by S. E. Babin
There were only a couple more days left before everything began, and I still needed to read the rest of the rules. But so far, so good. I guess. It wasn't like I had a real good grasp of what was good or bad anymore. Things just...were. And I was in the middle like a girl strapped onto a board where everyone threw knives at her and she just seemed to survive due to dumb luck and the speed of the wheel spinning.
As it turned out, I didn't have to tell him anything.
God had gotten to him first.
I landed in his library with a bright, innocent smile pasted on my face. He sat facing me wearing a stony face and a really nice suit. As much as I would have loved to peel that suit off of him, even I knew it probably wouldn't be a good idea.
I opened my mouth to speak, but he interrupted me.
"I'm not sure why you think this is a good idea. If you'd asked me before you ran off and got involved in another harebrained scheme, I would have told you that this was a terrible idea." He scrubbed a hand over his face and stared at me with tired silver eyes. "This is sure to incite war," he added quietly.
I rolled my eyes at him because I couldn't help it. "War is probably inevitable. It's what Zeus wanted all along. This is just another..." I struggled for the words, "added element of mystery."
Hades' expression was appalled. "Throwing my father into the ring to fight your own battles is an element?" he roared.
Bad word choice. Verrrry bad word choice. I threw my hands up. "I am not allowed to fight until the very end!" I yelled back. "I don't want anyone I love to die!"
Hades stood, towering over me. "So you want MY FATHER TO DIE?"
I shrank back from his towering visage, suddenly very regretful of what I had done, but I was still so mad I could spit. "HE CAN'T DIE!" I roared back.
Wait...could he?
Shit.
"OF COURSE HE CAN!"
I blinked at him.
"Well not very easily," I said in quiet defeat.
Hades barked a laugh and sank back into his leather chair. "Gods," he muttered. "I'm head over heels in love with a complete idiot."
I blinked back tears, hurt at his insult. "I'm not an idiot," I whispered.
His look told me he didn't agree with that. At all. "The things you do, Abby." Hades scrubbed a hand through his hair. It stood up in wild inky spikes and was as much a testament to his emotions as the anger in his eyes was. "They hurt people. Even if you see them as a means to an end and a way to win, they still affect people."
"I know that." I did know that. But if I had God on my side, not only would it scare the gods, it would surprise them. And the element of surprise is the way I could win. I knew it in my bones. This was the right way even if knew no one except me could see it.
"Do you?" he wondered aloud. "You've managed to compel the one person who shouldn't be able to be compelled. I'm both speechless and awestruck. Also a little bit horrified." He looked down at his hands. "Perhaps there will come a time when you feel you need to use me to achieve your end goals. Will you feel sorry for me when I'm used and beaten? Will you look at me as the one you loved but the one you needed to help you when you couldn't come to a decision? Will your decision be worth it when you are alone?"
I blinked back tears as I stared at the man I loved. "This is the way," I told him, so terribly sorry, but so so sure it was the right way.
"I hope so," he said. "For all of our sakes, I truly hope so." He stood and turned his back to me and I knew I was dismissed.
I blinked out of his domain, my heart in tatters and my mind whirling with doubt.
Chapter 16
Locks had never been able to stop Clotho. She burst in through the bathroom door and interrupted my rose scented pity soak.
"I know I've told you this before," she said as she sat on the toilet seat and adjusted her long bright skirts, "but you are a complete idiot."
I sighed. "I'm really tired of hearing this today," I said and dunked my head under the water until all I could hear was the roar of the plumbing.
But Clotho wasn't done. She pulled me up by my ponytail, not caring I was as naked as a jaybird. "Yes, but I figure if I say it enough times, maybe you'll actually listen to someone."
Water sluiced down onto my face, and I wiped it away with the palms of my hands. "It was the right choice." I felt like I'd spent the entire day defending myself.
But to my surprise, Clotho nodded. "It was," she admitted. "Your plan is both diabolical and brilliant. No one will expect it."
