Tame the Spark

It all begins with Hera & Zeus...

Before Noelle ever falls into the Other, before Cassandra becomes the witch in the woods, a young Manhattan socialite meets a stubborn silver-haired stranger and discovers that the Fates won't be denied —

Elisabeth
“The old ways are dying.”

That’s how the man who’s been following me around the city finally breaks his silence. The old ways are dying, and it’s up to me to save them.

Well, to be fair, it’s up to the two of us. Because, thousands of years ago, we were both gods—and we were married. He introduces himself as Zeus, king of the gods, and tells me that I’m not really Elisabeth Morgan. I’m Hera, and throughout countless lifetimes over the course of millennia, I’ve been his queen.

Of course, I don’t believe him. I’m convinced he’s broken loose from an asylum. The first time he approaches, my betrothed warns the silver-haired man to keep away from me. With a smirk, he disappears, as if he knows we’ll meet again.

And we do because, after seeing him once, I can’t stop myself from searching him out again. It’s an addiction, a compulsion, a need that turns into a rage so fiery, I nearly burn up the world around me when I discover him with another woman.

Because Hera is the jealous sort.

Because I’m Hera.

And he is Zeus, my wild, uncontrollable, philandering consort. He says the old ways are dying, and we have to return to the Other side. Will I go?

I don’t know. Can I tame him? Make him mine and mine alone like he never was? He says we’re meant to be, but I’m not sure.

Can I leave him?

No. I can’t.

So I go. And I discover that there’s a whole other world out there, I’m a whole other person, and, with his help, it’s up to Zeus and Hera to save both the worlds.