Butterscotch Souls: The Morningstar Series: Book 4
Butterscotch Souls – Chapter 49

It’s time to put my plan into action. This was the only way I could avoid casualties. I didn’t want anyone to die because of me, not even the ones fighting against me. They are just scared. Zeus not only insights fear himself, but he has convinced them that Lucifer would use me against them as well.

I knew that I would have to come up with a plan the moment that I sent my son away. There was no way that Ambrose or anyone else was going to let me get close to Zeus. But that is exactly what I needed. I need to try and reason with him and if I can’t…

Well, then we see who is the more powerful one.

It’s a big risk but it was all I could think of. I just had to figure out how to get Zeus alone. Like I said before, I have woken up every day with new information. It took me five days to realize that if my mind was consumed with something I would wake the next day with knowledge of it. It works for people too. I gathered much information on Zeus due to this strange power of mine.

Right now, time on Olympus is working the same way as here. I’m not sure if it’s always like that, or if it has something to do with the war between us. Either way, I know that nearly all the Gods residing on Olympus right now are asleep. All except for one. One God that can’t seem to sleep.

I walked outside of my home and closed my eyes. The familiar tug pulled at me. When I opened my eyes I was staring at the golden gates of Olympus. They didn’t open for me but that’s alright, I didn’t need them to.

A few days ago I astral projected here to scope out the place. With my new found powers I was able to explore without being noticed. I tried to tell Ambrose about it. I thought that I could listen in on their plans and we could sneak up on them, but my mate wouldn’t listen. It didn’t matter anyways. This was the only way that we would win. I have to be the one to face Zeus.

Taking a deep breath, I teleported again. I stood in the grand hall. It’s empty aside from Zeus sitting on his thrown.

Dark energy swirled around him. His blackened aura tells me all I need to know about him. Zeus looks worse than when I was here before. Dark circles rounded his eyes, his skin is losing it’s glow. The fear of what I could do to him is getting to him. Zeus hasn’t slept in a while, but now it has gotten worse.

One thing that I learned, Zeus is a paranoid man. That was his karma for absorbing his father.

“Hello Zeus.” I said as I walked closer to his thrown.

The Lightening God snapped his eyes golden eyes to me. Pure rage filled every ounce of his body. Lightening flickered across his finger tips. He tried to hide the affect I have on him by leaning back on his thrown and giving me a smirk.

“Epperly, so nice of you to come to me.” He said. “Are you here to surrender to me?” He asked cockily.

I smiled. “You know that I am not.” I said.

Zeus kept his composure but couldn’t hide the anger that blazed in his golden eyes.

“You came to my domain for what then? You do understand that you trespassed onto enemy lands? Surely you understand that I have the advantage here.” He said.

“Do you though?” I asked. “Everyone is asleep.” I said.

“One shout from their leader and they will all wake.” Zeus said sounding sure of himself.

I shook my head. “But you won’t.” I stated.

Zeus brought his hand up to his chin and inspected me for a moment.

“Why is that?” He asked.

I shrugged. That was the best answer I could give. I wasn’t sure how I knew that Zeus wouldn’t call the others but I was. At least for now.

“Why do you seem so familiar to me? Is it because my b***d flows through your veins?” Zeus asked honesty intrigued.

My smile came back to spread across my face. “You mean to tell me that you do not recognize your own mothers power?” I asked.

Zeus’s eyes went wide. Shock. Hmm. I really thought he would pick up on it immediately.

“What are you saying?” He asked now angry.

“Poseidon and Hedes don’t see it either.” I mumbled. “But I can feel it. I know it’s true. Her power was trasnferred to all of them but they never knew with the seal in place, blocking it.” I said.

“What are you going on about Djin?” Zeus asked sounding annoyed.

I sighed. “When you absorbed your father, do you remember what happened to your mother?” I asked.

Zeus scoffed. “I didn’t absorb my father. He passed his power onto me.” He said.

“And why would he need to do that?” I asked.

Zeus seemed flustered for a moment. Had no one really questioned him on this? These Gods just blindly followed him all this time? What a shame.

