I don't recognise the person at first — I'd only seen him fleetingly at the ball — but from the paleness of Spencer's face, I can hazard a pretty good guess.

It's Zeus.

I swallow, rubbing my bare arms. Suddenly I'm all too aware that I'm standing in my penguin pyjamas in front of the king of the gods. "Hi."

"Hello Evie." The man steps forward, his wizened features serious. "Do you know who I am?"

"Not definitively." I admit, smiling sheepishly. "But I have a pretty sound idea, judging from the guilty look on Spencer's face."

Spencer glares at me, causing the man to laugh.

"Yes, Dionysus tends to look like that a lot when I am around." He replies. Though his tone is amused, I can tell from the look he gives my friend that he's not pleased by Spencer's presence. He extends a hand for me to shake. "I am known by many names, but I am most commonly known as Zeus."

"Can I call you Phil?" I ask weakly, my mind a total mash of nonsense. Spencer bites back a laugh.

"No." Zeus' expression hardens. "Evie, I apologise for my unexpected presence, but I must ask that you come with me."

The blood rushes from my face. Spencer steps closer to me. I struggle to keep my voice steady. "Why?"

"Due to the events of the Winter Solstice celebration, we have called an emergency assembly to discuss the consequences of your actions."

My stomach drops. "Consequences?"

"I would strongly recommend that you change into more appropriate clothes before we leave." Zeus ignores my question and nods Calla forward. "Hermes will transport us up to Olympus when you are ready."

He beckons at someone behind him, and Olly melts out of the shadows. He nods at me solemnly, but doesn't meet my gaze. My stomach plummets through the floor.

Calla meekly walks over to me and pushes me towards the wardrobe. She speaks quietly. "Go and get dressed, Evie."

"But I don't—" I begin to protest, but Spencer steps in.

"Evie, for the first time in your life please don't argue when someone tells you to do something. You don't want to make things worse, trust me."

Zeus nods stoically in agreement. I swallow, fear turning my veins to ice.

What did I do? Does this have something to do with—

I glance over at Spencer and he nods, confirming my thoughts. Another crack splinters my heart.

Hades. Our kiss. The deal.

What have I done?

I get dressed quickly, and when I return Spencer and Calla are gone. Zeus nods again when he notices me and gestures Olly forward. Olly wordlessly steps forward and places a hand on Zeus' shoulder. The pair of them simultaneously turn to look at me, and Zeus offers his arm, an almost mirror image to his brother. But unlike his brother, my heart doesn't jump when I place my palm on his wrist and the world blinks away into another image. Not at all.

"I thought Hades was the only one who could move around like that." I speak up quietly, silently cursing myself when my voice unintentionally trembles. I'm so caught up in it all that my mind barely registers we're somewhere else.

"Between the Underworld and the surface, yes." Zeus' reply is impassive. "But Hermes is the only one with the ability to traverse between all three realms. It is essential to his role in the universe."

"Oh."

Zeus and Olly lead me through a large, arching golden door, and when I step through it, I'm blinded by an iridescent light. As soon as my eyes readjust to my new surroundings, my heart drops right down to my feet. If I was here for any other reason, I'd probably be struck speechless by the grandeur of my surroundings. I'm standing in the middle of a gigantic circular marble room, with strikingly decorated golden columns lining the edges of the room. Placed in a big semi-circle in the middle of the room are twelve large thrones, elaborately decorated to fit the personality and role of the person sitting on them. Nine chairs are already occupied, their occupants wearing frighteningly stony expressions on the faces. The tenth and eleventh occupants stand silently at my sides, and the twelfth stands in the middle of the room, his dark figure hunched.

Zeus and Olly leave my side, striding forward to sit in their respective thrones. Zeus readies himself in the central throne and motions me forward. I take a deep breath and walk forward on trembling legs, until I'm side-by-side with Hades. I sneak a glance at him, but he doesn't even look up. Anger courses through me. I grit my teeth and fold my arms tightly across my chest.

"Okay, fine. Out with it." I demand hotly, defiantly staring down the congregations of gods before me. "Tell me what I did wrong before I throw something out of childish rage, because this silence is really getting on my nerves."

