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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬

THE PALACE OF OLYMPUS

OLYMPUS

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THE OLYMPIAN COUNCIL WAS REALLY A GLORIFIED HIGHSCHOOL CLIQUE. And boy did Melaina hate it.

Walking into the throne room, Melaina was graced with the familiar school lunch table. The Gods sitting in their respective ivory thrones around a curved marble table, the most 'popular' Gods in the middle with those who were deemed lesser occupying the seats at the edge. Their ethereal bodies haloed in an iridescent light, even the world regarding them as superior. More powerful, more beautiful, more worthy than she.

They were the jocks, the cheerleaders, the populars.

And Melaina, she was the bitch who didn't give a fuck.

Turning her gaze to the center of the council, Melaina's eyes met the steel-blue gaze of none other than the almighty Zeus. Sitting in his throne, with a golden crown made from none other than the finest of jewels and carved with almost imperceptible lightning bolts. The crown almost seemed to be a metal extension of his golden hair, haloing his tan skin in an aureole of light.

Even if Melaina had not the slightest clue about who the Gods were, as if she was a mortal oblivious to the deities that controlled her life, she would have been able to pick Zeus as the King amongst all the Gods. He oozed power, churning inside the Olympian like a hurricane. He radiated pure strength and stature, unlike the other Gods. Being the only one amongst them to eye up Melaina (who was actually many centuries older than he) with blatant disinterest.

"Melaina, welcome." The king bellowed, voice cracking like thunder. "And Apollo, take your seat."

Melaina whirled around in surprise, immediately catching the eye of Apollo who was making his way towards his own throne, winking subtly at her as he passed. An action that sent the slightest tingle of heat cascading down her body.

Ignoring his overtly, cocky nature, Melaina turned back to the Gods, trying not to think about her and Apollo's last rendezvous on Olympus. In this very room no less, a scandalous affair she had wished not to repeat aloud. Managing to not notice the smirk that danced across her sister's lip or the coiling of Aether's fist by his side.

"Hemera, Aether, you are both dismissed." Hera ordered, her voice coated in a thick layer of insincerity.

Melaina's jaw tightened at the Goddess's horrid voice, trying to withhold her desire to glare at the woman draped in glorious ivory silk. The mere sight of her cinnamon hair and wicked smirk left Melaina seething. Because despite Hera being the Goddess of all things womanly, she was a right bitch.

Not wanting to start a fight with the wayward Goddess, Hemera and Aether bowed in reverence to the Gods before exiting the chamber. Their footsteps echoing down the hallway as they left.

"Now onto important matters." Zeus announced, his deep baritone voice bellowing into the otherwise silent room. His steely gaze landed on Melaina, a semblance of pity churning in his cobalt orbs. "I think it best if we start with congratulations for Melaina finishing her millennia of servitude."

"Oh yes, slumming it in the Underworld with Hades truly deserves some recognition." Hera declared brazenly, eyes glinting like cursed sapphire diamonds as her lips pulled into a mocking sneer.

"I will gladly go back and slum it up with Hades so I don't have to hear your shrill whine." Melaina instantly retorted, cocking a brow at the whiny Goddess challengingly.

Hera gasped at her words, vexation igniting in her bones as she glared daggers down at her. "You better watch your words or I'll—"

"You will what? Send some peacocks after me?" Melaina remarked, chuckling derisively. "I'm not scared of you Hera. After all, I am as old as your mother."

Melaina's words blasted from her ruby lips, daring the Goddess to fight back. To let her molten anger erupt like a fearsome wildfire, igniting deep within her and consume her entire being. And Hera fell for it, hook, line, and sinker.

"Why you conniving little—"

"Hera, enough." Zeus warned, glaring at his wife with stormy eyes.

She immediately tensed at her husband's words, rage still rattling in her bones and chewing away at her composure. She sent a heated glare at Zeus but she did not disobey, surrendering like the weak lapdog she was. A role that she has played for eons without rest.

A role that Melaina utterly despised.

"How I missed your wonderful banter, Melaina." Aphrodite purred, her melodious voice interrupting the tense silence that overwhelmed the chamber. "And your many other features." She winked teasingly.

Turning her gaze to her other past lover, Melaina gazed at the Goddess of Love and Beauty in affection. Aphrodite was as majestic as ever, her golden locks pulled tightly away from her ethereal countenance and into a tight braid, falling down the back of her rose dress. Her ocean-blue eyes swirled with a dangerous combination of lust and disaster, enchanting all those that stared into them for too long.

