Lexi ignored the scrutinizing glares of the council members as she stepped up to the podium. She was busy offering Zeus her best impression of a pissed off goddess. He'd always had trouble keeping his nose out of her affairs, and she wondered if this practice would continue until she reached her one thousandth birthday. Despite her death stare, Zeus remained rooted to the spot next to her.

"I'm sorry you all had to drop what you were doing to come back here today," she began. "I don't really know what all the fuss is about. I have already made it clear to Zeus that I am not going to live in Olympus. My home is in the underworld with Hades, and I will perform my duties as a goddess from there."

"Lexi, your duties are to the gods of Olympus," Zeus said, sticking his nose in her affairs again. "You cannot abandon your divine gifts to spend eternity entertaining the god of the dead."

Entertaining? Lexi scowled. She'd had enough practice arguing with this man that she wasn't ready to back down. Not yet. "Obviously, you weren't listening to a word I said. I am not abandoning my divine gifts. I plan to perform my duties from the underworld."

"And how will you do that?" asked Ares. "Apart from a handful of gods, everyone in the underworld is dead. So, unless you plan to reunite all of those souls with their bodies, which I highly advise against, I do not see how you will be able to perform your duties from there."

Zeus grinned at Lexi, as if he was taking credit for Ares' comment. Lexi was not deterred.

"Can you tell me how my gifts will help the gods, then? Everyone here is immortal."

"Have you not seen the cemetery?" Hera put in. "Most of the gods buried there are under the age of twenty. This is when gods are the most susceptible to death, either by stillbirth or at the hands of another god wielding his or her power. If enough of a god's corporal form is destroyed, they are often unable to recover from their injuries."

Although Lexi's understanding of the gods was still in its early stages, Hera's explanation made sense. Gods were an irrational, vengeful lot. "It sounds like a god with the powers to heal would be of better benefit. I don't know if I am capable of that."

"Yes, you are," Zeus said. "I saw what you did for your horse when she had taken ill during your three month sabbatical with Hades. You had her up and walking about within a single turn of the hourglass."

"But she wasn't injured, she was languishing. There was no open wound or severed body part to heal."

"Believe me, Lexi, what you have to offer is of great benefit to the gods of Olympus," Hera said. She looked quite serious, and Lexi couldn't help feeling guilty for continuing to argue her point. But it had to be done if she wanted to get Hades out of the predicament he had gotten himself into. If she worded things right, she could give the gods what they wanted and keep what she was unwilling to give up.

"I accept your assertion that the gods of Olympus would benefit from my gifts, and I will consider a compromise if you will agree to terminate the minotaur hunt."

Lexi's request had the gods raising their voices in protest, and while an argument ensued at the far end of the table, instigated by Ares, Lexi glanced at Poseidon. He had been sitting quietly as the meeting played out, arms across his chest, face impassive. Now, however, a smile lifted the corners of his mouth, and he inclined his head in her direction. Although she still wanted to kick him in his male parts, she felt as if she had earned an ally in him. Guilt could be a powerful incentive when trying to redeem oneself, and she would use that to her advantage with no remorse.

Zeus' fist came down on the podium, forcing Lexi to step out of the way. "Quiet. Let us handle this as we always have. By a vote. But first, we need to agree on the parameters of the compromise. Lexi, what do you feel is fair? I do not want you to sacrifice all of your happiness. It is important that you find peace with your decision, or you will not be able to perform your duties fully."

Lexi studied Zeus' face as he spoke, dissecting his cantankerous nature from his kind one, and remembering that he really did love her. They had been at odds for three months, and during that time she had forgotten this.

"To be honest, I don't see why I have to live in Olympus at all. It only took half an hour to get here from the underworld. Why can't you just contact me through a scrying mirror if someone needs my help and I'll hop on a chariot?"

Lexi wasn't sure whether she had chosen the right approach, based on the little time she had to think about her argument, but the sound of laughter quickly gave her the answer. Zeus raised his hand, bringing the noise level down before speaking to her.

"Lexi, you cannot just come and go at will. There are procedures and protocols that must be carried out before a god can enter the gates. The council members must be notified and a consensus reached."

"Really? All thirteen of you have to decide who comes into Olympus and when? That's a little extreme, don't you think?"

"It is the way things have always been done," Ares said. "How else can we assure the safety and peace of mind of the inhabitants? Surely, you don't expect Heracles to stand at the gates for eternity."

"What about emergency visits?" she asked. "Haven't you ever made an exception for a god who lives outside of Olympus?"

"There are no gods living outside of Olympus except those who are unaware of their gifts and the few who reside in the underworld," Ares argued, his hand clenching into a fist on the table. "Have you not read the bylaws?"

Sure, she had read the bylaws, and she thought most of them were cryptic and seriously outdated. "What about today? Didn't you have to make an exception for Hecate and Persephone? I'd say that would count as an emergency."

Ares face grew as red as the fabric of his robe, and Lexi thought he might burst into flames. That's when Poseidon stood and cleared his throat. All eyes turned to stare at him, probably wondering how he acquired his shiner, or maybe not.

"I believe Persephone's emergency could be counted as an exception, as it was authorized by Zeus, Hera and myself without the need to involve the council," he said. "I also feel today's meeting was called in haste. Lexi should be afforded more time to think about her choices while she familiarizes herself with the bylaws."

"Thank you, Poseidon," Lexi cut in. "But I am familiar enough with the bylaws to say that I am not taking the same path Persephone was forced to take when she chose Hades as her mate. I will not abandon Hades, even if you all think I am wasting my gift. If I have to, I will return to the mortal world and use my gifts there. At least I can bring Hades with me."

"Hades is bound to the underworld," Zeus said, his face adopting his more cantankerous side. "He is only allowed rare visits to the mortal world and those requests have to be approved by the council, which do not always pass the consensus."

Lexi felt her temper rise. Dealing with these gods was worse than trying to convince the school board to loosen their dress code policies. "I find it interesting that you all sit in judgement of a god who is not allowed to be here to defend himself. I have not found a single bylaw stating the reason Hades is banned from Olympus."

Everyone stared at Lexi, and she realized she was speaking through a clenched jaw. She swallowed a few gulps of air, knowing full well the fallout from her words would hit any moment, probably from Ares.

"Gaia herself has bestowed these godly gifts upon us," Hera said, beating Ares to the punch. "There can be grave consequences if we do not honor her. Hades was given an entire domain. It is a blessing he should be grateful for. Even Zeus does not rule Olympus single-handedly. "

"But Zeus is allowed to visit the underworld. Why can't the courtesy be extended to Hades?"

"It is quite presumptuous of you to come here and question the methods by which we live," Ares said. He still looked angry, but his cheeks had faded from red to a vibrant pink. Lexi knew it was futile to argue with gods who had subscribed to the same dogma for thousands of years. They were deeply entrenched in their ways.

"I had not intended to offend anyone, and I would like to return home now, where I plan to stay. But I hope you will consider what I said about the hunt. You know how to reach me when you come to a consensus. It was nice meeting you all."

Lexi bowed to the assembled gods, who watched her with slightly stunned expressions as she swept determinedly from the room. Once she closed the door behind her, she leaned against the wall, shoving her trembling hands under her arms as she took in oxygen. Did she just piss off an entire room full of gods? What would be the fallout from that?