by Unknown
“Excuse me, Torrent,” I got up. “I need to talk to Pan.”
“Oh, okay.”
I went over to where Pan was sitting and scooted him over with my hip, so I could sit beside him. His shoulders were shaking with repressed laughter and one look at my face burst the tide. He started giggling horribly.
“Stop that,” I hit him and lowered my voice. “Do you think Artemis will be nice to Torrent?”
“Honestly, V,” Pan kept giggling. “They're kind of perfect for each other. They're both pretty child-like. Artemis hasn't had a lot of men, she prefers to hang out with her dogs.”
“Gee, I wonder why,” I rolled my eyes.
“People used to call her the Virgin Goddess because of that,” Pan continued in a conspiratorial tone. “But she's not. I know that for a fact. She's had a few boyfriends who have managed to get past her gruff exterior but Apollo usually ends up scaring them away.”
“Do I need to have a word with Apollo?”
“Nah,” Pan shook his head. “Wait and see. Maybe Apollo will notice how perfect they are for each other too. I mean really, where else could she find another god who is so intelligent and yet so supremely sweet and genuine?”
“That's right,” I frowned, “and she'd better appreciate him.”
“V,” Pan laughed, “we don't even know if anything will come of this. Relax, we're almost to Olympus.”
I followed his look and saw that we were coming up to an island. Actually, it was more like a mountain stuck in the middle of the water. There appeared to be a thin strip of beach encircling it but other than that, the island went straight up into the clouds. Birds circled it, crying and diving into the water to catch their dinner, but there wasn't any other life to be seen. Just a sheer face of rock.
“I didn't think to bring my spelunking gear,” I said as I tilted my head to search for the top of the mountain. I couldn't see it, it was completely shrouded in clouds.
“There's an elevator,” Hades' tone was so dry, I couldn't tell if he was joking.
“No way,” I responded with disbelief.
“Oh yeah, it's bananas, right?” Donnie smiled a sparkling white grin at me. “Zeus didn't want people just tracin' up to the apex all, yo' what's up, man. That would nully the point of living on a gigantic mountain, yeah? So you gotta holler up and then he'll shoot the cab down.”
“Huh?” I gaped at him.
“There's an intercom beside the elevator that we'll use to tell Zeus we're here and then he'll send the elevator down for us,” Hades translated.
“Where?” I scanned the shore. “I see only beach and rock.”
“Right there,” Hades pointed to the far right as the boat did a sharp turn in that direction. Sure enough, there was a cave at the base of the mountain. One which the ocean went straight into and our boat followed it in.
The mountain welcomed us down its dark gullet and I peered around me with dilated eyes, waiting for it to swallow. Instead, the darkness ebbed and our little channel brought us to a promontory lit by two torches. The torches were set into the rock wall, one on either side of what appeared to be an old fashioned, gilded elevator door.
“Well damn,” I climbed out of the boat with Trevor's help. “There's even numbers above it. Oh wait, no, they're letters. C, O, Z. What's a coz?”
“C is the cave level, obviously,” Hades pointed to the old fashioned clock hand display above the elevator door. The tip of the hand was currently set to O. “O is the Olympus level, the plateau that most of the palaces are built on.”
“So what's Z?” I frowned and then brightened. “Oh! Zeus has his own level, eh?”
“Precisely,” Hades chuckled as he hit the intercom button set into the wall beside the elevator.
“Yes?” A deep voice came out of the speaker.
“We're he-e-ere,” I sang and Hades shushed me before pushing the button again.
“We're he-e, erm,” he cleared his throat as we all snickered at his unconscious mimicry. “We've arrived.”
“Alright,” a little chime sounded.
“He lives on the most epic peak,” Donnie added. “Talk about being a total noob. Can you say delusions of grandeur?”
“Unless they're not delusions,” Hades said cryptically as the elevator doors opened.
“We're not going to all fit...” I trailed off as I saw the size of the elevator. The doors were deceiving. The inner compartment was large enough for an elephant. Possibly two. “Huh. I guess the Greeks move a lot of big things up the mountain.”
