Chapter 20: Control

Complete silence greeted Yiannis after his bold announcement as people looked at each other in utter confusion.

"Is he that dance partner from Gora?" I heard father ask my mother.

I took in a deep breath to prevent myself from flipping Yiannis over in front of this many witnesses and appear ill-mannered, then motioned for the guards to take him instead.

Yiannis protested with all his might as I ripped my ribbon out of his greedy hands and he was ripped away from the podium in front of the very throne he wished to sit on.

After giving the guests an apologetic closing speech and my farewell, I walked out of the ballroom.

"Are you all right?" Eros caught up to me in the hallways as I made my way back to my chambers.

"When does the Hearing start tomorrow?" I started taking all the pins out of my hair to let my hair down.

"Two hours after sunrise," he said, watching me put my ribbon away into a jewelry box, along with all the sparkly pins.

"You should get going then. I'll have Nephos fly me up in the morning."

He hesitated. "Cassia--"

"Cassia!" Lena walked in with Konstantinos. She threw her arms around me and squeezed the breath out of my lungs. "Gods, I can't believe the nerve of that idiot!" She pulled away to search my face. "I'm sleeping here tonight. It's decided."

I groaned. "Please don't. I've heard enough of your snoring."

"I don't snore!" Her cheeks turned pink as she threw a quick glance at Konstantinos. "It's Nephos."

Konstantinos looked amused, but didn't comment on her attempt to put blame on a dragon. He met my gaze. "Cassia, I will deal with Yiannis and his father. They'd tried a similar scheme in our kingdom with my sister, but it didn't work then, and it clearly didn't work now. Advisor Haris had lost his title long ago, and he's been trying to regain power through his son."

"Unsuccessfully," Lena added.

"Very unsuccessfully," he agreed. "After you're done with your punishment here, have your guards transport him back to Gora."

"Oh no, he'll be sent back now. I don't want to have him inside these palace walls a second longer."

He laughed, nodding in understanding. "All right. I'll have him transported with my guards tonight."

"Thank you," I sighed in relief. "Now, I'd like to be alone. Completely." I glanced at Eros who'd just opened his mouth to say something. I rubbed my temples. "This day has been eventful enough."

Lena searched my face. "Are you sure--?"

I nodded. "If any of you see Sophia on your way out, tell her she doesn't need to come by."

