Page 20 of Arrogance
“I may have left a portion out about Zeus summoning Aphrodite and Persephone to speak with them over you. He wanted to discuss the matter with them first, prior to inviting you.”
“Invite me? You mean Zeus wants an audience withme?” I asked in disbelief.
Hermes nodded. “Did I stutter or not speak clearly?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m just shocked.”
“Well, don’t be. Because we depart for Mount Olympus very soon,” Hermes declared.
“But I thought mortals were not allowed on Mount Olympus.”
Hermes slapped his hand to his forehead. “There are exceptions to every rule, Adonis, especially rules that were created by the gods.”
Hermes brought me to Mount Olympus by way of a golden winged chariot. We arrived at a giant structure standing tall, held up by pillars made of the finest pearl. I climbed the stairs and entered through the grand doors. Hermes stood beside me and nodded straight ahead. “Go on. They’re waiting for you.”
I heavily gulped with trepidation before proceeding onward. As I walked the marble floors into the center of the room, I could see a broad, gargantuan man seated in the middle throne, the largest of all the seats that surrounded him. His hair and beard looked as though they were made of the clouds themselves. Both Aphrodite and Persephone were seated in smaller thrones on each side of him at the dais.
I stood before them, glancing up at all of them in bewilderment. I wondered now if I was to be punished by the King of the Gods. What if he reprimanded me for bewitching both goddesses and causing great angst among them? Could he banish me to Tartarus for eternity? It would be a fate worse than remaining in the darkest depths of the Underworld.
There was no use in dwelling on it now, for I would find out my fate soon enough. “Welcome to Mount Olympus, young Adonis,” Zeus howled. His deep voice carried and echoed across the hall. Well, at least he was greeting me. That was a potentially good sign that things couldn’t be that bad, right?
“Thank you, my King.” I had no clue how to properly address him. I hoped this sufficed and gave him the respect he deserved.
“Now, I am sure you understand why you have been brought here before me, mortal?” he asked.
I had an idea it had to do with my departure from the Underworld with Aphrodite, against Persephone’s orders, but I didn't know the specifics behind my being here. So, I shook my head. “I’m afraid I do not,” I replied, before glancing over to Aphrodite, who seemed to have a permanent scowl expressed on her face. Based on that look, I knew this couldn’t be entirely good for us.
“Well, it seems we are at quite the dilemma here,” Zeus began to explain. “It has been brought to my attention that you were raised by Persephone in the Underworld your entire life. Is this not true?”
I nodded. “Yes. That is accurate.”
“And you left the Underworld in Aphrodite’s company against Persephone’s wishes. Is that, too, correct?” Zeus asked.
Again, true. “Yes. That’s correct.”
“But I also learned that as a child, you were found by Aphrodite upon the death of your real mother. Aphrodite was chosen to care for you, but she gave you to Persephone until you were old enough for her to return.” Zeus rubbed his chin as he stated this.
Persephone then chimed in to interrupt his thought process. “That is a lie! Aphrodite told me of no such thing! Her intent was…”
Aphrodite then interjected. “You know of my intent. It was to return to claim Adonis once he became a man and you very well know it! Don’t pretend…”
“Silence!” Zeus shouted, interrupting both goddesses that stood at his side, arguing. “Now, I have already spoken the with the muse, Calliope, who helped me come to a resolution that would put everyone at peace here.”
“Calliope!?” Aphrodite exclaimed. “You sought the counsel of that duplicitous wench?”
“Enough Aphrodite! Interrupt me once more and I will make sure your end of the deal is no longer held up. Understood?” Zeus glared at the goddess as he warned her.
Aphrodite pressed her lips inward, likely doing her best to bite them and her tongue to not utter another single word.
“Here are my ruling terms that will put this matter to bed. Adonis, you will spend one-third of the year with Persephone in the Underworld. During another third of the year, you will live with Aphrodite,” Zeus revealed, before then taking a long pause.
I glanced back and forth between Persephone and Aphrodite. Persephone had a grin on her face, seeming pleased with these results, whereas Aphrodite grimaced, not handling these conditions well at all.
So, I would spend one third of the time with Persephone and another with Aphrodite, but there was still something missing in all of this. “And what about the last one-third of the year?” I questioned, as I studied the King of the Gods.
“Well, that is entirely up to you, Adonis. The choice is yours. For the remaining one-third of the year, who do you choose to be with: Persephone or Aphrodite? Think very carefully, because once your decision is made, it will be final and remain in effect for the rest of your life,” Zeus cautioned.
My gaze shifted back and forth between Aphrodite and Persephone, both of whom were putting on their most dashing smiles and seductive stances as they stared at me, awaiting my decision as to which of them I would technically be spending two-thirds of the year with.
