Apollo's P.O.V.
I never thought I'd be the laughing stock of Olympus. Again.
The first time was when I lost the control over my own oracle in Delos, to a filthy, lying, slippery snake!
Immortals never let down any rumors or accusations.
This time, was different, though... I crossed the line. I knew I shouldn't, but there was something in her that made me look over the rules and go for it. Maybe it was the look she gave him, I wanted to be look like that, too...
Why to her in particular? I've seen millions of couples looking at each other like that... Why it had to be her?!
"The forbidden fruit" I heard behind me. I turned to see Aphrodite, smiling sadly at me "We always like what we can't have..."
"I don't understand..." I lied. I truly and completely understood. She was my pythia, but it was his girlfriend... I wanted her all for me, vestal or not.
"I'm not here to tell you 'I told you so', which I'd find gratifying..." I rolled my eyes, knowing she'd say it, eventually "I'm here because your Father requested your presence at the Council" I raised an eyebrow, confused.
"I am part of the Council... He hasn't called for a meeting" I replied. It was obvious I was missing something.
"It's- it's not a meeting" she explained, looking strangely guilty. I say 'strangely' because Aphrodite feels no guilt in whatever she does. Never "Just follow me..." I did as told, trying to find a reason for this. The only thing that came to mind was that Father had finally thought of a suitable punishment for my non-actions against Python.
"Ah, now that he's here, we can begin" Father's voice echoed across the room. I was about to sit down when he stopped me "Middle of the room" he ordered. I gulped, but obeyed, fearing what was about to happen "I've been giving this a lot of thought and, I finally had found a suitable punishment for your actions" I held back a whimper and lowered my head. Gods, this is gonna be bad...
"Took you too long, brother..." Hades muttered from my right. I knew Father was glaring at him.
"Hades is right... It only took me several seconds to punish Enalos. You took almost a year" Poseidon reminded him. I bet he was smirking smugly.
"I say we should incinerate him" Ares butted in, always with a dramatic and drastic option.
"Silence!" Father stomped his fist down, like a child in a tantrum "I'm the Head of this Council and I'll decide what's fit for him!"
"Remember, husband dear, that the Council must approve whatever action you wanna inflict him" Hera sneered at Father, earning a glare.
"You better keep your mouth shut, Hera... Or this trial would be about you" Father warned her and Hera zipped her mouth. It was obvious he hasn't forgotten the part where Hera had acted against his back, which was good, because that means I wasn't gonna be the only one punished "Is there anything you wanna say before this trial starts?" he asked me, more because of compromise than want.
However, I had things to say.
"What crime am I being accused of?" This was pure protocol, actually. I already knew why I was being charged.
"For reckless behavior against your own Oracle and a one of your own Legacies-" My eyes opened wide when I heard that. I was being charged by those two?!
"I want to see my accuser" I demanded, cutting Father, which was not something good.
"You're seeing it now" Hold up! So, they didn't accuse me, but Father thinks it'll be good for him to charge me?!
"I won't respond to any accusations you have against me in that area, because you weren't one of the implicates!" I finally answer, feeling pride about me.
"You want to see the ones you implicated? Fine!" Father gave Hermes a look, who flashed away in a second. It only took half a minute for him to return, with a hand wrapped around Octavian's upper arm, who was screaming at him.
"Let go of me, you filthy god!" he glared at him and looked around, confused "What is going on?!"
"The accuser is here. We can begin" Athena broke the awkwardness, serious.
My trials had began.
Travis' P.O.V.
My bags had been packed since yesterday, but it looks like it isn't because I keep putting in and out pranking stuff, clothes I just got back, food I want to smuggle out and stuff like that.
Don't tell Katie the last part... She'll stop talking to me for a week.
"Hey! Bro!" Connor screamed at me, opening our cabin's door. I jumped and got in defense position, thinking it was more like a mad camper trying to get revenge instead of my brother.
