HERA OLYMPUS II
— Even if... Even if Zeus dies... — I whispered, the words catching in my throat, choked by unshed tears. — I will never forget what he did to me...
In Arthur's absence, I had sought comfort in his room, I felt closer to him like that. I knew he would kill me if he discovered my trespass, but his absence, the loneliness was a gnawing beast, and his room offered a fragile connection to him.
I gazed at my reflection in his mirror, an antique piece with swirling patterns etched into the silvered glass. The reflection wavered, distorting my image, making the flawless god Zeus crafted seem... unreal. My gaze settled on the flawless image Zeus had crafted, the divinity he had bestowed me...
Goddess of perfection, of divine beauty... The title felt like a brand, searing my flesh. The memories flooded back, sharp and brutal: the tortures, the procedures, the rituals. The searing heat of the heart's flames, the almost sickening sweetness of ambrosia, the icy taste of the elixir of life, the unnatural sweetness of the golden apples, to make me a god. Even the magic seals, woven into my very being, granting me supreme control over magic without the need for incantations or gestures—a secret I guarded fiercely. If Arthur knew... he would never accept me as his wife. And I would never be by his side... would never be mother of his children...
The radiant glow of my skin, the unnatural whiteness, the deep blue of my eyes, the long, flowing, impossibly soft white hair, the voluptuous curves of my body... It was a clear reminder to Zeus's cruel artistry. I was a masterpiece, perfect, yes, but a masterpiece created for his pleasure, an object, nothing more
— That's it. I'm glad you know!
A voice, thick with menace, shattered the silence. I gasped, recoiling, trying to escape the unseen arms that held me captive. — KYAAAAHH!!!
His grip tightened, one hand on my throat, the other wrapped around my waist. — You're just a toy! — the voice, a fiery rasp, was terrifyingly familiar. — I'll make sure he knows that...
"Zeus. But how?! How is he here?! The war ended?! Arthur…?" I trembled, my mind raced to find an answer for his presence.
His hand forced my gaze back to the mirror. I couldn't see his reflection, only my own red face contorted with fear, my soaked eyes brimming with tears, my lips trembling. I struggled against his hold, but his strength was insurmountable. He forced me to confront my own image, a constant reminder of my manufactured perfection.
— Dad... Why are you here?! — I whispered faintly, my voice barely audible.
My mind raced. "Why is he here?! Did he come here to possess me?! Am I going to end like the thousand women he slept with? NO! NO! NO! Arthur will never marry me if he finds out I was touched by another..." My breath failled, I felt my heart racing, sweat running down, dizinness. His hand in my body gave me shivers to my spine.
I was having a panic attack. The idea of being rejected by the love of my life was like a life and death experience. A Treadway would never accept a woman already possessed by another man. Being his concubine would be a miracle...
"Why is he here?!!! Where is Arthur..." I was dizzy, everything was out of place. I was falling appart. But then I heard a feminine voice in my ear, giggling.
— You're really weak! — the voice shifted, the harshness softening. — You were having a panic attack? You thought he was here to take your so-dear purity, huh? — He licked my cheek, a gesture that sent shivers of revulsion down my spine.
I turned my head, finally seeing her. Aphrodite's eyes, she was a vampire. A high-ranking one, I suspected. Her black heels placed Aphrodite's slave at my height. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, her eyes shaped like hearts, a perfect match for an envoy of the goddess of love. Big heart-shaped eyes. Her long, wavy black hair cascaded down her back, and her body... the alluring, predatory form of a vampire. Her scent was a cloying mix of roses and something metallic, something...unsettling.
— What do you want from me?! — I demanded, my brow furrowed, my fists clenched. — What did your master send you here for?
Her heels clicked against the polished floor as she moved, her finger arrogantly tracing a pattern on a dresser. — More respect, I'm your older sister, little god of perfection! — She stopped, placing her hands behind her back. — What are you doing in my human's room?
— Aphrodite...? — I whispered, incredulous. I had heard whispers of Aphrodite's ability to communicate through her handmaidens, but I had never witnessed it myself.
