Oh My Gods

by Alexandra Sheppard

  “Lady Athena, may we remind you that no one is above the law,” the messenger said. Then she turned to me. “The basement is a much more suitable alternative, and guarantees fairness. Lady Helen, you will remain in your new lodgings until the trial tomorrow.”

  Wait, what? “Athena, can they do this?” I said, running towards her.

  My heart was pounding. I hated the thought of being alone. This could be my last night with my family. And I was going to spend it in a dingy basement cell under the courthouse.

  Athena nodded. “Cranus is right. It’s written into our code. But it’s just one night. We’ll see you bright and early tomorrow for the trial.” She squeezed my hand gently.

  I looked back at the gods, frozen at the dinner table. Their faces were blank slates, but I could have sworn that Dad’s eyes flashed bright as lightning for a second.

  Two guards shuffled me out of the dining hall before anyone had a chance to see my tears.

  The guards escorted me down a stone staircase slick with damp, down into the belly of the courthouse. It was dark and deathly silent, like a medieval dungeon.

  Was this a glimpse into my future? If I was found guilty the next day, would I be imprisoned somewhere like this?

  Being a daughter of Zeus didn’t stop me from being harassed by a guard or from spending the night in a prison cell. How much worse would it be for me if I didn’t have that status? What if the gods were stripped of their powers? A life in Mount Olympus with no one looking out for me seemed unbearably grim.

  The guards stopped outside a wooden door. The one in front of me unlocked it with a key from a brass ring shaking with dozens of other keys. How many people were down here?

  “Your new lodgings, my lady,” the guard said. I could hear the laugh in his voice. He was enjoying this.

  The door creaked open. My eyes adjusted to the darkness as I stepped shivering into the cube of grey stone. Flame lamps lining the wall flickered into life, illuminating the room. A narrow cot-like bed sat in the corner. And absolutely nothing else. I’d seen rabbit hutches more welcoming. I couldn’t have imagined a more dank and depressing place.

  I hated Cranus and his meddling. If it wasn’t for him, I’d be in the Gods’ Quarters. I’d probably have hot, running water, a soft bed, and a few more precious hours with my family.

  “We will be outside, Lady Helen,” the other guard said. “As instructed, you will be released in time for your trial at sunup.”

  “Wait!” I shrieked. “Can I get some hot water or a book or … something!” I couldn’t be alone with my thoughts all night. It would drive me crazy.

  But the guards ignored me. The wooden door slammed shut and I heard the clack of metal bolts.

  I’d never felt more alone.

  My cotton toga was no match for the icebox cell. The stone walls radiated cold. I climbed in the bed, bringing the rough hemp-like sheets up to my shoulders. It felt itchy, but I was a bit warmer at least.

  To be alone at a time like this felt unbelievably cruel. I wished more than ever that I could speak to Mum.

  Dear Mum, I thought. I know I messed up. But I don’t deserve this. Why is my life so unfair? I can’t think about that, or else it’ll lead to a downward spiral of despair.

  And the gods, my family, have it much worse really. Whatever happens tomorrow, I’ll live. I might be alone and banished to Mount Olympus. But I’ll be alive.

  They could be stripped of their powers. It would be a death sentence.

  Mum, I’m so scared about tomorrow’s verdict. The Council have to find us innocent. They have to. I won’t survive otherwise. How much heartache and loss can one person take?

  The emotional exhaustion of the day seeped into my bones. Every sinew of muscle ached with fatigue. I was too tired to even cry.

  I fell asleep with the next day weighing heavily on my mind. What other tricks could Cranus have up his sleeve?

  FORTY-ONE

  I woke up with a pain in my shoulder after a tense sleep on the narrow bed. The rough hemp sheet was tangled around my waist.

  I sat up straight. My trial would start any moment.

  The toga I wore yesterday clung to my skin. Gross. Did I have to testify in front of an entire courtroom wearing this? I looked around. The room seemed less dark and dim, somehow. I knew that morning was near. Then I noticed a table in the opposite corner of the cell. On it was a large basin, cloth, jars and a brush.