"Hermes' Wings! Connor!" I accused him, saying one of my worst swears ever "What's got into you?!"
"Lou, that's what" I was surprised Connor would be talking like that about Lou. Normally, he'd worship the floor were she walked on "She's been nagging me to pack for the city" I sighed and chuckled, happy I didn't need to interfere in my brother's love life "We're not leaving for another week!" I stared at him, as if he was crazy "What?!"
"Connor... we leave in two hours" I recognized to him. He looked at me, then the clock on the wall and my bags, ready to leave. Again and again.
"Holy Hermes!" he scolded himself, running around the cabin, looking for his supplies and stuff. He does this everytime we need to leave, either to go home or for a quest. I think he's more ADHD than me... And I'm the big one! I decided that it was best for him to pack on his own, because I'm sure that if I stay there, he'll pack half the girls' stuff and he'll blame it on me. I did it once, he'll suspect I'll do it again.
"Travis!" I heard Katie calling me and I turned to see her, smiling like an idiot. She was in her cabin's porch, trying to lift her bag. I immediately went to help her.
"Gods, Katie!" I complained, having troubles to lift it "What did you packed? Rocks?" I joked to her, but when she turned and blushed, made me think she actually did it.
"Just a few samples...?" Her sentence ended in a question, more than a statement, making me chuckle and shake my head.
"What I'm going to do with you and your manias...?" I asked myself, making her pout and cross her arms over her chest, trying to look insulted. Either way, she looked adorable.
"I'm not sick!" she protested, huffing. I left the bag away and hugged her from behind.
"I wasn't using that term, I promise" I assured her, kissing her forehead "I was joking about you having an obsession with rocks, that's all..."
"So you think I'm sick?!" What?! That wasn't what I say!
"No, Katie... I wasn't saying any of that-"
"So, now you're too good to be with me?! You have to look for excuses to get away from me?" she stared at me with crying eyes and I frowned.
"Katie, where the Hades did you got that idea from?!" I questioned her, hugging her closer to me. She was staining my shirt, but they were tears, they can wash away.
"N-no where..." she stuttered. I sighed and decided not to push her about this, but I had a pretty good idea where this was coming from "S-sorry..."
"You have nothing to be sorry for" I kissed her temple and saw Lou and Juniper walking to us "Hello, girls..." Both, Juniper and Lou nodded at me, Lou somber than Juniper "Where's Grover?"
"He was just doing some last-minute job..." Juniper replied, almost skipping in her place. I swear, since Grover proposed to her, she's been hyper in CO2... figuratively speaking.
"Where's Connor?" Lou wondered, looking around. I chuckled, making the girls look at me.
"Either, he's finishing his bag and looking for a way to apologize or he's pacing around thinking how to apologize" I explained, with a smirk. Lou chuckled with me.
"I can't believe we're gonna be graduating from mortal high school..." Katie butted in, making me nod "That was just a fantasy for me before!"
"I always thought I was gonna graduate during summer school..." I admitted, rubbing my neck "But, I'm glad I have an opportunity for Connor to replace me" The girls stared at me, not understanding, until Katie smacked the back of my head "What?! It was an innocent thought..."
"Travis Stoll, don't you come and lie me about you haven't thought of that prank for years!" she scolded me, making the girls giggle "If I notice any difference at prom, I won't hesitate to humiliate you in front of everyone, you understand?" she threaten me, raising an eyebrow. I gulped, knowing I shouldn't mess with a moody Katie.
"Yes, ma'am..." Luckily, Grover and Connor's entrance saved me from saluting and stuff.
I hope I can survive the last months of school year...
Hades' P.O.V.
I'm starting to think that, when Perseus asked Zeus for my permanent seat on the Council, he was pulling a cruel and heartless prank on me.
You see, when I'm being summoned for any Council's discussions, I took a seat and the gods seem to forget I'm here, except for a few, who ask me my opinions and decisions but, when it comes to taking the final vote, Zeus usually ignores me.