The three of them hesitated, but eventually left my chambers so I could finally be alone, until my parents walked in to check on me. After trying to convince them that I wasn't disappointed with the outcome of my Matching Ceremony and that I've enjoyed my birthday, I fell asleep -- surrounded by mountains of unopened gifts.

~~~

"Over here!" The Fates waved in unison when I walked into the large meeting hall in Olympus where Persephone's hearing was about to take place. They grinned as I took my seat beside them.

"We're glad you've come." "Yes, very glad!" "You won't believe what has happened here!" "Should we tell her?" "No, she'll hear it all soon. What's the point?" "We can tell her about Hades?" "Oh, stop it! Eros must've already told her." "You idiot, haven't you seen their latest? They haven't spoken about it yet."

I crossed my arms. "When will the Hearing begin?"

Zeus walked into the room, an irritated look on his face as Hades carried the train of his robe which he carefully positioned over the armrest of the throne as Zeus took his seat. When Hades tried to tuck in a loose strand of his brother's white hair, he got pushed away. The God of the Underworld settled on standing beside him, stealing glances every other second.

"The spell still hasn't worn off," one of the Fates cackled.

Eros and Aphrodite walked in next, taking their seats. Eros's eyes searched the growing audience. I looked away before he could meet my gaze.

Once all seats were filled, Zeus called for Persephone to be brought in, and I watched that evil wench make her entrance, a self-righteous smile on her face despite the binds around her wrists. She laughed as she took a seat across from her father.

"Let us begin this Hearing," the King of the Gods announced, swatting away Hades's hand on his shoulder.

"This is about to get good." "Yes, it is. Did you bring the nuts?" "What nuts?" "The nuts!" "What nuts!" "I told you to bring the nuts! What will we crunch on as we watch?" "We've seen this already." "Not in this quality! The visions are much blurrier." "Hush, you two!"

The Fates pursed their thin lips at their older sister's scolding, but remained silent as the Hearing went on.

"I'd like to start by saying that I've done nothing wrong," Persephone announced, standing up to look around at the audience. "I know many of you here would agree." She smiled knowingly. "This Hearing is a mere formality for those that wish to see some form of justice...justice in their eyes that is. For what? I've merely --"

Zeus cleared his throat. "Persephone, you will have time to plead your case at the end. This is the time for questioning and debate. Does anyone have--"

"I have a question for you, Zeus." Demeter stood up, her voice sharp and eyes blazing. "Why won't you let her speak first? You've let Hades explain himself at his Hearing before we even got to discussing his crimes, if you could even call that a discussion." She scoffed. "His punishment -- or should I say the lack of it -- was already decided by you. What have you decided for your daughter?"

"Her punishment will be decided here," was all he responded with.

"Mother's right," Persephone persisted. "Uncle had been given a chance to defend his actions first, and I will do the same. I have that right!" She frowned. "And I do not understand why you'd even call this Hearing in the first place. I'd wanted to clean this world from pollution, which turns out you've been contributing to -- not as much as Ares of course -- but nevertheless, you're part of the problem!"

"I don't like what you're insinuating, Persephone," Ares snarled, glancing at Aphrodite across the room before setting his angry gaze back at the Goddess of Spring.

She laughed. "Please, Ares. Half of those half-bloods came from your explorations. Don't you think everyone here deserves to know that? Especially your dear wife, and your son that so wishes to follow in your footsteps." She glared at me as she spat those words. "Enlighten us, please. What's so special about these human whores that you don't even think twice before bedding them? Are these mortals that much more enticing than the Goddesses in your own realm? Or is it their mortality that excites you? The power that you can hold over them?"

"Is that what excited you?" I snapped. "The children you've abducted and tortured. Did it make you feel powerful in your twisted and pathetic way? Were you thrilled to have some type of control for once in your life, even if it was over small and innocent children?"

"Oh, I've had control more than once in my life." She smirked. "Why do you think Uncle Hades went as far as taking me to the Underworld to keep me for himself?" She paused to let the audience guess among themselves. "I've been with every God in this room -- well, almost. Eros is not as easy as his father, but he'll succumb to my charms one day. The day he's not blinded by you." She glared my way.

My eyes widened at her bold confession.

"That's enough, Persephone!" Zeus yelled, thunder booming outside. "That's enough of your--"

"What, father? You don't want anyone to know how I got you to--"

"I said that's enough!" His face turned red with rage.

Persephone laughed, but said nothing more.

The entire audience was silent until it erupted into hushed whispers and accusations from angry Goddesses, while the Gods squirmed in their seats.

Demeter's face paled. "Please tell me it isn't true, Persephone?" When she didn't get a response from her daughter, she plopped back down into her seat, eyes unfocused. "All this time I've defended you. All the rumours I've fought against, believing your word over anyone else's."

Persephone shrugged. "If you'd birthed me with better powers, perhaps I wouldn't have had to fill the void with their attention."

A humourless laugh escaped me. "All of this over your powers?"

"That's easy for you to say, you mutant." I received another nasty glare. "You got not one, but two! And they were gifted!" The glare travelled to Hecate before coming back to me. "You don't deserve them. You don't deserve anything you have!"

"Now I understand," I mused. "To make up for the powers you believe you deserved, you've resorted to using dark magic. Did I get that right?"

Persephone pursed her lips. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I believe you do," Eros spoke. He stood up and looked around at the audience. "Persephone's been more than generous sharing information when she thought she finally had me in her grasp -- and I'd like to make it clear that she never did." I looked down at my clasped hands when he met my gaze. "Hades had been teaching her dark magic as a past-time in the Underworld, in hopes of getting in her good graces."

"Is that true?" Zeus asked his brother.

Hades nodded. "I did teach her some tricks using dragon blood."

"Uncle!" Persephone's eyes widened in disbelief.

"He's no longer in love with you," Eros reminded. "Not at the moment."

Zeus prompted Hades to continue, an encouraging smile on his face, which made his brother light up with a grin of his own.

