Ode to the Queen (16 page)

“But when the Moirai cut the lines of life they cannot be altered.” Renae spoke up again, questioning Atlas.

“This is true.”

“Then how can you alter the course of this line?”

He was silent for some time, mulling over his answer. Everyone in the group looked worried, wondering what this prophecy might entail but none of us wanting to actually know. I, for one, knew how Oedipus ended and knowing the prophecy hadn’t helped him. Perhaps it would be better just to carry on blindly, it might be our only way of skirting fate.

“Alright, most of you have at some point by now experienced the small burst of powers you’ve been given by your Gods.” Atlas broke the silence once more, totally changing the topic and leaving the conversation dead in the air. “Now I want you to take some time and channel that energy again and try to compel something in the room to move. Everyone should have this basic power, as it is simply a channeling of emotions, compressing it into the object of your desire and pushing it with the charge that should build from how you’re feeling. Of course this works best with strong emotions like love or hate but if you can’t conjure ideas of that right now you can also use lesser emotions and still be able to move something. But don’t aim for something big.”

Everyone separated into groups and I wanted to go over to Aidan and talk about this prophecy. Before I could even go anywhere Griffin had moved over to me, stopping at my side.

“Hi, Savannah.” His voice alone managed to send shivers up and down my spine, causing me to freeze on the spot like a deer in the headlights. “Listen… I’m really…” He didn’t even have long enough to finish his sentence because before I knew it Zane and Royce were at my side.

“Move on freak, she’s not interested.” Griffin looked absolutely terrified for a second before there was something akin to anger, which flashed across his face. It took him another few seconds before he turned and moved away from us. Royce reached out, lightly touching my elbow.

“You okay?” He asked kindly. I turned to face him.

“Uh… Yeah.” I managed weakly, giving him a shy kind of smile before looking from him to Zane. “How did you guys know?”

Royce shrugged, looking for the words he needed to explain before he simply said: “I guess I felt it.”

Hera and Hephaestus must have been a lot closer than I had first assumed. I was sure from all the mythology they would have a tense relationship but mother and son, that was quite a strong bond.

“Well, thank you. I appreciate it.” I smiled at him before nodding at Zane. “I’m Savannah.” He took my hand somewhat bewilderedly and shook it after a moment of holding onto it unnecessarily long.

“Zane.” I looked back at Royce and decided that even if he had left me in the jaws of Charlotte earlier I could forgive him for being helpful today. Maybe he just wasn’t strong enough to go against the crowd, or at least against Charlotte. Could I blame him? I wouldn’t want to if she weren’t already pitting me against her.

“Well, we’re going to get back to practicing.” Royce nodded over to where a few other of the Olympians were trying to channel their love or hate and I smiled.

“Yeah, of course. See you later.” I was sad to see them go, some part of me hoped that for once someone might actually stay instead of feeling pressured to remain visibly neutral.

But I couldn’t blame them for it; Charlotte had twisted all the people in here in order to get her own way. They were scared. That, if nothing else, made me want to reveal to everyone exactly the kind of person she was.

I was still smiling as they walked away and my eyes glanced over at Aidan, who was furiously concentrating on a chair in front of him. I figured he might be channeling something of what we'd been feeling the night before but from the look of intense concentration and the furrow between his eyebrows I thought better of it. Going over, I gently touched the small of his back to tell him I was there.

"Go away Savannah." He said simply, surprising me considering the conversation we'd had the night before. The shock was evident on my face as my jaw slackened slightly and I tried to understand what I had done wrong. As far as I saw it he'd been the one to walk off on me this morning and leave me to arrive late to this "training”.

"What-" I resisted the urge to jump on the defensive as I was so prone to do and bit my lip as I sought to understand him. He still hadn't turned to even look at me. In fact, he seemed to be actively avoiding looking me in the eye so I took this as an opportunity to be annoying by stepping in front of him and pulling the chair out of his eye sight.

"I don’t get it Aidan... Last night, we-“ I frowned to myself, unsure of what I actually wanted to admit. If our conversation had meant so much more to me did I really want to give him that kind of ammunition? So I shook my head: “I just thought maybe we could be friends now. Or at least friendly to each other.” He turned, looking at me with such an unnerving look of hatred that I stepped back in surprise. I definitely hadn’t done anything to deserve
that
kind of animosity.

"You thought wrong okay, Queenie? Haven't you gotten it yet that I'm in it for me and no one else? Why would you ever believe anything that came out of my mouth when I was drunk? Are you really that stupid and naive?"

I was stunned at what he was saying but I wasn't just going to let him ruin our evening so easily.

"I think you're just too afraid to be open and vulnerable with someone. What happened last night frightened you, so like the coward you are you're being an asshole and pushing yet another person away from you." I'd subconsciously leaned in closer to him so only he could hear what I was saying to him.

I could see his jaw tighten and the words that would come as a backlash to my own on the tip of his tongue. Charlotte suddenly appeared at our sides and slipped an arm through Aidan's. My face must have screwed up in displeasure because Charlotte simply smirked at me, revelling in pleasure that she'd managed to piss me off.

