Fire & Flood (Mythverse #1)

Book 3 Chapter 23

23

When I wake up the next morning, I feel like even the weather is being contrary.

It’s a beautiful day. The smell of roasting pork filters across the campus, slipping into the window while I get dressed. The day when my sister's fate is sealed should be gloomy.

Normally my magical uniform makes getting ready easy, but today I have to figure out the best way to hide the small, dense sword. Under my skirt, it hangs at my thigh, so heavy that I have to practice walking, adjusting my gait to allow for its weight.

It reminds me of Mavis trying to teach me how to walk in heels when I was fourteen, me fumbling and falling all over the place, Mavis laughing from her bed, ducking when I finally gave up and threw the shoes at her.

The memory pierces me like a knife.

I shake my head, trying to clear it, just as the sounds of a steel drum band warming up joins the scent of the pork.

“Utter bullshit,” I say under my breath, slamming the window shut.

If it looks like things are going badly for Mavis at the trial, I will announce myself from the crowd, claim my bloodline, and let Zeus know that I’ve got the sword that can bring him down. Hopefully he’ll overlook the fact that without the burn of vengeance in my blood, the sword couldn’t slice an apple, much less a god.

Students are streaming out across the green and I join them, Cassie and Greg at my side, as we all make our way to the amphitheater.

I try to get a moment alone with Cassie to ask if she’s okay, but she deliberately deflects, turning away each time.

“Something’s up with her,” Greg whispers to me. “She came to my room last night all freaked out. And then…” His words trail off, as he blushes bright red.

“And then what?” I demand.

He pulls me in closes and lowers his voice even further. Straining to hear, I lean in more, his lips nearly at my ear as he tells me, “She asked if I was a virgin. And I told her sort of yes, and well, long story short, this morning I am definitely not a virgin anymore.”

I jerk back my eyes wide. Of course, I knew that Cassie and Greg had a thing going on, but what did she see that made her decide to go and jump his bones?

My hands go cold as the only possible answer occurs to me. Cassie’s going to get hurt. Maybe even die today. Oh gods.

Pulling Greg close again, I quickly explain about Cassie’s vision and then my suspicions about what she saw.

He frowns at me when I finish. “You’re kinda guessing a lot there, Edie. Maybe she saw bloodshed in general. You know she still has PTSD from when you and Nico broke her out of prison last summer; it might’ve triggered her.”

“Maybe,” I say doubtfully. I glance over my shoulder where Cassie has fallen behind us. “It felt more specific than that, though. I’m afraid for her.”

Greg nods. “Don’t worry, I’ll watch her.”

“Good.” I squeeze his arm. “And if anything happens, get her to me. I’ll make sure she’s protected.”

“Gods!” Greg glares at me. “She’s my girlfriend. I’ll protect her!”

“This is Cassie’s life we’re talking about. Don’t be stupid,” I shout whisper at him.

“I know you think I’m totally useless, Edie. But I’m not.” And with that, Greg turns on his heel and stalks off in the other direction.

Which means that I enter my sister’s trial alone.

The benches are all full—Mr. Zee has made attendance at the trial mandatory.

Whole pigs are roasting on spits, and we’re all handed leis as we filter into our seats. I pull the flower necklace over my head, wishing this were just one of those trippy dreams I used to have as a kid when my fever got too high. It seems that way. The atmosphere here feels like a carnival mixed with a funeral mixed with...bacon.

I’m already sweating under the cloak, and am glad to sit down. Cassie goes to the front to be seated with the other witnesses, Greg finding a seat in the row behind her. I take a seat next to Jordan and Hepa, who both look at me solemnly. They’re holding hands and Hepa gives me a “I gave in” shrug.

"It will be okay, Edie," Jordan assures me, but he doesn’t sound like he actually believes it. Not even light-hearted Jordan can find the silver lining in this cloud.

Zeus sits on a throne in the middle of the stage, presiding as judge at a trial he cannot be impartial to. He wants Mavis dead, and has made that clear from the beginning. Hades is there and I try not to make eye contact. I don't want to deal with his party bro s**t right now. Themis, Metis, Hermes, and a handful of other gods are on the left side of the stage, and I see the glint of Themis’s scales under her chair when she arranges her robes.

