In The Beginning, Chapter 141

Meanwhile...

The moment Apollo had left the Talaria it had begun its journey south, to one of the many countries his father practically owned, to be stripped of anything of value, before it would suffer a catastrophic system failure and kill everyone aboard. He was disappointed he wouldn’t be able to witness it as planned from his yacht, he hated being disappointed, so he allowed himself to be angry instead. It was bad enough he had to put up with the pain from his wounds, but for his father to send his brother to witness his defeat was a humiliation he would never forget.
“Why aren’t you healing? Aren’t you the mighty Apollo? God of medicine?” Dionysus asked sarcastically when he entered the enormous bedroom. Decorated in all in black, the only other colour was gold detailing on a handful of items, including the twisted posts of the bed, it glistened in the dim light, a stark contrast to the stained wood it was a fixed to.
“It has to be because of her! She did something to those fucking dogs!” Apollo snarled from the bed, doctors and healers, human and otherwise had been examining his back for a week, the most they had been able to do was stop the bleeding. It forced him to lie on his stomach all day or risk the thick uncomfortable scabs opening. The cost of this constant healing meant he was having to feed daily, something he had never needed before, and it was making him demented with plans for revenge.
“Possibly... they are mated, which involves a transference of blood. I know you and father did your damnedest to wipe out everyone with that knowledge, it must burn you to know she is using something you worked so hard to eradicate against you.” Dionysus goaded.
“I’d like to see you take on the little cunt and her pack of mutts.” Apollo spat.
“That’s why I’m here. Father sent me with a message; stand down. Heal, regroup, the girl is mine to retrieve now.” Dionysus chuckled, walking up to the nightstand and placing a coin on it, within Apollo's eye line. It was gold, about the size of a silver dollar, with a lightning bolt as its only decoration, Apollo had never earned one before, and immediately his cheeks flushed with rage. He had never felt shame, so he was unsure if that was what he was feeling, or something else, but it was unpleasant. He was livid his father would cast him off after one mistake. His first in almost seven thousand years of his existence.
“Take it back, before I shove it down your throat.” He hissed, sounding like a cornered rattle snake even to himself.
“I cannot, you know father’s rules.” Dionysus chuckled, his brother's fall from grace gave him immense satisfaction, Hermes and Zeus could feign ignorance, but he never could. He knew the things Apollo said to his children about their mother, and his belief he was somehow purer than their siblings had riled the youngest of the trio for centuries. It was worse for him than Hermes, despite them being twins, he looked more like Apollo and Zeus than Hermes had. And despite keeping his hair short, and his facial hair, they were still mistaken for one another whenever they dealt with the humans. When Zeus was still perfecting building religions, he had made himself appear older, a more reassuring and wiser facade he continued later but dealing with them in business was another matter. Not that he had many interactions with humans anymore, it must have been two centuries since his father left Earth for Olympus, the realm he claims to have created, but Dionysus had always wondered if that was true.
“This is all that little slut’s fault! You can tell father, I don’t care what he says, he can come back here and stop me if he wants to. But the minute I am healed, I’m going after her, and I will rip that thing she has been fucking to pieces, before I fucked her on his bleeding corpse. She will be mine.” Apollo threatened, the air in the room becoming electrified by the growing distain the brothers felt towards one another.
“Disobey our father at your own peril, brother.” Dionysus laughed; it echoed as thick black storm clouds surrounded him before he disappeared. Apollo was left furious, and impotent, and began screaming into his pillow like a toddler throwing a tantrum. When he was done, the sheets and pillowcases were shredded, and snow-white feathers were scattered all around him. He could feel the blood seeping through his bandages, as he had torn open his wounds in several places, but he found he couldn’t reach the button to call his servants. Each time he tried he felt his wound open further, leaving him screaming in pain and frustration.