But what she didn't know was that I was mad at Aidan for being a coward again and not putting her in her place.

"Run along Savannah. No one wants you here." Aidan didn't say anything else, no doubt, because he felt the same, but for different reasons.

"On the contrary..." I said simply, shooting a knowing look at her arm laced through his.

Charlotte sneered slightly and took this moment to rebut rather petulantly: "at least I have someone who wants to put his arm around me. I don't take up space in beds and between legs unlike some people." She smirked, pleased with herself.  As much as it stung to hear her say it, true or not, I told myself I couldn't let it get me down because I had ammunition she didn't.

"Funny that..." I began, "seems more like a case of pot calling the kettle black to me. Or should I elaborate?
Virgin Goddess of wisdom
?"  She scoffed and had the audacity to wave a hand at me like I was a fly she was trying to swat.

"Second chances and what not Savannah... I mean I don't recall mythologies about Hera being a whore, right?"

My jaw tightened and I could feel the words crawling up my throat ready to be launched at her in a full frontal assault. Maybe it would've been just a verbal assault too if she hadn't kept going and pushing the topic more and more.

"I heard rumours you've slept with dozens of men. Nicola and Hunter went through the images a couple days ago so I don't know for certain. But really Savannah, don't you have the slightest inkling of self-respect? You could be so much better than a stereotypical piece of trailer trash with daddy issues. How old were you when he left? Three? They saw those images too, standing on the pavement crying as the car drove away. He didn't care about you, did he? Didn't even look back or call or ever care no matter how hard you tried? And you do try hard; it's actually so pathetic how much effort you put into what is so effortless for the rest of us. Atlas really screwed up when he brought you here..."

She went on and on, echoing the thoughts that went through my head all the time and I had to wonder how she knew. She said there were images but I have no idea what those were and if they were real... I knew she could manipulate my thoughts so could she hear them and just pretended that Hunter and Nicola had told her? Could she hear me now? Probably not over her long winded speech...

Before I knew it the anger came out of nowhere like a wave slipping over me and she went flying across the room. Her back slammed up against the wall a good meter from the floor and my mind had her pinned there. I didn't know how I had such power but it seemed to just be flowing through me and I loved every second of it.

No longer focusing on shutting her up, I stormed toward where she remained firmly held on the wall and glared at her.

"I might be all those things and more but at least I'm not a conniving bitch who manipulates everyone around her to get her way. At least when I have friends I don't use them and treat them like servants. You think you're better suited to be Queen compared to me... But you're just a spoiled little bitch with a silver spoon up her ass that everyone follows because they fear you. Look around: no one here likes you. Not even your "boyfriend" who told me he only slept with you so he could have dibs on your virgini-"

Before I could finish my sentence someone grabbed my shoulders and Charlotte dropped to the ground like a rag doll.

"Enough." Aidan's voice was silky smooth in my ear and something told me by the sound of his voice he wasn't angry with me for what I'd done.

I turned to face him, "enough?" I said incredulously. "You forced me to this point. After everything that happened last night, you come in here and pretend like I did something wrong. Standing there while she said all those things and then tell
me
enough? She deserves that and more!" I turned to look at Charlotte who was being helped up by Briar.

“She deserves to look exactly on the outside, the way she does on the inside." The words came out of nowhere but it seemed to do the trick. Before our eyes Charlotte's hair began to fall out in patches, her skin sunk into her face and the flesh started to rot. The smell emulating off of her was disgusting and even Briar, in all her sweetness, shied away from her unable to stand it.

Charlotte's eyes remained the same dark brown they had been but in them reflected the horror and the panic that no doubt gripped her as she

realised what I'd done.

No one said anything as we watched her and then she turned, running for the door and leaving us all there surprised - even me.

"How'd...?" Someone said, snapping the room out of its haze and we all looked around. Or, they all looked around at me. I felt bad, of course, but after what she'd done to me I felt justified for a reason.

Atlas moved toward us and I wasn't sure if he was proud or mad.

"Well, if you were wondering why I chose you for Hera... That is your answer there." He said simply to me, under his breath so no one else heard.

"But!" He said loudly, turning so the others could see him. "Fighting amongst yourselves will not be tolerated from anyone. Especially now that you've all seen how powerful your magic is. You need to all learn to put petty differences behind you and move forward as a team. There must be unity between you because it was animosity between the Gods that led to problems last time. You have your first open court in two days so you have two days to figure out all your issues and work together. Everyone."

He paused to take in his captivated audience before nodding, "well... That's it for today. You can all go and practice on your own time. Don't forget, open court in two days..."

Everyone started moving for the door and I stayed where I was for a moment having expected repercussions for my outburst. But when Atlas didn't say anything I started to make my way to the door.

"Savannah, Aidan... Please stay behind." I turned back around, not at all impressed that he'd asked for Aidan as well. Crossing my arms I was determined to give Atlas my best defiant face so he knew exactly how I felt. But he didn't care; he hardly looked at me just as Aidan hadn't earlier. Was I growing invisible?

