A Priestess's Blood

The Summer Solstice

"Why are there 13 thrones???" Hera demanded as she sat down.

"Be patient, dear. You'll find out in a minute." Zeus replied, already seated.

"Yes, why?" Athena and Artemis exclaimed in unison as they noticed the extra throne.

"As I said to my wife, be patient."

I smiled from behind the heavy throne room doors. Patience was not the gods' strong point.

I heard more creaking as the rest of the Olympians took their seats.

"Okay, then, some of you," I knew Zeus was looking pointedly at Hera, "Would like to know why there is an extra throne. You will now see. Apollo and Hermes, if you please?"

Footsteps echoed, even in the corridor leading to the throne room. I knew you could hear a pin drop in that beatifully designed room, witht the high vaulted ceiling and beautiful Ionic columns. I unpressed my ear to the door and made myself a little more presentable. I wore my best toga, with painted lips and cheeks. The height of current Greek fashion.

The doors opened. I was revealed, painfully aware that I was small for my age, 5' 4", but even more like an ant in the gods' eyes.

"Amy!" Athena exclaimed, jumping down and shrinking, preparing to give me a hug. She was a lovely mother, but, like Cynthia's mother, could be somewhat embarrasing. She embraced me, holding me tight. "What are you doing here?"

"Mmph mnph mmph!" came my reply from somewhere inside her togas.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" she apologized, quickly letting go and letting me take my place next to her on the extra throne.

"I believe it is time that Amy explains why she is here." Zeus announced, interrupting the muttered conversation that had erupted, as gods and goddesses chattered among themselves. Demigods were not usually welcome.

"I agree." Hera almost snarled. She was not happy that her husband had allowed a mere mortal in the solstice council.

I took a deep breath. "Apollo has told you about the murder of his high priestess, correct?" There was more muttering. "Apparently he as not." I gave Apollo a look.

"What murder??" Hestia appeared next to the hearth. She was a peaceful god, and she was no longer an Olympian, but she was always welcome at the councils.

"Well..." Apollo began. "My high priestess, Viktoria, was stabbed in the chest. There was a note, well, this was written in Gaea next to her, that said 'Guess My Name!'"

Silence. Hestia dissapeared, and the room grew colder. The fire flickered, re-warming as she appeared, this time carrying a platter of baklava. "Why don't we think about this over baklava?" she said, passing out plates with 3 pieces of baklava each. Mine were normal sized, but there were godly-sized pieces for everyone else. Demeter tried one, and mumbled between the philo and walnuts,

"This needs something."

Hestia appeared again, this time holding honey. "Oops, forgot the sweetener!" She came around and poured generous amounts of honey on everyone's baklava.

"Thanks, Aunt Hestia." I said as she poured extra over mine. "You always make the best baklava."

For a while, there was only the sound of people, oops, gods (and me) eating. Hestia passed around napkins as Ares spoke. "Perhaps it was one of my children. They love bloodshed and violence, and some don't like the oracles that much." He looked at Apollo, his eyes shooting daggers. And I mean that literally. Apollo had to move his arm off his throne before it got speared by a pair of daggers.

"Ares," Zeus said sternly, "Restrain yourself."

"Fine."

"Excuse me, Mr. Hades?" I called meekly. Hades was far on the other end of the room.

"Yes, Amy?" he replied gruffly.

"Has Apollo's oracle been judged yet?"

"No. Our line is backed up."

"Can you summon her soul?"

He snapped his fingers, and a ghostly image appeared at Apollo's feet.

"Where am I?"

Apollo's face lit up. "Viktoria!"

The image blinked, then looked up. "Apollo?" He smiled. Then the Viktoria-image spotted me. "Amy!" she/it exclaimed. She started to run over to me, but left her hands behind. The ghost sighed, backed up, and re-attatched her hands, before walking over to my throne. I got down, and we tried to embrace. She went straight through me!

"Oops. Maybe we shouldn't try this. You being in the middle of me feels strange."

"Good idea." Viktoria walked back over to Apollo.

"Viktoria?"

"Yes, Apollo?"

"Do you remember what happened before you were killed?"

I held my breath, hoping against hope she might say something helpful. I touched my neck, momentarily forgetting that I now had permanent protection.

"I was just bending a laurel branch into a circlet when someone said "Good bye, Viktoria." and stabbed me."

"That sounds more like someone who had something against you, specifically, Viktoria. Not just one of my kids in general," Ares mused.

"You're right," Athena replied. I started. I'd never heard my mother agree with Ares before! "Did you have any enemies that you knew of?"

"There was one..."

"WHO??" the entire Olympian council (and me) said in unison, leaning forward to catch every word.

"His name was Jack Krowns."

That took me by surprise. My 25-year-old brother? "Tell us more," I told her.

"We had a fling once, before I was the Oracle. When I broke up with him to become an oracle, he was not happy. As in, sulk in his room for a month without vistors and barely enough food not happy."

Ah. I thought. That's why he sulked around a lot January of 460.

"Anything else?" Hermes asked. Viktoria shrugged.

"Not that I can remember," she replied.

"How has your investigation been going?" he asked me. I blushed. Of all the Olympians (excluding Apollo), he was my favorite. He had dirty blond hair, bright blue eyes, and lightly tanned skin. And a six pack. I knew that last bit because the top half of his toga was always around his waist. He never wore a full toga, not even in the presence of Zeus!

"Um, quite well," I stuttered. Hermes gave me a crooked smile. My mom elbowed me in the ribs. "Ow! What was that for?" She just gave me a look. I sighed and continued, "I have a few ideas in my writing scroll." I rummaged around in my bag, but couldn't find the scroll. I would have cursed, but the door opened, and the entire council yawned. Well, the door didn't open quietly. The door banged open loudly and a god marched in would be more accurate. Morpheus came in in a angry rage.

"One of the people who should be asleep is not. Her name is Am-" He stopped, having spotted me leaning out of my throne and waving. "Oh. There you are. Never mind." He turned and walked out the door.

"Morpheus is right," Athena announced. "Amy should be in bed. Shall we extend the summer solstice council?"

There was a mumbled agreement, and Zeus snapped his fingers. I fell asleep.