“Oh.” Pan blinked and frowned. “Anyway, Chronos has called for a convening of the Council, and that means you, V. We need to get you to Olympus.”
I looked down at my sweats and grimaced.
“Yeah; you might wanna change first,” Pan said with a smirk.
Chapter Forty-Nine
I walked into the Council Temple in the company of my men and Pan. The Intare wasn't happy to be left behind, but I didn't want to look as if I were invading Olympus... again. I was surprised to find the God Squad among the throng of Greek gods in attendance. I left Pan and my guys with the Squad and then strode up the central aisle to the long table at the end of the room. Hades and Persephone were seated at the council table with the other Olympians already, and I went to sit beside Sephy. For some reason, just seeing her made me happy, and I leaned over and hugged her before I got settled.
“So many people have been hugging me today,” Persephone whispered to me with a smile. “It must be my new perfume.”
“I told her it's her unrivaled beauty, but she doesn't believe me,” Hades said as he took Persephone's hand, kissed it, and then lowered their clasped hands into his lap as if loathe to let go of her.
I frowned at that—something tickling my mind—but then Athena started speaking.
“Excellent,” Athena said as she stood. “Now, we are assembled. Chronos, we are honored to have you here with us and eager to hear what you've come to say.”
Chronos—the epitome of Father Time—stepped forward; using a scythe as a walking stick. Behind the old man, Nyx and a god I assumed to be Aion were bound at both wrists and ankles with glimmering chains. Nyx held her head and her dark wings aloft proudly, but Aion looked as if he were about to pee his pants.
“It has been a long time since I stood on Olympus,” Chronos said and then sighed deeply. “Honestly, I wish I weren't here now. But—as I'm sure you've all sensed—there has been a crime committed.”
“Most of us have felt unsettled this morning,” Athena confirmed. “You're saying that it has something to do with Nyx and Aion?”
“I am,” Chronos confirmed. “These two gods have let anger consume them and have committed crimes against their own pantheon, three Olympians, and all of the realms. If we are to keep peace with the other Pantheons and the Fey, we must punish Nyx and Aion. I would have simply killed them, but their actions nearly destroyed Time itself and therefore, their punishment must be public. All of the Gods and the Fey must see that we have delivered justice, or I fear that we will become the target of their vengeance.”
“What exactly are you accusing them of, Chronos?” Athena asked.
“I accuse Nyx of murdering the Olympian, Persephone, and of attacking the Olympian, Hades,” Chronos declared.
The whole temple erupted into horrified and confused shouting. Hades and Persephone glanced at each other in confusion and concern.
“Silence!” Athena shouted.
The Gods quieted.
“Persephone sits right there, Chronos.” Athena waved a hand toward Sephy. “How is it that Nyx has murdered her?”
“Nyx has murdered Persephone not just once, but three times,” Chronos said and then held up a hand to stop Athena's questions. “Let me finish, Olympian.”
Athena bowed her head respectfully.
“Nyx sought to hurt Hades,” Chronos went on. “She knew that the best way to do so would be to kill Persephone. She conspired with Aion—who wanted revenge for his father, Zeus. They decided to alter Time; to change the past so that both Hades and Vervain were hurt. They thought that no one would know of their machinations, but they forgot about my wife and me; Primordials who stand outside the touch of Time and beyond the reach of other gods. We witnessed the whole thing.”
The assembled gods gasped and murmured uneasily. I looked over at Hades, and his dark brows lifted above his sunglasses in shock.
“Their first attempt failed,” Chronos continued. “They went back to a time just before Vervain met the Wolf Prince, Trevor; believing that this was the pivotal moment in the Godhunter's life. They thought that if they could prevent that introduction, Vervain would never become such a powerful force in the God War. So, while Nyx killed Persephone to get her revenge on Hades, Aion convinced the Goddess, Aphrodite, to give up her vendetta against Vervain; thus ensuring that the Froekn would never be sent after the Godhunter, and Trevor would never meet Vervain. But Aion and Nyx underestimated the bond Vervain has with her loved ones. History started to repair itself; drawing the Godhunter back to her destiny, and sending her into Tartarus with Hades, to kill Nyx and avenge Persephone.”
I gaped at Chronos as a strange tingling filled my body. There were flashes of memories gathering around the edges of my mind; I could feel them, but I couldn't see them yet. I glanced at Persephone and saw tears filling her eyes. So, I took her hand—the one Hades wasn't clasping tightly—and squeezed it reassuringly. Honestly, I don't know who I was comforting; her or myself.
“Then they tried again,” Chronos went on. “Aion took Nyx back to an even earlier time, and she murdered Persephone again; using Net to disable the Olympian before beheading her.”
The Greek Gods—most of whom adored Persephone—were becoming more and more inflamed by Chronos' testimony. The mention of the god drug, Net, nearly sent them over the edge, and Athena had to once more call for them to calm themselves.
“Please, continue, Chronos,” Athena said.
“After committing the same murder for the second time, Nyx went to the Norse God, Odin, and, under the guise of friendship, gave him news of his beloved Sabine. Nyx told Odin that she had found his wife's soul in Vervain and then reunited the couple.”
My gaze jerked to Odin, and he stared at me in shock.
