The Lost Goddess

Hello! I'm back! I'm very sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out, but between school and work and other random stuff, life has been hectic lately.
Also, I just found out that one of my cats had to be put to sleep last weekend.
Anyway, I have started the next chapter, but don't expect it this week because I'm going home for Thanksgiving. (I can't wait!)
A very big thank you to kitkat for the review. Also big hugs to Melrick and tash for being my first reviewers!
One final thing, I have another story I've been working on, so look for it soon.
Please Read and Review!
On with the story!

Sarain

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Chapter 2

Mount Olympus
Present


“Aries! Aries!”
The Goddess of Love was running through the God of War’s temple, continuously shouting his name. Just as she reached to doorway to his bedroom, the tall, brown-haired, hazel-eyed God appeared in the doorway.
Aphrodite felt a moment’s guilt, thinking she had woken him, as he was dressed only in a pair of sweatpants, but she quickly pushed it aside.
She smiled excitedly at her brother, “She’s awake, Aries! She’s finally awake!”
“And what does that have to do with me?”
The blond Goddess glared at him, “Is that all you can say? Aren’t you happy and excited? Ari has finally woken up! Don’t you care?!”
The God glared right back, “Of course I care. However, I’m not going to go shouting it throughout Olympus and let Hera find out.”
Aphrodite wilted, “I hadn’t thought about that,” tears filled her eyes, “I was so excited that she was awake that I forgot about Hera. How could I be so stupid!?”
Aries sighed, “Is this the first place you came?”
She nodded.
“Then, chances are that no one who reports to Hera heard yet. It should be alright as long as you stop running about and screaming at the top of your lungs. Why don’t you just go back to your temple and celebrate with Cupid and Psyche or something. Just act normally. After all, you don’t want to be punished for going where you’re not supposed, do you?”
“You’re right, Aries. I’m sorry,” she reached up and kissed his cheek, “I’ll go back and celebrate with Cupid and Psy- ahhh! Psyche! I left her in Arianna’s temple! I have to go back and get her before Zeus finds out! Bye, Aries! Thanks!”
She was gone in a flash of light.

The God of War turned and walked back into his bedroom, shaking his head and muttering about
crazy-ass brain-dead sisters coming around just to drive him crazy.
“Why didn’t you tell her I was here?” the woman sitting on his bed asked.
“I figured you didn’t want to deal with her right now. If I’m wrong, go after her yourself.”
“Meanie.”
“Don’t pout, Ari. You’re not that cute.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Arianna.”
That woman sighed, “You’re right, I don’t want to talk to her right now. Thank you.”
Aries moved and sat next to her, “It was an accident.”
“I know. And I want to forgive her, but I can’t right now. I know she didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt, but that doesn’t change what happened. I trusted her. It’s going to take some time for me to deal with things. I’ll talk to her eventually.”
“Why did you come here, Ari?”
“Because I trust you. Because I didn’t know where else to go. I have some questions that need answered before I can go look for Dain.”
“Like what?”
Arianna stood up and began to pace back and forth, “What year is it? What happened while I was asleep; both here and in the mortal realm? Where is everyone? How is everyone? Will I be able to keep my powers while I’m searching for Dain?”
Aries grabbed her hand as she passed him and pulled her to stand between his legs, “That last question, I can’t answer. You’ll have to wait and see. As for the rest of it, it might take awhile. You’ve been asleep for a long time.”
“Since I only have a year, give me the condensed version.”
The God of War nodded and began to fill the former Goddess of Destiny in on the last two thousand years.


* * *


Meanwhile, a lone figure was making its way through Olympus. It paused for a moment in front of the biggest, fanciest temple of them all, looked around quickly, and then made its way inside.
The dark-haired Queen of the Gods sat in the Throne Room of this temple. The walls were a bright white and nearly all the rooms overflowed with gold and jewelry. Several of Hera’s handmaiden’s were about doing various tasks; several were sewing, others were cleaning. Still others were pampering the Goddess by combing her hair or painting her nails.
Hera shooed those pampering her away as a figure walked into the room. It was a young woman. She had black hair that came to her shoulders and brown eyes. She wore a black leather top that came to just above her belly button and wrapped around her neck. Her pants were also skintight black leather. The woman made no sound as she approached the throne and kneeled before Hera.
“Out! Everyone out!” Hera shouted.
Once Hera and the kneeling woman were the only ones in the room, Hera demanded, “Tell me what you’ve found, Ilaria.”
“My Lady, it is as you suspected. I followed Aphrodite to the Forbidden Temple. While she was there the Sleeping Goddess awoke and had flashed out of the temple before Aphrodite realized she was awake. Once the Goddess noticed her missing, she became very excited and ran from the temple. She then went to the Temple of Aries and told him Arianna was awake. He replied by telling her to go to her own temple in order to avoid you finding out,” Ilaria replied, keeping her eyes toward the floor and still kneeling.
“Good. Do you know where Arianna went when she left her temple?”
“No, My Lady, I was not able to track her flash.”
Hera exhaled loudly, frustrated, “Very well. Now, if that is all, get out of my sight!”
Ilaria got up, bowed, and flashed quickly out of the temple.
Hera still sat on her throne, thinking for a few minutes. Suddenly, she began laughing loudly, “The wonders of having the Fates on your side, even if they don’t realize it,” then she became serious, “what are you going to do now, my dear step-daughter?”