( Hestia Pov )
Next Morning
The Lady of Dragons was wide awake at this time, her mind surprisingly clear as she took in the sight before her. She lay comfortable on her bed, head resting on her palm as she watched her husband sleep. The slow rise and fall of his muscled chest with every soft breath, his head turned in her direction looking at peace.
She wished he could always be like this.
The small smile that had been on her face for some time fell into a sad frown, remembering last night and the last dregs of tears that marred his face. A memory of his face, the dull faded green and heartbroken eyes of a spent hero at the end of his rope, it all came to her and she compared it to what was only a few hours ago. Why him? She couldn't just blame the Fates any more, nor the intentional meddling of other gods. And yet, nothing could ever be easy or left well enough alone when it came to her husband.
But he wasn't alone now and she'd be damned if she wasn't there for him every step of the way. With her lips in a firm line she nodded softly to herself before focusing on her husband's sleeping face again. She leaned closer as she brushed some of his wild raven locks to the side and left a small kiss on his forehead.
A content sigh was the response as she pulled back and gently slid out of their bed, the dark satin sheets slipping off almost like water. Once off the bed she turned away and quietly walked to their bathroom and walked in, silently closing the door behind her before her attention turned to the large mirror.
Her own dark hair spilled in lush yet wild curls down to the middle of her back, her crimson eyes sharp and alert as she inspected herself. Her wrinkled shirt made her nose scrunch in distaste before she raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
Instantly a roaring blaze of fire erupted around her, the very air steaming and hissing as she stood perfectly comfortable within the miniature inferno for all of five seconds. Then, without preamble it fizzed out, not even an ember or scorch mark left in the wake. And yet, it was Hestia that undergone the signs of change.
Gone was her sleepwear, replaced with a dark red blouse and pitch black jeans that hugged her legs and hips. Black leathered boots reaching up to her calves with the slightest heels paired to a smaller leather jacket left unzipped and her hair now in a more styled curl with some strands framing the sides of her face.
A small nod and she spun about as she walked out of the bathroom, the slightest hints of steam wafting off her form as she stepped back into the cool master bedroom. Her eyes found the sleeping form of her husband again, noting that he'd moved some but didn't seem to be stirring any time soon. The soft smile returned to her face as she quietly left the echoes of his soft snores.
Once out her smile made way for a set narrowed eyes and thinned lips. Right now her husband was getting the rest he needed but that didn't mean she needed to remain idle herself. With that in mind she made quick work of traversing their home, barely registering the silent wind spirits at work cleaning or the presence of other primordial as she passed their rooms.
Soon she was out the doors and walking down the steps leading to a sheer drop and the world below. As she got to the end she didn't pause, boldly stepping as if she expected another step to appear for her but then within the next second another inferno surrounded her before she disappeared.
All but a few seconds passed as her world was nothing but twisting fire and light for her eyes even as she felt exactly where she was going. Then, with another burst of flame she appeared, her heeled boots clacking on the dark marble of her landing as the wails of the damned echoed. She lightly brushed her shoulders as she looked around, the familiar sight of her brother's castle in front of her and the fields of punishment to her back.
She also noted that the two guards, fallen marines this time around, each stood to the sides of the path leading to her brother's home, both taking a knee in respect yet their gazes never left her. She gave a small nod of acknowledgement but otherwise didn't speak as she walked past them. Only the clack of her heeled boots and tormented screams of the damned filled the otherwise silent walk as she ascended the steps leading up her brother's abode.
Occasionally her eyes would stray off the path, idly noting the changes made to the divisions of the lands of the dead as to streamline or update the ways a soul's resting place is determined. Still, her curiosity aside she moved on and was soon at the gates the once imposing castle looming over her and yet was unfazed.
Even back in the olden days she'd always at least been cordial with her gloomy brother and rarely visited but even then, there had always been a feeling of unease to accompany her visits. A sense that she needed to be careful even if she had been capable of defending herself should the need arise.
Not anymore.
She had changed. Grown and evolved past a mere god and unique to the primordial before them. Few things could faze her anymore and even now, she knew in her core that she was by far the most dangerous being currently here. The new part of her, the animalistic side, dared anyone to come and tell her otherwise.
So with that in mind she all but marched forward, past the outer gates and into the halls of her brother's castle. With enough visits she had a detailed mental map and made quick work of moving within the stone halls as she passed ghoulish servants and guards until she turned up against a slightly smaller doorway leading to the throne room. Behind the ornate doors she could feel a familiar presence and one of the ones she was looking for so she strode forward.
She all but marched up against the gates, unbothered as her palm rested against the petrified wood and Stygian iron used in the building. She gave a gentle shove, little more than what one would expect to give a stubborn door with a rusty hinge and yet, the massive doors swung open, nearly slamming the inner walls as she paused, blinking in slight surprise.
She'd honestly expected the doors to put a little more resistance than they had … or she needed to get a better grip on just how strong she'd grown. With a light silvery dusting to her cheeks as she barely resisted the reflex to shuffle sheepishly, her crimson eyes soon met the wide-eyed gaze of the queen of the Underworld.
Persephone sat in her godly form, dressed in a simple green chiton as she sat across her throne with her legs kicked over the side. She blinked slowly at Hestia's direction, her hands clenched with a paper and broken pen in them. The stare off lasted all of five seconds before Persephone suddenly gasped as she scrambled off her throne, idly tossing the ruined paper and pen aside, and almost ran to Hestia before dropping to a knee before her.
"L-Lady Hestia, welcome! I'm sorry about not greeting you the moment you arrived but I didn't know you were coming and…"
"Persephone," Hestia cut in as she waved it off, still looking up at the currently 15 foot goddess. "It's okay. I didn't call ahead so don't worry. Also please drop the formality, this is more of a personal visit," she said in comforting voice.
Seeing the relief shine in Persephone's eyes told her she'd been successful as the goddess nodded and shrank down until she was standing in front of Hestia and looking up at her, her shorter stature of some 5'6 compared to Hestia's new 5'10 height without counting her heels.
"Aunty Hesita," Persephone said warmly as she closed in and hugged Hestia, an action she was happy to return. After Persephone pulled back she smiled softly as she asked, "So what are you doing here aunty?"
At the question Hestia sighed as her smile dropped a little. "I need you to take me to Elysium please," she said as she saw Persephone's eyes widen before scrunching in confusion.
"Umm … not that you aren't allowed but, why?" the queen of the dead asked.
"I need to speak to Paul Blofis," was her short answer.
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