Hera, Queen of Gods (Goddess Unbound)

by Thomas, T. D.

  “What?” I pressed.

  “You don’t think he’s one of them,” Demeter whispered.

  That thought had definitely not occurred to me. It’d make sense, though. It’d explain why he was watching me. But, normally, we could sense each other, even in the mortal world. Things that don’t belong. Other visitors. And I didn’t feel anything from him. He was just an ordinary mortal.

  Still, I looked at the boy. Really looked. There was nothing remarkable about him. He wasn’t completely unpleasant to look at. For a mortal. He was just so . . . ordinary.

  “Wouldn’t a monster want to look . . . more intimidating?” Artemis pointed out, as she studied him.

  She had a point. When we’d come to the mortal world, we’d all chosen bodies that suited us, the best we could find. Artemis took a star athlete, a modern-day Amazon. Zeus was in a mountain of a man. Of course, Hermes was the exception: he’d opted for a guy completely average in every way. Average height. Average build. Average face. Just average. For a god to be in something so ordinary . . . It was bad enough to have to borrow mortal bodies to begin with. We didn’t have to pick the worst ones we could possibly find. Still, that was Hermes. Incomprehensible-- and completely without dignity where mortals were concerned. He adored them. He adored being here. He was insane.

  “Not necessarily. Some monsters are smarter than we give them credit for,” Athena reminded us. “But that boy isn’t a monster. His name is Justin.”

  I didn’t bother asking how she knew. Athena knew pretty much everything. Plus she could’ve just plucked the thought from his mind. She’d chosen quite a useful power to bring with her from the Heavens: telepathy.

  I stood. They all stood with me. “I’m going to talk to . . . Justin,” I decided, “and see why he keeps staring at me.”

  “Let me go instead,” Athena suggested quickly. “I’ll find out for you.”

  “I can do it myself,” I replied archly. I headed directly for Justin, ignoring Athena’s sigh. Demeter and Artemis moved to go with me.

  “Alone,” I clarified.

  They exchanged a look, which I pretended I didn’t see.

  I was almost at Justin’s table when a huge guy I didn’t recognize stood directly in my way.

  “You don’t want to go over there,” he told me, fighting a smile.

  “Do I know you?” I demanded.

  He laughed.

  “Very funny,” he replied, slinging his arm over my shoulders and leaning down to whisper in my ear. “Everybody knows the Blake. But, seriously, you don’t want to go over there. That’s where the losers sit.”

  His tone told me he thought he was hilarious. The way he dressed told me he also thought he was attractive. Tight designer T-shirt. Expensive jeans. Flashy necklace. Overwhelming cologne. Disgusting.

  I shrugged off his arm. It took all my self-control not to use my powers to burn away his mind. No one touched me. No one. Not even Zeus. Not anymore. But I was making allowances. We were in the mortal world. He couldn’t see me. Not the real me anyway. He just saw the body I was borrowing. So I decided to be gracious. At least for now.

  Blake just grinned and shook his head, but there was something in his eyes. Something I didn’t like. Something dangerous.

  “Feisty,” he said.”I like that. In the sack.”

  Laughter. Not from him. From a group of guys at a nearby table. His friends. No--not friends. His pack. The other cackling hyenas.

  I flushed with anger. No one laughed at me! I felt my power rising, without me even calling it.

  “Hey, no shame,” Blake told me, still grinning like an idiot. “You should be proud. Think of how much fun we’ll have, breaking you in.”

  “The only thing that’s going to break,” I said slowly, “Is your jaw if you keep talking to me. Now get out of my way.”

  Blake’s face changed. I could see it clearly now. The rage. And hate.

  “Look, it was just a joke. No need to be a snotty little bitch about it,” Blake growled.

  Blake stepped closer. He was massive. Not compared to Zeus, but compared to me.

  I didn’t flinch. He wanted to see fear. He liked it. Oh, I knew his type. All too well. Now it was time for him to meet mine.

  “You think I won’t knock you on your ass because you’re a girl?” Blake snarled.

