The Time of Zeus Book 5: the Coup
Copyright© 2025 by Carlos Santiago
Chapter 18: Traitorous Salvation
“Sometimes, the only choices you have are bad ones, but you still have to choose.”
— The Twelfth Doctor (as portrayed by Peter Capaldi), Doctor Who, Series 8, Episode 8: “Mummy on the Orient Express.” Written by Jamie Mathieson. Directed by Paul Wilmshurst. Produced by BBC Cymru Wales. Originally aired on October 11, 2014. Copyright © 2014 BBC Studios. All rights reserved.
Athena had to be careful with what she did.
After giving the Fates’ words some thought, there was only one conclusion, Athena needed to free Zeus. If Zeus was to remain king, he was the infrastructure of Olympus, then for the future where he was to be removed, necessity demanded that Athena be by his side.
However, if this was to work, she would need two things: an ally and plausible deniability.
Hera would undoubtedly feel betrayed by Athena when the wisdom goddess appeared to be Zeus’ most loyal champion. Athena would need time to first distance herself from Hera, so Zeus accepted the deception, and then she would need to tell Hera that she did this for good reason.
That was for later.
At the moment, Athena needed someone to free Zeus while Athena worked on a way to show Zeus her loyalty.
This led her to a stream with naiads, Nereids, and Oceanids playing. Among them was a person she trusted implicitly because her mother did.
“Cousin!” exclaimed a Nereid jovially.
“Hello, Cousin Thetis,” Athena replied in greeting.
Athena often did not bother with seeing this part of her family. Not because she did not like them, but rather, most of the Oceanids were not like her mother, Metis. Some were noble like Galaxaura or Amphitrite, but more were fun-loving. During the Great War, Poseidon broke off from the battles at night to spend time with an Oceanid or Neiriad.
One could say that the more whimsical and liberating living was because of their proximity to the sea; another factor could simply be that they were the descendents of Oceanus and Tethys.
Oceanus had loved freedom and his own independence so much that he refused to battle on either side during the Great War. That must have rubbed onto their children and grandchildren.
However, when it came to knowing much about the information not known by the public or the favored on Olympus or in Poseidonus, Athena could do no better than one of her estranged family.
The Oceanids and Nereids that were not favored by Poseidon knew they had to make a life away from the sea god, but that meant being part of the greater Lower Realm as a whole or reaching out to Oceanus. His fall from grace had done much to make his descendants want to discuss themselves from him.
Her cousin Thetis was one of the more beautiful sea nymphs. Many nymphs were attractive to be sure, but Thetis had been blessed with wondrous proportions, and it was said that Tethys had blessed this nymph with fertility to birth a child more amazing than either mother or father when Thetis decided to become a mother.
What parent would not want to see their child become greater than themselves? Well, there was Zeus for one. That made Thetis someone interesting if the Fates were to be believed. If she were to become one of Zeus’ mistresses, she might be the one capable of birthing such a son that was mentioned by the Fates and their tapestry.
“What brings you to our part of existence?” Thetis asked. “Your mother was not one to want to interact with us. Why would her daughter, a princess of Olympus no less, want to be among us rabble?”
“I believe my father could be in danger,” Athena replied simply.
She did not mention that she was the one who put him in danger. If all went well, Athena would be absolved of that choice.
“I do not see what a single Nereid could do to assist the lauded King of Mount Olympus,” Thetis teased.
“I have given that some thought.”
“Oh?” Thetis asked, nonchalant. She started to look away from Athena and back to the other nymphs playing by the brooke.
“Would you know of any powerful beings not allied with Hades or Poseidon who might be desperate to prove their loyalty to Zeus?”
“Now how and why would I know that?” Thetis teased. “I am just a dumb girl that most of Olympus, Poseidonus, and Oceanus overlook.”
Athena let out a laugh.
“None of my mother’s family is to be overlooked.”
“And yet, you never visit,” Thetis pointed out. Before Athena could defend herself, Thetis wagged her finger. “Oh! Don’t try to defend yourself about it now. You spend more time on that exclusive mountain with your father’s side of the family more than anywhere else.”