She puffed out her cheek, a petulant expression on her face. — Did you only notice now? Didn't you hear my question? — She took slow, deliberate steps closer. — Are. You. SLEEPING. With. My. Husband?!
My eyes flickered from her face to her feet, taking in every detail. — Your husband? — the words caught in my throat. — Is Arthur your husband?
"Arthur and Aphrodite?! How could that be?! Arthur has always despised my family. And with his mother seriously injured, he would marry one of those who harmed her? It makes no sense... Unless... Aphrodite is a lying, envious creature. Only poison drips from her tongue..." I thought, a sigh escaping my lips.
She vanished, dissolving into a swirling cloud of darkness. My heart pounded in my chest. I looked around, my hands trembling. Being near Aphrodite was dangerous.
Her voice, laced with amusement, echoed through the room. — You're too audacious. — A soft giggle followed, the unmistakable sound of Aphrodite. — But I don't mind if he has concubines, as long as they don't bore me, having to share him with Athena is enough...
"WHAT?! EVEN ATHENA?!" My heart screamed inside me. I... I was falling apart... Athena is one of the two most famous and wonderful woman in the world, and Aphrodite is the most famous and desired woman... And me? What would Arthur gain with me...? This was the feeling that my sisters always gave me...
She reappeared behind me, her fingers closing around my jaw. — The gods have decreed it. I am his wife! He is mine! — her voice was sharp, cutting. — Make no mistake. He doesn't love you. Do you really think he would love such a ridiculous creature? Afraid of its own appearance... — she laughed, a cruel, mocking sound.
Her touch on my body, so casual, so possessive, made me feel like garbage. The way she held it with all freedom, made me feel like nothing. Not even Arthur himself did that, made me feel that.
"She always made a point of not only despising me but humiliating me too. And now this? Even Arthur? Even my heart, Olympus wants to take away... They've already taken my body, my dignity... What more do they want..." I thought, trembling. Tears streamed down my face. I couldn't stop them. I knew she wanted to see me break down, but the pain, the injustice, the humiliation, was too much to bear.
— S-Stop... W-Why do you do this to me...? — I choked out, my voice raw with pain. — What have I ever done to you? Why do you even bother to remember me...?
Her laughter was sharp, brittle. Her hand rose from my jaw to my hair, clutching it like a owner does to his animal. — Hera... My sad and pitful little sister... — she whispered as she wipped the tears in my cheeks. — Look at you, trembling. Just like our father intended. A beautiful doll, wound up to perform for his amusement. Do you really think Arthur sees anything more? — she whispered.
— When I see you, I have a deep desire of playing with you, of making you suffer. I don't care about you not even a bit, I just see you as who you are, a toy that my father created to give us pleasure. Why don't you understand that? — Aphrodite raised an eyebrow and tilted her head.
I... I couldn't stop my tears. It was always like this, it was like going back to the hell I've escaped. — I... I get it... But please, leave Arthur out of this... He's the love of my life, just... Leave him be... We love each other, and...
She got mad and clutching my hair tight, she abruptly pulled it backwards, lifting my head. — You are really stubborn... Iamagod, by the time I set my eyes on him, he was already mine! Do you think you are even a person to compete with me? You are less than an animal. He doesn't love you, don't lie to yourself.
Again, she licked my cheek, making it clear that I was her property. I only stood there, seeing her treat me like a pet. Every corner of my body trembled, my heart raced, my breath was unregular, sweating profously. I was affraid of her, ashamed. But... Arthur never treated me like this nor Andromeda and Cassandra, they treated me with respect, dignity, and honor, they made me realize that I am a person, that I am valuable and loved!
In that moment of realization, I took a deep breath and clenching my jaw and fists, I stood up to her. — Arthur loves me! And you should also respect me, I am goddess, daughter of Zeus. And by the law of the gods, no one beside a god can touch me! — I stated, my gaze fixed on her through the corner of my eyes. I had tear marks in my face.
