4 Chapter 4: Plea Bargain?

Shaye

Olympus.

I stand outside the white, massive columns that glitter in the sunlight like diamonds. Major gods of ancient times might be inside. This would be so fascinating if I weren't facing a death sentence. My stomach coils in on itself and I curl my hands, digging the fingernails into the fleshy part of my palms to stave off the pain.

I pace back and forth along the marble hall. The statues of the gods and goddesses line the spaces along the roof. They look like giants ready to squash me. Normally, I don't pay attention to what the gods do, but now, I hate admitting that they scare me. I killed one of their kind so I'm the enemy.

I stare at the golden doors that remain sealed shut. They are monstrous, big enough for even the Titans to pass through. I see no one coming out though.

My lawyer is in there and I pray he helps me. My grandmother gave all of her savings to him, not that it's going to do any good. Let me reiterate: I killed a fucking god! They don't care that it was self-defense. That I didn't mean for it to happen. I don't even know how it happened. Not that it would make a difference. According to gods, demi-gods were instantly guilty. Self-defense or not, it makes no difference.

I'm up shit creek without a paddle, without a life jacket, without freaking anything. They are going to execute me. When a demi-god breaks the law, their life is extinguished because we're outcasts, useless, the scum under their feet.

I hate gods, hate all of them, hate my real parents, hate this world. I climb up the rest of the steps and pace in front of the door. My heart is pounding and I can't think straight.

How in the world did I end up here? One minute I was at a party, the next thing I was up against a tree about to be raped by goddamn Anubis the jerk face. I have zero regrets that he lost his life. Fuck him. Fuck him to hell and back.

The doors remain closed and I unwrap my arms, staring at my palms, at the moon-shaped indents from my fingernails. Guards on duty watch my every move like I'm some bomb fixing to explode. I force a smile and lower my arms. All of them are trigger happy. Eager to blast the demi-god that killed one of the purebloods.

Shit, I still can't believe I somehow managed to do that.

I continue my pacing, terror gnawing on my insides. What will the execution be? Lightning? Beheading? Ripping my arms and legs off letting me bleed to death. I shiver.

Or what if they chain me like Prometheus and have my liver eaten out every day, then heal me and start it all over again.

Bile rises in the back of my throat. I can't do this.

But running will do no good. No matter where I go, the gods will find me. There is no escape.

My gut clenches. At least I hope my lawyer can get a quick death sentence. I don't want to have to experience dying over and over again.

Tears blur my eyes. I want Anubis to suffer. He's the one who caused all this.

Bitterness burns in my chest, climbing into my throat.

Shouts vibrate through the marble walls, the ground beneath me trembles, but I can't make out what the gods are saying.

Everything in me wants to run. Try my luck at hiding. Anything but this waiting torture.

Suddenly it's silent. Quiet before the storm. Dread crawls over my scalp and down my body.

The gold doors fly open, and I flinch. My lawyer bustles out. His slick-backed hair is now in disarray and his face is beat red.

"What is it?" I manage to choke out. "What happened?"

"We've settled." He grabs my arm, dragging me a few feet away from the god guards who continue to glare at me.

"Wait, what do you mean?" A flicker of hope ignites in my chest. I can walk away from this? Continue to live my life and finish my degree?

"Someone up high must like you." He drops my arm and runs a hand through his hair. "Because they just saved your life."

I glance past him at the guards. Forseti, the god of justice marches down the steps with a look of hatred on his face. His golden hair flutters over his shoulder. He's wearing warrior armor the color of the bluest sky down both arms. Chest bare and muscular and all for show. His wrap-around skirt is made of metal shields, which are belted at the waist. Two golden wings stick out of his blue helmet, rigid just like him. He looks ready to go to battle rather than play judge.

He approaches the guards, whispering something to them, but we're too far away for me to make out what they are saying. Inside, I'm jumping for joy. I'm free?

I'm so giddy, I almost want to flick the guards and Forseti the finger. But that would get me nothing except my hand chopped off or worse.

Wait until I tell Grandma. Where in the world did she find this lawyer that he could- "Hey, that means you know who helped me, right? You have to tell me." Had to be one of my real parents who else could it be?

I yank on his arm, bouncing on my toes.

"No, I don't know. I was sent out of the chamber at that time." He's so stiff and distant like his mind is plagued with a million things.

Disappointment fills me, but I smile and hug him, nonetheless. "That's okay. Thank you so much for saving me."

He pushes off me as his gaze slides back to the guards and my nerves spring to life again. That's when I realize the awful truth. He hasn't told me everything.

Dread clings to my spine, and the earlier joy dissolves into the air infused with fear closing in around me.

The guards march toward us.

I can't breathe and my fingers tighten around my lawyer's jacket, but he rips free from me, his face pinching with sorrow or regret. I can't quite tell because I'm shaking ridiculously. This is why I should have been in the trial. I insisted but my lawyer promised me this would be better.

Two guards stand in front of me.

No, no, no. I shake my head. This isn't happening.

"Shaye Trimorphe," Forseti's voice booms like thunder, "you are hereby to be taken to your punishment for murdering the god, Anubis."

"No," I scream as I grasp onto my lawyer. "Wait, no, you said I was safe. You said I'd been spared."

"I'm so sorry," he sounds sincere, but he's a crook.

"Please, you have to get them to reconsider. I-I'll do anything."

He shakes his head. "You got life. It was the only way to save you."

I'm devastated and crushed. "Life!" This wasn't saving me, but condemning me. I might as well be dead. Fear pricks over my skin and something opens up inside me. A darkness swallowing me as I fall into despair. "No, this can't be right."

The guards grasp my arms, hauling me away from him. I struggle, fighting with all my strength. Fear smashes down the sliver of hope I had left.

"Count yourself lucky, you've been saved from death." My lawyer pales and turns away.

"No, please. Don't do this." My words scrape my throat raw.

I'm flashed out of Olympus and appear near a fenced in yard with trampled, dying grass, and warning signs of high-voltage. Barbed wire everywhere. Even though it's dark outside, the heat bakes my skin, expanding from the ground that's cooked all day.

I'm going to pass out. Everything is happening too fast.

I stare up at the dull, gray brick building with graffiti covering it. Above is a sign that makes my blood freeze in my veins. I know this place. Fuck no! There is no escape from here. My lawyer said he'd saved me from death, but he lied. This place is worse than that. My whole body shakes in terror.

No one who ever comes here is ever released or survives. I push back, trying to wriggle from the guards, escape from my nightmare. The guards shove me forward.

My new prison's name flashes in my mind over and over again.

Purgatory Penitentiary.