Dark Desire-Caught between duty and desire (englisch version

Chapter 6

Ares, Persephone, and Corvin sat in a secluded chamber deep within the catacombs of Hades' palace. The flickering torchlight cast long shadows on the walls, enhancing the grim atmosphere. A weight hung in the air as they discussed what was at stake: Despia's future and the safety of Olympus itself. But the longer they deliberated, the clearer it became that this was not merely about a marriage. It was about fighting tyranny, about the freedom Zeus and Lux threatened to obliterate.

"Are you sure we shouldn't bring Despia in yet?" Corvin asked, his voice tense as he searched Ares' resolute face. "She deserves to know the truth. She's strong, but... I'm not sure she would see through this game if we keep her in the dark."

Ares leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his broad chest. His eyes, as dark as the deepest trenches of war, fixed on Corvin with an intensity that almost made him flinch. "Despia is Hades' daughter. She possesses more strength than you might believe, boy. But this is a move that can only be made once. If we let her in too early, she might unwittingly reveal something that alerts Lux. We need to be absolutely certain our plan will succeed before we confide in her."

Corvin clenched his fists, hating the thought of excluding her, of making decisions about her life without her involvement. Yet he understood what Ares meant. If Lux caught even a hint that something was amiss, he would destroy everything. But the alternative was equally bitter.

"We have to be aware of the risks," murmured Persephone, standing beside Corvin. Her gentle expression was troubled, but a determined glimmer shone in her eyes. "Despia must not doubt for a moment. She needs to feel like she's truly trapped in this plan, that she has no other choice. Only then will Lux believe he has won."

Corvin nodded, taking a deep breath as he absorbed their words. Then he looked up, his eyes glowing with a sudden, dark determination. "What if we could end this once and for all? What if we could take Lux completely out of the equation?"

Ares raised an eyebrow, and Persephone looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean?" Ares asked, a dangerous edge to his voice.

"We keep talking about how to trick Lux, how to deceive and weaken him. But what if we didn't just weaken him? What if we destroyed him?" Corvin's voice dropped lower, darker. "Lux thrives on the fear he spreads. He has committed too many crimes, destroyed too many lives for us to simply let him go. If we kill him, the problem is solved. And Zeus..." He paused, his thoughts racing. "Zeus is vulnerable when Lux falls. If we can capture him—if we can lure him into a trap—we might have a real chance to overthrow him."

Silence fell over the room. Ares' expression was as hard as granite, his thoughts difficult to read. "You're suggesting we unseat Zeus himself?" He leaned forward, arms braced on the table. "That's a risky move, Corvin. A direct attack on Zeus is war. A war we might not win."

"Not if we have someone ready to take his place," Corvin shot back, his words barely above a whisper. "Hera."

Persephone drew in a sharp breath, and Ares' eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Hera? Zeus' own wife?"

"Listen to me," Corvin pressed on, his voice urgent. "Hera has been fighting Zeus for years. He has humiliated her, cheated on her, forced her to bend to his will. But she is a queen, a ruler, and she has influence. If we can convince Hera to join us—if she takes Zeus' place—then we have someone on the throne who could lead Olympus justly."

Ares leaned back, his eyes fixed on a point in the room as he contemplated the idea. "That could work..." he murmured, more to himself than to the others. "Hera has her own ambitions. She's one of the few who could really stand up to Zeus. But would she actually turn against him?"

Persephone stepped closer to Corvin, gently placing a hand on his arm. "Do you have any indication that Hera might be on our side?" she asked cautiously.

Corvin nodded. "She's tired of living in her husband's shadow. I spoke with her at the last council meeting. She spoke in hints, but it was clear she's ready to take action when the moment is right. If we can install Hera as the new ruler of Olympus, she wouldn't just replace Zeus—she could prevent a war."

A dangerous smile twisted Ares' mouth. "Then we turn to Hera. If she supports us, we can eliminate Lux, capture Zeus—and place Olympus under a fairer rule."

"But what about Despia?" Persephone interjected. "If Hera turns against Zeus, it will have consequences for Despia as well."

"That's why we must ensure Lux never has the chance to harm her," Corvin said, his voice sharp. "If we kill Lux and dethrone Zeus, Despia will finally have the freedom she deserves. She will be safe. And we can all breathe easy."

Persephone shot Ares a questioning look, but Ares nodded slowly. "Then we take this path. We speak to Hera and bring her to our side. And then we prepare the trap—for Lux, for Zeus. If everything goes according to plan, we will not only save Despia but free Olympus."

With a determined nod, Corvin stood. "Then we shouldn't waste any time. Hera won't wait forever. I'll reach out to her."

"And we'll make the preparations," Ares said calmly. "Ready ourselves when the storm breaks."

As they left the room, a new determination hung in the air. The die was cast, and they had made a dangerous decision. But if all went according to plan, Zeus would soon feel the consequences of his own ambition—and Olympus would change forever.