My voice was shaky. In my head thougths like, "I am more than this. I am a goddess! I will not be broken." lingered, but my voice, my quivers, my heart beat, everthing revealed that I didn't belive what I was saying....
Raising her eyebrows, she gasped. — Oh, really? Do you believe that? — giggling. — Does your supposed love know you see yourself as a god? What will he think of you? — she sighed, with a gentle expression. — So sad... You know you're not a god, you're just... A punchingbag, to release stress. That's why you were created, to give, not to receive.
The past flashed through my eyes. The countless times I was humiliated in Olympus, the way Arthur just loved me in secret, Andromeda not wanting me as her daughter-in-law, the way my friends didn't respect me enough to not crave for Arthur. I lowered my eyes, surrendering to the thought. "She's right... I was made to suffer..."
She noticed the moment I lowered my eyes; she smiled radiantly. — You know that, deep down. You know what makes me want to play with you? — she pulled my hair back up. — When I hear that there is someone prettier than me! — I felt her face closing in to my ear. — No one is more beautiful than me! You can win all the Paris championships you want, but that doesn't change the fact that you're just an object created to give pleasure to my father! Nothing more! — She whispered in my ear, her breath hot against my skin.
Just then, the door swung open, and Allana, oblivious to my suffering, stepped into the room abruptly, saving me from Aphrodite, and even from myself. — Sister! — She called, her voice echoing through the room.
I looked around wildly, searching for the vampire, but she had vanished, swallowed by the shadows. I wiped away my tears and organized my hair, trying to compose myself.
— Sister! — Allana called again, searching the room. — Are you here?!
— Yes, — I replied, forcing a smile and straightening my posture. — I just finished my bath. I'm getting ready... — I organized my face and walked towards the small sitting area of the suite.
She rushed towards me, throwing her arms around my waist, burying her head in my belly. I felt her small, warm body pressed against me, it was reassuring. — How was it? — I asked softly. — Did you meet your niece...? — I stroked her soft hair, trying to ignore the turmoil within me.
She pulled back, twirling around the room. — It was... interesting. She's... cute. I can see why brother chose her over me... — she trailed off, then flopped onto the couch.
— Don't say that, — I said gently, approaching her. — Your brother did a good thing. He's taking care of an orphan. Don't you think she deserves all our love and support?
She sighed, staring up at the ceilling. — Maybe... She's very quiet. Doesn't say anything...
I sat beside her. — What do you think about playing with her? You wanted a younger sister so badly...
— Are you trying to get rid of me? — she asked, her eyes searching mine. — Don't you want to spend time with me?
— No! That's not it... — I nodded.
— I was thinking... why don't you talk to her? — she suggested. — She'll pratically be your daughter... It must be nice to have someone younger to look after. Like a real family...
— Huh...? — I gasped. That statement surprised me. She was a child, wasn't being mean, but... It hurt. I had no family, in other words...
A coldness spread through my chest. It wasn't physical pain. It was the echo of all the times I'd been made to feel worthless, less than a person. Allana's words, were so innocent, so unaware, had struck a nerve. Was it true? Was I truly nothing more than a... a jewelry? — I don't know... — I laughed nervously. — Maybe I'm just shy.
It was a lie. I wanted to know her, but Victoria clung to the girl, and I sensed a resentment towards me. She hadn't forgotten that Arthur had rejected her for me. I had avoided Kara because of that...
And then there was Arthur. He was always so secretive, so closed off. He hated people knowing anything about his personal life, his feelings, his abilities. He was like a ghost, impossible to grasp... At least he had opened up to me... Or so I thought.
"But Aphrodite?! Arthur's wife...? A decree of the gods was binding. He will be forced to accept it, whether he wants to or not!" I thought as I answered Allana's questions.
Aphrodite possessed the power to make anyone fall in love with her. As if Merlin, Selena and Thalia, weren't enough... Now Aphrodite? I had to do something!
"But how could I possibly compete with Aphrodite?!" This question echoed in my mind, a dark cloud of despair settling over my heart.