by JoAnna Grace
Nikki nodded and told the gods exactly what led her to giving Troy a champagne flute of poison and then going into a coma. They murmured amongst themselves when she implicated Salina in the crimes. Poor timid Nikki stood shaking after her testimony was heard.
“Why Troy?” one of the gods asked. “Why not someone else?”
“It had to be one of them,” Nikki explained. “That was the compulsion. I couldn’t give it to Avery. It went against the fabric of my being. Not Master Ryse; he is my mistress’s mate. Avery loved Prince Hayden so much, and Lady Dynasty too. I knew she loved King Troy, but I also knew—” Nikki fretted, her eyes darting over to Salina. “If the Grand Deity was murdered, someone would finally pay attention to the problems Salina was causing.”
“Someone, as in the gods?” Zeus clarified. Nikki nodded, her eyes full of tears, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.
Salina gave an indignant huff. The sneer on her face said she enjoyed delicate Nikki making her point.
Ryse and Hayden exchanged a look. They finally understood. Even Nikki, so devoted to her path and the will of the gods, could see that there was a disconnect between the Olympians and their creators.
“My, my, my.” Rhea walked through the crowd and into the center of the temple where Nikki stood, commanding the attention of the room. The gods and goddesses bowed from their thrones; those in the audience went to their knees.
“This child went to such great lengths to get your attention.” Rhea’s tone was hard and cold.
Thankfully, Ryse’s dealings with her did not include that tone. It was enough to freeze the room.
“Mother, blessed one,” Zeus greeted her with a kiss on the cheek, then on her hand.
“Is this what it takes for you to turn your attention back to our creations?” The mother-goddess scolded her children and many of them had a hard time meeting her eyes. “Do you not see the desperation in this child?” Rhea touched Nikki’s long, red hair affectionately.
Zeus bowed his head to Rhea. “Forgive us, Mother. We were shocked by these events.” His eyes speared Salina. “We never would have thought our appointed children would ever turn on one another.”
“Think again,” Salina sneered.
Ryse wanted to slap his hand over Salina’s mouth. Did she really smart off to the mother-goddess? Was she trying to damn her soul to eternity in the underworld?
“Silence, you infectious pustule of our society,” Rhea snapped at Salina. “You bring death and treachery to our people and have the audacity to speak in my presence? Hold your tongue or I shall remove it.”
Athena rose from her throne and conjured a long sword. The tip of the blade ended up at Salina’s throat. “One more word, I dare you.”
Rhea turned her attention back to Nikki. “I understand your motivations, child. I commend you for not betraying your mistress. For that reason, I shall not strip you of your powers nor condemn your eternal soul. You shall return to the Earth.”
“Thank you, goddess,” Nikki whispered with a sob.
“However, you have killed a Deity,” Rhea sighed.
“That was not her choice,” Troy spoke up. “I know the heart of this woman, and if I can forgive her, surely the gods can as well.”
“Yes, we can forgive her repentant heart. However, she made a very public statement which deserves a public reply. You are to be whipped. The people must see you pay for your crime.”
Nikki nodded and, although her eyes filled with more tears, she gracefully accepted her punishment. Her body shook and shivered as if it were going to crumble into pieces at any moment.
This was not fair. None of Nikki’s actions were of her own free will. Salina implanted the controls into her mind, using black magic. She turned an innocent, faithful Shadow Lady into a murderer. Why should Nikki be punished?
Ryse took a step towards Rhea and she held out her hand, knowing he was about to interject. “Thracian, our people know this woman to be a murderer. She killed their Grand Deity in a public fashion. The people will want justice.”
“They shall have it when Salina is punished,” Ryse argued. “Do not make me rebuke this woman. I find no fault in her.”
Nikki turned to Ryse and looked him in the eyes. The strength he saw there was incredible. “No. I will take my punishment. The mother-goddess is right, Ryse. The people will want to see me reprimanded. If I get away with murder in their eyes, the entire system might be challenged.” Her voice broke on her last sentence. “This is for the best.”
