Chapter 5: Fury and Favor

“I will sing of Zeus, chiefest among the gods and greatest, all-seeing, the lord of all, the fulfiller who whispers words of wisdom to Themis as she sits leaning towards him. Be gracious, all-seeing Son of Cronos, most excellent and great!”Hyman 23 to Zeus, Homeric Hymns. Translation by Hugh G. Evelyn-White 1914

Words cannot express the majesty and wonder of the Mountain of Olympus in its prime. After the fall of the Titans, in the early days of Zeus’ reign, the snow-capped peaks soared towards the heavenly sky. It held an aura of ethereal grandeur that was the envy of the divine no matter what realm they hailed from.

The rugged earthy cliffs would inspire mortals to try and climb to the summit to see the city of the gods.

In that city, many changes were taking place. Palaces were being filled by some gods or the Titans loyal to the Lightning Lord called King Zeus. The city was quickly becoming a landscape of unparalleled beauty.

Within the plane that had been created through the first union of Gaia and Ouranos, one palace was more beautifully crafted than all the others. It had been occupied by the Last Primordial and the Titan of Time, but for its current occupant, it was the aforementioned Lord of Lightning: Zeus.

Weeks had passed since the other brothers had gotten their kingdoms in order. Those stories were helpful to Metis but concerning for Zeus.

On his throne, Zeus was lost in thought.

Poseidon had conquered and established his role as supreme monarch of the seas within a week. Despite Zeus’ joy at his brother’s success, he had hoped that it would take Poseidon longer to domesticate the waters of Greece. After all, Zeus had heard of the battles between Oceanus and Pontus. When there was conflict between a Primordial and a Titan, it should have taken more time. To compound the issue, Poseidon was ... well ... if Zeus was being fair, Poseidon was an idiot. Zeus’ older brother should have needed help, but from Prometheus’ report, he had defeated Oceanus in single combat and had befriended Pontus.

Of fucking course he befriended the supposed Primordial. Only Poseidon could have done that.

Zeus had wanted Poseidon to fail. If he did, he would have been indebted to Zeus when Zeus inevitably helped clean up the mess. With Poseidon’s success, this truly meant each kingdom would be independent.

Which led into the bigger problem. Without Poseidon beholden to Zeus, the King of Olympus was unsure as to how he would handle the eldest son of Cronos.

As the newly christened King of the Underworld, Hades had obtained more power than anything Zeus had ever known. While he had drawn the longest straw, making him the legitimate ruler of Olympus, Zeus was aware that there would come a day when that would not be enough.

It was likely that he and Hades would come to blows. In that inevitable thought, he would either need servants entirely loyal to him or a new strength within himself in order to defeat (or at the very least compete with) his eldest brother.

Zeus shook his head. He was still trying to figure out where that power of Hades had come from. The oldest son of Rhea and Cronos had done something; Zeus just could not figure out what that something was.

No food, drink, or woman would stop him from thinking on the subject. It had even gotten to the point that even Metis could not bring ease to his restless mind.

However, the Moirai must have been watching over him with favor.

On that day, Cratus and his siblings (Zelus, Nike, and Bia) came to kneel before their king. Zeus focused on the seven foot, well built leader of the contingent. Cratus was sporting a thick curly reddish brown hair, powerful arms, and fierce hazel eyes that told Zeus that the deity yearned to put his strength to the test.

“Your Highness,” Cratus declared. “My siblings and I have come to reaffirm our oaths of loyalty to you. All we ask is to be your most favored servants.”

As Cratus gave his request, Metis walked into the throne room to observe. Normally, Zeus would not mind, but after the Ouranos situation, Zeus felt she was starting to overstep the bounds of her position in her life. He would say nothing though because she was irreplaceable.

“As you were the first to swear loyalty to me,” Zeus began, “I would be a fool not to make you my personal servants, above all on Olympus.”

“Hold it right there, Your Majesty!” screeched a female voice, coming into his palace.

Zeus lifted his head and witnessed three winged women arriving with a kettle between them

“Ah! The Fury Sisters,” Zeus said, standing up in excitement.

“You know of us?” the middle sister asked.

Metis watched Zeus, curious how he would navigate the situation.