  That wasn’t there last night.

  I climbed out of bed and peered into the basin. The water was hot! Perfumed steam rose from the surface, scenting the room with lavender. I splashed my face, wiped it clean with a cloth and felt a million times better.

  I turned around and noticed a fresh robe laid on my bed. That definitely wasn’t there last night. The objects must have arrived there courtesy of the gods. That was a much nicer thought than a guard creeping in while I slept.

  I inspected the robe. On the inside, barely-there silver stitching glinted in the light. It read: May the scales of justice tip in your favour.

  I smiled. It sounded like something Athena would say.

  A guard unlocked my cell door and escorted me up to the courtroom. My eyes adjusted to the late morning sun pouring through the windows. Was it this bright yesterday?

  The courtroom was just as crowded as the day before. The crowd even cheered when I made it to the stage. Their applause made my stomach turn. My fate was their entertainment.

  My heart leapt to see the gods all seated in the front row. They smiled weakly and waved as the guards steered me towards a single throne-like chair on the stage.

  Just like yesterday, the guards followed with huge terracotta pots of soil. Once activated by the handful of ash, the Bough of Demeter snapped into life. After a few moments, I was trapped by a network of stalks and leaves. The Council soon shuffled on to the benches in their monochrome robes.

  Judge Themis took her spot on the podium. “Welcome, citizens of Mount Olympus. I won’t waste any time. Today we will hear about the second offence of the trial,” she said. “As you may know, Lady Helen broke our cardinal rule. She revealed her family’s immortal heritage to a mortal.”

  Gasps reverberated around the courtroom, and my cheeks burned. For a horrible moment, I thought there’d be a hologram film of Marco and me. Maybe kissing on the bus or sitting in the playground.

  It was something even worse. A familiar voice boomed through the courtroom.

  “Why was this person hovering above your house?”

  It was Marco. That was Marco’s voice.

  “Because she’s my sister. Well, half-sister. And she’s not a person, exactly. She’s a god.”

  And that was my voice. I wanted to collapse with shame.

  It was an audio recording of the moment I told Marco our secret. Somehow, hearing the evidence was a million times more humiliating than hearing Judge Themis talk about it.

  If I’d been standing, my knees would have buckled. How did they get hold of that? The Council really did have spies everywhere.

  I couldn’t let my emotion show on my face. I couldn’t give anyone the satisfaction of seeing how humiliating this was.

  The crowd murmured and chattered, shocked at the obvious betrayal. Hearing it all over again brought back the heartbreak. I’d trusted Marco and he had betrayed me.

  I stole a glance at Cranus, who looked immensely satisfied. My hatred for him was overwhelming.

  “Lady Helen, you may give a short statement in your defence,” Judge Themis said.

  My defence? I’d hardly thought about my defence. When I prepared for the trial, it was all about saving the gods.

  I forgot to think about saving myself.

  “I can’t deny the recording. I did tell a mortal about our heritage. But I had a good reason! He had a video of Aphrodite using her powers, and he was going to share it with the world. I had to tell him the truth. To stop him from sharing it and revealing the truth to millions of people.”

  The
auditorium was silent. We all knew it was a pathetic excuse. It was going to cost me my freedom.

  “Did it work, Lady Helen?” It was Cranus. He was probably giddy at the thought of questioning me. “Did revealing your secret stop this young man from sharing the footage of Aphrodite?”

  “No. It didn’t.” There was no point in dodging the inevitable. “But no one recognized Aphrodite. They have no idea about the identity of the gods!”

  “That is because we, the Council, had to step in and nip this video in the bud. We used our powers to ensure that the video never went any further than a few mortal websites of ill repute,” Cranus scoffed. “Lady Helen, your naivety is extremely troubling. Combined with your family’s recklessness, I’m surprised the entire mortal realm doesn’t know of your heritage.”

  “Please save your comments for the deliberation, Cranus,” Judge Themis said. Cranus sat back down on the bench, looking satisfied. “Lady Helen, you may finish your statement,” she said.