“No,” Ryse whispered to her, pleading with her to save herself, stand up for her innocence. The thought of having to whip her weakened his knees and squeezed the air from his lungs.
“Go meditate, child,” Zeus commanded of her. His guards escorted Nikki out of the temple.
Ryse wanted to sink into the bench and put his head between his legs. He was light-headed and nauseous. How would he explain this to Avery? He had to give her best friend lashings. It would rip her heart in two. Brenden, oh gods; how would he ever face Brenden after this?
The gods listened to the testimonies of soldiers who Salina telepathically poisoned. They were to lose their powers, stripped of Thracian and Olympian gifts and the memory of them, sent into the human world and never to recall the great lineage they came from. For any proud Thracian soldier, it was a fate far worse than death.
That punishment was horrible, but all he could think about was whipping Nikki. His pulse beat loudly between his ears.
As many people as Ryse put to death in his long life, none of them caused such a reaction inside. Hurting Nikki could cause a great rift between him and Brenden. Avery might understand in theory, but what would happen with the first sign of Nikki’s pain? How would Avery and Bren react when Nikki’s blood spilled?
Avery. She was supposed to be here. He looked to Rhea, desperation in his eyes.
“Ah, yes.” Rhea smiled at him. “I have forgotten something of vital importance, haven’t I, Master Thracian?”
Ryse knelt down in front of her, looked high up into her clear blue eyes. “My goddess, if it would please you, I beg that you deliver my Grace back to me.”
“Take notice, with all of you as my witness.” Rhea spread her arms and her power whipped about the room, rustling their clothing and hair. “As the creator of creators, the Master of the universe and ruler of all the Heavens, I give to you, Master Thracian and first born son of a Deity, the gift of your beloved Grace. Avery, who once was dead, will rise again. Her destiny and her life are in your hands.” Rhea pinned him with a cold stare. “Take. Care. Of. Her.”
“Yes, my goddess. By my honor, I will.” His body shivered at the chill of her voice and the whip of her aura.
From the side of the temple, Andreas came forward with Avery on his arm. The smug warrior had a grin that stretched from ear to ear. He wiggled his red eyebrows at Ryse and the two men nearly laughed out loud.
But it was Avery who captured Ryse’s attention and didn’t let go.
She was perfect, more pleasing to his sight than Aphrodite. Emerald eyes, wild unruly curls that ranged from light brown to dark red, high cheekbones, sensual lips, and the most beautiful smile in all creation.
When he would have run to her, Rhea steadied him.
She whispered, “Unlike you, her body is not in the portal. Her spirit is fragile and must be returned to her body as quickly as possible.” Louder, she said to the congregation, “I’m afraid you cannot touch her until both of you have crossed into the earthly realm. I wanted you to see her, to know that I have kept my word. She shall return to Earth in due time.”
Avery’s eyes broke away from him and settled on Salina. Did she just snarl?
“I believe you have something you want to tell her?” Rhea motioned her arm to Salina.
The change in his mate was obvious. She’d held smiles for him, but now her lips curled up, her fists were balled up at her side. Avery took a deep breath, her chest rising, her chin tilted up.
“
I killed you. I fucking killed you!” Salina shook her head, her face showing her disgust.
“Yeah, ya did.” Avery took a few steps closer to her. “Unfortunately for you, you messed with the wrong farm girl.” Avery raised her fist and slammed it down on Salina’s jaw. Salina’s head whipped to the side, a black burn mark on her face.
A collective gasp went up from the Deities in the room. Hayden’s mouth hung open. Even Ryse was shocked. Avery’s spirit might not be weakened, but her power obviously was not.
“That’s for hurtin’ my family and friends.”
Avery backhanded Salina, jerking Salina’s head back around. Another black mark appeared on her other cheek and blood gushed from her mouth. “That’s for messin’ with my man.”
Ryse’s chest filled with pride. Knock her out, baby.
Avery delivered a flawless uppercut, knocking Salina’s head backwards and sending her to the ground. “And that is for killin’ my damn dogs, you heartless, home-wreckin’ hussy!”