“He was weak, dying. It was his last wish.” Zeus said.

“Now you’re just pulling things out of your a*s.” I stated.

“What did you just say to me girl?” Zeus fumed.

I shook my head. “You heard me.” I said.

“At first I thought they were dreams. The momories I mean. I thought that all of this power was driving me crazy. But it wasn’t that at all.” I looked up into his golden eyes as I remembered what he looked like when he was born. “She was trying to speak to me through the power we share.”

“What are you talking about?” He asked.

“You were rotten, even from birth.” I stated. “Always bullying your brothers. Lying, manipulating. She should have seen it then, should have done something then.” I said.

“Have you gone mad Djin?” Zeus sounds confused. Hell, I’m still confused on how all this is working.

I shrugged. “Possibly.” I answered. “I don’t think that your mother ever thought that you would end up as evil as you are. You put my mates grandfather to shame honestly.” I said.

Before Zeus could say anything to that, I continued.

“She showed me what you were like as a child, just a few things. Most of the memories she showed me were when you were a teenager and a young man. You know, when you were pressing your father to let you take over ruling here. You pushed and pushed and pushed.” I said as I squeezed my eyes shut.

“She should have known then that you weren’t going to drop it.” I opened my eyes back to the fuming God.

“You overheard them talk about sending you away, somewhere where they hoped that you would learn compassion. But you couldn’t have that could you?” I asked.

“You better chose your next words carefully, Djin.” He seethed lowly.

My smile brightened.

“Don’t you mean Goddess?” I asked. Zeus only glared at me. I sighed. “She showed me that night. The night you killed your father.” I said. “What happened to her after that?” I asked.

“After my father gave me his power, my mother fled. She couldn’t handle the pain of losing her lover and so, she ran away.” He told me with a cold tone.

I shook my head. “You know that’s a lie Zeus. She didn’t run away she-“

“My mother abandoned us.” Zeus interrupted me. He stood to his feet in his fit of anger. “She chose to leave us, to leave me. All because she was afraid. Afraid of the power I had gathered.” He seethed.

Gotta love a God with mommy issues.

“She killed herself because she couldn’t stand to see what her son had become. She knew that you would come for her next.” I said as I took a step closer to him.

“No.” Zeus said shaking his head.

“She knew that you wouldn’t listen to her. So she cast a sort of spell. So that she could come back one day to stop you.” I took another step towards him.

Zeus shook his head frantically. “No.” He said again.

“She lived on through your bloodline and you knew it. That’s why you refused to let Hercules remain on earth, why you kept all of your children close. It’s why you refused to let your brothers be happy.” I took a couple more steps.

We are only a few feet apart now.

“You’re wrong.” Zeus said but his voice sounded weak.

I took a couple more steps to the Lightening God. His head is cast down and I can see the confusion cloud his eyes. I placed my hand on his bare shoulder but he didn’t react.

“You took too much power Zeus.” I said softly. “Your body was not made to take on all that you have over the years. You are going to self destruct if you don’t allow me to help you.” I told him.

Zeus looked up to meet my eyes. “How could you possibly help me?” He spat.

“My mate and I are very powerful. With the help of all the Gods, we can help you.” I said.

“How? By taking some of my power?” He was getting angrier now.

I nodded anyways.

“Yes.” I said. “Not all of it, but some of it. You have taken on too much.” I said.

I could feel the sparks of lightening in Zeus’s hands before he shoved my hand off of his body. Zeus sent me flying back several feet. I fell on my butt and looked up as the Lightening God stalked over to me.

He’s fuming, and he looks crazed. His eyes are clouded with confusion and anger. The room took on an electric charge from his power. Zeus had absorbed much more than just his fathers power.

Over the years of his rule, he took several Gods and Goddesses. Just like with any other creature, his body and mentality can’t handle it. The Lightening God is like a ticking timebomb that only I know about.

“You think you can take my power!? You?” He seethed from above me. “You are nothing but a mistake from one of my sons. You should have died just like the rest of your ancestors.”

I stood to my feet. “I tried to reason with you Zeus.” I said.