I sat up straighter. "Then why are you calling me an idiot?" I asked her, my mouth slack with surprise.
"Because of the way you handled it. You trussed God up like a piece of cattle! He isn't going to forgive that."
"Well, if I win, maybe we can laugh at that over Christmas dinner."
Clotho threw her hands in the air "See?" she asked the ceiling as she rolled her eyes toward it. "She really is an idiot."
"I admit, I may have handled it...impulsively."
To which Clotho snorted like an angry bull. "He will not forgive it."
"Maybe he will. I will obtain his end goal."
Clotho reached over and patted my hand. "You have no idea what his end goal is, child. If you think it's only a wedding between you and his son, you are horribly mistaken. You've been in this game for too long to think anyone is that magnanimous."
She pushed my head below the water and left the bathroom. I stayed down for a few extra seconds, my eyes shut tight, soothing my sore heart.
This might all end with victory, so why did I feel so defeated?
About an hour later, I stepped out of the frigid tub, my teeth chattering and goose pimples all over my skin. My skin was pruned like a raisin and my mood hadn't improved much. I walked downstairs ready to start dinner only to see my kitchen full of immortals.
Considering I had on my old pink pajama pants and a tank with a hole in the hem, I wasn't exactly ready for company. Especially of this kind.
"Why is it always my house?" I groused as I walked in, staring at everyone warily.
Ares sat at the head of the table. Next to him was Artie wearing a strange expression and her mortality like a cheap suit. I'd never get used to it, I didn't think. Clotho sat next to her with Zeus to her right. Hermes was at the stove making fried potatoes and Typhon stood next to him flipping burgers on the griddle.
Was there a barbecue no one invited me to? Or should I be prepared to fight to the death already?
Clotho spoke first as I stared at Zeus warily. We had not left on the best of terms, and since Hera wasn't here, I hesitated to think this was a social call.
"Zeus and Typhon are here to ask you some questions," she said.
One of my eyebrows rose of its own volition. "I don't believe I'm up for an interrogation today," I said. A brush of wind next to me told me Atlas had come in. I hadn't seen him much, but I was relieved at his presence. His large and silently brooding presence. It was kind of refreshing to have a man around who didn’t always push his point of view when I found myself faced with a problem.
"You have no choice," Zeus said mildly. "The rules allow one visit to the opponent to speak battle tactics."
Shit. Balls. I knew I needed to finish reading those. I crossed my arms over my chest, wishing I was dressed more appropriately instead of like I was prepping for a teenage sleepover. "Ask your questions and get out," I said, sharper than I intended.
A small smile crossed Ares' face before he stifled it.
"We'd like to eat burgers first," Typhon said, his green eyes sparkling with amusement. He was enjoying this, the jerk.
"Dinner is not part of the requirement, I presume?"
Zeus shook his head.
"Then ask your questions and get out," I snapped.
Hermes sighed. "Since they brought the meat for the burgers, I think it would be a good gesture if we broke bread together."
I glared at him. I knew what I wanted to break and it wasn't bread. It was someone's face.
&n
bsp; Clotho gave me a warning look and I knew that I was beaten. "Fine." I pulled a chair out at the bar. "But I get the first burger."
"First burger is always the test subject, you weirdo," Typhon said. "You can have the first as long as I get the second."
"Jerk," I muttered.
Typhon sighed and covered his heart. "You wound me, fair Abby. You can have the second if it pleases my future bride."
I knew Typhon was only hamming it up for Zeus and because he had a messed up sense of humor. "I hope your future bride has crossed eyes, cellulite, and a permanent lip."
"Tsk," he said, "do not wish such horrible things upon yourself, Abby."
I was going to shove a burger bun down his throat and try to choke him with it. I plastered on a sweet smile. "Perhaps if I was so hideous, I would finally match up to your standard. We all know you like your women weak and ugly."
