Page 8 of Hermes
“It’s really not that difficult, honestly,” I disclosed, throwing my hand in the air and flailing it, as if what I was requesting was as simple as a stroll along the beach. “You just need to inform me of who is planning to dethrone Zeus.”
Prometheus let out a haughty laugh. “Oh, the irony of this! Do you not realize it was I who helped Zeus gain power? I was the one that assisted him and the Olympians to conquer the titans. Yet, even after all was said and done, this is how he repays me?” He rattled his chains to further depict what he viewed as an unjust punishment. “And now he is sending one of his pets here to get me to tell him who is planning an uprise against him?”
Pet!?Just who did he think he was talking to!?
Despite how irate I now was with the disrespect he was showing me, I had to play it cool and seem unaffected to show that his words meant nothing.
I shrugged, not really caring about the history between him and my father. Perhaps it was my inexperience and lack of empathy, but I had no desire to sympathize with Prometheus. I was more concerned with just getting what I needed out of him so I could get the Underworld out of this dreary place.
As much as I wanted to tell Prometheus off and let him know that I was not here to explain my father’s logic and reasoning, I couldn’t allow myself to do that. I needed to maintain a somewhat amicable communication between us. It would be unacceptable if Prometheus would be bitter, giving him all the more reason to refuse my offer.
“Oh Prometheus,” I got closer to pat him on his shoulder. “Let’s be wise about this. We both know that whether a rebellion group is forming or not, no one will be even remotely strong enough to overpower Zeus and the other Olympian gods and goddesses. So, in the end, Zeus will come out on top no matter what the outcome is here.”
Prometheus jolted his body to push my hand off from his shoulder. “Then why are you here? Clearly, Zeus feels worried and insecure if he sent you all this way to confront me. If what you say is true, then there would be no need for the King of the Gods to even care about any sort of insurrection against him.”
“It is not my place to understand his thinking,” I explained. “However, I can give you my own uninfluenced opinion on the matter. We both know that Zeus will remain in power despite what comes of this. But this is about you, Prometheus. If you just give me a single name, things will go back to the way they were. Otherwise, you’ll have to endure the daily excruciating pain of an eagle harvesting on you.”
Prometheus stood still, likely processing all that I was telling him. I was beginning to grow giddy, realizing that my words were permeating, fully sinking in to him. It was just a matter of time before he would give me the name of the treacherous heathen who planned to usurp Zeus, and then I would be merrily on my way.
“No,” he answered. “I will not give you any names.”
What!? The headstrong idiot!
How could he not give me a simple answer? It was so damn easy! He could even lie and give me a false name that I would be led to believe was behind all of this. He would rather suffer every day with the gut-wrenching pain of an eagle piercing through his skin!? Clearly, the many years spent alone on this cliff must have made Prometheus deranged. There was no other explanation for this decision.
I slammed my palm to my forehead in disbelief. I hoped he was joking. Wasn’t he? He had to have been. “And why would you not accept my offer?”
“Because I’m not getting rewarded. If I tell you who is behind this, then I should be free from these chains. That is the only condition in which I will inform you of who is planning to rebel against Zeus.”
He was not joking, apparently. Prometheus was inflexible and I could sense that there was no other way for me to get through to him. But releasing him from these eternally bound irons? It was out of the question. My father would allow no such thing.
“But that is impossible. You will never be freed from this cliff. The only option you have is avoiding further inflicting pain. Why not just accept my proposition?” I inquired.
“Why not you ask!? Because this is just a power maneuver on Zeus’s part!” he shouted. “If I give in to him now, it will only open more doors for him and you to come back here to further get your way with me. No more! I will not be some useless and mindless toy for the Olympian gods to use. Let the most ferocious birds of prey come after me. I will withstand the pain day in and day out.”
“Fine!” I threw my hands in the air, surrendering to him. “Have it your way!” I was so enraged that I couldn’t continue this conversation with him. Turning around, I headed off, not caring to further persuade Prometheus otherwise, nor bid him farewell.
With my back to him, walking off, I glanced through my periphery to see a massive eagle flying towards the mountain. A high-pitched call escaped from the creature and I knew the reason behind it. It had found its next meal every day for the rest of its life.
Chapter 5
Ihadfailedmyfather. He would likely be disappointed with me. But he had to have known that there was no use in persuading Prometheus. No god or goddess had the power to triumph over that hard-head of the titan. He was stern and unwavering. Still, I felt as though I was worthless, which led me to being bitter about my own capabilities as a god.
How could I not have convinced Prometheus to tell me who the rebels were against the Olympians? That was my one skill as a god that I was known for, being clever and witty, able to trick people into gaining whatever I desired. Now, I would lose credibility with the aftermath of returning to Mount Olympus without gaining any information from Prometheus. I had once again lost to Apollo. I would be receiving no apology nor gift from him as a result of me not succeeding.
I held my head low as I arrived at Zeus’s palace. His servants escorted me to his throne room where he waited. I continued to keep my eyes peeled to the ground with shame, afraid to glance up and look at the King of the Gods directly in his eyes.
“By the looks of it, I would say you did not complete your mission, did you?” my father inquired.
I shook my head. “I’m afraid not. I tried everything I could, but there was no use in getting through to Prometheus. He remained obstinate through and through, rather having to endure an eagle tearing out his liver on a daily basis than telling me who was trying to plan your demise.”
“I see…” Zeus replied with no emotion. I could not tell whether he was angry, disappointed or whatever other way he was feeling.
“No one, no matter how powerful they are, would be able to pry the information out of him,” I remarked, trying to find an excuse for my own failure. “No god or goddess would have been successful. It was a futile task from the very beginning.”
“Very well. I believe you, my son,” Zeus added, much to my surprise. “But I am willing to give you another chance, another way to still reward you with that apology from Apollo.”
My ears perked up at the mention of this. I raised my eyes up to look at my father, astonished that he was not enraged with me and willing to offer me another opportunity to please him.
