CHAPTER 5: Nothing

I SHUTTERED.

Poseidon's intense, blue eyes seemed to see through me.

I watched his lips move, above the weaving fibers of his long, ashen beard, but, from the distance of the white stairs between us, I couldn't hear what he said.

...Till a throng of temple guards all but bolted towards me, waving at my face.

"Approach!" one shouted.

"He wants you to approach!" Another, behind him, yelled.

I stumbled forward like I was tripping through a bad dream.

...My toes snagging on the hem of my gown...

My mind numb but still spinning...

Please let this be a nightmare, I prayed; that seemed better than the alternative...

The pearly stairs were smooth and slippery under my feet, almost like they were wet. I tried to marvel at my surroundings—we were underwater and all still breathing! The main atrium expanded upward for several floors, open like a huge breadth of sky!—but Poseidon's stare stopped me in my tracks.

Twisted my stomach.

Made me ready to throw up.

Because it was one thing to fail in front of my peers.

But it was another to fail in front of...a god.

All that is good, help me! I pleaded silently, clenching my jaw and fists.

But it didn't look like it would do any good.

Because my feet were ascending, slinking over the last few stairs.

And Poseidon loomed above me.

Larger than I thought he'd be.

Terrifying.

And every brave bone I had in my body quivered.

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Trembling.

Knocking into each other, echoing in my ears like the chatter of a bustling courtyard from a window open in a high-up dwelling—

Inconsequential.

Miniscule.

Meaningless.

...Like I felt.

The god's eyes were ice blue.

His mouth, drawn in a thin line.

Disapproving of me already? I couldn't tell.

...Could he see my soul?

I bowed so low that my forehead touched the marble of the stairs—just like they'd taught us in temple. The floor was frigid on my palms, but I had to leave its shelter and safety to lift my face.

...Even if I was scared.

...Even if my chin trembled.

Trying to steady my uneven breathing, I looked up.

The rays of light coming off him were almost hypnotizing—like, if I knelt there, too long in his presence, I might actually faint. Or was it the height of the platform? I tried not to look down as I stood shakily; we were quite elevated and a wind kicked up, fluttering my hair into a typical mess. I tried to flatten it with my palms without looking like that was what I was doing.

Dizziness swept through me.

Was Poseidon's essence a giant magnet? Something pulling at my weak knees strongly and, yet, repelling me at the same time...?

"Daughter, stretch out your hands." His baritone voice reverberated heartily around us.

Daughter?

My heartbeat rumbled under the think fabric of the dress.

And I felt stares.

Glued.

I blinked.

I turned slowly to see expectant guards.

And all the levels of Icons, Demures, servants and temple guards in the colosseum around me...

Hundreds of them...

Millions?

Stopping to gawk questioningly.

At me.

—Oh gods.

This was the moment I was going to die; I knew it with absolute certainty.

This was the moment I embarrassed myself and they threw me out or threw me off this ledge.

"Your hands!" a temple guard at my elbow hissed.

I hardly heard him; his lips moved in front of me, but were nearly soundless from the crashing going on in my head.

...But I saw his eyes.

Wide and insistent over an incredibly freckled nose.

I faltered—

My—

Of course—

I brought each hand up from my sides.

They felt like bricks.

Heavy.

Unwieldy.

Like they belonged to someone else.

I turned them over, my daze darting up towards the god.

My fingers shook violently, extended there in the air, even as I berated myself for my lack of control—get it together, Priscilla!

And Poseidon took my hands in his, cupping his enormous, wrinkly, scratchy palms around mine.

He closed his eyes, his white-caterpillar eyebrows convulsing with concentration as he chanted something in a different language.

And I felt heat warm my fingers and—

...

And—

...

Nothing happened.

Poseidon's eyes sprung open.

I heard a gasp from the crowd—looked out of the corner to see horrified, gaping faces.

And Poseidon's face.

His lips dipping into a frown.

His eyes, vacant, blinking black, suddenly.

Confused?

"...Something was supposed to happen, wasn't it?" I whispered finally, under my breath at the huge god.

Was I crazy, speaking so carelessly?! I could have shot myself—

"Yes, something was supposed to happen, Priscilla," Poseidon replied grimly.

And I saw it reflected in his eyes.

The heaviness of the situation.

The grimness.

How much I'd royally fucked it up.

...How much they weren't going to be able to let it go this time...