Chapter 49 Federation Meeting
FEDERATION MEETING
MEDUSA: TWO WEEKS LATER
The leader of the House of Athena raised her hand. She stood behind the speaker platform at the bottom of the packed amphitheater.
Her long brown hair glinted with decorative gold foil that matched her heavy laurel crown. As she moved, her white toga shimmered with layers of silk.
Athena cleared her throat. “I will be acting as the interim federation speaker because of these … extenuating circumstances.”
A hush descended.
House leaders, generals, and distinguished creatures all gave her their attention.
No one knew how to react to the fact that their illustrious Olympian leader had admitted to attempting to murder a child (outside of the crucible—the distinction was key) and then had disappeared after being publicly humiliated.
On the far side of the amphitheater, the Spartans wearing lion crests all ducked their heads with shame.
The House of Zeus had fallen.
It was a glorious time to be alive.
“It is noon on the dot. This federation meeting is now called into session.” Athena pointed up at the gold clock on the wall behind her.
I rubbed my eyes, but the clock stayed the same.
Oh no.
Not again.
The big hand was on the two, the small hand was on the twenty, and the second hand hovered right above it. It said it was two twenty-two.
Fumbling hastily, I pulled my small notebook out of my pocket and scribbled—Athena announced it’s twelve, but the clock behind her says 222. Third time this week seeing that number.
Alexis glanced over at my book, and I quickly closed it.
When you saw things that other people didn’t, you learned the value of discretion.
Athena launched into a speech about taxes and human resources, and as she spoke, a small glowing dot materialized in the air above her head, so tiny, I could barely make it out.
Act natural, keep it together.
Discreetly I looked behind me—oh, wonderful—all around the room, dots of light were flickering into existence above people’s heads.
No one else could see them.
Alexis looked over at me again, her two-colored eyes narrowed, and I opened my mouth to reassure her everything was fine (it wasn’t), but my jaw clicked shut—a strange glow also emanated above her curls.
She gently touched my arms, pushing me back.
I hadn’t realized I was leaning toward her, trying to get a better look at the hovering light up close.
“Are you okay?” Alexis asked with concern.
No.
Three simple words.
As a previously incarcerated individual who’d been labeled clinically insane by Olympian doctors as a child, there was only one right answer.
“Oh yeah, I’m doing fine,” I said as Athena continued monologuing about taxes and protected zones. “One could even say I’m really great right now. Fabulous. I’ve been doing a lot of research and reading. It’s been very informative. Did you know the great Cyclopes rebellion of …”
I trailed off as Alexis grimaced.
Right.
Rambling makes people uncomfortable.
Act normal.
The problem with being a Gorgon, a Chthonic, an opinionated woman with the power of Fate, and a bookworm was that it unsettled people.
I was too passionate.
Too strange.
My existence was a walking red flag.
“I think I saw a fly,” I finished lamely. “Above your head. Pesky little buggers. Very annoying.” I waved my hand and pretended to crush a nonexistent animal.
Alexis didn’t seem convinced.
“Now to our next manner of business,” Athena announced. “The reason we’re all here today.”
Alexis reached out her hand and I quickly took it, wrapping my fingers around hers and shuffling closer. If she was alarmed by my proximity, she didn’t show it.
Physical touch had always been my love language.
Murmurs echoed all around as Spartans whispered to each other.
“Snake scum,” someone spat in the row behind me.
I didn’t turn around.
Athena unrolled a scroll. “In the case of the federation versus Medusa—in light of new evidence, acting in my power as interim speaker to rule from the podium …”
The clock behind her was frozen at two twenty-two and the small glow on top of her head was growing stronger.
Everything was narrowing to this singular moment.
Alexis gripped me harder.
“Medusa is …” Athena’s mouth moved with painful slowness. “Pardoned of all alleged crimes.”
Holy Kronos.
Sharp and heady relief filled me. I fought the urge to pass out.
I was free.
After everything, I was really—
“On one condition,” Athena said sharply.
I stiffened.
It didn’t take the mystical power of Fate to know this wasn’t headed in a good direction (heavy on the mystical because I had zero clue how to understand my powers, let alone wield them).
