CHAPTER XXXII

CHAPTER XXXII

Amara could feel Prometheus’ eyes burning into her skin from behind her, warning her to keep quiet. No one was ever foolish enough to interruptZeus.

“I a-ap,” Amara cleared her throat, took a deep breath and tried again. There was no room for stuttering when negotiating with the gods.

“I apologise for interrupting you, oh King of Gods, but I could not have it on my conscience that Prometheus be punished for a crime that has not bornefruit.”

A brief pause of silence that said they were listening, likely to see what was so important that it could break a decree, gave Amara the confidence tocontinue.

“While it is true Prometheus did present me with the white fire of knowledge, and while I retain human skin, I too retain my memories once again as a priestess thanks to the fire. I was already aware of its existence, so I do not technically fall under the same laws as the humans. And no other human became aware of the knowledge of the fire. I put the embers out of the piece Prometheus brought me rather than sharing that knowledge. No other human knows of its existence …” As the words died on her lips, Amara realised the magnitude of what she was saying and who she was saying it to.

This time the silence was interrupted by Hera’s harsh laugh. “Foolish girl, my husband already knows no other has seen the whitefire.”

“He does?” Amara said softly as she cocked her head quizzically to the side and looked at Zeus, who chuckled in turn.

Why then had they let hertalk?

“You are an inquisitive one. Brave too. I see why my daughters picked you, why Prometheus fell foryou.”

“You are too kind.” Amara dropped her head, her eyes racing as she tried to piece it alltogether.

Zeus regarded her with a look underneath bushy eyebrows. “And yet I sense abut.”

Amara’s eyelashes flicked up in surprise. Because there was a but, she just hadn’t intended on sayingit.

“You may as well speak while you have the floor priestess,” Zeus cajoled.

Amara got the distinct impression she was being played with. Like a lazy lion who pretends he isn’t about to tear you to shreds, Zeus seemed languid.

“You would be punishing the wronggod.”

Hermes let out a low whistle, Ares a bark of alaugh.

“You dare …” Athenabreathed.

Amara took a deep breath and finally looked at her, at each of the goddesses inturn.

“What you all did was neither wise, nor loving, nor protective. You asked for honour and obedience in traits you did not show. It was not Prometheus’ doing but yours that sent me to Earth. But all the things you claimed to cloak me with were only provided to me by Prometheus in my short timethere.”

“Amara,” Prometheus warned.

“Silence,” one of the Gorgons hissed, a brutal tug on the chain around his neck bringing him back to hisknees.

Amara continued, her mind made up and her voice strong, the residue of the black tar of fear inside her bones bubbling until it began to burn away completely. “You, Lady Aphrodite, claim that you were doing the Moirai’s bidding. But then so did you, Lady Athena, when you gave me this task. Yet you both had your own motivations. This was about more than saving the humans. You sought your father’s approval, Lady Athena, as always. That much is clear to me from what you’ve just said now. And you, Lady Aphrodite, sought to get your way once again. And you both used me in the process because that’s what the gods and goddesses, like you, do. Use others for their own selfish gain and claim it is because of the Fates. For all I know they never even spoke toyou.

For my entire existence I have served you both − and you, Artemis − loyally. But this is not a moira, a destiny, I would have ever chosen for myself. I no longer fear being cast aside by you. Should I now choose, I would choose the only one who actually aided me in a time of need. He who is taking the punishment for yourfailings.

And you, oh King of Kings and God of Gods, are letting them.”

The auditorium once again fell silent. All Amara could hear was her heart hammering against her ribcage, the blood roaring in her ears and simultaneously draining all colour from her face. Her body shook, her fingers tingled, her legs felt as if they were about to give out. Always she had been the pleaser, in both priestess and human form. Always, she had tried to be what was right and good in this world, her greatest fear being cast aside or abandoned by those she loved and respected. But now she knew what that was like and she’d survived it. So to Hades she would go, with those who had put her through it. No more.

“An insolent one, isn’t she?” Hera mocked in a high-pitched, sing-song tone that was as eerie and creepy as it was cutting.

“I dare say Prometheus has rubbed off on her,” Athena added, her grey eyes clouded over. A storm, about tobreak.

“She should be flogged for the way she speaks to my sisters and I,” Artemisadded.

Aphrodite didn’t say anything, the complex confusion on her face utterly mesmerising as if she battled internally with herself about what tosay.

Finally, Zeusspoke.

“Be that as it may, priestess, Prometheus still disobeyed me.”

“But—”

“Silence. You have said your piece. Interrupt me again and I will have you serve your time withHades.”

Amara snapped her lips shut.

“But, for your bravery in defending a man we both once called friend, I will ask my wife to spare your life,” Zeus continued before turning to Hera. “Her fate is otherwise yours, myQueen.”

Amara’s gaze flew to Hera’s, whose smile turned cruel in an upward sneer. She paused for a few minutes, letting the weight of silence engulf them all, dread filling Amara’sbones.

“My husband may have spared your life but you still broke myrule.”

“No,” Amara whispered to herself, her eyes widened in horror as she realised what Hera meant. When she had first met Prometheus and he had asked what would become of her should she be caught, Athena had said she would not be done for meddling, for the rule only applied to gods. Except she’d just condemned Athena and her sisters, and now they sat stoically watching on as Hera unleashed her anger on the only person in the room she was allowed towhip.

“You will be exiled from Olympus and consumed by your mortal flesh,” the Queencontinued.

“NO!” Prometheusshouted.

“Hold your tongue,” Hera hissed, her face contorting into a vile, pinched expression that belied her true nature. When he went to bite back a rebuttal, she interruptedhim.

“Gorgons, if you can’t restrain him, take him away,” Hera said coldly. “As for the humans, they too shall pass into extinction. We will have new toys created in their place.” A pointed glance at Zeus in affection. “Artemis and Aphrodite, you both, with Athena, shall pay the patronages for these new toys, given your meddling. The others here present bear witness tothis.”

With that, Hera clapped her hands and the sentencing passed.

Pulling against the chains, Prometheus rose to his feet, tugging against the full force of the three Gorgons, and carried himself towards Amara and cupped her face in his roughly calloused hands.

“She may bind you to mortal flesh but she cannot eradicate your soul. Your essence is immortal. Do you hear me, Amara?”

Her eyes pooled with tears as she nodded and placed her hands gently either side of his cheeks, desperately trying to take him in, to remember every inch ofhim.

“You will find another mortal body and I will find you. In every lifetime, my love. It may not be in this one, or even in the next century, but I will find you. You must stay strong. You must fight, even when the days seem bleak and the nightmares come.” He wiped away tears that dashed down her cheeks. Understanding dawned as his foresight rose once more to the fore.

“Have hope, my love. I will survive this. You will be the reason that I do, but promise me you willfight.”

Amara nodded, unable to say anything, Prometheus’ face blurry behind her tears. She desperately wanted to see him, to memorise every crease and crack in his skin. Instead, her hands followed the contours of his face, as if reading him in Braille before touching a desperate salted kiss to his lips.

Two of the Gorgons stepped forward, taking either arm of Prometheus as he was led from the auditorium. Denied even the chance to watch him walk away, Amara clenched her fists, her shoulders hitched. She flinched as she heard the crack of a whip through the air meet flesh and Prometheus let out a painful groan as the Gorgons cackled. Their laughter died in the wind.

“Come,” Hermes said to Amara, having appeared at her side. “I will take you back toEarth.”