Page 157 of Crown of Olympus
CHAPTER 45
Nyssa
We shadowsteppedto the place where it all began — the pristine marble Parthenon built into the side of Mount Olympus.
The Primal Council was already assembled, seated in their gilded thrones and dressed in their finest. After all, they were officially meeting their new monarch today. Their champions, if they had any, stood beside them waiting in silence.
Gasps echoed through the hall as my shadows receded. At least a few of those present recognised the black crown flickering atop my head. Each face in the grand hall was locked on mine — some with mouths agape in shock, others radiating fury through their cutting glares.
Only Caelus’ and Apollo’s council seats remained empty, the gods instead standing with Archimedes, Aros, and me in the centre of the atrium.
“I’ll leave you here,” Charon said softly, before striding over to Caelus’ conveniently empty throne and throwing himself down unceremoniously on the polished gold, right beside Hera’s. He shot a glare around the room, daringanyone to object.
Nobody did.
I guess the Ferryman holds a certain sway with the council, I mused.
More like they don’t want to be thrown over the side of his boat when their time comes,Vel laughed.I’ll go add a little bite to his bark.She grinned in that serpentine way of hers, smoke curling out of her nostrils, and sashayed over, settling on her haunches behind his seat.
A fire-breathing, equine-sized security measure.
Raising my chin under the scrutiny of those assembled, I strode forwards to fill the empty space between Caelus and Aros. The champions were positioned in a half circle facing a small dais where Hera waited, eyes narrowed. Beside her stood a white marble pedestal, and nestled on a deep purple cushion lay the burnished gold Crown of Olympus.
It lay dormant and unassuming — at least until the ceremony began.
Hera cleared her throat. “Congratulations, champions.” Her voice held no tremor, no rasp — no hint of the sobs and screams she had subjected it to last night. “You have successfully completed all twelve trials, demonstrating all of the necessary qualities Olympus requires in its ruler.”
And none of which you possess,I thought snarkily.
I wonder when the murder revelation will come out,Velira drawled seethingly.
I’ll leave that up to Caelus to decide.
“To begin the ceremony, each of you must approach the dais and offer the Crown a single drop of your blood,” Hera explained. “It will then analyse every aspect of every trial within that drop, and every second of your life before that. Finally, it will select the most worthy of you to rule all of Olympus and the mortal realm.”
Hera’s glare cut to me. “You may have noticed that one ofourchampions,” she spat, “is wearing something that should not belong to them.”
“Why does she wear Hades’ crown?” Ares hissed.
Poseidon chimed in, “Where even is Hades? He’s been notably absent for this entire Rite.”
“It’s unlike him to miss an event like this — even in wartime when the death tolls are catastrophic and he’s needed on the Isle,” Athena reasoned.
“Certain truths were revealed in my trial last night,” Hera began.
“Yes, they certainly were, weren’t they, wife of Zeus?” I drawled, raising a brow suggestively.
“What does she mean by that?” Demeter queried.
“Yes, girl,” Artemis intoned. “What do you mean by that?”
“Hera?” My other brow lifted, leaving the decision in Hera’s perfectly manicured hands.
“She means nothing,” the goddess in question seethed.
Hera inhaled deeply, ready to forge on with the ceremony — when a deep, thunderous voice interrupted her. A voice I knew intimately, last heard whispering my name as I drifted off to sleep.
Caelus spoke clearly, enunciating each syllable to leave no room for confusion.
