Chapter 8
It didn't take long to fill the throne room with our fellow Gods. Savannah helped get Griffin onto the throne where he could sit and not fall while I was left to congregate everyone into a semblance of order. I conjured chairs, waiting until everyone was seated before returning to Savannah's side on the dais. A hush grew over the crowd as I looked over the faces that with every passing day went from being familiar to family.
"Listen, in light of everything that has happened in the last 24 hours, I think it's important we acknowledge what has happened. We're at war." Everyone turned to look at me and the severity of my position hit me. This was my moment of truth, this was my make or break moment as a leader. If I was truly meant to be King of the Gods, this was the moment that would prove it.
"Unfortunately, we're at a disadvantage. We've been assailed upon by someone who knows more about us than we do ourselves. And the only person who appeared like he would help us has been in Asher's pocket this entire time. So, we should decide what we're going to do, how we're going to do it and who is in."
"I didn't sign up for war." I scanned the crowd, looking for the face attached to the voice but found nothing. Whoever had spoken didn't want to stand and show themselves as the face of cowardice.
"I didn't either." My stomach dropped slightly as I worked furiously to find who these people were. Was I hearing things? I turned to face Savannah but she looked disheartened too.
"Maybe it's better we give him Olympus and go back to our normal lives." The idea made my blood run cold, or perhaps that was Zeus' reaction. Turning over Olympus didn't seem like a plan. Not when I knew the full extent of my son's hunger for power. If we rolled over and gave him the materialistic things he wanted it would only be a matter of days, if not hours, before he tried to take what he wanted - our powers. None of these people before me would survive, he wouldn't let it. The idea of leaving one stone unturned from which a rebellion could be incited would never be something Asher would be careless enough to do. He would make us extinct and claim his place as God of all - Gods, Titans and man.
"That's what he wants." Savannah straightened at my side, steeling her spine and taking my hand to convey our agreement. "He wants us to give up, to accept what he wants and the future he envisions as inevitable. But we can't." She was firm; it wasn't a question. "If we give ourselves over to him, give him exactly what he wants, he will destroy - not only the world we grew up in - but the world we now know as our home. He will destroy us, our magic and all hope. Is that what you want?"
"I don't want to die, that's for sure." Another anonymous voice rose about the gathering and I inhaled sharply, resisting the deep furrow longing to etch itself on my brow. Here we were, actual Greek Gods, and yet they still were cowardly in the face of uncertainty.
"But if you do turn yourselves over to him - you will die!"
"You don't know that for sure. None of us know for sure what will happen. The only thing we can do is turn ourselves over, make a peace treaty with him and hope for the best."
"Hope for the best?" I couldn't help the snarl of disbelief lacing my tone. It was cold and cruel but I didn't care. Not right now when these people, my so-called family, wanted to turn themselves over to a singular Demi-God with grandiose dreams of ruling the world. "Do you hear how asinine your suggestion is? Hope for the best, like Asher has at all given you an ideal to hope for in all this. He let Valentina die! The reason we had to bury our own today was because of him and you want to hope for the best!" Savannah reached for me but I was too incensed. I stepped off the dais and walked away. Alright, I stormed away. Like a toddler amid a temper tantrum but I knew if I stayed there and said what I was thinking, I would come off like a tyrant instead of a democratic leader.
I could still hear the intake of breath from Griffin when I said her name, hear his footsteps as he rose and left the room unable to deal with the raw nerves these plans were strumming. I couldn't blame him. If I could, I would've run away as well. When had I become equipped to deal with the problems of life and death of innocent people? My heart pounded painfully under my ribs at the thought of having to bury her. Hours ago, these people wanted retribution, what had happened?
I needed a minute to gather myself, to tame Zeus and become one with him again before his unruly temper led me astray. It was a leader's job to convince these people my plan was the right one. Rightfully, they were scared. I couldn't lose my temper over those kinds of mortal emotions.