"Evie, we haven't exactly been truthful with you." Zeus starts, leaning back on one of the chair's arms.

"I know." I cock an eyebrow at him. Hades stiffens next to me, but this time I'm the one refusing to look at him. I keep my gaze fixed on Zeus. "Spencer told me."

"He did?" Zeus turns to Spencer. A glare crackles in the air. "Is this true, Dionysus?"

"What if it's true?" Spencer shrugs, raising his arms in the air innocently. "I told her this morning, before I knew about this impromptu interrogation. I couldn't help myself; you know I hate it when people get all depressed and heartbroken."

"Dionysus. We spoke about this." Zeus' words are crisp and clipped as he stares the younger god down.

"Yes, we did." Spencer confirms, nodding his head. Contrary to this morning, he doesn't appear to be phased at all by Zeus' ire. "But I chose to ignore most of that conversation. Are you proud, Daddy-O?"

Zeus narrows his eyes. He returns his attention back to Hades and I. "How much did he tell you?"

"Only that my whole life has apparently been a lie, and that you've all been training me up to be the perfect little candidate that would fulfil a deal you made with Hades." I retort bitingly. "Does that about cover it? Wait, hang on. I almost forgot! The real zinger about this deal? I couldn't be told why you were all controlling the direction my life took, because I haven't reached the right friendship level yet for that privilege."

Spencer snorts, unsuccessfully covering his laughter up with an ill-placed cough. Zeus keeps his gaze fixed on me, looking less than impressed. "In other words, yes."

"It's not like that, Evie." Hades finally speaks up. I round on him.

"Oh I'm sorry, now you're going to talk to me?" I ask scathingly, laughing in disbelief. "I'm sorry, Hades, but telling me that 'it's not like that' just isn't going to cut it anymore. You told me you wouldn't shut me out anymore, and then ignored me for two weeks. Unless, of course, you have an excuse for that behaviour too?"

"Evie." Zeus interrupts, snapping my attention back to him. His expression has only darkened after my outburst. I shrink back a little.

"Yes?"

"The condition was not that the deal couldn't be revealed to you." Zeus tells me. "It was that no god could interfere at all with the proceedings. Hades didn't want you to be forced into anything that you didn't want to be a part of, not by him nor anyone else."

My anger ebbs. I bite my lip and glance over at Hades, my heart breaking a little for him and the hurt that had obviously motivated him into enforcing that condition. Hades doesn't meet my gaze, keeping his eyes fixed firmly on Zeus.

"Okay." I return my attention back to Zeus, my confusion clear on my face. "I feel like there's a 'but' coming up."

"Yes." Zeus nods, his expression grave. "If any condition of the deal was broken, then the deal would be over, and the whole reason it was proposed in the first place would be null and void."

"What was the whole reason?"

Zeus doesn't say anything, settling back against his chair. I slowly look around, but everyone avoids my gaze, even Spencer.

"Oh, come on! What was the whole reason?" I repeat, my voice raising slightly. Silence. I scoff in disbelief. "So what, you're only going to tell me one half of the deal but not the other? And you think that's acceptable? Why won't you people tell me anything?! This is my life; I deserve to have some control over it!"

"To find a new queen."

The answer to my question is finally revealed by the person standing at my side, said so quietly I almost don't hear him. I freeze.

"What?" I stare at him. "What are you saying, Hades?"

Hades finally turns to look at me. It's only then that I notice the torment glimmering in his gaze, like broken stars falling from the sky.

"I am saying, Evie, that had everything worked out, I would have asked you to take over Persephone's position as my queen."

"As queen? So I'd become.... a goddess?" Just as I think my mind has run away screaming from the utter illogicality of it all, I suddenly comprehend the first part of his statement. My mind stops in its tracks. "Wait, what do you mean, 'had everything worked out'?"

"The night of the ball, you were given an aphrodisiac, Evie." Zeus' tone is deadly sombre as he answers my question in Hades' stead. "A substance that is only accessible by gods. Which means that—"

"Someone interfered with the deal. The deal is broken." I slowly finish. Zeus nods. My mouth drops in outrage. I surge forward, anger boiling in my veins. "But that's not fair! It's not my fault that someone drugged me; that shouldn't be held against me or Hades!"

