Dylan King and His New Roommate Called Goddess Athena [1st Book]

Spin Off: The Birth of Athena - Chapter 2

"You're the only one who has never been in our father's stomach, yet you're now the king over us and you're going to marry a beautiful woman now," Poseidon said, throwing his right-arm around Zeus. The king of the sky looked annoyed and let himself go from his brother's arm.

"There are many other beautiful goddesses and Titans out there," Zeus said; he continued fixing his peplos. "Maybe you can ask Hestia to marry you."

"Well, I indeed have my eyes on her," Poseidon said as he sat behind Zeus.

"I also have my eyes on her, brother," Hades said. "In fact, I already did that since I was growing up inside the shelter she made in father's belly."

"Let's compete to win her heart then," Poseidon smirked. "I bet a delicate woman like her will never like to spend her day in a messed up and dark Underworld."

"Underwater is also dark," Hades defended, crossing his arms before his chest as he leaned against the chair backrest. "Besides, it's just my luck that I ended up with Tartarus."

"It still doesn't change –"

"Cut it out, brothers!" Zeus exclaimed. At the same time, the clouds outside his room became dark. But as Zeus' face became relaxed, the clouds turned white again. "Today is my wedding day. Don't ruin it with your quarrels."

"Okay, okay, little brother," Poseidon said, getting up from the chair and approaching Zeus. "C'mon, let's go to the wedding hall. I believe your bride has been anxiously waiting for you there," he said, putting his right-palm on Zeus' shoulder.

Zeus pulled away. "You're ruining my garment," he said, then he walked away to the door.

The wedding hall was actually a hall Zeus intended to put the thrones for The Olympian. The pillars, the walls and the roofs had been built and polished, but the thrones and the other furniture were still under development. As the only structure that was ready was only this hall, Zeus' mother, Titan Rhea, suggested that the wedding ceremony be held there. Zeus, unwilling to think hard and complicate things, agreed with it.

Reaching mid-day, the gods and Titans had been sitting on marble chairs that were looted from Cronus' palace; some who were late had to stand outside the building. Rhea had been standing at the altar, alongside Zeus. Before long, Metis was seen descending down from the second floor.

Metis wore a blue gown; the color resembled the sky with clear weather. Below the stairs were Oceanus and Tethys; they assisted Metis towards the altar as soon as she stepped her feet on the floor.

"I thank all the gods and Titans who have gathered here, to witness the union of my son Zeus, the king of the gods and the ruler of the sky, with Metis, daughter of my brother and sister Oceanus and Tethys," Rhea said when Metis had been standing side by side with Zeus. "Not only they're in love now, they also have fought side by side against Cronus and the Titans siding with him. Now, to formalize the union between them, I shall be tying the bond."

Rhea looked at Zeus. "My son, are you ready to make Metis your wife and queen?"

"I do, mother," Zeus nodded. "I love her."

Rhea shifted her focus to Metis. "My dear niece, are you ready to accept my son as your husband and king?"

"I'm ready," Metis said, smiling so sweet that it made Zeus's heart thump even harder.

"Both of you are now husband and wife," Rhea said, followed by Zeus and Metis kissing each other on the lips. Everyone in the room got up and cheered on the newlywed.

The wedding ceremony was followed by the grand feast outside the building. Zeus felt so happy, and so did Metis – it was clear from her expression. When the sun had set and the party had concluded, the king and queen of the gods entered their chamber, where they spent the rest of the night passionately.

"Our children will be great, my Lord," Metis said, laying her head on Zeus' chest, not too long after they finished the intercourse.

"I'm sure they will," Zeus said. "I'm powerful by birth, you are intelligent by birth. Our kingdom will be strong, and no other gods will be able to topple us down."

"Your vision will surely be realized," Metis smiled.

Zeus returned the smile, at the same time he stroked Metis' hairs. "Lets sleep now. You must be tired."

"Yes. Have a nice sleep, my Lord."

"Have a nice sleep, too," Zeus said, kissing Metis' forehead. Both then shut their eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.

*****

"ZEUS!!"

Immediately, Zeus woke up to the yell. He needed quite some time to realize that he was no longer in his room, that he was standing in a spacious and long hallway. He knew precisely where he was. It was the hallway where he chased Cronus who had been badly wounded.

"ZEUS!!"

The echo reverberated throughout the hallway again. Zeus could sense it was full of anger and disappointment. Instead of feeling discouraged by it, he was displeased. He was the king of the gods and the slayer of Cronus and the other Titans. No one should yell at him like that; even worse, the one who yelled did not suppress her anger. Intending to teach her a lesson, Zeus began to look for her.

"Where are you?!" Zeus exclaimed. "Show your face!"

"Go to where you slain my son!"

"Your... son?" Zeus abruptly stopped. He pondered about it for a little while before he realized that the said son was none other than Cronus, his father whom he had chopped to pieces and had imprisoned in the depth of Tartarus.

"Are you Gaea??"

"I am!" Gaea exclaimed. "I was the one who nurtured the human lands you stole from my son!"

Zeus clenched his teeth and fish. Swiftly, he lurched to the throne hall belonging to Cronus.

There, a woman dressed in a young brown peplos was standing in front of Cronus' throne. Her skin was young green, clearly showing she was really Gaea, the primordial goddess that nurtured the human lands Zeus and his brothers governed now. Zeus stretched his right-arm; a yellow crackling lightning bolt materialized in his grip. He slowly approached the goddess as he raised the bolt, ready to throw it at any time.

"You also want to kill me here?" Gaea asked. "Just like you killed your own father?"

"Cronus tried to kill us all by devouring us!" Zeus exclaimed as he lowered his right-arm. "If not because my sister Hestia built a shelter with her gift, my brothers and sisters will all die!"

Gaea turned around. Zeus never met her before, but he often heard about her from his mother. Indeed, she was a charming and beautiful goddess; for a moment, the thought of not killing her came to his mind. But then, remembering how she blessed and sided with Cronus, he raised his bolt again.

"In my slumber, I saw my dearest son, the one who slain Uranus, was slain here. You have slashed him 33 times, stabbed him 17 times, electrocuted him 53 times and exploded him 14 times," Gaea paused. "Yet, you're not yet satisfied, despite him being on the brink of his death. You ended him by chopping him to pieces and throwing them away to Tartarus."

"It is what he deserved!"

"He did not deserve that!" Gaea exclaimed; at the same time, wind blew towards Zeus, making him unable to walk forward.

"Hear my curse, Zeus!" Gaea exclaimed again. "Your son with Metis will overthrow you!" she stated, astonishing Zeus. "You will not be able to prevent his birth!"

The wind became stronger; it made Zeus unable to open his eyes again. In a sudden, the wind vanished. He slowly opened his eyes.

Zeus was no longer in Cronus' throne hall. He had returned to his chamber, with Metis still lying beside him. He was soon aware that he bathed in sweat, even though the air circulation in his chamber was flawless. Not wanting Metis to know about the dream, he slowly rolled to the opposite side, exited the bed and wiped his entire body with a cloth. He then slowly returned to the bed, and successfully did it without waking Metis up. Unfortunately, he could not fall asleep.

Metis rolled to the left, facing the opposite side. Staring at her back, the words spoken by Gaea came to Zeus' mind again. After being haunted by it for a little while, he muttered to himself.

Will our son really overthrow me?