22. Nyssa
Nyssa
When I turned my head, Caelus was fighting back a grin. Somehow, he’d known exactly what I was about to do — stood back and let me do it — then watched with rapt amusement while Aros and Aphrodite wore equally perplexed expressions on their faces. Aph raised two golden brows in question.
In answer, I tossed her the second blue pendant I’d swiped.
Aros leaned in over the goddess’ shoulder as she opened her palm, revealing the moon symbol.
He threw his head back in a howl of laughter once he understood, while Aph fought to rein hers in.
Disbelief and hilarity warred across her features, and in the end, hilarity won.
She burst out laughing, just as loud as Aros, to the complete confusion of everyone else in the chamber.
“If you’re quite done, we have a trial to get back to,” drawled an oily voice from across the room.
My head snapped towards the sound, fury reigniting in my veins. I knew exactly who that derision belonged to — and I had a fight to pick with him.
I flew across the room so fast I barely had time to throw out my left arm, unleashing a length of shadows. It latched around Archimedes’ throat, coiling tight, threatening to crush his windpipe, but not actually harming him — yet.
My right arm cocked back, ready to meet the second of two suspects.
Using momentum and every ounce of training I had, I threw the hardest punch I’ve ever landed into the side of Leander’s slimy face.
His head snapped backwards with a loud crack.
I punched him so hard I broke two knuckles. And his jaw.
Pandemonium ensued.
Poseidon roared, launching his trident towards me for daring to strike down his son. Hephaestus bellowed obscenities. Ares’ hair ignited, but he only watched the violence unfold with a grin.
Sick puppy’s feeding off it.
A bolt of lightning shot across the room, deflecting Poseidon’s dick-stick off course. Instead of impaling me, its three sharp points slammed into a marble pillar so violently the shaft jerked up and down, twanging in the air.
Caelus had intervened.
For me.
His eyes were solid white — blazing bright as the bolt he’d just summoned. Power pulsed off him in waves. Static energy filled the air, prickling my skin.
He looked at me with unparalleled fury. Eyebrows slashed down, jaw clenched so tightly the muscles in his cheek twitched.
Before I could speak, the Parthenon doors crashed open. Hermes and Hera stormed in, escorting a wild-eyed, bedraggled Athena. Strands of her hair clung to her face; her usual composure nowhere to be seen.
She had passed her own trial, but at what cost?
“Enough!” Hera’s voice rang out, sharp and demanding.
She strode forward, steps precise, eyes scanning the room assessing the tenuous situation.
Archimedes’ face had turned purple from lack of air. Leander’s was going the same colour — though his came from the bruise forming on his not-so-smug face.
Hera shot me a glare, then approached her son.
She reached up, placing her palm on his cheek.
“I expected more from you, boy.”
Impossibly, Caelus’ jaw clenched harder, with an audible crack , but he didn’t utter a single word of reply.
“Poseidon, retrieve your trident and what’s left of your dignity, please,” the ex-Queen scolded.
“And you,” she hissed, standing before me, “Do not start fights you cannot possibly win.”
I don’t intend to lose.
“And don’t you dare drag my son down with you.”
I fear I might enjoy Caelus going down.
My dragon chortled on my shoulder — laughter, I was certain.
“Release Hephaestus’ son. Immediately,” she demanded.
I obeyed, if only because Archimedes was now purple and unconscious. My shadows receded into the floor, taking the tension with them.
The beasts calmed, though my dragon scowled at them. I was beginning to wish I’d met her scathing sass sooner.
“Now,” Hera called from the forefront of the chamber, retaking her throne, “if everyone could take their seats, we may resume the Rite.”
One by one, gods and goddesses sat in a circular formation, their bonded creatures taking up positions of protection beside them.
Caelus sat in Zeus’ throne — his throne — directly across from me, and right beside his ever-hateful mother. An ever-watchful Lykos crouched behind him.
Caelus looked up, meeting my gaze as I crossed one leg slowly over the other.
He tracked the movement with a predator’s focus, and I fought to keep my mask firmly in place.
I was the daughter of Death. I would not be scolded, attacked, or ignored.
It was time they all remembered exactly who they were dealing with.
“Correct me if I’m wrong,” I said, letting the last word linger, “but are we not missing somebody?”
A small twitch of amusement pulled at my lips as Artemis leapt to her feet. Her face a portrait of malice — teeth bared, eyes bulging. It was, to say the least, entertaining.
“You! You demon-fucking spawn of evil!” she shouted, and this time, my lips twisted into a full grin. Aros, true to his nature, choked on a laugh.
I knew I’d be hearing about this later.
“My champion was unable to return with her medallion because you stole it!”
“Yes. Yes, I did,” I replied coyly. “But Athena’s instructions only stated we had to return with our own medallions — not that we couldn’t also take someone else’s.”
Leander scowled, as if the idea had only just occurred to him. I watched with fascination as he slowly realised he could have prevented almost all of us from proceeding to the next trial and thus eliminated us — had he simply taken our medallions too.
Poor, stupid seaweed brain.
“She is correct,” Athena murmured quietly. “That, too, was a test of wit. And of morals.”
“Indeed,” Hera drawled, arching a perfectly sculpted brow. “Diana, and therefore Artemis, have consequently been eliminated from the Ascension Rite. Ten champions and seven trials remain.”
Artemis stomped back to her seat and dropped into it roughly. Her eyes promised retribution. Even more so when I winked.
“In two days’ time, the Palace of Aetherion will be hosting a ball in your honour,” Hera continued. “You are all expected to attend in formal attire. Failure to do so may result in a penalty in your next trial.”
Indignation rang out across the room. I rolled my eyes. Olympians loved nothing more than a good party, great wine, and even better dancing. The fine clothing just chafed at them, but appearances, really were everything.
“Oh, and please — do refrain from violent behaviour at the ball.” Hera eyed each of us meaningfully. “After all, kings and queens are expected to keep such things behind closed doors.”
She stood and exited through the arched gateway. Most of the others followed suit, some hurling savage scowls in my direction. When only my temporary teammates and I remained, I spoke.
“Thank you for allying with me in Athena’s trial. I do not expect it to continue moving forwards, but it was unexpectedly nice to be part of a team.”
They all moved to speak at once, but I raised a hand, cutting them off.
“In any case, I have old wine, good music, and a deck of cards at the palace. You’re welcome to come celebrate… or not.”
I winked and redirected the gateway to the Underworld, stepping through before I could change my mind. I left it open for them, should any be brave enough to visit the realm of the dead.