Hera's footsteps echoed in the grand halls of Zeus' palace. She stormed through the corridors, barely contained rage. As she approached Zeus's chamber, two guards stepped forward to block her way, as per their instructions.
"Lady Hera, you cannot—"
One guard tried to stop her, but before he could finish, Hera simply raised her hand and pushed them aside with a flick of her wrist.
Helpless against the Queen of the Gods, they were sent sprawling to the ground. They groaned in pain while lying on the ground. Hera didn't spare them a glance and marched into Zeus's chamber.
Inside, Zeus was sitting on his golden throne, naked and with a goblet of wine in hand. Two lesser goddesses, not known for anything particularly significant, kneeled before him, attending to his most prized possession with their mouths.
The scene was exactly what Hera had expected, yet it still made her blood boil. Zeus had sent an entire world into chaos and was enjoying his life without a bit of worry?
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to keep her temper in check, but it was no use. She was already too far gone.
"Everyone, out!"
The goddesses noticed Hera and immediately withdrew, their faces pale with fear. They feared Zeus but were terrified of Hera.
As soon as she told them to leave, they scurried away, leaving Zeus unfinished and frustrated. He frowned as he watched them leave, then turned his anger on Hera.
"What do you think you're doing, barging in here like this?" Zeus demanded in his thunderous voice. "This isn't your turn-"
Hera didn't flinch at his voice. Instead, she stepped closer, her eyes blazing with fury as she stared into her husband's eyes.
"What do you think you're doing, Zeus?" she mumbled, getting right in his face. "What were you thinking when you let your essence loose on the mortal world?"
Zeus tried to wave it off, feigning ignorance. "I did what? What are you—"
"I knew you would lie. That's why I brought someone along with me."
Before he could finish, Hera snapped her fingers, and a moment later, Lilith appeared before them, bound in divine chains. Zeus had seen her like that a lot of times before, but always in his bed.
"Lilith..." he muttered, clenching his fists.
Even though he called her, she couldn't look anyone in the eyes. That was enough sign for Zeus to know the game was up. Lilith had confessed her role in whatever had happened under Hera's interrogation.
Zeus's face paled as he realized the extent of Hera's knowledge. If Lilith had opened her mouth, then Hera knew more than she was letting on. He knew it would be difficult to get out of the mess he created. But it wasn't like Hera would give him a chance to explain.
"You took an oath, Zeus. An oath to keep your power in check, to protect the balance between the gods and mortals. And now, because of your carelessness, that balance is in jeopardy."
"It wasn't—"
"Don't," Hera interrupted, raising her hand. "Choices have consequences, Zeus. And this time, you will regret breaking your word."
Hera snapped her fingers again, teleporting Lilith into her dungeon. Then she turned her back on him, ready to leave the chamber, but paused at the doorway.
"From this moment on, no goddess will be your willing partner. You've lost their favor, Zeus. And you have only your greed and lust to blame."
Zeus could feel frustration boil over as Hera shut the doors behind her. He slammed his fist down on the armrest of his throne, shattering it into pieces.
The sound of the throne shattering to pieces echoed in the chamber, but Hera didn't even flinch. She continued walking out. She had already decided to turn Zeus's blunder into an opportunity.
As she disappeared, Zeus continued to seethe with anger. He did one little thing and Hera went all batshit crazy on him. So what if he wanted to fuck some mortals? It wasn't like the other pantheons would ever get to know about it.
But at the moment, he wasn't worried about them. The primary source of his worry was Hera.
She had been angry at him before countless times. But the look in her eyes was something else this time. He did not know what Hera planned to do, but he knew it would not be anything good. He couldn't afford to let her act unchecked, not when she was being unreasonable.
"Mnemosyne!" he called out, summoning the Titaness to his side.
He needed her help, and quickly. Even with all his power, Hera was a force to be reckoned with. Her love for him was the only reason she had never threatened him, but it looked like that love had vanished from her mind.
If she was determined to punish him, he would need every advantage he could get, and the only one he could depend on was Mnemosyne.