  “When I said what I said … it was in a moment of weakness. I really did think I was doing the best for my family. I was only thinking of keeping us together,” I said. “It’s no excuse, but it is the truth.”

  “Thank you, Lady Helen,” Judge Themis said. “This is an uncharacteristically short trial, but in the face of irrefutable evidence, I see no reason to delay the deliberation.

  “As is customary, the twelve Council members will have twelve minutes each to present their views followed by twelve minutes to confer and decide on the appropriate sentence. We will reconvene here in precisely one hundred and fifty-six minutes to hear the verdict. In the meantime, I’ve been informed by Lady Athena that ambrosia awaits everyone in the dining hall upstairs.”

  That was it. The only shot I had at defending myself had slipped through my fingers. Suddenly, the Bough of Demeter began to wither and shrink, reversing until the roots slumped back into the terracotta pots. I was free.

  I ran to the gods’ box and hugged Dad, crying into his gown as his arms came around me in a big bear hug. He didn’t say anything, but his arms and hands shielded my face from view. I didn’t care if Cranus or the Council or the auditorium full of people saw me howling like a toddler.

  In one hundred and fifty-six minutes, my life would be over.

  FORTY-TWO

  The minutes zipped past. Before long, the courtroom was again full of people and I was back in the Bough of Demeter. This time with Dad, Apollo, Aphrodite and Eros. I put my icy hand in Eros’s warm one.

  “Many thanks for returning promptly,” Judge Themis said, addressing the audience. She turned to face the rows of Council members. “Have you arrived at a verdict?”

  An elderly woman in a mid-grey gown stood up. “We have arrived at a verdict, Judge Themis.”

  Judge Themis nodded. “The first offence: Lord Eros used his powers to cause a mortal to fall in love with Lord Zeus. What is your verdict, Council members?”

  I squeezed Eros’s hand so tight that my knuckles went white. Every millisecond that passed seemed like a year. Why were they torturing us with silence?

  “We conclude that the evidence points to Lord Eros using his powers of romantic persuasion on a mortal,” the Council member said.

  I knew it. The evidence was all there. I glanced up at Eros and saw his eyes welling with tears. It was the first time I’d seen him cry. It made me want to cry too.

  “However,” she added. “As the romance lasted for a very short period of time, it could be attributed to infatuation. Ultimately, as there is not enough evidence either way, we cannot be entirely sure. The Council will not pass punishment.”

  Tears of relief flooded down my face. I turned and hugged Eros.

  “Interfering with the lives of mortals has led to wars and bloodshed,” the Council member continued. “In this case, no harm has been caused by the gods being on earth. We will therefore allow the gods to remain in the mortal realm, provided they continue to abide by the rules. Lord Zeus must continue to fulfil his role as custodian of the gods on earth.”

  Polite claps from the audience punctuated the air. Anyone watching for drama and distress seemed to be missing out.

  “Thank you, Council members, for your sound judgement,” Judge Themis said. “Now we must come to Lady Helen’s verdict.”

  My head shot up when I heard my name. My stomach fluttered, but I was way less nervous than I was a few minutes before. I was so happy and relieved that my family were free.

  “Lord Zeus, Lady Aphrodite, Lord Apollo and Lord Eros. You are free to go,” Judge Themis said.

  The vines in front of them withered and crumbled to dust as they rose from their seats. They each gave me a squeeze on the shoulder before leaving and taking their seats in the god box. The vines grew back into a cage of greenery. I was alone on the stage to hear my fate, trapped in a living prison.

  “The second offence: Lady Helen revealed the gods’ true identity to a mortal,” Judge Themis said. “What is your verdict, Council members?”

  “We conclude that the evidence points to Lady Helen revealing her true identity to a mortal. This breaks the most important rule of all.” The Council member’s clear voice rang like a bell through the courtroom.

  I waited for her to say “however”.

  But it didn’t come.

  “Lady Helen claims to have had good intentions, but revealing one’s immortal heritage is a serious crime,” she continued. “It is possible for half-mortals to balance separate identities while living in the mortal realm. But it appears that Lady Helen cannot.”