“You'd be surprised,” Donnie gave me large eyes as he headed in.
“I don't think there's a lot that can surprise me anymore,” I laughed as I followed him inside. I guess that was kind of a stupid thing to say since the size of the damn elevator had just surprised me. Hell, I got surprised a lot actually... but no takebacksies. I'd said it so I'd go with it.
The rest of our group piled inside and the doors shut with barely a whisper. Then Hades pressed the Z button and we were hurtling upwards at a speed that left my stomach behind. I actually reached out for Trevor and he steadied me with a smile.
A little ding announced our arrival and the golden doors swished open to reveal a wide mountain peak. We all stepped out and I looked back to see that the elevator was set into a little building, white stone with Greek columns. Go figure.
The rest of the mountain top was covered with an immaculate garden and a massive palace. There was a path running through perfect squares of flowers, each bed outlined in short marble walls. There were also little trees here and there, cut into artistic shapes... like a thunderbolt. Sigh. I hate it when gods are obvious.
There were stone sculptures amongst the flowers, some set smack dab in the middle of a flower bed. I didn't recognize the people but I'm sure they must have been Greek gods. Who else would they be? I stared at one of a woman wearing a helmet and a toga and I found myself looking for air holes. But no, this wasn't Demeter's territory. She'd lived underground and needed hidden vents. Zeus was doing the opposite, living on the highest peak of the Greek territory. Broadcasting his location with egotistical glee and a complete lack of creativity.
I'd actually expected to see some clouds floating about but one glance over the side showed that we were higher than the clouds. So high, you'd think the air would be thinner and colder but the God Realm didn't function on the same rules as the Human Realm. The air was refreshing, lots of oxygen and not to chilly. Magic air, how awesome.
The palace at the end of the path was unsurprisingly Greek. I almost turned around and left, I was so disappointed in the lack of creativity. It was made of white stone, with lots of columns and terraces. There was a long set of stairs going up to the central keyhole door and there were potted shrubs cut in the shape of thunderbolts laid in a line down the front veranda. There were an unusual four stories, so that at least was interesting.
The front door swung open and a severe looking woman stood there. She watched us with a slightly lifted nose, her brown hair piled atop her head in intricate ringlets, which somehow made her seem even more disapproving. She narrowed her blue eyes on us as we quietly made our way up the stairs.
“Hera,” Hades nodded to her.
“Hades,” she cast her cold gaze over the rest of us. “Poseidon, Persephone, Pan,” she nodded to them each in turn and it felt like it was done in a precise order as well. Not to mention all the P names. It was kind of funny. She glared at me as if she knew what I was thinking and said, “We were not aware that you were bringing so many guests.” The last was said with a disgusted tone, like she'd meant to use the word garbage instead of guests and had just gotten her G words mixed up.
“There are quite a few individuals involved in this matter,” Hades stepped up to her and seemed to expand. He just suddenly seemed larger, more authoritative. He slowly removed his sunglasses and she glanced away. “I don't need your permission to bring guests here. Or did you forget that this mountain top belongs to me and Poseid
on as well. We let you and Zeus live here as a courtesy.”
“Nothing has been forgotten,” she had ice in her voice as she turned and walked into the palace.
Hades glanced back at us and gave us a quick smile before following her in. Donnie had been smiling the entire time and this last encouragement from Hades only served to increase his enjoyment. He laughed full out and jogged after Hera.
“Hey Rara,” Donnie called. “You got any of that Thunderbolt wine left from the last rager? I was so close to being boxed but then it was like, chuuuuf, dunzo.”
“Rara?” I looked over to Pan for an explanation.
“It's his nickname for Hera,” Pan shook his head as we all followed them. “She hates it, so don't even think about using it. Donnie gets away with it for the simple fact that he's stronger than her and can technically move into her house at any given time.”
“Yeah, what's all that about?” Trevor had come up beside us and took my hand.
“The Greek pantheon was founded by Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon,” Persephone explained in a dramatic whisper. “It was the three of them who rallied a group of Atlanteans together and led them all the way to Greece.”
