Lexi rarely got nervous before a debate. She had grown to love the adrenaline rush of speaking in front of an audience and telling them what's what. Today, however, she woke up with a beehive in her belly, and it buzzed incessantly as she prepared for the council meeting. A room full of gods was a much bigger deal than a room full of stiff-lipped preppies. She also appeared to be suffering from a slight hangover, which she blamed on the ambrosia.

The tour of Poseidon's palace turned out to be more pleasant than Lexi expected, although he tended to stand too close and took every opportunity to hold her in the spotlight of his blue eyes. Still, she counted the unplanned detour as a win. Had she refused Poseidon's offer, she would not have learned of his fierce attachment to all living things, both under the sea and on land, which gave her hope that he would cast his vote in her favor.

Breakfast was taken in silence again, which Lexi was grateful for, and Poseidon was not there to make her feel self-conscious. Afterwards, Zeus escorted her to the meeting room. He was dressed in a red robe with a gold sash draped over one shoulder, and his beard had been neatly trimmed and combed. No doubt he'd been pampered by a harem of nymphs. Was that lavender aftershave?

"I hope you aren't too nervous," he said, patting her hand condescendingly, a gesture she'd gotten used to. "You know half the gods on the council already, and most of them are fair and just."

"Like you?" Lexi grinned at him, trying to reassure herself that Zeus was her ally, whether or not he agreed with her argument.

"Yes, like me. No matter what the outcome, I want you to know how proud I am of you, Lexi. You have matured into a bright, capable female. While I do not agree with your ill-considered venture to follow Hades to the underworld, I feel you have made great strides in embracing your duties as a goddess."

She took a moment to look into his steely eyes, picturing Zeus as her gruff but lovable Uncle Z. He had always been good at mixing compliments into his lectures. "Thanks, I appreciate that. I know we have our differences, but I think our similarities are what keep us honest with each other, especially when it's a fault."

Zeus treated her to a grin, something he typically reserved for special occasions. "And you are one of the few gods I will let get away with that comment."

The hallway they were traveling suddenly filled with the salty tang of ocean spray, and Lexi felt Poseidon's presence behind her even before he spoke. "Good morning. How is everyone feeling today?"

Zeus turned and greeted Poseidon with a hearty handshake. "Ah, my brother. You look rested. I hope that means you are ready to take on the challenges of a council meeting and an orgy all in one go."

"I am looking forward to both." Poseidon flashed Lexi a dashing smile, not far off the one Hades' used when he felt particularly playful. Like Zeus, Poseidon had donned an identical red robe, which hugged the contours of his chest in a very distracting way, but all Lexi could think of was the shiny blood of the minotaurs, and she used it as a catalyst for her impending argument.

The sun illuminated the meeting room in such a way that a saintly glow was cast over the gods as they seated themselves around a long table. Each god wore the same red robe as Zeus and Poseidon, but Lexi changed the imagery from bloody robes to boarding school uniforms. She was simply facing a group of rich preppies. Lexi walked to the table, where a pair of nymphs flitted up with pitchers and goblets. She hoped the pitchers contained water and not ambrosia.

"You look like you could use something to quench your thirst." Poseidon's voice boomed over Lexi's head, startling her. Did he even have an inside voice? She watched as he poured liquid into a goblet and handed it to her. "I would hate to see you faint during your oration. It has happened before."

After confirming the goblet was filled with water, Lexi took a drink. "Thanks. I think I'll make it to the closing credits."

A slow smile grew on his face, as if an idea had just dawned on him. "Closing credits. Very clever." He leaned into her shoulder, totally invading her space as he whispered against her ear. "I have every confidence in you, Lexi. Show me the spark that burns inside you and you have my vote."

Lexi was left to deal with slightly wobbly knees while Poseidon filled his own goblet. He smelled so nice, like the sea and fresh hay, and she took a long drink of water to clear her head. Zeus had taken up residence behind a podium at the head of the table, and he gestured for her to stand next to him. Poseidon took his seat and the room fell silent.

"Good morning, fellow gods of Olympus," Zeus began, his deep voice resonating like a coach in a locker room. "I appreciate the fact that each of you has taken time out from your duties to participate in this council meeting. Today, we will hear the argument of my daughter, Alexandra, on behalf of the minotaurs of the underworld. I expect you have already read the summary detailing her grievances, so I will let her get straight to the point and respond to your discourse on the matter."

There was a mutual nodding of heads, and Zeus relinquished the podium to Lexi, taking a seat next to her. Lexi quickly repeated her sports mantra Competition is not for weaklings, which also worked for debates, as she glanced over her audience. Artemis, Aphrodite and Athena were there, as well as Hermes and Apollo. Those gods she knew well, and their familiar faces reassured her. On the other hand, the trio of Hera, Demeter and Hestia at the far end of the table had Lexi reciting her mantra once more for good measure. She also noticed Philip watching her with expectant curiosity, but she still didn't know which god he was.

