Post by Katheyrn Mae Wilson MD♥ on Jan 24, 2009 11:39:26 GMT -5
Prologue
She entered the hall, leading the young girl along. A hush fell over the gods and Zeus, at the head of the hall, rose. Poseidon looked up towards his brother’s regal figure and cleared his throat.
“Amphitrite and I have a proposition for the gods. Ten years ago, we were given a daughter, now we ask you to all receive her among our ranks.” The sea god turned to the young girl and his wife. Blue eyes like sea glass shone as the young girl clung tighter to Amphitrite’s dress. Buzzing filled the hall as the oak doors swung open yet once more.
Two gods lead towards the head of the hall, a young boy following meekly. The man turned, a sweeping black cloak over his shoulder as he took the empty seat usually reserved for Poseidon. A squeal came from one of the goddess, “Persephone!” they cried. The boy stood stone-still behind his mother, black hair slicked back, he was only a year or two older than Poseidon’s daughter and watched her quietly.
“Zeus, Poseidon, all of you,” Hades eyes frosted at the gaze of his brother, “I have found the perfect god for the Caribbean. Persephone and I have a son of eleven years, he is old enough to become a god. Poseidon’s daughter is ready for her ceremony as well, I request that her and Papa Gé prepare for their ceremonies together.”
“Hades,” a quiet voice drifted across the hall, “please. We have only just called Poseidon in here, and we have no idea of his intentions of his case.” She murmured quietly before taking her seat. The god of death nodded, “True, very true Artemis, but Persephone and I have waited for the right child. Persephone has no intention of teaching Papa Gé many of her power, so this decrees that where ever he rules, he will reign as the god of death.”
“But I don’t want to cause death!” Papa Gé’s voice startled the gods as the boy pushed his way through crowds of demigods and the lesser important gods. He stood to face Poseidon and Zeus, who had met at the foot of the steps leading to the head of the hall. “You won’t let me will you?” The two gods looked to face their brother, “Unless your mother will mentor you, you will become the god of death. And you don’t want to be known for working the powers of flowers and beauty do you?” Zeus nodded towards his nephew, “Your father is wise, and you must believe you are doing the right thing. Besides, Poseidon, you and Amphitrite are both of the sea, Agwe will be a goddess of sea and ocean alike. Papa Gé and her could begin a reign in the Caribbean.”
The gods in the crowds and at the table muttered their questions to their neighbors and comments to the darkening sky. Poseidon pushed through the crowds, reaching out to pull Agwe to his shoulders and lead her back to where Hades and Papa Gé stood. The whole hall watched as Agwe and Papa Gé stepped towards the table where Zeus, Poseidon and Hades usually sat. A quiet hum came over the crowd as Demeter pushed her way forwards, her daughter’s hand clasped to hers. “Wait!” the goddess faced the gods. Her dress was parched with earth and her hair was tied into a messy heap atop her head.
“Asaka here, my daughter, is Agwe’s half-sister. Not now, but soon, I want her to join Agwe and Papa Gé in the Caribbean.” The girl looked to her mother, “But why not now?” her eyes shone hazel, teeth dazzling in the light.
A rap on a far table caused the room’s sounds to flicker. “Aren’t we supposed to be discussing the punishment for Ares and Aphrodite?” a lame man tugged at his beard. Zeus brushed his way towards the man, “Yes, Hephaestus, right away. Agwe, Papa Gé and Asaka; you three take the seats to the right of Poseidon. We will begin.” Zeus took his seat, Poseidon and Hades flanking either side of him. Demeter led Agwe, Papa Gé and Asaka to their seats and took hers besides Hera and Aphrodite. Ares’ eyes were lowered, staring blankly at the scroll of paper in front of him.
“I will begin this.” Zeus called, his eyes scanning the hall. Aphrodite glanced upwards, her eyes darting between Ares and Hephaestus. The two sat, stony-faced, facing the hall’s aisle. “A few moon-weeks back, there was an usual display on Delos. You should all remember it and I will not go into the details as I saw most you there, except Artemis, I believe you were away for the moon-week.” The young goddess nodded respectfully, her cheeks reddening after being mentioned before the hall’s court. Zeus nodded and raised his voice; “Many believe that the events of that day would result in punishment for either Ares or Aphrodite. I have decided that, for the time being, there will be no punishment. Everyone knows that what the did is wrong and I believe you two know it too?” Ares nodded, his hands twisting in his lap. Aphrodite, however, remained silent, but before long, she raised her head, eyes blazing.
“Why is it, that some of us get blamed for having an affair with another?” Aphrodite’s eyes flickered to Poseidon and Zeus, “Others, have had affairs with many others and still hold a constant wife. Explain that.” She glanced towards Hera and Amphitrite, who sat a few feet away from the head of the hall. “I’m sure neither Hera of Amphitrite are happy about these ‘other’ romances.” The goddess of love returned to her seat, receiving a nod from Hera.
“Aphrodite, you are right,” Poseidon began, “but in your case. This romance between you and Ares went on for many moon-years.” Zeus rose, addressing the hall, “I have decided with little evidence,” the hall became silent, all eyes on Ares and Aphrodite, “for now, there is no punishment as I said before. But I will assign both Athena and Apollo to watch over these two.” The two named gods nodded, both turning to Zeus and the rest of the hall.
“This meeting is adjourned,” Zeus called, rising. The crowds dispersed, muttering quietly. Ares and Aphrodite crossed the hall and met, both heading towards Hephaestus, who stood watching them. Demeter, Zeus, Poseidon and Amphitrite following them. Agwe turned to Asaka and Papa Gé, “What do we do now?” she asked. Asaka shrugged, her eyes wide, “Mama brought me to a meeting once before, when I was little. She wanted me to see my papa.” Asaka’s eyes turned, unblinking towards Agwe. Papa Gé shrugged, “Hades doesn’t usually come to these meetings, he doesn’t trust Charon as much as Persephone and I do. Personally, I think the worst thing Charon could do is dump someone into Styx.”
“Styx?” Agwe echoed, “Why Styx and not another river?” Papa Gé shrugged,
“Because Styx is the biggest and darkest river in the underworld.” Asaka’s eyes widened, “Don’t they sometimes call the underworld ‘Hades’ as well?”
“No,” Papa Gé tried to stop from laughing, “that’s the idea of mortals.” Agwe turned, “Do your parents ever get along?” The young god of death laughed, “Of course, Persephone wanted Hades to mentor me and Hades didn’t want her to mentor me.” Asaka nodded, “Do you have any pets?” Agwe and Papa Gé exchanged glances, laughing quietly. Papa Gé looked up, “Well, Cerberus, our only pet.” Agwe looked up, “I guess I’m the only one here who has a sibling.” she said.
“He’s a merman though, so he can’t come to these meetings.”
A quiet whisper caused the three to look up. The doors opened and a girl, about the age of nine years, swept into the hall. Her blonde curls clung to her head, damp and rain soaked as she crossed the hall. Her pale pink dress already showed a fine figure on her as she paused before the God of Lighting.
A single word rang through the hall, tumbling from the Goddess of Love's lips.
"Erzulie."
