ANTAGONIST's POV

They say, Gods and underwear perform better when hidden. I don't know about the second one, but I do know the first because I was one of them.
When men stopped praying, gods lost their powers. That's what happened to me too. But it's all about to change.

MY KINGDOM COME, MY WILL BE DONE

*

Athena

We are the Fallens. 

Once the mighty Greek gods, now we survive on scraps of power. Fallen gods, looking for ways to earn power again. We will never be divine again but we can still be powerful enough to take the world, if enough people worship us again.

Kneel before us in submission.

I scroll through the pages of Pinterest, which now refers to me as mythology. Athena, the powerful Greek goddess of warfare and literature, is now a myth to everyone. Athena, a fallen goddess.

My dad enters the room, making me look away from the phone and onto him. He still commands my attention even though both of us are equivalently centuries older. He might be the God of the Gods- Zeus for everyone but for me he still is the same doting and loving father. The father who sometimes irritates me with his care and love.

"If this is about Westosand, then we have nothing much to discuss.. You are going." Dad ensured I adhere to his words, even though he might be dying on the inside to let his little one go away from him.

Westosand, a place where I am doomed to meet wizards, witches, fallen angels and even mortals. The real ones.

Let me paint you a picture of my detest. If ever, you were a god, who was once worshiped by people and now you have to work and study with them, spend time with them, what would you do? If your answer is to avoid them at all costs then you are aligned to my thoughts. I am doing the same. They were the reason for our downfall.

"Dad, I know all the magic required to thrive. I don't need a university degree to prove it." Protesting my way one last time, I try my best to convince him.

He laughs knowing what I am unto. "You don't need it but I need to make sure you know everything there is to know." Holding my hands, dad places me onto the chair as he kneels in front of me. His eyes reveal fear and sadness.

"When the last of the humans stop their prayers to us, we will become powerless. Completely. You will forget all your powers. It's already happening to me and I know it's happening to you too."

He is right. The Greek Gods and Goddesses were the most powerful at one point in history. When humans stopped believing in us and more and more people became atheist, our powers reduced. The once immortals, now we are mere mortal. Powerful mortals, but mortals nevertheless.

"Do I get no exemptions being your favorite one?" I question him with my sad face and puppy eyes.

"Who said you are my favorite?" he laughs, taking a seat beside me and knowing fully well I have all the required proof.

Speaking into my phone I keep my steady gaze at dad, who sadly is technologically depraved. "Hey Siri, who is Zeus's favorite child?"

*Siri's reply- Athena.*

Dad laughs again knowing quite well, how I always play the favorite card with him and yet he still let's he have my way. "Fine. Give it a year. If you can't manage it till then, you can come back and I will train you myself." His head tilt is the reassurance I need.

I leap onto him, hugging and swinging him to and fro for his words. Letting out a huff, he continues. "I would know if you really tried. You maybe good at strategies, but you should know who your father is. I know everything."

I salute him mockingly. "Aye aye captain"

He pats my head before walking out with no demeanor of a father who is sending his kid away.

**

My suitcases is already sent to the university. It's just me who has to appear there now. Closing my eyes, I think of the place and I immediately stand in front of Westosand University. The fallen's University. 

The description of Westosand by dad and my siblings is really astounding but standing in front of it, I know that words fall short to describe it properly. The beautiful gothic architecture and the towering white marble truly mesmerize me. The design was carved by archangels themselves while the construction was done by fallen and gods. And it can be seen in the building, the structure moves with every earth movement, sways with the wind like a mirage and floats like a cloud. If this isn't architectural marvel, then I don't know, what is.

Walking in, I pass through tainted glass windows with kaleidoscopic effect. The wind passes through the buildings with a soothing chime resonating all around. The water and air combine towards the garden making a constant rain sound while the petrichor makes me miss my room's window.

No wonder all my sibling got trained here. It would have been stupidity on my part to not come here and get trained.

Yes, my dad Zeus was a big casanova in his day. And because gods could have multiple partners, he ensured that his children are born from both goddesses and mortals. I guess half the Greece was populated by him. I also assume he never understood the use of a condom.

Strolling through the offices along the way, I finally step into the office of dean of admissions. "May I come in.."

 "Yes. Yes. Athena, please come in," he stands and bows at me.

Now that's a welcome I deserve.