I'm used to Zeus ignoring me by now, but I believe that's just rude.
Right now, I'm watching how Zeus trials Apollo and one of his Legacies, who I'd bet my realm that he has no idea why he was being summoned or what would be his fate.
"Before these trials start, do any of the accused has anything to say in their defense?" Athena, luckily, was one of the few who could maintain her seriousness and don't show sides, because half the gods right now were rooting for the Legacy to pass his trial.
"Well, I'd like to know in what charges I'm being accused of!" the Legacy demanded, for like, the fourth time since he was dragged here by Hermes. Both Zeus and Athena ignored him.
"This is all Aphrodite's fault!" Apollo accused. Aphrodite gasped and frowned in annoyance.
"It's not my fault you couldn't defeat that snake that took over your oracle!" she yelled at him, not able to contain herself.
"That wasn't what I was talking about..." he hissed at her, pointing at his Legacy, who frowned his eyebrows, a little confused.
"We'll start with the Trial of Apollo" Athena announced, looking at her father, who rose up from his throne.
"Apollo, the first and main reason of your trial it's the usurpation of your Oracle in Delphi by the snake Python" Zeus boomed, dramatically. Obviously, when not? "At first, you took possession of that Oracle, killing the snake and claiming it as yours" Zeus made a dramatically pause, making me roll my eyes. If he noticed me or found it disrespectful, he wouldn't say "We, this Council, support you when your predictions turned out to be more accurate than any of ours" I could sense some anger coming out of Zeus' mouth. He hates being in second place "However, your childish and unhelpful behavior during the last war makes me question your ability of taking responsible decisions about the future-"
"Hold up!" Apollo interrupted. I'm sure he knew that wasn't something Zeus liked, but he also knew he was walking in thin ice, so what did he had to lose? "If this will be focus on my necessity and my preservation, which is the reason of why I flee to Delos, as you say it... Then, why aren't you doing a trial on Artemis?!" Spoken like a needy kid, he pointed at his twin when he said the last words.
"Because, I wasn't stupid enough to let a snake take what's mine!" Artemis shouted at him.
"And, yet, you were stupid enough to not recognized that Orion wanted to get in your pants and blame it on me when I saved you?!" Apollo fired back, totally forgetting about his trial and focusing on his sibling. It was funny somehow to see them argue.
"Enough!" Zeus slammed his fist down against his throne, shutting the twins down "This is a bout you, Apollo, and your actions!"
"Then, why the Pluto am I here?!" Apollo's Legacy, who had been quiet the entire time, repeated. I started to feel a headache, before feeling better "I apologize, Lord Hades"
"You're here because of your actions, Apollo reacted rashly" Poseidon finally explained to him, looking kind of sad. Why? Oh, yeah... I remember why now...
"But- I never provoked him. Neither mocked him or anything!" he tried to defend himself.
"You showed him that you could bite the forbidden without consequences and he took it as a challenge" The Legacy stood there, in silence, thinking Poseidon's words.
"Returning to what's important here" Zeus sounded impatient "I believe it's time to think of a proper punish for Apollo... Anyone has ideas?" We all shook our heads "Good, because I believe I found the right one..." Zeus sat back down on his throne "Apollo, for the charges of disobedience and breaking of the laws of the vestals, in the name of the Council, I hereby you, Apollo-"
"Wait!" Someone screamed, while a figure ran inside the Council. Zeus' look relaxed.
"Leto..." Why I'm not surprise about this?
"Please, I beg for his life..."
"Mom..." Apollo called her "I'll be OK, I promise you that..." Leto nodded, but didn't move from her son's side.
"Apollo, your sentence will be roaming the Earth as mortal" Zeus finished, gaining a nod from everyone in the Council. Apollo clenched his fists, but didn't say a word "Now, it is time to move to the next trial" Zeus placed his eyes on Apollo's Legacy.
It was time to step in.
Octavian's P.O.V.
I didn't understand anything.
