and took the first step on the pathway he knew we were there and he allowed us to enter." Zeus leaned down to kiss Pythia who looked terrified.
"I won't allow anything to happen to you, my love. I promise you!" Zeus kissed Pythia again before standing with her in his arms. Never taking his eyes off her he bid everyone good night and was gone, obviously needing to be alone with his woman just as I wanted to be alone with mine.
"We are going to go, as well. Feel free to choose any room you would like to spend the night in. There are plenty to choose from. The ones upstairs on this side of the villa are all occupied, but those on the other side are all vacant. So, please make yourselves at home. We will see you all in the morning, and if I haven't said it yet, we are so thankful for everything you are doing for myself, Ana, and our family. Good night to you all and we will see you in a few hours." With that, we shimmered to our bedroom and the second we were there we both went to sit out on the balcony needing the air as I glamoured us both a drink.
"I am so glad today is over. Do you think we made a mistake asking Hades for help Christian?" Ana sounded worried as she turned to me so I pulled her chair closer to me hating any kind of distance between us.
"I think that Hades can achieve what we need and I think he will scare the others enough to behave, but to say it was a mistake, I can't think like that. We have to concentrate on one thing at a time. Please don't worry, my love. We will deal with Hera first and if we need to, we will deal with Hades after." Ana sighed and lay her head on my shoulder.
"I know you're right. I'm just so tired of fighting. It's like we get rid of one threat for another immediately pops up. I just want peace."
"We will find our peace soon, Kitten. Until then, we show people we are not the ones to threaten." I kissed the top of Ana's head and listened as her breathing steadied telling me she was close to falling asleep.
"Come, sweetheart. let's go to bed and get some sleep. Today has been a long day and you look exhausted." Ana stood and allowed me to undress her and get her into bed but she looked so worried and tired and I hated it.
I was going to try and make the rest of today as relaxed and fun as possible because I knew that everyone needed a break from the drama and it killed me that the day ended like this.
Hades.
There was something about Ana that fucking intrigued me. Sure, she was incredibly beautiful but that wasn't it. I could taste the power coming off her and it was the sweetest fucking thing I had ever tasted.
She wasn't like me or my siblings, I mean I could sense our power in her, but she was so much more. There was a power inside her that I had never in my very long existence experienced and I fucking wanted her.
I knew that I had been pissing Lucifer off and I loved every second of it. We may work together, maybe not in person but from a distance, and I had a level of respect for him because of who he was but the second I saw Ana I didn't give a fuck. I wanted her for myself and I was pissed that fucking Lucifer got to have her.
He stood watching the relief on everyone's faces that I had gone or so they thought. The new magic I had been gifted, that hid me from everyone, even the all-powerful all-seeing fucking Zeus made me smile because I knew he wouldn't see or sense me.
I stood and watched them as I thought about our past and my anger bubbled inside me. I should have been given the power that Zeus had. After all, I was the oldest, but because it was Zeus that freed me and my siblings from our father, he had been given the power to decide where me and my brothers were to rule. Not to mention, he was given more power than all of us. It was fucking unfair.
I had been waiting for too long to take something from him as revenge for him being given what I believed was rightfully mine. I knew that I could have taken Hera but I didn't want her she was more trouble than she was worth.
I had taken the daughter Zeus shared with Demeter and I had been successful in making her my wife even against her and her parents will, but I had grown somewhat tired of Persephone, and now I wanted something new.
watching my brother now with Pythia on his lap kissing her and looking like she was his everything I couldn't help but smile. She was perfect. She was stunning and she was a fucking oracle, but not just any oracle she was the fucking oracle of Delphi.
The power that would give him was immense and on top of all of that Zeus appeared to love her more than anyone I had ever seen him with.
I would help them with their little fight, for sure, but after I had finished helping them, all bets were off. There was too much power and beauty here in this villa that I wanted for myself, and I was curious to see what other power was here.
I saw who was in the room but I knew there was more, so I would just have to stick around and see who they were hiding from me. I knew that Ana and Christian and even Zeus didn't trust me or my intentions and with good reason, so I knew that they would hide their family from me but two can play at that fucking game. I would just keep myself hidden from them until it was the perfect time for me to appear and introduce myself to the rest of them.
