Page 2 of Crown of Olympus
“I’m thoroughly relieved on your behalf that the Fates could make your day a little more entertaining,” I returned dryly.
My head swivelled to the subject of our amusement. I was determined not to let Zeus see the unease unspooling in my gut.
Every god had their purpose, and mine was to judge a soul’s worth. Due to the hierarchy of the Underworld, I only dealt with the most notorious or controversial judgements, leaving all others to the minor gods.
Tonight, I looked upon Zeus and saw his soul in its basest form. I had weighed it, measured it, and found it wanting. I already knew which eternity the fallen king would endure. And I was about to piss off alotof gods by naming it.
“You are not worthy of any mercy I might offer, Zeus,” I declared, emerald eyes narrowing. “And I neither have the desire to be merciful, nor am I capable of offering it to you anyway.”
His face turned more corporeal, and paler, with what I assumed was a shade’s version of going red with anger.
Spinning on my heel, I turned my back to him — about asclose to flipping him off as I would allow, in my position as judge, jury, and soulful executioner. I strode slowly towards the first obsidian archway, knowing that every step was a taunt, and that Zeus was predatorily focused on each one.
I loved this particular gateway. It was, unequivocally, the most beautiful — draped in crawling vines and lilac-coloured wisteria that cascaded down in tiny waterfalls.
My mother now rested beyond this arch, in the Elysian Fields — a paradise reserved for only the most worthy and virtuous of souls. A place of immeasurable beauty and eternal contentment.
And as desperately as I longed to know her, no living creature could pass through the gates. Not even one who could command death itself.
I reached up to pluck a tiny purple flower from its vine and locked eyes with Zeus. With the most symbolic of intentions, I crushed the petals between my fingers, releasing the scent of honey and citrus into the air.
Charon lingered at the edge of the landing platform, having delayed returning to his godly duties. A silent witness to the history I was writing.
Denying Zeus paradise would reshape the foundations of the realms as we knew them. It would sow discord and chaos through the capital city of Aetherion and the consequences would undoubtedly weave down through each of the three realms.
Even knowing that, I was resolute.
Charon’s brows rose high on his forehead, his lips parting at my devious grin. I flashed my teeth in more of a snarl than a smile.
“Not this way for you, King,” I declared.
Zeus’ lips thinned, and his face turned an even sharper shade of white, but he remained silent and still.
Not so easily shaken, then.
“If you thought for even a second that I’d grantyouan eternity of peace, you’re more egotistical than I gave you credit for.”
He glared but offered no response.
I prowled to the middle arch, also made from the same smooth, black stone. Every structure in this realm was hewn from obsidian. It thrived in the dark, like all things here.
This gateway bore no wisteria, only bunches of white flowers sprouting upwards from the base of each pillar. The Asphodel Meadows. A place for souls who were neither evil nor saintly, but some unfortunate combination of both. A realm of vast grey plains stretching in every direction. With endless fields of white asphodel flowers. Where souls were doomed to wander, aimless, for eternity.
I clicked my tongue, fully consumed by the vengeance I now had the unique ability to claim.
Buckle up, Char. Shit is about to go down.
“Not Asphodel either, Majesty,” I said with a smirk.
At this, my friend’s brows flew so far into his golden hairline I wasn’t sure they’d ever find their way back out.
Zeus finally snapped, whether out of anger or fear, there was no telling. His swirling irises sparked like lightning, crackling with the last vestiges of his fading power.
“Wait!” he boomed, arms raised in a plea. “I never meant to kill your mother! Persephone was a tragedy. A horrendous accident.”
He paused as memories trickled in. Ghostly echoes of lightning flared at his fingertips.
“I tried to spare her —wouldhave shown her mercy — had she not refused to let go ofyou,” he spat.