Aphrodite was the epitome of beauty, which was unsurprising since she was the Goddess of Beauty after all. But every time Melaina looked at her, the air was knocked from her lungs and her organs drowned in a wave of desire.

"It has been much too long, Aphrodite." Melaina replied, smiling at her warmly.

But Hera's anger had yet to dissipate, venom still lingering on the tip of her tongue.

"I wish it was longer." The bitter Goddess murmured, prompting Melaina to turn back to her in fury.

"That is enough." Zeus boomed once again, voice clapping like thunder and effectively silencing the room. "We are not here to listen to this repartee." He glared at his wife.

"Well let's get on with it then." Athena added boredly, warm, bronze skin shining as she relaxed back into her chair.

"We are gathered here today to participate in two votes within the presence of Melaina as a spectator." Zeus proclaimed, gesturing to the onyx haired Goddess as he spoke.

The Council then began exchanging in soft murmurs, conversing between themselves as if they were school children whose teacher had turned their attention to the board. Melaina, unable to decipher what the Gods were saying, shuffled awkwardly on the spot, wishing she had her own chair to sit in.

But before the chatter could escalate any further, Zeus' thundering voice echoed into the air again.

"Concerning the matter of Melaina's 5 years of freedom at the conclusion of her millennia of servitude to repay her debts to the Olympians. I request that those in agreement that her autonomy should be restored now raise their right hands and say aye." He ordered.

At his words, Melaina sucked in a breath of air, nervousness curling in her abdomen like a serpent. Her hands wrung together desperately as it seemed that time all but came to a stop, waiting for the reactions of the Council.

She knew that they were going to grant her freedom, they had done it many times before in the past. But she was still anxious each time because this was her freedom that they held in their hands, as fragile as a glass heart. And they had the power to shatter it within their fingers if they desired.

And she couldn't stop them.

It seemed that the Gods' hands all rose in slow motion, deliberately taking their time as they made their decision. First, it was Apollo's hand that reached into the air, a melodious aye falling past his still slightly swollen lips. Then it was Artemis, his ethereal twin sister. Hephaestus' coarse, boil infested hand soon followed, as did the rest of the Gods. Even Hera begrudgingly lifted her hand and joined the mellow chant.

"So we are all in agreement then." Zeus spoke, a relieved smile curling on Melaina's lips, her entire being mollifying as the prospect of freedom became so much more tangible. Finally within her grasp.

"For once." He then mumbled to himself, leaning back into his chair with a sigh.

"You don't see that often." Hephaestus, the huge deformed bore of a man, commented. His burnt scarlet nose lifting in the air as if he smelled something putrid.

"Shut up, oaf." Aphrodite immediately retorted, glaring at her scowling husband in disgust.

It had always baffled Melaina why Zeus decided to marry the beautiful, drool-worthy Aphrodite to the welt covered mess that was Hephaestus. A man so ugly, that his own mother threw him off the side of Mount Olympus when he was born because the sight of his face revolted her.

"Watch what you say, wife." The brute scowled.

But before Aphrodite could utter another word, one of her many lovers piped up, possibly the most infamous one, pushed back his chair in rage.

"Don't talk to her that way!" Ares growled, eyes glowing crimson like blood as he glared at his lovers' husband. Ebony skin rippling beneath his military gear as he reared up in his throne.

"I think Aphrodite can speak up for herself." Artemis interrupted the two, her silver doe eyes shining brightly like caged moonbeams. "She doesn't need men to speak up for her."

"She does a lot more than just speaking for herself." Apollo joked to his sister, a mocking grin curling on his lips. "Especially around those two."

"Do I need to remind you both of who you are speaking to?" Ares warned in a poisonous tone.

Apollo immediately bristled at Ares words, rising in his seat as his emerald eyes blazed with protective rage. "Are you threatening my sister and I? Because that wouldn't be wise." He seethed.

And with that, the Gods erupted into another fight, venomous words catapulting from their lips like bullets, a violent explosion of fury over issues that were not new to the 12 Gods.

And poor Melaina was caught in between the crossfire. Standing awkwardly before the Gods' altar as they all bickered between each other.

"Oh, Tartarus." Melaina sighed, shaking her head at the children that quarreled before her. The children that had more power than she did.

"ENOUGH!"

Zeus' enraged bellow quickly rendered the entire room silent. Even Ares, who's eyes were still glowing scarlet with rage, knew to shut up.

"Now, onto the second vote." He continued, his voice sharp like a silver blade. "Concerning the issue of the Norse Gods' involvement on Earth and the damage they have caused. An issue which will be addressed by Melaina as her final service before her autonomy will be granted."