  The audience rumbled. My heart pounded in my eardrums.

  “We, the Council, propose that Lady Helen lives out the rest of her days on Mount Olympus. This sentence will begin immediately.”

  I shot up from my seat. “No!” I screamed. I tried to climb through the nest of plants but the Bough of Demeter wouldn’t budge. I pushed and pushed, but the vines kept me in their iron cage.

  The audience gasped and sighed. They were getting their show all right.

  The Council seemed unmoved by my show of emotion. Apart from Cranus. His lips curled into the slightest of smiles.

  “Thank you for your verdict, Council members,” Judge Themis said. She turned to face me from the podium. “Lady Helen, this may seem like a harsh sentence, but…” The judge’s voice trailed off. I couldn’t absorb anything, not with the deep sadness springing up inside of me.

  I’d never have another sleepover with Yasmin, Noor and Daphne. I’d never sleep in my own bed or take the 43 bus over Waterloo Bridge. I’d never see Grandma Thomas again.

  I hung my head and let the tears fall. My life wasn’t worth living.

  My grief was interrupted by shouts and cries from the audience.

  “Judge Themis! Judge Themis, I need your attention!” A man’s voice cut through the clamour. I looked up and saw a young man with dark curly hair and tanned skin approach the stage.

  It was Marco.

  FORTY-THREE

  I wiped my eyes. Were tears blurring my vision? Was I having a sleep-deprived hallucination?

  No. It was definitely Marco, wearing the same traditional robes as everyone else in the courtroom. He was close enough for me to see his smoky brown eyes and the mole just above his lip.

  “Marco?” I stuttered. “Is that you?”

  Nausea mingled with shock. I never expected to see him again.

  Least of all at this trial.

  Had he followed me here and snuck in past the guards? I didn’t understand how he had found his way into our trial. Only those with immortal blood could be here.

  Marco ignored me and marched up to Judge Themis, dwarfed by the podium.

  “Judge Themis, I have to tell you the truth. Helen is innocent!”

  A flicker of hope leapt inside me. Was he here to rescue me? But then I remembered our last conversation. This trial would never have happened if it wasn’t for him. He’d betrayed me.

  So why was he telling Judge Themis t
hat I was innocent?

  The auditorium gasped. The gods rose from their seats in shock, but Dad held them back from approaching the podium.

  Judge Themis looked as though she recognized Marco. “Makario! This is most unorthodox. What is the meaning of this claim?”

  My tummy twinged. Makario. Maybe it wasn’t Marco after all. Just someone who looked and sounded exactly the same?

  Wake up, Helen. I’d know that face anywhere. It was him all right. But I still didn’t understand how he’d got into the trial.

  “Helen, I mean Lady Helen, didn’t reveal her secret to a mortal.” The entire auditorium waited with bated breath. My pulse quickened. “She revealed it to someone who already knew everything. An immortal. Me. I’m the person in the recording.”

  My hands shot to my face as I gasped. It was all too much to take in. Marco wasn’t a normal guy. He was immortal. He was more like me than I ever could have imagined. No wonder we’d connected.

  Any small joy I felt at knowing Marco had immortal blood disappeared. The true realization of what this meant flooded through my head.

  Marco would have known I was half-mortal. He pushed me into a confession by threatening to dump me. Then shared the video with the world anyway. He would have known the consequences.

  My confusion turned into rage. His betrayal was even worse than I thought.

  Judge Themis raised one eyebrow. “You may take the floor.”

  He walked to the centre of the stage, just metres from me. “My father instructed me to spy on the gods while they lived in the mortal realm. I was to gather any evidence of rule-breaking. When I couldn’t find enough compelling evidence, he told me to persuade Lady Helen into revealing her heritage. I coerced her into admitting it, which is what you hear on the recording.”

  It was all a trick. Every goodnight text message. Every email filled with kisses. Every lingering hug. How could I have been so stupid? I felt like a spider trapped under a glass, exposed and imprisoned at the same time. I wanted to slip down into my basement cell, far away from the crowd’s yells and cries.