Silence

Forty years later

There was silence from James, had been since Zeus got rid of him. Athena scratched around for information for her nephew who was isn't even allowed to talk to her not even a “hello” which also bugged the goddess; she was used to him talking to her even before he developed feelings for her they were good friends and she taught him a lot but now her days were filled either digging around for progress on him or doing “trivial duties” however she herself changed; she was bitter towards most and found the small matters pointless. She had only seen him a few times around in Zeus’ court but he was pushed into the other corner as far away as possible and in feasts and parties he was banned from attending leaving contact to nothing; not even letters were allowed to be sent, however time had come for answers and since Ares was banned from speaking to Athena unless it was business which meant they were supervised left Athena with one option; confronting Charon when he went to retrieve the next lot of the dead who were waiting to pay him for the voyage into the Underworld; she was banned from the Underworlds but the dock isn’t included in the list and that meant she would get answers one way or another.

Charon docked looking over to the next lot of dead people before seeing Athena sighed knowing what she wanted and as she pushed past them she stopped towering over him, “Yes Athena?” “I know you are James’ best friend but I’m not here to inflict anymore pain on him; I just need to know; how is he?” “You don’t want to know and don’t even try and ask Ares; he isn’t speaking to James after the others blanked him for being a friend of James!” “Ares isn’t talking to him? What else?” “I can’t say... he doesn’t even talk to me much anymore. You should ask Oizys though; she will know... he has been seeing her to help with his depression!” “Depression?!” “Very bad depression. He can’t even see his family because of what Zeus fucking did. Thánatos he doesn’t even care as long as Sansa is next to him and their other children take priority!” “I... I need to go. I must know how bad it is!” Charon started to collect the coins as he ticked the names off before stating perhaps being considerate or showing a bit of sympathy for her spoke, “Brace yourself... it isn’t nice!”

Athena pushed passed the crowds of dead their faces twisted in agony and distress only being scared off by her glowing lines as she stepped forward being haunted by that night in her head playing endlessly and more intense with every step took until she reached the steps to see on the step in a beam of light James sat looking down crying, “James... James” she rushed to him shaking him to get him to look up but what she saw was no movement just him muttering feverishly to himself as he began to slap his head trying to “Shake the memories” away. “James it’s me!” she pulled his head back so he would look into her eyes but falling back in horror saw his face to was twisted and his eyes were hollow, “It’s your fault!” he snapped before sleeping through her hands the dark thick liquid trickled past her as she looked up to see Oizys look down at her head shaking, “Angelica, tell Persephone and Asclepius that they need to get a move on. I’m losing him!” the woman nodded before rushing down the steps Oizys calmly spoke, “Charon informed me you would be coming... very well follow me!” Athena sprinted up the steps to the “safety” of the palace where she was led to the glowing fire in the drawing room as Oizys held the codex of James’ in her hands and a blank one ready to write upon, “Was that James?” “Not exactly... it’s his latest progress and as you can tell it’s not going well but that isn’t important currently; you are... I can see the event still lingers in your mind! So why don’t you tell me!” “Oizys... you are completely wrong... I’m not here for me. I need to know how he is doing!” she sighed before weighing it up commented, “Athena, Zeus said we aren’t allowed to speak about him... he is lucky enough to even be allowed to talk to me!” “Please!” Oizys sighed before opening his Codex spoke, “It isn’t good; not one bit. What happened started this but it isn’t the complete reason he is like this. After the event he was punished hard; he was locked away for years in isolation apart for guards feeding him etc. Zeus believed he would protest and cause trouble but he just sat there emotionless, I should have been allowed to see him then before it got worse but Zeus found it amusing. When he came out ten years later he was banned from travelling to realms that you would likely be and anywhere out of Hades’ Underworld was limited; he couldn’t speak to any gods associated to you and this caused resentment by these gods as they were cut off sometimes completely. Persephone wasn’t allowed to see him and his mother and father disowned him because of what “he had done” from there he grew more and more of an tormented shell; ten years ago they realised he wasn’t right when he physically didn’t show any emotion but on the inside was torn up, he wouldn’t speak about it and most of the people he talked couldn’t get any sense from condition it was too late by then but people did try to help him but in this they made it worse. Zeus arranged a bride for him but they don’t get on; they never have. She tried to help him but nothing she did helped so she started seeing other men and as you can guess this didn’t help; that’s the summary but... there’s a lot more here!” she handed the codex over where in horror Athena hesitantly looked down to read what was written, “Has no one else tried to help?” Oizys nodded before commenting, “Several... Hades is working with Hermes to construct his own synthetic realm where he rules it and perhaps a copy of you is there; Hades has even threatened to kidnap you, Dionysius wants him to join his muses; he can drink the pain away. I want to continue working with him but as you can see it isn’t working currently...” “You mentioned Asclepius and Persephone...” Oizys looked down defeated before commenting, “For eight solid years I have tried to help but he just keeps on getting worse; we keep telling ourselves he will get better; he has to but we feel he will end up like those outside or even worse ending his life. We are considering two other options: Lethe water which we can’t be sure will help or... the last resort. They have found an concoction that will remove all emotions and feelings completely; he will be virtually an zombie permanently. So he won’t ever feel pain and suffering but he will never feel the happiness we have when we meet our lovers, won’t feel the joy of a child’s birth and he won’t feel love and care that family and lovers will give to him. If he has to go down that route then I have failed; we all have if he becomes that!” “So he wouldn’t react to anything?” “Nothing...” she sighed before putting her head in her hands spoke, “People need to know!” Oizys nodded before handing her the folder stated, “Avoid mother... she has sort of developed feelings for him... seeing you here will cause a fight!” Athena nodded before walking out headed to Zeus.

“My daughter Athena, Goddess of Wisdom; what can we do for you?” Zeus spoke drinking from his gold wine goblet, “I must talk to you. Before you snap just listen! It’s about James...” “I told you to leave it and move on” Athena didn’t give him time to finish because she interrupted his lecture with an sharp yell of, “He could be dead soon or as good as!” Hera raised her hand to silence her brother before retrieving the codex from Athena began to skim through it before stopping closed it too look off into the distance teary eyed, “He is getting worse isn’t he?” Athena nodded which made Hera snap, “I told Oizys to go and help him not make him worse!” “She is trying but it’s a losing battle... they are trying to make what I am calling Tranquil which means he will feel nothing ever again!” Hera looked down head in her hands as she cry in distress, “No, never. This isn't what we wanted ever! Is it... is it too late?” Athena looked down before confessing, “Oizys doesn’t believe so but I deep down know it is and fear of what will happen. His family need to know!” “No!” Zeus snapped before looking at them all spoke, “I don’t want him like that but he didn’t respect our rules and he disrespected us and he WILL pay the price whatever the cost!” “But Zeus...” “No what happens happens got it? or will an similar fate need to happen to you!” they fell silent until Hera spoke, “Inform his family!” “But Hera!” “They have the right to know. So silence Zeus!”