He scoffed. “Reason with me?” He’s starting to really lose it. “You wanted to take my power. Take what belongs to me!”

At his last word lightening bolts appeared in each of his hands. I gulped as I felt Adria surface. I was so hoping that it wouldn’t come to this.

“It doesn’t belong to you Zeus. It never did.” I said.

Zeus let out a dark chuckle.

“Are you going to take that power from me Epperly? You really think you can take me on and win? And all while you’re with child. How sad.” He said amused.

A low growl erupted from me as Adria became fully awake.

I see your stupid plan is working. She said angrily.

Sort of. He didn’t go for the whole ‘let us help you’ thing. I replied.

Told you he wouldn’t. Adria grumbled.

“You won’t win Zeus. This is futile.” I told him.

I knew that Zeus could tell I wasn’t lying. He can sense my power. Whether he believes it used to belong to his mother or not, he knows that I’m much more powerful. I think this is why I never had the same fear that the others did.

A big part of me, the Goddess part, knew that I would be stronger than him. I just needed to isolate the situation so that no one I loved got hurt.

“Not if I bring the other Gods here.” The lightening God said lowly.

Before I could react he threw a lightening bolt into the air. It went through the ceiling of the castle and I knew that it had awoken the others. I have only a few minutes before all hell breaks loose.

Zeus gave another dark chuckle. “What will you do now Djin?”

*********************************************

Ambrose’s P.O.V.

*********************************************

I woke in the middle of the night gasping for air. It felt like I had just died and woken up. As I tried to catch my breath I looked to the space next to me. Epperly wasn’t there.

I sighed.

I hope that she isn’t still upset with me for ignoring her. I was just so angry that she was so willing to not only put herself in danger but our unborn daughter as well. Sure, I didn’t go about it the right way but it was like the anger was clouding my judgement.

Another after affect from Epperly’s power.

That hadn’t stopped me from noticing the change in my mate though. She spent a lot of time alone. Mostly she meditated or practiced using her power. She even turned our house into a little piece of nature.

I love it though. It feels like her. Almost like a small piece of her soul is living around us.

I got up from our bed to search for my mate. She wasn’t in the living room or Tate’s room. Kohen started to stir as panic started to set in. I can’t find Epperly anywhere. This is my worst fear.

Did the Gods get her? Has Zeus gotten his hands on my mate? Did she leave me again?

Rushing back to my bedroom I hurriedly dressed in whatever I could find laying around. Then I teleported to the school. The Gods, Ryce, Bexley, and Nix were gathered in the conference room when I barged in.

“Epperly is gone.” I told them.

“What?” Ryce asked.

Bexley shot to her feet. “What do you mean she’s gone?” She asked.

“I can’t find her.” I said.

Just then Kee popped up next to me looking like she had just rolled out of bed.

“What’s going on?” She asked

“Epperly is gone.” I said again. “Get everything you need to skry for her.” I ordered.

Kee nodded and then disappeared again.

“Do you think Zeus kidnapped her somehow?” Nix asked.

“That doesn’t make sense though.” Bexley said. “How would he have gotten past Ambrose?” She asked.

“She did it.” Selene mumbled.

I looked at the Moon Goddess.

“Did what?” I asked but she didn’t respond.

My patience is running thin. Even for the Goddess that I pray to. If she knows what happened she needs to tell me.

“She went to him.” Athena told me.

I looked up to meet her eyes. “What?” I asked.

“Epperly went to confront him alone.” Selene said. “I knew that she was thinking about it but I didn’t think she would really do it.” She mumbled more to herself.

“Are you telling me that my mate is in Olympus with the man that has been trying to kidnap her for her entire life?!” I shouted.

“Ambrose.” Bexley scolded me. “It isn’t their fault.” She said.

I turned to her and growled.

“Ambrose.” This time it was my grandfather scolding me. I turned to face the Devil. “Hold onto that anger grandson. Let’s go take it out on the Lightening God.” He said.

“How?” I asked as I clenched my fists.

Bexley scoffed. “You didn’t seriously think I didn’t have a plan for this did you?” She asked.

