/Celestine's POV/
The moment his presence filled the room..
everything changed.
The air grew heavier.
Colder.
Power pressed against my skin in a way that felt… familiar.
Too familiar.
"…Father?" -The word slipped out before I could stop it.
I didn't expect him to be the one delivering the task. Does this mean this is the final task?
I still feel nervous, but this seems like victory to me.
There he stood.
The King of Olympus.
The God of Thunder.
Zeus.
.....
For the first time since I arrived on Earth…
I was stunned.
Not because I didn't recognize him.
But because of one thing...
He wasn't supposed to be here.
—
Kira and Hailey stayed outside of the office. They will be surely moer stunned than me if they saw who's here.
His aura was unmistakable.
Dominant.
Overwhelming.
Divine.
—
"You've grown careless, Celestine."
His voice echoed through the vast office, calm but carrying authority that no one could ignore.
I straightened immediately.
"Careless? I just arrived." - I am confuse.
"And yet," he said, stepping forward, "you already believe this is temporary."
I frowned.
"…Isn't it?"
Silence.
Then...
"No."
—
The single word landed like a verdict.
—
My chest tightened.
"…What do you mean no?"
Zeus looked at me... not as a father, but as a ruler.
"You will remain here until I said so."
I crossed my arms, irritation rising.
"You still haven't told me what that task is."
—
A faint smile formed on his lips.
Not warm.
Not kind.
Knowing.
—
"You believe admiration is enough."
I didn't respond.
Because… wasn't it?
"That your beauty alone will earn you devotion. That their attention is power."
"…It is."
"For mortals, perhaps. But not for a goddess."
I felt something shift.
Small.
But unsettling.
"Devotion is not measured by how many looks at you."
His eyes locked into mine.
…What? I don't even understand his point. Me being confused after thinking what I will hear are trumphets of victory but instead a nag from an old thundery man.
"You are here," he continued, "to create true devotees."
"People who will remain loyal to you, not because you are beautiful… but because they believe in you."
I scoffed softly.
"That sounds easy."
Zeus smiled like there is a meaning on that smile. Deep meaning.
Before I could respond...
he turned his gaze slightly.
Toward the figure standing at the far end of the room.
The same man.
The one who didn't react to me.
The one who looked at me like I was… nothing.
My breath caught.
"Then start with him."
My eyes snapped back to Zeus.
"…What?"
"That man," Zeus said calmly, "is your first condition."
No.
"That's impossible."
The words came out sharper than I intended.
"He doesn't even—"
"Look at you?" Zeus finished.
Silence.
"…Exactly."
Zeus stepped closer.
"And yet, if you cannot make even one person like him acknowledge you…"
His voice dropped.
"…then you are not worthy of becoming a goddess."
My pride burned.
"I don't fail."
"Then prove it."
I turned toward the man again.
He hadn't moved.
Hadn't reacted.
Hadn't even bothered to speak.
Who… does he think he is?
"Who is he?" I demanded.
Zeus' lips curved slightly.
"The reason you are no longer here for just a day."
My chest tightened again.
Not with fear.
But something unfamiliar.
Something dangerous.
Interest.
Zeus began to walk past me.
"But be warned, Celestine."
He paused beside me.
"He is the only mortal in this place…"
"…who cannot be swayed by divine charm."
My eyes widened
just slightly.
And for the first time...
I felt it.
A challenge.
As Zeus disappeared from the room, the silence he left behind felt louder than anything before.
I looked at the man again.
Really looked this time.
Cold.
Unbothered.
Untouched.
Fine.
A slow smile formed on my lips.
Let's see how long that lasts.
Because no one...
no one!
resists the charm of the future goddess of seduction.
I smashed the image made by Zeus and it vanished into the air.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi butterflies I hope you are having fun with these new chapters. I'll be writing more so stay tuned. Comment your thoughts if you want for me to know what you think about this story. Love you all 😘
~HeiressX