Daphne yawned lazily and sat up with a sleepy expression on her face. She placed her hand on her brother’s arm, worried to find him lost in contemplation.
Phevos turned to look at her and tried to smile, although his mind was still engaged in deep thought, trying to interpret the dream. He didn’t know the reason why his father was no longer at Athena’s command. Nonetheless, the young man worshipped her, feeling honored that the goddess had once chosen his father as her servant and guardian of the city. This is what made Phevos think Athena was perhaps the reason why he was there. He also hoped she’d guide him to fulfill a certain purpose; just like she used to direct his father in the past, during his secret assignments.
“Well, how did you sleep, young lady? And more importantly, how are you feeling today?” he asked Daphne, forcing a smile.
“I slept wonderfully, thank you!” Daphne issued a grin that lit up her sleepy eyes. Her hair was tousled. Thick, auburn curls bounced on her shoulders as she spoke. “I swear, this bed could resurrect the dead! So comfortable!” she added, and they both burst into laughter.
Phevos shushed his sister after a few moments, once it occurred to him he had no idea of the time. If it was very early, he hoped they hadn’t disturbed their hosts. Guessing his thoughts, his sister pointed to the antique clock on his nightstand. They’d both used clocks and watches many times in the past, as their father had brought home quite a few during his travels when he was still a young man. It was half past eight.
“I wonder if they are awake,” he said, leaning closer to his sister to examine the wound on her face. The red mark from the iodine was still there.
“Do not worry, Brother. It does not hurt. I am fine now.”
“I am glad . . .”
“What do we do now, Phevos? Where do we go today?”
“I do not know, Daphne . . . but let us have faith. Father gave me his necklace for a reason. We just have to wait to find out what it is,” he said, as he watched his sister get up and walk to the window.
Daphne pulled the thin curtains to one side, allowing the bright sunlight to stream through, warming her face. “Oh what blessed light! And look at this gorgeous garden outside!” As she peeked through the half-closed shutters, she continued recounting morning blessings, describing to Phevos all she could see past the young, olive tree outside.
“Here, let me do this for you!” Phevos opened the windowpane for her. As soon as the shutters were open too, the morning light entered the room like a welcomed guest with happy news. They both stood at the open window, admiring the wild flowers and the herb bushes along the path on the side of the house. The fragrance of rosemary and mint entered the room wafted by the crisp morning air.
Smiling brightly, Daphne went to the dresser and sat on the stool in front of the mirror. Phevos sat back on the bed, and his mind wandered again to his dream about Athena.
“Divine Aphrodite, what mess is this!” said Daphne taking one look at her long, tangled hair in the mirror. She lifted a couple of her silky, auburn curls comically with both hands. “Look at me, just look at me!” she said to her brother, wrinkling her nose.
Phevos burst out laughing at her girlish vanity and the absurdity of it all. Regardless of everything else, that was all she had found to complain about.
“You girls! There! Use that . . .” Still laughing, he pointed at the brush on the dresser.
“Do you really think I should? Won’t our hosts mind?” “They have done so much for us, Daphne. I do not think they will mind you using that.”
“I should think you are right . . .” She picked up the brush, and like magic, her fiery curls soon sprang back into life, her hair silky smooth again. When she finished, she put down the brush and issued an enormous smile of satisfaction.
Phevos thought the time was right, so he spoke to her about his dream, and she was delighted to hear about it. They both shared the same affection for Athena, and she agreed with her brother that, most probably, the goddess was going to protect them during this unexpected adventure. Neither of them could decipher the dream, though. What did Athena mean when she asked Phevos to find her at her refuge? Maybe that made no sense now, but they both expected it was a sign and believed that soon enough, they would understand.
When they heard a faint knock at the door, Daphne stood up to answer it. Her nightdress was too long, and to avoid falling over, she lifted the hem as she walked.