"I'd discovered that the blood of my pet was quite useful for many spells," he continued. "When I first brought Persephone down to my kingdom, I'd used some to impress her, and it worked, though of course she was impressed by the dark magic, not my skills. I taught her what I knew -- which wasn't much -- and when she learned what she needed, she'd locked herself away and shut me out again."

"So you do confess to using dark magic!" Hecate rose, pointing a finger at Hades.

"Hecate," Zeus sighed. "This Hearing is not for him."

"Is that when you planned all your schemes?" Demeter interrupted, now glaring at her daughter.

"Why is everyone turning against me?" Persephone screamed. "I did nothing wrong! I just wanted to set things right! What don't you understand?" She stomped her feet. "Those mutants shouldn't even exist! It's all your fault! You've all dirtied this world! All of you are at fault! All of you should be punished!"

Demeter slapped her.

Distracted by the tantrum, I didn't even notice when she got there. Everyone sat with their mouths hanging open in shock.

"Calm yourself," she snapped. "I must've really coddled you too much to have you behaving this way. How low do you wish to fall?"

Wide-eyed, Persephone didn't say a word, clutching her reddening cheek while looking up at Demeter.

Zeus cleared his throat. "Now that that's been settled, I believe we can conclude with a just punishment for her actions."

The Hearing ended with silence from Persephone.

Even when Zeus announced that she was to be banished to the Underworld to be a servant to human souls, she didn't protest, didn't react at all.

I felt someone's eyes on me as the audience began to leave the room, some mingling to gossip in small groups, some seated and arguing with their partners over what they've just heard at this Hearing, but before Eros could approach me, Zeus stood by my side.

"Granddaughter o-- Cassia, do you have a moment? I wish to speak about your--"

"Zeus!" Hades caught up to his brother. "Must I return today? Can't you let me stay here for at least a day longer? I promise to leave tomorrow. I will keep the promise this time. Please."

Zeus gritted his teeth, gave Eros an annoyed glare, then dragged his lovestruck brother out of the room.

The Fates surrounded me this time, all looking up at me with knowing smiles.

"Is there something you wish to tell me?" I asked, aware of Eros's eyes on me from where he stood, a mere few steps away.

"Welcome to our world, child." "Yes, it will be nice to have you here." "Yes, you'll grow to understand how this realm works." "I think she already does." "Me too." "Well, there's more to discover." "Have you opened any of your birthday gifts yet?" "Shut your mouth!"

The oldest sister grinned at me as she clamped a hand over her sister's mouth, while the third sister shook her head in disapproval.

"Cassia, can we speak?"

Eros stood beside me now.

I couldn't bring myself to look at him. "I believe Hecate is looking to speak with me next. I must go and-- Eros! Put me down!"

Once again, I was thrown over his shoulder and unable to get out of his strong hold as he carried me out. Everyone watched as I struggled to set myself free.

My face turned hot, in both anger and embarrassment, partially because he snatched me up in front of all the Gods and Goddesses, but mostly because my body reacted to our closeness and my skin tingled from his touch.

"Put me down, Eros," I demanded.

"Sorry, love, but I won't."

"You will! This very instant!"

"In a moment."

"Where are you taking me?"

"Away from everyone else."

"Let me go."

"No."

"Eros!"

After a few minutes of walking and arguing with me, he came into his chambers and closed the door behind us, locking it for good measure.

"Can you put me down now?"

"In a moment. Let me lock the balcony door."

I rolled my eyes as he did just that, as if I wasn't capable of turning a simple lock.

When he finally put me down on my feet, I was fuming. Fixing him with a glare, I ran to the exit, but he was quick to catch up, turning me around and slamming both hands on the door to leave me trapped between his arms, our faces inches apart.

"I hate to do this, love, but you leave me no choice."

I scoffed. "There's always a choice."

"I couldn't stay away from you for much longer."

"You couldn't wait until I approached you first? I told you I need time to get my thoughts together. I don't know if I can trust my feelings again, if I can trust..." I finally looked into his eyes, fighting hard to keep my walls up. "You broke my heart, Eros."

His face softened. "And I will regret that for the rest of my life. I wish I found a better way to handle everything, but my priority was to get you out of Persephone's target list, so I chose strategy over feelings. I wanted to protect you. I didn't know the extent of her knowledge of dark magic, and I didn't want her to focus on you." He gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "It pained me to see you hurting, and I don't ever want to see you hurt again, especially not because of me. I love you, Cassia, and I will stay away from you if you wish me to. I just-- I wanted to speak with you and see you up close before we parted. If that's your wish."

He studied my features, as if memorizing every detail to keep in his memories as I have done when I thought we'd never see each other again. His eyes lingered on my lips.

"I wish you'd handled it better too," I said. "I wish I had the willpower to stay away from you. I wish I didn't crave your touch. And I wish I didn't love you. But I do." I cupped his cheek. "I love you Eros, and I cannot force myself to stay away from you any longer--"

He kissed me, pulling me in by the waist as I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back with the same passion and hunger, letting go of control. His hands slid down to the backs of my thighs, and I let him lift me up and pin me against the door with my legs around his hips.

I moaned softly as he deepened our kiss, making heat pool in my belly and igniting an overwhelming flame of desire that burned away every last bit of sanity I still possessed.

Rolling my hips against his, I slid my hands down his chest to find the buttons of his tunic.

Eros groaned against my lips, pulling away.

"Love," he panted. "I have no self-control left in me."

"Good," I breathed. "Neither do I."

His lips crashed against mine and he let me unbutton his tunic as his hands worked to untie my dress and slide it down my shoulders until it pooled at my hips. He broke the kiss to pull his tunic over his head and throw it to the floor before reclaiming my lips and carrying me to his bed.

My back hit smooth silk. I sighed as Eros's soft lips left trails of kisses down my neck while he slid my dress off, leaving me in nothing but a thin layer of undergarments beneath him. His rough hands caressed my bare skin, making me arch my back and close my eyes at the feel of his touch, the feel of his skin on mine.

I pulled him into another kiss, pushing my fingers into his hair and wrapping my legs around his hips, feeling the hard fabric of his pants against my thighs.

My mind couldn't remember where we were and what had happened today -- or any other day. All I could think about was Eros. Only Eros.

All I could say was his name. Over and over again.

With every delicious kiss and every delicate touch, the God of Love showed me what heaven felt like.