"What!" Melaina interrupted sharply, mouth dropping open in shock.

This was not what she signed up for. She was supposed to start her 5 years of freedom now, an unvarying act that they had granted her for the last few eons. Never had she been sent on trivial missions to Earth, involving herself in mortal business. The Gods swore to never do that anymore.

"Quiet, girl." Hera growled, glaring at her condescendingly.

"She has the right to understand what is being asked of her, Hera." Apollo countered, eyes softening as he turned his gaze towards Melaina's perplexed face.

"I conquer." Athena agreed. "Melaina is owed an explanation."

"Aye." Demeter too consented, her coiled ebony hair bouncing as she nodded her head.

Zeus sighed, electric blue eyes darkening like a nefarious storm before he spoke. "Loki and his brother Thor have been spending time amongst the Earthlings and they have left a trail of wreckage in their wake. And neither Hermes nor Iris have been able to determine why."

"But they did receive word about something sinister stirring in the galaxy, with its roots stemming from those two brothers." He continued. "So you are being sent as the representative of Olympus to uncover what schemes those two scoundrels are planning and put it to a halt before any more mortals are killed."

"Why me?" She asked, cocking her brow challengingly.

"All the other Olympians have their own duties to tend to and can't afford to spend any more time in the mortal realm. And the last time we sent an Olympian down to Earth to fix the earthlings' mistakes, they started the Cold War." Zeus explained, turning his cold gaze to Ares.

"How many times have I had to say that wasn't my fault!" Ares erupted in fury, slamming his bronze fist against the marble table with startling force.

"Well, who else was it?" Hermes piped up, a derisive chuckle falling from his thin lips.

Ares' eyes ignited like a Molotov cocktail, flashing with behemoth anger as he turned to Hermes. A wildfire of fury raged in his blood red eyes, incinerating anything he laid his eyes on. But Hermes didn't cower under his gaze, instead he puffed his chest out and let his mocking grin curl higher.

Ignoring Ares' anger, Melaina turned back to Zeus. "And none of the other minor Gods were available?" She questioned.

"Hades vouched for you. So unless you would rather spend your days up here, you will take this opportunity and prove yourself to the Council." Zeus answered, but from his tone, Melaina understood it was more of a demand. That there would be no way that she could worm her way out of this one.

"Or maybe Daddy dearest was right about you?" Hera sniggered, blue eyes churning with scorn. "You are too weak for this mission."

At Hera's words, Poseidon let out an annoyed sigh. Chocolate skin rippling as he lifted his muscular arm and caressed the soft skin of his forehead. "Somebody should have smothered you as a babe." He muttered darkly, cutting Melaina's snarky reply off.

"Excuse me!" Hera immediately seethed.

"Do I need to repeat it for you?" Poseidon retorted, eyes boring into the Queen's morosely.

"Poseidon, that was uncalled for." Athena scolded, turning to the man in question with a frown.

Upon hearing Athena's mellow voice, Poseidon rolled his sapphire eyes. "Why am I not surprised you defended her." He quipped.

"And why am I surprised you continue to maintain your condescending attitude even though it's not flattering nor respectful to your peers." Athena bit back, her voice devoid of any emotion as she spoke.

"Someone send me to earth." Hermes murmured as the pair continued to bicker.

"Can we please continue?" Demeter insisted, her coffee colored eyes glimmering sadly as her typically joyous face pulled into a frown.

"SILENCE!" Zeus barked, a roll of thunder echoing outside at his anger. "I have had enough of this bickering. We are here to vote, not behave like children."

Immediately the Council all hushed, recognizing Zeus' irritation and choosing to obey rather than face his wrath. A monster that most of the Olympians all new much too well. A monster that Melaina wished she didn't know.

"Now, I request that those in agreement that Melaina will act as our representative on Earth to deal with the Norse threat raise their hands and say aye." He ordered, eyes burning with caged anger as he looked over the Council.

Just as before, Apollo's hand was first to reach into the air. Soon followed by his sister and many of the other Gods. She instantly knew that the ayes had a majority, meaning that Melaina had no choice but to be sent to earth. Leaving her to watch on helplessly as the Council made the decision to have her do their bidding. Not even letting her have a choice in the matter.

"And now those who disagree, raise thy hands and say nay." Zeus spoke, carrying out with the formality despite knowing that there was no point even asking.

Hera's hand immediately shot into the air, maintaining her glower as she gazed down at Melaina. Ares, Hermes and Demeter's hands soon followed, for reasons that were unknown to Melaina. But it didn't matter, because she was going to Earth.

