Chapter fifty one (1)

"It is such a pleasure to have you Your Majesty,” Persephone's exceptional loud voice cut through the screeches of horny women screaming Zeus praises and murmurs of men who were afraid their wives and daughters might be the Imperial god's next conquest. "I would have prepared a royal welcome if I had been informed sooner."

The royal court had arrived much earlier than she had. Zeus' entourage consisted of his beautiful wife, Hera, his loyal concubine; Shojo the founding vampire and Templars from the sanctuary of Soteria.  If the accursed mutations of the Titan Thea's blood could be recruited, Persephone was sure Zeus was bringing in the big guns. Persephone gave a low bow that made her gnash her teeth as she paid her respect to both Zeus and Hera.

"It's good to see you again Persephone." Hera's sarcastic voice intruded on Persephone's thoughts. "It must be hard having to manage a whole realm without a god by your side."

The bitch! Persephone struggled harder to keep her cool. She wasn't mad at Hera's remark. No, goddess Hera had always been this way. The bane and thorn by her side and just arrived to pay her respect to the gods of Olympus.

"It is," Persephone admitted only for the sake of the conversation on ground. "I bet you would do a flawless job though. There would be little to no catastrophe waiting to snowball."

Persephone got the subtle message and smiled. The best Persephone could go for at the moment was getting favor in the eyes of Hera as they weren't what one would call friends. The only pro was that Hera equally despised Yemoja thanks to Zeus of course.

"Interesting perception Persephone. I like you already." The Imperial goddess laughed. "We should hang out after all this ruckus is settled."

Persephone took a side view at Yemoja who was legit almost kissing the feet of Zeus. Judging from the way, she avoided her fellow goddess, Persephone could tell Yemoja had not played this scenario out in her big master plan. She enjoyed the discomfort.

"Why wait? We still have hours before the lifting begins." Persephone incited. Once the goddess seemed to consider her idea, Persephone threw the final straw.

"Yemoja can lead his imperial Majesty to the garden while we catch up."

Yemoja suddenly let out a cry, almost like she was in pain. Her body was stiff as if something had nudged the back of her brain, sending into a fit of wicked spasms but Persephone knew the workings of blood magic. The intent of Hera's perfect face strengthened her suspicion. This was Hera's doing. Persephone had no idea even the Imperial Queen had knowledge of a forgotten god's seed. The more reason to befriend her.

"If you pull up a stunt like you did last time, I promise you, I will break the old law and kill you." Hera fiercely warned right before releasing Yemoja from the blood hold. Yemoja struggled to breathe after her brief encounter with Hera and Persephone lived for seeing the bitch get disgraced. Together, She and Hera made a rather dramatic walk back to the castle. The huge halls had been polished to perfection such that it looked as if it was carved from ebony. Not a single fingerprint marred the gleaming surface or silver trim. The floors which was a checkerboard of black and white marble glistened. Persephone could tell that even the goddess was pleased.

"Where is the demigod?" Hera asked taking slow, purposeful steps through the cavernous halls that seemed to amplify their whispering.

Persephone glanced up pondering on why Hera asked. "Why do you ask?"

"Her name was crossed out of the book of life last night hours before Yemoja ratted your kingdom's travails to my husband. It didn't take me forever to discover what was going on. I have heard the prophesy. I know why you had to do it but now that the deed had been done, Do you think your son can lift the trident?"

Persephone was silent. She wasn't entirely sure she could trust Hera with the truth. The goddess was fiercely loyal to her cheating spouse after all but Persephone considered it. If Zeus already knew, Why did he not come for her? It was the only reason she had kept the loophole in the first place. If she had known the imperial god's words didn't count. She would have ended the demigod a long time ago.

"So Zeus knows what I have done?" Persephone inquired, trying to clear any fog of doubt.

"No. He did ask me to keep an eye on Talia's name. I never knew what interested him so much in the girl. I figured she was another girl he was grooming and did a little digging. I found out she was Hades' daughter and that awful prophesy hanging around her neck. Cruel as it may be, I understood why you needed to end her. We cannot just risk birthing another Simon into his world. So your secret is safe with me for now Persephone."

"So Zeus had no idea Talia was his niece?" Persephone mused. There were further questions she had no answer to. If Zeus had no idea who she was, Why did he go to such lengths to defend her?

"No," Hera replied, brushing the stray lock of hair that dared to hide her beauty behind her pointed ears. "Is there a reason why you ask?"

"Yes. When I betrothed her to sea, Zeus visited me to make sure I kept her alive. If he didn't know and if it wasn't to claim her for later, Why did he do it?"

With that lingering thought, Hera jerked her head to the side and looked at Persephone. The sardonic smirk on her lip implied she had an idea. "Hades did visit him..."

Hell hath no fury! Persephone could hardly believe the bullshit she spewed at Talia a few nights was the truth. Hades orchestrated it. Her arrival, It was all his doing. Persephone trailed her finger around the serpentine necklace. But Hades had failed, Just like all his previous ploys had, She had won yet again. However, one thing was certain now, Talia had to die.

"Well, the past is in the past now," Persephone said, looking at Hera with an unreadable expression on her face. "What I am curious about is how knowledgeable you are in blood magic?"

***
Yemoja eyes glittered down in challenge. The pain was gone but the humiliation had forever left a mark. Yemoja glared at the floor, unable to meet the white-haired Lord's gaze as she mentally prepared herself for the humiliation Demeter's daughter would face once the trident was pulled by her son. Ade would wield that trident. The prophecy would favor her.

"I apologize for Hera's behavior." His apology was slow and careful. Like he wasn't sure how she would react. He had been the one to rain literal hell upon her while he dunked in the wine of the gods centuries before. But of course, Hera would never see her husband as the violator. She expected the 'whores' to refuse her husband, a literal god.

"An apology changes nothing." Yemoja blew hot, stepping into the lush green Field grass of the garden that had the spectacle of her attention in the middle, right in the stony hands of a god she once loved.  There were a few chairs prepared for the occasion. The royal advisors and members of the court were in attendance to witness the revolution. It was the only thing that made Yemoja less irritated.

"You had better modify that tone," Zeus spat back. "I was only being kind.

Yemoja raised an eyebrow, "It really doesn't suit you. I'm much more comfortable knowing the rather brash and crude version I have always known.

"Was that an insult?"

"Is it if it is who you are your Majesty?"

"I guess not," Zeus smirked, his liquid gold irises turning pure white. "So why are you here? You know the prophecy says my nephew will be one to wield the trident right?"

Yemoja waited, calculating if it was wise to reveal the machinations she had put in herself to force the hand of the old god's words. In the end, she figured she had nothing to lose. So she revealed a piece of crucial information. "It says a son of Poseidon actually."

"And that changes what?" Zeus sounded gentle but Yemoja knew a tease when she heard one.

"It changes the fate of that honorary goddess. Today, Persephone is going to lose the crown she holds dearly. I have made sure of it."

"Are you hearing yourself Yemoja?" Zeus shot the goddess a questioning look.

*Hold it in... Hold it in...*

"I hear myself loud and clear Your Majesty and I assure you, My son will be the one to take that trident and rule the seven seas. You know why? He is the second surviving son of Poseidon."

Zeus gave her a blank look, his white eyes clouding dark as he sighed heavily. "Your son was born three years after Poseidon fell. How does that even make sense?"

"I made a deal with Hades."