One deep breath and another, I found myself growing calmer once more.
When I returned to the throne room, there was a buzz as people spoke over top of each other. Savannah had lost control of the audience as they debated heatedly the topic of what to do. When I stepped back before them, the noise dulled as people waited respectfully for what I was going to say.
"Alright, I'm going to hear everyone's point of view. We're going to come up with a solution." It seemed like a diplomatic enough of a solution. Gods, was I wrong.
It went on for what seemed like hours. Person after person stood condemning the idea to fight this God who knew more about us than we did him. They were scared, they were worried and a lot of them were downright human. They didn't want to be a part of this fight, they hadn't asked for it and they hadn't been told it would be expected of them. These were the people who were passive in everything they did in their former lives. People who were content to sit back and watch their life unfold before them without having much say over what happened. Or perhaps having a say but not caring to be open about it.
There were a few on my side, the same few I would've expected to be there. All of the Olympians were beside me. Perhaps if Renae was still here, she would've taken the stand of peace with everyone else but otherwise it was us eleven against everyone else.
Savannah looked forlorn when I turned to her, she hadn't expected this many to be against us as well. At least there was that. It was overwhelming though, at least for me. It was a sick confirmation of every thought I had ever bore against myself was true. I wasn't a good enough leader to convince these people to follow me into a battle. I couldn't offer them the kind of safety and peace they required in my assurances. I couldn't compel them with my words to join me by inciting a deep seeded need for justice. I wasn't good enough and I wasn't going to get on my hands and knees to beg these people to believe in me.
"Alright," I said with a slow nod, feeling the tension grow in Savannah's stance next to me. "You're right."
"Aidan-"
I ignored her, pushing onwards in my speech, "You're right. I can't guarantee anyone's safety, I can't guarantee peace when all of this is over, I can't guarantee anything to any of you. I'm not going to try. If this is what you want, this is what we'll do. The Gods before us failed by their hubris in believing each of their own opinion was the right one. I won't make the same mistake. If the consensus is we should turn ourselves over, then that is what we're going to do."
"Aidan, don't." I didn't listen to her, she spoke but it felt like a buzzing in the back of my head as everyone began to talk at the same time. Some arguing like Savannah was trying to do, others beginning to make their plans for what they intended to do once we turned ourselves over. They didn't bother to try and hide the fact they didn't believe in me anymore.
I couldn't help but think maybe the majority knew something I didn't. Maybe there was a reason people were against my plan because there was wisdom in their own decision that I was overlooking. So many people couldn't be wrong - could they?
Before I knew it, people were out of their seats and filing out of the room to pack. Not that there was much here for them to gather. I felt like the plan was half-hearted but there was no one left, save several of the Olympians looking at me like I had failed them. There had never been a right answer, I realized. I was always going to let someone down. But I hated seeing the disappointment in Savannah's eyes when I turned to look at her. Letting her down was worse than letting every single person in the universe down.
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It dawned on me I still had one last page in my book I could use to spare these people the inevitable hardships of the future. There was only one person Asher wanted... It went against my ego and my instincts for self-preservation but if I turned myself over, and willingly offered him my magic... Maybe Asher would spare me and I could still live a happily ever after with Savannah and everyone else would be free to finish their lives as they were destined to do.
I resolved this was what I was going to do. If I turned myself over to Asher, he would have what he wanted. He would be God of the Gods and he would be the most powerful of us all. It would stop the excessive destruction of the world and he could move forward into whatever his goal was.
"Aidan." Savannah's sharp voice drew me back to reality as I turned to look at her. "How could you do that? We had a plan. I thought..." She frowned more. I hated the way unhappiness twisted her face. It was my fault she looked like that.
