“It's usually about power,” Hades said to Triton. “Even when it isn't, there's an underlying desire for it.”
“All that shit they spouted, though,” Athena said bitterly. “To act so high and mighty and then...” She trailed off as she glanced at Hera.
We'd set Hera in one of the wingback chairs before the fireplace while the rest of us gathered around the dining table. She was close enough to hear us, but I don't think she was listening. Hera was lost to her pain. She'd taken hit after hit; starting with losing Olympus and ending with losing her husband. I wondered if she'd lose her mind too. I'd have said it was an added insult to be sitting in my home—being cared for by the woman who started all her suffering—but I didn't think Hera could process that. Maybe later, when the pain had lessened enough for her to think straight, she might add this to her list of grievances. But I think it would be at the bottom.
“That was a poor end for a man like Zeus,” Persephone said. “A long way to fall; from the heights of Olympus to a cannibal's cooking fire.”
“Yeah, that was the weeps,” Donnie said softly. “I didn't like him much, but he was my bro. You know?”
“To Zeus,” Hades lifted his glass. “To the man we once respected and loved. May he find some peace.”
“To Zeus,” the rest of us lifted our mugs.
“What a horrible magic to receive,” Triton whispered.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“That cannibal thing,” Triton said. “That was a gift from their followers. The tribes believed that they could take a warrior's power by consuming his flesh.”
“And their belief filtered up to their gods,” I murmured. “Wow. I'm glad I have an easier way of doing it.”
“I don't think I could,” Triton said. “Even if I were as weak as a human; I'd rather stay that way than eat someone.”
“Eh, you get used to it,” I said with a shrug.
Everyone looked at me in horror, and I started to laugh. Then that laughter seeped out into everyone else, and they started to laugh too. It was the comic relief we'd needed even more than the hot drinks and conversation.
“What's wrong with you people?!” Hera screeched as she stood. “The greatest god who ever lived is dead, and you sit there laughing? But you would, wouldn't you? You all wanted this. Especially you, Godhunter! How dare you bring me back here when I was vulnerable! It was just to mock me and my pain, wasn't it? Well, go ahead then; have a good look and a nice laugh.” She held her arms out. “You've finally destroyed us.”
“Hera,” I stood. “We weren't laughing at Zeus or you. We were laughing to—”
“Go to Hell, Godhunter,” Hera growled and strode out of the room.
“Been there,” I muttered. “Not gonna rule it.”
Aidan leaned out the dining hall doorway to make sure that Hera left and didn't go for a walkabout around the palace. He came back in and nodded at me; she was gone. I can't say that I wasn't relieved. It had been like having a wounded viper curled before my fireplace.
“This is all fuckin' bananas!” Donnie declared. “I can't believe the shit we saw today. I'm going to need some serious surfin' therapy; get my glide on.”
“I think I may join you, Father,” Triton said.
“Cereal?” Donnie asked in surprise. “It's been like eons since you jazzed the glass with me.”
“Cereal,” Triton said with a grin at his dad.
“Righteous!” Donnie fist-bumped his son. “I'm frothing; can't wait, Son.”
“Me too, Dad,” Triton said. “I think it's time that I got back in the water for some fun, instead of just sailing atop it for business.”
“Preach it, Son,” Donnie said approvingly. “And by the way, Godhunter,” he turned to me. “That was some gnarly shit back there; the whole dragon thing. Totally boss!”
“Thank you,” I said as I blushed.
Donnie may sound like an idiot, but he was a powerful, intelligent, ancient, and very attractive god and receiving a compliment from him was special.
“Thank you for helping me save my son,” Donnie said with earnest seriousness and without his surfer accent; giving me a glimpse of the god who hid behind the dude mask. “I will never forget it, and I can never repay it.”
“There's no debt between friends,” I said softly. Then I transferred my gaze to Athena. “I wish I'd been a better one to you. I should have helped you sooner.”
“Bullshit,” Athena swore; surprising us all. “You set me straight, and I was a bitch about it. And still, you came to my rescue. We're good, Godhunter, and we're definitely friends.”
“You're damn straight we are,” Triton said. “Which brings me back to what I was getting to before. This was about power, and as much as they wanted to take Greek power, we weren't their primary target.”
“I was,” I whispered.
I had known it; sensed it from the second Mayup had called me by my title. I suppose it had felt arrogant to assume it was about me, or maybe paranoid. But it isn't paranoia when you're right.
“Yes,” Triton said. “They were after you; your star. But here's the really awful thing; I got the distinct impression that someone had told them about you. I believe they were steered in your direction and their hatred for us Greeks was only a convenient catalyst to get them moving.”
“You're saying that I still have an enemy out there,” I concluded.
“When doesn't she have
