Finally.
“Athena, please proceed with the names of the mortals you found interesting,” Zeus finally said once his wife left the room, his expression contorting with boredom and a subtle, scarcely visible flicker of interest.
“Draven Moore, Zachary and Nicolas Jenkins, Yvonne Torres, and Verena Sloane.” Athena listed each error as though she had rehearsed their names to ensure her presentation would be impeccable and beyond reproach. “These competitors do not appear to be intimidated by death.”
“Indeed, we shall keep a close watch on them,” Zeus replied, his tone betraying his indifference.
It was unlikely he’d remain engrossed in the subject, as he didn’t care about the errors. Zeus only wanted to portray a king who was involved in everything, no matter how futile or tedious the task. Yet, those who truly understood him recognized he was detached from such topics.
Congratulations, esteemed king.
With a furrowed brow, Zeus remained fixed on his bracelet, seemingly engaged in an internal dialogue. With sharp and unrelenting intensity, Hades’ pitch black eyes locked on Zeus, creating a sensation as if he was desperately attempting to pull him back from the concealed depths of his mind.
With a swift movement, Zeus relaxed in the chair and looked to the ceiling, taking in the details of the murals that covered it.
The gods, seeming to disregard their king’s altered mood, chattered about several subjects, ultimately making the atmosphere feel strained with tension. Shadow intuitively sensed the facade and understood it was a calculated effort to obscure the true nature of the situation.
What are you all hiding from each other?
Positioned in the right corner of the table, Dionysus and Apollo were seated beside Demeter, the only goddess who did not appear to be pleased with the interaction between her divine counterparts. The two men exchanged heated words near Demeter, whose jaw clenched and face burned with resentment.
Shadow almost felt sorry for the goddess. Ever since she lost contact with her only child, she hasn’t been herself. Her transformation was clear to all, yet no one felt bold enough to address it directly. Her remorse was so profound that the mere thought of discussing her actions was unbearable, a sentiment too heavy even for the gods to countenance.
He moved his attention to the middle of the table, where Athena was trying to explain to her brother, Ares, the strategy the contestants could use during the first trial.
With a slow blink and a barely-there scowl, Ares slouched in his seat and offered her a grunt instead of an answer.
“Do you ever stop being boring or is it a continuous thing for you? Athena, nobody is concerned with such complex strategies during a trial,” he said, both annoyed and amused by his sister. “In this situation, they are only interested in winning, not in how to do it.”
Athena let out a laugh as she placed her golden pen on the table.
“That is precisely why you are the best soldier and war captain, and I am the strategist.”
“Nonsense,” he added, his brows knitted faintly as he breathed out through his nose.
Predictable discussion between the Gods of war, indeed. Not interesting at all.
“Speak.” Hades’ voice directed Shadow’s interest toward him.
A true friend, indeed.
Since he realized that something was amiss with his friend, he kept him within his sight. Attempting to read every expression etched on his face, Shadow searched for a genuine understanding of the emotions concealed beneath the various facades Zeus had constructed.
“Later,” Zeus answered, his expression not faltering as he blinked with deliberate, slow movements. He leaned back in his chair and waved his hand in the air.
The God of the Underworld, Death, and the Lord of the Dead demanding the god of them all to speak? There must be something interesting there.
Speaking his own mind made him susceptible to vulnerability, and Zeus was incapable of accepting vulnerability,Shadow thought, continuing to analyze the gods.
“What is the subject you wish to discuss?” Eros intervened, prying into their conversation.
Eros cast a quick glance at the two men; his lips pressed into a firm line. There was a shift in the atmosphere, intensified by their exchanged glances.
Are they up to something without the other gods’ knowledge?The question rose inside Shadow’s void.
The two gods eyed him, with Hades’ stare not betraying any emotion, while Zeus’s was indeed betraying many. As he positioned the crown atop his head with his long, chiseled fingers, a venomous smile slowly formed on his lips.
“Curious little bird,” Zeus snarled, his voice dropping so low that one would have to watch his mouth to comprehend the words. “You must be patient. You will be informed shortly after this meeting.”