I smiled as I settled in for the night and thought about the endless possibilities possessing these beautiful powerful beings could bring.
Christian
I woke early that morning with the twins coming into the room. They didn't make a sound but the feel of their tiny bodies cuddling up to me and Ana confused me for a second. When I opened my eyes I saw that they had both crawled into bed and now had their faces buried into Ana's and my chest, sucking on their thumbs and had fallen back to sleep.
I wrapped my arms around Abigail and noticed Ana doing the same with Theo, only she hadn't woken up, she had done it in her sleep. I smiled, closed my eyes, and squeezed my daughter closer to me, falling back to sleep not wanting to come out of our little bubble, just yet.
A few hours later I woke to find the twins sat up, and playing with toys that they had glamoured. I lay silent watching them for a few minutes as they whispered to each other and made the toys they were playing with dance using magic, as they giggled quietly and I couldn't help but let out a little laugh of my own drawing their attention.
"Morning, sweethearts. Did you have a good sleep?" They both nodded silently and smiled down at me, melting my heart.
"We didn't want to wake you up but we didn't want to go downstairs without you and Mommy so we played real quiet." Abigail looked a little worried and I knew it was because she thought that they were the reason I was awake.
"It's okay, sweethearts. You didn't wake me. You have been so good and you were very quiet, both of you. Thank you. Why don't we get up and go get some breakfast and let Mommy sleep in for a little while longer?" Just as I finished talking Ana sat up smiling.
"I've been awake for a few minutes. I was watching you play and didn't want to disturb you. You will have to teach your cousins that little trick of yours. They will love it." The twins beamed at her as I leaned over to kiss her and when I did, I could taste mint and I knew that she had glamoured herself clean just as I had. We had both given up on trying to have a normal life and seemed to use magic a lot more lately.
"Morning, beautiful. Did you sleep well?"
"I did. Especially when these two came in for cuddles. What about you?" Ana was tickling the twins making them giggle as she spoke and I had never felt so fucking lucky as I watched my family laughing and carefree. No matter how fleeting these moments were, they reminded me that I was the luckiest man in any world.
"I did, sweetheart, and I have to agree with you, cuddles from the twins made it better. Come on. We can't stay up here all day. Besides, I am sure everyone is hungry. I know I am and it's getting hot so I would like to go for a swim at some point today." At the mention of swimming the twins had glamoured on their swimsuits and were jumping off the bed ready to go.
Ana groaned and laughed as she sat up glamouring on a long white transparent dress with a split up the front showing a lot of one of her legs. It had blue red and white flowers all over it and was low cut showing a lot of cleavage.
I could see underneath that she had on a white bikini. She had also glamoured on some white wedged sandals and tied her hair up. She looked effortlessly stunning and I could see that in the short time we had been here she had caught the sun because she was glowing.
I hadn't realized I had been staring at Ana until she turned to look at me with her eyebrows raised. "Are you not getting up?" She was smiling at me and I felt a wave of desire crash over me.
I glamoured on a pair of black men's swim shorts and a black t-shirt with a pair of black sliders, and I had to admit dressing this way, at first, I found uncomfortable because I was so used to suits and what I was wearing now, screamed anything but power but I was getting used to it.
Ana was just about to walk out of the door but before she could I grabbed her around her waist making her squeal and kissed her. "Tonight, Ana. I am having you and I need to warn you, baby, I won't be gentle, so prepare yourself."
I had whispered this over her lips so that the twins didn't hear and smiled when she gulped, nodding her head. She was practically panting and I could smell her desire which made my mouth water with the desperate need to taste her.
We walked down the stairs to be greeted by an incredibly busy and incredibly full house, laughter being the main sound that could be heard which warmed my heart.
As we walked into the front room Jamie and Mia came running over grabbing for the twins and pulling them outside where there was a table full of food and people. "Who did that?" Ana was pointing at the table as she spoke with a smile lightening up her face.
"Hestia did it. She loves to see a home filled with joy, love, and happiness, and food always seems to bring families together. So, she created a feast for everyone, which seems to have worked, considering everyone is currently outside eating and enjoying themselves." Zeus was walking to the doors that lead outside as he spoke with Pythia holding onto his hand, staring up at him lovingly.