Despite the comical scene, as he watched her, Phevos thought how ethereal Daphne looked, and in his mind he saw her again like the little girl she once was, when they used to play in the gardens of their estate. He still remembered how her hair shone under the sun. It was flowing in the wind tied in ribbons as she ran, her laughter echoing like the tinkle of fine crystal, like the musical sound of the river that flows gently down the stream. During the time they’d spent in their gardens as children, he’d promised himself countless times he’d always protect his beautiful, fragile little sister from harm. Once again, silently, he made the same promise.
Ksenia smiled from the door. She was still dressed in her pajamas. Her dark, brown hair was short with a fringe that had grown too long and tickled her eyelashes. With a delicate movement from her fingers, she swept the long strands from her big blue eyes while making a mental note to visit the hairdresser’s soon. Phevos stood and flashed her a big smile as she approached.
“Good morning to you!” Ksenia said to her guests, beaming at Phevos for a few more moments than is customary before turning her attention to his sister. “How are you today, Daphne?”
“Good morning, Ksenia. I am fine, thanks to your generous hospitality.”
“Indeed, we are much obliged to you. If we could have our clothes back please, we should be ready to go now,” said Phevos. Although he was grateful, he thought it best to leave as soon as possible, before the strange and growing fondness he felt toward Ksenia made it even harder. Besides, he and Daphne were on a mission. Sooner or later, they’d have to leave.
Ksenia’s eyes widened with alarm. “Please, no need to rush! You haven’t even had breakfast yet!”
Phevos extended a hand, palm up. “Please, Ksenia, there is no need to—”
“I’m not listening! Unless you want to tell me what you prefer to drink. Coffee or tea, perhaps?” She gave an obliging smile.
“All right, a glass of milk please. This would be fine for my sister too, thank you,” said Phevos. Standing beside him, Daphne nodded her assent with a grateful smile.
“Great! If you’d like to come to the kitchen, we can all have breakfast together.”
“Of course, let me come and help you,” said Daphne. When the girls left the room, Phevos walked up to the window. The ground was still damp after last night’s rainfall. The small olive tree swayed rhythmically in the breeze, as if offering a cheerful greeting to the warming sun. Phevos put on the slippers Ksenia had given him the previous night and, with a determined look on his face, strode out of the room, eager to face his first full day in this modern world.
Phevos found everyone sitting together in the kitchen. The little radio on the counter played a happy tune, and Manos was engaged in conversation with Daphne as he showed her the glossy pages of a computer games magazine. Daphne browsed in amazement through the colorful display of pictures and tried to conceal the feeling of awe that consumed her as she turned each page. Until now, she’d never seen paper so smooth and colorful, and she marveled at the imagination of the artist who had created these images. They all seemed mind-blowing to her. Every now and then, she’d utter an exclamation of surprise, or she’d nod happily as Manos described the basic storyline of his favorite games. Of course, she only pretended to understand, as she couldn’t possibly fathom words like ‘nuclear explosion’, ‘galactic journey’ or ‘zombie’.
Ksenia watched them in silence as she enjoyed a cup of coffee and spoke only once to remind her brother that his cocoa drink was getting cold in his mug. Manos didn’t talk at length with many people, a
nd she was pleased this rare opportunity had arisen for him to share with someone his passion for games.
Phevos sat beside Ksenia. For the last minute, he’d also been watching Daphne and Manos in silence while sipping milk from his glass. Ksenia had placed a tray of warm mini-croissants on the table, and she urged her guests to have another. Both of them obliged her eagerly, enjoying another of the tiny desserts that melted in the mouth, releasing the warm hazelnut filling, sweeter than honey, on the tongue.
Ksenia sipped her coffee while watching her guests and felt her curiosity grow all the more inside her. Secretly, she was hoping to see them again after their departure. The strange feeling of familiarity she’d felt toward them the previous night resurfaced as she looked at Daphne. It took her a few moments to place it, and then, to her surprise, she realized that, somehow, quite absurdly, the young girl reminded her of her mother.
