Page 15 of Hephaestus
I shook my head. “No. It doesn’t harm me at all. At first, they did, but I think I grew used to them after all these years. And the only possible way I could have inherited the power of fire…”
“Is for the God of fire to have instilled that within you,” Hestio finished for me.
“Precisely. I know it was you, Hestio. You cannot hide from it any longer. Your secret is safe with me. I haven’t told a soul of what you did, and I still don’t plan on informing anyone else of it. You did me a favor when I fell. You were the only god who actually cared to come down to the surface to check on my status. You even went a step further by healing me. For that, I will forever be in your debt.”
It was subtle, and I had to be quick to notice it, but I saw a smirk graze Hestio’s face before it immediately went away to return to the stern expression he held. “So, I guess there is no use in trying to deceive and persuade you otherwise.” He then let out a deep sigh. “Yes. It was me who revived you.”
“But why? Do you not know the risk…” I began to say, but Hestio was abrupt to intercede.
“Of course, I know the risk, Hephaestus. And it was a risk I was willing to take. I’d do it over and over again if given the opportunity. I have absolutely no regrets about what I did. I was very aware of the punishments I could potentially face if the other gods and goddesses found out about what I had done.”
“You shouldn’t have, though.”
“Yes, I should have. And every other brave god and goddess should have as well if they were even remotely considered to be good-natured. But the verdict is now out on that. At any rate, what Hera did to you was absolutely cruel. She had no right to treat you in such a manner. I’ve never known a mother that could be so merciless towards her son. No god nor mortal deserves what you had to go through, Hephaestus. I’m so sorry you had to endure Hera’s wrath and discontent for so much of your life. I wish there was a way I could help make amends for the damage she caused you.”
“But you have done more than enough, Hestio.” I stood up and moved closer to him, getting down on my stable knee, resting my large palm over the top of his hand. “I could not have come to so soon were it not for your help. Who knows how many days, weeks, months, or even years I could have been knocked unconscious for if it wasn’t for you. Not to mention, I doubt my condition would have improved so quickly without you and the fire you instilled inside me.”
“I appreciate how beholden you are to my actions, but I assure you, it was of no major consequence. I am relieved to see you are now well and all my efforts in restoring your health were not in vain.” Hestio then placed his spare hand over the top of my own, squeezing it tightly, displaying a warm smile on his face.
It was then that I stared into those ruby eyes of his, probably longer than I should have. I was drawn to Hestio not just for his handsome features but mainly for the beauty that ebbed and flowed within him. He was so kind and so generous, unlike any other god on Mount Olympus. Dare I say I was becoming a bit too enthralled with him? I could feel my heart beating at a far more rapid rate than I was used to. The touch from our hands together sent a warm shiver throughout my entire body. It was a feeling unlike any other I had experienced in all my existence. It was difficult for me to even comprehend, but I soon felt it fleeting as Hestio removed his hands and rose from his chair. He then moved closer towards the fireplace with his back facing me.
We remained silent for a bit. I wasn’t sure what Hestio was doing. I expected him to at least say something else, but instead, he was intently gazing into the fire, seeming lost in his own thoughts.
“As I mentioned previously, I have yet to be able to learn to use and control my powers of fire,” I blurted out, hoping to diffuse the awkward silence that lingered between us.
“Oh. That is right. You did mention that. And you are certain you do, in fact, possess the power of fire?”
“Yes,” I answered. “I know it is contained within me because of that time I was able to use it to melt down a boulder.”
“Very well. I suppose that is proof enough. Tell me, Hephaestus, how long do you have before you are expected to visit Hera and Zeus?”
Truth be told, I wanted to visit them as soon as possible, but then I began to wonder why I was in such a rush to do so. It was not like Hera summoned me at a specific moment in time. Thetis never disclosed to me when she expected me to pay her a visit. As far as I was concerned, Hera had no knowledge of my presence on Mount Olympus. So, would she really be inconvenienced by my prolonged absence? I was doubtful of it.
“There is no specified time that I am required to pay them a visit.”
“Well then, would you like to stay here in my palace for the time being? I could train you to be able to harness your skills with fire. It may take a few days or even weeks for you to fully master it, but I have no doubt of your capabilities in doing so.”
“Really? You would be willing to take the time to be able to teach me?”
“Of course. I would be delighted,” Hestio enthusiastically replied.
“Then, yes. Let’s do it. I would love nothing more than to spend time here perfecting my powers.”
This was only part of the truth. I was thrilled at the very idea of being able to learn how to control flames and conjure them. However, I was secretly more elated at having the chance to remain in Hestio’s presence in the fore coming days. Now that I had formally met Hestio, I had no desire to part ways with him. Getting the opportunity to get to know him more while, in turn, him learning more of me sparked a deeper passion within me. It was a passion I never knew I possessed up until this very moment.
Chapter 7
Whatwashappening?Whatwas this?
I was shocked that Hephaestus showed up to my palace unannounced. Never had I spoken to the god before. So, when he presented himself to me with the utmost graciousness and showed his manners, I was rendered speechless. How could an Olympian God be so polite and respectful? They were traits I was not quite used to seeing here on Mount Olympus.
But what caught me even more off-guard was Hephaestus’s proximity to me. At first, when he came over to kneel beside me to place his hands over mine, I nearly flinched, but then his touch gave me such a warmth, such comfort. I could practically feel the smoldering of the flames within us reach their greatest intensity.
That’s exactly what it had to have been, just an attraction between our two similar powers. It couldn’t have been something more than that, could it? As much as I wanted to believe that that’s all it was, I knew it wasn’t true. I feltsomethingfrom that touch, something beyond complicated and inexplainable.
This was not how I should be feeling. A sense of turmoil overcame me. I was a god that vowed to remain a virgin and withstand the temptations of men. I had shunned the feelings of Apollo and Poseidon, wanting no such attention from them. Yet, the sentiments that passed between Hephaestus and me were going against my better judgment. I should be ashamed of myself for this newfound feeling I was developing for Hephaestus. I knew it was wrong for me to feel this way. It went against everything I stood for as a god. I had made a commitment to banish any such affections, but here I was now allowing them to come to the surface. There was no use in trying to rid them. They would be there to stay. Now, I just needed to make sure that I would not act on them. That would be the most disagreeable thing ever.
I couldn’t let Hephaestus see how uncomfortable I was from our moment of intimacy. To this end, I stood to face the fireplace for a bit to regain my composure and avoid his staring at me. Surely, he would easily be able to see the expression on my face if I did not conceal it from him.