Zeus smiled, motioning for the Furies to come further in.

The one in the middle had white-blonde hair and wore an outfit of blue, black, and gold. In her right hand was a studded whip. She was in control of herself with every measured step she took.

The one on the right had gold and black hair; her clothes were black and red. Spider-like legs were folded on her back. There was a malicious grin on her face in preparation for any contingency.

The final sister on the left had the thinnest skin over her skeleton and wore a green hood that covered most of her facial features. The one quality that the audience could see was bright white irises in the void of black eyeballs. She walked, almost aimlessly, behind the middle sister.

“I do. My mother spoke of how you sought to bring my father to justice for slaying Ouranos.” Zeus smirked, looking them over. “You would not be trying to bring me to ‘justice’, would you?”

He motioned, realizing he did not know their names.

“Megaera,” the middle sister explained. She motioned to the sister on her right then her left. “Alecto and Tisiphóné.”

Zeus nodded in acknowledgement of the names.

“We would not, Your Majesty,” the middle sister went on. “You brought down your father, who was guilty in our eyes.”

“We would not punish those who bring down those in our bad graces,” the sister on the left said. Her voice was a haunting monotone that found its way to last in one’s ear.

Bia rubbed the side of her head in order to return her attention to the scene before them.

“Then, if I may, why have you come?” Cratus asked, irritated. He crossed his arms in annoyance. When he and his siblings were about to be honored by the victor of the Great War, these newcomers had come in to ruin their accolades.

“We have come to serve as the personal servants and bringers of justice for Zeus.”

“You will find that position is already taken,” Zelus said, confrontational as ever.

“Is it?” the sister on the right asked, snapping her teeth. “I wonder how Zeus would feel about trusting himself with siblings who committed treachery to gain his trust.”

“What are you saying?” Bia asked. She flexed her hand threateningly. She had three siblings at her back while this antagonizing Fury Sister only had two backing her. Bia liked her odds.

“I am sure she is saying that she worries how committed you are to the King of Olympus,” the calming voice of Metis cut in.

She watched with care as the two opposing forces paused when she spoke. She walked between them, ensuring that they did not come to blows.

“My King,” Metis went on, continuing her path towards her lover and ruler. “As you have two groups who wish to be your personal enforcers, when you only need one, would it not be prudent to cull the inferior force?”

Upon his throne, Zeus nodded. “I agree, Metis, but how?”

“Well,” Metis said, bowing before the youngest son of Cronos. She held in her hand a scroll.

Zeus stood and accepted the scroll. “Ah I see,” he replied as his eyes read the scroll. “Explain to our guest if you please, Metis.”

Metis nodded before standing. “During the Great War, there was a General for the masses under Cronos’ command. He is Atlas, one of the strongest Titans to ever be born.”

Cratus let out a snort of derision. No being, short of Zeus, could be stronger than him, in Cratus’ opinion.

“I believe, as both a show of skill and loyalty, whichever of your groups should capture Atlas, will be the personal guard to his Majesty, Zeus,” Metis finished.

“We showed our loyalties before these newcomers!” Nike exclaimed. “And now you, advisor, wish to make us compete against them?”

The Furies said nothing but one of them let out a snort in laughter.

“Actually,” Zeus said, contradicting Metis. “They do have a point, Metis. If these newcomers want to earn my trust, it should be more meaningful.”

Metis turned with abject disgust on her face. To watch him contradict her so publicly was not only humiliating but undermined her ability to advise him in front of others.

“I have a new idea if these Fury Sisters are up for a contest.”

The one called Alecto licked her lips. “We yearn for a challenge, Your Majesty. We will not shy away.”

“Very well,” Zeus said standing. Before them, he summoned up a portal of lightning showing three large, multi-headed and many armed beings. “These beings are the Hecatoncheires. They also turned on Ouranos in the ancient past.”

That phrase caught the attention of the Furies.

“My father, Cronos refused to free them from their prison after claiming Ouranos was a tyrant, so I freed them with their Cyclopes brethren,” Zeus explained. “The Cyclopes realized that their power was dangerous and proved loyalty to me, and unlike with Ouranos, they have not turned on me.”

