Hera’s POV“Please spare my life, I'll do anything to show you that you have my undivided loyalty” Aaron begged as he knelt before me looking like a homeless fool.“Your loyalty? That's what I stand to gain? Your feeble and questionable loyalty?” I laughed shrilly, irritated that he would offer me something so meaningless in exchange for his life.“Then my life, I swear on my life that I’ll serve you till the very end, no matter what” He pledged nervously, his hands clasped together like he was praying to a goddess, a title that perfectly suited me.Despite his plea befitting for a goddess, I stretched my leg and kicked him across his face and watched as he collapsed to the ground weakly but not after letting out a painful groan from the unexpected contact.“From the second you stepped foot into this palace, your life belonged to me and I can assure you that it’s as meaningless as your pleas” I rose from my throne and carried my scepter with me and u walked down the steps to his level

Layla’s POVAt first light, I woke up with my mother’s voice ringing in my head and making all my nerves come alive because of the task ahead me. I rose from the soft grass I’d slept on and stared at the dead fireplace that had been my source of warmth for weeks one last time before I walked to the stream.Quickly, I washed up and convened with my ancestors who assured me that they’d go with me and the gift of their powers would make me untouchable no matter what. With that in mind I was more confident of my victory and the reign I was bound to enjoy.I conjured a horse of my own, an animal that would become my familiar since it was the very first that I’d called forth using my powers, and I mounted it for the trip back to Crescent Valley. It had taken almost the entire day to arrive at my destination but just before evening fell I was at the huge gates of Crescent Valley once again.Since I got my powers, I’d been blessed with a sixth sense that could tell when danger was lurking and

Layla’s POVThe entire palace was still buzzing with life in the early hours of the morning as preparations from my impromptu coronation were in full swing. I could hear the clustering and swooshing all around as I woke up in the master bedroom that I’d taken over seeing as I was about to be made the official queen of Crescent Valley.As I stretched out my arms, I heard a soft rap on the door.“Who’s there?” I called out in a sleepy voice.“It's me, Nadia” Her soothing voice responded from behind the door.“Come on in” I yawned in between the words and drew my silk pink robe tightly around my waist as she opened the doors.“Hello your highness! How does it feel to be mere hours away from a coronation at eighteen?” Nadia swayed from side to side with some dresses held tightly to her chest and I guessed that there were the selections for the event.“Uh, nervous?” I told her truthfully as I made my way toward the bathroom to freshen up.“You’ll do amazing while making waves in the ancien

Arnold’s POVHera looked like she was about to offload the heaviest weight that had ever been on her shoulders and I just stared at her wishing that I could look through her and draw it out of her myself, still Hera was the only person of worth I had on my side so I decided to be patient with her as opposed to the thought in my mind where I was half considering yelling at her and shaking it out of her forcefully.“How long before you actually use your words?” I finally asked impatiently after about six minutes of deafening and irritating silence had passed by.She looked as though my words had just jolted her out of her train of thoughts and she replaced the lost look on her face with her usual demeanor that oozed confidence, raw and undiluted confidence.“You’re a beast, Arnold” She said while her eyed bored into mine searching for a befitting reaction to her revelation.Unknown to her, her words would've hurt and surprised me a few months ago, but as I heard them it only felt like a

Layla’s POVNo, no fucking way.It was him all along? Arnold killed my foster parents? He’d watched me mourn them knowing that he’d orchestrated everything because they rejected his advances toward me?“They were all I had, and you knew that! How dare you speak of their deaths so lightly, you monster!” I screamed my lungs out in anger not caring what he’d do to me.Much to my surprise, a smile covered his face showing that he was pleased that I was in so much pain because of what he’d done, my heart was being torn into countless shreds as I recalled that there was a time when I loved him and I considered marrying him not knowing what a sick and twisted bastard he was deep down.“You watched me grieve them, you watched me turn into a shell of myself, you watched me be bitter that I’d lost the last links to learning of my heritage,” My chest heaved like bomb was ticking within it as I spoke.“You watched me almost lose myself and you promised me that you’d find the beast that killed the