Reaching For The Stars

Chapter 48

Artume

The council of the Gods: a great sight of pride and ignorance. Now she has to face the consequences for taking fate into her own hands. There is great displeasure among them for making Annabeth one of them. For them, it was not acceptable to make someone a deity without their approval. Let it be that Artume had grown tired of seeking it.

Zeus is infuriated by her actions. It was easy to see as Artume glanced over them. Ares was angry like his father about this 'betrayal'. It wasn't the case, yet they were so alike in many ways. It would not surprise Artume if they wished to seek her destruction. A fitting answer considering who they were.

Poseidon is more concerned by how one had plotted so easily against them. A thought shared by Athena, Hephaestus, and Dionysus. They are probably looking to make an example of what would happen if you did. Artume will agree it is a more reasonable logic, if a bit deluded considering the conclusion.

There are others who were not taking any sides or cared about the situation. Aphrodite looked to be impatient to get this over with. Something else seemed to be her concern aside from this. What that was, Artume couldn't tell. Hera, on the other hand, was hiding all her thoughts behind a poker face, as mortals would say.

Artemis and Demeter are the only ones who held a sort of positive attitude about the whole affair. It must be Hades' influence to get Demeter on her side. Considering it is Persephone's mother, she could have easily been convinced to help Artume. If that is the case, Artume will double down on her alliance with Hades. There's much she owed the Queen.

Artemis is a bit of a strange one. While Artume always knew she cared, it felt different from before. In a good way yet Artume could not fully place it. A reminder that she didn't know everything. And a good way to make sure to keep Artemis at her side. She wouldn't mind that at all.

"You have done acts that made the council suspicious of your intent, Artume," Zeus said, his gaze harsh as he spoke. "To kill the Ophiotaurus, the destruction you caused in the west, and now you've created a God without our consent. This cannot be tolerated."

"Punishment is needed," Ares agreed. "To let her walk is the same as inspiring the rest to fight against us."

"There must be repercussions, I agree. To so blatantly defy us in this time of unrest is- concerning," Athena added.

It is from her Artume felt a sense of conflict. On one hand, she believed in her opinion without fault. But Artume could see a spark of gratefulness too. It would have been worrying if she weren't. They're both mothers. Any mother wants the best for their child.

"And that would be?" Artume asked calmly, standing in the center, the most powerful Gods watching her. "I won't apologize. I won't beg to be forgiven. Or any other show of regret. You refused me at every turn, Zeus. It was you that caused me to do this. I would never allow Annabeth to die."

"It's not the way things are done," Athena interjected. "Without structure, without rules, we fall into ruin. Yet I admit, more should have been told to you in the beginning."

"Well, can't say I disagree. Helping is one thing, but risking the entirety of Olympus is another," Apollo added. "You're a good sport, Artume. But tone it down."

"I perhaps made an error by giving in to your integration into my realm," Zeus spoke once again with his voice crackling like lightning. His face seemed to become filled with rising anger. Is this what a king is, Artume questions. "Your presence has done nothing but endanger us. First, the discord caused by your assassination and now this. You are a danger to us all."