Chapter 2:

Hera sat in her garden, under the golden apple tree that was gifted to her by Gaia, the first Earth Mother, and her grandmother, as a wedding gift. She had come here after learning of another one of Zeus’ infidelities that led to another offspring of his, but she didn’t care. She knew that everyone noticed how much she had changed in recent years. She was not reactive to things, mainly things that Zeus was the center of, that she would have had it been the old her. The gods and goddesses were beginning to think it was a part of an evil plan of hers, while others thought that maybe she was at her breaking point, the calm before the storm they would whisper when they thought she couldn’t hear. In truth, yes, Hera was tired of who she had been and wanted to change, not just for herself and her image but instead for her.

Hera’s sacred garden had become her safe haven in recent years as that is the only place where she could be to herself and think about her daughter. She would wonder about what her and Hades’ child would look like now, for she knew she was six. Would she still favor Hera, or would she now look more like her father? Oh, how Hera wished she could visit her daughter, to see her grow up these past years, to see if her daughter had shown any powers yet. Hera wanted to witness how smart she was, but knew that she would never get that opportunity; neither of them would. She always thought back to that night that she and Hades had to leave behind their precious daughter with their mother, Rhea. They knew that she should be raised in secrecy, for if Zeus were to know about her love child with their brother, he would surely kill the child, punish her worse than when he hung her from the skies of Heaven, and would start a war between Hades. At the memory, she began to shed tears as she always did when she reflected on that painful night.

***

“Hades, what are we going to do? Neither of us can take her and raise her without raising suspicion amongst the other gods and goddesses, let alone Zeus. He would kill her if he ever found out about her!”

“Don’t you think I know that Hera?!” he yelled, discontent with the situation at hand. However, he immediately regretted yelling at her when he saw the tears gathering in her eyes, threatening to fall down her cheeks. He rushed to her side and held her close to him, smelling her scent of sweet nectar, fresh lilies, and pomegranate. He could feel her anxiety and frustration of the situation as he continued to hold her, knowing that it was taking a tremendous toll on her emotions as well as his, if not more.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, I didn’t mean to yell. I am just frustrated, same as you. I know that we must keep her identity a secret, for if it were to come out, her life would be in danger.”

Hera slowly rose her head from where it was cradled in his chest as he comforted her, so she could look into his eyes. Though they were black as coal, she could still see all of the emotions swirling within them.

“It is okay. I shouldn’t have raised my voice at you because I know you share the same concerns and emotions as I do right now. I am just so worried about her, Hades. She should not be punished for we brought her into this world, and though I will not call what we have done or the love we have for each other a mistake, for it brought us our child, but I will say that it is causing problems for all of us.”

“I know, my love. I wish that we were in a different time, where we could be together, where we did not have to hide our love for each other nor the product of that love,” he stated as he gazed over to the crib which now held their child as she slept peacefully, not knowing of the troubles surrounding her.

After standing in comfortable silence for quite some time, which they both enjoyed, Hera broke it with an idea to help with the situation at hand.

“We will have to ask our mother to keep and raise her. This is the only place she would remain safe for hardly anyone visits here, especially Zeus.”

“And what will she tell those who do visit?” asked Hades, for he was not sure about this plan even though Hera seemed confident with it. Though neither of his siblings visited Rhea like they had in the past, he knew that his aunt Tethys did.

“She could tell them that she found the babe on the beach when leaving from a visit at Tethys’ and could not turn her back on an innocent child, so she took the child with her to raise.”

“Hera,” he sighed, “I’m not sure that would work. I mean, do you really believe that the gods and goddesses would believe that two gods would abandon a child?”

“Gods and goddesses abandon demigod children all the time. Would it be so different if they were to abandon a godly child?” she countered.

“The difference is that a demigod is by a godly parent and mortal one, and therefore they cannot enter into our domains freely.”

“What about Persephone? Both her parents are gods, and though Demeter truly loves and cares for her, Zeus does not. It could be the same for our child, but the only difference is that it would seem she was abandoned by both parents.”

“But that still doesn’t answer the question people would ask about how and why two gods would abandon their child.”

“It’s simple. If the question came up, mother would tell them it could be because of forbidden love between two beings. “After all,” Hera stated as she turned to walk towards her child to sadly gaze upon her, “it would not be a lie, but the truth.”

Hades walked over to stand behind Hera as he, too, watched their daughter sleep peacefully. With a sigh, Hades continued their discussion. “I guess you have a point there. Though I’m still not one hundred percent sold on the idea, it seems as though we have no other choice.”

With that plan in mind and Hades still unsure of it, they walked to their mother’s location. They spotted Rhea sitting on one of the chaises in the living room and hesitantly made their way over to tell her their plan. Of course, she was all for it. She knew what would happen if the child’s true identity were to get out, and she did not want to witness that.

“Of course, I will help you with keeping her secret. I know how much she means to you, and I want to help in any way I can. Besides, it will be nice having someone around the house now that all of you are adults and have your own lives,” she replied with a saddened smile.

Hera and Hades shared a brief look of guilt at their mother’s comment, for they knew she was right. At one point, they had visited her all the time, but as time moved on and life got in the way, the visits became few and far between until they ceased altogether.

Maybe this plan was not just for their daughter’s safety but also for their mother’s fresh start. She would be able to do what she never really got a chance to do with them; be a mother.

When they finished making sure that their plan was airtight so that they would not run into any trouble, both mother and father went to what would be their child’s room and said their goodbyes. They pressed gentle kisses to their daughter’s forehead that lingered longer than the others that had been bestowed upon her in the past few days, for they did not know if they would see her again. They gazed upon her face, memorizing every curve and feature to engrave it in their memories so they would never forget, and made their way out.

“Wait!!!” Rhea yelled. “What is her name?”

Hades and Hera both looked into each other eyes, as if they were having a private conversation, and turned towards Rhea and said together, “Helia, for she is the sun that gives the light in our darkness.” With that, they both flashed out and went back to their respective homes with aching hearts and souls for what they have lost.