I looked around. It hadn't been long since that presence appeared. At first, it felt like Artemis… but far more powerful.
More powerful than the real Artemis. That gave me a headache. Someone with a domain like Artemis's… but stronger?
Selene.
I knew I had felt her resistance when she handed the domain over to Artemis.
Who would have thought she was still alive and in control of the domain?
Worst of all, she was like me—a domain sovereign. And that's not good.
A sovereign is someone who has total control over a domain that has no primordial.
It doesn't belong to us, but… we control it. Like a CEO who runs a company but doesn't own it.
Since it was probably my fault that she was brought into this world… I decided to ignore her with all my strength and hope she would leave me alone.
—
It didn't take long before I reached a bar and found my old friend Gabriel sitting on a barstool, drinking.
"What is it? You look like you just saw death," I asked, sitting beside him.
"I screwed everything up…" Gabriel said, taking another drink.
"Well… you are the master of screwing things up," I replied, not understanding what he meant. "I thought that was normal for you."
"Thanks for the support," Gabriel growled with an ironic smile.
"You're welcome. It was an honor to help," I replied in the same tone, and Gabriel growled back.
I raised my hands in surrender and asked what he had done.
"I was sleeping with a jotun," Gabriel began.
"Hmmm, jotuns—beautiful, tall, very tight ladies. I get it… I really get it," I joked. "I was very happy with jotuns in my old life too. What's the problem?"
"She's pregnant." Gabriel took another gulp of beer, and my glass fell.
"Hey… don't destroy the establishment," the old man who owned the bar yelled.
"Sorry… I'll pay double," I replied. The old man nodded, and I turned my attention back to Gabriel. "Man, how? Are you sure it's yours?"
"Yes… I could feel the grace of the archangel in the child in Ang's womb." Gabriel took another shot and started filling another glass of vodka.
"Wait… Ang as in Angrboda?" I asked, confused. Gabriel nodded. "You're even sleeping with the wife of the deity you're disguised as?"
"It's not my fault… you should see her… No—no, it's better you stay far away and never see her." Gabriel grew animated and growled at me—damn my reputation. "Loki has no idea what he had at home, so I made sure to take it."
"You're right, but what if Loki shows up?" I asked honestly. The jotun really thinks Gabriel is her husband. "You know she's going to feel betrayed."
"I know… Aahhhh." Gabriel took another shot and started crying. "What did I do with my life?"
"Convince her to get an abortion," I said.
"You're crazy. Unlike you primordials and deities who breed like rabbits, we angels barely have fertility. This is my only chance to be a father." Gabriel growled at me, his eyes glowing red, and I, being the good god that I am, just raised my hand once more.
But Gabriel couldn't escape the slap he took to the face from the old bartender.
"Don't destroy the establishment," the old man growled, and we both shrank back.
"Sorry…" we both shouted together.
Back to our conversation.
"You know your brothers won't tolerate this, right?" I asked in a playful tone. "You know what they do to half-angels—especially those who are also divine."
"I know. That's why I'm asking for your help." Gabriel sighed and lowered his head. I was completely surprised… an archangel bowing his head? Was this a joke? "You may be pretending to be Zeus, but I know you're a primordial. You're capable of protecting my children if we work together."
"Sure—but you'll owe me one," I said, extending my hand. "I always collect my favors."
"Damn it…" Gabriel sighed and seemed to think long and hard, then sighed again. "I'm trusting you."
He shook my hand, and I smiled. Nice—an archangel as a joker in my hand.
—
Time passed. Sam was finally born, and I knew what was coming.
Would saving Mary be fair?
The old Zeus would have saved her out of pure selfishness and used her for his pleasure until her beauty faded with age or I grew bored of her.
Not to mention she would return to John, and besides my wounded ego from losing her again to a human, John wouldn't become the horrible father he was and wouldn't forge the boys for the future war.
But because of my human reincarnation, today I have morals and no longer see humans as objects to be broken.
Still, the plot had to happen. I couldn't simply step in and save her without taking responsibility for the consequences.
I sighed, closed my eyes, and let the scene play out.
When Azazel appeared and dripped the blood into Sam's mouth, the baby's crying drew Mary's attention.
That was when I saw Azazel stab her and throw her against the ceiling.
That was when I stepped in.
—
"Enough," I said in fury as I appeared in front of Azazel. "You already got what you wanted. Leave."
"Well, well, well… if it isn't the great and 'mighty Zeus' trying to save a human," Azazel put on a show full of irony. "How cute."
"It's not cute." I let my power leak out, and Azazel's expression changed.
"That's impossible… you don't have enough faith to wield that kind of power," Azazel denied reality and grew aggressive. "It's a trick—a good trick, deity—but your time has passed."
"I thought that too," I said as I walked toward him and stopped face to face. "But do you want to bet? Fight the Zeus of ancient eras? You remember my peak, don't you, archangel?"
I made sure the threat was clear in my voice and in my eyes, full of promises of pain.
Azazel is a fallen one like Lucifer, but much younger… a replacement piece made by Chuck after the loss of the archangels who died in the war.
That means he doesn't know about the primordials or the truth of the deities.
They're not as powerful as the older archangels or the primordials, but they are a force to be reckoned with.
Too bad he was corrupted and became a demon.
Azazel took a step back. It wasn't fear—it was respect. Even as an avatar… when Zeus had the faith of millions, he was a force to be feared even by Heaven, perhaps the greatest divine threat any angel other than the oldest archangels had ever seen.
"Why are you interfering?" Azazel asked with a growl.
"I'm not… the child is already corrupted," I replied with a sigh. "I just can't allow this woman to go to Hell."
"It's a contract," Azazel said, stepping forward. "She made the deal, and she's going to Hell."
His eyes glowed yellow, and I did the same—mine crackling with lightning.
"You're going to reconsider," I replied threateningly. "Hell has plenty of souls. One won't be missed."
"I would miss her," Azazel answered.
"Unfortunately for you, you'll have to live with that absence," I said, increasing the intensity of my power. He did the same. "Your plan is already complete, archangel. Leave. The woman is already dead."
Then he retreated and looked at Mary, seeing a body without a soul.
"Were you stalling me so the reapers could take her soul?" Azazel asked curiously. "And I'm the demon."
He was ironic, but he understood there was nothing more to gain from the conflict and disappeared.
I looked at Mary's soulless body and did what was necessary—the fire and everything.
I teleported to Dean's bed and stroked his head.
"I'm sorry, my half-son. This had to happen," I said, then turned invisible to watch John arrive late—always late.
He picked up Sam and Dean, traumatized by the sight of his wife's body on the ceiling, burning, and he unfortunately became trapped in the flames.
I had to intervene and teleport them outside.