Page 205 of Hekate: The Witch
and I watched as they led
my star-hearted mortals away.
The Second of My Boons
Zeus waited until the last mortal’s hand
had left the edge of the mountain.
Then he looked at me and said,
‘What do you want for yourself?’
I knew what I wanted,
but I did not know if it was possible.
I stared down at the obscene gold floors
and then met his stare steadily.
‘I want you to free my father
and his brothers from their punishment.’
A loud, dark silence fell
across this devastated realm.
‘That,’ Zeus responded, his voice
laced with danger, ‘is not possible.’
But another voice interrupted him.
‘Itispossible if you so desire, God-King.’
Hera stepped between me and her husband.
‘We have lived with the guilt of this
under our feet for long enough.
Besides that, this mountain shining gold
is what made it such an easy mark.’
Zeus looked like he might argue this.
But instead, he sighed and nodded.
‘I will release them from the blood-let.
Butnot,’ he added firmly, ‘from Tartarus.’
The Third of My Boons
It was more than I could have hoped for.
