Hm, that newspaper article didn't give you much to go on, did it? Enjoy.
"This is betrayal!"
Thunder crashed, echoing the booming words. Zeus glared ferociously at the paper in his hands, ready to tear it to shreds. Lightning flashed, illuminating the Great Hall. Hera sat on her throne, far away from her violent husband.
"I will not have this insolence! I will not tolerate it!"
His feet smashed against the marble, his hands clenched into fists.
"I told him. That mortal betrayed us. This will not go unpunished."
She watched her husband rant, pacing back and forth.
"I must summon her, she must answer to her actions."
With his mood like this, he'd sooner kill the poor girl than hear her out.
"Call a council," the queen calmly suggested. "Allow everyone to have their input. Before you make a decision. Do not involve the girl until necessary."
She didn't flinch as thunder slammed the air around them.
"You have protected this girl for too long, Hera."
"I, like you, want justice, husband. I am merely attempting to assist you."
He stared suspiciously at her. "Assist me? Or that girl?"
She glared imperiously at him. "Don't you dare accuse me of treason. I have stayed by your side for so long, you will not presume to accuse me of such acts."
"I am the king of gods, wife. Remember that."
"I am the queen of gods, husband. I may remind you that you are nothing without me."
Zeus sputtered, his face an angry red, but could not refute her point.
"Call the council, Zeus."
He glowered.
Fine. But this time, wife, this time you cannot protect the boy and his mortal. I will have justice."
"If justice you want, provide the means for it. Call a council."
The god scowled, but closed his eyes and concentrated.
The Great Hall illuminated. Thrones lit up with beams of light as immortals arrived. Some looked around in confusion, while some seemed to know why the king was murderously angry. Whispers filled the chamber, passing from those who knew to those who did not. Godly faces displayed concern, anxiety, curiosity. Zeus searched the hall and, unable to find the one he was most angry at, pressed his lips together.
"Where," Zeus' voice was menacing, "is Hermes?"
"I'll go get him," Artemis volunteered. She disappeared.
"What's going on, father?" Dionysus looked disgruntled, no doubt having been pulled from some party or another.
"We have been revealed."
The ominous statement was met with gasps. Those who knew did not know as much as they had thought. Gods and goddesses eyed each other with alarm.
"What do you mean?"
"You all know that Hermes has been in the presence, as of recently, of a mortal girl."
They nodded hesitantly. Hera rested her chin on her hand as she watched the events unfold in front of her. Her husband had the tendency to anger quickly, and the other gods were aware of that. This could influence how they viewed his tale.
"The girl has revealed his true identity to the mortal public."
Amid gasps of shock and indignation, Hera frowned. To tell the information like that certainly gave it a negative tone. She cleared her throat quietly.
"It has yet to be proved that the girl was indeed the one to leak the information."
Zeus' face turned red.
"Who else would have the resources to do this?" His shout echoed around the hall and the other gods shied away. Hera was not moved.
"Prove that she did this, Zeus."
Hermes chose that inopportune moment to appear. Artemis silently left his side and sat on her throne.
Zeus turned his vicious energy on his son.
"What have you done?"
Hermes looked confused; Artemis had told him nothing more than he had cause to be wary.
"What do you mean, father? I—"
"What is this?"
He thrust the crumpled article at Hermes' face. The god tore it away and read it in bewilderment. Horror dawned on his face.
"Wha—" He looked at his father in confusion. "I don't—Who did this?"
Zeus glared at him. "Who do you think? Your mortal."
Hermes shook his head firmly. "No, Lucy did not do this."
"Then who did?" Zeus walked closer to his son. Hermes shrugged.
"I don't know, but it wasn't Lucy."
"Who else had the access to do this? Who else could take these pictures?" He pointed accusingly at the close-ups, where the god was staring directly into the camera.
Hermes hesitated. "Well, no one, but—"
"Did you let her take these pictures?" Zeus' voice was soft, which made that question the scariest thing out of his mouth this entire meeting. Hermes faltered.
"Yes, but—"
"You knew not to do that. I forbid having your images recorded by mortals! You broke the law by doing such."
"So punish me. Not Lucy." Hermes met his father's formidable glare with one of his own. "Don't involve her in this."
"It is her fault there is a 'this' to involve her in!"
"Don't say that!" Hermes' eyes flashed. "You don't know that she did this! Does it say anywhere in that article that Lucy was the one to tell that reporter?"
Zeus growled. "Who else would be able to do this? No other mortal has this knowledge to give away!"
"It wasn't her!"
The other gods watched silently as the two warred.
"Hera."
Hera looked down at the low whisper. She smiled.
"Good day, Hestia."
The small goddess did not return the smile. "Indeed, it is not a good day."
Hera's expression turned sardonic. "And what would make you say that, my sister?"
"Our brother is not happy with his favorite son. Such anger at a favored one does not bode well for our family."
"I'm afraid Zeus was never one for controlling his anger."
"Yes, lady, but I fear this is a sign."
"Mm, and what sign would that be?"
The goddess of the hearth looked worried. "Great changes are soon to be made. It will not only affect our family."
Hera sat up straighter, looking curiously at the eldest goddess. "What do you mean, dear sister?"
"I cannot say," the small one said hesitantly, "but I would highly recommend soothing this argument before it tears the family apart."
The queen nodded, contemplating the goddess' warning. "Thank you, Hestia."
She nodded and crept back to her fire, casting nervous looks at the gathering.
"Zeus."
The god looked over at Hera's quiet call. Her eyes spoke meaningfully.
"Perhaps the other gods have something to add."
He gritted his teeth, but made a visible effort to calm. The king turned his gaze to each god in turn.
