Olympus [2]

"He sent you the coordinates?" Owen says, watching me curiously as I strap my knife to my thigh, underneath my silk black dress. The pearls clasped around my neck are cold against my skin.

"Yeah, last night. It's in the middle of nowhere, basically. Some abandoned warehouses, in fact. I don't understand why he couldn't have just done it himself, but for the amount he's paying us, I won't question it too much." I shrug.

Owen doesn't say anything, but I can tell he's just as curious as I am. "Hm. Well, good luck, and be careful." He says eventually.

"Why are you here, by the way?" I ask, raising one eyebrow as I pull on one black combat boot. "Not that I mind, but...It is one in the morning."

"Oh, right. Yeah I was gonna see if you have any sugar. I'm out and all the stores are closed." Owen replies casually, sitting down on the soft sheets of my bed and beginning to pet a purring Berlioz.

"Why do you need sugar this late at night?" I ask with a frown, shaking my head. While Owen is my best friend, he's certainly got his quirks.

"Oh, I'm making homemade brownies." Owen says with a wide grin, his gaze bright and focused on the view of the street below my apartment window.

"The sugar is in the cabinet downstairs." I say after a brief pause, deciding not to question his late night brownie baking. "I'm going to leave now. Don't blow anything up."

"No promises!" I hear him call after me in a singsong voice as I make my way down the stairs and I roll my eyes.

By the time I'm in my car and headed off to who the hell knows where, I begin to wonder once again just who the cloaked man is. Clearly, he must have some sort of status to possess so much money, but I didn't recognize his voice.

Nearly an hour later, I reach my destination, a couple of broken-down looking warehouses, and I can't but wonder who would stash anything of any value here. I park my car somewhat cautiously, then climb out into the cold night air, resisting the urge to shiver. "Okay," I say aloud as I slowly make my way across the yard, which is littered with pieces of trash and random debris. "Time to steal an ancient artifact."

I hesitantly push open the door of one of the old warehouses, which creaks with effort against my hand. Inside, it's dark, with a few boarded up windows, and I use the flashlight on my phone to guide me across the crowded floor. There are old cardboard boxes full of random junk, and planks of rotting wood stacked against the walls. How the hell am I supposed to navigate this and find one random helmet? I wonder to myself as I reluctantly peek into a box near me, revealing nothing but trash.

For the next ten minutes, I wander around the building, searching for the mysterious helmet, but I see nothing. Sighing, I shake my head, gritting my teeth in frustration. "It has to be around here somewhere." I mutter angrily.

"It was." A deep voice says amusedly across the room, and I jump, hissing an obscenity.

I turn quickly, pulling the knife on my thigh out in one rapid motion, and my eyes land on a tall, dark figure across the room, covered in a cloak similar as the man who sent me here, though this one is a bit less conservative, and I can see a set of fierce of amber-yellow eyes gazing at me with faint curiosity. In his arm, he holds a shining silver helmet casually, clearly the artifact I was searching for. "Why do you wish to take my Helm of Darkness, Hecate?" He rumbles, tilting his head, and the cloak hood falls back onto his shoulders, revealing a masculine, strong-featured face. He is handsome but severe looking, with inky black hair messily arranged on his head and pale skin.

What is with all these strange men calling me Hecate? And what is a 'Helm of Darkness'? I stare at him blankly for a moment before regaining my composure and regarding him coolly, palming my knife. "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

The man looks surprised for a brief moment, then tosses back his head and laughs softly. "So this is the card you choose to play, Hecate? After three years, you couldn't come up with a better plan?"

I sigh, exasperated, and shake my head. These men are terribly dim-I have no idea who they are, yet they claim I know them. "Look, pal, I'm not interested in playing these mind games with you. Now, hand over the helmet and no one gets hurt."

The man's laughter fades, and he stares at me unwaveringly for a moment, his eyes calculating. "Hm." He says after a moment, his voice low and quiet. "So you've lost your memory. How curious."

"How do you know that?" I demand, narrowing my eyes instantly.

I don't tell very many people about my amnesia. Three years ago, I woke on a cold sidewalk with nothing but the clothing on my body, with no previous memory of where I came from or who I was. I took odd jobs around a few different neighborhoods before I became financially secure enough to rent a small apartment, and everything blossomed from there.

The man shakes his head, his eyes darkening. "Interesting indeed...The others will want to hear of this. They've been searching for you, Hecate. It's not often a Goddess disappears."

Goddess? This man is deranged. I start to rethink my plan of trying to forcefully get the helmet from him. He's clearly got the advantage of insanity. I begin to slowly inch towards the door. "Others?" I ask, trying to keep him distracted.

He raises one eyebrow, shaking his head. "Trying to escape is futile. I'm taking you to Olympus." He informs me casually, like he hasn't just stated he plans on kidnapping me.

My heart beats a little faster in my chest, but I try to act unbothered. "I won't go easily, you know." I state, my grip on my knife tightening.

"I wouldn't expect you to." He replies in a slightly amused tone, smiling like he knows something I don't. "That's not in your nature, after all."

