Chapter 40

S tained glass windows painted the rising morning light with shades of orange and pink. Gemstone chandeliers lined the high courtroom, illuminating the panel of judges that watched with disgusted smirks in their wing backed velvet thrones. The king and queen sat center in the line of unrecognizable faces. I'd never seen them before, but an aura of royalty radiated about them like translucent beams of power washing over their smooth, perfect skin.

The queen, with her neck straightened in elegant nobility, eyed me- her brutal lips pursed. The king, his crown delicate atop his marble-carved brow, burned holes in my chest with his censorious blue eyes.

"Lords and Ladies of the High Court," a small, measly man squeaked, "we've called upon you today to discuss these revoltingly treasonous actions."

I swallowed hard as hundreds of pairs of eyes turned to face me. The crowd murmured disapprovals as the man carried on.

"You have not only brought shame on yourself, but also on your family. Because of your actions, the mortal realms have lost trust in the stability of their immortal rulers. These actions cannot go unpunished."

"Please, I've done nothing!" I pleaded. The weight of iron chains dug into my wrists. After scanning the room, searching for any hint of a friendly face, all I found were furrowed brows and disgusted eyes.

"Silence!" the king boomed, his voice causing tremors throughout the cavernous marble walls. "You had your chance to speak. To explain yourself. But that's passed and now it's time to face judgment."

I swallowed hard, entirely frozen by the sheer force of his all-commanding presence. His terrifyingly fierce eyes snipped my vocal cords, leaving me entirely speechless.

"Bring in the testimonials!" the king's aide squeaked. A door behind the panel of judges swung open. Procyon, with his head held high, entered the courtroom. A short, fragile-looking woman trailed behind him, her head hanging low. I watched as the god stepped into the rays undulating from the ornate window panes. His long, braided beard swung across his chin as he took long, powerful strides. I stared at him, hoping he'd recognize me and come to my aid. I wasn't supposed to be here.

"Procyon, please, help me! I-"

Someone kicked the soft side of my knees, throwing me to the ground. My head cracked against the floor, sending blurs of stars whizzing through my vision.

"You don't speak!" a black-hooded figure growled behind me. I pushed myself to my knees, feeling the joints crack beneath my weight. Long, blonde strands of hair hung over my face and suddenly, I realized I wasn't me. I wasn't Elpis anymore. This wasn't my past or my future.

Procyon spoke, but his words were unintelligible. I watched him, trying to translate the string of syllables and sounds coming from his lips. He was furious, his orange eyes kindled with each strand of sentences.

I'd done something so terrible, so horrific, it caused the court to whisper and gasp. Caused tears to stream down the eyes of the queen and the quiet, brown-haired woman to cower behind Procyon.

A faint glimmer of movement in the room's corner caught my eye. Sitting limply in the shadows was a frail, full bearded man. His wrists were bloody and irritated from the shackles that held him to the wall. His eyes fluttered in and out of consciousness. Procyon scowled and pointed a strong, deadly finger toward him, then back at me. Somehow we were connected, but the only thing I recognized in him was the faded flecks of gold behind his tired, amber eyes.

The king and queen rose, pulling my eyes away from the broken man. The king's voice sent ice down my spine, like the coldest of morning frosts. I swallowed hard, shifting uncomfortably on shrieking knees. The deafening ring in my ears subsided enough to make out his words, "Tethys, I no longer recognize you as a daughter of this court. Given the accusations presented against you today, I banish you to the immortal realms. Take her away."

Cold, rough hands gripped around my biceps, pulling me back into the shadows. The courtroom faded away, leaving nothing but a lingering desperation of my impending sentence .