"Aidan you cannot encourage her. No matter how bemused he is by her, you must learn to control yourself and him in those situations or you do risk a civil war amongst the Gods." What was he talking about? Aidan hadn't helped me; he'd stopped me right when the going was getting good.

Aidan shrugged and crossed his arms similar to me and Atlas sighed. "I guess I should be happy they’re working together but you two cannot go round pinning other Gods to walls like posters."

Aidan snorted just as I countered, "She deserved it. I'm so sick of her thinking she's so high and mighty and better than me." I said, dropping my arms exasperatedly. "She needed to remember who the real Queen was so I reminded her." I stuck my chin out as a sign that I was sticking to my guns and Aidan laughed softly beside me.

"Didn't I tell you Blondie that I get to choose who is my Queen?" I turned and looked at him, my mouth slacking in shock.

"Even after that show you're still questioning who deserves to be the right hand consort to the King of the Heavens. Especially when Atlas was giving you credit you didn't deserve. That was all me but I didn't say anything-"

"That wasn't all you." Atlas said simply, nodding at Aidan as I turned to him in confusion. "The two of you, because of who your Gods are, are stronger together. You feed off each other’s emotions and both of you were mad enough to channel the power it took to do that to Charlotte.”

"No. That was Savannah." Aidan said unconvincingly. Had it really been the combination of our powers that had thrown Charlotte against the wall? I stared at him for a moment incredulously; realising that yes, yes it had been. Great, he'd come to my aid once more after telling me I had to stop being useless and defend myself. It felt like every time I tried he was there to step in and do it for me.

"Thanks Prince Charming." I said dryly, "was my “what you are on the inside” spell at least my own?" It wasn't exactly something I wanted to be proud of but I didn't want Aidan to take all the credit.

"Oh yes, that was all you. Or Hera should I say. Only she would conjure such a spell. Which is probably why Zeus, Aidan, finally stepped in and drew a line. He finds his wife's jealousy amusing for only so long."

"This wasn't jealousy." Aidan said before I could. "I could feel what she was feeling and it wasn't jealousy. Charlotte abused her powers too; by looming into Savannah's mind and prying where she wasn't welcome she used that information to hurt her. Whether Zeus agrees or not, Charlotte got what she deserved."

I was amazed as I turned to look at Aidan. What did it matter to him if what Charlotte had said hurt me? He hadn’t cared a moment ago. And not to mention he'd been trying so hard not to get emotionally involved, that sounded more involved then anything else he'd ever said. I couldn’t keep up with which side of the argument Aidan was on. He was as hot and cold as I felt some days.

"Yes well, I will be talking to Charlotte too about her power. So don't you worry I just thought it might be a bit overwhelming for her if I address that now while she's so... Well, I'm going to have to go correct that if I can."

"Who cares?” I said simply, rolling my eyes. Aidan snorted again and shook his head beside me.

"Can we go now?" Atlas took a moment to stare long and hard at Aidan and I before he nodded and freed us from his custody. I wondered what he was thinking as he stood there, an air of interest hanging between the three of us. Atlas, no doubt, saw something else when he looked at us having once known our former selves. If he knew something that could help, especially what with this prophecy why couldn’t he tell us?

As soon as Atlas nodded, however, Aidan was back to his old self, bee lining for the door and leaving me behind. I was so sick of his hot and cold temperament and how he strung me along, he just needed to pick one and stop confusing me.

It took my body a few seconds to catch up with my mind and I went running after Aidan, not entirely sure what exactly I wanted to say. Part of me wanted to yell at him for being a hypocrite and another part of me wanted to thank him. Like anything that ever came with being around Aidan I just had to wait and see.

Rushing for the door I pushed it open behind him and went out into the hall.

"Wait a minute." I said, reaching out and grabbing him by the elbow. "You need to stop this. I'm so sick of thinking one thing only for you to turn around and do the opposite. I told you how confused I was already just because of how Hera messes with my head with the way she reacts to things, so you can't keep doing this to me. Either you care or you don't. It's simple. I told you I care, so which is it?"

Aidan had stopped but he didn't say anything. He just stood there in silence like he was so prone to do. I wasn't going to let go without him actually replying to me for once so either he was going to speak or he was going to end up having me follow him all over the place.

He seemed to hate the fact that I had backed him into a corner, even if he did care – which I suspected he did – he wasn’t the kind of person who went around declaring it. Between the two of us I wore my heart on my sleeve while he built walls around his and other sensitive emotions to protect himself. What could’ve possibly happened to him to make him hate the idea of love this much?

"Why would what I'm thinking or doing ever have any influence on you?" He said calmly, his ice blue eyes glancing down at me.

"You know why Aidan." I said quietly. No matter if our Gods were husband and wife, no matter if they screwed with our emotions and made us help each other magically... It mattered to me what he did because I did care about him. And I wanted him to care about me; if only so I could show him it was okay to let people in. Not everyone was going to hurt you – it was a lesson I wanted to prove to myself as well.