He pauses, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Normally, I wouldn't even bother with this sort of thing...I care little about what occurs outside of my domain. However...The A****n's have been raising hell for the past few years looking for you...and trust me, I know a little about raising hell." He smiles, like he told a funny joke.

"A****n's? Like the one with Jeff Bezos?" I ask skeptically, raising one eyebrow. "As interesting as this has been...I'll be going now."

"Jeff who?" The man frowns in confusion before shaking his head. "Nevermind that. That's not important right now. Come on, let's go...it sounds like you're in need of a quite detailed refresher about who you are, Hecate."

I resist the urge to scream in frustration and instead give him a fierce, fixed stare. "I won't be going anywhere but home." I inform him roughly, shaking my head.

He steps towards me, and I launch myself at him in an instant, relying heavily upon the element of surprise. My knife makes contact with his side, and he growls loudly in pain, his voice deep and throaty with rage. "You should not have done that." He spits out, and it's then I catch a glimpse at the liquid soaking through his robes. It's golden...like mine.

He must have a rare blood condition, too, I reason with myself, even as my stomach clenches at the sight. He takes advantage of my surprise, and in a second he has an iron grip on my wrist, dragging me forward. I struggle, trying to break free, but he's much stronger than I imagined, and in one swift moment he's disarmed me. I mutter a long string of curses, and he smiles pleasantly, shaking his head, then lets out a long, low whistle.

For a moment, nothing happens.

Then, a chariot bursts into the room. "What in the actual-" My last word is muffled by the sound of heavy, drumming hoofprints on the warehouse floors.

The chariot is magnificent, black as night and sleek, but the horses pulling it, two black steeds, are even more impressive, with massive hooves and long, flowing ebony manes. For a moment, I can only gape at it, and the man nods beside me, smirking. "Stunning, isn't it?" He says casually before pulling me roughly towards the chariot door, which swings open on its own.

He pushes me inside, and the door snaps shut instantly. I gasp, then roughly pull on the door handle-which doesn't budge. The chariot lurches forward, and I cling with all my might to the red cushioned seats to avoid flying upwards and hitting my head on the ceiling. I shake my head in confusion as I cling to the inside of the windowless chariot-it almost feels like we're floating. I push the idea from my head, knowing it's impossible, and glance around the chariot, resigned to my fate.

The inside is black and red themed, with red seats and shining black door handles, and the doorway is studded with precious jewels that appear to be rubies and diamonds. This dude must be loaded, I decide with another glance around. A little bit over fifteen minutes later, the chariot rolls to a stop, and I breathe a soft sound of relief. A few moments later, the door swings open. My legs are shaky as I stand, glaring furiously at the man as he stands with his arms crossed outside of the chariot, his foot tapping impatiently.

Then, I notice something strange about the ground beneath his feet. It looks oddly like...clouds? I stare blankly at the white fluff under his shiny black shoes for a moment, then slowly lift my gaze to meet his unwavering yellow gaze. "Are you going to get out, or do I have to make you?" He asks exasperatedly after a moment.

I eye him suspiciously before finally giving into his request, stepping carefully down onto the...whatever this is. Weirder yet, not too far from us is a sidewalk that shimmers brightly, appearing to be made of solid gold. "What is this place?" I ask, my voice laced with confusion. I try to ignore the slight tremor it gives.

"Olympus." He replies simply before gesturing towards the sidewalk with one hand. "Come."

I hesitate, looking around. In the distance, I can see a hazy white building, shimmering in an ethereal way similar to the sidewalk. Seeing no other option, I slowly follow him towards the shiny gold path, and we walk for what seems like miles before I can fully make out the building in front of us. It's massive, a white palace with huge columns and a beautiful rose garden out front. Perhaps noticing my amazement, the man paused, narrowing his eyes. "Don't get wrapped up in this outward beauty-the inside is not as serene as it may seem."

I don't question his cryptic comment, and he presses forward, swinging open one of the large white doors. Inside, the palace is even more stunning than I could have imagined, with sparkling chandeliers, gorgeous bronze and stone statues, and sleek white floors. "Who's there?" An authoritative, feminine voice echoes down the long, spiraling white staircase, and moment's later, one of the most otherworldly women I've ever seen walks down the stairs, walking so daintily she almost seems to be floating.

Her hair is long, shiny and straight, a rich shade of medium brown. On top of her head, a crown rests, shining gold with multiple diamonds and jewels shimmering on its surface with each step she takes. Her eyes are the shape of a doe's, round and wide, framed by thick, dark lashes, a beautiful, warm shade of brown. Her skin is deeply tanned, almost seeming to glow. She wears a long white robe with a braided gold belt tight around her waist, emphasizing an hourglass figure.

"Hera." The man greets, but she says nothing, her eyes fixated on me and her mouth agape in surprise.

"Hecate?" She says in a hushed whisper, freezing in her position halfway down the stairs.

Great. Another random person who thinks I'm some girl named Hecate. Fantastic. "Um, no." I disagree with a shake of my head.

"Where have you been?" She asks with a sudden frown that looks out of place on her stunning features. She continues her descent down the stairs now, her eyebrows pinched together delicately. "You've been gone so long!"