Metis looked at Zeus in disbelief at the manipulation of the facts. She suspected his deception had a point, but it would also, likely, work against them in the future.

“Your task is to bring me at least two of the three Hecatoncheires before Cratus and his siblings bring me Atlas.”

“How would this be fair?” Megaera asked.

Zeus smiled. “Because I know where the Hecatoncheires are located, and Atlas is missing. The task of being the Hecatoncheires will be one of skill and strength while wit and cunning will be needed to capture Atlas.”

“So we are to use the skills we are accustomed to in order to prove ourselves?” Megaera asked. When Zeus nodded. “Very well, Majesty. Before we go, we brought you a gift.”

Zeus raised an eyebrow.

Tisiphóné and Alecto brought forth a jar. Within was a black swirling substance that had a tinge of gold.

“What is this?” Zeus wondered.

“It is the ichor of Ouranos,” Megaera explained. “This is what we were brought forth from. If any could appreciate it or find a use for it, we believe you could, Majesty.”

Zeus grimaced at the gift. “Thank you, Sisters. I am sure I will find a way to use your gift. Now ... I think you all should prepare. Your contest begins tomorrow at dawn. If either one of your groups leave Olympus before Helios’ light touches the peak of Olympus, you will have lost.”

The Furies and Cratus’ contingent nodded in agreement before lowering their heads and leaving.

When they were far enough away, Zeus looked from the jar to Metis. An idea struck him like the lightning bolts he hurled.

“Metis, summon my mother and Gaia. I think I have a way to build a compromise with them.”

Metis looked from the jar to him. “Do you want to discuss that lie you just told of the Hecatoncheires?”

“I do not,” Zeus said.

“They did not betray you or your brothers. They requested to not be a part of the war. You and your brothers agreed.”

“They did,” Zeus agreed with a nod. While he did not want to discuss the topic, he knew Metis would not leave well enough alone until he did, so he inclined his head and allowed her to continue.

“Then why say that?” Metis wondered.

“Because Hades is more powerful than I am!” Zeus growled back. “If the Hecatoncheires decide to help him, and the denizens of his Underworld, we will not be able to stop them.”

While Metis did not agree with the morality of the choice, she understood it logically.

“How did you know the Fury Sisters were not especially strong? That they were more trackers, unlike Cratus and his siblings?”

“I didn’t,” Zeus remarked with a giddy smile. “But now we do know that. Rhea and Gaia were private about the event between Cronos and the Furies. All I knew for certain is that they tracked my father down and did battle with him. Now we know more.”

“I see,” Metis said with a smile before walking up to her king. “We will make a strategist out of you yet.”

“Maybe,” Zeus said, kissing his sweetheart. “Now ... if you would summon my mother and Gaia, I think there is a relationship I need to mend.”

Metis nodded. “Very well, my King.”

While she did not agree with the deception, she was starting to be grateful to Hades’ transformation. Perhaps the eldest son of Cronos’ newfound might would motivate Zeus to be a better, thinking leader. After all, caring enough about the wellbeing of Olympus to try and preserve it was paramount.

She left her partner to do as he bid.

The sun dipped below the horizon when Metis arrived on the secluded island where Gaia and Rhea were exiled. The Oceanid could think of worse places for people to be left.

Though, more recently, the Titaness of Wisdom was beginning to regret her lover’s choice. Rhea had proved useful in the Ouranos debacle. While that situation had created division between Zeus and Hades, it also helped create a precedent between the Underworld and Olympus.

Rules and laws were necessary for a successful community. The lands of Greece were only flowing with more life. Metis knew the rule of law would keep all in line. Hades, and his chthonic horde, would handle the spirits, shades, and specters.

For every good, there was a bad; there had to be, by Metis’ estimation. Hades’ newfound power could make Zeus better or paranoid. It was fast becoming make or break time for Zeus.

Standing before the overgrowing forest at the heart of Gaia’s island, Metis remembered that it was in that forest Zeus was trained by the Earth Primordial. Metis had helped advise Gaia on how to prepare Zeus. Of course, at the time, Metis did not know that it was the lightning lord that she was advising Gaia on.

Back then, the Counselor of Olympus had only been a young, inexperienced being. She had been naïve in how she had once thought. It had been so much simpler back then, so much easier. With every step forward, everything from Olympus to the deities to the mortal lands themselves became more and more complicated.

