Chapter 23
Iturned the little metal ball over in my hands, hope and anticipation filling me. Honestly, if there wasn't an unconscious guy drowning in sand, the test would actually have been quite fun.
The orb had three simple rings carved around it, but other than that gave me no clues. What was I supposed to do with it?
The clues will lead to a key to unlock the hourglass, the commentator had said. I looked at the hourglass. The sand was just falling past the man's shoulders. The orb didn't look like any sort of key I'd ever seen, but that meant nothing. This place was as weird as weird could get.
I walked quickly towards the hourglass, apologizing to people as they stepped up to talk to me.
“I'm sorry, I won't be a moment,” I said politely, over and over again, causing the time it took me to cross the hall to be doubled. Stupid damned manners. Eventually I reached the hourglass. A hush fell over the room and nerves skittered through me as I looked back over my shoulder.
Everyone was watching me, now they had realized where I was going. They knew I had solved all the clues and got the key. There was no way I could do this bit naturally, but surely this wouldn't get me disqualified?
The commentator had said I needed to unlock the hourglass. I paused, holding my breath, waiting for his booming voice to reprimand me, but only the sounds of the harp carried through the ballroom. I dropped into a crouch, my relief short lived.
The frame of the hourglass was made of what looked like brass, including the thick base which bore a broad plaque in the middle. There were two round holes in the plaque and a short inscription underneath each.
Innocent and guilty.
I frowned. What did that mean? Was it referring to the man inside? I stood up, peering through the glass at the man's sleeping face. He had deep creases around his eyes but he was too young for them to be wrinkles from age.
He had sandy colored hair that was tidy and short. How was I supposed to know if he was guilty or innocent? And of what? I let out a hiss of annoyance and took a deep breath. There must be a clue somewhere. Even these twatty gods wouldn't make a puzzle unsolvable.
I put my hands on the glass and looked again. He was wearing something around his neck, I realized. It was on a leather band and it was small and metal. Some sort of charm. It looked like... a feather?
I squinted, trying to see details through the slightly warped glass as the sand began to cover the man's throat - and the necklace. It was a dagger, I finally realized.
Why would he have a dagger charm around his neck? Did that mean something in Olympus? I clenched my jaw. As an outsider, I was at a disadvantage, once again. Think, Persephone. Daggers are not generally associated with innocence. Could the answer be that black and white?
Discomfort rolled through me at the thought of deeming a stranger guilty of anything.
Except these Olympian assholes for making me play their stupid games.
I took a deep breath. All this time I had been thinking of the guy in the hourglass as an innocent bystander, put through this for entertainment.
But what if the gods were not that cruel? What if they actually had chosen someone who deserved it? Not that I was convinced anyone deserved to be drowned in sand.
With a swift movement, before I could talk myself out of it, I dropped my little orb into the “guilty” hole. There was a metal rolling sound, and then a click.
I stepped back, heart hammering as I watched the hourglass. Slowly at first, then faster, the sand began to move the other way, shooting back up the little gap it had come from, quicker than it should be able to.
“Congratulations, Persephone!” The commentator's voice made me jump. “You've just saved the life of a convicted murderer!”
“What?” I spun around to look at the blonde man, standing only ten feet behind me.
“Part of the Titan Brotherhood, this man killed over fifty others, before he was brought to justice by the magnificent Theseus,” he beamed, and gestured at the gorgeous guy with dreads I'd met earlier.
Applause erupted through the room, and Theseus nodded and smiled at everyone, raising his glass.
“We'll have a short break for the feast, then your second test will begin. Enjoy!”
Hecate sauntered over to me, her glass raised, as everyone turned back to their partners, talking excitedly.
“Nice one, Persy,” she said as she reached me.
“He's a convicted murderer?” I gaped at her.
“Yeah,” she shrugged. “What's the problem?”
I opened and closed my mouth a few times. I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to say, only that this was all really wrong somehow.
