4 téssera

𝔱é𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔯𝔞 - 𝔞 𝔡𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔢 𝔴𝔦𝔱𝔥 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔡𝔢𝔳𝔦𝔩

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"And where do you intend to lead me, Eros? What place would hold back the wrath of the almighty King of Gods." Kleio rolled her eyes as she walked beside Eros, her hand tucked in the crook of his elbow.

"Why, my palace of course." The primordial smirked, giving her a sideways glance.

"Would it be too much of me to ask a favour of you?"

"Of course not, what is it?" He stopped and turned to face her.

"I did come here to see some specific people, would you mind keeping Zeus occupied, or dazed – whichever is your preference – whilst I greet them, and then we can leave?"

"It would be my absolute pleasure." He let go of her hand and leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Do not run off without me."

"I would never." The Siren Queen smiled before turning and heading for where she could see Hades and Persephone stood. "Hades, Persephone." She greeted as she approached them.

"Kleio." Persephone beamed when she saw her dear friend. "How lovely to see you." The goddess of spring embraced Kleio.

"Lovely seeing you as well Persephone." Then, she turned to Hades, and hugged him gently. "Hades. How are you doing?"

"Quite alright Kleio, better now that I have seen my brother make an absolute fool out of himself." Hades had a faint smile on his face as he spoke to one of his oldest friends. "Surprised you are still here."

"Oh, yes, I needed to see some people before I left. It felt like millennia since I had seen you all." She waved a hand nonchalantly.

"Kleio, it has been a millennia." Persephone deadpanned.

"Oh, well, I am here now, am I not? Well, I must be off, quite a few people to greet before I leave to save myself from the so called King." She leaned in and hugged the pair one last time before walking towards a pair of twins conversing. "Well, look who I found."

They turned to face her. The male with bright blonde hair and glimmering blue eyes, and the female with dark hair and grey eyes. "Kleio." Artemis greeted, a faint smile across her lips.

"Artemis. Apollo. Nice to see you." She nodded.

Apollo came closer and hugged her gently. "Kleio, how have you been." He stepped back to let Artemis hug their friend.

"Quite alright. And you? How have you both been doing?"

"Good. The hunts are going well. Lots of game this time of year." Artemis replied.

"By game, do you mean animals or monsters?"

"Both."

"How pleasant." Kleio scrunched up her face. "Apollo?"

"As well as it can be, dear Siren Queen." He smirked. "I find myself missing you more every day."

"Oh, Apollo. When will you learn?" She patted his cheek before going off to find the last few people. She bumped into Athena on the way and her smile soured. "Athena."

"Kleio." The goddess of wisdom nodded her head. "How lovely of you to grace us with your presence. We did not know if you would come."

"Well, all of the guests of honour invited me, and who am I to decline an invite to a party. I see you dressed the part." She nodded to the goddess' armour and cape. "And, it is your Majesty, Athena. I am Queen after all. Lovely speaking with you, but I see some people I actually like, so, if you will please excuse me."

Kleio pushed past Athena, bumping her shoulder roughly as she headed to Aphrodite and Ares, who were both smirking as they watched the exchange. "Hello, Aphrodite. Hello, Ares. Watching me, were you?"

"Of course we were, Kleio. Your conversations with Athena provide some of the best entertainment at these parties." Aphrodite smiled. "I missed you." She hugged her friend.

"I missed you too." She hugged back before letting go and smiling at Ares. "Ares, win any good battles recently."

"New one every day." He replied, the faint trace of a smile on his lips.

"Lovely."

"Kill any men recently?"

"Oh yes, a crew actually. Quite annoying how they struggle so much. Like cockroaches. Trying to weasel their way out of death."

"Oh yes, humans are like that. Very persistent." He nodded.

"I just wanted to see you both before I left. I have to see a few more people, then someone is waiting for me." Kleio waved her painted fingers.

"Meeting someone? Who?" The goddess of love questioned.

"You are the goddess of love, are you not? You can figure it out." She waved before heading off, greeting people as she walked. She finally got to the drinks area and saw Dionysus drinking, accompanied by Poseidon. Perfect. Two bird. One stone.

"Hello boys." She sat down on the stood beside Dionysus.

"We are not boys, Kleio." Poseidon grumbled. "We are gods."