Letting out a loud, long sigh, she composed herself before calling out to the exiled queens.

“Gaia! Rhea!” Her voice carried a sense of deference. She did not want to repeat herself. These women were queens by every measurement

From within the shadows of the island’s dense foliage emerged Gaia. The Primordial was the epitome of regal grace in her visage of bark, wood and vines condensed in the form of a feminine form. Beside her stood Rhea. She was ever the queen in every way. Even if Metis did marry Zeus and become Queen of Olympus, she would never appear half as monarchical.

“To what do we owe this pleasure?” Rhea asked with crossed arms.

“The King of Olympus requests both of your presence on Olympus,” Metis announced.

While Rhea seemed the most indignant at the words, it was Gaia who spoke, bristling. “Requests or demands?”

Even in exile, the Primordial was still a child of Chaos and was therefore, graced with unmistakable, noble splendor.

“Requests,” Metis repeated with clarifying intent. For the smallest moment, the wise titan allowed her formality to slip. “Gaia ... Rhea ... I apologize for how things have gone, but if you come to Olympus, Zeus might rectify his mistake in sending you away from Olympus.”

The two queens looked at one another before returning their attention to the advisor.

“Thank you for coming, Metis,” Rhea said cordially.

With a nod of acknowledgment to the Olympian ambassador, Gaia added her voice. “Tell Zeus we shall honor his request. We will come to Olympus tomorrow.”

Metis bowed respectfully before the exiled queens. “Thank you, Your Majesties,” she replied before turning to depart. With a flash of light, she vanished from the eyes of the former rulers.

“I told you that my meeting with Zeus would bear fruit,” Rhea said with an I-told-you-so manner.

“I am aware that your visit could have a positive result,” Gaia remarked, reprimand in her voice. “I only said that I thought it would have been smarter for us both to go together.”

“If the result is the same, why should we care about the methods?” Rhea asked.

She gave a mother a look of aggressive annoyance. She had been the one to make the decisions that saved them. Giving up her great love, Ouranos, had not been easy for Rhea, yet Gaia seemed ungrateful for the immense sacrifice that Rhea had made. Perhaps the Primordial was just oblivious. The Titan Queen did not know which choice would be worse.

“It matters because if you had worked with me, Daughter, Zeus would know we were united,” Gaia explained, anger edging into her voice. Despite recognizing Rhea as her closest child, Gaia needed her daughter to be aware of the order of things. “He might use the doubt of the situation not to return us to his good graces. If you work with me, we can ensure our plans succeed without getting in the other’s way.”

“Of course, Mother Earth,” Rhea said through gritted teeth. “I apologize for my impatience.”

Gaia inclined her head. If they were free of their paradise prison, it would all be worth it. They were only one day away from their liberation by Zeus.

In the lavish room of their private palace on Olympus, Cratus and his siblings sat around a polished marble table. The glow of torches cast a bright light over the faces of the relatives.

Bia and Zelus, for their part, had expressions of skepticism. They leaned forward, doubt in both of the siblings’ eyes.

“How could he do this?” Bia exclaimed.

“Sister!” Cratus said. “Zeus overcame Cronos, and he is already undoing the mistakes of his predecessor.”

Cratus was a tall, towering titan, or was he a god? Titles were in flux since Zeus had taken the throne. Chiseled from sturdier material than even the hardest marble, he possessed muscles of coiled iron. In his eyes, there was a burning intensity that could be transformed either into anger or passion. His full beard and thick curly reddish brown hair created the aura of masculinity that other divine beings would emulate for generations.

If his physique was not enough to make Bia and Zelus see his side, his stern countenance was.

However, these were not lesser godly warriors; this was Bia.

She was a relentlessness itself. Even for a by the titanic standards, she was almost the same height as Cratus, which enabled her to loom over friend and for alike.

“If he is so much better, why not just give us the honor he knows is due to us?” Bia asked. When none of her siblings had an immediate answer, she pushed forward. “I don’t trust Zeus, brother, or his motives,” Bia declared firmly. “This quest feels like a game to remind us all who is in charge.”