"Greetings, friends. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak with you today. I would like to start out by admitting my shortcomings. I am no expert on the traditions of the gods, having received most of my information through texts written by mortals. Up until three months ago, I lived my life as a mortal, which I count as a benefit rather than a drawback, especially in the case of the minotaurs. How many of you here today woke up fearing for your safety?"

When no hands went up, Lexi continued. "Good. Having a sense of security at home and at work helps you live a more fulfilling life. It allows you do your job to the best of your ability, and gives you joy and peace of mind. But it is a feeling not everyone is privileged to share. How many of you keep up with current events in the mortal world?"

Many hands went up, over half the table. Lexi felt bolstered by their response. At least she wasn't talking to a bunch of arrogant gods who only cared about themselves. She acknowledged most of them with a nod. "No doubt you are familiar with the history of mankind. You will recall several instances of what is referred to as ethnic cleansings. Some were more destructive than others, but each one was based on the idea that certain races of humans were deemed valueless, and action was taken to eradicate their existence in order to allow the superior races to flourish. How was this determined?

"I will answer that question with a question," she went on. "How would you feel if one day you awoke from your comfortable bed expecting to go about your day in the peaceful fashion you were accustomed to and learned that gods were superfluous? That your existence was not only unimportant, but depraved, and a proclamation was set up to eradicate your existence as well as the existence of your children and your children's children."

"What is your point with this thesis?" Philip interrupted. "What does it have to do with minotaurs? We are not trying to eradicate their existence. If they were eradicated, we would no longer have them to hunt."

He laughed at his sick joke and a few council members joined him. Zeus gestured for her to continue

"The point I am making is, there have been many instances where a thought, based on nothing more than an opinion, snowballed into a consensus that was responsible for the deaths of countless humans. We can translate this to animals. Part of your argument for maintaining the tradition of the hunt is because you cannot adequately communicate with the minotaurs. You don't understand their behavior, so you label them as savages. It is easy to subdue and kill someone when you do not understand their pleas for mercy, unless you are a ruthless murderer, of course."

Lexi raised her eyebrows, making sure she made eye contact with Philip. She was starting to suspect which battle hungry god he might be.

"But these traditions were set forth through the writings of Gaia herself," Artemis countered. "We have been following the guidance of the bylaws of Olympus."

There was a general murmur of assent as heads turned toward Artemis to acknowledge her point.

"I am not here to argue the logic of the bylaws, but perhaps to challenge their relevance. Thousands of years have passed since Gaia made her grand proclamations, and like everything in life, much has changed. I merely ask that you consider the fact that the minotaur species has evolved over the eons. They have developed the use of tools, as well as medicinals, and they exhibit herd mentality, protecting their young and elders. These are all aspects of a civilized society, and I come to you today asking that you consider treating these creatures as you would a satyr or a centaur rather than a target. Thank you for your time and experienced council."

Lexi lowered her head, hoping to hide the sweat she felt forming on her eyebrows, as well as her desire to pass out. Fortunately, her water goblet was close at hand, and she downed what was left. She remained standing, in case anyone wanted to engage her in a discussion, and as the noise level rose, she tried to discern the different voices. Who supported her cause and who staunchly opposed it no matter what her arguments were? Philip appeared to be leading a heated debate between Artemis and a few others, while Zeus and Poseidon reclined in their chairs, looking as if no amount of argument could convince them to change their position on the matter.

After a few moments, Zeus stepped behind the podium, and the room gradually grew silent. "Thank you all for attending this meeting of the council. You are welcome to stay and deliberate as long as necessary. As usual, everyone is asked to cast their vote, whether for or against, and leave it in the ballot box on your way out. I hope to see you all at the orgy, which will be held this afternoon at Poseidon's palace."

Zeus left the podium and walked to the ballot box, which stood next to the door. He wrote his vote on a slip of paper and deposited it through the slot. The smile he wore on his way back offered no hint to what he had chosen. A god with blonde curls and a boyish face approached Lexi. He greeted her with a dimpled smile and a bow.

"We haven't had an opportunity to meet yet, but I have heard many good things about you. My name is Eros."

Ah, Eros. The god who stole Persephone's heart from Hades. He was handsome, all right, like the rest of them, and his face did look like a cherub, but Hades had him beat in the sexy department. Hadn't Hades advised her to rub elbows with Eros?

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Eros. Likewise, I have heard good things about you. I hope you weren't terribly bored with my speech."

