“You?” Triton said. “Why? You’re one of the worst abusers of females.”
Dion’s face pinched in rage. “I’m not surprised you don’t understand—you’re nothing but a hermit tucked in his shell. I don’t abuse any of my lovers, in fact, I give them more choice and opportunity than any other god on this campus. I don’t pick the women that are easy and seeking what I can give them. It’s not a financial exchange. They agree. Sexual freedom is a privilege these women do not have with many of the gods—and it should be.”
It was a weird argument, but Dion has wealth, family clout, and is a strong ally. I would never turn my back on his loyalty.
“What about you, Triton?” I asked.
He didn’t answer right away and as I feared he might be the hardest to sway. We needed him—his brains and his strength—and if he didn’t want to join forces, the rebellion could be over before it started.
“There are many reasons goddesses are considered the weaker sex—from a physical standpoint. They’re unable to develop the same muscle. They’re slower and much smaller.” He rubbed the small patch of hair on his chin. “Of course, they endure the pain of childbirth and their minds are often sharp—less distracted by sexual urges.”
I hid a snicker at his formality. Sexual urges.
“Gods,” Loki muttered under his breath. He was the least tolerant of Triton’s personality. “Are you in or out, Triton? Don’t pretend you haven’t already decided.”
Triton nods. “There are many injustices going on right now. I don’t like the direction of oppression. My people and the creatures in the sea could be next. I would feel more comfortable with you in a position of leadership.”
That made all of us, and we shook on the alliance.
The rebellion has officially started.
19
ARTEMIS
I am annoyed at how much the entrance trial shook me up, because that’s exactly what the judges wanted. Did they expect me to hide in my room for the rest of the day, unable to cope with what I saw? Thought I’d have second thoughts about coming here and challenging them?
They’re wrong.
It’s like they’ve never met a child of Zeus; we don’t give up so easily.
Yes, this affected me deeply and my hands trembled for an hour afterwards, but all they’ve done is solidify my resolve. In the vision, I saw how Apollo worked with his allies, the trust and bonds between them. Perhaps the judges wanted to taunt me with that too, suggesting I could never have the same relationship with the other four gods.
They’re correct. I won’t.
Mine will be stronger.
I’d planned to spend time in the girls’ common room, but today I decide I won’t. I need to spend time with my gods. They need to understand my resolve is unwavering.
I haven’t mixed much with the other girls yet. They’re different to those I’m used to in the village, and many are wary. Is that why they’re polite to me? Well, to my face, anyway. Fulla continues to be friendly, but that could be out of loyalty to Thor. I’ve noticed other goddesses look up to her and I like her. She reminds me of Danielle back home, smart, funny, and full of fire. Maybe she’s a good ally to have in my corner too, if this keeps bitchiness away. When I arrived, I expected barbed comments over why I’m allowed in the Trials, but I guess they save that for whisperings.
Having bathed and changed, I hover in the hall just outside the common room, wavering between heading in to talk, or to seeing my new allies.
My men win.
I could sneak my way into their quarters, but I don’t care who sees me. Instead, I stride across the Academy courtyard, head held high, to the gods’ rooms at the opposite end of the sprawling building.
The wing housing the quarters looks exactly the same as the goddesses’, but as I suspected, the gods’ area smells and looks different. The oils the girls use to sweeten their scent fill the goddesses’ quarters with a mix of cloying scents, and each door is decorated to reflect personalities. Mine has nothing attached, through my choice and by the fact I arrived with only a satchel and a bow on my back. Fulla offered to make me a name plate. I nudged her in the ribs with my elbow and told her I hoped it wouldn’t read ‘madwoman’.
The place I walk into now definitely smells male; a scent I’ve come to know as very different to my last home. The hallways are as clean and tidy, but when I walk into the common room, I see the biggest difference.
Sparse.
No silk cushions or pretty rugs on the floor. The books I often see girls curled up reading are also absent in the gods’ room. The sofa is marked and torn at the edges, and the room littered with goblets and plates.
For a moment I stand in the doorway, wrinkling my nose at the stale smell. Five gods sit in here—well, four sit and one stands at the window. Hati’s chair faces me and he stands as I approach.
“Artemis! You shouldn’t be in here.”
“And you shouldn’t have crossed my wards, but you did and I am.” I step into the room, and my four friends look at me with expressions ranging from surprise to amusement.
All seats are taken since Dion and Loki are on the small sofa, so I sit on the floor near Triton, who sighs and returns to a book he writes notes in. Does he have a journal too? I crane my head and see a series of written numbers. Maybe not.
“Drink?” asks Dion, predictably, and he pours one before I have a chance to say anything. “I expect you need one after today.”
I thank him and sip the wine. Is Hati’s presence causing them to not speak, or are they as shocked as him?
“Goddesses don’t come here often,” says Thor from his position by the window. “At least, ahem, not during daylight hours.”
“Probably because it smells bad.”
Loki chuckles.
“And you’re not allowed,” says Triton, not looking up from his scribbling. “If the house monitor finds you, we’ll all get written up.”
I nod and glance at Hati. “Are you staying? If not, I could take your seat.”
Now it’s Thor’s turn to laugh, and Hati stares at me and my rudeness. “I have things to do, I suppose. Some of us don’t have time to laze around in the afternoon.”
“Don’t walk off and tell someone Artemis is here,” complains Dion. “At least let her finish her wine first.”
“I don’t care whether she’s here or not,” retorts Hati. “She’s not the first and won’t be the last.” He cocks a brow at Dion. “Correct, Dion?”
I’m surprised when Dion gives him a hard look; I expected a bawdy comeback.
I feel sorry for Hati as he stalks from the room, but this group is tight and I can’t see the four letting anybody into their circle.
Apart from me.
I take Hati’s seat and curl my legs under me before taking another sip of my drink.
Loki sits forward, concern in his pinched brow. “Are you okay after the challenge, Artemis?”
“Fine. But I came here to relax, not talk about that.” I look around the room. “Where did Apollo sit?”
Thor, who’s standing in the window, crosses his arms and turns away.
“Where you are,” says Loki in a quiet voice. “Although, if he was alone he’d sprawl out on the sofa.”
“With his dirty shoes,” Dion added. “He was always covered in mud, you know, from spending so much time outdoors.”
I rub my hands across the rough blue fabric covering the chair arms and imagine my brother sitting here, relaxed and happy with his friends. Will I be able to take his place? I sense they never want to talk about Apollo, but there’s so much I want to know about the brother I don’t remember.
“What did you do?” I ask them. “The five of you, together. You must’ve been close friends. Did you know each other long?”
“Since we arrived at the Academy,” says Dion. “We all arrived on the same day, and our quarters were close by. Apollo became a leader, but not through choice. It just happened.”