The Daughter Of Night

Chapter Thirty-Three - I, Once Again, Am A Headache To The Gods

Chapter Thirty-Three - I, Once Again, Am A Headache To The Gods
Posted: Tuesday 4th June 2024

As I was alone for hours I contemplated how the world could be ending and I would have no indication of it's end until after it happened. I also contemplated how angry I was with Zeus, and also Apollo himself. I put my thoughts of my anger to Apollo into constructed arguments of how much of an idiot he was and how I would tell him that the next time I saw him.

I realised after a few hours that I was still covered in golden dust from the dead giants and caked in a fair amount of blood and dirt from the battle. I trudged upstairs and showered it off. I wondered where Apollo was, had he been banished to a different holding cell? Did Zeus have a special cell for Olympians who had wronged him? Or specifically for Apollo himself, who had told me stories of his father punishing him on many previous occasions.

After I was clean, I put some fresh clothes on and lay out on the bed in a somewhat miserable anger. I was worried about my friends, who were no doubt fighting for their lives or already dead. I worried for Apollo, who's fate was a mystery to me and I also worried about myself.

I had broken an oath on the River Styx when my mother had commanded me to go against the gods. Sure I had no choice, but I didn't think that whatever divine being who policed such things would listen to my side of the story before it sent me my repercussions. Perhaps these were my repercussions. Perhaps Apollo's actions and therefore his punishment were my fault.

"Grandaughter," a voice rung out from downstairs and I scrambled to my feet. Descending down the stairs I was beyond surprised to see Athena standing in the living room. She had been kind to me on my first visit to Olympus, but I had little to do with her since then.

"Athena," I replied wairly. "Why are you here?"

"You are to come before the Olympian council," Athena said, "your fate will be decided today."

"So soon?" I said, "Is the- did we win?"

"Yes," Athena smiled, "Gaia has been defeated. So we must draw our attention to matters closer to home. Follow me please."

Athena turned on her heel and headed out of the house, setting out on a path to the throne room. I hurried after her.

"And Apollo?" I demanded.

"Zeus is still deciding what his punishment will be," Athena said, "but you are a different matter entirely."

"You stood up for me once," I said, my mind casting back to Athena's words at that first meeting where the Olympians deliberated if they should kill me or not, "will you again?"

"Fortunatley for you, your life does not appear to be in question, rather where to keep you and the child that you carry," Athena said.

"Zeus doesn't want me dead?" I asked.

"Oh he wants you dead," Athena replied, "but it is not on the cards. The fates have forbidden it."

I lapsed into silence, considering Athena's words. Before I knew it, I was stood in the center of the Olympic Throne Room, faced with 11 of the 12 Olympians. Apollo's chair stood empty.

All of the gods eyes were fixed on me just like the last time, but I did not shrink under their gaze as I had before. I had faced down worse than these gods and walked away, beisdes they couldn't kill me, for some unknown unfathomable reason, I was off limits. I held my head high and met Zeus' eyes.

I was done bowing to gods.

"What do you have to say for yourself Daughter of Nyx," Zeus boomed, the same anger that he had displayed on the top of the acropolis was still evident.

"About?" I asked.

"Firstly, your broken oath," Zeus said.

"Oh that, well I didn't really have much of a choice did I? I am the Champion of Nyx, what she told me to do I had to do without questioning it. If it were my choice I would have fought on the side of the Olympians for the duration of the war, but Nyx had other plans. She means to move against Olympus."

"And of your child?" Zeus said.

"What about him?" I wanted to snake my hands around my stomach protectively. In the weeks I was on Delos, a very small bump had began to form in my abdomen where my baby was growing.

"Perhaps he is the one prophesied to kill me?" Zeus suggested, "I must let you live, but why allow the child you carry to be born."

"Because you'll have to kill me to get to him," I said. The certainty in my voice scared me. I hadn't realised how protective I already felt of my small bump until Zeus' threat was voiced. But I knew then and there, that I would never allow anyone to hurt my child without going through me first.

Zeus nodded thoughtfully, "does anyone have any suggestions as to where the girl should be sent whilst we decide what is to become of Apollo?"

The gods were silent, Zeus had already taken his anger out on one of their number, none of them seemed to want to put their neck on the line for his wife.

Eventually Artemis spoke, "Father, perhaps she should be confined to Camp Halfblood. It has done well for Dionysus."

The god of wine took a big swig from a goblet that I could only assume contained diet coke.

Zeus cocked his head, "we should banish her from Olympus, is that what you are suggesting?"

"What of Nyx Artemis? Should we not keep the girl where Nyx cannot reach her?" Athena asked.

"Nyx cannot reach her wherever she is," said Artemis, "you all can sense that, the power of darkness cannot interfere with Ariadne's soul due to the immortal life growing within her."

"You may be right Artemis," said Zeus, "but I do not trust her to be in the mortal world. I think perhaps I have a better option."

"Which is?" Artemis asked.

"Your mother, Leto."