Legacy Of Hera

1

The world was enveloped in a stormy blanket, thunder booming, the sound carried far and wide. Every so often, a streak of lightning illuminated the night sky, for the sun, stars and moon could not penetrate the dark clouds.

Sleet and rain poured down on Blue Island, as two twins sat on the beach, hand in hand, muddy and wet but unwilling to go inside.

"The sky looks beautiful, doesn't it, Aidan?" Arianna asked.

Her twin put his arm around her. "Yeah, it does." After a while he said, "Don't go crying about what dad said earlier, okay?"

She sniffed. "He insulted mom, and then me for looking like her."

"He was drunk, you know how he gets."

"Yeah." Arianna wiped the tears off her face, recognizable amidst the rain pouring on her perfect features only by her brother. "I don't wanna go inside," she whispered, barely audible over the bellow of the thunder.

They spent the next hour there, braving against the storm, ignoring the calls from their servants to come inside, or the missed calls from their father, whom they put on silent, to enjoy the beautiful view in front of them. The sea rising up and down, the wind slapping against their faces, boats rocking in the ocean's frothy tide.

______________

Zeus pounded his fist on the table, shaking the throne room of Olympus. All the other gods, even Hades and Persephone, had managed to arrive upon hearing the news.

"Dear, I really don't get what the deal is," said Hera, twisting her chocolate brown hair between her fingers, an almost bored expression on her face.

"Yes, brother," said Poseidon, stifling a laugh. "Surely you expected this at one point in time?"

Zeus thundered. "She hid them from me for seventeen years! I was under oath at the time! Need I remind you," he turned to his wife, "that your loyalty lies with me, and only me!"

Hera scoffed. "My loyalties? I certainly didn't expect you to bring those into this conversation. Need I remind you," she stood up and leaned towards her husband, eyes raging more dangerously than the storm outside,

"I have put up with all of your children throughout the centuries, be it Apollo and Artemis," she shot a dangerous look towards the twins, "or Hermes, not to mention your hero Hercules and Perseus, or the latest offenses. Thalia and..." Hera hesitated. She didn't want to bring Jason into this conversation, but Zeus understood.

"I forbid you from bringing my dead son into this conversation!"

"And who are you to forbid me from anything?"

"I am the King of Olympus! You cannot compare yourself to me!"

"And I am the Queen of the Heavens," she snarled. "Surely, in all the millennia we have ruled, I can find myself toeing outside the line, just once. I do believe you thought of this possibility every time I was introduced to one of your heroes. In fact," Hera turned to Hermes, who started fidgeting with his helmet.

"May I entrust you to bring my children up here to Olympus?" All of the goddess' anger dissipated and her expression became easy and relaxed.

"Umm, y-yes," Hermes replied, almost dropping his helmet.

Zeus' face turned bright red. "I forbid you from making my son an errand boy!"

"We just went over this, you cannot forbid me from anything, Zeus." Hera turned her attention to Hermes. "The twins are on the Blue Island, in the middle of the Caribbean. Probably on their father's private beach."