Nike unfurled her wings from her back in a show of both irritation and refined elegance. Her fluidity would make the waters of Poseidon’s ocean jealous.

“He is in charge, sister!” Nike said quickly. “What did Cronos do to make his points known? What happened to Helios and Selene? Oh yeah! When Hyperion said their love for each other was problematic, Cronos helped Hyperion beat them and imprison them in the sky, so that they could never see one another! Zeus, at the very least, is finding solutions.”

Zelus was zeal itself. He had no intention of allowing Nike to have th last say if that was the conclusion.

“Just because he is in charge doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be held accountable!” Zelus exclaimed. “And we can’t forget that he is his father’s son. We can’t afford to be blindsided by his schemes.”

Cratus furrowed his brow in thought. Recognizing that Nike was on on his side, he exchanged a glance with her. “That’s not who he is, and even if he was, do you think with Metis by his side, that he would not have seen this possibility? Zeus has flaws, but he’s not like Cronos. He’s trying to prove himself worthy of his throne.”

Nike slapped one hand against the other before she chimed in. “Exactly! Maybe this is a test, but if we are already fighting, he needs to plan for a day when others turn on him. He demands the best to protect him. And isn’t that us?”

Zelus looked unconvinced while Bia almost inclined her head in agreement with Nike.

“Then we prove we are the best?” Zelus wondered. “What if he turns on us.”

“He would never do that,” Cratus replied in passionate defense.

“You don’t know that!” Zelus said.

“We know him by who his enemies were. Cronos and Hyperion were deplicitious. Even Coeus allowed Cronos to sacrifice our allies in the final battle. Zeus protected his side completely. None of his friends died, and where Cronos pushed things back, Zeus gave us the courteous of dealing with this now rather than pushing it off for ten years.”

The recollection of Cronos prolonging the war so he could get the measure of Zeus and his brothers was fresh in their mind. At that idea, they all nodded.

“Very well,” Zelus replied. “But if he does not hold up his end at the end of this, I will do to him what he did to Cronos.”

The siblings recoiled at the memory of Cronos’ ... loss.

For the moment, between the siblings, there was a manageable peace. Each parted from the room to rest before their great challenge.

On that same night, under the soft glow of Olympian light, the three Fury sisters occupied a guest palace. The Furies all looked at one another. Alecto was pacing in her impatience. Tisiphóné sat at a table where there was an overabundance of food; an empty look rested upon her face. Megaera leaned against a wall.

None of them were accustomed to the luxury of Mount Olympus. To the three, who were as different as three sisters could be and often disagreed, the splendor that the other deities loved appeared only to be wasteful to them.

“I don’t get this,” Alectos said, frustrated. “We battled his father and would have won if Tis hadn’t gotten hurt! Zeus should be begging us to be his protectors.”

“I concur with our sister, Megaera,” Tisiphóné remarked with indifference. “We could be flying over the lands, being free to do as we wish. Why are we doing this?” Tisiphóné’s voice held an air of coldness, but never did emotion cut into it.

“We’ve been over this!” Meg responded, annoyed by the apathy of one sister and the excess of emotion of the other. “These sons of Cronos hold sway over everything. You witnessed how it was under Cronos’s reign. If we provoke them or seek retribution...”

“Then these Kings will come for us,” Alecto interjected, impatient seething in her voice.”We get it; we get it. But why? Nothing short of Cronos could harm us. We can fight them off.”

“Don’t be foolish sister,” Megaera shot back sharply. Her teeth snapped and her eye flashed a warning to Alecto. It was time to listen, not fight. “They just fought a war. There are many overpowered beings and only three of us, but if we serve the great king...”

She was struggling to find patience for both of her sister. Still, she allowed the words to hang in the air so that one of her sisters might pick up on her thinking.

“Then they will not dare to even come for us,” Tisiphóné concluded with quiet assurity.

Her detached demeanor might have been disconcerting for others, but for Megaera, it was not only expected, but what Meg was hoping for. If Tis, in her uncurious manner, could see the wisdom of Meg’s plan, then the three were well on their way.

“Exactly,” Meg affirmed. Sometimes, survival demanded strategic submission, but if they survived, they could work their way up to being free.

