Hell Is An Empty Heart (Book One of The Triple Moon's Chronicles)

21 | Demeter's Reasons VI - Silent Watchers

Enclosed in a chalky shell, leathery membrane,
The fertilised ovary was slowly blooming into a flower.
Unhatched to the world, she first learnt how to sleep before crying.

Days had passed since Poseidon's visit, but the memory of their unexpected shared night was now carved into Demeter's body. Her breasts were more tender, her back became more curved and her legs had turned thicker, but the most obvious metamorphosis was her belly. It had grown rounder and rounder, carrying within her the life of a new deathless.

If Demeter lived her pregnancy well, the others goddesses at Mount Olympus thought little of her. The soon-to-be single parent threatened and insulted them. They were silent watchers of their husbands' many love affairs and denied any rights aside from the one of being a mother.

While Demeter was dancing with her hands on her tummy, their evil shadows circled her. The dark body shapes grew all around the trapped Demeter and they pushed her from one side to another. They stole her flowery crowns, forcing her to go after each of them until she collapsed. The worst could have happened if a man hadn't interfered and when he stepped closer, all the cowardly women abandoned their victim.

Persecutors of this kind only attacked in groups.
However, once severed from their members,
There was nothing left of them.
Aside from cowardice.

Demeter raised her eyes to the glaring sun, for her unseen hero had revealed himself with his unmistakable smile. It was Zeus. He offered her a hand, which she grabbed on to without no hesitation, before he pulled her up.

Only a few could have met Zeus on their promenade, as he was always seen without being noticed, heard without being fully discerned. He was always here and anywhere in his realm.

He placed his hand on her full tummy, with his eyebrows drawn together in concern. "Are you alright, Demeter?" Zeus then withdrew his hand right away when she saw him, but she put it back on again.

"You may touch it." Demeter's eyes shone and locked with his as she even allowed him to stroke her belly.

Clearing his voice, he said, "Let me know if they ever come back again." His hand ceased his circular motion on her stomach, but he couldn't break the bond between their eyes. Zeus fingers slithered across her hand, tightening his grip on Demeter with force and pain. "I mean it." His voice darkened into a possessive tone on those two words, but it faded away as soon as a shaky laughter took over. "I don't want nothing to happen to you or your unborn child."

Demeter retrieved her hand and hid it behind her back before saying, "Thank you, Zeus."

Giggling with one of his fingers now pointed into Demeter's face, Zeus said, "Remember, you had all my admiration in your will to become a single parent." Filled with pride, Zeus put his fists over his hips. "Just like I was to Athena."

Demeter pursed her lips, a chuckle tickling her throat at this uncomfortable insinuation. They all knew Athena grew up without a mother because of Zeus, and that only he could have made a lighthearted comparison between the two of them.

Zeus felt her tensing and scrunched back his hair to regain his composure. "I'm really impatient to show them all my new garden, so don't disappoint me!" After clapping his hands together, he left her alone.