Chapter 38: Seduction, or Abduction? 1194 BCE

[Pluto's POV]

Me, Thena, and Hermione were coming to Sparta again. We hunted many things, deers, boars, even lions. Hermione wanted to see the world, wanted to see the animals, she was a curious girl, so I reluctantly agreed to her request. We travelled around Sparta for about three weeks.

I was only gone for three weeks.

Yet as soon as I left, disaster struck.

We were now at the gate of Sparta. Corpses everywhere, houses were burned down, blood was spilled. I looked at the palace in the middle of the city, and smoke was coming from there.

Then, I felt a sensation that I haven't felt in a long time. Fear. anxiety. Desperation.

"What's going on?" questioned Hermione, she was scared because she saw the dead bodies littered everywhere.

"Let's take you somewhere safe," said Thena worriedly.

I only spoke one word. "Helen." I dashed towards the palace, as if my legs were moving on my own. I heard Thena shouted behind me, but I didn't care. I ran as fast as I could, and I arrived in mere seconds.

When I arrived, the guards, who looked battered and bloodied, aimed their spears towards me.

"Stand down, or I'll chop your head off." I said coldly as constructs with different sizes appeared behind me.

They were scared, so they let me in. I quickly entered the palace, where some servants were treating themselves.

I scanned the entire palace, but no sign of Helen. I rushed towards one of the servants, I grabbed his neck, and slammed him to the wall. "Where's Helen?"

The man was choking, but I didn't care. "Run— Trojan—"

Run? Trojan?

Wait… what year is this? Hermione's nine years old, right? That means…

And I froze.

The Trojan war.

I questioned the Servant again. "What did Paris do to her?"

"Seduce—" the man was choking, and I grasped his neck tightly.

Seduced? Helen wouldn't do that, she's not that stupid.

I then heard a shout from the door. "Pluto, that's enough!"

It was Thena, I looked behind her, it was Hermione, she had fear in her eyes.

I realised what I was doing, and dropped the servant. The servant was catching some air, and I walked to Helen's room.

Thena then dashed to me, and stopped me in my place. "Don't do anything reckless Pluto, you already did it once, Arishem's not going to forgive you again."

"It's Helen, Thena." I said solemnly. "It's Helen."

"I know… but let's discuss it with the others first. '' said Thena softly, as if comforting me.

I just nodded. "I'll check Helen's room first."

Thena just hummed, and she walked back to Hermione. I could hear Hermione ask Thena where her mother was, it felt strange, it felt wrong.

I entered Helen's room. It was a mess, it seems like those trojans really did sack the palace…

Did Helen really run away with Paris? Or is she abducted?

What would I do if she ran away? Do I support her? Will I be able to see her again?

What would I do if she was abducted? Decimate Troy? Kill their men?

I then saw in the corner of the room, a chest. It contained a lot of parchments, and the parchments were scattered everywhere.

I was curious, why are there so many parchments? This is Helen's room, right?

—

[Thena's POV]

I was comforting Hermione about the disappearance of her mother. She was laying her head on my lap, sitting on the cold floor of the Spartan palace.

"Is mother going to be okay?" asked Hermione, she seemed calm about this, although I could feel her shivering.

"I don't know." I answered honestly. "It depends on Pluto's reaction."

Hermione was confused. "What does it mean?"

"Helen… is special… in the eyes of Pluto, Hermione…"

"Like lovers?" asked Hermione innocently.

I chuckled. "No… I feel like… Pluto saw Helen as his daughter…"

"Like father felt about me?" questioned Hermione again.

I once again shook my head. "Your father is not very close to you sweetheart."

"So, more?"

I nodded. "We… Eternals have a rule to not interfere with human conflicts. Obviously, Pluto cannot save her if he wants to follow the rule, but his track record is… bad…"

Hermione was confused at my words, of course she didn't understand…

"You know we can do magic right?" I repeated.

Hermione nodded cutely.

"So… because we can do magic… there is a rule where that magic cannot be used against humans. Which means, Pluto cannot save your mother, if he followed the rules."

Hermione turned sad. "Well, now I want Pluto to break that rule…" she sulked.

I chuckled. Honestly, I hope so too.

"You should rest now, Hermione, I'll send you to your room." I cooed the girl.

She shook her head furiously. "I want to stay with you."

I smiled, and ruffled her hair. "Very well, let's go to your room, let the servants clean the mess."

"Okay…" Hermione answered softly.

As we stood up, I looked at the corridor where Helen's room is. I hope you choose the right path Pluto, whatever it takes.