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From high above, she could see members of the Cult of Diana following her word. The group’s leader punched a soldier in the face to steal his sword, then used it to skewer his second in command.
‘But I am not just the Empress of Women. I also call upon every man, every child, every senator and every slave. In the name of Minerva, queen of the gods, and all of our sisters above and below, we will topple the gods who have endangered our children, who have risked our freedom and our peace, and we will reclaim it, in the name of Roma!’
The Forum erupted again, as every woman who could, rushed to join the fight.
‘Viva Roma!’
Claudia had lost sight of Gia in the scramble, calling her name.
She could see Darius and Cassius riding horseback through the crowd, battling the soldiers still willing to fight.
In the pandemonium, Claudia saw many unbelievable things. She saw Diana strike her twin brother, the infamous Apollo, her loaded arrow pointing at his throat as he begged for mercy. She saw Venus kill Mars with his own burning sword as her cupids fluttered around her, weeping. She saw Mercury turn on Jupiter, ordering his messengers in winged hats and sandals to fight for victory.
She saw strange deities she didn’t recognize – winged warrior women in colourful armour and golden helmets shaped like different animal heads, who seemed to serve the Persian goddess Anahita.
She wrenched her gaze to Jupiter, hurtling towards her.
Minerva placed Claudia on top of the temple he’d built as she drew out her sword to greet him.
‘It ends here, Father.’
Their swords clashed, spewing a volcanic eruption of light, a cataclysm of rebounding sound, spraying up sparks that caught the sun.
Each time their weapons met in combat, it created a clang so loud it shook the ground, catalysing earthquakes. Human spectators dived out of the way, as colossal gods brawled in the Forum, battling until their stone bodies broke to pieces.
Down below, Livia and Dido fought beside Dom and Celadus, who’d broken free of the palace. Claudia scanned the crowd frantically for Gia, but she couldn’t see her.
The battle unfurled around her, as giant deities wrestled in the Colosseum, as black and white Pegasi flew free through the clouds, as the waters of Roman baths and pools and rivers began to froth, and mortal men were dragged to their deaths by nereids.
A carnival of satyrs and fauns snaked through the battlefield now, playing rousing songs of war, as nymphs danced behind them, chanting in euphoric fervour.
The most vengeful of the goddesses formed the frontline of Minerva’s army, while the goddesses of medicine and peace moved through the crowd, treating wounded mortals.
But Jupiter was gaining control, summoning more and more gods to his side. Even the most minor of deities were glorified as his soldiers in this, the final moment of his victory. Claudia even saw Aristaeus, the Roman god of crafts and beekeeping, joining the affray, though he quickly submitted to the goddesses.
Jupiter fired a lightning bolt that struck Minerva’s shoulder, causing golden blood to pour out and down onto the ground. As she struggled to right herself, he cast another, which glanced her neck. When she dropped her shield to stop blood from the wound, Jupiter launched a third at her, taking her down.
‘No!’
They struggled together, and Claudia heard a loud, splintering crack as Minerva’s shield smashed, exploding into shards of otherworldly metal that dissolved.
Jupiter had her pinned against what remained of the temple he’d built, as she struggled for purchase on her sword. Claudia struggled to hold on, as the foundations shook with the force.
‘Minerva!’
Unclear who was winning or what a victory for either side would mean, the citizens of Rome could only take shelter and pray.
And then, Fortuna arose into the sky, wingless and golden.
Older than Jupiter and far more powerful, Fortuna carried no weapon but her experience. He tried to bat her away like a fly, but she glowed brighter and expanded, her light filling the whole sky like a sun.
‘Fortune is not in your favour,’ she said.
In a sudden explosion of bright, brilliant light, Fortuna pulsated like a supernova, creating a powerful burst of energy that reverberated in waves across the city, downing chariots and dragging soldiers to their knees.
With a groan that split the ground, Minerva sent Jupiter flying, snatching up his dropped staff. The enormous god staggered, collapsing backwards into his temple. Claudia was thrown into the air as the building dramatically collapsed.
She felt strong arms catch her as she was swept up by Invidia and lowered slowly down to the ground below.
