The throne room was silent.
Not the peaceful, comforting silence of dawn, but the tense quiet that comes after a death — heavy, suffocating, impossible to ignore. The judgment was over. The Hecatoncheires had left, their footsteps fading into the mountain's depths, leaving only us — the gods — staring at each other across the vast marble chamber.
Zeus sat forward, elbows on his knees, his thunderbolt humming beside his throne. The question he'd asked still clung to the air like a noose waiting for a neck:
"So… who's going to be King?"
His eyes darted to each of us in turn, bright with poorly hidden excitement. Hera shifted uncomfortably, adjusting her golden bracelets. Demeter's gaze fell to her lap where she twirled a single stalk of barley between her fingers. Hestia simply stared at her folded hands, expression calm but unreadable.
No one answered.
King. God, forget what I had said earlier.. I was so tempted to take the crown for myself.
Then the air changed.
A pressure pulsed against my chest, a wave of energy so immense that the marble beneath my boots trembled. Power older than gods, older than Titans, older than light and dark alike. My shadows recoiled and coiled around my ankles like frightened dogs.
A glow sparked in the center of the throne room, growing and swirling into a storm of golden fractal patterns. Sparks flickered across the floor, and a voice echoed in my mind before it ever reached my ears:
"Be still."
I felt my chest tighten as a figure began to take shape. First golden lines, then flesh and cloth weaving into existence. She stood tall, her skin a rich deep bronze that shimmered with primordial divinity. Long dark hair tumbled down her back in thick, elegant curls streaked with midnight blue, crowned with delicate golden chains and a thin circlet of folded cosmic light. Her robes were elegant and open-slit, pinned at the waist with intricate gold, revealing strong legs armored in gilded boots that curled at the knee like flowering vines.
Her eyes… gods, her eyes were fathomless. Bronze irises glowing like dying suns, bright with something I could not name. When she spoke, her voice was quiet, but the world bent around it.
"Do not be afraid."
We froze.
Zeus had already grabbed his thunderbolt, its crackling blue arcs illuminating his sharp features. Hera's hand drifted to her hip where her dagger rested. Demeter's fingers tightened around her stalk of barley. Hestia merely tilted her head, brow furrowed with curiosity.
I shifted in my throne, gripping my bident tighter as shadows curled protectively up my arms.
"Who… are you?" Zeus demanded, though his voice wavered slightly.
The woman's lips curled into a small, almost sad smile. "I am Ananke," she said softly. "Primordial goddess of Inevitability, Compulsion, and Necessity… Fate incarnate."
A shiver ran down my spine. Ananke. The future mother of the Moirai.
Zeus lowered his thunderbolt a fraction, but didn't release it. "Why are you here?"
Ananke's gaze swept over us, resting on each sibling with an unreadable expression. "I come bearing the will of the Primordials," she said. "They have been watching you — all of you — and have sent me to bestow your dominions, your rightful titles, and… to decide Olympus' future."
My mouth felt dry. "Our dominions…?"
She nodded. "It is time you received your true mantles." She raised her hand, and golden threads wove between her fingers, each strand humming with cosmic resonance.
She turned first to Hestia, who straightened slightly under her gaze.
"Hestia," Ananke intoned, her voice echoing with layered harmonies. "You shall be known as the Goddess of the Hearth, Keeper of Home and Family, Bringer of Peace to all dwellings. May your warmth comfort gods and mortals alike."
Light drifted from Ananke's hand, weaving around Hestia like fireflies before sinking into her skin. Hestia closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks as a soft golden flame flickered to life above her palm.
Ananke turned next to Demeter. "Demeter, you are Goddess of Nature, Agriculture, Harvest, and Fertility. May your blessing bring life where there is none, and abundance to those in need."
Demeter gasped softly as verdant green light coiled around her, sprouting small vines across her throne before fading into her being.
"Hera," Ananke said, shifting to our sister who sat regal and unflinching. "You are Goddess of Nobility, Marriage, Blessings, and Curses. Your word shall sanctify all unions and your wrath curse the faithless."
Golden light shot out, crowning Hera with a flickering fractal halo before it vanished. Hera dipped her head in quiet acceptance, though her eyes gleamed with a hidden pride.
Then Ananke turned to Zeus. His smirk was already growing.
"Zeus," she intoned. "You are the God of the Sky, Lightning, and Storms. You are the Thunder Bringer."
Light roared around him, blue and gold lightning coiling across his shoulders like anointing serpents before they merged into his chest, illuminating his veins. He let out a quiet laugh, fingers flexing as sparks danced between them.
Finally… her eyes found mine.
I swallowed. My shadows writhed under her gaze, desperate to sink into the marble and hide.
"Hades."
My name rang through the air like a funeral bell and a coronation trumpet all at once.
"You are God of the Underworld, Wine. and Darkness," She said before pausing to smile. "And the Patron God and Heir of the Earth."
My breath caught.
"Wait… Heir… of the Earth?" My voice cracked at the end, unbidden. "What… what does that mean?"
