The Grace Curse

Chapter Twenty-Four

I FOUND MYSELF STANDING IN A ROOM WITH TWELVE THRONES. All but one was unoccupied. A tall black-haired woman occupied the second seat to the center.

"Hera," I growled.

The goddess smiled. "Chase," She replied equally rude and stood up. She was at least fifteen feet tall. I didn't care if I was being disrespectful to a Goddess, Hera proved to be a lying sneaking witch.

"I guess you're mad that I escaped Mount Olympus?"

Hera didn't laugh. "It was all a matter of time actually; I knew you would escape Olympus,"

"Then why didn't you stop me?"

Hera let out a cold sadistic laugh. "I've watched you since birth Chase; you're just another one of my husband's sick offspring in my eyes. You're nothing but trouble, I aided in my husband's capture, I'll be honest. I was sick of all the lies and oh all the frigging children!" Her laugh was full of bitterness.

I decided to change the subject to stall. "Why am I here?" I finally asked, trying not to be rude.

Hera sighed, and then locked her eyes with mine. "I came to give you a warning," She said. I silently rolled my eyes trying to hide it. "I am warning you if don't willingly turn yourself over to Apollo I will—!"

"Yes, I am fully aware of what's—!"

"No you aren't," She interrupted, her expression was grim.

"What do you mean?"

"My intent was for Apollo to bring you to Olympus on the condition he could make you Immortal," Hera finally said. "I told him you could be his slave or pet as long as you would no longer become a threat to me!"

I felt my stomach tighten. At this point, Apollo was more of an annoyance rather than a real threat. "And clearly that went well for you!" I hissed.

Hera frowned, her rainbow-colored dress shimmered. "Don't irritate me Chase Grace, turn yourself over to me or suffer my personal wrath!"

A single thought came to mind, one that would twist Hera in her own loophole. "Why do you want Zeus to be consumed? Don't you care about your husband? You're the Goddess of Marriage," I managed to say. I heard a loud sigh come from the goddess. For a moment, she seemed to realize the severity of the situation.

"What have I done—? Shut up you idiotic fool!" Hera screamed, something was messing with her mind. "Chase, you need to leave now!" She waved her hand, causing my dream to blur out.

I bolted upwards; my eyes drifted to Bethany. She looked at me from across the firewood. "It's about time you woke up," Andromeda laughed, I stretched out. A cold chill blew further down the Labyrinth. I had a feeling that if this place was alive, that was just its breath. I looked at Blake who was still out cold.

"Were you trying to wake me up?" I asked Bethany.

She shook her head. "No, I didn't want to be rude, you seemed worn out,"

"You're not going to rest? I can take—!"

"I'm fine," She said.

I could tell she had a certain bitterness in her tone. Something was clearly upsetting her, I turned to Bethany. "What's up?" I asked trying to be nice, she frowned at me.

"I am suffering," Her voice cracked. "I've been hiding it...but now it's getting to be just too hard,"

Andromeda leaned in closer. "Why?"