“Then human belief interfered,” I added.
“Exactly,” she nodded.
I was going to add more but I suddenly became aware of my surroundings. As soon as we were past the door, Zeus' palace became something else entirely. It was like we'd gone from ancient Greece to modern Italy. There was sparkling white marble floors covered by deep red, silk carpets woven with scrolled designs in jewel tones. The furniture was polished wood carved with an excessive amount of curlicues and bits of inlaid marble or, as in the case with the couches and chairs, upholstered in silk damask. The fretwork was gilded, the frames of pictures and mirrors were gilded, the statues were gilded. To put it simply, there was a lot of gold.
“Damn,” I whispered.
“I know,” Sephy peered into an ornate sitting room as we passed. There was a gilded easel with a Rembrandt on it. “So anyway, the Greek territory of the God Realm ended up being divided into three. Zeus got Olympus, Poseidon got Oceanus, and Hades got the Underworld but technically, the whole of the territory was meant to be ruled from here. So although they're each at their most powerful within their own areas, all three have a right to live here, in the Palace of Olympus.”
“Explaining things to the Godhunter?” A deep voice boomed out.
We'd come to a large, circular room. About a third of the circle was open to a terrace filled with potted plants. The room itself was filled with more gilded items and heavy furniture upholstered in deep blue and adorned with lots of pillows. Every inch of wall was taken up with pictures. Not paintings but actual photographs displayed in gilded(of course) frames. I saw several of the gods I'd met at Hades' meeting, just with a quick glance at the walls.
I couldn't give them much more than a glance because the man standing in the center of the room commanded attention. He was as big as Odin, wide through the chest and thick. A complete brute compared to Donnie and Hades' sleeker physiques. He was dressed in a tailored suit. Well it would have to be tailored, wouldn't it? He couldn't exactly buy off the rack with a body like that.
He had white hair but unlike Donnie's it didn't have any blue highlights. It was however, sparkling bright and was a little hard to look at. He had a close-cropped beard of the same blinding quality and above that beard were stormy eyes that were staring me down like I was something slimy and half-dead that his cat had just dragged in to mess up his expensive carpets.
“You shouldn't have brought her here,” he continued, “and you most certainly shouldn't be explaining the workings of our pantheon to her, Persephone.”
“Vervain,” Persephone gave me a secret grin and led me forward. “This is Zeus, my father. Dad, this is Vervain, my best friend who also happens to be the Godhunter. I expect you'll make her feel welcome.”
“Persephone!” Zeus boomed again. “You dare too much.”
“I am Queen of the Underworld!” Persephone suddenly shouted, her voice echoing through the large room. Everyone froze, watching her with rounded eyes. Even Zeus. Hell, even Hades. “I am married to a founding member of this pantheon and you will show me respect for those reasons if not for the fact that I am your daughter. Am I perfectly clear?”
“Holy harping harpies, Batman,” I whispered as I looked for a place to hide from the fall out of the bomb Sephy had just dropped.
“You're right,” Zeus finally broke the tension, shocking the hell out of everyone, including his wife. Hera was standing beside him, looking at him as if he'd grown another head. Out of his ass. And was now talking with it. “Forgive my rudeness, Queen Persephone. You and your friends are welcome in Olympus.”
“And you said nothing could surprise you,” Donnie smacked my shoulder and sent me stumbling. Good thing Trevor was paying attention and caught me by the hand he'd been holding.
“Color me surprised,” I admitted, remembering how stupid that comment had been in the first place.
“Vervain,” Zeus held out a meaty hand. “It's nice to meet you.”
“My pleasure,” I quickly took his hand before he changed his mind. “It's nice to meet one of Sephy's parents who doesn't want me dead.”
“I never said that I didn't want you dead,” Zeus lifted a bright, white brow and I blinked. “Just a joke,” he grinned and I pulled my hand back as quickly as I'd offered it. “Come now, introduce me to the rest of your friends, Persephone.”