She catches my eye and gives me a nod. Her scales are divinely inspired to weigh the truth. If the monsters don’t make it, we can always ask that the scales decide Mavis’s fate. The downside is that Mavis is a spy; that’s the truth. And she’s done some pretty horrible things in the service of the monsters…like gouging out Nico’s eye.

He’s here, despite being expelled from campus. I expected it, but my stomach still gives a lurch when I see him in the front row, with the other witnesses who will be called. He’s alongside Cassie, and a few other students, most of whom I recognize as shifters from his little army, ones who weren't expelled. Somehow I doubt they’re going to be called as character witnesses.

On the right-hand side of the stage sits the jury, a gathering of Mavis’s peers. They’re all students, a good mix of shifters, healers, and vampires. I don’t know any of them personally, so I have no idea which way the wind is blowing…other than not at all.

Fern joins us, pushing past Jordan and Hepa to squeeze in beside me.

“Watch it,” Hepa says as she scoots down a seat.

Fern ignores her and leans in to whisper, “I've had a message from Marguerite.” Jealousy, then fear flares in me. Val hadn’t sent Kevin to me this morning. Why?

“The rescue is on,” she tells me. “Unless—”

“Fern!” Kratos calls. “Come attend to the prisoner!”

Oh Gods. Unless what!? But I can't ask with Kratos’s eyes on Fern. She shoots me a look then scrambles back past Jordan and Hepa.

I wipe a sheen of sweat from my brow as Themis rises, clearing her throat. “Students of Mount Olympus Academy, we are gathered here today to hear testimony regarding the actions of Mavis Evans, a.k.a. Emmie Jenkins, former student, shifter, and spy.”

“And traitor,” Mr. Zee says, rising to his feet to grip both sides of his throne, his face already flush with ambrosia.

“That’s for the jury to decide,” Themis says easily, waving for Kratos to bring Mavis in.

I haven’t seen her since my visit to the dungeons, and my sister hasn’t improved in the meantime. She holds her head up when she walks onto the stage, but I can tell it takes real effort. She’s tired and underfed, the manacles on her ankles and wrists dragging with every step. The magical collar to prevent her from shifting has worn sore spots on the skin of her neck, some of which ooze blood. Her clothes are a tattered mess, and—judging by the reaction from the front row—she doesn’t smell very good.

But she keeps her head high as she is led to her chair; a plain wooden one next to Zee’s golden throne. Fern stands behind her, ready to attend her if the strain of the trial becomes too much. Fern’s eyes keep flitting to the sky and I can’t help looking up as well, wondering what she’s seeing. But there’s nothing there except a brilliant blue dotted with fluffy white clouds.

Once Mavis is seated Themis explains that she is expected to sit quietly and listen to all the witnesses before being given a chance to speak. Themis doesn’t add “if we get that far,” but I can see her thinking it as she slants a narrow look in Zee’s direction.

He’s already had one outburst. It wouldn’t be surprising at all if he decided to forgo any semblance of a fair trial and simply incinerate my sister with a lightning bolt on the spot. He could. And no one could stop him.

The idea makes my skin prickle, goosebumps breaking out under the sweat. I rub the sword strapped to my leg. I could stop him.

The first person called to testify is Nico.

It’s painful seeing his smug smile as he watches Mavis, while she strains to stay upright in her chair. But it’s even worse when he starts to tell his story of how she took his eye. The worst part is that even though the story is horribly one-sided, painting him as ceaselessly loyal to the gods and Mavis as the conniving backstabber, it’s also clear that Nico believes all of it.

Jordan leans over. “You should have let him die in the desert.” I nod my agreement.

There’s only one moment where I’m reminded of why I once considered Nico a friend.

It’s when Themis asks him, “I believe you once had a romantic relationship with Mavis as well. What did you see in her?”

“Nothing!” Nico insists, his single eye narrowed to a slit. “She tricked me.”

“Yes, that’s well established,” Themis says, her voice lightly mocking. “So she simply played you for the entirety of your relationship as well.”

“No…” Nico pauses, obviously thrown off. Again his eyes go to Mavis, but this time there’s no glee. He stares for a long moment with something almost like heartbreak. “She was smart,” he says at last. “We talked about our families. Although most of what she said was lies—”

“It wasn’t,” Mavis softly protests. She turns to meet Nico’s eyes. “I lied about the details of their lives. But how I felt about them, that was all true.”