  I smiled. There was nothing colder, or more infuriating, in all the world.

  “You don’t scare me,” I said icily. “Now be a good little boy and run along and play with the other children.”

  Blake’s eyes went wide. He grabbed me. Hard. “You really do need someone to knock that smartass mouth of yours right off your face, don’t you?”

  Artemis was on him before he knew what hit him. She slipped her arms through his, and when he let go of me out of sheer surprise, she slammed him against the table full of his friends. They leapt to their feet. She head-butted the one closest to her. His nose made a satisfying breaking sound. Blood fountained everywhere.

  She could’ve taken them all by herself. But there was no way I was letting her have all the fun. Not when I was this angry.

  I stepped forward and their eyes instinctively flicked toward me. And a flick was all it took.

  My power spun in my eyes. It whirled and danced, spiraled and sparkled with the lights of a thousand galaxies.

  Blake’s friends froze, waiting for me to command them.

  “Artemis, let him up,” I ordered.

  She looked at me in disbelief, but seeing I was serious, she sighed and pressed Blake once more against the table before releasing him.

  Blake launched himself at her as soon as she let go. So predictable. Artemis easily stepped out of the way, and Blake fell, sprawling to the ground. The cafeteria erupted with laughter.

  Blake hauled himself up, but before he could do anything else, I caught his eyes. He was lost before he knew what was happening.

  “I know you, Blake. I've known men like you before. Men who don't like women,” I said. “I mean, they like to do things to women. But that’s all women are to men like you. Toys. Pets. Dogs.” I paused. “Maybe it’s time for you to know what being victimized feels like.”

  Blake nodded dumbly.

  “Actually, Hera, I think he already knows,” Demeter whispered.

  During the scuffle, she’d run over to help. As if I needed help. Still, it was sweet.

  She pointed.

  In the fight, Artemis had torn Blake’s shirt. His chest had several deep burns. Fresh. Circular. From cigarettes.

  “I see,” I murmured. I shook my head. “It doesn’t make what he’s doing, what’s he’s done...”

  “I know,” Demeter said softly. “But it explains a lot.”

  It was dead silent. Everyone was watching, wondering what I’d do next. A few people clicked pictures with their smartphones. Others were taking video. Luckily, none of them could see the subtle glow of power in my eyes.

  “I can’t change what’s happened to you,” I told him quietly. “Or the things you’ve done. Not while I’m stuck in this body anyway. What’s happened to you is wrong. But what you’re doing is also wrong. And two wrongs don’t make a right.”

  I sighed.

  “You owe me an apology,” I decided. That was the easy part.

  “I’m sorry,” he said automatically.

  “Louder,” I said. “I want everyone to hear you apologize to me.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said. It was almost a shout.

  “Say it like you mean it,” I said.

  “I’m very sorry,” he repeated. He actually managed to sound sincere. Unfortunately, he wasn’t. It was me inside his mind. He was just a puppet on a string. It was all for show.

  “For what?” I pressed.

  “Treating you like shit,” he said.

  I winced. Vulgar, but it was the right idea. Unfortunately, it meant nothing. And I knew it.

  “Now, for the rest of the day, you will go and apologize to all the people you’ve treated li
ke . . . garbage,” I instructed. “You know who. Understand?”

  “Yes,” he said.

  “One other thing,” I decided. “Apologies are one thing. But in the end, they’re just words. To really apologize, you have to make things right. I want you to apologize with actions. However you can. Got that?”

  He nodded dumbly.

  “Good,” I said. “ Now leave. Before I change my mind.”

  Blake walked off, dazed. I released his friends from my power as he left the cafeteria--just in time for them to rush after him.

  I didn’t know how long my powers would keep him under my control. An hour or two. Maybe more. But it was the best I could do. I hadn’t come to right all the wrongs of the world. Though the thought had crossed my mind more than once. But I didn’t have the time or the power. Both were already spoken for. The mission came first. The mission always did.

  The normal hubbub of the cafeteria swelled up again, as people eagerly gossiped about everything that had just happened.