That was true, and the insult hurt Thetis far more than she felt it should have. She had been distant from her mother’s side. This was a moment where wisdom and strategy met with deception to birth a compromise within Athena’s sagacious mind.
“Since my birth, my entire life has had reminders of my mother’s death by Typhon,” Athena said slowly. She looked away from her cousin and shook her head. “I know that is not your fault. Or anyone else, but every Oceanid, every Nereid, reminds me of her.”
“Oh!” Thetis said softly.
She reached out to touch Athena softly on the shoulder. While Athena did not recoil, Thetis could see how uncomfortable the contact made her cousin. As such, the Nereid slowly withdrew.
“No,” Athena murmured. “It is okay. Just ... This is why I am on the mountain. Maybe if I protect goddesses and nymphs and maidens and even the playful ... I can honor my mother.”
“Athena,” Thetis remarked with a small laugh. “The Defender of Damsels.”
Athena let out a laugh.
“Maybe we should work on my title,” Athena said.
The two smiled. That was enough for Athena. She needed camaraderie by any means possible. With where they were at the moment, this could work.
“As for my problem?” Athena asked.
Thetis considered the question.
“Well, there are not many you could go to that do not have an allegiance to one of those three kings. I might suggest Gaia or Rhea, but they do not seem to involve themselves in the affairs of Olympus often these days.”
Athena was about to complain, but then she saw that Thetis was not done speaking or talking, so she silenced herself. After all, it was a fool that interrupted someone when you have come asking for favor or advice, and Athena was many things to many people, but she was a fool to no one, least of all herself.
“Do you know of the Hecatoncheires?” Thetis asked.
“Of course,” Athena replied. “During the Great War, they forged wondrous weapons for the gods, and even when the Titans tried to involve them in the war, they threw great stones to keep out of the fighting.”
“Oh. That’s good that you know who they are,” Thetis said. “But I was wondering about after the war.”
Athena had to think for a moment.
“My parents held a contest to see who would be my father’s protector,” Athena remarked. “The Furies were sent to capture two out of the three Hecatoncheires and Cratus and his siblings were sent to capture Atlas.”
In her mind, Athena was always annoyed by the fact that so many siblings had titles like the Furies and the Fates but Cratus and his siblings had no title to sum them up. Before too long, someone would need to fix that.
“Well, two of them are supposedly in the Underworld,” Thetis replied conspiratorially.
Athena could hear the insinuation of the word supposedly. This was good. Progress. The princess could work with this.
“But there is still one in the mountains. Many know that he would do anything to have Zeus’ favor.”
“Then, he might be willing to help my father in these dangerous times?” Athena asked.
Thetis nodded.
“I believe so,” Thetis said honestly. “Though, if your kingly father wanted to show his gratitude, he would need to likely offer a pardon to his brethren from the Underworld.”
“I believe I could get my father to agree to those terms,” Athena said, nodding in agreement. “Thank you, Cousin Thetis. You have been most helpful.”
“Oh you come for help then leave?” Thetis joked.
“Well, I do have to serve my father,” Athena replied uncomfortably.
“Then, since you can’t stay, might I ask a favor?”
Athena paused before motioning for her to go on.
“I would like to be invited to Olympus, and maybe be able to stay if it were possible.”
Athena smiled cordially, looking her cousin up and down. She knew good and well that Zeus would be unable to resist the fully figured nymph who had a blessing to birth a child more powerful than either of their parents.
“Thetis ... I think we can work out a way for you to come and maybe stay on Olympus,” Athena said before vanishing in a flash of light.
The banquet hall without the others.
There were only two, and they were fully done yelling. What point was there in doing that anymore? Words would get them nowhere and the matrons had left, so it was clear that this would be a two god race to be king.
Poseidon had crossed his arms and stood in front of a pillar. Across from him, Apollo leaned against a pillar casually.
“Where does that leave us now, golden boy?”