A choked laugh from Ares earned a snort from me.
But Typhon only grinned and continued to flip his burgers.
Great. I couldn't even talk crap properly anymore. I put my head in my hands and fell silent. If they wanted to ask questions, that was fine. I didn't have to volunteer anything, though. Ares started.
"I know it may seem a little counterintuitive for us to be here, but Zeus requested we come. We will ask no questions outside of the rules." I noticed his gaze slid over to Zeus as he said that as if to warn me to watch out for how he worded things. I'd been around Zeus long enough to be wary of pretty much everything he did. "He is not allowed to ask who your champion is, the area the champion is from, or about any of the person's powers. You are not allowed to ask, either." Ares paused and looked around the room. "However, questions about everyone else may be asked."
I perked up. "So, I have a question. I only get one champion, correct?"
Ares nodded. Zeus' eyes lit up. The jerk seemed to know I hadn't finished reading all the rules yet.
"Am I allowed to choose anyone else to assist me?"
Typhon froze right in the middle of the burger flip. I felt like maybe I'd given too much away, but it was too late. We were two days away. I was already way behind the power curve most likely.
Hermes pinched himself right between his brows and his lips were moving. I couldn't make out what he was saying, though. He was probably calling me an idiot. It seemed to be a theme over the last few days.
Ares nodded slowly. "Yes, you are."
"How many?"
Zeus grinned. "As many as you need, fair Aphrodite," he said, his voice smooth as honey and pleased as punch. He knew I wasn't ready.
"Uh huh. And I have to notify you who they are?"
Typhon intervened. "No," he said before anyone else can speak, throwing me a giant bone. “You don't. But, if anyone manages to guess, you have to tell them."
I dropped my head into my palms. "This seems like one of those games where all the rules are so twisted and turned that no one can figure out anything."
Artie snorted with amusement. "Isn't everything we do like that?"
"Yep," Clotho muttered but didn't add anything else.
"So nothing about champions, but everything about everyone else, if we can guess?" I frowned. "But I have a list of participants. That doesn't make any sense."
Ares’ lips pressed together for a moment. "You are the one who has to defend their honor. Usually the one who challenges has the upper hand."
"It's because us gods rarely go into a battle we think we're going to lose."
I groaned. "So everyone here thinks I'm going to lose?"
The peon section remained quiet. I cracked a laugh, breaking the silence. "This is amazing. Thank you guys so much for your unwavering support."
Artie spoke up. "I think if anyone has the potential to pull out a win, it's you."
I frowned at her. "When did you become a politician?"
Ares studied Artie intently. "Apparently her temporary mortality is messing with her brain chemistry."
Zeus ignored it. If I knew him like I thought I knew him, he was probably very bothered by Artie's decision to test drive being a human around. But he was doing a pretty good job of being stoic about it. Probably because he was more focused on me and how he could use me.
Artie linked her fingers together. "I've been thinking about this a lot and wonder if maybe this is the time you've bitten off more than you can chew."
Offended I straightened up and glared. "I'll have you know I have a really big mouth."
Typhon cracked up at the stove. "I second this," he quipped a flipped a burger over with a perfect arc and two spins. I was really starting to hate his perfection.
Artie shrugged. "Still count me in."
I sighed. Now Zeus knew Artie was into battle. Even though he probably was not surprised by it, he still grinned. One Abby secret spilled right there. Let's see how much worse this could get. Atlas was out because he was battling for my hand. Hopefully to not win it and save me, but still...I'd need to talk to him about it anyway. He didn't seem all that attracted to me, but weirder things could happen. Hermes was also not on my side. In fact, most of the people I knew were not on my side.
I had maybe a handful left, and I couldn't ask Clotho. She was not allowed to get involved in things like that and we both knew it.
But I did have God and that was going to stay super duper on the down low until the last possible moment. I had myself too, but I wasn't allowed to participate until the last challengers. That's if I wanted to participate. I could stay on the sidelines, but that didn't seem really fair to myself or anyone else I was asking.
