Beyond the Entwash

but I have to go to bed. DAMMIT. DAMMIT! GOSH DOUBLE DARNIT!

Tomorrow is my last day of work before Thanksgiving break, though. I’LL BREAK 50K TOMORROW. OMG. I’M SO CLOSE! Less than 3K away! :D

AND NOW BECAUSE I’M SO HAPPY. AN EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT. EVEN THOUGH IT SUCKS.

“What happened?” Poseidon demanded as the others returned.

“He was struck down, by her,” Eros said, directing them toward the young woman Prometheus had restrained. She struggled against the Titan’s grasp, but he was unwilling to let her go.

“She snuck up behind him and stabbed him,” Athena said, snatching the blade from the young woman’s hand. “With this.” She cast it down and turned on the young girl, looking her directly in the eyes. “Who are you? And why have you sided with Hera?”

“Hera only wants what’s best for Olympus! Zeus was no longer fit to rule!” The girl spat back, and Poseidon’s ears perked.

“I know that voice,” he said, walking closer to her. “Her name is Clymene. She is a nymph from Atlantica and…” he trailed off and Athena turned toward him, anger flashing in her eyes.

“And?” she pressed.

“And your sister,” Poseidon said. She turned back toward the nymph, unable to grasp what she heard.

“You… you struck down your own father?” Unable to contain her anger, she slapped the nymph before grasping her dress and yanking her out of Prometheus’ grasp. “What is wrong with you?” She slapped her again and gave her body a shake. “How could you turn against your family? Hera couldn’t care less about you!”

“That’s not true!” The nymph shouted back. It became apparent to each of the gods that she had merely been a pawn, innocently manipulated by Hera. She thought she had been serving Olympus, not hindering it. All but Athena could see this.

The goddess was a slave to her anger, the loss of her father tearing through her in uncontrollable waves. She continued to slap the nymph until even that failed to be enough to satisfy her. With as much strength as she could muster, she cast Clymene to the ground and pointed at her.

“Kill her,” she said, her voice shaking as she backed up. The others looked at her, not sure what to do. “Kill her!” She snapped again. Her voice still shook, but it bore some form of authority, and Artemis reluctantly raised her bow.

“No,” Clymene pleaded. “Please, no! Hera said—”

“Hera is a liar and a manipulator, and you played into her hand!” Athena looked at the others. “Kill her now.”

“No please!” Apollo raised his bow as well and the twins pulled their arrows back.

“Athena,” Eros started, but the goddess turned on him as well.

“You will do well to keep your mouth shut!” She pointed an accusatory finger at him, and he scowled at it. “If you had done as you were told, this never would have happened! You’re lucky I don’t have you killed!!”

“Bull shit!” He shot back. “Lower your weapons!” Apollo and Artemis exchanged glances before looking back at the young god. He set Zeus’ body down and stood slowly.

“You are in no position to assume authority!”

“Lower them dammit!” Apollo, unsure of what to do, dropped his bow and stepped back.

“How dare you?” Athena asked, but Eros was in no mood to put up with her childlike tantrum.

“Look at her!” He snapped, pointing at Clymene. “She’s a nymph! She’s frightened nearly out of her skin! She’s not a murderer!! She was manipulated!”

“She killed our father! She turned against her own family, she cannot be trusted!”

“If you kill her, you are no better than Hera!” Athena stopped and stared at him. “Olympus will be no better off in your hands than hers!”