"Well, I'm hungry and the food smells amazing." Ana was dragging me toward the doors smiling and she seemed so young and carefree.
As we walked outside, I looked around and smiled when I saw Huldah sitting with Beal feeding Liam as Beal was feeding her pieces of fruit, and had it not been for the fact that I would do the same for Ana in a heartbeat, I would have been shocked to see my brother like this, but that was the power of being in love and being a father.
"Morning guys." We took a seat as everyone said good morning while the children sat with Artemis and Hestia, talking excitedly about swimming. As I looked around the garden, I was pleased to see that my brothers were all walking the grounds.
Elliot and Izzy were laughing at the other end of the table. While Dione and Ray filled their plates, smiling at everyone around the table. Kate was looking around the table and I noticed with a frown that she seemed like she was close to tears. While Benji was staring at Artemis like a love-lost puppy. Poor guy had no idea how much that was not going to happen.
"Ana, baby. Is Kate, okay?" Ana looked over toward her sister with a frown that matched my own.
"I think she is missing Apollo." Ana smiled sadly at her sister and what she said seemed to have caught the attention of Artemis.
"Hestia, can you take Theo? I think it's time I gave my brother a break from the hospital. Artemis smiled over at Ana before winking at Kate then she shimmered out, and seconds later Apollo was back.
Apollo frantically looked around the table until his eyes landed on Kate, and she jumped up and was in his arms before I could blink and I couldn't help but laugh as they both left without saying a word to anyone.
The morning was just what I had hoped it would be, thankfully. Everyone was so relaxed and happy and I wished so much that it would stay like this, but of course, that wasn't likely to happen, if the booming voice behind me and the terrified, frozen faces of everyone at the table was anything to go by.
"Well, well, well, dear brother. I do believe you have been trying to deceive me concerning the lovely Pythia. Now, why would you not tell me about your new lover with whom you seem so enamored?"
Ana froze beside me at the sound of Hades' voice and my stomach dropped. I looked over to Hestia who was standing with the children getting ready to leave.
"Now, now, sister. Please stay. You wouldn't want to offend someone who simply wants to get to know those that I will be helping, now would you?" Hades tilted his head at Hestia with a wicked smile on his face.
Hestia turned to Zeus, who nodded for her to do as Hades had told her and I wanted to fucking kill someone. I wanted my family away from him. "So, what are we having for breakfast? I find it shocking and quite rude that you would have such a feast and not invite me." I cringed just wishing I could end this motherfucker where he stood.
"It was an impromptu feast by me, brother, and to be honest, I didn't think you would want to be here. After all, you have never been one to want to be around large groups of people. So, I thought I would spare you having to reject the invitation. It's my mistake. It won't happen again."
Hestia sounded very matter-of-fact as she stood with all of the children. "I am going to take the children to swim. Enjoy your breakfast, brother." Hestia gave Hades a smile that didn't reach her eyes, then she turned and left but I didn't miss the way Hades looked at the children. Especially, the twins and Hope.
"Who is the young girl? And what is she? I have never felt power like it and it's still undeveloped," Zeus looked from Hope to Hades clenching his jaw obviously as pissed at Hades being here as I was.
"She is of no relevance to you, brother. So, it doesn't matter." Hades looked furious with Zeus but quickly calmed himself down plastering on an obviously fake smile.
"Nonsense, brother. I would very much like to know who I am to be helping. So, I ask again. Who and what is she?" I could see Ana shaking beside me, and I could feel the heat radiating off her body, as her nails began to grow resembling silver blades, and Hades didn't seem miss the subtle change as he looked at her with a mix of fear, intrigue, and lust evident in his eyes.
"Are you okay, Ana. You look angry. Whatever could be making you feel like that?" Hades sounded like he was amused with Ana's reaction which only served to piss her off more as she abruptly stood causing her chair to go flying so far back it was about to hit the glass door, but she held her hand out stopping it at the last second without even touching it. However, when she fisted her hands, the chair broke into splinters.
"Huldah, Beal, take Liam to the Guesthouse. I want all of the other children with you." She was glaring at Hades as Zeus stood placing Pythia in the chair that was now behind him. I stood at the same time placing my hands on Ana's arms trying to keep her calm.
"Ana, baby, you need to calm down, my love." Ana shrugged me off and when I tried again, she spun around to face me.