Melaina let out a defeated sigh, her emerald eyes falling to the ground as Zeus spoke. "The ayes have won with a majority. Which means Melaina, you will be heading to Earth."

Melaina knew that she deserved to have her own opinion on the matter. That she should be able to decide what she wanted to do, especially considering not only moments ago, the Council agreed to restore her autonomy. But no, no matter how free Melaina would be, she would always be chained to the shackles of her past. No longer a Goddess worthy of respect or deference.

Forcibly swallowing her pride, she turned her gaze back up to the Olympians. Trying to disguise her disappointment behind a layer of distaste, letting her eyes burn with heated glares and a sharp scowl pull at her lips.

"Wait, is that all I am being told?" She questioned, aversion lubricating her words. "I need to find some Gods named Thor and Loki? That's it?"

"All I had been able to gather was that something is going down in Nevada today. I don't know when or where, but it has something to do with the governmental terrorism agency called S.H.I.E.L.D." Hermes informed sagely, dark eyes swirling with pity.

"Nevada, that's all I get?" She reiterated.

"All other information is being held by other galactic races. And in order to preserve peace on Olympus and ensure the secrecy of the Gods, I could not investigate further." He explained.

"There are stirrings amongst these races." Artemis agreed, her doe eyes turning to Melaina with a worried look. "But they are not normal animals, Melaina. Be wary, I have received warnings from the wilderness. They do not like what is about to come."

"Thank you, Artemis. Extend my gratitude to the animals." Melaina said gratefully, lowering her head in regard. "And you too, Hermes."

"Is that all, Melaina?" Poseidon added.

"Well, I suppose it will have to be suffice." She shrugged, pursing her lips. "How long do I have to stifle this ploy by the Vikings?"

"As long as there isn't a war amongst the mortals with huge casualties, I don't care." Zeus declared. "We swore on the River Styx to protect the mortals and that is what we shall do."

"Yes, Lord Zeus. I shall return with the Norse Gods crying in despair or their heads on a silver platter." She rebuked bitterly. "Whatever you lot prefer."

Athena's eyes blew wide at Melaina's words. "That's not exactly—"

"That's the spirit!" Ares interrupted, a bloodthirsty grin pulling at his lips.

"Oh darling, the fun you are about to have!" Aphrodite hummed, a knowing look in her cobalt eyes that caused Melaina to frown. But she knew better to question it, thanks to Aphrodite's cryptic nature especially when regarding matters of the heart.

"From all of us, we wish you good luck with this mission." Zeus assured, looking down at Melaina indifferently.

"Thank you." She nodded before bowing, managing to hide the anger that flew through her ivy orbs at his words.

As she returned upright, she caught sight of Apollo offering her a teasing wink. Noticing her discontent and doing his best to alleviate the feeling. But all he managed to get was the corner of her lips lightly twitching upwards. Because the bitter pill the Council forced her to swallow was an action she didn't take lightly.

For years she had accepted her punishments by the Gods, she did what she was told, she endured her torture. Even when she knew that enough had been enough, she let it go. But now having to do their bidding without her opinion being taken into consideration, during her time of freedom, she was close to having enough.

"Now go." Zeus demanded, turning to Hermes and nodding his head.

Hermes flicked his writs towards Melaina, a shimmering white cloud grew in front of her immediately after. An ivory portal revealing the dark desert of Nevada. Waves of heat filtering through and hitting her face as the dark moon illuminated the night sky.

And with a final look towards the Gods, lingering on Apollo's wistful gaze for a second too long, Melaina stepped into the portal. Disappearing from sight and entering into a world that would make her question ever coming there in the first place.

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Hi loves!!!

Omfg having to write a conversation with all the Gods was hard af. You don't know how difficult it is to write a conversation with 13 people and introduce them all fml. Anyway, I'm glad that's over so we can officially get into Avengers (which starts next chapter yayyy!)

Also for those of you who haven't checked out my other stories, I'd highly recommend reading Tricks to meet my Bucky OC!! I just published the 3rd book for her and heavily features Melaina in CA:CW.

Yeah, sorry for the shameless self promo haha

P.S: Melaina is like 4.5 billion years old... wtf?

I guess I should have expected that since it is Greek mythology. but still, she looks hella fine for an ancient homegirl ;)

ANYWAY,, onto the questions!

1. What do you think of this chapter?

2. What would you like to see next?

3. If you could pick one brotp for Melaina, who would you choose?

4. What's your current TV/Movie obsession?

Until next time!

— Grace xx