“That's not how we deal with criminals in our world,” I said eventually.
“Well if this offends you, I would discourage you from visiting some of the darker areas of the Underworld,” she said, raising one eyebrow.
“The Olympians are rather well known for their colorful punishments of the guilty.” I blew out a breath, and looked about for the serving satyr. I needed some more of that fizzy wine.
“My lady,” said a little voice, a tray appearing out of nowhere.
“Thank you,” I said, and swiped up a glass. “How do they know when we want a drink?”
“That's their job and they're good at it. Speaking of which, you completed the first test fast. The judges should be impressed.”
“Hmm,” I said, taking a long swig of my drink. Thank the gods for alcohol. Although at the rate I was drinking, I wouldn't be sober enough to last all three tests.
Over Hecate's shoulder I saw that lots of round tables had appeared, ornately dressed in scarlet red tablecloths and each set for eight guests.
Relief that I'd gone through feasting etiquette washed over me when I saw the number of pieces of silverware surrounding the grand black plates and bowls. A loud gong sounded, and people began to make their way to the tables.
“Top table,” said Hecate, as I moved my head side-to-side, trying to work out how they knew where to sit. “You're on the top table.” She pointed to an oblong shaped table in the middle of the room.
“Where are you sitting?” I asked her.
“With you,” she grinned at me. “Perks of being the boss's favorite employee.”
“Thank the gods for that,” I breathed. Having a familiar face nearby would definitely boost my confidence.
“Well done, you said gods!” Hecate clinked her glass against mine with a grin. “We're making progress.”
“Speaking of the gods... Will they be sat at the top table with us?”
“No, they don't eat with us inferior folk. Feasting with the gods is the highest mark of respect a citizen can be given.”
“What about lunch with a god?” I asked quickly, thinking of my donuts on Zeus's mountain-top. There was no way he'd have been showing me respect, surely? Hecate laughed, presumably at the confused expression I must have had on my face.
“Don't worry, a god trying to get into your pants over a little light refreshment isn't the same. I'm talking feasting, like this, with all of them.”
“So where do they eat?” I asked as we made our way to our table.
“Who knows? Or cares?” she shrugged, pointing to a chair. I saw a prettily inscribed name card on the onyx colored plate. Persephone. Hecate moved to the other side of the table, and sat down but I remained standing, as I had been taught. I needed to greet all of my table guests.
“Persephone, it's a pleasure to meet you,” said a man, reaching for my hand.
My lips parted and I felt heat rush to my face as my fingers touched his.
He was gorgeous. And not mysteriously good looking like Morpheus, or pretty-boy good looking like Zeus, but panty-dropping, mouth-drooling, dizzy-making gorgeous.
He was built like a football player, a white shirt emphasizing his broad shoulders, and low slung pants drawing my eyes inexorably to his hips. I dragged my attention back to his face, where his dusty blonde hair curled around his ears and his eyes shone blue.
“H-hello,” I stammered. “Thank you for coming.”
“Wouldn't miss it for the world,” he beamed, and I swear my knees wobbled. His full lips were mesmerizing. He started to move towards a chair, but I stopped him.
“I didn't catch your name,” I said quickly.
“Oh, I'm sorry, I'm not allowed to tell you.” He gave me an apologetic smile.
“Why not?”
He shrugged.
“Hate the game, not the players,” he said with a wink. My initial captivation with him vanished, and I suppressed a growl. Now what were those bastards up to? Was this part of the test?
One by one people came up to me, kissing my hand or curtsying politely, and none of them would tell me their name. The only one of the five I recognized was the woman who was wearing the mask with the blue feather and white lace on it.
I cast about for her name, but there had been so many introductions that evening that I couldn't remember it.
“Let the feast begin!” rang out a voice, and a colorful assortment of fruit suddenly appeared on all the plates. I sat down on my chair, picked the correct fork from the array available, and took a breath. I wasn't going to let my guard down for a second - something was definitely going on here.