Chapter 32:

Hera was anxious about her daughter; she had been very distant lately. She was afraid that she had done something wrong or offended her daughter in some way. Whenever she asked what was bothering her, she would only get the reply that she was fine, but Hera knew she was lying.

They were at dinner now, and she noticed that Ares seemed a little down, depressed even; she would catch him and Helia making eye contact like they were talking to each other telepathically, which would not have surprised Hera if they were. Because they were her children, she suspected that Helia had inherited that power from her of being able to talk to someone through their mind if she considered them a trusted family member or friend, but she didn’t know for sure.

“Helia,” Hera called to get her attention, “are you feeling alright? You have been distant lately, and we have all noticed and just wanted to make sure you were fine.”

Helia was irritated, not at her family’s concern, but because she didn’t want to tell them why she behaved differently.

“I’m fine….”

“Helia,” Hera interrupted, “you are not fine. Just tell us what’s bothering you.”

“Nothing is bothering me.”

“We just want to help Helia, that’s all,” Athena added. She, too, had noticed a decline in Helia’s mood recently.

“Well, don’t. I’m fine, alright, just leave it alone!”

“Helia!” Hera exclaimed. She did not like the tone her daughter was using towards Athena.

“Hera!” Helia screamed. “Just back off; you’re not my mom okay, you don’t have to pretend anymore!” Helia knew she shouldn’t have said that, especially when she saw Hera’s face. She knew she broke her heart because of her words and wished she could take it back, but she couldn’t.

“Okay…”

“Mom, I’m so sor….” but Hera held up her hand, stopping her apology. Helia could see the tears forming in her eyes, which made the guilt she was feeling much worse.

Hera looked to the rest of the people at the table and stated, “If you need me, I will be in my office.” She looked at Helia once more before she flashed away.

“Helia, what the hell was that about? Why would you say that to her?”

“I’m sorry, Ares.”

“Look, I know what you’re going through, and I know it’s tough on you, but fuck, you don’t have to bite her head off because you’re conflicted,” he yelled at her before leaving to check on their mother.

Helia felt horrible. She knew she’d screwed up by the different expressions thrown her way from the people left at the table. They gave her looks of disappointments, confusion, and some anger; she deserved them all. She turned to leave when Athena stopped her, and she looked up to meet her eye contact.

“I’m not sure what is going with you right now, but whatever it is, you need to find a solution for it fast.”

“I’m afraid,” she whispered.

“Of what?” asked Apollo.

“Leaving you guys.”

“Why would you leave us?” Hermes questioned.

“Because, the Fates visited me a couple of weeks ago and told me that I would be finding out who my parents are, and the reason I had been distancing myself was that I did not want to start a war over me and thought it would be easier for all involved if I did that.”

They were all shocked at the news Helia gave them. They didn’t know if they should be happy for her or upset at the possibility of her leaving. They knew how badly she had wanted to meet them, even if it was only for answers, but they also knew there was a chance that she could leave, and that frightens them.

After no one said anything, Helia left and headed back to her room. She knew she should’ve gone to her mother and apologized but she just couldn’t face her after what she had done.

When she reached her bedroom, she immediately climbed into bed and cried. She wishes that none of this was happening, wished that Hera was her birth mother so that she didn’t have to leave her, but knew that was wishful thinking, so she cried herself to sleep.

***

Ares was upset at Helia. He knew she was struggling with what the Fates had told her, but she had no right to yell at their mother. He was sure she did it so that their mother would just let her go and not cause a fuss when the time came for her to leave.

“Leave it to the Fates to fuck up a good thing,” he voiced out loud. He reached his mother’s office door and put an ear to it. He could hear her muffled sobs and instantly went in so that he could comfort her. He paused when he saw Aphrodite there, already providing comfort.

“Hey, it’s okay, mom. I’m here for you,” he said as he rushed over and kneeled down, resting his chin on her thigh.

“Oh, Ares, I’m not sure what to do.”

“Hera, she is probably just going through something and doesn’t know how to talk to you about it,” Aphrodite suggested as she tried to comfort her friend.

“She’s right, mom. You just have to give her some time.” Hera caught what her son was saying and knew he knew more than he was letting on.

“Ares, what did she tell you? I know you spoke to her. Did she say I did something wrong?”

Ares wanted to tell his mother so bad, wanted to stop her tears and give her reassurance that it was nothing she did, but he couldn’t.

“I can’t say.”

“Ares, if you know something, you need to tell me now.”

“I can’t. Helia made me swear on the River Styx not to tell you. Just know that it is nothing you did. She was just informed of something, and it is weighing on her heart and mind heavily; just give her some time.”

Hera knew she had no choice, but she couldn’t help but still be worried. She just wanted to know what was bothering her daughter, but there was nothing she could do until she got all the information. Until then, she continued to cry on Aphrodite’s shoulder while she let her and her son continue to try their best to console her.