Betrothed to Jack Frost (REWRITTEN)

10) A Frosted Devil

"I hate everything about you" by Three Days Grace
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Voluptas threw a near temper tantrum, demanding that Elle be placed on trial. Her lengthy rant left Eros with little choice but to comply, and before long, it was decided that Elle would face a trial. Within seconds, Eros vanished, only to reappear with the news that the trial awaited her.

Elle was stunned. Trials typically took months to arrange, often involving a lengthy arraignment followed by months of waiting. But gods and goddesses operated differently—when they wanted to punish someone, things happened fast. Zeus was summoned almost immediately, and Elle found herself whisked away to a new location in the blink of an eye. One moment she was standing in a long hallway after her altercation with Voluptas, and the next, she was in a vast, opulent room.

At first, Elle thought she was back in Boreas' throne room. The grandeur was similar, but this room was bathed in gold. Golden columns, golden windows, golden floors, and ceilings shimmered with luxury. Where Boreas' throne room had celebrated winter, this space celebrated opulence. A massive granite statue of a man and woman stood prominently in the room. Elle recognized them as Zeus and Hera. The man who occupied the large golden throne in the center of the room was unmistakably Zeus. He appeared to be in his thirties, with cropped brown hair and electric blue eyes strikingly similar to Aiden's—Apollo's. Zeus wore golden armor and gladiator sandals, and the lightning bolt emblem etched into his throne confirmed his identity. His aura was one of immense power and authority. Next to Zeus was a slightly smaller throne, currently unoccupied. Elle noticed that she was not alone. Eros and Voluptas stood off to one side, Eros offering his bleeding daughter a handkerchief. Jack stood nearby, observing Elle with an almost curious expression. Khione was absent, leaving Elle feeling isolated and vulnerable.

"This better be important, Eros. I have a meeting with Poseidon and Amphitrite this evening," Zeus growled. Whether his ire was directed at Eros or the prospect of the meeting, Elle couldn't be sure. Eros gave a deep bow, then straightened and shot Elle an annoyed glance. "My lord, my daughter was attacked by the betrothed of Jack Frost—"

"Whoa! Don't lie; she attacked me first!" Elle interrupted, glaring at Eros. The nerve of him trying to twist the truth was infuriating.

"SILENCE!" Zeus's voice thundered through the room, a deep rumble of thunder reverberating in the distance. "You shall NOT interrupt someone when they are bearing witness," he said sternly.

Elle's mouth snapped shut. She shrank back, her father's tales of Zeus's temper flashing in her mind. There was no room for defiance when a god's voice had thunder echo in the skies when he shouted.
"Very well, Eros," Zeus said, casting a cursory glance at Elle. "Did Voluptas provoke the mortal?" he asked, considering Elle's interruption. It seemed he was at least willing to listen to both sides.

"Of course not..." Voluptas sobbed, her tears streaming down her beautiful cheeks. "S-she attacked m-me without any provocation!"
Elle rolled her eyes as Zeus straightened on his throne. "Well, this is rather simple," he said with a sigh, tapping his finger against the armrest. "The mortal is guilty and deserves punishment."

Guards began to encircle Elle, their swords drawn. Panic surged through her. "WHAT?!? She attacked me with a knife and wanted to kill me!" Elle shot back hotly. "Where do you think I got this knife from?" She waved the dagger in the air. "Ask Jack! He was there!"

She turned to Jack Frost, hoping for a reprieve, but found him wearing a cold, indifferent expression. His gray eyes danced with cruel amusement, and a diabolical smirk briefly twisted his lips. "She's right, I witnessed the whole thing," Jack said slowly, nodding gravely. "I saw her attack Voluptas and heard her declare her intention to kill her. Throw the heaviest punishment at her, Lord Zeus. Or perhaps a lightning bolt—"
"You evil, foul, talking snow-cone!" Elle snarled. "You're lying through your teeth!"