Salina pushed herself up and spat blood on the floor. “I’d do it all over if it meant watching you die again.”
“Shut the hell up.” Avery hit her once more. This time, Salina stayed down.
Ryse saw Charles shaking his head. “No remorse. There’s no remorse within her.” He starred at the spectacle with his head tilted as if he didn’t understand his daughter’s coldness.
Athena laughed; actually threw back her head and laughed. It echoed off the temple walls, the only sound in the silent room. Ryse didn’t know whether that was amusement or condescension. “That’s one way to get a confession. You are fierce, daughter of Rhea. It makes me proud.” She reached out and offered a hand to Avery, who clasped her forearm as the soldiers did.
Avery nodded to Athena and then came to Ryse. She kept her distance, but did cast an apologetic glance to Charles. “Sorry. She did kinda stab me to death, though. It warrants a grudge.”
“Your actions are more than justified, Lady Avery. Do not apologize to me.” Charles bowed his head. This all must be so difficult for him. It was hard for Ryse, and Salina wasn’t his daughter.
“Time to go, lass.” Andreas touched Avery’s elbow. He nodded to Ryse, his lips pressed tight, hiding his smile.
His heart beat wildly. Was this it? Was this all the time he would get with her here? Was she returning to Earth before him?
“I love you,” he said, searching for answers in her eyes.
Avery blew him a kiss and winked. “See ya soon, darlin’. I love you.”
Ryse could only nod, his voice gone. They would be together again and it filled him with such joy he could not express it in words.
***
RHEA STRAIGHTENED. SHE climbed the stairs to the highest pedestal and held out her arms. “Hear me now, Deities of Earth, and my children. The time has come for the gods to make their presence known once more. Our absence has brought us to this point. The people do not worship as they once did. We have mixed-blood descendants that wander around as humans, never knowing of their lineage. The great Oracles of Delphi have not been consulted in centuries.” Rhea indicated the men in the front row. “These Deities bear the burdens of leadership without guidance from the very gods who ordained them. Look; witness what happens when you ignore your creation.” Rhea pointed to Salina.
“You have a choice, children. Actively seek out relationships with the earthly Olympians, or I shall eradicate them. I will not have the powers of my blood taken for granted and I will not have a race of unworthy subjects risking our secrecy. It is only a matter of time before the humans detect the Olympians and realize they are not alone on the Earth. Their technology grows at alarming rates and that endangers us all. Humans are not ready for such revelation. I suggest you decide wisely.”
Hayden, along with all the other earthy Deities, rose to his feet. “I beg of you to give us a chance to redeem the race! We have not fallen so far that we cannot be saved.” The gods looked to him, as did Ryse. Hayden swallowed hard as his eyes surveyed the room. He gave Ryse an oh-shit-I-should’ve-kept-my-mouth-shut grimace. For all his joking and kidding around, Hayden did not like to be the center of attention in conflicting circumstances.
Proud that his little brother had asserted himself before such an audience, Ryse gave Hayden a slight nod of encouragement to continue.
“Our people need to feel the presence of the gods once more. They’re hungry for traditions, they long for the guidance of the Deities and Oracles of old.” His voice was shaky, filled with more uncertainty than confidence. Hayden stepped forward in front of his peers, straightening a bit, encouraged by the murmurs of endorsement from the others. “Yes, we have diluted the bloodlines and many have mated with humans. That doesn’t mean we are a lost civilization. You, our creators—our source of life and power—have stepped aside for many centuries. We’ve been left wandering in the dark, guessing what your will is instead of seeking your presence.
“Do you no longer care about our race? Do you no longer wish to rule us as you once did? Have you abandoned us? These are the prayers of your people, the questions you have left in their minds.” Hayden pointed to Ryse and the other Deities. “They feel your presence. You speak to them. They know your voices. But who else? Our people are neglected.”
Ryse marveled at Hayden’s ability to express what an entire populace had struggled to say for years. Admiration for his brother overflowed his heart. Hayden held the gods’ attention and, whether he realized it or not, the other Deities were standing behind him, looking for him to be their voice.
