Zayden Blaze

Chapter 8

Chapter 7
Zayden's P.O.V.

"Artemis and Zayden," We turned to see Hestia there, "If you don't mind, could I speak with Zayden for a while?" She politely questioned as always. Both Artemis and I raised an eyebrow in question, wondering what she had to talk to me about. Glancing at Artemis though, she nodded, giving me consent, so I turned back to Hestia.

"I would be honored to speak to you, Lady Hestia." I stated sweetly, bowing low. I could see her beaming smile at my respect and I felt a pang, realizing that she never really got that respect much as she had no demi-god children and people probably didn't really think of her. Standing back up straight, I listened as Hestia spoke to Artemis.

"I just need to talk to him for a while; I promise he will be back to the hunt within the hour." She promised.

"I expect nothing less from you Hestia." Artemis kindly said, smiling lovingly. With that, both Artemis and the hunters flashed back down to the camp. After staring at the spot they had vacated for a second, I turned to face Hestia.

"What is it you wish to speak to me about Lady Hestia?" I inquired professionally. She smiled softly.

"It's going to take a while so why don't we start at one of my favorite places." She offered and I nodded in acceptance.

"Of course Lady Hestia." I agreed quickly. She raised her hand to my shoulder and in the next second, we were caught into a fray of light that teleported us from the throne room. When we had arrived and the light had died down, I saw that we were standing in a garden, one of my favorites that I had only been in once, but that had left a lasting effect on me: Hestia's garden.

"This is my garden in my palace." She explained as we started to walk, "I always come here when I need to think or just need the peace and quiet." She took a deep breath, before letting it out slowly, "It is my favorite part of my palace." She finished. After a second, she continued, "Now, you're probably wondering what I want to talk to you about." I nodded to confirm that, "I find you, Zayden, as an interesting character. When I first saw you when you, the other guardians, and Lord Chaos arrived, I did not know what to think about you. I'm never one to judge someone before I get to know them, but I admit when I first saw you, I came to feel that you were...very much like Hades when he was still gloomy, if you understand what I mean." She added and I nodded in acceptance.

"I do." I stated before she continued.

"But, from how your friends act around you and spoke of you in that meeting, I realized I had a completely wrong view on you. You are different, much different than I thought you were. You are a kind, smart, patient, and wise young man it seems." She concluded and I blushed.

"I am honored you think so highly of me, Lady Hestia." I thanked. She just smiled over at me as we continued through the beautiful and fluorescent trees, flowers, and plants around us, some that have not been seen for millennia. It was a truly magnificent sight, one that I had missed many times while I was on Chaos' planet.

"It occurred to me though as we sat through the meeting. The way your friends talked of you sounded familiar to me, like an instance I have only heard once before that contained such love, trust and passion." I started to walk slower, more wary now, "Curious, I focused my sights on you and realized something. From the way you stood, ducked your head, shuffled your feet, played with your hands, and everything; there is only one person I know of who acts just like you do and that person was someone I knew five hundred years ago, right around the same time you said you were from. Coincidence? I think not…" She trailed off before stopping. The garden was silent as we both stood there, she pausing in her speech and I waiting to hear what she had to say next. After a few seconds she smiled, turning towards me.