Where the fuck is Zeus? Metis wondered. She had stayed in her own palace that night. No one had seen or heard from him before the sun rose.

She scoured the mountain city to no avail. As the morning’s light flitted upon the gates of Mount Olympus, Metis was starting to worry that her lover and king was missing. She loved Zeus, adored him, but she was not blind to his faults. He had a habit of not thinking ahead, and his absence only showed that her summation of him was correct.

She had to think quickly on her feet. She wondered if her role as the counselor to the king gave her the authority to act in his absence. Grabbing the majestic Aegis shield, she put it on her arm.

His palace and throne room were empty and the sun was almost completely up. There was no time to worry for the consequences of acting. A task needed to be done.

When she reached the gates, there was not a more opposite sight. The Furies had wings, whips, and tendrils. They were homemade for the Underworld than the beautiful realm of Olympus.

Then there was Cratus and his bunch. Cratus may have appeared like Zeus in stature and power, but he lacked grace. Those four were more likely to start fights than end them for Zeus. With weapons and muscles, the four siblings were warriors through and through. After their grandmother’s death, Metis would have assumed that they would have sided with their grandfather, Crius, but they had been absent from most of the Great War. Maybe that was why they had a kinship with Zeus. Zeus offered them the chance to unleash their gifts without restraint.

She shook her head before addressing the groups.

“Thank you for joining me,” Metis said, projecting her voice.

Before she could continue, Zelus interrupted. “Where is Zeus? Where is our King?”

“His Majesty is indisposed with other matters that concern Olympus, and has deemed to give me the authority to start your journey. Is that sufficient for you?” Metis asked, almost imploring the zealous deity to try her.

“Zeus told us he would tell us the location of the Hecatoncheires,” Megaera put in.

“I also have their location. But first I would like to go over the rules of this task if that is all right by you?” Metis asked.

While the Furies were not nearly as confrontation as Cratus’ lot, Metis recognized that they also struggled with accepting authority.

“What rules are needed?” Bia asked. Her question confirmed Metis’ conclusion of the godly siblings.

“As this contest must be fair to both sides,” Metis pointed out with authority that none would challenge. “It has been decided that neither Cratus nor his contingent may harm or impede the Fury sisters, and vice versa,” she declared. “The Furies are tasked with the capture of at least two of the three Hecatoncheires, while Cratus and his siblings must secure the return of Atlas to Mount Olympus. Your captured prisoners must remain alive upon reaching Zeus. Failure to meet these conditions will result in disqualification.”

“And that means what?” Alecto snapped through sharp teeth.

Metis looked at the Fury with an invitation for the creature to strike. Alecto look from Meg to Metis. Both Meg and Tis did nothing. As such, the violent sister stepped back.

“Thank you,” Metis said with a nod of her head. “The Hecatoncheires were seen in the northern mountains, Fury Sisters.” Metis watched them acknowledge her. “As it might be unfair to tell you where they are and give Cratus’ group nothing, I will say that Atlas left with his wife and daughters, Cratus, so they will be traveling ina group. They have not been seen near Orthrys or in the Underworld. I wish you luck in your search.”

With those final hints given, Metis raised her arm up before slashing it down.

“Now... GO!” she commanded.

The Fury Sisters cackled and launched themselves into the skies with violent frenzy. Their eagerness would serve them well.

Nike grabbed Bia to start a flight in one direction while Zelus and Cratus threw themselves in another direction.

“Meet back here by tomorrow night!” Cratus exclaimed with his powerful lungs.

Metis watched the stark differences between the two parties. She could not stop herself from shaking her head. If these were to be the best and brightest that Olympus had to offer, the kingdom might be in danger.

He was starting to wonder how Hades stomached the place. Under the cover of night, Zeus had to forcibly sneak into the depths of the Underworld.

Answers were needed but he could not summon the his lightning to teleport himself. Zeus was aware that Hades would be able to see him. A confrontation would not serve the King of Olympus.

If he had been worried before venturing into the realm of the dead, Zeus beheld a monolith of darkness. A palace was under construction. The sheer size seemed to dwarf half of the landscape of Olympus. By the time it was done, Zeus was not sure what it would look like, but Hades had not been slack in his rulership.