Page 146 of Hekate: The Witch (Goddesses of the Underworld #1)

Across the Eternal

As we walked through the glen

Hermes talked. I realized he did this

because he could not bear silence.

Perhaps this was why the halls of Olympus

with their constant chatter and rumours

suited him so very well. The only change

in his demeanour came when I reached

for a golden fruit hanging from a tree.

Before I could raise it to my mouth,

his hand was on mine, quick as lightning.

‘Even Gods do not eat fruit from Elysium.’

It was a simple instruction but there was

an edge in his voice that demanded obedience.

When he looked away

I pocketed the fruit to examine later.

We walked for so long that I had to stop

and take a drink of nectar.

Hermes took the flask from my hands

without asking and drank long and deep.

I said nothing. I was slowly learning

that this was his nature. He drank

the whole world deeply, as if it belonged

to him.

For the Olympians did own

this whole world and everything in it, at least,

for now.