The God & The Shadow

Chapter 70

LORE

"Well, well. Look who decided to finally show up."

I gave Aphrodite a smile as I sat down next to the empty seat directly across a glowering Demeter. It was a promise I found myself wrestling over to break when I swore I wouldn't hurt the goddess.

How is easy it would be to snap that neck of hers into two and throw her into Tartarus where I would spend days carving and ripping out her–

"What do you want, brother?" Demitricus raised an eyebrow at me.

I shrugged and leaned back in my chair. "I don't know what you mean. I'm just here to attend the meeting."

He gave me a look of incredulity before scoffing and turning away. "Fine. Is that all of us? Where's Hermes?"

"Right here, boss." Hermes strode in with a big smile on his face with Persephone in tow. Her long ash blonde hair cascaded over her lilac dress hugging her body. I steeled my face to not show any amusement at Demeter's shocked face upon seeing her daughter here in Olympus.

"No dates in the meeting room, Hermes. No matter how pretty. If I don't get a pass for mine, you sure as hell wouldn't get yours." Apollo directed his anger towards the god.

He rolled his eyes at him as he led her to where I sat. Sitting Persephone next to me, Hermes took the seat on her other side and smiled. "She's not my date. She is a goddess."

"Says who?" Athena voiced out.

"I do," Demeter suddenly cut in, silencing everyone. She looked at her daughter with a hardened jaw. "Persephone's my daughter."

Demitricus gave me a look. I had no doubt that he'd recognized Veronica from their first encounter months ago from when he was taken, but it was a surprise to see that even he didn't know she was a goddess, let alone Demeter's daughter.

How had I not realized it when she's the only person that has managed to go against my own power and live another day since we first met?

"Why is she here?" Hera quietly demanded next to her husband.

All eyes were on Persephone except for my own. I didn't need to turn to look at her fiddling her hands on the table, nervously biting her lip in front of everyone. She audibly swallowed and kept her head low as she spoke, "I request xenia from you, Zeus."

Everyone quieted. Demitricus straightened in his chair and looked at Persephone with eyes I promised to stab later if he continued looking at her as he did any longer. He looked away when he quickly looked at me.

"Why would you want that, goddess?" My brother asked with genuine curiosity.

"I have nowhere to go."

"Nonsense," Demeter stood in her anger and tilted her head. "You have a home with me, Persephone."

"Demeter." Demitricus warned.

She ignored him and moved to where I sat. The goddess sneered at me before turning to Persephone next to me. "I've had enough of your petulance. Stop this act now, Persephone."