Earthrumbler

Chapter Twenty-Four: A Battle Begun

“Pallas Athena?” she mouthed. Amphitrite turned to Poseidon. “What have you done? Anything else beyond my knowledge?” She stood eye level to him.

“You said that you wanted no part in my affairs. You’ve gotten your wish. Now, do not question me, Amphitrite.” He spoke with finality, trying to silence her.

Her dainty hands clenched into fists. Her entire body was tense with anger. “Do not question you? You’ve raped a virgin goddess! You’ve held her captive! There is a mortal, bound by her arms kneeling on the floor of our court, claiming to be the daughter of a goddess! You expect me not to question you, husband?” Her voice broke, and tears melted into the cracks.

“You are my wife, and I expect you to listen to my word. I’ll deal with you when I’ve finished with her.” He ripped me to my feet by my hair. “And if you must know, Athena gave herself to a mortal years before I touched her. To think, her only payoff was a weak half bred child,” he said and smirked as my face tightened in anger. “Now, stay out of my way, Amphitrite.” He waved his finger in her face, unsettling her further.

She tried to contain a sob. “I only fear for you, husband. Should the Olympians hear of this, there will be trouble in our kingdom. I do not want them to disrupt the peace that has come over our people. Surely, you understand?” As she spoke, she lifted herself to her toes and angled her knees, a subtle movement that solidified her stance.

Poseidon sighed. “Yes, I understand, darling. Your heart is too gentle for such affairs. I promise I’ll not let it in our court again. Then, they’ll know nothing of this.”

Amphitrite smiled. “Oh, thank you.” Her eyes brightened. She tucked her elbows in and threw one arm forward. A wave surged from her hand, but splattered to the floor when Poseidon grabbed her neck.

“Do not test me, woman.” He let her fall. “Try to sway me with your delicacy again and you’ll find yourself locked away with every other criminal in my kingdom. I’ll deal with you when I finish with the mortal.” He spat at her.

Amphitrite curled into herself, sobs shaking her entire body on the floor of her own throne room. She peered up between her arms with her eyes burning like acid.

Poseidon paid her no mind and grabbed my forearm. “Now for the mortal.” He pushed back into Alph, who grabbed the back of my collar.

Alph dragged me back into the hall and shoved me down into the stairway again.

Poseidon smashed my face into the stone wall. “Your mother must have smashed your head in pretty well for you to come back here, mortal. What a cute little plan. You’re going to beg me to take you instead, to leave your mother alone.”

I tried to control my shaking.

Alph cleared his throat, calling Poseidon’s attention. “I’ve an idea of what to do with her, my lord. When Lady Athena did not sing for you, we burned out her throat. The girl has refused to heal before, hasn’t she?”

My stomach lurched, and I shook my head violently.

He laughed. “Alphoros, you’re not suggesting that we burn off the girl’s hands? We’ll string her up across from Athena when you’re done.” He peeled me off of the wall, brushing his fingers along the small cuts that lined my cheek. “Putting the two of them together has gone badly in the past, hasn’t it, Genevieve?”

I focused on swallowing the bile creeping up my throat. My fingers twitched. The prod, my branding would be nothing if they lit my hands on fire. I’d be useless to Triton; he’d back out of his offer. I’ll be the death of both of us. My mind wandered and sifted through escape routes and ways to fool them. Ensnared in my thoughts, I was barely aware of my body being dragged down the stairs and through dank pathways.