Page 61 of Prometheus' Priestess

“I didn’t anticipate falling in love withher.”

All eyes quickly swivelled to Aphrodite.

“What is the meaning of this?” Hera demanded.

Aphrodite rose from her throne. “My Lady, when our priestess was exposed to the fear of humans, I did what I must to protect her. Our intention was for her to eradicate the fear. Unfortunately, events occurred and I was forced to intervene. Ares will attest to that.”

Aphrodite waved a hand towards her lover, who nodded once in agreement.

“I did indeed bear witness to the intervention. Aphrodite was well within her rights as the patron of love,” he stated before yawning and flexing his muscles.

“And as I can tell you all, only love can drive out fear once it’s taken root in the humans. Given that Prometheus was hell-bent on finding the priestess, it was my onlysolution.”

“Why not simply send love throughout the humans if it could eradicate this fear?” Zeus finally asked, apparently no longer bored of this meeting.

“The love has to be pure, Father. So rare is it these days that humans trust the purity of love from another now that they have commercialised and packaged it.”

“And how did you know she would trust Prometheus’ love?”

“I didn’t. But the Moirai assured me that I was making the right moves.”

“A gamble nonetheless,” Zeus acknowledged, stroking his beard.

“All games in love are a gamble, Father.”

“A gamble that has cost us greatly, Daughter. For it seems your love-struck Prometheus here took matters into his own hands.”

Zeus’ piercing blue eyes landed on his old friend and confidant and all eyes swung back to Prometheus.

Zeus stroked his beard before sighing. “I did not know it was forlove.”

Prometheus’ knees began tobuckle.

“And she really is quite a beauty,” he mused, clearing his throat when Hera cast him a glacial stare.

“But did you or did you not deceive your King in order to present your priestess with the white fire of knowledge from the tree of life?”

A hushed silence fell over theauditorium.

“I did,” Prometheus acknowledged quietly.

“And did you, or did you not, do so knowing theconsequences?”

Murmurs broke out amongstthose at thehearing.

“SILENCE,” Zeusroared.

“Idid.”

“It pains me to do this, old friend, but you have left me no choice. You knew after the last time you were insubordinate that, should you be punished again, it would echo throughout the heavens. I need your punishment to serve as a reminder to everyone of exactly what I am capable of. Even for oldfriends.”

“I understand,” Prometheus said softly, a small smile on his face. He had known his fate before he’d walked in here. Had known it all along if he’d been honest with himself. He just hadn’t wanted to see it.

“I, Zeus, decree that you will spend the rest of your days tied to the crag on the mountaintop you stole from, that your liver be ripped from your chest cavity as an act of purification and your eyes pecked out by the birds for your lack of foresight. You will serve your sentencefor—”

“Wait.”

CHAPTER XXXII

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