Just asshedid whenever she ate pomegranate.
The dance between day and night had begun, and Shadow, unseen, swirled through the air, relishing his secret pleasure of being unobserved in Olympus. He feltphysicalfor just a second, a flicker of warmth in the vast emptiness, but he was aware he was far beyond that. Otherwise, why would everyone be so afraid of him?
He cautiously navigated the chattering creatures on the Temple of Zeus’ stairs, and the creatures seemed to sense an additional presence nearby. He hadn’t changed significantly despite having been held captive as he gave into the familiargame he was once addicted to—toying with wisely chosen, weak-minded creatures.
After he carefully analyzed everyone and read their racing thoughts, he chose his so-called victims with no doubts.
There was a young, beautiful nymph who carried a basket of various fragrance bottles while golden threads of hair rested over her narrow shoulders.
Shadow listened to her melodious voice narrating the story behind every plant and flower she used to make the perfumes, but he got intrigued when the old moirai, to whom she was trying to sell them, began to taunt her.
Innocent, yet perfect prey.
And then he hovered closer to the creatures, anticipating the outcome of what he was about to do.
“Hold your breath, my dear. By what means did you obtainthis?” the old, solemn moirai asked the young nymph as Shadow remained still next to her.
He listened to them, almost feeling how the void within him churned on something close to excitement.
The old moirai can sense me.
“What are you talking about?” the nymph asked, trying to contain the fear that was stirring inside her.
Shadow knew all creatures were scared to be even mentioned in the same sentence with the sacred peony. They were aware of the consequences, but he wanted to observe them for longer.
“The fragrance you are wearing. It is made of pure peony extract. I can sense it! You’re going to get yourself killed for using the gods’ sacred flower. Do you know that?” the moirai continued, pinching the young nymph’s hand.
She started chewing on her lower lip, twiddling her fingers nervously. She raised her eyes to the older woman in front of her, and her nose scrunched as she sniffed the air. It was her eyes that betrayed she herself had sensed the smell.
“Close your mouth, old woman. I haven’t seen such flowers in decades. There is indeed a vague scent of peony in the air, but that is not me,” she snapped back with her venomous yet scared comment.
Cleverly insolent. Interesting.
The moirai’s piercing, all-seeing eyes scrutinized the young nymph and grabbed her by the long, white gown she was wearing. Her wrinkled nose made its way to her neck and inhaled the porcelain-like skin with deep, hollow breaths.
“I can smell it on you. You cannot lie to your elder,” she snarled at her.
If he would’ve been part of the living, he would’ve burst out laughing at the sight of their pathetic encounter.
Tedious creatures, indeed.
Yet, he understood they’d be clueless about the fact that it washimthey were sensing in the humid air of Olympus.
He eventually went upstairs, leaving the creatures to their fight as he had other matters to attend to.
Shadow wanted to see them all—the gods who had held him captive during the past three centuries. Yet, they had still failed. They brought into their world the mortal who had the power to free him.
Were they perhaps expecting him?
He knew they weren’t.
He glided through the tall marble columns, ridged and meticulously carved by the most known architects of Olympus. Zeus’s immense statue sat enthroned, a giant among the tiny figures that were displayed on either side of the hall. With his thunderbolt in hand, its glow cast an ethereal light upon the majestic temple where Zeus resided. Shadow couldn’t fathom why Zeus preferred to stay in the temple dedicated to his father, Cronus, when just at a distance from it, there was theOlympieion, his own temple. But perhaps it was likely just another of his cunning plans.
A total bravado.
The entire building was ostentatious; redesigned by Zeus himself to impress the living creatures of Olympus and make his father’s temple truly his. However, he also believed that ostentatious displays were necessary to signify the gods’ status, thereby establishing a clear social hierarchy for all beings in Elythra.
Zeus’s reign wasn’t only about control. He wanted everyone on Olympus to witness it—to see it above everything.