The moment stretches out and it feels for a moment like Nico might flip and ask for leniency. But then he jerks his gaze away from Mavis. “Look, it doesn’t matter how I felt about Mavis then. The facts are the facts. Even if she’d given me steak and BJs every day, I would still say she’s a traitor and there’s no need for this trial. Because that’s the truth and it’s all that matters.”

As Nico leans back in his chair, there’s a lot of agreement and whispers from the jury and my stomach drops.

Themis stands then. “Nico, we appreciate your testimony and require no further comments.” She addresses the jury. “I think that the focus of this trial should not be on Mavis’s guilt or innocence. She betrayed the Academy. That is a fact.”

“Then let’s kill her,” Zee yells.

“Yes, kill her!” Hades calls out. “I could use her at UWA!” He takes a big bite of pork.

“No, brother,” Zee wags a finger. “This one gets eternal t*****e. No further schooling parties, or boyfriends. No afterlife.”

“Oooh, torture.” Hades rubs his hands together. “You know I’m up for that, brother.”

Themis closes her eyes, takes a deep breath. “Let’s focus on what an acceptable punishment would be. Does Mavis deserve to have her soul extinguished for her crimes?”

“An eye for an eye!” someone shouts.

“That’s not a bad idea,” Hepa says, her tone thoughtful.

I look at her aghast. Jordan pipes up, “What? Hepa’s right. If she gets off with only having to give up her eye!? That’s, like, best case scenario right now.”

“It’s sad when losing an eye seems like the best option,” I tell them.

Themis calls Cassie to the stand. Cassie looks terrified as she goes up the stairs of the stage, her eyes on Mavis. Mavis gives her a nod.

She’s asked to relay her time as Mavis’s roommate and what her suspicions were. “She was always out late, and hardly ever in bed at night. I thought she was…you know…with Nico or Derrick. It can’t be easy juggling two boys like that. Especially werewolves, who are totally the jealous type.”

“Did you know she was a spy?” Zee asks.

“Well yeah. She was in the spy class,” Cassie says and I hand it to her for her sass.

“For. The. Monsters,” Zee clarifies.

“Did I know that Mavis was a femme fatale double agent? No. I can honestly say I didn’t.”

“Thank you for your testimony,” Themis tells her. “You can leave.”

“No.”

“No?” Zee booms.

“This is quite good fun,” Hades says, chugging another cup of ambrosia.

“I’m not done saying what I have to say,” Cassie explains.

“Then by all means, continue,” Themis allows.

“I don’t think that Mavis should be put to death.” There’s an outraged response, including boos from Hades and a thunderclap from Zee. “No, listen. Maddox Tralano killed a student, murdered her in cold blood, and was banished. Why should Mavis have a harsher treatment? She didn’t even kill Nico. Just took his eye. If anything, she should be stripped of her powers and banished. That’s what makes the most sense.”

My heart is full to bursting as Cassie stands and retakes her seat in the front row.

Zee seems to be considering this, his chin resting in his palm, eyes on Mavis. The mood of the court has shifted; earlier he could have smote her where she stood and even asked for a drumroll without much pushback from the crowd.

But after hearing Cassie’s testimony, it’s clear that the pendulum has swung in the other direction. The jury might not vote for death, even though Zee has made it no secret it’s what he wants.

The suggestion that Mavis be given the same punishment as Maddox is a good one. Mavis will never be seen again, an embarrassment that will fade with time. Being stripped of the ability to shift is a horrible thought for most shifters…almost worse than death. It means living life as a human, which to many of them is inconceivable. Any holdouts among Nico’s friends would definitely think Mavis had suffered enough, and those who take her side won’t be enraged by her death.

It’s a master stroke. Everyone wins. For once.

“Please,” I say under my breath, fingers clenched on my sword hilt at my thigh, eyes locked on Zeus. “Please do the smart thing.”

A shadow passes over the amphitheater, and the rush of wings fills the air as a Stymphalian bird swoops low, landing on an arm of Mr. Zee’s throne. He gives it an inquisitive look, and it c***s its head back at him, in perfect mimicry. The bird opens its mouth and Val’s voice comes out.

“Narcissistic asshole says what?” Kevin asks.

“What?” Mr. Zee says.

And then all hell breaks loose.