  “We’re supposed to be keeping a low profile so we can find the Fates,” Athena hissed at me.

  “He provoked me,” I countered.

  I didn’t answer to her. But I knew she was right.

  “Zeus is going to be furious,” she warned.

  I smiled. “Oh, I hope so.”

  I didn’t answer to him either. I answered to me.

  Athena said nothing. In the mood I was in, there was nothing to say.

  “Miss Hanson!” a nasal voice shouted. “Miss Dale! What is going on here?”

  I turned to see a balding man in his late forties enter the cafeteria from the same doors that I’d sent Blake out. The biology teacher. A Mr. . . . Mortal names were impossible to remember. No, wait. Mr. Snider! That was it! I was starting to remember their names now. How strange.

  “You two, come with me to Principal Sheridan’s office immediately!” he ordered.

  He did his best to sound commanding. It just came out shrill.

  Artemis fixed Mr. Snider with a stony look. He actually wilted--but, to his credit, he rallied and actually managed to look more or less firm.

  Artemis sighed and looked at me for direction. Mr. Snider went purple. He knew she was waiting for my approval.

  “We’ll come with you,” I told him, smiling.

  “You’re damn right you will,” he hissed.

  “It’s not their fault, Mr. Snider,” a boy’s voice said. I turned. I’d forgotten about the boy. Justin. “Blake started it.”

  “I don’t care who started it,” Mr. Snider snapped. “We have a zero tolerance policy for bullying of any kind, and Mr. Collins left here in tears!”

  I didn’t have time for this. But I needed to get him alone before I used my powers on him. I’d made enough of a scene with Blake already.

  I walked out of the cafeteria, Artemis on one side, Demeter on the other. Athena stayed behind, probably to report back to Zeus. Oh, how I wished I could be there when she did! It was petty, but I couldn’t help it. His reaction was going to be priceless!

  Mr. Snider tried to catch up to us, but I was a fast walker and Artemis was tall.

  “I don’t know what’s gotten into you both,” he panted as he finally reached us. “Drugs? Girl gang?”

  I smiled. Mr. Snider shuddered.

  “Trust me, Mr. Snider,” I replied. “You don’t want to know.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  I spun around in my chair. I was bored. There was nothing to do in the principal’s office. The Fates weren’t here. I’d already checked, just to be safe. It would’ve been amazing if they had been though. Mission accomplished. Worlds saved. Back to the Heavens. Back to being a god again.

  Principal Sheridan was sitting obediently on a chair in the corner. Mr. Snider was beside him.

  Demeter was rifling through one of Sheridan’s cabinets. Artemis kept watch.

  “Class in ten minutes,” Artemis warned me.

  I sighed. There had been classes all day. Each one more useless than the last. Apart from the excitement at lunch, this day was dragging by painfully.

  “Which one?” I asked absently.

  “History,” she answered.

  “I like history,” I recalled. “I remember most of it.”

  “I found it!” Demeter interjected.

  She held up a folder triumphantly, and slapped it in front of me.

  “Blake Collins,” she explained, opening it excitedly. “This is his personal file.”

  “And?” I asked. I couldn’t even pretend to be remotely interested.

  She opened it and started to read. Her brow furrowed. “Assault. Make that assaults. Plural. Oh, um...”

  “What?” I asked.

  “A couple sexual assaults,” Demeter admitted. “Nothing confirmed though. The allegations were always taken back.”

  “I should’ve fried his brain when I had the chance,” I muttered. “We have nothing to worry about. If he bothers us again, I’ll crack his mind like a coconut.” I paused. “What do you make of that other mortal?”

  “Which other mortal?” Demeter asked.

  “Justin,” I said.

  “Oh, the staring boy,” she replied. “I don’t know. He’s cute. Really cute, actually.”

  She grinned at me.

  “Please,” I said. “He’s a mortal. And I’m married.”

  “That’s never stopped Zeus,” Demeter sniffed.

