Chapter 26

Hand in hand they walked through the gates of Olympus. It sure felt like the gates of hell but Harry hadn't asked Louis what those gates were like, so he could really only guess at this point.

Without speaking Harry guided them down corridors, through ballrooms, past parties, and finally to one large assembly hall. There, sitting at the front of the room, sat some of the oldest of the gods. Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera and Demeter. Some lesser gods were also there, conversing calmly and drinking a mysterious golden liquid that was probably intoxicating to them in some form or another.

Harry hesitated. Maybe he should leave. Maybe he could avoid all of this, he and Louis could just run away. Live anywhere they wanted. No one needed to know who they were or where they were from. Even as the thought crossed his mind Harry knew the truth. The gods would find them anywhere they went. It wasn't fair and it wasn't right and Harry felt a new anger building behind his ribs.

"Are you here for an audience with the gods Harry?" Zeus had finally noticed them. He'd always been kind to Harry. He knew him well. But Zeus seemed surprised to find a son of Aphrodite at the entrance to his audience chamber, hand in hand with a demon.

"You've got this." Louis whispered and nudged him forward. "I'm with you. Every step of the way."

"Yes. I've come to, uh, speak with the gods regarding a deal that was previously made. The one that I made. Before I set out on my quest." Harry was squeezing Louis' hand so hard his knuckles were white. There was confused silence. Some laughter even at this man who stood before the gods.

"What is it you have to say Harry?" Hera kindly urged him to speak more. He didn't know if he could do it.

At that moment the doors behind them swung open, crashing back against the walls and Artemis walked in, dark hair flowing back with her purple robes as she stormed the proverbial castle of the gods. There was nothing calm, or temperate about her. Not like the times Harry and Louis had spoken with her before. Now she was all virtuous rage. She stopped just in front of the two lovers and bowed her head the slightest bit in reverence to the gods before her.

"I, Artemis, goddess of the hunt and protectress of mortals, am here to speak on behalf of these two men. I, Eleuthera goddess of liberty, am here to safeguard the pure in heart who stand before you."

Harry wasn't totally sure what this would mean but he did hear Louis sigh in relief, so it couldn't have been a terrible thing for them.

"Thank you daughter," Zeus acknowledged his offspring and turned to Harry. "Now, let us hear what it is my daughter has come to defend. Tell us Harry, son of Aphrodite, why you would come to break your vow to her brother, Apollo." Zeus sat in a gilded thoan that seemed to have just been brought to him. And he waited.

Harry didn't know where to begin. These were the people Harry had always known. Would they care that he had fallen in love? Would they find his seemingly sudden love and affection for mortals suspicious? Would they punish his family for some reason? Could he keep Gemma safe? And what about Louis? Oh, how he needed to keep Louis in his life.

"I would like freedom." The audible gasp in the audience chamber made Louis chuckle, but Harry could tell he was trying to remain inconspicuous. "Zeus, I have always loved living on Mount Olympus. This has always been where my friends, and family" he motioned to his mother who stood quietly behind the other gods. "I always thought I would be happy here. But I wasn't. I started to feel lonely. And unfulfilled. When Apollo suggested that I join him in a visit to a town where he fully intended to, in my opinion, misuse the mortals who would trust him I declined the offer. In retaliation Apollo not only revealed very sensitive and personal information, but he also suggested that I was not worthy to live here, among the gods. Where I have lived my entire life."

Harry paused to breathe. Louis certainly didn't seem to be and they hadn't even gotten to his involvement. Harry could hear the whispers of their gossip-hungry audience. But he didn't care. Because all he could see for a moment was his mother's tear stained face. He was going to break her heart, and they both already knew it.

"I started off with my only intention to find my sister, bring her back with me, and somehow that arbitrary measure was going to prove that I was worthy to live here. With all of you. It would prove that I belonged." Harry took a deep breath before continuing.

"But I'm not sure I do belong here anymore. I met so many incredible people. What you did to Prometheus is high key messed up. And you're so afraid of mortals. I hadn't ever realized that before. But more than that! You're jealous," the immediate uproar shouldn't have surprised Harry. But it kind of did. When the hall finally calmed down he continued to speak.

"You will never have what mortals have. And that hurts. It breaks my heart for you. But I feel lucky. So privileged. Because I have mortal blood running through my veins. So my request? I would like to be mortal. And I'd like to be able to take Louis with me," it was like the world had ended.