Maybe it was the jewellery Daphne was wearing, the heavy long earrings in particular. Ksenia had vivid memories of her parents getting ready to go out for the evening to the theatre or for a meal when she was still very little. Before leaving, her mother used to hold her and kiss her goodnight, and then she’d leave her in the trusted hands of her best friend, Anna. During those goodbyes that Ksenia remembered so well, her mother looked just like Daphne did now. Her face was gentle and full of joy, framed by sparkling jewellery on her ears and neck. Little Ksenia would cling to her mother tightly, inhaling her perfume as she held her close. It was a comforting scent; it was precious to her, almost holy. When her mother kissed her and let her go, Ksenia would look up, and she’d see nothing but the sparkle of gold and diamonds behind her teary eyes.
Ksenia had never liked to part with her mother. And now, this young girl had come unexpectedly into her life to bring back the feeling of being with her. It had been the only connection with her mother—albeit remote and unreasonable—that she’d experienced for so long, only to have to part with it again. She felt unwilling, even more so now, to let Daphne go, to let both of them go, as a matter of fact.
For totally different reasons, she was just as unwilling to accept the possibility she wouldn’t see Phevos again either. The look in his eyes had stirred feelings in her she’d never known before. Someone who grows up while having to deal with such a loss, someone who is responsible for a small child without even being his mother, surely cannot have the luxury of romantic love. Or so she thought until now, until this funny beating started in her heart. This frantic rhythm that peaked every time Phevos’s eyes rested on hers.
“Are you staying in our city for a few days? Is your hotel nearby?” Ksenia tried to sound casual as she placed her coffee cup on the saucer. She hoped that if only she could arrange to see them again, it’d be easier for her when they left the house.
“Um . . . actually, we are not staying anywhere in particular at the moment,” answered Phevos. It didn’t feel right to him to start producing lies. That wouldn’t be honorable considering what Ksenia had done for them. Phevos looked at his sister, who had now finished her milk and was gazing back at him silently.
Daphne smiled at her brother and decided to contribute to the conversation and share with him the burden she saw in his eyes. “Indeed, as you know, we are travelers. Tourists!” she smiled, uttering the strange word Ksenia had mentioned the previous night. “We arrived at the city last night. We had a little walk around and we lost our way. Then you found us on your land—”
“Oh! You arrived here at Monastiraki station? Was it a long journey from home, if I may ask?” interrupted Ksenia surprising herself. Her eagerness to know more about her guests bordered on tactlessness, but it was irresistible to her.
Daphne bit her lip, her eyes seeking refuge in the colorful magazine that still lay before her on the table.
“Yes, we took the train from the port of Pireas . . . after a long boat journey,” Phevos lied. “We intended to find a hotel for the night, but, as my sister said, we got lost. Then she slipped and fell and, well, you know the rest!” he added swallowing hard. Sweat prickled his forehead, and pangs of guilt tortured him for repaying Ksenia’s kindness with lies. How else were they to explain their situation though? And who would believe the truth?
“But, what about luggage?” asked Ksenia.
“Luggage?” replied Phevos, frowning at the unknown word.
“You know . . . Suitcases, trolley bags, your belongings! You didn’t have any with you?”
“Yes, Ksenia . . . Indeed, we had one large suitcase between us but . . . it got stolen.” Phevos twisted his lips and surrendered to the realization that lying was inevitable. The truth was out of the question so this left them with no other choice. All he could do is try to lie as little as possible.
“Wow, that’s terrible!” piped up Manos. Until then, he’d been listening without much interest, but what he’d just heard had excited his boyish imagination that yearned for adventure. Manos made this comment spontaneously, before he could stop himself. When they all turned to look at him, he lowered his gaze and bit his lower lip, retreating into his comfortable shell of silence.
“Yes it is terrible,” said Daphne with a sigh, giving her brother a fleeting look that conveyed to him, her own feelings of guilt. The knot in her throat made it hard for her to speak, but she didn’t want her brother to have to lie on his own. “It was stolen on the train that we took from the port. It was crowded in there, and we never noticed,” she added. Thankfully, her father’s detailed descriptions of all things of this age included the details of the railway line that runs across central Athens, linking the port of Pireas to the city’s northern suburbs. Neither Phevos nor Daphne could ever have imagined their father’s stories would come in so useful one day, and at that, for resorting to lies.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” said Ksenia, a deep frown on her face, but then, her eyes lit up with a wonderful idea. “You know, we have a family business of room rentals close by. It’s on our street. It’s a small, traditional guesthouse. Nothing fancy, but it’s clean and hospitable. Would you like me to show it to you? Perhaps you’d like to stay there?”
