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

Spin Off: The Birth of Athena - Chapter 3

One morning, approximately three months after the wedding, Metis approached Zeus, who at that time was sitting on his throne. With a smile on her face, she rubbed her belly which had become slightly bigger. “My Lord Zeus, I've known the gender for your first child.”

“What is our baby's gender, my love?” Zeus said, forcing a smile. These past three months, the curse Gaea spoke had made him worried about the child he was going to have. His heart thumped harder as he waited for the gender reveal. 

“It's a girl!” Metis exclaimed cheerfully as she raised both arms and crossed her fingers, as if she was going to pray.

Zeus sighed a relief. He wanted to say something as a response, but Metis, with a confused look, went ahead of him.

“Why did you sigh in relief, my Lord?”

“Ah, I'm just happy to hear that we're going to have a daughter,” Zeus said, getting up from the throne and approaching Metis. He put his palms on her shoulders. “I've always wanted to have a daughter.”

“That's honestly unusual, my Lord,” Metis said with a confused look flashed across her face. “All others will usually want to have a son for their firstborn.”

“I'm unlike the others,” Zeus smiled wider. “Anyway, you have to stay healthy. I want you to have a proper rest and food now.”

“I'm feeling fine, my Lord.”

“Please, my dear, don't make me worried,” Zeus said, trying to express anxiety in his face.

Metis’ confused looks still stayed, but she nodded. “I will do as you ordered, my Lord.”

“I will assist you back to our room,” Zeus said as he moved to Metis’ left side and held her hand. 

After bringing Metis back to the room, Zeus walked back to the throne hall. As he was walking, he was preoccupied with the curse again. This time, the curse was invalid because the baby inside Metis’ womb was a girl. However, as long as they were married, there was always a possibility that they eventually would have a son together. Should he just divorce her without any acceptable reason? 

                 You will not be able to prevent his birth!

That warning popped up again in Zeus’ mind. If Gaea had spoken it, then she would definitely find a way for his and Metis’ son to be born. He had no other choice but to find another way to prevent the curse from happening. 

Zeus arrived at the throne hall. The two soldiers bowed down to him and turned around to push the gates. Waiting until they were fully opened, Zeus observed the carving on the surfaces; it was the carving of Cronus regurgitating his siblings. He purposely ordered the sculptor to make this carving, as he wanted everyone to always remember the embarrassing moment of Cronus – the one that eventually led to the downfall of the King of Titans. Zeus scoffed, then he entered the hall.

All of a sudden, an idea came to Zeus’ mind. He remained still, until a soldier approached him.

“Is there something wrong, my Lord Zeus?”

Zeus turned around and eyed the soldier. Another realization came to him.

“You once worked for Cronus, didn't you?” 

“I… did,” the soldier replied; his face expressed fear. “But… my loyalty is now with you, my Lord Zeus.”

“Proof your loyalty then,” Zeus said. “Follow me now.”

Zeus brought the soldier to the building where Cronus’ treasures and war equipment were deposited into it. The building was located far below The Olympians’ Palace, and it was never taken care of since Titan Prometheus locked it. As soon as they arrived before the gates, the king of the gods immediately broke the chain and the lock.

“Show me now in which treasure boxes that Cronus kept The Pearl of Time,” Zeus said. “If you don't show it, I will send you back to Tartarus.”

The soldier quickly nodded, but said nothing. He then rushed inside and started rummaging through the heap of treasures and war equipment. 

After a little while, the soldier returned with a golden box; there were eight of The Pearl of Time. Zeus took it from his hand. “If everyone is talking about this, then I will also send you to Tartarus.”

The soldier swiftly shook his head. “I will keep my mouth shut, my Lord Zeus!”

“Great,” Zeus said, then he returned to the palace.

At night, when Zeus had laid down on the bed with Metis, he had one Pearl of Time within his grip. The Titaness put her head on his chest, and he gently stroked her hair. Zeus wondered when he should execute the plan, or whether he really had to do it. While he was anxious that The Titans who sided with him would not be pleased with what he was going to do, the main reason that made him doubtful was the love he had for Metis. All day since he had the pearls with him, only this matter occupied his head.

Mere moments later, Metis fell asleep. Zeus’ chest thumped even harder. He was actually lucky that she was not aware of his heart beating faster ever since they laid together on the bed; probably, she thought it was the sign of him feeling happy with her. He shut his eyes, hoping he would figure out another way to beat the curse. Unfortunately, after quite some time, he did not manage to find it. 

“I'm sorry, my love,” Zeus said as he swiftly  put one pearl against her forehead. In the blink of an eye, she vanished, as the pearl had just imprisoned her inside. With no hesitation, he gulped it.

“I've canceled the curse you gave me, Gaea,” Zeus said, then he laughed. However, tears began to flow out from his eyes. He was the strongest being in the area under his jurisdiction, but right now, he felt like he was the weakest amongst all non-human beings in the entire world. Until the sun had finally shown up again in the kingdom and his soldiers called him from outside his room, his tears never stopped soaking his face.