Ananke tilted her head, her glowing bronze eyes softening slightly. "Gaia has chosen her successor. She has watched you with curiosity and hope since before your birth. When she fades, you shall take her place. You will become Earth Incarnate."
The words didn't make sense. Earth… Incarnate? Me? My stomach twisted, nausea rising into my throat. The shadows pulsed with something akin to dread.
"Why me?" I whispered.
Ananke's lips curved into that same sad smile. "Because she believes you will protect what she has nurtured."
Zeus cleared his throat loudly, jolting me from the abyss of my thoughts. "That's all well and good," he said, his smirk returning full force, "but… who is to be King?"
He leaned forward eagerly, lightning dancing in his eyes. Hera shifted, her gaze sharpening. Demeter raised her chin slightly, glancing between Zeus and me. Hestia watched in quiet silence, her expression unreadable.
Ananke let out a sigh that echoed like the creaking of old stars. "The Primordials have watched and deliberated," she said. "The fate of Olympus came down to two choices…"
Her gaze flickered between me and Zeus.
"Zeus… or Hades."
My heart clenched so hard I thought it would stop. The shadows around my feet fell still.
Zeus's smirk faltered, replaced by wide-eyed shock before it twisted into manic joy. "So… it's between us, brother."
He turned to me, grinning like a predator that had cornered wounded prey.
Ananke raised her hand, golden threads weaving once more. "The decision now lies with the remaining votes among you."
Silence.
Hera spoke first. "Zeus," she said firmly. "My vote is for Zeus."
Demeter hesitated. Her green eyes darted between me and my brother. For a moment, I thought… hoped…
"Zeus," she said softly. "My vote is for Zeus."
My chest tightened, shadows curling inward, wrapping around my ribs like cold iron chains. Hestia did not speak, merely lowered her head and closed her eyes.
Ananke's gaze swept across us like the turning of the stars. Finally, she nodded once, slow and inevitable as gravity.
"Then it is decided," she said, her voice echoing through the throne room with the weight of cosmic law. "Zeus, son of Rhea and Cronus, you are hereby declared King of Olympus."
She raised her hand, and these golden threads danced as they materialized a golden wreath crown. Ananke stepped forward, her footsteps silent yet resounding in my bones. She placed the wreath upon Zeus's brow with a quiet finality, as if crowning the world itself.
"May your reign be just, may your storms bring life, and may your rule shape the age to come," she intoned.
For a moment, silence reigned. Then Zeus threw back his head and laughed, the sound rolling like thunder through the pillars of Olympus.
☼
Zeus's coronation was… loud.
Music boomed through the marble halls, lyres and reed flutes weaving melodies that warred against each other in an endless, feverish rhythm. Satyrs danced in chaotic circles, their hooves drumming against the stone floors. Nature spirits weaved between columns, their laughter ringing like silver bells. Nymphs carried platters of ambrosia and nectar, the scents of honey and wine mingling into a dizzying perfume.
I sat on my throne near the far end of the hall, half-hidden behind an ornate pillar. My cup of wine remained half-full on the table beside me. I'd eaten, drank, and even conversed with a few of the nature spirits, but… it all felt distant. Like I was watching through a rippling pond, reality blurred by shadows and water.
At least I had convinced Zeus to invite some Titans. A peace offering, I'd told him. A show of mercy would strengthen his rule. Surprisingly, he'd agreed — though Hera had scowled the entire time he made the announcement.
Brontes and his brothers sat at a table nearby, each laughing and shoving each other good-naturedly. Briareus and the other Hecatoncheires stood near the entrance, back in their normal giant forms with only two arms, wearing simple tunics that still looked far too small on their massive frames.
The children of Nyx had declined my invitation. I couldn't blame them. Celebrations like this weren't really their thing.
I sipped my wine again, my eyes scanning the gathered immortals, spirits, and Titans.
That's when I saw her.
She sat alone at a table near the garden entrance, chin resting on her hand as she gazed at nothing with bored disinterest. Her dress was… striking. Layers of black silk trimmed with silver runes, open sleeves revealing pale, rune-etched skin. Her hair was black as midnight, falling in sleek waves down her back, streaked with dark purple that glimmered faintly under the lantern light. Her eyes were sharp, glowing like a pair of twin moons in shadow.
Gothic. Ethereal. Untouched by the chaos around her.
Gods… definitely my type.
I stood before I realized it, placing my cup down quietly as shadows shifted away from my sandals. My steps were silent as I moved between satyrs and nymphs, weaving through dancing circles until I stopped a respectful distance away.
I cleared my throat lightly. "Excuse me."
She glanced up at me, unblinking, her eyes flickering with mild curiosity.
I gave a small bow. "Forgive my interruption. I am Hades."
Her lips curved into a faint smile. "I know who you are."
I blinked. "Oh… of course you do."
Her smile widened a fraction at my awkwardness. "Hecate," she replied simply.
