The simple, but potent humming of what he knew to be a goddess drew Marshall in. Flying high and fast, he soon found himself manifesting in full near physical form in what looked like a dungeon, and in that dungeon was a woman. She was wearing a simple purple dress, torn and bloody likely from the manacles on her wrists. Her body oozed the same warped blood red glow of his healing powers, and in fact, threads of that red light linked her body and his. He could not see her face, it was blurred by a mixture of the blood light and shadow
"Ma'am, are you-" He realized then that he couldn't really move much, his form was too faded, too ephemeral. He was less than mist or fog, just a bunch of nothing. "Ma'am, please, how can I help you?"
She moved then, and the light faded. Her face came into view, and he saw the most glamorous of women. Tall and strong, with long locks of black hair matted with blood. Full and arched lips marred by a terrible cut and a deep purple bruise. What skin he could see past her hundreds of bruises, was graying and etched with powerful muscles. She was clearly an athlete, whoever she was, but that did not matter. Someone had beaten her, badly, and without reservations.
His heart broke for her, memories of his own childhood flashing before his eyes. He might have been swallowed by them, but her voice once again pierced through his pain.
"Marshall, look at me." She commanded, her tone broking no disobedience. He turned, and he saw glorious brown eyes, mixed with just a hint of natural red swollen from abuse. "My name is Hera, dear one, and it is I who summoned you to this realm and I who blessed with you my gift of empathetic healing."
He just gaped. "Why?"
She sighed. "Zeus... he... many eons ago, I attempted a rebellion. With Poseidon and Athena and Apollo, I bound Zeus in a net and tried to make our council less corrupt. However, Zeus was freed... he chained me to the Sky with anvils on my ankles, threatening me for days until I swore my allegiance once more." She shivered, her eyes filled with hate and fear. "I never loved Zeus, he raped me and forced me into marriage. Cheats on me with countless people, no... but I was loyal, due to that oath and fear.
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However, after we separated from your realm, creating out own, I found myself peeking into the world we left. Learning how women could maintain power after divorce, and seek happy lives, I decided to do this here. Zeus never loved me, so why would he seek to stay with me?" She went cold, her tone empty of anything. "He wanted to posses me, my beauty, my power... and when I gave him my idea, he attacked me. He beat me into submission, locked me here.
I had anticipated this, in a way. I left artifacts with my power in your world, to ensure I could always free myself. When you touched my blade, and I read your soul, I decided to grant you the peace you sought, the power you craved, but in return... you will free me."
"How, I am nothing?"
Her smile was magnificent. "You are my son, my first demigod in all of history. You are blessed with my sacred magic, the power of the Queen of the Heavens. Mother, Marriage, Women and the Starry Skies. Creator of Heracles' super strength. Mother of Ares, Enyo, Hepheastes, Hebe and Eileithyia! I am no weakling, and neither are you.
You also carry your own power, as a survivor of tremendous abuse. You are independent, intelligence and wise. Do not think, for a moment, that did not peer into your soul. You were not the only to touch my blade."
He sighed. "So, what can I do? Beyond healing I mean?"
"Look to your heart, for it is your power. I cannot tell you what gifts you have, I have never had a demigod... but I know that the heart is your source. Forest, My Champion and Child, you must find me, for Zeus will find a way to kill me soon. " She shivered. "My wardens approach. You must find me, Anton can guide you. Know that if you do, you will be rewarded, my son... now go... and keep your ties secret. Less Zeus smite you or worse, there is always a worse path."
And the dream world shattered, sending him flying back through space to his body once more.