“Nonsense, Zephyria. Now tell me, something must be the matter if you’ve come to my bedchamber so suddenly.”
“Yes. It seems Hera is unable to attend dinner with you in a little while,” she informed me.
I stood up from my seat, rolling my eyes at what Zephyria had just told me. Of course, Hera would make a change of plans at the very last minute. She respected no one else’s time but her own. Why should I even be shocked right now?
“I cannot say that I’m surprised,” I admitted aloud to her. “Tell me, what was her excuse this time? Does she have to punish some mortal that betrayed her, or perhaps her attention is on some goddess she is threatened by that she is plotting to ruin?”
“No, sir. Actually, it is something far, far worse,” Zephyria replied almost hysterically, which left me now bewildered with a slight edge of worry.
“What could be worse than that?”
“She is being held captive in her own palace.”
“Held captive in her own palace?” I repeated back to her in disbelief.
She nodded. “Apparently, held down in a chair, trapped down by some mysterious restraints.”
“How is that even possible? Who has the power to put such a curse on her?”
“Her son.”
“Ares?” I questioned, although the second the name escaped my mouth, I knew it couldn’t be true. Somehow my intuition was telling me who the very person was that was responsible for this. A sinking feeling in the pit of stomach began to form. It was unsettling, to say the least.
And soon, this newly developed fear and worry would be justified.
“No. Her deformed son, Hephaestus,” Zephyria stated, so matter-of-factly.
“No… it can’t be true,” I softly uttered. I could feel my legs begin to give out. Luckily, I was close enough to the chaise that I could easily fall into a sedentary position on it. Panic and a look of deep concern instantly washed over my face.
“My God!? Hestio? Are you feeling well? Your normal crimson flush is gone. You look rather pale. Do I need to call for someone?”
I raised my arm to grab her wrist as she began to turn around and exit the room.
“No. I’ll be fine. I’m just shocked, is all.” I said, as I released my grip from her.
How could Hephaestus do such a thing? It was beyond bold of him. I completely understood the hatred and personal umbrage he had for his mother, but to actually confine her to a chair with no means of escape? There was no possible way he would resort to such a scheme. This was not the Hephaestus thatIknew. The Hephaestus I knew was incapable of doing something so reckless. Really, it was unheard of for any god or goddess to commit such a crime against the Queen of Gods.
This was what was most startling about the situation; the possible consequences Hephaestus could face for committing such a transgression. Surely, once Hera is eventually released, she will not be so forgiving of him. Who knows? Even the King of the Gods himself could punish Hephaestus severely. What if Zeus exiled him from Mount Olympus indefinitely? Or far worse, what if Hephaestus was banished to Tartarus for an eternity?
I shivered at the very thought of it. Tartarus was not a place for someone like Hephaestus. The deep abyss was meant for those who were wicked and cruel, who were warranted a permanent fate of torment and suffering. This should not apply to Hephaestus whatsoever. He does not deserve to experience such a heinous existence in Tartarus.
No. I couldn’t allow such a thing to happen to him. Now, the uneasiness that had recently possessed me was now overridden with determination. I stood up from my chaise, with a newfound resolve that would be unwavering. I must find Hephaestus. He needs to hear from me. Perhaps I can be the one to convince him to release Hera. I would have to be the one to intervene on his behalf. It may result in me making a request or sacrifice to Zeus in order for Hephaestus to come out of this unscathed, but it was a choice I was willing to make.
I now felt it was my primary responsibility to help Hephaestus get through this. After he has been wronged by so many people, including myself, throughout his entire life, it was time for someone to do right by him for once.
Chapter 11
Nowthatthemomentcame when I felt I had the slightest bit of power over Hera, I wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. Part of me felt triumphant and proud of what I had accomplished. What god or goddess could ever claim that they had tricked the Queen of the Gods? Well, except for Hermes, that is. But nevertheless, even he couldn’t say that he had snared Hera. No one could because they never had the ability to do so.
On the other hand, I thought I would enjoy this occasion a lot more than how I was currently feeling about it. I had assumed that this would finally quench my thirst for revenge and justice, but this wasn’t the case at all. If anything, I still felt as though this punishment I had invoked on Hera was barely putting a small dent in all the wrath she should truly have to endure. Plenty more was required to make up for all the abhorrent things she has done to me since I was a child.
As much as I wanted to make the Queen of the Gods suffer even more, I wondered if I would be able to do so after all was said and done with the current predicament she was in. I still had to anticipate what would happen once I would eventually decide to release Hera from captivity. There was no doubt that Zeus would be involved in the negotiations that would need to happen in order to plead for the liberation of his wife. After all, Hera was incapable of being able to advocate for herself. Surely, her husband would be the one to have to reach out and reason with me on her behalf. I would just have to patiently wait for that moment to come.
But here was the catch. If Zeus did try to convince me to free her, it would only be on one condition. I would have to be recognized as a powerful Olympian God by all. No one would ever treat me with disrespect or disdain from here on out. If he could at least promise me that, then, and only then, would I break the invisible cords that bounded Hera.
However, I was also prepared for the King of the Gods to propose a sort of peace offering between us. To ensure that his wife and I would see eye to eye and no longer put the other in harm’s way, he would likely want us to come to a mutual understanding in no longer seeking revenge on one another.
If this was a possible intended proposition of his, I would no doubt have to abide by his mandate, if I wanted to accept my birthright as an Olympian God. But what then? Would I truly be able to be amicable with the woman I grew to despise more than any other person in the entire world? I highly doubted it, but I guess only time would tell.