Judging by the smirk on Rhea’s face, she noticed too.
“The entire population of our Haven in North America gathered when Hermes came for us. For many, it was the first time in their entire lives they had any direct interaction with a god. Some of our people are well into their third, fourth, and fifth centuries of life. And they just now, because of this tragedy, beheld the gods they are expected to worship blindly.
“Those people, my people, stayed by the portal during the hours after Hermes’ first visit. Some of them slept in the grass all night so they wouldn’t miss his return,” Hayden continued with growing charisma, impassioned, full of conviction that moved Ryse to his core.
“This happened in my country as well,” Eekon of Africa spoke up. “My wife and household servants brought blankets and food to the multitude that gathered overnight.”
Hayden motioned to the other Deities. “Anyone else?”
The other men nodded. Gabel of Australia mentioned how his people lit candles and sang ancient songs of praise he had not heard in decades.
“Don’t you see?” Hayden addressed the gods with fierce desperation. “Our people want to see you. For the first time in many years, my mother walked among the congregation and offered them blessings, prayers, and encouragement. It’s been too long since the people came and asked for a Deity’s blessings.”
“Because they don’t care.” Salina screamed with mocking laughter. She’d gained consciousness with a vengeance. “The people don’t care about you because the gods have forsaken the Deities. They’re afraid of Ryse, because he’ll kill them, but they don’t give a damn about getting blessed by a Deity. You have no gods to back up your blessings. Most of you Deities sit in your Havens, never going outside the realm into the human world like you’re too good for the commoner. You think the people don’t catch on to that?”
Ryse glanced around to see shame on some of the Deities’ faces. As much as he hated to admit it, Salina was right. His parents were proof. Troy and Dynasty were good leaders, faithful servants. But they never left the Haven unless it was a dire emergency. Although there was another Haven in North America, up near Canada, and another near the equator, Ryse alone had visited them. Not his parents, nor his brother. How many kings could say the same? How many Deities never left the safety of the known and thereby forsook the Olympians on the outside?
Salina motioned her head toward the tiers of gods and goddesses who sat on
their thrones. “Don’t you get it, you fools? They don’t give a bloody fuck about us earthlings. They sit, high and mighty on their thrones, basking in their own glory, while your people rot on Earth, living in fear of the pathetic humans discovering us. Go ahead and wipe them out,” she yelled at the gods. “It’s not like this group of pansies can lead them.”
Charles rushed to Salina and backhanded her, flinging her to the marble floor. Ryse quickly pulled him away before he did something unforgivable in the presence of the gods.
“I did not raise you like this. I raised you to love the gods, to respect and worship them. What evil dwells within that you would spew such vile words in their presence?” Charles fought against Ryse’s hold. “Have you no dignity? No appreciation for the ones who created you?”
Salina stared unblinking at her father. Blood dripped from her lip and her eyes were dead and hard. “I am done bowing to the gods. Their gifts are curses to me.”
The entire room took a collective breath. Ryse couldn’t fathom the depravity and sickness that would cause Salina to damn her soul in such manner. Any hope she had was gone.
Aphrodite, goddess of beauty and love, stood and sauntered up to Salina. Her curvaceous, sexy body moved with all the grace of a jungle cat. The sway of her hips and flow of her sleek legs was mesmerizing, almost hypnotic. But the glare of anger on her lovely face sent shivers down Ryse’s spine. He urged Charles to back away slowly so as not to attract her attention. Charles didn’t fight him. They moved together, slowly, one step at a time. No one wanted to be in the path of an enraged and insulted goddess.
“My gift is a curse to you?” Aphrodite whispered, her temper barely controlled. A fine tremor rippled down her body and her aura burned bright with fury. The walls strained to contain the power. Many in the room pointed their eyes to the floor; some even went to their knees. “You were my creation. I fashioned you to be the most ravishing, lovely woman in the Olympian world. Men fell at your feet. Women envied you.”
