บท 2: Meeting In Progress

"Wait please Hephaestus let's talk about this!" Aphrodite sprinted infront of Hephaestus who towered over her.

As she looked into his eyes hoping for some hesitation to be shown but was met with cold indifference.

"There is nothing to discuss Aphrodite as I have been clear on what IS happening" Hephaestus emphasized the word is as he spoke but never stopped walking and just went around her.

'How can he be so cold to me'

'Did he ever love me?'

A million thoughts went through her head completely unaware that the distance between her and her soon-to-be ex-husband continued to grow.

(Scene change Grand Meeting Hall)

Outside the meeting hall many minor gods, Nymphs, and immortals buzzed around the long staircase leading to the huge doors to the building.

The nymphs were either gossiping or doing menial jobs while the gods and immortals argued or showed off their power.

The path leading the hall and another place was a straight long path embroidered with gold accents on the edges while the path itself was a shiny white marble that seemingly gripped the feet of the passersby.

Hephaestus made his way to the hall and grew close to it when he was spotted by a few Nymphs and soon the knowledge spread that he was walking to the hall.

Everyone got silent when he made his way there limping on his right leg, everyone watched him and whispered comments about him.

"Why is he here?" A tree Nymph whispered

"I always forget how ugly he is" An immortal whispered

"His existence is a stain to us all gods" a minor god of rivers whispered

The whispers gradually got harsher coupled with their volume increasing all the same until they were blatantly insulting him.

Hephaestus ignored them as he has heard it all before and from much more people like his brothers, sisters, and Mother.

As he was about to step on the first step a rope of olives wrapped around his good leg and pulled it making Hephaestus go down on one knee due to his surprise and his one bad leg unable to keep him up.

"Hey, you bastard be careful don't want you making the floor as ugly as you" A son of Apollo called Aristaeus walked up to the downed Hephaestus looking down at him while olive branches circled his forearm.

Hephaestus stood back up and turned to the noticeably shorter god and stared daggers at him but he seemed to not notice as he kept insulting Hephaestus.

"You should step down as an Olympian you worthless god, all you are is a slave for your crafting and that's all you will ever be a mere tool for Olympus." He shouted in an arrogant tone spitting on him while talking.

Hephaestus looked down as a shadow covered his eyes and he tightened his fists as he continued.

"Your seat on the council was merely a way for us to keep you here so you can't run, and tell me how was it watching your wife getting fucked by every god in Olympus but she won't even touch you." He began poking Hephaestus's chest while talking.

Hephaestus began shaking with rage as he continued.

"You know what I might just go to her after this as I can't keep the memory of fucking her from the back and watching her squirm under me maybe this time I can get her pregnant so you can raise another man's kid again-" He had this crazed grin on his mouth as he screamed the last bit Hephaestus snapped his left fist into the side of his skull.

A responding crack came from the contact of Hephaestus's fist and Aristaeus's skull, the punch immediately knocked him out and sent him flying into a nearby collum cracking it.

A massive gasp came out of everyone watching as they realized what just happened.

"Anyone else wanna try and disrespect me and I won't allow you to remain unpunished and no matter what she does you will not disrespect my wife as long as she is my wife I will defend her honor no matter what she does until either I die or we separate she is my wife!" Hephaestus's eye burned a roaring fire and the temperature rise around him making it feel like they were standing next to a volcano about to erupt.

Everyone feeling his power got on either their knee or full-on bowed to him.

He looked at the crowd and sneered.

'Cowards' He thought darkly

Going back to the stairs he continued walking as if nothing happened unknown to him Aphrodite witnessed everything and was blushing madly at his words.

'He loves me so much that he would ignore my...affairs with other people as I was his wife.'

'Why does that make me feel so happy, I never felt this with any other partners' She gripped her chest and realized her heart was beating like crazy, and as she watched Hephaestus limp up the stairs a feeling of longing for her husband overcome her.

Aphrodite was confused about what this was but that was short-lived as a Goddess of Love she knew immediately she loved him, she loved her Husband.

A call for a meeting made her flinch as she knew for what and who called the meeting, a wave of fear swept her and she immediately flashed in and was met with a full council of the Olympians and her husband in the middle of the room looking straight at Zeus.

"I demand a divorce with my wife Aphrodite this instant".He spoke in a firm tone like this was not to be questioned.

"NOOOOOOO!"

Aphrodite screamed with a high-pitched voice making everyone look at her as she sprinted and jumped on Hephaestus and began begging.

"Please Hephaestus I am sorry forgive I won't ever cheat on you again if you start with me, and I swear on the Styx" Thunder followed her promise and the surprise from the Gods and anger from Ares.

"Just don't leave me! I love you!" She cried and cried on his chest.

In response, he pulled her off him and spoke.

"Sit on your throne this has already been decided" He looked at her with the saw indifference from earlier.

She looked as if someone punched her in the stomach and like a deer in headlights.

You could almost hear her heart breaking as she was about to beg again but Zeus who was silent finally spoke.

"Aphrodite if you scream In my court again I will punish you beyond belief so sit down right now so I can deal with this" Zeus ordered and so she reluctantly let go of him and wiped her eyes and went to her throne and sat looking at Zeus with eyes full of hope.

"So My son-"Zeus started but was interrupted by Hephaestus.

"Call me by my name"

"If you wish son- I mean Hephaestus, so you wish to dissolve your marriage I arranged for you why"Zeus asked

"She has been repeatedly unfaithful and has refused to bear my child but has had many children with humans and gods alike some of which are in this room right now." All the men in the room looked away in slight shame but Ares looked unfazed but actually smirked at Hephaestus.

"That I believe is reason enough" Hephaestus finished.

"Have you considered giving her a second chance?" Zeus replied.

Hephaestus grew annoyed as he gained a frown.

"I have given her hundreds of second chances each time she has promised she will be better but every time I catch her in the arms of another man" Hephaestus explained angrily as he glared at her, he breathed in and out and claimed his mind down."

"Well let's I am not sure you are in the right mind Hephaestus so I have decided to-" Zeus was about to give his verdict but again was interrupted.

"Do not forget our deal, Zeus, you will honor it as you have sworn to Styx" Hephaestus narrowed his eyes at his father who immediately glared at the blacksmith.

"Zeus, what is he talking about?" Hera spoke after being silent the whole meeting while the other gods whispered to each other or were not interested like Dionysus who was asleep.

"What deal did you make with Hephaestus Zeus?" Hera asked again this time demanding an answer and all the gods stared at Zeus waiting for his answer.

Zeus nervously liked around and released a sigh and opened his mouth to speak.

(Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed the chapter)

P.S. Please any help with pushing this book is appreciated.