"Christian, I love you very much, but if you tell me to calm down once more, I will make sure you cannot get up out of your chair, now stop!" Ana spun back around and was growling now as her other form burst through. She looked around which I presumed was to make sure the children were gone before she got in Hades' face.
"Listen to me very carefully because I will not say this again. My family, and by family, I speak of every person here other than you, are off-limits. Especially, the children. You do not need to know a thing about any of them. You will not ask their names or what they are. They are of fucking Limits! If you want to fight on Hera's side be my guest but I promise you, I will fucking end you both, and I will find a way for you to be tortured in your own fucking kingdom for the rest of your existence. I am very grateful to anyone who wants to help us, we all are, but I will not be beholden to you or anyone else because of that, and I am not staying silent anymore while you disrespect my husband or my family. Am I fucking clear?"
Hades sat, silent and shielding his eyes as Ana towered over him with her whole body covered in golden flames. Even her hair was now fully golden and she was so much taller than ever before. Her wingspan had doubled and they were now lying on the floor like a long train, and somehow in her anger, she had moved herself and Hades away from everyone else.
I could see through my utter shock, Zeus shouting and trying to get to Ana but she had put up some kind of barrier that even Zeus couldn't break through.
Just how fucking powerful was she?
When Hades stood Ana grew more until she towered over him and was just shy of the height, I grew to in my other form which shocked me even more.
Hades continued to hold his hands over his eyes because the flames had yet to die down and her gold hair was flying all around her wildly. When I took a good look at Hades there was no mistaking the fear on his face.
"Ana..." Hades started to speak but Ana stopped him with a growl.
"I am a fucking Queen, and you will address me as such. You have not earned the right to use mine or any of my family's names. You would do well to remember that in the future." Hades nodded before holding up his hands.
"My Queen, I am sorry if you thought badly of me showing interest in your family. I will not ask any more questions; you have my word."
"Good. You have outstayed your welcome, but before you leave you will tell me, should we class you as another enemy or not?"
"No, my Queen. I will still help you." Hades looked like he was desperate to get away from her and Zeus was frowning at what he was seeing as my mouth hung open in shock.
"Good. You can leave now. You are not to come back here until you are called for. Am I clear?"
"Perfectly!" Hades said nothing more before he disappeared. Ana turned and the light coming from her eyes had everyone, even Zeus holding their hands over their eyes because it was like staring directly at the sun, if the sun was right in front of you.
What the fuck?
I could see the light die down and tested to see if I could look at her and I was so relieved when I could. Slowly everyone else started to do the same. Ana took a deep breath and was back to herself in seconds. Walking over to me she stood on her tiptoes now that she was back to her normal height and kissed me.
"I'm sorry for being angry but I needed to do that. I have had enough of being scared and the sooner I embrace what I am and stop fearing it, the better. We have enemies to fight, and if he wants to be one, then he can but I will see to his downfall, I can promise you that."
"Ana, are you okay?" Zeus watched her as though she was a caged wild animal and I couldn't blame him after what we had just witnessed.
"I'm fine, please stop looking at me like you fear me."
"I don't fear you, My Queen, I have just never seen anything like that. Ana, you grew significantly in height and I suspect that was only a fraction of the size you can grow to because the whole time you spoke you didn't stop growing, it was just slowed down."
What the fuck? I looked from Ana to Zeus trying to get my head around what he was saying.
"What the fuck does that mean?" I was so confused and I couldn't hide it.
"The only time I have seen power similar to that is with my father. The first of the Titans." Ana looked horrified by what Zeus had just said.
"What are you saying?"
"I'm not sure, yet but I suspect the threat you just made to my brother with regards to Tartarus is entirely more possible than we could have ever thought but only time will tell, my Queen." Zeus smiled proudly and with a hint of excitement that I couldn't quite understand because I was still in shock.
"Let's bring the children, Huldah and Beal back out, and let's enjoy our day, shall we? I think we have all earned it. We can figure all of this out tomorrow."
Everyone agreed but I could see the confusion on Ana's face which soon disappeared when the children came back shouting for everyone to get in the pool.
Zeus was right. Tomorrow we could deal with what just happened, right now we all needed some fun. We needed the day we should have had yesterday and I was determined to make it happen.