𝙄 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨

Guilt

"Rhea...is she okay?" she asked, voice raspy after being quiet for so long.

Zeus, glanced at her.

She was on the edge of his bed, hugging her knees with a faraway expression.

He sat on his armchair, legs spread and a semi-amused expression on his face.

" You're worried about your attacker? The very person that brought you to this state?" he inquired, tilting his head at her and leaning a bit forward.

She shook her head, digging her nails on her knee caps.

"She's not to blame...I..I abandoned her.."she stated, eyes shooting him a glance before returning to her hands.

He chuckled and got up to approach her, again.

" What an interesting creature, you are.." he mused, now standing above her, looking at her closed off expression.

That anger in her eyes returned when he grabbed her chin and she wrapped her palm around his wrist to move it away.

"Answer me." she demanded, digging her nails into his arm.

There was that expression again. That fierce protectiveness.

His fingers softly touched her chin before he pulled his arm away from her and smiled.

"She's well. She's gone back to Circe to continue her training. Quite an asset, that girl. Too easy, though. " he responded, a strange glint in his eyes.

Tals hands rolled into fists.

"What did you do to her?" she demanded, getting up to face him.

He narrowed his eyes at her, his grin widening.

" Oh, nothing she would've done herself. Though I did nudge her to the right direction..." he murmured, mysteriously, before turning his back on her.

Rage filled her once again and he caught his wrist, twisting him around so he would face her.

"What. Did. You. Do?" she asked, piercing him with a deadly glare.

His eyes glinted with amusement.

He leaned in so their faces would be inches apart.

She pushed him against the wall and stuck her forearm on his throat, pining him there.

Her other hand, found her dagger in his pocket and she held it in front of his eyes, so he would see the threat.

He looked down on her with surprise and something darker mixed in his eyes.

"Talk." she said again, her eyes threatening to kill.

He chuckled, his eyes closing with glee.

He closed the gap of their bodies, pushing her waist towards him, her stomach and his, now pressed together.

She put more pressure on his neck, her blade going to his side and cutting him a bit.

He let out a small sound in pain and narrowed his eyes at her.

"Who do you think introduced her to Circe?" he asked, his gaze dangerous.

Tal frowned, but then again it did make sense.

"She was so star-eyed...so...grateful...
She said she would do anything to thank me for this...opportunity.." he said suggestively, making Tal freeze.

He chuckled, a dark chuckle and licked his lips.

" And the sounds she made...So eager to please...to trust...to be loved. " he continued, making the blade in Tals hand tremble.

She could imagine everything he said.

Her gentle friend being...touched...by this...this..monster.

Her breath got heavy with rage and confusion...

No..no..it couldn't be...

She stabbed him on the side and pushed his head against the wall, digging her elbow in his skin.

"You're lying!" she stated, looking into his cold eyes, desperately for an assurance of a dark lie.

He bit his lip, to stop showing any sign of pain.

"If only you hadn't left.."

" She was so easy to convince after that...that you left her...that you preferred my son...that you never cared...that she needed to do something...So easy." he mocked, looking down at her with that darkness again.

She growled and pushed him harder on the wall, before taking the blade out, harshly and pulling herself away.

" You're disgusting. " she snarled, throwing the dagger on the wall, next to his head.

He chuckled, pressing his palm on his wound and healing it.

"Perhaps...But I always get what I want." he stated, approach her turned back as she trembled with anger.

Fists by her sides, nails digging in her palms.

If she hadn't left...Then Rhea wouldn't..

She was the reason Rhea was so broken...

"And now that you're here...I have no use for her anymore..." his hands on her arms, his whisper in her ears.

Tal frowned.

"What do you mean?" voice trembling at the implications.

He chuckled.

"Well...I have you to satiate my needs now, don't I? My new plaything." he said cheerfully.

Plaything? That's what Rhea was...

Did she...did she have no choice?

Sensing her thoughts, Zeus provided an answer.

"Rhea was bound to me in contract. To continue her...cooperation with Circe, she had to provide something to me as well." he explained.

Tal gulped, her stomach tied in a knot.

"Her body. Free to use when I needed. That was the price to pay. A hefty price. But she chose to break her vow of virginity in her search for power. After all, it was a vow between the two of you...and you had broken it first."

No...

Rhea you gave your body....

Nails dug deeper in her palms, drawing some blood.

She took in a shaky breath.

" If..If I take her place...Will you let her continue her training? That's all I ask. " she requested, voice small and eyes shameful as she looked at him from over her shoulder.

Zeus considered her offer.

"And you will submit to me fully? You will surrender your body to me? Your mind? Your...powers and loyalty?" he inquired, eyes thirsty and grin wide.

All of it?

When have I ever submitted fully?

But Rhea..she deserves some happiness...

After all the pain I caused her...

What else have I got left to give?

" Yes. "