"Boys. Gods. Same thing. I wanted to say goodbye before I left. I do not know when I will next see you Dionysus. But say hello to Ariadne for me. And take care of yourself. Send a few people mad for me." She smiled, kissing his cheek.

"Of course." He nodded.

"Thank you for the ride, Poseidon. Tell Amphirite I left. I will see you another day." She waved before heading off to look for Eros. She spotted his back facing her and in front of him, facing her was Hermes. She scowled before quickening her pace.

"Hermes." She said bitterly, causing his eyes to swing to her and Eros to turn around, surprised. "How lovely to see you."

"K-Klei- Yo-Your-Your Maj-Majesty." Hermes stuttered, bowing his head slightly.

"Can I help you? And drop the act please. You may have him fooled, but not me." She shook his head.

Hermes lost the frightened look and laughed, eyes glinting mischievously. "I almost got him, Kleio. Let me have some fun!"

"Not if it involved you badmouthing me, thief. Out of my sight before I get Hades or Ares to do something not too pleasant to you." She glared, eyes flaming. Hermes rolled his eyes before walking away, feet a few inches above the ground as his shoes let him float.

"I see you are quite familiar with Hermes." Eros raised his eyebrows at the dark haired beauty. She sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Familiar is an understatement. He thrives off of vexing me. One night with him, and he never lets me forget it." Kleio explained. "It was a momentary lapse of judgement, but he does not seem to understand that, nor the fact that I clearly do not see him that way, and never will."

"That is good to hear." Eros had a half smile on his face. "Shall we?" He offered her his arm once more and led her outside where a massive golden carriage awaited, with four white horses. Kleio let go of his arm and walked towards the horses, reaching her hand out and stroking it.

"Hello, beautiful." She cooed. "You are so pretty."

Eros stood near her, a smile on his face as he watched her interact with a horse. It was indeed the simple things in life that produced the most joy and delight in a person. Kleio moved her hand and turned to Eros, who reached out his own hand, and she took it, allowing him to help her into the carriage.

She stepped in, and the inside was just as magnificent as the outside. She took a seat on one of the plush red benches, and Eros took a seat opposite her. "Quite the magnificent carriage you have curated."

"My pride and joy." He gave her a sarcastic smile that melted into a genuine one when she laughed lightly. "The Elder Cyclops' helped Hephaestus with it. Only the best."

"Well, we all deserve to treat ourselves sometimes, if not all the time. Do you not agree?" Kleio asked, resting her chin in the palm of her hand, and allowing her eyes to stare into his own dark ones. They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, and that statement had never been truer.

The eyes of a person can hold more than colour and tears. They can hold memories, emotions, and so much more. "Of course." He nodded, allowing himself a glance into her eyes, and through that, into her heart. He did not mean to use his powers. It just... happened.

She did not notice. She could not. but he accidentally tapped into some of her emotions, and the overwhelming amount of pain and loneliness almost broke his mask, and almost showed how he felt about these emotions. There was so much that she did not deserve.

"Where is your palace?" The siren posed another question, knocking Eros from his stupor. He blinked before turning his full attention back to her.

"That, my darling, is a secret I will never tell." He winked, and she simply raised an eyebrow, the corner of her lips turned up slightly. "Alright, fine. Damn you and your persuasiveness." He teased.

"If I was really trying to be persuasive, then none of your secrets would be safe..." She paused for a second before continuing, "Darling."

"My palace is located on the single most beautiful place. It is in the sky above Zakynos." Eros sat back, a smug look creeping across his face at the look of shock and awe that spread across the face of the beautiful girl sat opposite him.

"Zakynos? Really?"

"Really."

"You are one lucky man."

"Well, as a primordial, and the son of literal Chaos, it suppose it was fair I got the first pick." He smirked. Kleio nodded and was about to say something when she noticed something out of the window and her eyes widened slightly.

"I assume from your reaction that we have arrived?" He asked, amused.

"I believe so. Might I say, while your palace is brilliant, and beautiful, nothing can beat mine. It is the most beautiful I ever saw, and one day, when I show you, you will think the same." She turned her eyes onto him once more.

"I am sure I will." He replied, nodding before the carriage touched down gently, and the door of the carriage opened. Eros stepped out first and then held his hand out to assist Kleio in stepping out. He offered her his arm when she did. "Shall we?"

"We shall, indeed."