Goddess (Starcrossed)

confirm what Hades had told her.
    “She defeated Zeus,” Athena announced. Helen could have sworn she saw a small smile tilt up the edges of Aphrodite’s lovely mouth before she schooled it straight again.
    “Poseidon. I’m calling you out. Get in the ring,” Helen commanded, trying hard to ignore the fact that he looked exactly like Lucas.
    “And why would I do that?” Poseidon answered with a sneer. “So you can send me straight to Tartarus? I’m no Worldbuilder. I can’t control the portals like you can.”
    “That’s right. I can control the portals, and none of you can. You’d better remember that,” Helen yelled back, her anger rising until her cheeks were hot and her fingers dropped sparks from the tips, like her hands were spilling stars on the sand. “And if one of you even breathes on a mortal the wrong way, I swear I’ll hunt you down and send you to Tartarus. Now, get in the ring, Poseidon. Or forfeit this fight, take all your smelly monsters, and get the hell away from my family.”
    Poseidon took a step forward and glared at Helen from across the ring as Athena whispered frantically in his ear. Finally, he settled down, but Helen saw a grudge growing in his eyes.
    “I forfeit!” Poseidon snarled. Helen felt her knees quiver with relief, but she couldn’t back down just yet.
    “Anyone else?” she said, looking each Olympian in the face. “Does anyone else want to fight me?” They all dropped their gazes. “Good! Now shut that giant, rotten squid up or I’ll send it—and one of you—to Tartarus on principle.”
    Helen stared extra long at Apollo, just so he knew who would be joining the Kraken in Tartarus if it came to that.
    Poseidon’s eyes drilled into hers from across the ring. His bare chest swelled with incensed breaths. Helen met his stare and didn’t flinch. She held all the cards. He couldn’t even curse her, and somehow, he seemed to know it. After a few tense moments, he raised a hand, concentrated, and the Kraken began to retreat. Strange trumpets sounded, and the rest of his sea-creature army pulled back, slithering or scurrying to the water.
    “Forever is a long time, Helen,” Poseidon warned as his army retreated. He narrowed his eyes at her. “We’ll be seeing you.”
    “And we’ll be watching you,” Helen warned, gesturing to her group of Scions. Unless Helen put all the gods in Tartarus, she couldn’t stop them from wandering the Earth. All she and her family could do was make sure the Olympians didn’t hurt anyone. She shared a look with Hector and saw her worry mirrored there. The Scions may have won the war, but that didn’t mean the threat was gone.
    Poseidon turned and walked down to the waves, disappearing beneath them. As the rest of the Olympians dispersed, some with looks of bitterness, others with respect, Aphrodite came forward and took both of Helen’s hands in hers.
    “Sister,” she said, kissing Helen on the cheek as if they had just met up for lunch. Helen laughed, shaking her head. Aphrodite had always hated wars and tended to ignore that they were happening altogether. “Come visit me soon. You and Lucas. I’ll let you know where I settle, but I’m thinking Cyprus for the winter.”
    “We’ll see you soon,” Helen promised, chuckling and shaking her head.
    Even though Aphrodite had caused Helen as much trouble as Zeus, there was no way she could ever stay upset with her for long. Like Claire, no matter what Aphrodite did, Helen knew she would end up forgiving her in about five seconds. Sisters were annoying that way.
    Aphrodite pulled back and stroked Helen’s cheek. “That beautiful face,” she murmured, before flying away in a nimbus of golden light.
    Helen turned to look at the crowd gathered behind her and saw her father first. Jerry was propped up between Kate and Noel. He looked pale and thin, but he managed to stand up mostly by himself.
    “Dad!” Helen said, surprised.
    “Hey, Len,” he said. He gave her a lame wave, looking awkward and uncertain—and a little scared of her.
    “Are you going to be all weird with me now?” she asked, dreading it.
    “No,” he answered a little too quickly.
    “You better not,” she said, giving him a hug. It took a second before he relaxed into it and hugged her back, but when he did, she knew that things would figure themselves out between the two of them, given some time.
    After she and her father separated, there was a blur of congratulations and hugs from