ੈ｡ﾟ ･ׂׂ ✩ RED⌇˚ɞ act iii . . . the dying breaths of hope
· 。ﾟ *. 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 THIRTY ───── ❛ playing cops & robbers with monsters ❜
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LAURIE WAS GRATEFUL that when the blinding glow that surrounded Lady Hera died down, the remaining light it cast around the room did not.
Now typically, the gods didn't tend to help heroes on their quests. Hera's presence should've raised a red flag or fifty, but when she was lighting up the room and feeding the teens sandwiches and lemonade, it was hard to worry about that.
After the goddess had offered out an array of sandwiches to the kids, they started asking their questions.
"Queen Hera," Annabeth said. "I— I can't believe it. What are you doing in the Labyrinth?"
Hera smiled that beautiful smile of hers. She flicked a finger and Annabeth's hair combed itself, rid of dust and knots. All the dirt and grime disappeared from her face as if it had never been there.
She had done the same to Laurie and the boys already, which Laurie didn't appreciate much since the magic stole away her hair tie.
"I came to see you, naturally," the goddess answered.
The demigods exchanged glances. Last time a goddess has "come to see them" was when Aphrodite got all prophetic with Percy about his love life and then stranded them in the middle of a ginormous junk yard.
Gods and goddesses didn't just visit heroes out of the sheer goodness of their hearts. There was always an ulterior motive. They always wanted something.
It didn't stop them from filling their hungry stomachs with sandwiches and lemonade, but it was some food for thought.
"I didn't think—" Annabeth faltered. "Well, I didn't think you liked heroes."
Hera smiled again. "Because of that little spat I had with Hercules? Honestly, I get so much bad press for one little disagreement."
"Didn't you try to kill him like, a lot of times?" Annabeth asked.
Hera waved her hand in dismissal, like murder was the same as a simple argument. "Water under the bridge, my dear. Besides, he was one of my loving husband's children by another woman. My patience wore thin, I'll admit it. But Zeus and I have had some excellent marriage counseling sessions since then. We've aired our feelings out and come to an understanding— especially after that last little accident."
That little accident just so happened to be named Thalia Grace.
"When he sired Thalia," Laurie asked, though it sounded more like an observation than a question.
