"You're insane."

Those words flew out of Alex's lips before she could control her tongue. She quickly bit her lip as the beggar's eye flashed. "Not something you would say to a King now, is it?"

"I see no King, I see a beggar."

Well, so much for controlling her tongue.

It seemed to be enough, however, and the beggar sat straighter in the throne, motioning a waving hand towards the double doors of the hall.

The doors opened on their own, and Avi craned her head to see what else these people had in store for her.

You have got to be kidding me.

Just in front of the doors stood not one, not two, but over a dozen Immortals seemingly waiting their summons.

Alex was speechless, unable to close her mouth as they entered the throne hall two by two and filled up the spaces before the empty thrones.

She knew Athena; she had seen Ares, and she had met Hermes.

The others, however, were enough to strike a new kind of awe within her.

She could tell the bulky man with a limp was Hephaestus, his burly figure and bearded face was impossible to mistake for someone else.

She knew who Apollo was, the man's dark tan skin a marker of days beneath the sun, his shoulder length blone hair tied back to show his chiseled face and hazel eyes. His eyes laid on hers as he passed by, and he winked with a subtle smirk.

The beauty of these people was immeasurable; it had been a long time since Alex had felt so self-concious about her appearance.

The woman holding Apollo's arm was pale compared to him, still tan but not bronzed, her hair pitch black with streaks of white running through it. If it weren't for her forest green eyes and the bow she held in hand, Alex wouldn't have known that it was Artemis.

Artemis caught her gaze soon after Apollo's, and a smile graced her lips as she nodded knowingly at her.

Knowing what, Alex had no idea.

Ares passed without so much as a glance, and she was grateful for it. Athena passed with the same knowing smile. At least Alexandria understood that.

Then Hermes, who shrugged lightly as he passed her.

Why were they all so tall?

The man that entered next had no need for an introduction. While the beggar behind her could barely pass for a king with his appearance, this one had every bearing of it. His hair dark brown and cascading down in waves, strong brows and set eyes a deeper shade of blue than the beggar, a built form that resembled that of a swimmer.

Poseidon.

He didn't spare her a glance either, but Alex was glad he didn't. Ever since her childhood, Alex had loved water. She had loved the sea, loved going there and feeling peaceful with herself.

According to the beggar, they had known about her for a long time. Did that mean that Poseidon had been watching her as she thought she had finally found a place to be alone?

She brushed the thought aside as the next person came in.

Beauty.

Dark hair nearly reaching the floor, dressed in a pure white chiton that was clenched at the waist by an ornate belt of golden roses. She smelled like roses too, the scent permeating the room as she looked around with her golden eyes before they landed on Alex's unmoving figure.

Forget her earlier sense of self-conciousness, Alexandria felt like a beast now.

For Alex's slim figure, the woman was fuller. Alex's skin was dark while the woman's olive skin tone glowed naturally. Alex was sure her scars and ance breakouts near her jaw made her look hideous before this woman's clear, smooth skin.

Aphrodite was everything Alex was not, and it showed.

She stood there for a moment and stared, her eyes moving up and down Alex's body with a scrutiny Alex didn't appreciate. After an unbearable moment, Aphrodite smiled gently before walking past.

Alex felt like dirt. It hadn't been the first time in her life she had felt such a way, so she settled for the old, morbid feeling as if welcoming an unwelcome yet persistent friend. She could deal with that emotion, at least.

Next came in one who seemed no older than an eighteen year old boy just reaching adulthood, and it didn't take his slight stagger and curly hair for Alex to know Dionysus was passing her by.

Then Demeter. Alex could tell by the scent of grain, the green and brown chitton, the hair pulled back to a braid so straight not a hair hung loose, the deep set brown eyes to match her brown skin darker than Alex's, the dissaproving glance she gave Alex as she passed by with her head held high.

Alex wondered for a moment if she had done something wrong. You father is Lord of the Underworld.

Madness.

In contrast to Demeter, the very air around the next to walk in was welcoming. The woman was shorter than the rest, but not short, plumper, but not plump. She had a red undertone to her skin that glowed, and her redding brown hair hung loosely around her face. She smiled warmly, filling Alex with a warmth so strong she couldn't help but smile back.

Hestia.

That smiled died, however, when Alex realized who would be coming in last, even before she stepped foot in the hall.

The other Olympians had not yet sat on their thrones for respect to her, and her presence alone made Alex want to run and hide.

At least she was a lovechild of Zeus.

The chiton she wore was purple and blue, with traces of gold shimmering beneath. Her eyes golden and all seeing, hair tied back with strands strategically hung loose, the very air around her heavy with regality.

Queen Hera.

Alex lowered her gaze to the ground as the Queen passed her, she did not know if Hera spared her a glance or not, and she only turned around when she was sure Hera had reached the steps to her throne.

Once she turned, the beggar was gone. In his place stood a King, a King with the same sky blue eyes as the beggar. "Do you see a King now, Alexandria?"

His mocking tone got no response from her, and she simply watched wordlessly as the Royal couple sat, soon followed by all the others.

The Olympians.