  I glared at her. She was the only one who dared bring that up, at least to my face. But I let her get away with it because she was my sister. And because I knew, without her ever saying it, that if she had her way, Zeus would pay for how much he’d hurt me. She kept an even better record of my heartbreaks than me, and that was saying something. There’d been a lot of heartbreaks. At first. But not anymore. There were only so many times Zeus could break my heart before I didn’t have one left to be broken anymore.

  Still, I didn’t take the bait. I wasn’t in the mood to dredge up that ugliness.

  “It’s just that the boy . . .” I started.

  “Justin,” Demeter supplied, still grinning.

  “Justin,” I repeated. “He’s always . . . I don’t know.”

  “Watching?” Artemis suggested.

  “Yeah.” I nodded. I sighed. “Never mind. Let’s go to class. I could use some entertainment.”

  We walked in just on time.

  Justin was there, too. He sat behind me. I’d forgotten about that. Or maybe I’d never noticed before. He leaned forward when I sat down, but Miss DeSousa, our history teacher, cleared her throat before he could say anything.

  When she saw me, she paused. “Miss Dale? Principal Sheridan didn’t . . .”

  She looked at me expectantly.

  “Didn’t what?” I asked innocently.

  News of my exploits must have traveled fast. Not that it mattered. My powers would wear off of Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Snider soon, but I’d taken the liberty of erasing the memory of what had happened in the cafeteria. There was no reason for us to deal with that on top of everything else. Missing Fates were more than enough. I had worlds to save. I didn’t have time for detention.

  Miss DeSousa blinked.

  “Oh, nothing,” she lied. Mortals were always lying. And they were rarely good at it. “Let’s begin.”

  When Justin decided Miss DeSousa was sufficiently distracted, he leaned forward again. “You okay?”

  I said nothing. I wished fervently that he’d lean back in his seat and forget about it. But something told me he wouldn’t.

  “Are you mad at me?” Justin asked.

  “No,” I whispered. “I’m just trying to pay attention.”

  I liked history. I’d watched it all while it was happening. I’d forgotten a lot, of course, and I didn’t really care about what I remembered. But I still knew far more than any mortal. So history was nice. Relaxing. It reminded me of being a god. Even though I was stuck in this mortal body, in the mortal world, far from home.

  “I just w
ant to explain. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you,” Justin said. “Those guys are total psychos. If I’d stayed, they would’ve just kicked my ass and then gone after you twice as hard to prove a point. So I went to get Snider.”

  “It’s fine,” I assured him.

  “I just . . .” Justin paused. “I just don’t want you to think I ran away and left you there.”

  I didn’t say anything. I hoped that would shut him up. To my surprise, it did. For a while.

  “I don’t think you should walk home by yourself today,” Justin said.

  “You don’t have to worry about me,” I told him. Would he never shut up?

  “Right,” Justin said. He paused. “Are you . . . is there something going on with you? You seem different lately.”

  “Different?” I echoed. Damn. Either he was observant, or I was bad at acting. Probably both. “We should really pay attention. DeSousa’s going to notice.”

  “DeSousa has read straight from the textbook for the past two months,” Justin said. “She’s lost to the world for the next hour. Shouldn’t you be at a Student Council meeting anyway?”

  I had no idea what he was talking about. “Oh. Change of plans.”

  It wasn’t technically a lie.

  Justin was silent for a while, but I didn’t bother hoping it would last. It didn’t ever seem to with him.

  “You sure you’re okay?” he pressed.

  Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.

  “I’m sure.”

  I heard the sound of a book slamming shut. “Who is talking during class?”

  DeSousa. So much for being dead to the world. Maybe Justin wasn’t that observant after all.

  I opened my mouth to confess. It wasn’t like she could do much to me anyway. If she tried, I’d just mesmerize her.

  “It was me,” Artemis said.

  I gave her a surprised look. She shrugged. She was kinda going overboard with the whole bodyguarding thing. But that was Artemis.

  “See me after class for detention, Miss Hansen,” Miss DeSousa snapped. “Now, unless anyone else wants to spend a little extracurricular time with me? Hm? Didn’t think so. Sit. Listen. Take notes.”

  She resumed her reading.

  “Sorry,” Justin whispered.