A rattling filled the air as my hair shifted—my snake darlings trembled—I shivered as the vibration traveled across my scalp and down my spine.
Alexis squeezed my hand with both of hers and my bones creaked. I tried not to show the pain on my face.
My creature heritage overpowered my Spartan genes: my stature was short and curvy, my bones weaker than other full-blooded Spartans. I wasn’t built for war. I was built to read.
Athena smiled. “For the safety of Sparta, the federation requires Medusa to attend ROU, Rhodes Olympian University, and obtain a mastery in Fate studies.”
The murmurs increased.
Wait.
That’s it?
My snakes relaxed.
It was perfect, since I had no money to my name and was homeless as of next week.
Disowned by the House of Artemis since birth—Gorgon traits were not acceptable, one snake would have been ignorable, three were unconscionable—I technically had no inheritance and nowhere to go.
For the same reason I was rejected by Artemis, I had too much Spartan blood to be accepted into Gorgon culture.
Alexis acted like it was fine, but I knew the truth—I wasn’t welcome at the villa. Patro was vocal with his hatred.
This was my chance to make a plan.
“Could be way worse,” I said to Alexis. “I’ve always wanted to get a higher education, but as a Chthonic creature, there are limited options. This is really good. I can figure out everything I’ve been—”
“No,” Hades said calmly a few seats down.
Uh, what?
A fresh wave of murmuring filled the federation.
“It will not be safe for her, surrounded by Olympians,” Hades said louder. “Especially with … everything that’s happened.”
My spirits fell.
I’d somehow forgotten that I was Olympian enemy number one, and synonymous with the downfall of the great House of Zeus.
Years in prison really did numbers on a person’s reputation.
Maybe I’ll win them over with my natural charm?
Oh wait—I have none.
When I’d been put under an age stasis at twenty-one, I was known as the “talkative bookworm who sees things and everyone mostly ignores.” I woke up in a world where The Falcon Chronicles labeled me a “violent, powerful, dishonorable snake-scum traitor in league with Titans.”
It would have been iconic, if I wasn’t too busy having panic attacks as memories of the guards rose up and—
Don’t think about them.
Don’t think about what they did to you.
During my lovely (hellacious) imprisonment, Gorgon relations had deteriorated, Titans had somehow mutated with wings, and war was brewing.
I leaned against Alexis, feeling unmoored. A calming, competent energy wafted off her, and, in her presence, it felt as if everything would work out. She respected me, listened to me, believed me. She valued what I could do.
Unlike the Olympians who framed me and the guards who—
Don’t you dare think about it.
Alexis squeezed my hand like she could feel my spiraling thoughts.
She was my only tether to safety.
She stood between the panic attacks, the deep abyss of pain that I held in pieces around my heart, and the dark thoughts.
Alexis Hert was my hero.
“What do you propose?” Athena raised her brow as she stared at Hades. Ares and Artemis both leaned forward and murmured something in his ears.
I froze as the latter glared over at me.
Mommy? I chuckled to myself, then stopped because it wasn’t helping my “crazy” reputation. Artemis disowned me as soon as I popped out with snakes, so I’d never really known the woman.
From the glares she was sending my way, I was lucky for it.
Hades nodded at them, then turned back to Athena. “The Chthonic leaders,” he said with an air of authority, “will allow her to attend with the stipulation that two bodyguards are allowed to attend with her. They will board with her and stay by her side twenty-four seven for protection.”
Bodyguards?
Shivers trailed down my spine as memories strangled me.
There was nothing good about a guard.
Athena pursed her lips like she was considering it. She looked up at the rows of the amphitheater. “Does anyone have an objection to this proposal?”
Murmurs increased, more taunts of “snake scum” were shouted (unoriginal), but no one raised their hand.
Most likely because all the Chthonic leaders had turned around and were glaring up at the rest of the federation with expressions that promised war.
Since the peace between Olympians and Chthonics was extremely strained after Zeus’s revelation (I could already smell the trench foot and hear the battle chants), they probably weren’t bluffing.
Athena looked back to Hades. “Who do you recommend?” she asked.