"On the contrary, it was eloquently spoken and delivered with heart. I believe your earnest plea was well received, and I hope the tides turn in your favor. Will I see you at the gala this afternoon?"

Lexi bit her lip, suppressing a reaction to his use of the word 'gala'. He could give it whatever label he wanted to. It was still an orgy. "Zeus will probably expect me to be there, but I won't be...participating." A rush of heat flooded her cheeks when she realized she had given out way too much information.

Eros' curls shook as he enjoyed a belly laugh at her expense, but she didn't take offense. He looked even more like a cherub when he laughed. "There are many ways you can participate besides the one you are thinking. You can enjoy dancing, games, copious drinking, and since it's being held at Poseidon's palace, there will be ample opportunity to take the horses out for an exhilarating gallop on the beach."

"Really? I love to ride horses." Lexi's spirit was bolstered by Eros' encouraging words. She had missed seeing Poseidon's stables, as the stalls were being mucked. Maybe the orgy wouldn't turn out to be such a fuck fest after all.

Eros took his leave, stopping at the ballot box to cast his vote. Several of the gods had already done the same, and the room was emptying out, leaving Lexi standing alone at the table. Poseidon had not left his chair, appearing content to watch the scene with a Cheshire grin. Did he know something Lexi didn't? Was the voting rigged and they were just appeasing her by letting her go through the motions?

The god she knew as Philip, walked up to her, bowing curtly. "Hello, Lexi. I expect you remember me as Philip, the lawyer from South Africa."

"Yes."

"I would like to formally introduce myself. I am Ares, god of war. I want to extend my congratulations to you on a well-executed oration. You offered a reasonable and thoughtful argument. I think you may have a calling in the arena of public speaking or manuscript writing. I hope the outcome of this council meeting will not discourage you, but rather motivate you to hone your skills."

With another short bow, he moved swiftly toward the ballot box, penned his vote, and dropped it decisively through the slot. Lexi had been right about her suspicion that Philip was the god of war, and it was then that she remembered what a stuffed shirt he was. Poseidon finally lifted from his chair when all the other votes had been cast, and with a sidelong glance in Lexi's direction, he waltzed over to the ballot box and added his vote.

Lexi's stomach took that opportunity to growl, which wasn't from hunger but from nerves, and she finally lowered into a chair. Zeus carried the ballot box over, clanking it loudly on the table and making Lexi's spine stiffen. Poseidon stood by Zeus as the lid was unlocked. Then, together, they lifted out each paper vote, counting them into two piles.

Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. Lexi didn't even try to glimpse what was written on the papers. She looked out the window, distracting herself with the blue sky and cypress trees. What if the council had all voted against? How humiliating would that be? She could never show her face in Olympus again. But there were two piles, which meant at least a couple gods had agreed with her. What if she managed to sway enough gods to change the bylaws that had been in place for eons? She would be remembered as the goddess who dared to break with tradition.

Maybe she should have reminded them of the attacks on the satyrs and the one on the stable. Maybe she should have made her case sound more personal. Would Persephone be disappointed in her for failing to point them out? When she heard Zeus sigh, her growling stomach plummeted. She knew that sigh. The verdict was not what she had hoped.

"Five yeas and eight nays," he said, reaching his large hand across the table to rest it on her shoulder. "I am afraid you have been outnumbered, Lexi. But you gave them food for thought, and I suggest you petition the council again when the next hunt is upon us. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, as they say."

Lexi did her best to keep her voice measured as she said her piece. "But the minotaurs are rebelling. They are rebelling against their oppressors as well as innocents. They have slaughtered satyrs in a clear act of revolt, and just yesterday they attacked the palace stable with flaming arrows. If the hunt continues, they may try to kill Hades or one of the other underworld gods."

"I doubt they would make any headway with that," Zeus said. "Gods are immortal, remember? The only way they could take one of us down is through sorcery, which they have no means of enacting. They would have to ransack Hecate's stores. They would need our blood. Impossible. But I see where having a minotaur uprising could be distressing to the inhabitants. I will limit the number of hunting parties this season."

Poseidon chuckled. "You are sure to catch hell for that. You will be accused of playing favorites. Mark my words. You will spark an uprising here."

"Let them rise up and they will taste my fist." Zeus clenched his hand, pumping it in the air as sparks shot from it.

Whether or not Zeus had voted in favor of Lexi and the minotaurs, at least he acknowledged the seriousness of the situation. Lexi had not lost many debates, and the defeat was painful, but her visit to Olympus had not been a waste. She had faced the council of the gods and established herself as a goddess with something more to offer than an instrument of lust. Now, all she had to do was survive the orgy and she could go home.