33. Meeting Hera

“Hermes where are you taking my fucking wife?” He demanded an answer. “A yacht party Dionysus is throwing off the coast of California. Why did you want to come too?” I shoved his shoulder, “What if I show up with both of you it will be a hoot.” Hades snapped at him.  

“You can’t take her up top, there is fighting amongst the humans. Bombs going off and stuff.” Hermes rolled his eyes. “Honestly Hades that is the mortals, why should we care we are gods, plus there is no more explosions thanks to the great god of lightning. Now it is all  old school, archaic really. Tech is still good, but weapons are ancient now, who is going to bring a sword to a party on the ocean, pirates?”  

I looked at Hermes. “Can we go now?” I asked and he smiled at me. I couldn’t form one back but he pulled me to his side. “Feel free to stop by Hades, but I will make sure Seph here gets back in one piece either way” Then we vanished.  

Hermes and I appeared on some kind of dock there were plenty of people around. Hermes let go of me. “So why are you and king of grump fighting?” He asked me and I just glared at him. He shrugged “Fine tell me when your drunk, that will be more fun anyways, come on.” I did as he said, we walked down and I saw a surprising line of people. Some men and women all scantily clad in swimsuits.  

“Like some of those people will be allowed on, come on Seph” Hermes said as we walked around the people and then I saw the ship. It was beautiful and bright blue and sparkling. The boat was enormous. The sun was almost hanging low in the sky. I had forgotten how that looked. The underworld had such a blue hue in the sky. “So, I know you have never been on a boat, but have you never been out on the ocean either?” Hermes asked as we walked up a long piece of wood.  

“No, mother never let me on the ocean or to the beach, she didn’t want me to meet Poseidon, so it was prohibited.” I said. “What a cunt” He said, my nose wrinkled at his words. Not liking what he said but I didn’t comment, I was still mad at my mother. “oh, look Hera was invited, we should go say hi” Hermes said and I followed him. I stood by his side. “Hermes nice to see you.” She said and then looked at me. 

She was stunning. Her dark brown hair was braided off to the side. Her blue eyes clear as the sky in summer and her body was perfect. “Nice to see you too this is Persephone, Queen of the Underworld.” Hermes said, introducing me. “Hades married?” She asked. Hermes nodded. “Of course, he never said a dam thing, that is so like him.” I didn’t like her tone about my husband, but then again, I didn’t say anything.  

Hera was one of the 12 Olympians and the wife of Zeus making her the queen of the gods. “Step forward let me see you, girl” she said and I complied stepping forward. She looked over me skeptically. “I don’t know you, clearly a Goddess though, mhh let me guess who is your parent child.” She spoke before she then snorted. “But of course you are Demeter's she is the only one with red hair, of course you have to be hers.” I nodded. “Of course, she had to be a bitch and never introduce you to us, it is so like her. Tell me how the old bat is?”  

“I don’t know, haven’t seen her in a decade” I said, not wanting to talk about it. “Interesting, I guess you are like us and have no care about this incept war among the mortals.” I didn’t know how to answer that. “I am unsure.” This seemed to be an adequate answer because Hera dropped the topic. “Well, whatever the case, it is nice to meet you. Glad Hades finally found a suitable wife.” I had no clue what that meant and before she could elaborate Hermes cut in. “Yes, well Seph and I need to go get a drink. Come on Seph”  

Then Hermes took my hand and led me away. “What did she mean a suitable wife?” I asked him. “It is old news Seph, don’t you worry your pretty head about it.” He told me but I wanted to know. I grabbed his arm and stopped him from walking. “Tell me Hermes” He sighed. “Fine, Hades tried to marry a nymph like 500 or so years ago. Zues said no obviously, and as she wasn’t a goddess he had to get his brothers permission to marry her, it was quite a scandal.” 

I felt my eye twitch. “Really Seph, it is nothing. It was more than 500 years ago, closer to 600, I think. “What was her name?” I asked. “Seph don’t do this to yourself. It was nothing, I have known Hades forever, trust me he loves you, the way he acts with you is nothing like he was with the nymph.” Hermes said. “What was her name?” I demanded to know. He huffed “Fine Mithe, alright,” 

At this I was both angry and very pleased. Angry obviously yet again I was kept in the dark but pleased because she was already delt with. “Come on let's get drunk” Hermes said, handing me a bottle of Nectar. I planned to do just that. I would drink and have fun, away from all the things that I had not been told about.  

I took the bottle and began to drink. “Yes, Seph time for fun” Hermes cheered as he too drank his own bottle of nectar. We drank both bottles, and I could already feel it coursing through me making me feel lightheaded but it was better than being angry I thought.