prelude to battle

"Are you saying that we aren't allowed to object?"

She asked not very pleased. It seems Zeus wasn't taking no for answer to his proposition, He was already the father of her daughter and its not like she didn't find him attractive However she wasn't about to be forced into anything.

"Yes"

"Why should I be married to you?!!!! You who did nothing when Hera killed my infant!!!  you who agreed that I spend a year in Tartarus!! you didn't care about me then why care about me now!!!

Themis spat with surprising amount of anger in her voice, her face displayed it clearly on her as she stared at the God king.

That outburst from Themis gave everyone quite a shock, leaving them flashbangered, especially Hera. it was the first time she had seen Themis display that level of emotion. even if it was akin to losing an arm, an arm is still a significant part of the body and worth grieving for. Hera's face morphed into an expression of guilt and regret filled her heart.

"you forget that you collaborated with a traitor  I can send you to Tartarus again and besides I can give you another baby if you want"

He explained and caused Themis to be silent, she  was able to  easily see that, he didn't want to marry her because he cared but because he wanted to have sex and it was at this moment that she realized that Zeus was  no better than his father both of them as rulers were just terrible.

All the woman within the room found themselves in a rock and a hard place well Themis and Hera did, Leto was already in  an illicit relationship with Zeus if anything officially marrying him  would be better for her but that didn't mean she liked it. However Demeter wasn't having it, regardless of how attractive he was she wasn't about to be forced into any relationship she doesn't want as such…

"You plan to use your Authority as king to force us to marry you is that it?"

"yes"

"why?"

"because I love you"

"hmm…. fine"

She agreed, it was pointless trying to fight him, this whole exchange made it clear to her that Olympus needed a new king and it also made her wonder if it was because of sudden news of traitors that made him think up this situation or did he always have it mind but he just needed an excuse. Her gaze met with Hera and then Themis the three of them then blinked simultaneously something that went completely unnoticed by Zeus.

"Very well I accept this as well"

"Mmmm fine I do as well"

"Leto?"

Leto looked at the others in Slight confusion but seeing the looks in Demeter's eyes she also agreed.

"I do too"

"Excellent now there's just two left and we can all make the oath but for the time being I'll deal with Athena, you all can prepare for the oath ceremony in the mean time."

With that Zeus  exited the room leaving the woman to their devices, once he was out Hera spoke first.

"so what idea  do you have Demeter?"

"Someone must challenge Zeus for the seat of king, not only would it not be illegal but the enforcers will not interfere until a victor is decided"

"I don't remember that being a in the laws"

"it's not however, as the one in charge of all things law related I have made many laws that aren't really followed or adhered by Zeus or any of you, I can simply make it seem that that law was always there and we can simply coax him into agreeing to it."

Themis answered Leto's statement, there are many laws that were not followed in Olympus, especially so by the 12, the only laws that were actually followed were the ones that included no killing or stealing and the one about not lying but even those laws weren't strictly followed as such it should be easy for Themis to  write a fake law.

"So then, who's going to challenge Zeus?"

...….

Hephaestus and Aphrodite silently Walked the empty corridor of the palace as they made their way out, Hephaestus was seemingly  deep in thought as indicated by his hand on his chin, Aphrodite occasionally glanced at him with mixed feelings. He seemed to be thinking about something important but at the same time her hands felt quite empty and cold, she was hesitating to grab his  hands.

"so what are we going to do? Looks like my house won't need renovating anymore"

She states before grabbing his forearm and then slowly descending her hands down to his palm before finally having her right hand interlock fingers with his left and using her other hand to cover the other two. Unbeknownst to Aphrodite, Hephaestus was trying to do the same thing but he just couldn't think of a smooth way of holding her hands without it being somewhat awkward or calling attention to the act itself.

"looks like your stay at my palace will be permanent, though we gonna have to move a few things"

He said trying to ignore her actions, Aphrodite  got closer and clung to his arm, she was feeling quite a bit a excited and she didn't know why.

"Don't think I forgot that you still owe me a game"

"can you let that go"

"nope, I need to at least win once before I'm satisfied so we'll play as many times as it takes"

"Okay fine but before that, I need to know more about your divinity so that I can help you use it better."

