DEMIS (A Clash With Lightning)

5

"Using your powers should come as simply as breathing. You do not think about it; you just do it," Hecate explained. "Each of you is a direct descendant of one of Olympus' most important gods. Just because you are not from the Big Three does not mean you are weak," she added, glancing toward Rose, Josh, and Keith.

"You have the power of your parents within you. It is built into your genetic code. Think of yourselves not as humans, but as demigods. You have been holding on to your human blood for too long, and it is holding you back from your true potential," she continued.

The group stood in a half-circle as Hecate took her place in front of them. "I suppose it's time that I explained the situation to you all, since you have proven yourselves to not be completely useless."

Her eye twitched slightly as she continued.

"I, Hecate, am the goddess of magic. However, in my current state, the five of you hold much more power than I," she began, maintaining a straight face. "Still, I do have the means to show you how to use your powers at a basic level."

"How is that possible?" Jasmine questioned.

"The problem began with Zeus' infidelity and Hera's wrath." She paused for a moment, as if choosing her next words carefully. "Zeus has been with more women than I can count, all while being married to the goddess of marriage herself. The irony would be comical if it weren't so dangerous. Usually, the danger only extends to Zeus' lovers. Hera is known to curse, kill, and transform her love rivals, and she has been doing so for longer than even I have been alive, and I have been alive for thousands of years."

Ban couldn't help but pity the queen of the gods. It had to be humiliating. It wasn't as if any of the information Hecate was sharing was top secret. It was common knowledge that Zeus did not respect his wife or their marriage. He would sleep with humans, other gods, and nymphs. There was once a huge scandal involving Hera transforming a woman sleeping with Zeus into a cow.

"Until she killed the wrong woman twenty-five years ago," Hecate continued, rubbing her temples. "Zeus slept with a woman named Catherine Orin for years right under Hera's nose. They even had a child together, a healthy human boy named Alexander. Of course, when Hera found out, she was furious. In a fit of jealous rage, she turned Catherine into a hideous monster and sent her to murder her own son. Alexander, at just nine years old, was forced to slay his own mother."

"He slayed a monster at just nine years old?" Jasmine gasped.

"Yes," Hecate sighed. "He is now twenty-five years old, and he has only grown stronger. He never forgave Hera or Zeus for allowing it to happen. Now he seeks revenge on Olympus."

"Honestly, I don't blame the guy," Keith crossed his arms. "You gods really are the worst."

Hecate rolled her eyes, otherwise unbothered by his comment. "Humans are so overly emotional."

"That's rich, considering you just told a story of a goddess sending a mother to kill her son after turning her into a monster for sleeping with her husband," Keith fired back.

Hecate paused for a moment, considering what he said. "Humans and Hera are so overly emotional," she corrected herself.

Keith threw his arms up exasperatedly.

"Why do you say we are stronger than you? How is that possible?" Ban questioned.

"And why would another demigod be a threat to Olympus? Sure, he might be Zeus' son, but he's still half human," Jasmine followed.

"There is a traitor among Olympus. One of the gods has drained the power of the rest of us and sealed it away. We believe they are working with Alexander because he has become much more powerful than a demigod should be. It is impossible how strong he is," she responded. "Alexander plans to free the Titans from Tartarus and claim power over Olympus."