One moment, I'm having a nice time with my girlfriend. And, seconds later, a god comes to take me to Olympus , without any warning or anything.
I'm surprised I hadn't burned into ashes.
I just wanted to end this as soon as I could, so I could go back to her.
It doesn't seem like it.
"Octavian Alexander" Ju-I mean, Zeus, directed his attention to me, after punishing my ancestor with mortality "You're here on the charges of, um... What are actually his charges?" he murmured to Mi- Athena.
"Conspiracy of attack, misinterpretation of auguries and breaking the laws of the vestals" she supplied, looking serious. No emotions. I looked around the gods, hoping some would give away some gesture that I could be saved. Only Ne- Poseidon and Ve- Aphrodite seemed sad about me. And Ve- Hestia, but she wasn't part of the Council.
I was doomed.
"Do you have to say anything in your defense?" Zeus continued, staring at me.
"I was doing what I believed it was right" I started, looking up at all of them "When you hear that your family, your home is going to be attacked or was even attacked, you think and you prepare retaliations" I was trying to apply for the most reasonable side of the thinking "And, after my home was attacked, I just reacted about it... Was it right? Now, I know it wasn't..." I admitted "Am I ashamed? Sure, but I won't apologize for defending my home... As for the misinterpretation of auguries and the breaking the laws of the vestals-" I made a pause to let that sink in "-let's just say it all depends on the point of view"
"Point of view?" Queen Ju- Hera asked me, raising an eyebrow. I sighed.
"A sign, any sign, could be interpreted differently, depending on the mind and the experiences of the person... The auguries showed me that I was gonna be a hero for my people... And, following the events that happened, I assumed it was on our victory over the greeks..."
"You know what it was meant to happen?" I shook my head at Athena's question "The catapult you were trapped to and Nico di Angelo and Will Solace saved you from was supposed to take you straight to Gaea, destroying her" she explained, leaving me gaping. I was meant to die...? "And, what about the Oracle?"
"Another point of view" I replied, once I was able to pull myself together. My fists were clenching, knowing I wasn't coming back to her "The whole point of being an Oracle is remain virgin for the Spirit to host the body... We weren't breaking any rule"
"In time, you would" Di- Artemis butted in, glaring at me.
"Looks like we reached an agreement" Zeus looked around and almost all nodded "Octavian Alexander, your sentence would death on the charges of conspiracy, misinterpretation and breaking the laws of the vestals" I wasn't gonna cry, I won't cry... I need to be strong... "You'll be send to the Fields of Punishments, where Hades will give you an according suffering.
"What's gonna happen now?" I wondered, my eyes surely red because of the effort I was doing.
"No one will have recollection of you since the war... For them, you were dead since then" Hades told me and I got even paler than before. No... Please, not her...
"I want to do a final petition" My voice was shaking, but I didn't mind "Don't- don't let her forget me... She- she was the best thing that ever happened to me..." I whispered the last part, but I was sure they heard it. Suddenly, I was engulfed in a hug that smelt like roses.
"I'll swear on the Styx she won't forget you..." Aphrodite vowed to me. I nodded, giving her my last smile "Hades, please be as merciful as you can..."
"I'll see what I'll do" Hades simply said. I let him took me to the Underworld, inside the palace "You have a skillful mouth there..."
"Thanks..." I thanked him, depressed. I could feel his gaze on me "What would be my punishment?"
"You'll serve as my adviser" I looked up, surprised and confused "As you might notice, I don't get along with Zeus, almost all the time... So, when things that I believe must be done differently, I'd be in need of a different, um, point of view..."
"So, I'll be thinking excuses for the rest of eternity for you?" I checked, just to be sure. He nodded.
"And, in return, I'll allow you to visit her in her dreams" I perked up at that "And, if you do a good job, I'll let you join her in Elysium when her mortal life is over" Didn't have to think it twice.
"Where do I sign?"
Did anyone teared up like me when I wrote that?