Worth It - Lisa Oliver Page 0,57
over at Hermes. The boy loved his pranks, and he had a few shady contacts, but he could be trusted to spread the laws of Olympus honestly.
“Well, as I said, Poseidon and Hades were indisposed and couldn’t be bothered to vote,” Hermes admitted. “Aphrodite was making a fuss of Poseidon’s son, Baby, and told me to stop being stupid. Er… Apollo didn’t agree, so didn’t vote, and neither did Artemis. I couldn’t reach Hestia, and Athena started into a long lecture about the power of love, and peace among all beings when I saw her, so I tuned out. Hephaestus said if anyone could put up with your ugly temper, they were welcome to you and threw me out of the forge.”
“Dionysus agreed with the resolution,” Demeter said quickly. “He gave me his proxy vote.”
“Dionysus was busy with his harvest,” Hermes said. “He’d have given his vote to a bumble bee provided he didn’t have to leave his grapes.”
“And you agree with Hera’s desire for a law change because you feel a mortal mate for me threatens Hera’s position.” Zeus nodded at Hermes. “We’ll assume Ares did too, although he didn’t actually say so. Which gives us eight people voting no, and four of you, five if you include Dionysus, voting to reject mortal mates. Is that right? Bearing in mind, Persephone’s vote doesn’t count.”
“My vote should count!” Persephone stamped her foot. “I know exactly how poor Hera is feeling. I’ve been ousted, cast out of my home and my position, all because that bastard Hades took up with a chipmunk. Hades threw me aside as if I was nothing – my years of sacrifice to him all forgotten as soon as he gets a smile and a wink from someone else. Hera is right. It shouldn’t be allowed. Mortals weaken our blood lines, make us look like laughing stocks with other pantheons…”
“Stop right there.” Zeus could feel Paulie was trembling, but it wasn’t fear he was feeling. Persephone was in danger of becoming a mess if she didn’t shut up and Zeus could understand how Paulie felt. “Did you ever love Hades the man, or was it just your position you were upset at losing?”
“That’s beside the point.” Persephone folded her arms over her chest. “I’ve ruled as Queen of the Underworld since he forced me down there…”
“Did you sleep with Hades? Care for him? Show him one ounce of compassion in all those years? Did you offer to bear his children?”
“That’s got nothing to do with anything either.” Persephone’s face was going quite red. “He’s just the wretch who rules the dead. I wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot pole. But my position…”
“Was granted to you, by me!” Zeus roared. “You made Hades’ life a living hell for centuries. Hell, you were the one person in existence who could make the demons run for cover, and they aren’t scared of anyone or anything.” He tapped his chest with his thumb. “I’m the one who owes Hades a million lifetime’s worth of apologies because I saddled him with you and if you think for one second I’m going to suggest he take you back, when he and Ali are happily celebrating the birth of their twins…”
“The chipmunk got pregnant?” Persephone’s eyes widened in horror and she turned to Hera. “Mother of the gods, this is your domain. Marriage. Childbirth. How could this travesty happen?”
“I imagine the same way any other person gets pregnant,” Zeus interrupted drily as Hera opened her mouth to respond. “The Fates, in their compassion and kindness, granted dispensation to all mates not from the god line to have children with their godly mates, regardless of gender. The tapestry of life does need strengthening after all, and none of the females from the god lines have been keen on procreation in over two thousand years. You had your chance as Queen, Persephone. You blew it. I believe some time on earth will change your perspective.”
“I won’t let you take my daughter away from me again,” Demeter cried. “Persephone has a right to speak. If what happened to her, happens to Hera then…”
“Then what?” Zeus was worried Paulie was about to shift any moment; his whole body was trembling. Zeus wanted to protect his mate from scathing tongues for as long as possible. “Come on, Demeter, Hera, Hermes too if you have something to say. Tell me specifically what calamity will befall Olympus by me having Paulie as my mate?”
There was silence for a moment, then Demeter