Taking my place, I look at him while he sorts out papers with my name on it. The dean is a mortal but a good one. He prays to all the gods and fallen, hence he deserves his place here. Although mortal, I don't mind my interaction with the dean. There are mortal who still pray to us, my favorite kind. He is one among them.

I can't hate an entire specie of beings because a few faltered. It would be like hating all snakes although only some are poisonous.

In Westosand, only powerful mortals can sustain themselves. No normal human can visit or even see this place. The dean must have been some powerful being once.

Clearing his throat, he reattaches his glasses on his wrinkled and tired yet smiling face, holding on to the step of the specs while speaking. "There seems to be some sort of confusion. You were supposed to join next year."

"No. Its this year," I sounded like a whining kid who was refused what she wanted.

He goes diving back into those papers while I look around his office. Photos of gods, goddesses, fallen angels and award winning witches and mortals decorate his walls.

Looking back again, he speaks nervously. "The things is Athena. All the seats for this year are taken."

There is only a limited amount of patience that I carry with me nowadays and that seems to have used up in the morning. And being a fallen goddess of warfare and strategy, I like it not being calm at times.

"What do you mean all seats are taken?" Pushing  off the chair, I look at the dean, who seems to be cowering under my vision. "I convinced my dad not to send me here and he still did and now you are telling me, there is no place for me."

"Goddess, please calm down." The dean requests for kindness and I can't keep it away from him. He hasn't done anything wrong. His patient calls and softness over the word goddess calms me. Also, I am not a bad person. Just a girl going through a phase. A phase of loosing her powers.

"So what do we do now.." I am nothing if not a strategic goddess. Immediately, diving in for solutions is like a second nature to me.

"I can secure you a seat in class.. But..."

"But what now?" My eyes rolled inwards.

He spills his guts out immediately, "The lodging is full"

"That won't be an issue. I will travel from my house back and forth." He hesitates again before speaking. I realize his apprehension so I calm him this time. "You don't have to worry, I won't harm you."

"Thank you goddess." The man clears his throat before talking again. "The problem is with lodging. We don't allow students to stay outside the residency."

"So give me the gods place or demigods mansions. I can adjust."

Sadly a fallen has its own drawbacks. We tend to adjust a lot.

"The mansions allotted for the gods and demis are all filled."

I drop my head speaking further. Patience was a virtue I missed possessing. "Please don't tell me I have to stay with the mortals." Please don't.

"The only place available is the big mansion...with..."

"With whom.. Just spit it out."

Upon being compelled the dean immediately speaks up. "The vices"

My body stands at attention when I hear those words. "The cardinal sins.. The Seven deadly sins of Christianity?" My own bodily reaction is surprising to me. "Those boys are here? They are fallen too?"

I have always heard of the seven deadly sins. Heck, my devotees worshiped me to get rid of them. Guess with the human advancement, even they fell through. Now the seven sins are all being replaced by new ones.

I always wanted to see them. Everyone says a mortal neither can see them nor can remind untouched by their powers. They were the impending doom upon humans since birth.

But I am no mere mortal.

While I think of all this, my mind immediacy runs scenarios which will help me in my plans to leave Westosand quickly. "I will take it." With both hands clutched together, I speak merrily.    

With a concerned tone, the dean addresses my decision. "Are to sure. They are all boys.. and they are.."

"Uncontrollable.. I know.."

I like the dean's concern but I am a powerful being. They can't do much harm to me. 

Hope was a dangerous thing I carry. 

**

Using my powers, I track where the boys live. The tracking powers are the few of those which we have managed to retain amongst the load of powers which seem to disapperate. Within seconds I stand in front of the double doors of the mansion. It looks huge and beautiful from outside, like all deadly things.

Drawing a deep breath, I knock at the door. A second later, the door flings open without anyone opening it. Walking inside, I looking around. The place is magnificent. Huge like my place. It not just is beautiful from outside, it looks marvelous from inside. And had I not known who would have stayed here, I would have very well assumed it was a girl's place.

So spick and span.

I shouldn't have any problem living here for a full term. But the boys need to behave.

Where are they?

I look around but find no one. Walking in further, I call out. "Hello.. Is anyone home..?"

"Yes they are. And it's considered uncivilized to not knock and just barge in." An angry voice hits my ears as I turn to see who it was. The tone indicates rage. 

This man must be Wrath. He does have a smoldering, angry man look going on underneath his raging eyes. Clarifying, I reply with stretched palm. "Sorry about that, the door opened on its own. I am Athena."