Daphne brought a hand to her mouth, then turned to look at Phevos, her eyes begging him to accept. Ksenia’s offer meant they wouldn’t have to roam the city aimlessly. It seemed to her like a godsend.
“Ksenia, your offer is very kind,” said Phevos. “Thank you, but we must decline.”
“But why, Phevos?” piped up Daphne before Ksenia had time to express her own dismay. Daphne smiled to Ksenia and Manos awkwardly, hoping her brother hadn’t caused them offence. She’d noticed how Ksenia’s face had dropped, how serious she now looked, almost upset.
“Daphne,” Phevos said as he turned to his sister, “Do you forget that all our money was . . . inside the suitcase?” He fixed her with a meaningful stare. Secretly, he also wished he could give a positive answer to Ksenia. But Athena had asked him in the dream to get out there and find her. Not to stay in one place idle, un-seeking. He and Daphne had to roam the city looking for a sign that would explain the dream. It could be miles before they might find something that made sense. They had no time to lose. By sunset, they’d need to have some cash for food and shelter. He wouldn’t allow himself to subject his sister to an overnight stay outdoors, not even for one night.
“Excuse me . . .” said Ksenia, “I’m sorry to intervene in a discussion between you on such a private matter, but really, you shouldn’t worry about payment in advance. We don’t require this from our guests.”
Phevos raised his brows. “You don’t?”
“Of course not!” answered Ksenia, hopeful now she could convince him. “Our guests settle their bills upon departure. And I don’t even need to see identification for you two. You both have honest faces, so there!” She gave a huge grin.
“Oh, that’s so kind, Ksenia! Thank you for your trust,” replied Daphne, then threw her brother a glance full of hope.
Phevos hung his head in deep thought. When he looked up again after a few
moments, his eyes searched Ksenia’s deeply. “Are you sure? You don’t mind?”
“Of course I’m sure, Phevos! Some of our customers stay for long periods. Sometimes a whole month passes before they make any kind of payment. You and Daphne are welcome to stay for as long as you like. I’m sure your bank will help you if you provide them with some sort of identification. Or perhaps your family or friends could send you some cash until you sort this problem out. Or I can even help you with that, if you like. Please accept! We’ll worry about you if you leave our house without money or a change of clothes. It’s cold out there at nightfall. Daphne doesn’t even have a coat! Think about it! Where will you go?” Ksenia had been gesturing wildly as she spoke. She had decided she wouldn’t allow them to do something that stupid. She cared for them too much by now.
For the first time, after all the lies Phevos had uttered, he’d finally lost his voice for good. He knew Ksenia was right. He looked at his sister and saw the silent plea in her eyes. They were both right. His sister’s safety had to come first. Perhaps he could earn money somehow and start paying for the accommodation soon. They could still look for signs from Goddess Athena.
Phevos issued a long sigh. “You are right, Ksenia. We accept your kind offer with pleasure. Thank you . . .” As he said these words, his face lit up with relief. The same feeling shot across to the faces of the two young girls. Daphne sprang up from her chair to fall into his arms.
Ksenia smiled from ear to ear, and Manos, who sat across from the others, seemed to share their enthusiasm as well. His sister didn’t exactly have a multitude of friends, and so it would be nice for her to have Daphne around for a few days. Phevos seemed all right, too. He was the first young man who had ever been in his house, and he didn’t mind the novelty. On the contrary, he thought he could hang out with Phevos. He seemed nice enough although he wasn’t too keen on the way he and Ksenia kept holding each other’s gaze in an odd way. It was amusing to watch, but it felt a bit annoying too.
The Necklace of Goddess Athena Page 4