“But Zeus,” Hera started and Zeus shot her a quelling look. “I wash my hands of this.” She turned and left the room.
“Good riddance,” Zeus muttered after her and then went back to the process of meeting everyone.
When all were made known to each other, Zeus offered us drinks and then took us out onto the terrace. I stood and gaped at the view laid out before me. Below Zeus' palace, on another plateau of the mountain, was a collection of stunning Greek palaces all interspersed with gardens blooming in vibrant colors. There was a stream crossing the whole of it which flowed out over an edge and turned into a waterfall. Birds filled the air, in almost as many colors as the flowers, and there were animals of all sorts roaming around but there were very few people. That seemed odd to me.
“Now that the niceties have been seen to,” Zeus began again. “Let's get down to the reason I asked you to meet with me.”
“Pasithea,” Hades nodded.
“Yes,” Zeus sat in a large chair near a potted palm. He made it look like a throne just by sitting in it. Arach was like that, he had that whole kingly bearing, but Arach never look so damn smug about it.
“Is she here?” Morpheus asked.
“Not in my palace but yes, she's installed in one of the palaces on the lower plateau,” Zeus answered reluctantly.
“Unbelievable,” Morpheus muttered.
“She told me of your plans and how you torched her precious flowers,” Zeus continued, disregarding Morpheus entirely. “Frankly, I couldn't care less about the poppies, that's what she gets for trying to cut me out of the action, but I don't much appreciate being stabbed in the back.”
“No one is stabbing you anywhere, dude,” Donnie spread his arms out. He'd forgone the option of a chair and was instead leaning against the stone railing near Zeus. “You've been asked nicely to keep it irie but you went and nixed that. So now we gotta find another way to protect our pantheon from your bogus moves.”
“Our pantheon?” Zeus focused on Donnie. “You two wouldn't have had a source of immortality to provide our pantheon if Hera and I hadn't brought those plants with us from Atlantis.”
“So you think that gives you the right to demand slavery from people who are like family to us?” Hades asked in a deceptively casual tone.
“Not slavery,” Zeus slashed his hand down. “Allegiance. Support. Am I to receive nothing for my efforts of making the ambrosia?”
“You're to receive the appreciation of an entire pant
heon,” Persephone scoffed. “You've always been given the most energy from sacrifice. You get benefits that come from leadership and you must repay those benefits with protection for our people.”
“I give them their immortality but they must give me their loyalty in return,” Zeus pressed.
“You ask for much more than loyalty,” Hades leaned forward and that was all it took to make him look menacing. “No more, Zeus. You will give seedlings to Poseidon and me so that we may start making ambrosia as well. Then the burden will not be solely upon you. We'll distribute the ambrosia to all who want it, without demand for payment of any kind because we're responsible for these people. We took on that responsibility when we led them from that desolate beach all those years ago and we shall honor that.”
“No,” Zeus said simply.
“Oh yes, bro,” Donnie still had a grin on but it was starting to look as menacing as Hades' was. “You will or we will do it for you. Old school like. You're a father god and you gotta look out for your children. What you're doin' is dodgy, dude. Way dodgy.”
“I will not be spoken to like this,” Zeus stood and raged. “I gave in to the laws of rank and hospitality. I welcomed a woman into my home who has killed three of the Twelve Olympians. Three! She has murdered three of our family and you sit here with her in friendship. Then you dare to tell me how to run my pantheon? You plot behind my back and steal my people from me! Look into the empty streets of Olympus! More than half of my gods have fled to side with you. You've done this. Turned them against me and now most of my pantheon will die for it. There is only four of the Twelve who remain true Olympians. The rest of you have deserted me. You're traitors.”
“Four?” Sephy asked.
“That includes Hera and I,” Zeus glowered at her. “The other two are Athena and Hermes. The rest of them are only lessers.”
“They're not lesser gods and this is not your pantheon, Brother,” Hades stood and Donnie pulled himself upright. “It's our pantheon and it's your obstinacy that has weakened it. You think you can stand against us all? You're not that strong, Zeus.”