"Does anyone have opinions on this matter?"
Ares looked mildly irritated. "It sounds like it wouldn't be anyone but the mortal's fault."
Hermes glared at his brother, who shrugged in reply.
"She's a mortal," Athena said slowly. "They are not often known for being the wisest."
Hermes bristled.
"The girl should be given a chance." Dionysus' words surprised everyone except Hermes, who knew his angle. The younger god nodded appreciatively at his older brother, who inclined his head in return.
Artemis nodded. "We should at least talk to her, ask her if she was the one to release the information."
Zeus, contemplating, nodded. "Alright. That at least."
Hermes frowned, but reluctantly agreed. "I suppose. I'll go get her."
"No," Zeus said quickly. "Artemis will."
The two looked surprised, but Artemis stood.
"Yes father." She disappeared swiftly.
"Why?"
Zeus met Hermes' stare without hesitation. "I do not trust you and her alone together anymore. I do not trust that girl anymore, Hermes."
"You accuse too easily, father." The boy's eyes were hard. "What will you say when it is not her?"
"We will never know, I suppose, because she is guilty. Your affections have blinded you, son. You cannot see that you have been tricked."
"Lucy's not like that. I don't care what you say, or what the 'evidence' says. She would not do that." His words were edged with anger and conviction. His father's eyes lit up.
"You are blinded, son! You are not thinking clearly. This is why I did not approve of this…relationship you were indulging in. She's a mortal. You're a god. It is not right."
Hermes glared. "I hate when you say that! Stop saying that. Just because she's a mortal doesn't mean I can't feel for her what Poseidon feels for Amphritrite. What then would you have to say for Dionysus and Ariadne? You fully supported him when he courted her."
"Ariadne, if I'm not mistaken, never revealed that which she was forbidden to." Zeus spoke through gritted teeth.
"She was never forbidden from speaking about the gods!"
"Times have changed since then, Hermes. I cannot allow this breaking of the laws."
"Your prejudice is blinding you, father."
The two gods glared at each other until Artemis returned. She was alone.
The immortals looked at her curiously. She looked nervous.
"I could not find her."
"What do you mean? If she was not at home, look for her somewhere else."
"I did. She wasn't anywhere. I could not find her."
The implications slowly sunk in to the immortals. If the Huntress couldn't find the mortal, something was very wrong. The gods of Olympus exchanged glances, muttering under their breath to each other about the potential causes of this situation.
Zeus' head snapped up to pierce Hermes with a stare. "Where is she, Hermes?"
Hermes looked confused and anxious. "I don't know! I was just there with her!"
"Hermes, if she is in a place where not even Artemis can find her, this does not bode well for her case."
The young god stepped back. "I don't—she wouldn't do this." His voice faltered.
"Hermes, how well do you actually know the girl? How well can you say she wouldn't do this?"
"She wouldn't—I know she wouldn't." Uncertainty muddled his words.
Zeus advanced on his son. "Can you guarantee she wouldn't do this?"
"I—Father, I…"
"How well do you know her?"
Hermes opened his mouth, but could say nothing. He hung his head.
"Lord Zeus!" One of Hermes' assistants appeared in the Hall. She sprinted forward with grace that, had the situation been different, Hermes would have applauded. As it was, Hermes had stumbled back into his throne, staring in confusion and doubt at his hands. He didn't look up.
"What is it?" The god looked intimidating in his anger, but that didn't slow the nymph's progress.
"Lord Zeus, you must see this."
She bowed, offering a small stack of clippings. Zeus read them quickly, his face growing paler by each word.
"This…" The king was at a loss for words. He held the papers up. Immortals stepped forward to collect them, reading and staring in horror at each other.
Each clipping told the same story, in different fonts, different newspapers, different reporters. Someone was telling the world about the gods. And the world was listening.
The latest gossip spreading around the Big Apple isn't what you'd normally expect from serious New Yorkers.
Ever since the Museum of Modern Art's Classical Exhibit, rumors have surfaced about a disturbing theory.
Scientists have begun to examine statues of ancient Greek gods and attempting to match them using facial recognition software to photos of people.
A curious new tale has entered the news stream and is gaining popularity.
A young artist from the Museum of Modern Art, where this story originated, gave an interview this afternoon to talk more about her interesting experience.
The nymph saw Zeus' expression and slowly backed away. She glanced quickly at her master, but he didn't move. She spun and dashed down the Hall, disappearing without another word.
The other immortals watched their king warily as he slowly turned to face his son.
"This is serious."
Hermes looked up hesitantly.
"We need to find this girl before she causes any more trouble."
Hermes frowned, but didn't respond. Hera looked from the young god to the elder. The boy had succumbed to doubt, and her husband was about to win the argument. That was not have supposed to happen, and any other time Hera would have intervened. But when it came to the protection of her family, Hera was a goddess that lived up to her title. She leaned forward in her seat, making just enough noise for every head to seek the queen's eyes. Her stately figure commanded attention. Her lips opened.
"Start a search. The girl must be found."
Immortals fled in all directions, beams of light igniting the air and vanishing just as fast. The mortal world filled with gods and goddess searching for the one mortal that would not be found. Hermes slowly stood and walked out of the Hall, wandering into Olympus. Hera and Zeus glanced at each other, but did nothing to stop the god.
Hestia watched the frantic developments with concern. She remained at her perch by the hearth. Knowledge of events that the Olympian gods were ignorant of clouded her mind with worry. They knew something bad was happening, yes. But they had no idea the extent of what they were about to be thrown into.
What do you think will happen? Will they find Lucy? What's going on?