“You had a plan for this?” Ryce asked her.

“Well, no.” Bexley admitted. “Maybe. I didn’t remember having a plan but I do now.” She said.

“What the hell does that mean?” Lockern asked her.

“It means that our little Djin Goddess has been up to more than we know.” She replied.

“What the f**k does that mean Bexley?” I asked.

“Shhh, listen. This is what we have to do and we have to do it now.”

*********************************************

Less than 30 minutes later and we are all geared up and staring at the golden gates of Olympus. Athena walked to the gates and when they didn’t open, she forced them open by shooting a flaming arrow at it. It burst into flames. I was surprised that it worked but she is a Goddess, I doubt that arrow was a regular one.

Quietly, we all fanned out across the clouded land. I can’t believe that this place really looks like the f*****g cartoon movie. It is beautiful though.

We stuck in pairs as we fanned out to the Gods homes. Max and I were together. Every door we passed we left the mark that Bexley instructed we leave. Apparently my mate has had this plan for a few days now. Bexley was always a part of it, but Epperly made her forget until the time was right.

It took us about 20 minutes to mark all the doors. Since there wasn’t many Gods left up here that wanted to follow under Zeus. We all met back at the front of the castle. Everyone was waiting outside of the doors.

I marched up to them. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go get my mate.” I asked angrily.

Bexley shook her head. “We can’t.” She said.

“What the hell do you mean you can’t?” I seethed.

“We have to make sure that no one enters the castle.” Athena answered for her.

I huffed out in frustration. “My mate is in there with a f*****g lose cannon of a God! You want me to wait out here for what?” I was shouting now.

“No.” Bexley said calmly. “We will wait out here. You will go.” She told me.

“Alone?” My mom asked.

Bexley nodded. “Look, letting you in wasn’t part of the plan. I was supposed to keep you out here and safe, but I’m worried about her too. So go. Find her. And we will be here waiting for you two when you come out.” She said.

Just then a lightening bolt burst into the sky with a loud crack in the air. A moment later multiple bangs and shouts were heard from the Gods on the other sides of their doors. I looked back at the others to see them looking out. They are prepared in case any of the Gods break free and come here.

A hand landed on my shoulder and I turned to see Selene.

“Go. Now. Protect them.” She urged me.

Athena snapped her fingers and the double doors to the castle opened.

“Go Ambrose!” The Goddess shouted to me.

Without hesitation, I stormed through the doors. They shut behind me but I kept running. After I ran for a few minutes I stopped and sniffed the air. I have no idea where they are but I should be able to scent her.

Why can’t we smell her? Kohen asked.

I don’t know. Did she not come through the castle? I asked more to myself.

Kohen huffed. She can teleport now.

I nodded.

That’s right, she can.

I took off in a random direction and kept sniffing the air hoping to catch a wiff of her jasmine scent. My heart ached as the panic kept rolling through me. I feel like I’m getting no where. I stopped in the middle of a hallway with tons of doors on either side. Opening every single one of them I still couldn’t find them.

Where are they?

Teleport to her. Kohen suggested.

I can’t teleport to somewhere that I don’t know. I told him.

Yeah, but our mate can. He said.

My eyes went wide. Epperly is so powerful that she doesn’t need to see to teleport. She just feels. Just like everything else when it comes to her powers.

I closed my eyes and pictured her in my head. I imagined her beautiful face, her unquie eyes, her dimples, her scent. I miss her so much it hurts.

Then I felt it.

The tug.

It was the same way when Epperly had teleported us home for the first time. It was different than my own power.

My eyelids fluttered open and I was staring into my favorite pair of eyes. Glowing purple and gold stared back at me shocked. I reached my hand up to cup her cheek as a smile of relief spread across my face.

I opened my mouth to say something but then I felt the pain. Something pierced through my heart. I looked down to see a lightening bolt sticking out of me and just barely missing Epperly.

“Ambrose..” Epperly whispered out my name.

I tried to remain standing but I fell to the ground almost taking my mate with me. Epperly slid to the floor with me. She turned me around so that she could hold me. Tears are streaming down her face.

