The Greek Sacrifice

Chapter Two

Hera paced the room as her maidservant Shira got the jewels together for the offering to the Ancient Gods. She was nervous and was praying that the sacrifice would work and get them back in good graces with the Gods. Shira helped her to get dressed. She studied her reflection and admired how much she looked like her mother. Her mother was considered the most attractive Goddess on Mount Olympus. Hera ran her hand through her lustrous red hair. Her long white dress was adorned with gold clasps to hold it in place. The gold choker that she was wearing had belonged to her mother. Hera loved adorning herself with her gold accessories. Her eyes were light brown and flecks of gold could be seen in them whenever she was angry. She smoothed the thin material of her dress over her bosom, along her abdomen and down her wide hips. Her skin glistened in the evening light. She was pleased with her appearance. She turned slightly just to view her plump but firm derriere. Her sisters said that she was vain but she just thought that a woman should exude beauty and class at all time.
“Shira I'm ready, get the chest and let's go to the temple, I do not want to be late.“
“Yes mistress.” She responded, slightly bowing before gathering their belongings.
The sacrifice usually lasted about two hours. They would need to form a circle at the alter and place the offering in the middle. They would then be cleansed with holy water and given a small piece of bread to eat and wine to drink. They would then be engaged in silent prayer for the rest of the time while the priests would chant Ancient Greek sayings.
By the time Hera got to the temple her sisters and the priests were ready and waiting. They immediately got the ritual started. While in her trance-like state, she felt like a foreign spirit had entered their midst. Hera slowly opened her eyes and was amazed to see what looked like the Gods feasting around a long, large wooden table. She blinked twice to ensure that she was not hallucinating. The image remained. The Gods looked pleased with them as they were all smiling. She closed her eyes once again and continued to pray silently, feeling assured that their offering had pleased the Ancient Gods. Once the ritual was over they closed the temple and headed back to Olympia.
“Do you think the Gods will start favoring us again?” Elodie asked quietly
“I think so!” Hera answered excitedly and started telling her sisters about the vision she saw during the ritual. They all agreed that it sounded positive but they would have to wait and see.
 
Deep into the humid night, Hera tossed restlessly in her large, comfortable bed. She could sense his presence before she saw him. Her body came alive at just the sight of him.  His silhouette slowly approached her. Her heart rate increased as she thought of the pleasure that would soon engulf her. She slowly slid to the edge of the bed all the while never taking her eyes off of him. Suddenly, he was standing between her legs and his warm breath was caressing her neck. She shivered, her body alight with desire. She groaned as he captured her lips in a searing kiss causing her to lose all reason. She grab onto his wide and strong shoulders. His large, rough hands slipped into the opening of her nightgown and cupped her well rounded breasts. She yelped as a surge of pleasure coursed through her entire body. He pushed her back onto the bed and pressed his manhood against her pleasure spot. She squirmed beneath him. She felt him slowly removing her underwear all the while using his fingers to tease her. He pulled her closer to him as he got ready to enter her. An explosion of lights blurred her vision as his long, thick manhood entered her. She moaned and groaned with each stroke and shivered as she reached her climax. She felt like she was having an outer body experience. Hera whimpered as the heat of his body left hers and just as silently as he came, he left. She pulled herself back up unto the bed, her body spent from their encounter. She smiled contentedly as she pulled the covers over her body and went off into deep, peaceful slumber.
“Mistress! Mistress! Wake up! The gift of jewels that was given to the Gods have been stolen!”
As Shira’s words sunk in, she quickly flung the sheets from her body. The events of the previous night now a distant memory.
“What do you mean the jewels were stolen? Who would risk doing such a thing?” she asked incredulously. Who would have the audacity? she thought while hurriedly pulling a white toga over her tunic.
“I do not know mistress but the priests went to open the temple and discovered that the jewels were missing.” Shira replied.
Hera went down to the main hall where her sisters along with the priests were gathered.  They had Aldine, an infamous eunuch in the province. He struggled defiantly against the guards who were restraining him.
“This is the thief, we found him trying to cross the border into the east province. It seems as if he was going to try to sell them” One of the guards stated.
“I was not going to sell them but trade them for food since our precious Goddesses cannot provide for us.” Aldine snarled.
A loud smack echoed in the great hall. Aldine's head swung back fiercely from the slap he had gotten from Zoe.
“How dare you? You ungrateful mongrel! After all the good we have done, you can only dwell on the few months of misfortune!” Zoe shouted at him. He hung his head in shame, the implications of his actions seem to be hitting him like a ton of bricks. It was too late now, he would pay dearly for his treachery.
“Take him to the gallows” Hera commanded the guards. Aldine struggled as the guards took him away. They had to make an example of him.
“Did we have to make such a drastic decision? Queried Phoebe.
“Look, I know you are the Goddess of peace and you would prefer a mild punishment but that eunuch is defiant and letting him slide would probably encourage others to become just as defiant as well. We had to make an example of him.” Agapy explained.
“Please see to it that everything is prepared for the execution Seleny.” Hera said.
 
As they gathered to watch the execution, a sense of doom settled heavily over the crowd. Hera looked on with a heavy heart, her people were turning against them and it was heartbreaking.
“This is unfair!” someone shouted from the crowd. “We have no rights" bellowed another.
“We are working to remedy all the problems we are facing, please be patient.” Shouted Phoebe over the crowd.
“How can we trust you to protect us when our men cannot even go hunting without being attacked?”
“Yes! You can't even protect our temple from thieves!”
“Be quiet!” Hera shouted in her most commanding voice, “We are your leaders and we will be respected!” she continued, “We are working to get our province back on in order. Now let's get on with this execution!” A sudden silence fell over the crowd,  they may resentful but they knew when to obey.
The guards brought Aldine and took him to the wooden platform. The crowd was deathly silent as they watched the executioner put the noose around Aldine's neck. The loud snap of his neck echoed throughout the arena as the platform beneath him gave way. His death was instantaneous and his lifeless body swung around for a few minutes before becoming still. The crowd slowly disembarked. Majority hanging their head in despair while the rest looked up at them with disdain and contempt. Hera shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She had a horrible feeling that things were going to get really bad before they got better, that is if they ever got better.