Queen Of Hell & Paradise (Immortal gods: Book 1)

Chapter 13- Zeus' Power

"Another's established reign is the upper kingdom's loss

At the howl of imminent darkness, Olympus is sure to fall,

The shining glory of the crown is placed atop her head

While the second monarch is doomed to walk among the dead,

It will mark the beginning of a new sovereignty

And signal the end of the dominant monarchy,

Atropos' shears will cut the thread

Of that of the ruler who knows not of respect,

If you heed our warning, we may spare your life

If you do not, may your days be filled with strife,

This chant and this song will remain strong

As we swear on the River Styx, may your tale be passed along..." 

The king of the gods paced the length of his throne room. His wife, Hera, sat at her throne watching him apprehensively. Since the visit from the fates, her husband had become increasingly paranoid.

He was suspicious of everyone and everything and he refused to sleep. He insisted someone was after his power and his crown, and that the fates were plotting against him. Dark bags adorned the spot beneath his blue eyes and agitation seemed to be the only mood he knew. 

"Zeus-" she says softly, trying not to arouse her husband's anger. He ignores her, and continues to walk up and down the length of the white rug extending from their thrones to the steps leading to the front garden. 

Hera sighs to herself, knowing it is in vain to try to reason with her husband. Since the Moirai delivered their message, she herself had had trouble sleeping. She could not stop thinking about the future of Olympus. 

"Another's established reign is the upper kingdom's loss

At the howl of imminent darkness, Olympus is sure to fall "

Hera watched her husband in silence, abandoning all attempts at gaining his attention. She wondered what the fates meant when they said their kingdom would collapse. Hera had painstakingly built Olympus to what it is today. Zeus was hardly present to aid her in the process of beautifying the heavens millennia ago, it was up to her to create a home for the gods. 

The Fates' message had been directed at Zeus. How could they not consider her own excruciating efforts in their decision to remove them from the throne? Zeus was scarcely involved in the construction of their empire. It had all been her. And yet, his impulsive actions eliminated all of her responsible ones. 

Hera was forced to look away from him, she feared if she stared at him a second longer she would unleash her fury. And that always resulted in her humiliation. The one time she tried to usurp the throne, Zeus made sure to pay her her due. 

He had hung her by the wrists with golden chains in front of Olympus, for all the gods to see. She was an example of what happened to those who crossed the mighty wielder of the thunderbolt. Hera had never been so degraded as a woman, as a wife, and as the queen of the gods. Not a single man or woman stepped forward to unchain her. 

All feared of incurring his wrath. That day she learned a painful lesson. If she wanted to keep her position, she better adapt to the role assigned to her. 

She felt a jab in her chest whenever she laid eyes on Zeus. His handsome face no longer held that brilliant element that had drawn her to him. And his eyes were now contorted into sly slits, replacing the vibrant hint that once swam in their profundity.