"What is the yield point?" I asked, suddenly wary about the questions I had. I didn't want to seem like an idiot. I wasn't doing too great of a job at that these days.
Ares cleared his throat. "There is no yield point."
"What?!" I stared at him in shock. "This is a tourney to the death?"
He nodded.
"This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. How do we change this?"
"You can't," Zeus said and grinned at me.
Gods, how I hated this man right now.
I glanced at Typhon. Any amusement had fallen from his face. I wouldn't be amused either if the odds were stacked that high. "So, you're saying each challenger has to die before the games continue?"
Clotho sat up straight in her seat. "Zeus, this is highly irregular."
He shrugged. "Since this is my tourney, I was allowed one rule change."
"And this is the rule you selected?" Outrage flooded my veins. "You have two sons sitting here! You would send them to die for the hopes of making a marriage?"
"Throughout history, people have died for much less," he said, making my blood boil even more.
I studied him, trying to see through his cool and amused facade to the heart of his decision. Why would he sacrifice his blood just for me?
I put it all out on the table. I didn't care who knew anymore.
"You would sacrifice everything to destroy the Titans?"
Ares blinked in surprise. Typhon's shoulders stiffened and he slowly set the spatula down. The kitchen fell deathly silent, the only sound the sizzling of meat and my quiet despair.
"Titans?" Typhon asked in a quiet voice as he glared at his father.
Zeus paled and he stared at me in shock.
"This secret gives you power. No more." I looked at all of my friends and those who chose to be my enemies. "I am the daughter of Uranus, Father of the Sky and Creator. I am the daughter of Hecate."
"The prophecy," Typhon whispered.
"I am destined to be Queen," I said. "But I will not do it walking upon the blood of my family and friends."
Zeus stood, quivering with anger. "You go too far."
"No," I said. "You go too far. You would kill hundreds of innocents to use my blood against everyone. I will not participate in this scheme. I may not win, but I would die before I allowed you to do this."
Zeus slammed his hand down on the table. "Then consider your death warrant signe
d. This conversation is over."
In a blast of wind that stung my eyes and blew my hair back, Zeus disappeared in a rage.
A stunned silence fell.
Ares broke it, his words a halting stutter. "The offspring of Light and Dark?" He rubbed the edge of one eye where a tic started to beat. "Gods, Abby. You don't do anything halfway, do you?"
I wanted to sob at the unfairness of it all. "And here I thought I had no parents at all. Life is funny, am I right?"
No one laughed.
I agreed. It wasn't very funny.
Typhon turned away and flipped the burger over before it burned. But I could tell by the stiff set of his shoulders and his tight jaw that my news had shaken him to his core.
Hermes stirred the potatoes for a final time and turned off the burner.
Atlas squeezed my arm and grabbed a plate. "I'm starving."
I snorted in amusement right as my stomach growled. I was torn at the unfairness of it all, but I grabbed a plate too. "Would it be weird if I dubbed this The Last Supper?" I asked as Atlas handed me the spoon so I could dish out my potatoes.
Ares, ever the realist, said, "I think a more apt name could not be found." He stood up and followed behind me.
Dinner ended up being a somber affair, but as we set there, the atmosphere thawed a little bit and pretty soon snippets of conversation and some laughter followed. Toward the end, Ares patted his stomach and studied me. "Do you know what you're going to do?" he asked, and I saw the concern he'd kept hidden.
I rolled my eyes. "I find it touching that you're worried about me, but I saw the list. I know you're scheduled to battle."
He nodded. "I am. Don't tell me you're surprised by that."
"I'm not surprised by anything these days. But, allow me a question. We tried it for years, Ares. Why now? After all this time and all the hurt we've caused each other?"
Ares' dark eyes shadowed. "If you marry Typhon, Abby, the damage may be catastrophic."