Dionysus transported himself directly to the King’s court on Olympus, after leaving his brother. He was almost gleeful as he strode through the various family members that had been granted the honour of a place in his father’s realm. Although only three had risen to sit at the King’s side, well two now, he thought to himself as he took his place on his father’s left on the dais.
“Were his injuries consistent with the reports?” The King asked, in a language long assumed dead before anyone else present had been born, allowing their conversation to remain private.
“The reports were accurate.” Dionysus replied, struggling not to laugh.
“How did he react to the coin?” Zeus asked, his face maintaining his bored expression throughout their conversation.
“He said I should get the girl before he heals, or he will. He intends to kill her mate and impregnate her on his corpse, with or without your permission.” Dionysus informed him.
“Did he now?” Zeus asked, chuckling darkly. The chatter in the room immediately halted, even the musicians stopped playing, for while they were inhabiting the land of nectar and wine, it could become a massacre in seconds if the King became displeased. As if it were an everyday occurrence, Zeus waved his fingers indicating everyone to resume. “Then I suggest you retrieve what I want quickly, before I decide to make sons who can deliver what I demand. Do not mistake your current lack of competition for security in your position.” He snapped looking at his son with bitter disappointment before standing up from his throne. The women that had been lounging on the steps to the dais had to scramble to get out of the way as he stomped down them, showing no concern on whether he stepped on the women if they didn’t move in time. His sycophantic children bowed and scurried away from him, clearing a path to the exit of the great hall, they disgusted him. He thankfully found himself alone as he turned down the hallway to his private apartments, giving him the peace he longer for. Halfway down the hallway, he stopped in front of one of the many doors, pushing it open without knocking. Inside was a plush expensively styled bedroom, all in white. The carpet was thick and plush, and covered the floor completely, the bedding was Egyptian cotton, the curtains were silk, everything appeared pristine. Lying on the bed was an extremely pregnant woman, with silvery white hair, she was trying to force pillows behind her, despite there being not enough room.
“You should call a slave, to help with that.” He commented from the doorway, her face lit up with a bright smile.
“My King!” She exclaimed and began trying to sit up.
“Don’t trouble yourself with moving.” He insisted, striding towards the bed quickly and taking a seat on the mattress beside her.
“I hope it is a boy this time.” She said rubbing her swollen abdomen.
“Even if he will not live?” Asked Zeus, his voice almost tender.
“Yes, even before they take a breath, they look so much like you.” She replied.
“Have you eaten? You know what was recommended?” He asked, he always got this way when her birthing time neared, she thought to herself.
“Not yet, I wanted a nap first, but that is not going to happen; I am too uncomfortable.” She said with another smile.
“Then let me get you a slave, eat then rest... for me.” He insisted.
“I would do anything for you, My King.” She whispered seductively.
“Not until after the babe is born... you remember what happened last time.” Zeus replied softly.
“But I miss you, you hardly ever visit me!” She pouted, and tried again to get up, but her engorged body made it almost impossible.
“Because the healer said you need rest! It is the only chance this babe has to live!” Zeus replied angrily, she immediately dropped her head, and became submissive. “How am I supposed to keep my hands to myself when you are so ripe with my seed.” He chuckled; his anger momentarily averted.
“Do you have her yet?” She suddenly asked him, throwing him a little.
“Not yet... soon. It is proving more difficult than I expected, her mate and his pack have her well protected... and she is learning how to use her powers, faster than I anticipated thanks to Hera.” He replied, she didn’t respond for a moment or two, lost in her own thoughts.
“She is the only chance this babe has to live.” She finally replied, as a tear made its way down her cheek.
“We may not get her in time for this babe.” He said solemnly. She nodded but said nothing. “I need to go see our daughters, stay in bed, I will send a slave, and I want it completely drained by the time I get back!” He mockingly ordered, kissing her head as he stood.
“Tell those ungrateful bitches to come visit me more.” She scowled, going back to arranging her pillows, while he chuckled again as he left the room. At the furthest door in the hallway, he pulled out a key from beneath his robes, and checked he was alone once again before he inserted it into the keyhole and let himself inside. He locked the door behind him and made his way through the massive apartment, as usual, his daughters were in the war room, although, to an outsider, it might have been confused for a chaotically cluttered lab thanks to the sister’s various specialities. There were papers on the upper half of every wall, ranging from posters to newspaper articles, one wall was completely taken up by an extremely complicated family tree. The bottom half was blocked by cabinets and work surfaces, all of which had half-filled beakers of various liquids besides more stacks of paper. In the centre of the room was a raised four-foot-high globe of the Earth with three desks around it, which were also cluttered with various papers and oddities.
“Apollo wants the girl for himself. How does this change things?” He asked the four women, all in different areas of the room, seemingly ignoring the existence of the others.
“We will need a few hours to work it out.” One of the women replied in a bored voice.
“Do not test me, Clo. Your mother is once again nearing the end of her pregnancy with little hope of the child surviving, she needs to feed on that fucking girl, or she may not be able to withstand another pregnancy!” He snapped at the woman, who had the same bored look on her face as he had when he sat upon his throne.
“Then stop impregnating her!” Yelled one of the women angrily.
“You mother has given a lot for me to accomplish everything I set out to do, she gave me you three, and your brothers, and it nearly killed her. She knew I needed an army, that she was supposed to give me thousands of children, not five, but when our babes began to be born, unable to take their first breaths, she brought me another to impregnate, and another. Her only request was that we never give up on making another child ourselves. SO INSTEAD OF TELLING ME WHAT YOU THINK I NEED, HOW ABOUT YOU JUST GET ME WHAT I TELL YOU TO!” Zeus bellowed before storming out of the room.