"I can't rally people who don't want to be rallied," I growled in frustration. "I'm not going to stand here and use magic to force scared people into risking their lives for something without a guarantee." My voice was harsh, my tone cold as I spoke. By the way Savannah flinched away from me, I felt bad immediately for taking it out on her. But she had to see these people weren't going to fall into line behind me and help our cause. There was no point in trying to get their help either if they didn't believe in me. Forcing people to join a war ended only with soldiers unwilling to stand and fight for the cause.
As for me, I wasn't willing to be the kind of leader who demanded blind obedience either. Our magic might rely on the faith of humans in order to be effective but my own faith was based on how others felt about me and whether I could make something happened.
Savannah looked disappointed as she nodded her head before turning and walking away. I knew immediately I shouldn't have gone off on her. She was trying to do the right thing, her heart - although sometimes misplaced - was usually in the right spot. She believed in me where others didn't, and she was hoping I would be willing to get people to go along with what we were hoping to accomplish but I couldn't see how it could be done. How could I do something others blatantly didn't believe I could do. Maybe it was best I do it alone. Maybe it was best if I went to Olympus and tried to negotiate with Asher. I could turn myself over to Asher and come what may while saving the others.
Turning around, Griffin was still sitting on the throne watching me with quiet eyes and nursing the refilling bottle. I had half a mind to go over and take it back from him. But alcohol wouldn't help me now. Chasing oblivion would put off the inevitable and despite the drinks I had had earlier, it was better I went into this with a clear head. Walking out of the throne room, I pushed the double doors open from which the ghosts had come through. Where ever it would lead me, it was nowhere more daunting than my own personal hell.
Beyond the throne room the hall opened into a dark, cavernous tunnel from which ominous drips echoed in the din. I walked along, my own footsteps following me like whispers of ghosts. I didn't know where I was going or how I was going to get back to Olympus. I knew there was no point in trying to go back at least, no point in going to Savannah and trying to rally the others in hopes of support. At the same time frankly, in my gut I believed they were right - this was a failed venture. Did I want to bring the other Olympians with me? These loyal souls who would follow me where I would take them, no matter the consequences to themselves.
I thought of Blaine whose life had been lost because Soren thought it was me. I didn't know Blaine well enough to mourn the loss of the man, the loss of a life that would never be. He could've been the scientist who cured cancer and we would've never known. I couldn't risk letting someone else die for something I could continue. I wasn't going to let someone else die for me. My pride couldn't stand it.
If I went and did this alone, at least I could keep the others safe. That's all a good leader could do. I stepped through the door and the hallway opened again into another cavernous room. Not unlike the throne room but it lacked the opulence that leant a certain kind of dark splendor to the room Griffin called the hub of his kingdom. It would be all too easy to wander through these halls and get lost. It was all too easy to succumb to the darkness that claimed those who found themselves in the Underworld. That was the point though, having a place like this where souls became lost ones and people were chased by their worst nightmares.
Instead, I thought of my plan and my final destination. As I crossed the room a door appeared on the other side, my kingdom on the other side. I knew magic had once more provided for me the thing I needed the most. The others may not believe in me but my magic was unfailing and if this was what I wanted, it would give me what I needed for success. I knew opening the door would alert Asher to my return. Did he know I was coming for him? Did he know what I was willing to turn over? Did he know I was betraying my own urges to seek revenge for his role in the death of Valentina?
Zeus couldn't agree with my plan. He wanted blood but unlike the days of old, I hadn't the strength to wage war against Titans and Demi-Gods. I hadn't any experience. At the end of it all, King of the Gods though I was, I was still a man who had been destined into a role in which I had no guidance. The man who I could've turned to for guidance turned out to be a nemesis.
Grabbing the door, I pulled it open and the sudden brightness of Olympus beyond blinded me temporarily. The throne room was still in shambles, remnants of blood staining the marble tiles and a painful reminder of the takeover and my acute failures. I was going to fix this. I was going to fix everything. And with that thought in mind, I stepped through.
