4. Chapter 4
Chapter 4
H estia turned to Athena.
“Kill her?” she asked, her mouth open in surprise. “Athena, is that necessary?”
She met Hestia’s question with determination.
“I only ask,” Hestia quickly interjected, “keeping this company in the dark might not be wise.”
Athena cocked her head as if contemplating Hestia’s words. She straightened herself.
“My warriors only need to know what I tell them. We must protect Olympus. The Fates have been very clear on who and what will bring destruction upon us. If Father won’t listen, destroying the destroyer is up to us.” She set her features. “I am trying to return Olympus to its rightful place.”
“Yes, but killing her? Athena, she might be an innocent human.”
“There are no truly innocent humans, Hestia. Look at what they have done without us to guide them. They need the gods to return.”
She tried a different approach. “There is a possibility that she might be the savior, Athena. The one we’ve been hoping for. The one who will break the curse.”
Athena pounded her fist on the table. “That is a myth. The oracle has been explicit in its message.”
“When Pandora falls, so falls Olympus,” Hestia repeated the oracle’s omen.
“When the Serathena rises, so begins the final war. The second part of the omen is what we must remember, dear Hestia.” Athena’s eyes softened slightly. “You are soft-hearted towards the woman, towards the humans. You want this family to get along, but this war is our destiny. Protecting our legacy is what I’m trying to do. She has the potential to obliterate Olympus if she is the Serathena. She may be a savior, but I can’t take the chance.”
“And what if we need her to break Pandora’s spell? What then? If you kill her, we may stay trapped here.”
Athena sighed. She ran her finger methodically along a ridge of the table’s grain, tracing its rough line, moving back and forth. “Centuries ago, I swore I would discover a solution. I believe if I can get my hands on Pandora’s book and find the spell she used, Hecate can reverse this, and everything will return to the way it was.”
“I understand, but your warriors are ruthless. She may need our protection, Athena, not destruction,” Hestia pleaded. “If you’re wrong . . .” Her voice trailed off. She hated to think Athena’s focus was so narrow the goddess overlooked something right before her.
“Don’t worry, sweet Hestia,” she said, smiling slightly.
“You just gave Evander a direct order, Athena. A direct order to kill her. He is your most loyal warrior. He will not falter. Athena, please rethink this,” Hestia said, annoyed she had to keep repeating herself.
“We must protect this realm; that’s what is important. The grimoire will be returned to us, and we will be safe from those who wish to harm us.” She gently laid her hand on top of Hestia’s and squeezed. “In the wrong hands, the book will be a weapon that will bring Olympus to its knees. The library is almost ready. Restoring Olympus is our only objective.”
“Athena—” Hestia began.
“Am I not the goddess of war? Of knowledge? Of strategy? I have thought this through. I will do everything I can to protect this realm. Everything.” She stared off into the corner of the room, but a flicker of war grew in her eyes.
Hypatia twisted around a corner and knocked into Artemis. The scrolls she carried exploded upward before they rained down around them.
“Oh! My Goddess. I’m sorry I didn’t see you,” Hypatia said in a rush. Artemis snorted and stooped to help pick up the mess, giving her friend a knowing look. “Spying on the two conspiring goddesses, I see.”
Artemis winked and handed her a scroll to add to her stack. “Yes, of course. If I’m correct, you were looking busy to pass by them unaware.” She smiled conspiringly.
“Have you learned anything? Why the warriors were called?” Hypatia asked. She rose to stand; her stack now assembled back in her arms.
Artemis looked over her shoulder as the door cracked open. Athena and Hestia sat deep in conversation. Grabbing her elbow, Artemis quickly escorted her down the large hallway into a darkened alcove.
“What have you learned?” Hypatia whispered, as if the distance alone wasn’t enough to hide them.
Ensuring no one was listening, Artemis began. “Athena sent Maximus’ company to capture Pandora’s grimoire. They failed. She directed an epsilon warrior, Evander, to kill a woman. She fears for the safety of Olympus.”
Hypatia shook her head, her blood running cold in her veins.
“What woman?” Worry etched on her face as her voice wavered. Artemis stared at her briefly, watching as the realization of which human slammed into Hypatia.
Artemis nodded, her face growing serious. “Yes, Hypatia.”
No, she mouthed, her lips making a perfect little “O.” “Artemis, what can we do? We must protect her. Isn’t Athena aware of the consequences this will have on Olympus? She won’t listen to me. I was bringing more scrolls I found to convince her.” Worry was evident on her face. Her voice was shrill, emotional, something the ever-steady scholar seldom was.
Artemis patted her arm in the gentle way she always did when they were involved in something horrible. Of all the centuries she had been on Olympus, only Artemis had bothered to become an actual friend to her. She had saved her that terrible night. The others tolerated her, even summoned her when they needed something researched or scribed. But Artemis had seen her as an equal, someone to confide in, laugh with, and share secrets. Hypatia was in charge of filing and categorizing the artifacts of the newly built library. She had been a part of the first one and was happy to be involved in the second, but not if it meant an all-out war.
“I think it might be time to tell him, Hypatia. He needs to know the truth.”
“Apollo can’t find out—” Tears welled, escaping one by one down her cheeks. She hadn’t spoken to Apollo in decades. He had broken her heart, and the thought of confronting him with everything was too much.
“We cannot have Athena bring about an apocalyptic war because of her own stubbornness. If the human figures out what she has—” Artemis shook her head. “If Athena won’t listen to you, then we must get the warriors to listen before it is too late.”
The two women nodded, knowing full well going against Athena would bring on the war they were trying so hard to avoid.