I reached up and weakly wiped them away.

“Why are you crying beautiful? You know I always come back.” I said weakly.

Epperly shook her head but the next words spoken, were not from her mouth.

A deep chuckle sounded. “You won’t this time, Morningstar. You were pierced with one of my bolts. Now, I will be taking your power.”

That must be Zeus’s voice. I’m not sure if it’s the life fading from me or just that I’m so happy to see my mate again, but I didn’t care about his words.

He can’t take my power, can he?

Epperly looked up at the Lightening God. Her eyes glew a bright yellow and a ferocious growl ripped from her body shaking the whole room. She looks so divine, like a true Goddess.

How did I manage to get so lucky to have her? To have Tate? To have our daughter?

Would I even get to meet my daughter? How much more of my son’s life am I going to miss out on? Will Epperly survive without me? I know I couldn’t without her.

“You.” My mate seethed at the God. “I tried to help you. Even after everyone told me there was no saving you. I tired to reason with you, to get you to see your wrongful ways.” Epperly is so angry that her entire body is shaking now. “You can’t have him.” She stated.

Zeus chuckled again but I couldn’t bring my eyes from my mate. The life is leaving me slowly. How am I not dead yet? I was shot in the heart.

“Oh, I can and I will. That bolt is infused with my energy. All I have to do is pull.” He said and I felt a tugging in my chest.

It’s different than teleporting. It feels more like my life is leaving my body. It doesn’t hurt though.

“You can’t have him!” Epperly shouted again.

I watched as fire spread around us. Zeus laughed at my mate’s power. Epperly stood to her feet.

“I’m already pulling it from him.” Zeus said.

I grabbed Epperly’s ankle and she looked down at me. The tears streamed down her face but the fury in her eyes scared me. She’s going to do something stupid, and I can’t let that happen.

“Go, run, think about our children.” I told her.

Epperly’s face contorted into one of pure agony.

“I can’t leave you here. I can’t live without you.” She said.

“That’s the thing about mates.” Zeus said. “Once they meet, they can’t live without the other. It’s pitiful.” He said.

Epperly looked back up at the God. Her body shook with anger and her eyes glew furiously. I watched as she stepped over to me and marched to Zeus. The Lighening God chuckled at her but didn’t make a move to touch her.

“I’m going to drain your mate, and then I’m going to drain you, and then I’m going to go find that son of yours that you all think I know nothing about. No one will ever challenge me again.” Zeus said dangerously.

Pure fear coursed through my body. No. He can’t go after my family. Not my son.

Zeus threw his head back and laughed loudly.

If this bolt is infused with his power… and that’s how he’s draining me… then it should work the other way around right?

I focused on pulling that energy from him. I’m not a God. I’m a Morningstar. A Devil. My power matches those of a God if not more.

I felt the tug and pull of power. The energy is starting to come back to me slowly. I managed to look over at Zeus and my mate. His head snapped down from his laugh. He looked at me and I could see the fury in his eyes. I narrowed my eyes at him as more energy poured into me.

The Lightening God opened his mouth to say something but was stopped when my mate shoved her hand threw his chest. I didn’t need to be closer to know that she has a hold on his heart. Zeus gripped her wrist but Epperly didn’t move.

“I warned you Zeus.” Epperly said dangerously. “Now, in true Morningstar fashion, I’ll rip your heart out. And then, my mate and I will absorb you ourselves.” She stated.

I watched in slow motion as my mate pulled the heart of a God from his chest. The power that was pouring into me at a steady stream, now flowed like an intense current. Zeus looked at Epperly like he couldn’t believe what she had just done. He fell to his knees, giving me one last look, before falling on his face.

Epperly turned around to me just as the lightening bolt in my chest disappeared. She walked over to me with Zeus’s heart still in her hand. Epperly crouched down and got on jwe knees in front of me. She kept my gaze as she brought the heart to her mouth and bit in. Excitement stirred within me. Then she held the heart at my mouth and I to took a bite.

A shot of pure God-like energy surged through me, and then everything went dark.