Chapter 9
I stepped through the door and had to admit I was almost disappointed there wasn't a swarm of Titan soldiers waiting for me. I passed through a barrier of magic that felt like my own magic had recharged to its former glory but once I was all the way through, my body returned to the sensation of depletion I had grown accustomed to in the Underworld. I conjured a small bolt of lightning in my hand if only to test my magic, but even that was strenuous. Snapping my fingers, the bolt evaporated and I dropped my hand back to my side.
The hairs on my arm stood on end as I walked further into the throne room, looking around for any traps before I conjured the massive screens to the wall and tuned into the mortal world. The devastation I had been consciously aware of still took my breath away. The oceans had pushed onto the land, swallowing massive chunks of continents. Cities once great were eradicated into compounds filled with terrified and confused humans, hunted by monsters that had once only existed in movies and TV shows.
I wondered how Asher explained centaurs, minotaurs, dryads and vampires away. Could he make shifters seem like something that had always existed? Witches... Fairies... if I didn't already know the world as I did - as a God - in their shoes, I would've found the whole thing incredulous. How had we existed in a world alongside these things and not known they were real and the stories were not fictitious?
I watched as people lined outside of a warehouse to collect their rations for the day before shuffling off to a dead-end job they needed to work to survive in this new world Asher and his cronies had conjured. My eyes flicked to the next screen and the images greeting me were all the same. Humans were enslaved, even if they didn't know it. Bloodbaths, they called it. Many people died, many monsters feasted on their flesh and nothing would stop them.
I stepped back and as I turned around I stopped short, staring at Griffin whose eyes were locked on the screen digesting the same atrocities as I had. His eyes finally turned to me and he lifted the bottle of whiskey to his lips, taking a slow and judging slug.
"Savannah says you're giving up," he finally said as he smacked his lips and dropped his arm back to his side. My head naturally tilted to the side, almost bemused he had the gall to judge me.
"Not giving up, accepting everyone's decision."
"You're giving up. On Valentina." His voice was sheer contempt, misplaced anger
as though I had been a part of what had happened to her. As though I didn't care about her.
"Do not to try and blame me for her." My voice was hard, cold and a bristle of power crackled through the room. We were in my domain now, not his. Maybe the whiskey made him feel safe but I was all too happy to show him exactly how safe he was in my throne room.
"No... You didn't kill her," he said in an agreeable tone as he took another sip of alcohol, his eyes red and glassy. Valentina would be disgusted with this. She had worked hard to get him clean, even proud of her accomplishments and here he was desecrating her memory by blatantly disregarding her care and love for him. "But you might as well admit you're accepting her murder by turning yourself over to them and not fighting back."
I stepped closer to him, rage coursing through my veins as Hades' words hit his brother in all the right places. "And what the hell do you think you're doing?" I got right in his face, his height nothing on mine as I glared at him. "You think you're helping her, getting shit-faced and yelling at me? Where were you when she needed you?"
I couldn't stop myself as the words flooded out of my mouth, as much as Griffin couldn't stop himself as he took a swing for me - with the whiskey bottle. The glass collided with my head, shattering everywhere as the neck cut along my face. Torrents of blood dribbled down the side of my face but it didn't matter much as I tackled Griffin and threw him across the floor with my body weight on top of him.
My fist landed, connecting with his mouth while my other hand came and closed around his throat. He reached out, struggling under me as he reached out trying to fight back but Zeus was stronger and pissed. I hit him again, drawing blood from his gums before laying into him once more getting his eye this time. The flesh swelled, a bruise already blossoming from the force of my blow.
"Enough, enough..." He coughed and choked through the blood, his hands limply trying to grab at my shirt as he attempted to get me off him. I pulled back after a moment before slumping onto the ground beside him. I wiped at my face with the heel of my hand as Griffin conjured another bottle of alcohol, swishing the liquid around in his mouth before spitting it out on the floor.
All Hail the King: Modern Greek Gods YA/NA Series (Grace of Gods Book 4) Page 7