Hades slowly smirked. “The Crimson Duo.”
There was a long moment—then loud conversation erupted.
Alexis blanched beside me.
“Who’s that?” I asked, as someone shouted something from the back row.
I wasn’t up-to-date with the modern Spartan lingo because of my violent imprisonment. The age stasis ensured I wasn’t conscious for the incarceration—and was physically only twenty-one—which was why my powers were still weak in their development.
Somehow, even though my body had been in stasis, my mind remembered … everything.
There was also the horrible throbbing pain in my left arm that I refused to show anyone.
Don’t think about it.
“The Crimson D-Duo is …” Alexis trailed off like she was afraid to say it.
There was a commotion to my left. “No,” Patro said a few seats down. “We refuse to—”
What is he talking about?
He was silenced by a hand over his mouth—DEATH was tattooed across the restraining knuckles.
There were dangerous men, and then there were violent men. The distinction was crucial.
Achilles and Patro were the latter.
I’d never met anyone so volatile in Sparta, dark creature or Chthonic.
There was something especially unhinged about this new generation.
Patro had cornered me about a dozen times in the villa. Whenever people weren’t looking, he’d trap me against a wall and tell me he knew I was playing a game.
Now, he glared over at me.
Emerald eyes met mine, pure hate blazing in their depths.
Fear wrapped around my throat as I realized just what was happening here.
Oh … my … Kronos.
“They’re the Crimson Duo?” I said to Alexis. “Why are they called that? Is it because Achilles’s eyes are red or is it something to do with blood? Maybe a play on—”
“Yes, you will!” Aphrodite shouted as she pointed at her son. “You will obey orders.”
Patro nodded curtly.
Please, Kronos, no.
This can’t be.
They’re going to hurt me just like the—
“Perfect,” Athena said. “That matter is handled—Medusa will enroll at ROU with Patro and Achilles as her bodyguards this September. I’m sure they can obtain a mastery in …” Her eyes narrowed as she sized up the two dangerous Chthonic men. “War studies.”
Patro rolled his eyes.
“Alexis would also like to attend,” I blurted.
Alexis dropped my hand, and I was too panicked to give her an apologetic smile.
Kharon and Augustus leaned forward beside her, both of them hitting me with a death glare.
I felt nothing.
Survive.
You need to survive.
Patro and Achilles are going to hurt you and—
“It’s an Olympian university. Chthonics are historically not allowed to enroll!” a Spartan in a small laurel crown shouted from a few rows back.
“Yeah!” more Olympians chorused back.
Jeers echoed.
Kharon’s expression twisted as he sized me up, sadness in his blue eyes. He’d been acting strange ever since last week when Alexis had revealed how she’d freed me.
Alexis said it was because he was my brother, but I didn’t understand. Spartans rarely formed familial attachments—our culture was all about power and competition.
“What are you doing?” Alexis whispered out the side of her mouth.
They’re going to hurt me.
“Education is good,” I said quickly. “You’ve said it was always your dream to go to a Spartan university. Now you can get your mastery in mathematics. We can be together.”
We can be safe.
She blinked as she stared at me like she was in shock.
“Alexis—is this true?” Hades asked, his voice rising above the clamor. I clutched her hand tightly.
Alexis closed her eyes for a few seconds, but when she opened them, her expression was determined. “Yes—I would like to attend,” she said, giving me a small smile.
Warmth exploded in my chest, and the strange light above her head flared brighter.
Kharon made a choking sound.
I threw my arms around her. “Thank you,” I repeated into her curly hair. Alexis hugged me tightly.
Safe.
You’re going to be safe.
It’s all going to work out and you can—
“It is decided,” Athena said. “The Crimson Duo will room with Medusa. She will not leave your side. You will shadow her and protect her.”
Patro leveled me with a glare—slowly he dragged his pointer finger across the front of his throat, handsome face contorting with malice.
“Moving on to our next order of business,” Athena said calmly, unaware that she’d just sentenced me to death. “The federation is still investigating leads as to why the Titans are mutating. So far, our efforts have found nothing.”
“You’ll regret this,” Patro mouthed silently.
I made a face back.
I already did.