Hephaestus relented to her demands, it was a good thing that she was competitive that way it's easier to train her. Aphrodite had told Him that Her divinity is something that she can't control, like for instance while she can use it to manipulate the affection level a person might have for her she can't really control it and might make a person go crazy with love and assault her.

"Okay but who…."

"you two are certainly close"

Aphrodite's words were interrupted by Hecate's sudden appearance, she seemingly spawned out of nowhere and appeared right beside them even though she came from  the interconnecting corridor they just passed a few seconds ago.

"Lady Hecate, I didn't see you there"

"That's because I didn't want you to"

Hecate walked up to Hephaestus and started touching his body completely surprising Hephaestus, she began with  his hand and went up his arm feeling his muscles and shoulder she slowly worked her way to his chest however before she could go any further Aphrodite slapped her hands away rather violently.

"what are you doing?"

She hissed at her and pushed away, Hecate didn't resist at this as she realized her actions were quite inappropriate. Hephaestus raised his eyebrow at the curious actions of Aphrodite, she seemed very displeased more the she should have.

"ah sorry, was just curious, I apologize."

"Humph! Well don't ever do that again"

Aphrodite spat however she immediately recoiled at her own words, what  right does a whore like her  have to do such a thing? Her mood sunk and she suddenly let go of his hand. She wanted to change but how does she do that is it even possible, what does she need to do to not to be a whore?

"Are you alright?"

"Yes I'm fine, I just feel bad that's all"

"No need to feel bad Aphrodite it was my own fault for touching him like that I understand so there's no need"

Hecate answered it seemed like her actions caused some problems, she scratched her left cheek feeling a bit awkward about the situation.

"it's fine"

Hephaestus said before he grabbed Aphrodite by the waist and pulling her closer a clear display of Affection which in turn made Hecate feel more awkward than she already was.

"So what did you want?"

"I want your blood".

...…

Athena found herself met with a wall, behind the wall was where  both the Scythe and the thunder bolt were being kept and by the looks of it there was no way to enter the room, there was no doors or any windows,  it was just a wall. At first she had thought it was an illusion but that wasn't the case, neither did the wall open with a riddle or phrase it was just a plain wall made from very thick mithril. She could probably break through it no problem but that would alert Zeus as well as everyone else as such he she needed a silent way to enter, like for instance, slicing through the metal so fast and cleanly that there barely any sound.

She  conjured her spear on hand, looking at it, the white metal that made its head had turned to complete black and she  could feel an aura of Violence emanating from the weapon almost like blood lust as if the weapon was alive.  She  spun it around  from side to side and  took a stance. In  this instance she wished she had a sword,  a spear can't be used for cutting after all, almost as if the weapon heard her desire it glowed a dark light and  morphed into a  longsword with a blade and  dark golden hilt. It's tip was pointy and  it's edges promised a godly level of sharpness

Switching her stance to the appropriate one for a  sword she then clutched the  weapon as  hard as she could and  in four  precise and fluid movements of her sword  she was able to cleanly cut the wall like one would  when  using a hot knife to cut butter, she cut a perfect rectangle on the wall and  she only slightly pushed the block and it fell on to the room,  the room was now open to her.

The room was dark with  a single source of light that lit only one half of the room and the other half was dark and there was a menacing aura that gave Athena chills and reminded her of death the moment she entered, the hair on her head became stiff almost as if fearing the weapon within the room. she was immediately able discern what kind of weapon it was, one of the– no, the most dangerous weapon on Olympus, the  Scythe of Cronus. The weapon used to kill the first king of Heaven Ouranos.

She wasted absolutely no time and immediately jumped at the Scythe grabbing it by its  handle and  lifting it up high in the air and a wide smile was plastered across her face, thoughts of her mother's voice and warmth caused her heart to burn with hatred, Zeus had taken the love of her mother away from her and did nothing to compensate it, he even went so far as to have a replacement for her. To her that was proof that her father didn't love her but loved power.

"But with this I'll tear his stomach open and have its contents spill out to the world and maybe just maybe…"

Hope that her mother somehow still lived within his stomach and  that she was alive and well, even if she isn't well, it  would be more than enough if she was alive, she needs to feel her gentle care again, hear her voice again.

.....

A/N: a bit shorter than it should be sorry about that, next chapter should be 3k words long

Anyone else watching Bungou stray dogs?? Pretty Fire series 🔥