The second all four of the gods sat down, I watched as four guards came to the podium bearing heavy terracotta pots filled with soil. They placed two pots in front of the chairs and two pots behind, forming a rectangular shape. The guards sprinkled a handful of what looked like ashes into the pots, then backed away.
Suddenly, vivid green stalks and leafy tendrils shot through the soil like giant octopus tentacles. They grew and grew, towering above the throne-like chairs before interlinking to form a tight canopy. The stalks whipped around one another, snapping and groaning, until the gods were encased on all sides by this plantlike prison.
“Don’t worry, Helen,” Athena said when she noticed the shock on my face. “Those on trial are fixed in place by the Bough of Demeter. It’s tradition.”
It was a tradition I didn’t like the look of. Imagine being surrounded on all sides by snake-like vines? Just the thought made me feel claustrophobic.
The trial would start in any minute. It could have been my nerves, but I suddenly had a dry throat.
“There’s a little water fountain just by that archway.” Athena pointed to the corridor we came through. “Move swiftly. The judge won’t take kindly to latecomers.”
I made my way to the fountain in record time and glugged the cool water. I was still a bag of nerves, but at least I didn’t have a dry throat. As I walked through the archway and came out of the other side, a man dressed in a sharp black suit and sunglasses appeared out of nowhere, blocking the archway. He was at least seven foot tall, so I have no idea how I’d missed him before.
“I believe you need the entrance on the other side of the auditorium, miss.” He didn’t even look me in the eye.
“No, I’m sitting there,” I said, pointing to the front bench.
Athena was chatting to Hades and couldn’t see me trying to get her attention.
He laughed, flashing a row of teeth sharpened to a point. Suddenly, I felt even more nervous.
“You must take me for a fool, child. Everyone knows those seats are reserved for the gods of Mount Olympus. You will have to take your seats at the back, just like everyone else.”
I wanted to be assertive, but I felt like throwing up.
“I know who it’s reserved for: my family. The trial is going to start soon, and I need to go back to my seat,” I said, trying to sound confident.
It annoyed me how tiny my voice became, betraying my nerves.
He bent down, inches from my face. I suppressed a gulp. “By Jason’s Fleece, if you do not leave immediately then I’ll knock you from here to Tartarus!”
I didn’t doubt that he would do it. He looked like he just wanted any excuse to get me out of there. Like when security guards in the shopping centre see you in a big group, and they’re just waiting for a reason to pounce. Before I could answer, a middle-aged man in a dark grey gown walked past us. He must have been important because the guard took a break from snarling at me to bow his head.
“What appears to be the problem, Leon?”
“There is no problem, my lord. This silly little half-lifer was trying to sneak her way into the courtroom.”
That is when I lost it.
“I’ve already told you, that is my seat. My family are sitting right there! My dad is Zeus, and I’m on trial with them! I’m his daughter Helen, as he will prove to you any way you like if I can just get to my seat.”
The man in the grey gown peered down his nose at me. “Absurd,” he spat. “Who do you think you are, impersonating a daughter of Zeus?”
What? I couldn’t believe it. This strange man thought I was lying, too. “N-n-no. I am Helen,” I stuttered. “You have to let me in. The trial can’t go on without me!”
The older man laughed and it sounded like rocks tumbling down a cliff face.
“Is that right? Well, I can see the judge taking to the stage. That means the trial is starting now,” he said, with the same twisted smile on his face. “Leon? Have this urchin removed at once.” Then he walked down the corridor towards the courtroom.
Was this really happening? I shouted and screamed for Dad, Athena, anyone. But the judge’s voice boomed around the courtroom, drowning me out.
“Quiet, half-lifer,” Leon yelled. “Don’t make me have to carry you out,” he growled, pushing me through the corridor.
I broke down into sobs. What if I missed the trial altogether? It had to look bad if I was late for my own trial. Would I be found guilty by default?
As Leon pushed me further down the corridor, I heard the booming cheers of a crowd. Where did they come from? I didn’t notice anyone in front of the courthouse.
The guard opened a heavy wooden door and I was thrust into daylight. I squinted in the light of the sun and made out hundreds of people held back behind dozens of guards dressed just like Leon.
Somehow I’d ended up in Mount Olympus.
THIRTY-SIX
My humiliation was complete. Hundreds of people were going to see this.
I wiped the tears from my face and walked out of the auditorium with my head held high. The cheers became louder as the crowd noticed me walk out. I smiled and waved, pretending I was there on purpose. No one had to know I was being escorted from the premises.
“Helen! Helen, daughter of Zeus!” the crowd chanted. It got louder and louder. I could have sworn I heard a few people yell “Half-lifer!” too. Whatever they were saying, it was clear they knew who I was.
I turned around to face Leon. “Don’t you see? They recognize me!” I yelled above the rising swell of the cheers.
The look on his face said it all. He knew he’d made a terrible mistake.
Leon dropped to one knee and bowed his head. “Forgive me, Lady Helen. I was acting on orders and—”
“Um, hello? There’s no time for this! I need to get to the trial!”
“Of course, right away. Follow me,” he said. I legged it down the corridor and into the courtroom.
I was so relieved at being let back into the trial, even if it meant interrupting the judge. She stared at me hard as I took my seat next to Athena (who didn’t look too pleased either).
“I’ll explain everything later,” I mumbled.
The judge wore a white gown that seemed to glow against her brown skin. Her hair was in a short black Afro streaked with silver. Like the gods, she seemed both ageless and ancient.
“The twelve elected members of the Council will now take the floor,” the judge said. I let out a sigh of relief. I couldn’t have missed much if the Council weren’t there yet.
The twelve Council members filed on to the stage to take their seats on three rows of benches. They seemed to be a mix of men and women of different ages and races, wearing gowns in various shades of grey and dark grey. Goosebumps ran down my spine. I recognized one of the Council members. I don’t think I’d ever forget that face.
I nudged Athena. “He’s the man who made me late! The one in dark grey.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Ah. I suppose it was only a matter of time before you met Cranus.”
That was Cranus? No wonder I’d caught some serious nasty vibes from him.
“For anyone new to the Mount Olympus Court of Law,” the judge began, “let me take a few moments to explain the proceedings. Firstly, we will establish what rules have been broken. We will deal with the gods, followed by Lady Helen’s offence. Please note that Lady Helen is both a key witness and on trial herself.” I heard gasps from the crowd at the judge’s last sentence. “We will culminate proceedings with the judgement and punishment, if deemed suitable by the Council.”