"They are not blaming you, Evie." Hades steps in front of me. His expression is tortured as he attempts to placate me. "One of the other gods broke the deal. As my brother so kindly pointed out, nobody was allowed to interfere; I did not want you forced into staying down here."

"How are we to assume it wasn't you, Hades?" A woman seated to Zeus' left speaks up, her sharp voice accusatory. "It does follow in sync with your previous history."

"Hera, do you not know me at all?" Hades whirls around to face her. His dark blue eyes smoulder with rage. "There was a reason that I requested that to be a condition of the deal. Believe what you want, but I did not want to cause another woman to suffer the pain and torment I put Persephone through. I would not have agreed to it had that not been a condition."

"Well if it wasn't you, then who was it?" Hera demands, slamming her fist down on the chair arm. "You were the only one in this room who would have benefited from this course of action, Hades! We all know how selfish you have been in the past!"

Something inside Hades snaps. His gaze darkens, and the air around him starts to roil with a menacingly dark energy. Inky black fog starts to pool at his feet. He steps forward, the fog following his soundless footsteps. Hera pales.

"What did you just say to me, Hera?"

I stare at Hades, horror rendering me speechless. For the first time since I'd met him, it really hits me: Hades is a god.

The sudden sound of someone loudly clearing their throat rips through the thick haze muddying the air in the room. We all turn to stare at Spencer. Spencer grins and leans forward.

"Well I know that I personally wouldn't force Evie to have feelings for Hades by slipping her an aphrodisiac." He announces loudly, winking at me. "Because that's just not cool and not the way to go about it."

All attention turns to me. I glare at Spencer, making a mental note to beat him when I next have the chance. I guess we're going all in, then.

"It didn't force me to have feelings for him."

"What?" Hera narrows her eyes at me. I swallow hard and keep my gaze focused on Hades, who has suddenly gone as still as a statue.

"The aphrodisiac didn't force me to have feelings for Hades."

"Don't be ridiculous." Hera snorts, tossing her auburn hair over her shoulder. "That's not how it works, you silly child."

"Yes, it is." Leia stands up, looking unexpectedly remorseful. "That's exactly how it works, Hera."

I stare at her in confusion for a moment, until I remember something. The realisation hits me like a train.

Leia gave me a drink. And it was after Leia gave me that drink that I decided to kiss Hades.

My eyes widen. How did I not see this before?

"It was you, wasn't it?"

The apologetic look Leia sends me is all the evidence I need. "I'm sorry Evie, but it was taking too long! You needed a push, and I provided the push you needed to finally do something about your feelings!"

My jaw drops. "That also wasn't my fault!"

"You gave Evie the aphrodisiac, Aphrodite?" Hades asks, his tone scarily calm. "You are the reason she almost died?"

Leia shrinks back a little. She slowly sits back down and fixes her eyes on her lap, avoiding Hades' gaze.

"I'm sorry Hades, but I had to. We were all growing dreadfully bored with how long it was all taking."

"So you interfered." Zeus states. Leia nods. "Even though that was one of the conditions that we agreed would revoke the deal null and void."

"Yes?" Leia poses her answer as a question. Hades' fists clench for several seconds, before his entire body slumps. He steps back.

"So that is it." He's quiet, resigned. I stare at him, my heart pounding at the ultimatum that I'm afraid is about to go down.

"But that's not fair!" I burst out. All attention turns to me. I recoil a little. "Why are you all looking at me like that? It's not! Hades had absolutely no control over Leia's actions; he shouldn't be the one being punished for them!"

"It is entirely fair, Evie." Zeus replies evenly. "Hades was entirely aware of the terms when he agreed to the deal. He was the one who proffered that particular condition. He must abide by it, no matter what the consequences are."

"With all due respect, Zeus, I completely disagree with that." Zeus raises a singular eyebrow at me.

"Oh? And why is that?

I take a deep breath in an attempt to pacify the turbulent anxiety storming within me and step out onto the tightrope.

