Athena walked towards the commotion, and casually placed herself on a nearby chair.
Poseidon gawked at her.
Athena shrugged.
Zeus looked around him. He spotted Dionysus out of the corner of his eye, holding a cup of juice and seeming like he had not a care in the world. Zeus snapped his fingers at Dionysus. The purple-haired boy looked up. He smiled. This was going to be the best moment at this party.
Medusa was scanning the room when she noticed that Poseidon was staring at something behind her. She spun around, and her gaze landed on Athena. The silver-haired girl looked up, and Medusa met her grey eyes with her green ones.
Things are getting interesting. Athena thought, as she watched the events of the party unfold before her through a magical orb in the Athenaeum. Perhaps in this life, things would go differently. I didn't give Medusa a chance, but maybe you will. Athena turned away from the magic orb, walking deeper into the Athenaeum. An endless, infinite realm, devoid of all life and emotion. Just like this crumbling heart of mine. Athena glanced back at her young reincarnation, braving the fate that was decided for her thousands of years ago. She vowed to help this innocent, young girl achieve the happy ending she could never have and never deserved.
Athena was observing Medusa, when she noticed Dionysus stand up straight and walk towards them. She spotted Zeus' telltale mischievous smile crawl onto his face. Suddenly, Dionysus slipped and tumbled forward, spilling his drink all over Medusa.
The crowd gasped.
Medusa was drenched. Her hair fell in heavy, wet chunks down her back. Her dress was sopping wet, and she was dripping juice all over the floor. Medusa fell to her knees.
"I'm so sorry, are you okay?" Dionysus said, reaching out a hand to help Medusa up.
Athena slapped his hand away, and glared at him.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Feisty." He said, backing away into the crowd, disappearing completely.
Poseidon was stunned. What was he supposed to do in this situation? A voice resounded through his head. Help her. Help her, you dimwit! Poseidon frantically looked around the room. Who said that? But the voice was gone, as if it had never been there.
Meanwhile, Metis was waving goodbye to her colleagues at the aquarium. She looked up at the sky. Life was so peaceful. Suddenly, an image flashed through her head. Something was wrong. Something had happened to Athena. Something that was going to change the predestined way of the world. No. No, this can't be possible. No awakening should happen this early. Metis shook herself, and rushed home.
Medusa stood up. Tears fell from her face, dropping onto the floor. She turned and ran out of the room.
Athena tried following after the distressed girl, but was suddenly hit with a terrible headache. She rubbed her forehead, and tried to reach the wall for support, but she stumbled and fell backwards. Fortunately, a pair of strong arms caught her, and gently held her up.
"Are you okay?" Poseidon asked, tucking a few loose strands of hair behind Athena's ear.
"I'm fine." Athena tried to stand up, but her legs were suddenly to weak to hold her up. She fainted in Poseidon's arms.
Poseidon scrambled to support Athena's limp body. When he finally managed to set her on a chair, he looked up to find Zeus giving him a knowing smile. Somehow, his friend had shooed off the rest of the crowd, except for Hades, Zeus, Persephone, and himself.
"Um, I'll be going now. Bye Hades!" Persephone intuitively removed herself from the room.
Now it was just the trio still standing in the room.
"I didn't know you had a thing for my cousin, Poseidon." Zeus said.
"You did." Zeus stepped on Hades' foot.
You did. Well at least I did, for the past thousands of years. It was the voice again. That voice capable of appearing and disappearing anywhere, anytime.
"Iolo and Nike will be here pretty soon. We should leave." Hades nudged Zeus.
"Fine," Zeus turned away from Poseidon. "Just don't get too wrapped up in anything too big."
Zeus and Hades left.
Gods, that was stressful. You almost blew my cover, you little dimwit.
Poseidon looked up. A young man with long, ocean-blue hair, and eyes like the unknown depths of the seas had appeared in front of him out of nowhere. He was also floating, which was strange. Poseidon looked at this person. That was when he realized that he was the splitting image of himself.
I'm Poseidon, god of the sea.
"How did you know I was going to-"
You get used to predicting the things mortals will ask when you hang out with the smartest goddess on Olympus all the time.
Poseidon made a face at this clearly hotter and sexier version of himself. "Who?"
Hot Poseidon gawked at not-so-hot Poseidon.
I can't believe what the world has become today. Does nobody know anything about the great tales of Greek Mythology? The legendary tales of old?
"Shhh! What if someone hears you?"
I speak only in your mind. No other mortal can hear me.
"Then would you care to explain how it could possibly be that I can hear and see you?"
Both Poseidons spun to face...another mortal.
How?! A simple mortal-
"-should not be able to hear the words spoken by a god."
What? Who-
"I'm Iolo. Nice to meet you, oh Poseidon, god of the sea." Iolo said.
How are you-
"-predicting what you're going to say? Like you said, you get used to predicting the things gods will ask when you hang out with smartest girl at Olympus Academy all the time."
Athena. She's that one, isn't she?
Hot Poseidon pointed at Athena, who was crumpled on a chair.
Not-so-hot Poseidon and Iolo both nodded.
That still doesn't explain why you can see me.
"Let's just say that I never died during the battle of Olympus."