Percy couldn't help but feel confused, she waited for someone to say something along the lines of 'April fools' or 'We're just joking kid, damn we got you good'. But it never come. Percy glanced around at the faces which stared at her.
"This is a joke, right? Guys, who ever said was clearly wrong, this isn't funny."
Percy gazed around the room, but no one met her eyes, no one spoke. Slowly, a feeling of dread began to wash over her. It wasn't a joke, it wasn't a prank everyone was playing on her...they really thought she'd committed treason against them.
"I didn't."
Percy finally spoke, regaining her composure, eyes unfaltering as she gazed toward the king god.
"I never had thought to commit treason to begin with."
"Atlanta Bythesea provided evidence proving your guilt."
Zeus stared down coldly as he answered.
'Atlanta?'
Percy took a quick, barley noticeable glance towards the mentioned demigod. The person stood in a third crowd, a small group of people being the unclaimed demigods. The person who she had saved not long ago.
"And what evidence did she provide, may I ask."
"She found blue prints and papers which proved your guilt. She herself acts witness to several times within the past months that you have contacted and spoken with enemies."
Athena was the one who spoke and Percy couldn't help but be dumbfounded. Monsters would gave killed her before she even had a chance to propose alliance to destroy olympus. And any immortal that may actually have been a threat were dead, who could she have possibly contacted?
Percy wanted to voice out her thought, but something stopped her, something in the back of her mind told her that this was for the best.
Whatever happened, happened.
If they didn't trust her enough to believe she wouldn't commit treason, then so be it. If they didn't believe in her, if they thought so low of her then what was she to do about it?
Percy sucked in a breath and spoke while continuing to gaze towards the gods.
"And so, what will you do?"
The way her words had been phrased were almost as though she had betrayed them. Percy was sure that it did not do much to convince them otherwise, but she couldn't bring bring herself to care.
Zeus smirked before answering.
"We will take a vote, all those who believe Persephone's innocence, raise your hands."
Immediately, the hands of Hestia and Hades rose up.
"I would like to remain neutral within this."
"Same."
Percy's gaze turned toward Apollo and Aphrodite, undoubtedly surprised by their decision to remain neutral.
Zeus nodded at their decision and spoke again.
"Those who believe her guilt, raise your hands."
The remainder of the council raised their hands and Percy stared toward her father, hurt and disappointed. Could he truly believe that his child would commit treason?
"I thought you were my father."
Percy spoke, staring toward Poseidon. The sea god however, refused to meet her gaze. Percy clenched her jaw and suppressed the emotions which welled up in her throat.
"Persephone Jackson, from this moment onwards, you are banished from the roman and greek camps as well as the place of the hunters and amazons. If you are to near any of these places, I will kill you where you stand. You have until midnight to take your things and leave."
Zeus glared down at Percy who did not seem the least bit fazed.
-Pitiful child, thou hast suffered much haven't thou?
Percy froze, surprised by the voice which sounded in her head.
"Who's there?"
-Do not be afeard, I mean no harm
Suddenly, a light formed before her. a bright and warm and Percy felt her chest warm at the particular presence. The light took a humanoid from and as it faded, it left behind a man.
The man's hair was black, hosting few strands of white within them and his pupils and irises were indistinguishable when compared with each other. His skin was like porcelain, flawless and smooth and his features were defined and sharp and his face held plenty of smile lines. The man looked to be in his late 30s to early 40s at best, but his eyes were deeper, older, wiser.
The man was powerful, Percy could easily understand. The man's aura made the gods seem lesser than dust in comparison.
His smile was warm and genuine and Percy felt as though she could trust him, but she was still wary.
"Who are you?"
The man was nothing like those who she had seen before, his didn't resemble and immortal who she had come across and so, she was unable to place a name to him.
"I am Void."
The man, Void, must have known what she would ask because he smiled and continued to speak as though answering her unasked question.
"I choose thou, I hast chosen thou. I chose thou ere the existence of the universe. I might not but be certain that thou are the one I was truely after."
"Pardon?"
Percy couldn't help but feel confused, she had picked up on some old english while with Zoe Nightshade, a hunter of Artemis during their quest to save the goddess but she didn't understand half of what she had been told just now.
"I choose you, I have chosen you. I chose you before the existence of the universe. I must be certain that you are the one I am truely after."
Void repeated himself, having seemingly fixed his english and as he did, he reached his hand and touched Percy's forehead. As the man's fingers brushed her skin, a small glow illuminated and a 4 pointed star took form, the star was silver in colour and didn't last long before it sunk back into her skin.