His eyes widen at my name before he composes himself. "As in.." he waits for me to finish my sentence.

"Yes. As in goddess Athena." I give a little smile and a shrug like its not a big deal for me to be here. He bows before looking up and smiling. Even his smile is beautiful as equivalently breathtaking as his anger. "I don't have a place to stay so I was.." I was cut short while he took over.

"It would be our privilege. I am Samuel. Sam for short.."

"Hello Sam." I shake his hands and instantly fell the hot blood rush when one gets angry. Yes, I can sense feelings through touch. You an call it my residual god charm. Oh, you mortals, you wouldn't understand. 

I release his hold while he walks in front of me, showing me around. "Let's meet the others," his voice echoes through the halls with an intensity heavy enough to break glasses.

We walk upstairs and after what seems like a corridor full of door. Sam finally opens the door to reveal the theater room in the house along with the rest of his crew members. All of them are better looking than one other. Surely someone would have approached them all for modelling contracts if not for anything else.

Sam steps forward. "Guys. This is Athena. She will stay with us for the term."

Upon hearing my name, they all stand up together while I walk towards them sheepishly. Their intense staring makes me nervous. Had I been in my full power, I could have very well managed all of them, but sadly I am not in my full power and their eyes makes me shiver a bit. 

"Hello," was all I could manage. Gosh! Where on earth did the Athena who fought wars and conquered territories go? And who is this little kitten who is meowing at their gazes instead of roaring? 

"Hello there. I am Rett." A man with neatly placed hair, a crooked smile and a seductive look lifted his hand for me to take. Dressed formally even in a casual surrounding, his tone was warn and his eyes spoke sinful deeds. He is magical like the rest and seemed to be the commander of the ship.

"Hi.." I shake his hands and the sensation of charm and seduction runs over me. This man has the power to take me right here, right now. That feeling can only come by meeting the one. Lust took the form of Rett.

I also had another realization. This is going to be really long and exhausting handshake of the century.

"Hi I am Jake," another one says. The way he answered his name, those nonchalant expression and the way he seems to not extend his hand all conveyed Pride. He doesn't let his hand out so I do, which he takes on happily.

"Hello Goddess. I am Ezra." Ezra's handshake makes me feel his assertion of dominance over me. He wasn't smiling, his expressions were stoic. He did not like the way his friends looked at me. I can read him. He is Jealousy.

"Hi, I am Kare," shaking his hand I know the feeling of insatiable need to be with me. Kare's face had a smile on it all the time. His cute dimples made him look adorable and huggable. Kare was Gluttony, but a toned, six pack one unlike what I always imagined. Blubber.

"Liam," a boy says. He doesn't get up from his beanbag and neither does he look at me. His eyes are fixed on his phone. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who he is. A laid back attitude and messy hair can only point to one. The lazy one, the Sloth.

"Hey there. I'm Zane." His eyes never leave me while his hands take mine and hold onto them till Sam intervenes. If looks could own me, then I would be Zane's by now. He must be Greed."

"Sooo.. you all are friends?" Ending the long line of handshakes and feeling all seven sins inside of me, I speak again. Everyone laughs. I must have said something stupid and for all I know, they must be related.

Rett addresses the hanging question. "We are brothers."

Zane chimes in. "And you must know what they said about us," with a smirk, he continues, "We are the gatekeepers of hell."

Well what do I say for that! That I am a mortal now and I don't care about hell or heaven. I just want my powers back and I want people to pray to me again.

Kare softly poses another question for me. "You will be our roommate for a whole year?"

I bob my head. "Yes.. that's what the dean says.."

Liam picks up his phone lazily, showing me what I saw in the morning on Pinterest. "Hey. What they show here about you, is it true?"

'Yes it's true.."

"So you are Zeus's favorite kid and a virgin goddess?" he continues. Everyone eyes stay on me, blazing my skin.

Fuck. Mortals prayed to me for their sex life too, asides war, but now that I am on the other side, it feels stupid. As a Goddess, my virginity was my pride, but knowing how humans treat it, I don't know. Should I have slept with someone before?

"Yes.. both are true," I answered. 

I could feel a shift in their perspective. These sins had never met a god before. I was their first. Although unsaid, their thoughts were clear and loud for me. They all wanted me. In their own sinful way, they wanted to rule me. 

Ezra smiles as he walks closer to me. "Well. What can we say other than, welcome home Athena!"

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Author's notes

Hello all you lovely people.

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