"Look, I can't believe I'm about to say this in front of you all before I've even said it to Hades," I give Hades a pointed look. "But the aphrodisiac didn't force me to have feelings for Hades. As Leia said, it doesn't work like that."

"She's right." Leia pipes up. "It only acts on feelings and emotions that are already present and enhances them."

"Feelings that are already present?" I watch as realisation visibly dawns on Hades. His eyes widen a fraction. "So that means..."

"Yes, you idiot." I look down at my feet, unable to meet his eye. "Look, even if I hadn't had that aphrodisiac, I still would have tried to kiss you at some point, okay? I care about you."

Stunned silence descends upon the room. Leia grins smugly, leaning back in her chair. "As I said, all that was needed was a little push. The rest of the work had already been done."

Hades continues to stare at me in shock. I return my gaze to Zeus and square my shoulders defiantly.

"So, as I said Zeus, I disagree with your decision. I find it incredibly unfair that Hades has to abide by the conditions of the deal when I've already made it clear that, should he have asked me, I would have been happy to stay down here. I was never forced into my feelings; the aphrodisiac didn't change anything, it just sped things along. So that's why I don't think this is fair; sure, those were the original terms and conditions of the deal, but can't you see that the circumstances have changed?"

Zeus eyes me, considering me for several seconds. "No. They have not."

"Why not?!" I explode, throwing my hands up in the air. My frustration starts pouring from my mouth before I can stop myself. "You gods are infuriating! You're all about your rules and your secrecy and your 'terms and conditions,' but you don't realise that when the circumstances change, some things can be overlooked! How the hell has the human population survived under your leadership for so long? You know nothing about being forgiving and compassionate! Have a look in the mirror for once in your lives and learn from us humans for a change!"

The room falls so silent you could've heard a penny drop. I lower my arms and cross them over my chest, glaring furiously at Zeus. He matches my gaze evenly and locks me in place for several beats, refusing to break eye contact.

Then Spencer starts clapping slowly, a wide grin on his face.

"And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what humans commonly call a passionate speech."

I ignore him, instead cocking an eyebrow at Zeus. Zeus is the first one to look away. He exchanges a glance with Hera and Poseidon, who's been sitting silently at his side throughout the whole exchange, before turning back to me. He sighs, studying me intensely.

"What are you proposing, Evie?"

"I... I don't know." I reply hesitantly, my mind racing. I hadn't expected to get this far. What was I proposing? "I guess I—"

"Evie." Hades cuts me off in a low voice, stepping towards me. "Think about what you are about to say."

"Respectfully, Hades, shut up." I hold a hand up to him, silencing him. I'm not going to lie, I feel an odd sense of satisfaction when he actually listens to me. Spencer snickers from across the room. "I don't know if I can agree to staying down there forever, right here and right now, but I can promise that it's something I'm really considering, and I'm not feeling forced into it at all." That last part I direct towards Hades.

Zeus shakes his head. "That promise doesn't change the situation Evie. A promise can change in an instant, and that was not what the deal was about."

I bite my lip as I realise what he is saying. I have to make the decision now. Right now. Indecision clouds my thoughts. Could I see myself living in the Underworld with Hades, for the rest of my life? Sure, at the moment I definitely could; but at the same time, that all depended on how Hades treated me, and the past two weeks didn't provide very persuasive evidence that he would change his behaviour like he promised he would. Hades had hurt me more over the past week than I had even been hurt before, and I wasn't sure that I would be able to recover from that.

But, A voice in the back of my head argues. What if he only acted that way because he thought you didn't feel anything for him, that the aphrodisiac had caused you to kiss him? What if he was only trying to protect himself from further hurt?

I hesitate and consider that possibility for a moment. What if that was the truth? Even if it was, it still didn't justify him shutting me out again, but I could understand why he did it. Hell, I probably would have done the same thing in his position. Could I really base my decision on that one possibility that it was the truth, though? Would that be enough to agree to live down here with Hades, for the rest of my life and forever after that? Where I'd hardly be able to see Spencer, and Selene, and Axel, and Minnie? Where I wouldn't ever be able to see the light of day ever again, feel the soft green grass underneath my feet, go swimming in the refreshingly cold ocean?