The four gods- Hades, Athena, Melinoe, and Thanatos- walked up to Melinda. She was too frightened to move or say anything.
What's the worst that they can do anyway? Melinda thought, trying to calm herself down, Hades and Melinoe think I'm Macaria, Thanatos would obviously do anything to protect me... so only Athena's a problem.
"It's no use anymore, we know," Athena told her.
About what? There's too many things, Melinda thought.
"Do you remember who you are?" Hades asked.
Yes.
"No," Melinda said.
"Do you remember the Underworld at all?"
"No."
"Then if you had no clue who you were why did you lie?" Thanatos suddenly asked.
His question hit Melinda like a ton of bricks. She heard slight anger and sadness in his voice. But she didn't blame him.
Tell them that you woke up one day in the middle of Greece, the voice told her, you soon found out that you're a goddess after you were attacked by a man and you zapped the bastard after he stabbed you and ichor poured out. You wanted to go to Olympus to figure out who you are but... Olympus's guardians didn't let you in because they didn't want orphans on Olympus. You lied so that you can go through Olympus and maybe hear something about who you were.
Melinda's eyebrows furrowed.
You already caused enough trouble, she snapped in her mind, It's your fault that I'm here.
Just say it so that you can get out of here, the voice growled.
It's a ridiculous excuse, Melinda protested.
"Answer please?" Thanatos said.
Hurry up so that you can continue our plan, the voice snapped.
Melinda rolled her eyes and sighed. She then repeated what the voice told her but said it so that it was in first person.
"You could have just asked us on Olympus who you were," Athena told her.
"Um- I don't really trust Zeus that much..." Melinda said like she was trying to make herself believe that.
"Ok, well we could tell you who you are now," Athena said.
If she says that you're Macaria, tell her that that's ridiculous, the voice told Melinda.
Wouldn't it not make any sense since she's offering to tell me who I am but I throw out ideas? Melinda asked.
You're right... It would be suspicious... Fine, listen to her and I'll send a distraction. Then run to Olympus and continue you know what, the voice commanded Melinda.
"Ok, who am I?" Melinda asked.
"You're Macaria, like how I said a million times before," Melinoe said.
Melinda nodded her head and tried her best to act surprised.
"Lord Hades!" to her relief she saw another god run to the five, this one looked a bit like Thanatos.
"We're kind of busy Hypnos," Hades said with annoyance.
"It's really important. There's uh, trouble, in Tartarus. You need to come quickly," Hypnos said.
"Fine," Hades snapped "Thanatos come, we have to deal with this" he then turned to Melinoe and Athena "Melinoe you can tell your sister about... all of it. And Athena thank you for telling us but we don't need your service anymore."
Athena bowed and disappeared.
"Come on Thanatos," Hades said, and the two gods walked away with Hypnos.
"Come on Maca, I have so much to tell you," Melinoe told Melinda.
The two were in Macaria's room. Melinda sat on the bed, her head resting against the lilac wall. Melinoe stood in the middle of the room, explaining to Melinda about how she's Macaria.
Melinda somewhat listened to Melinoe. But she mostly couldn't hear Melinoe over the sound of the voice cursing and telling her what to do next.
"Actually Melinoe, I'm kind of hungry... Would you mind?" Melinda suddenly said, interrupting Melinoe.
"Why not ask one of the spirits? They'll listen to you," Melinoe replied.
"Because you're my, uh, older sister."
"No. Get used to telling the spirits."
"Please?"
"But I still have so much to say!"
"Pretty please?"
"Fine," Melinoe growled. She turned around and walked out of the room.
How am I supposed get out of here? Melinda asked the voice.
Teleport- oh, that's right you forgot how to. Here, let's practice. Just imagine... the beach near Athens. Imagine that you're staring at the water. Imagine that you're stepping on the hot sand. Imagine the sound of birds. Then imagine a straight path from this room to the beach.
Melinda closed her eyes. She remembered the beach, she was there with Thanatos. She saw the clear sky and the water. She heard the waves and smelled the locals cooking food.
Open your eyes idiot, the voice growled.
Melinda did so and she was on the beach.
At least you teleported on the first try... Now do the same but imagine some remote area on Olympus, Gaea told her.
Melinda closed her eyes and imagined some tiny garden that she remembered from when she was little. However, when she appeared in it, a pretty woman surprised her by running up to her and hugging her.
"Macaria! You came back!" the woman said happily.
Don't deny that you're Macaria. No one will actually believe Persephone that you're back. Just try to get out of here so that you can continue, the voice told her.
But won't Athena back her up? Melinda asked.
Athena had a small... detour. On the bright side there's only ten of the Olympians left, the voice said.
Melinda still smiled to hide the fact that she felt really bad. Athena might have been the only one to help her out of this mess.
"Uh, yeah sure. I came back. But, actually, I need to go to the throne room," Melinda said.
"Let me walk you there," Persephone offered.
"No, no need. I'll come right back," Melinda chuckled nervously.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I'll come back right here."
Persephone looked hesitant but finally said "Alright."
Melinda disappeared and teleported somewhere else, somewhere a lot more isolated.
Artemis was running around her room, looking everywhere. She just came back to Olympus for one day and someone steals her silver bow. She then realized that obviously the thief wouldn't leave it in her room so she went to the throne room to report the stolen item to her father.
But in the throne room she only saw a young girl with light brown hair leaving.
"Hey!" Artemis called out "Have you seen Lord Zeus?"
The girl turned to face Artemis. Her light blue eyes studied the goddess of the hunt.
"No, I just saw Ares leaving," the girl said.
What would Ares be doing in the throne room by himself? He always comes late to the meetings and he's too busy being a... jerk to mortals and other Olympians so it's not just a visit, Artemis thought.
"Do you know what he was doing here?" Artemis asked.
"I saw him placing something behind his throne. I have no clue what that was though," the girl said.
Artemis thanked her and ran up to Ares's throne out of curiosity. But soon her curiosity soon turned to anger.
"I should've known, that son of a bitc-" Artemis growled as she took out her bow.