“At an impasse,” Apollo said. “I have no intention of relinquishing my claim to the throne. Let the others scurry about. Sooner or later, they’ll come back, and we could have that vote if that is what they want.”
“And you think they’ll pick you to be king after you acted like a brat?”
Apollo stood, at his full height, pushing off the pillar. He slowly started to pace the room before replying.
“I know they will,” Apollo said confidently. “You’re barely here. Only Hades is here less than you, so you don’t know that Olympus has had enough of the old guard. That’s why I know they will accept change. Why do you think I did this? Right now is the best time for me to push my cause.”
He spun on his heel and pointed to himself with both hands.
“I am the change that Olympus was.”
“You’re deluded,” Poseidon said with a grunt.
“No,” Apollo said, the warmth leaving his voice. “You’re deluding yourself if you don’t see it.”
A sneaky, manipulative tone entered the prince’s voice.
“Do you actually think anyone wants you to be king?” He stepped forward, the illusion of charm now discarded like a tattered veil. “Poseidon, please. No one takes you seriously. You’re a has-been. The second choice. You rule saltwater because you’re not mature enough to handle the Underworld and not powerful enough to hold Olympus. Come on! You kidnapped your queen in order to have a wife after fucking half her family? My father may be prolific, but you have no discretion. You would just be more of the same like my father, just the inferior version.”
Poseidon’s fists clenched. He was holding back the tidal wave of a storm that he wanted to unleash on Apollo, but the whole point was for this usurpation of Zeus to not have death. This child was not making it easy though
Apollo could see the rage building up in his uncle, but he did not stop.
“And if it comes to a vote, you were right earlier. I’ll lie. I’ll manipulate. I’ll cry and flatter and seduce, but in the end, I will get what I want.” His eyes glinted now, no longer golden like the sun but venomous like Python. “You’re so busy trying to do things the old way that you’re too blind to see that it doesn’t matter how I win, only that I win.”
Poseidon stepped forward slowly. “Careful, boy.”
Apollo cocked his head, smirking.
“Why, uncle? Nothing changes, no matter what I say. I’ve already won. Athena knows it; Hera knows it; Hestia knows it; if your wife were here, she would know it.”
Poseidon raised a hand to forestall Apollo.
“Tell me,” Apollo said with mocking derision in his voice. “When you’re in bed with her, do you think she’s picturing you or a real king like my father ... like me?”
The silence that followed was colder than the depths of the deepest parts of the sea. Apollo knew he had crossed a line, but the look on his face that he did not care especially when Poseidon did not reply.
The sea king opened his hand and closed it before looking Apollo in the eye. The sea stared down the sun, and all too quickly, it was clearly what would inevitably occur.
The cry he let out shook the rafters.
His trident flashed into being in a burst of ocean spray, and in the next breath, he charged at his nephew. Apollo barely had time to lift his hands up to defend himself. He was not stabbed; his hands were able to grab the shaft of the weapon before that happened.
That did not stop his uncle from tackling him through one of the columns. They crashed out into the light of day and the startled gaze of the citizenry of Olympus.
Apollo flipped through the air and made himself float before summoning his golden bow from the air. If Poseidon wanted to come to blows, he was more than happy to oblige.
A sneaky smirk lifted on the sun god’s face. All of the godly city saw Poseidon push him out into the open. Apollo would be forgiven for having to defend himself, and the goddess and nymphs would find him all the more amazing when he put his uncle in his place.
Today was a good day to be Apollo.
The wind howled when she arrived. Athena looked around the mountains of the north. They were ancient and untamed. She did not even see livestock or fruit. She wondered how this child between the Primordial King and Queen survived. Did they not to eat? Were the children of Gaia and Ouranos made of sturdier material? They were closer to the being known as Chaos. Athena was generations removed. Perhaps, the further one got away from Chaos, the weaker the divinities became.
That thought distracted her even as she admired the peaks of the range. Nestled within was a cave vast enough to shelter enormous beings. As she approached, she could hear the breathing of a colossal creature.