Hecate. the Titaness of witchcraft, crossroads, and necromancy. The daughter of Asteria and Perses.
"Would you… like to walk with me?" I asked before I lost my courage. "It's rather crowded here."
Her gaze drifted over the room with clear distaste before returning to me. "Yes. I would."
I offered my arm. She stared at it for a moment before resting her cool, delicate hand in the crook of my elbow. Together we slipped away from the roaring hall, into the silent gardens beyond.
The moon hung low over Olympus, casting silver shadows across the marble pathways. Flowers bloomed under the night sky, pale blossoms opening to drink in the starlight. Waterfalls fell in soft streams down terraced walls, the quiet rush soothing against the distant echo of drums.
We walked in silence for a while, the cool night air wrapping around us like a calming balm.
"Do you like parties like that?" she asked finally, her voice a low melodic whisper.
"I… dislike crowds," I admitted. "Too noisy. Too much… going on."
Hecate hummed softly. "I understand. I feel the same way, rather be back home working on my projects than socializing."
We stopped near a small fountain where moonflowers bloomed around the base, their pale petals glowing softly. She traced her fingers along a flower's edge, lost in thought.
I hesitated before speaking. "Hecate… would you ever consider… working with me?"
She looked up slowly. "Working… with you?"
"In the Underworld," I said, feeling my heart hammer against my ribs. "I could use someone like you at my side. As… as my right-hand woman. You'd have a fair wage. Your own estate. Anything you need to be comfortable."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "And what would my duties entail?"
"Helping me manage souls. Overseeing gates and borders. Advising me in decisions. You are… what I am looking for."
She was silent for a long moment. The quiet stretched between us until I feared I had said too much.
Finally, she spoke. "I will think about it."
Before I could respond, shadows curled around her feet, and she vanished in a swirl of violet mist, leaving only the faint scent of her behind.
I stood there for a while, staring at the empty space where she'd been, feeling something I couldn't name tighten in my chest.
When I returned to the celebration, the music was louder, the dancers wilder. Brontes waved drunkenly at me from across the hall, his beard soaked in wine. I managed a faint smile in return.
I was about to head back to my throne when I heard it.
"Don't struggle… you'll enjoy it…"
The words slithered across the room like oil, curling around my ears with sickening intent. I froze, shadows pulling tight around my ankles as I turned toward the source.
At the far end of the hall, half-hidden behind a tree, I saw her.
Hestia.
She was pinned to the floor, her red hair fanned out across the grass, eyes wide with silent terror. On top of her, pressing her wrists down with bruising force, was a young satyr. His skin was flushed with lust and wine, his horns curling tightly against his messy brown curls. Blood stained the floor beside them — the corpse of a donkey, its throat slit in some vile offering.
Just as he started tearing her clothes, my vision went red.
Before I even registered moving, I was there. My fist smashed into his face with a crack that sent his head slamming into the floor. He howled in pain, clutching his broken nose as he rolled off Hestia.
She gasped and scrambled back, pressing herself against the tree, tears streaming down her cheeks.
The satyr turned to me, rage twisting his face. "Who the fuck do you think you—"
He froze.
Recognition dawned in his bloodshot eyes, and his rage crumbled into pure, quivering terror.
"H-Hades…" he whispered, his voice cracking. "My Lord, please… please, I-I didn't mean—"
I grabbed him by the throat and lifted him effortlessly off the ground. Shadows surged up my arms, coiling around his legs and torso like serpents.
"You dare," I whispered, my voice trembling with murderous fury, "touch my sister?"
His tears dripped onto my wrist. "Please… please, mercy… I-I'm sorry, I didn't know—"
I punched him again. And again. Each strike shattered bone, splitting his flesh as he started bleeding. The noise gathered a crowd around us, as they whispered and pointed but I didn't care. All I saw was him. All I saw was her terrified face beneath his hands.
He tried to scream, but blood choked his throat. I threw him to the ground, breathing hard, shadows writhing around me like a living storm.
I turned away, disgust roiling in my gut. I was about to leave when he croaked out something that stopped my heart cold.
"Wait… I… I'll tell everyone how she was moaning for me… like a little whore—"
My body moved before my mind caught up.
I flicked my fingers, and my bident shot forward, its twin prongs piercing his chest with a sickening crunch. His eyes widened, mouth opening in a silent scream before his head fell back, lifeless.
Silence.
I turned to Hestia, who sat trembling against the column, sobs shaking her small frame. My shadows curled around her gently, shielding her from the staring crowd as I shouted,
"Hera! Demeter!"
They ran forward, skirts getting dirty as they slid into the grass as they fell to their knees beside her, cradling her between them.
I didn't wait.
I vanished into the shadows, as I reappeared in my throne room, collapsing into my seat, breathing hard, my hands shaking with rage and guilt.
How could I have forgotten? How could I have let such filth touch her?
I buried my face in my hands as shadows coiled around me like mourning veils, and for the first time in centuries… I felt tears burn my eyes.