Nemesis watched the scene before her. As it came to an end, her smile widened impossibly wider. She had been correct, as always.
Nemesis stepped forward, her eyes glowing black, and solemnly declared, "It has been decided.
For the crime of committing acts of sexual violence against Agrotera Perseis, the heavens have spoken against Gabe Ugliano.
May all of Gabe Ugliano's pleasures and desires turn into pain and suffering.
He who sought joy through violation shall find joy inverted,
May the comforting warmth of food rot on his tongue.
His laughter shall curdle into wailing,
his embraces shall dissolve into the mist,
Thus shall desire become torment,
And pleasure his eternal curse.
As I, Nemesis, Daughter of Night, have declared it.
Ὅπως ἔστω."
{ ~ >^^< ~ }
Thunder cracked over the throne room on Mount Olympus. The Twelve looked towards Zeus cautiously, but he was staring at the sky, a frown on his face. After the thunder, came the decree of Nemesis. Noise rose around the room as everyone started muttering to each other. It had been many centuries since Nemesis had seen fit to personally punish a mortal. She tended to influence mortals to get vengeance against each other. This was certainly out of the ordinary.
"Silence!" Zeus's voice sounded like the crack of thunder as he returned the room to order. "We need to figure out what happened."
"Agrotera Perseis," Apollon muttered, and the gods turned their attention to him, "A member of sister's hunt."
Zeus nodded, and said, "Apollon, where is your sister?"
The shadows in the corner of the throne room condensed, and Hades stepped out of them. He looked around the throne room, and said, "Artemis is with Nemesis currently. They are in the Realm of Night."
"A joint punishment, then," Athena said, and Zeus nodded in agreement.
"Hades, knock on Night's door." Zeus ordered, and his brother nodded before silently dissolving back into the shadows."
"That wouldn't be very wise, father," Athena said, while tilting her head slightly. She knew that he already knew that, which just made her feel even more curious.
Zeus didn't respond, and Hestia spoke up, a sad smile on her face, "I do wonder what that mortal did to Artemis's hunter. No, perhaps, before the girl joined."
"What do you mean?" Zeus said.
"I mean to say that, recently, I have been feeling as though there was someone, a child, hurting in their home. But today, the feeling stopped, almost like the child had been taken away from that environment," Hestia explained, her eyes returning to her hearth. She grabbed the stick, and stoked the flames.
A few moments passed in silence before Aphrodite spoke up, "I felt a mother's heart breaking around high moon."
Hestia nodded, and said, "The child's hurting stopped shortly before high moon."
"They are certainly related," Athena said, "Hestia, where was the feeling?"
"Below us," Hestia said, her eyes glazing over, "In the city of Manhattan. On the Upper East Side."
Poseidon's form wavered slightly, as if realizing something. Hestia glanced over in his direction, pretending to look around the twelve in a circle. She decided not to call out his behavior. As the Goddess of the Home, she had realized immediately, when she felt the hurt of the child, that they were a child of Poseidon. Hestia wouldn't tell anyone. It wasn't her place to pick sides, and she honestly didn't care for her baby brother's temper. It didn't matter anyway, not anymore. The child was a Hunter of Artemis, now, and they wouldn't ever turn sixteen.
Aphrodite also noticed the shift, and smiled at him knowingly. She was the Goddess of Love. It would have been impossible for him to hide such a relationship, and the result, from her. She wouldn't tell Zeus. No. She loved to watch Poseidon being uncomfortable way to much for that. Beaide, Zeus liked to think her submissive in front of him, but Aphrodite honestly couldn't care less about what he thought. Their "God King" like think of himself as the most powerful, and they were content to let him. He never seemed to remember that she was the true eldest of the Olympians. She would continue to amuse herself with their silly little squabbling.
Hades returned, the shadows condensing. Artemis and Nemesis followed behind him. They both knelt before Zeus, and Artemis said, "You have called for us, father."
Zeus looked the two of them, and responded, his eyes narrowing on Nemesis, "Nemesis, Daughter of Night, what has angered so that you personally punished that mortal."
Artemis and Nemesis stood up, and Artemis walked over and sat down on her throne. Nemesis stepped forward, a dangerous smile spreading across her face. Her wings unfolded, and stretched out to their full length. Her voice bellowed as she said, "That vial mortal sexually abused and violated that child, and the cries of the child sing in my realm, demanding vengeance and retribution. It would not be sated by the normal means."
The hall of the Gods was dead silent as everyone took in the information.
"I see…" Zeus said, before turning to Artemis, "And what of the child. Where are they now."
"They have joined my hunt to escape the torment," Artemis said, playing with the string of her bow. "They are with the other hunters currently. I had Agrotera Zöe bring them to the encampment."
"Bring the child here, so you can introduce her to us," Zeus ordered, "As you have with every other hunter."
Artemis paused in playing with her bow, and put it down on her throne. She turned her head towards her father, her eyes narrowing dangerously. She slipped off her throne, and stalked forward. The hall was quiet as everyone watched to see what she would do. Aphrodite smiled in amusement, and leaned forward in her throne. Hestia shook her head, and sighed. Apollon leaned back, waiting to see what his sister would do after their father had insulted one of her hunters. Athena watched silently, her eyes already knowing how this would go. Zeus locked eyes with Artemis as she stalked closer to him.
"You would do good to remember, father, that my hunters are off limits. Especially to you," Artemis bellowed, her voice hard, "Even so, Agrotera Perseis is seven years of age, and I know even you wouldn't touch someone that young."
Zeus was stunned silent, and Artemis continued, turning to the rest of the gods, "You will all meet them on the Summer Solstice, as usual, and not a day sooner."
Artemis walked out of the hall, not bothering to even glance behind her.