"Hera..." The man begins cautiously, but I interrupt him.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" I ask, studying her face carefully. Doesn't ring a bell.

She freezes, then regards me carefully for a moment before glancing inquisitively at the man. "Hades, what has happened?" She demands, her voice raising slightly.

Hades...Hera...Their names sound so familiar...I know I've heard them before...The man, apparently Hades, simply shrugs in response. "Don't know, really-or care too much. However, the Amazons have been making my job hell lately with all the people they've been killing, so I'm glad she's been found."

Hera's eyes dart between us frantically, and she shakes her head. "Zeus will need to hear of this." She decides finally, then wrinkles her nose disdainfully at the mention of his name. "Not that I care what my husband thinks, but I suppose he is the King."

Zeus...Goddess...Greek mythology. That's where I remember the names from. This has to be some sort of joke. Hades doesn't respond to Hera's comment, instead gesturing with one hand towards the doors behind us. "I'm going back to my domain now: I've delivered her, therefore, my purpose is fulfilled, and Peresphone will be expecting me to arrive home very shortly." He glances at me with a slight frown, his eyebrows furrowed. "And best of luck dealing with...this."

He sweeps past me on his way out the doors, and they slam shut behind him as he exits seemingly on their own, much to my confusion. "Ah, Hades," Hera muses with a shake of her head, her eyes fixated on the doors he's just disappeared behind. "Always the pessimist, he is. Anyways...I suppose there's a lot to explain, isn't there?"

I don't respond, but she doesn't appear to notice, pressing on. "Well, we have plenty of time to do that. Forever, actually." She smiles like she's made a funny joke, but I don't laugh. "Come into the kitchen with me, I know you love a good raspberry tea, and of course, Anastasia simply makes the best tarts, so we can enjoy those as well."

I stare at her in surprise briefly, wondering if she's been stalking me. I do love raspberry tea, though for some reason, it always makes me feel oddly like a piece of myself is missing. Still, I don't respond, though I reluctantly follow her into the large, extravagantly decorated kitchen, almost unable to stop my feet from moving forward after her. Inside the kitchen, on the smooth marble counters, sits a beautiful displayed arrangement of tarts on a plate that appears to be made of solid gold.

"Have one." Hera urges, softly shifting the plate towards me before calling softly, "Anastasia! Can you be a dear and come make a bit of raspberry tea for us?"

Moments later, a middle-aged woman with gray-streaked blonde hair pulled up in a messy bun and soft blue eyes appears at the kitchen door, wearing a white apron dusted lightly with what appears to be flour and a long gray dress. "Of course, Queen." The woman murmurs in a respectful tone, dipping her head.

Hera smiles pleasantly, nodding, and I glance between the two women in confusion. Queen? Why does that sound so familiar...Wasn't Hera the Queen of the Gods? Perhaps this is some sort of reality show, meant to prank me for entertainment. "Do they not look good to you?" Hera asks with a frown after a moment, her eyes narrowed as she eyes me, and I realize she's referring to the plate of tarts.

I stare at her blankly for a moment, then reply hesitantly, "They look fine...what is this place? Why am I here?" My voice sharpens slightly as I continue to speak, my frustration and anger rising to the surface. "I wish to go home, now."

Hera sighs softly, like my words annoy her faintly. "You don't get it: This is your home."

I open my mouth to reply angrily, but Hera cuts me off, her voice soft but authoritative. "Thea, this will not be easy to hear. However, it is the truth. This is Olympus, the Palace of the Gods. And you, Hecate, are a Goddess."

I laugh in amusement, shaking my head. The laughter bubbles over me uncontrollably, and before I know it, tears blur my vision. When I regain myself, Hera seems unamused, one eyebrow raised and her arms crossed. "I am not joking." She snaps. "I am being serious, and I'll prove it."

I watch her in amusement, unable to muffle the occasional giggle. She rolls her eyes, like she expected my reaction, then delicately lifts one hand, giving her wrist a flick. Almost instantly, I hear a boom of thunder outside, though it'd been clear and lovely outside moments ago. Rain slams frantically against the windows, seeming to almost shake the mansion with its force. Then, she raises her hand, and it dies instantly, the clouds seeming to part instantly.

I gape at her openly, though the other woman, Anastasia, seems unphased, humming softly to herself as she works at preparing tea. Hera smiles smugly, arching one brow. "I told you. Now do you believe me?"

It's hard to wrap my head around, but I can hardly deny what I've seen with my own eyes. I don't respond, though I slowly shut my jaw. Finally, I manage to push out a few words, though my throat feels suddenly parched. "You're saying...I'm a Goddess?"

"Correct." Hera nods, her eyes gleaming with approval at my sudden acceptance of her claims.

"Like...Theia the light Goddess?" I ask hesitantly, my eyes narrowing.

Hera laughs, shaking her head. "Heavens, no. She was cast down to Tartus when we fought the Titans, dear. You might recognize yourself better by a different name..."

"What might that be?" I ask, puzzled.

"Hecate."