The desire for retribution was the only thing that fuelled my existence anymore. Finally, I was infiltrating this heaven. A paradise which was a beautiful lie for some, and a disastrous truth for many. My reality was of the latter kind. Either way, coming here would only bring me closer to my end goal.

My solitary existence for the last few decades had given me ample time and peace, to plan. And planned, I had. 

Meticulously. 

I could count on one hand, the beings, who would see through my facade and curse. Especially, Kai and Vin. We were brothers in all ways that mattered. Both would know who Hephaestus really was. And by extension so would Ariadne.

Then there was also Queen Persephone. I worried about her the most. She has once been a maternal figure, now she had become a sister figure. She had the power to make me the most anxious. Seph had never been able to control her emotions well. 

Regardless, I was looking forward to being united with them. So many years without a word between us, usually was nothing new. That is, before everything was ruined. Because I had never parted from them without a farewell. For the longest while, all of us had taken time for granted. Me more so than most. 

Ah, the fun, I had, had with the  god of times. And grandfather being named after that primordial was a bloody cosmic joke. As if any two beings could be more dissimilar than my mother's father and my-

No, that truth of my life could not hold any weight for me anymore. 

Regardless, this stretch between me and my family? It had occurred at the most painful moments of our lives. When all of us had lost so much. Would they be angry? Would they be happy to see me? Quite likely, it would be mixture of both.

But despite the distance, time, no, I, had enforced between us. I knew without a doubt, that I could still trust them. I knew that they stayed at Olympus so frequently, just for me. That they would help me in whatever way possible. Not because I needed it, but because we were a team, a family. 

One for all, or all for none. It was a motto the four us had lived by. 

Whatever, their reaction may be, I had no doubt they would recognize me. They wouldn't fail to see me, for who I truly was. But Zeus's bretheren would. 

“Letting yourself be underestimated son, gives your enemies the false perception of victory.”

How true he had been. If someone perceived you to be weak, that very same individual would perceive themselves to be the stronger one. And unfortunately for Olympians, they were vain and visual creatures. The more I would appear weak on the outside, the more arrogant they would be, and eventually the more painful their punishment would end up being.

Patience, I reminded myself.

The Olympians had to be lured in to a false sense of security. I would convince them that Queen Hera’s, eldest but weakest son had no interest in the throne. That even if he did, he had no way of obtaining or handling the heavens. 

Not that I had ever cared for it anyways. But it was rightfully mine, and I most definitely did not like to share anything of mine. Evenif I myself did not desire it.  

Hence, here I was. Harmless and hapless, Hephaestus. If anything, this crippled carcass would become a slave for the Olympians. Yet I would also slowly become essential for the survival of Olympus. And then? It would be too damn late. Especially for that overbearing god of thunder. 

And even all of those, that had made the mistake of forsaking my mother in favour of that pathetic joke, who proclaimed himself the King. Particularly those who had known Hera for so much longer, way before Zeus had even been born. 

It was hilarious, that my "father" was quite younger than myself. Making him practically the weaker one. I could simply and so easily be rid of him, just with a squeeze of my finger. And it was even easier for him, and it burned, that despite both of our abilities we couldn’t just be rid of Zeus. 

The fates had tied our hands because of that bloody curse. The curse that tied Zeus’s lifeline to my mother’s indefinitely. And until I could figure out how to undo that connection, Zeus unfortunately, lived.

It was a type of bond that had never been seen or experienced before our curse. Not even between fated mates. A phenomenon no one knew about or how to possibly break it. Not Aiden nor Prometheus. Two of the most intelligent individuals I knew, besides my old man.

But once I figured out how to break the bond, Zeus would rue the day he’d dare to glance in my Queen, my mother’s direction.

Zeus had stolen my mother’s soul and mind from her. He had left behind a shell of the vivacious and lively goddess she used to be. And he would pay for that. Pay more than tenfold the pain he had caused her, and in turn, all of us.

In the mean time while I worked on freeing my mother’s soul from that duplicitous being, I could still have my fun with the rest of the those that had betrayed us.

The question was whom should I start with? The ones who had known me as Hera’s son? Or perhaps the ones who would now become my new brothers and sisters? The ones who arguably were innocent, because they had no inkling as to what the truth really was. But then again, they were guilty by association and the acts they had committed of their own violation. 

Perhaps it would be prudent to start with the oldest one? I thought, already having made my mind. After all, it was she, who had taught me the most when it came to the main aspect of my existence.

Once a mentor, now a traitor. The real question now was, how would aunt Hestia like a visit by a ghost from the past.

It would most certainly be entertaining.