Every part of her was wishing that this was Briareus. Further still, she was begging the Fates for him to not be mad or deranged.
When she entered the dark cavern, she found a being with a hundred arms that could summon storms and shake mountains. Monstrous though he looked, she could see divinity about him. She was one of the few people to see humanity, so she had a unique perspective about the Hecatoncheire and the mortal race of man.
He lived in a quiet solitude of sorrowful exile. The weight of ages had bent his posture, and the fear of betrayal had likely harmed his heart. His cave was strewn with broken stalactites and stalagmites.
There were screams of warning when she felt the colossal being become aware of her. That did not stop her from feeling a shiver run up and down her spine.
She was all too aware that she was taking a risk. While she was in armor, she had not brought her spear. Thankfully, she had the Aegis on her forearm, so she felt safer knowing that she was not entirely defenseless.
“Metis?” Briareus rumbled from the shadows.
Suspicion was the most potent emotion in the single name. Athena pitied the being instantly. How alone he must feel that the first name he thought of was her mother while sounding so depressing and mistrustful.
She wondered what other trials he might have suffered after the Furies had taken his brothers from him. How much had he suffered in the years, and would this be enough to make right that terrible injustices?
“Wife of the Thunderer, have you come to bring advice or to bring war? You will find that while you are armed with the weapon of me and my brethren, I will not simply surrender and die.”
The goddess stepped forward. She removed her helm was off and cradled in her arm. Athena made sure that her bronze skin, white hair, and storm-blue eyes were visible to the great uncle she was coming to meet under a sunless sky.
“I am Athena, Hecatoncheire; I am the daughter of Metis, not Metis herself,” she said simply. “I bring you truth and choice.”
He recoiled from her; though, she could not be sure whether this was from surprise of her not being Metis or because she was so forthright.
“Why are you here, then, Daughter of Metis?” Briareus asked. “Know that I will not be bound as I was by my father and I refuse to fight your father’s wars.”
Athena sighed. She knew what she must do, and this would require her to manipulate this innocent being. He did not seem unintelligent, but he had suffered an arrested development by being within this cave and not interacting with people. There was a small chance of madness as well.
He needed time to heal and reintegrate with society, but this was a luxury if the prophecy from the Fates were to be true. If this was needed to ensure a reality where her despot of a father was not in charge, then this would be what she would do.
“You once aided my father, Briareus. You armed Zeus in the battle against the Titans. You elevated him when others betrayed you, and you could have turned your back on him. I understand that you and your brothers did not want to fight, and you were punished after the fact, but I hope for you to gain from the loyalty you give.”
The giant shifted uneasily from her words, but he did not attack nor did he ignore her. He nodded a few of his many heads to encourage Athena to keep speaking.
“I know you were punished when you should not have been. You were given nothing despite arming my father and his family with the very weapons that allowed them to claim Olympus,” Athena said plainly. “Zeus used you, forgot you, and then punished you.”
Briareus narrowed fifty of his eyes, though others wept silently in their corners of his body.
“Now you come in his name? Do you think that you could enslave me to usurp him?”
Rage was the strongest emotion flowing between his words
“No,” she replied with a shake of her head. “I come in mine, not to ask you to wage war, but to defend and prove yourself to my father, so that he might right his wrongs against you.”
“What? Why? How?” Briareus asked.
The many heads asked those three questions repeatedly and in numerous orders.
“Olympus cracks from greed,” Athena said. “My father could use your help, and if you were to assist him, I swear by the River Styx, that I will ensure Olympus shows you the honor you are due, Briareus.”
He looked away. It was not one head or another. Rather, he turned his whole body away from her.
“Why should I care for gods who discarded me?”
“Because as my mother tried to do right by you all in the past, I will do right by you now,” Athena said softly. “Help me now, and again, I swear on the River Styx that you will be given the peace and praise you deserve. Olympus may not remember to whom it owes its debts, but I do, and I intend to change the course of my home and its king.”