I had already figured out which dwelling was hers. And it was certainly convenient that all security measures knew, that they should fall apart to my hands. 

Both the mortal and immortal kind, I thought with a touch of smugness. So easy. Laughably so. 

Not that it would have been a problem, even if Hestia had been alerted to my breaking in to her domain. But I liked having the time to scout out anyone’s space before confronting them. And Hestia, was now quite possibly, one of the many enemies that my mother had unknowingly collected.

But maybe not? A hopeful part of me whispered. 

I remembered how Hestia’s palace used to be, when Cronos had been the King of Heavens. When I had been just a young child, and later an adolescent god. Before my grandfather had vanished all his natural children, and their families into distant civilizations.

Tia was the only one who had been spared from being removed from Mount Othrys.

I remember how my aunt used to be warm, kind, and welcoming. Her palace had been like my mother’s. Well perhaps it had been more simpler and organized. While mother loved colour, Tia had favoured a neutral palette. But both sisters, had, had a place that had felt like home.

But what I saw now of her abode? It was obvious that my assumptions about her as an Olympian, had been incorrect. I had expected an abundance of gaudy wealth, as the Olympus gods and goddesses were known to hoard in their palaces.

That was obviously not the case for Tia, her palace was no palace at all. It was barren. There was nothing in here but an old hearth, and a lone chair in front of it. 

I chose to make myself comfortable on that chair, as I waited for her. It was not the most comfortable, but at least it was near a fireplace. Just being near a source of fire was comforting to me, just as much as it was to her. 

It was the very same source I had created for her. With that reflection I closed my eyes trying to rid myself of everything. All of those old, happy  and painful memories. Or even thoughts of what the next step would be, after I saw this through. 

I felt her presence, before the tip of her dagger touched me across my neck, but I chose not to react. Still as a stone, even when her mouth came near my ear, “how did such a foul creature, as you, manage to get into my home?”

“You would call this home, Tia? I knew you were a creature of simpler things. But this is positively desolate.”

I couldn’t help but smirk as my blue eyes met her own amber ones. And oh joy, the smart female that she was, she recognized me. Or rather realized who I was. I chuckled at how wide her eyes got as she came in front of me, and took full measure of me.

“No it can’t be." She whispered. "Azar is that you, little prince?" 

"I haven't been a little prince for centuries, dear Hestia." I had meant for it come out more teasing than it had. 

"It can't be. They told me that you died, just like... like she did.” She stuttered out, completely uncharacteristic of her usually articulate self.

“Well as you can see, I’m very much alive aunt Tia,” I told her with amusement. Obviously, she was shocked at my presence. But perhaps she was more surprised by the appearance I now wore? Because she very well, couldn’t see, beyond this crippled form, I was being forced to wear. Very few would be able to. 

“Azar truly?” She stated softly. It wasn’t a question, not really. She knew it was me. But at the same time she couldn’t bring herself to believe that I was really here.

“It would be more prudent Tia, if you called me Hephaestus from now on.” I replied sardonically. I had never really appreciated that mouthful of a title that Rhea had given me. But it was, what it was. And the mortal world knew me as such in this plane. Might as well quickly adapt to it. 

She simply shook her head at my mocking, as she brought her shaking hand up to my cheek still in disbelief, “Is it truly you, dear child?”

“How would you like me to answer that Tia?” I stated stiffly as I stood from her chair to tower over her, despite my hideous limping leg. My surrogate aunt had always been a small female. Albeit deceivingly so, because she was quite wily on her feet. 

“You will always be that precious child that I taught. Hera’s precious fire. My precious student.” She paused at that, as she cupped my face in her gentle hands. Gentle hands and soft words, both of which reminded me of my own mother. 

As I looked at the female who had, had such a large hand in my upbringing, I knew how wrong I had been to even doubt her. And I couldn’t help but feel guilty, as I looked at her cautiously hopeful face. Because I was just about to crush that hope now.

“Tia, I have not returned for the Queen. Suffice it to say, I cannot forgive her for what she has done to me.”

Well it wasn’t totally lie. Not really. But I saw how Hestia’s eyes roamed over my twisted leg. The disbelief at the thought that my  mother did this to me. But she wisely chose not to comment on the subject. If Hestia was to misunderstand what I truly had meant. Then it would be easier to test her loyalty. Just in case. And well, her misunderstanding could prove even more beneficial. 

Hestia would be the passage through which I would enter Olympus. 

It was finally time. 

It was the first step in teaching King Zeus, how bygones couldn’t just be let go of. Not until one paid their dues.

And who well to teach him with, then with his own wife.