The Necklace of Goddess Athena

by Effrosyni Moschoudi

  When she returns from Corfu, ask her to give it to you, saying I had mentioned she was keeping it for you. Poseidon’s instructions for these two wands are as follows: you are to keep one for yourself and to never part with it, no matter what. The other one must be placed in the cave on the altar. Make sure to remove from there all three candleholders made of gold with their crystal candles.

  Do with them whatever you want. All that Poseidon wishes is that you remove them from the cave, and that you place one wand on the altar. After you’ve done that, talk to our friends Kimon and Eleni and arrange for the entrance of the cave to be buried under tons of earth until no trace of its existence remains. Be sure to ask for their permission seeing that the cave is on their land but don’t offer them any justification.

  I trust our friendship is strong enough for them to honor your wish without needing to know the reasons. You must then find the strength to leave our home and friends behind and move to Sounio. Poseidon wishes to keep you safe there until the right time comes to move again. He wants us to look out for signs all the time. Never forget that. Also remember we’ve been sworn to secrecy about all this. You mustn’t disclose any of this to Kimon and Eleni or Mrs. Sofia.

  This is a burden for you, I know, but think that across time, we are sharing it together. You shouldn’t even return to Athens until the right time comes. Only the signs will show you when! Have faith and remember that no matter what wicked plans Athena has in store for us, we have Poseidon on our side to make amends. Although he hasn't revealed his full plan to me, I know it will unravel through a series of signs for all three of us, and therefore, we must all keep our eyes open. I want you to know that thanks to Poseidon, we won't ever need to worry about Athena again. I love you and think of you as I draw each breath. One day, we will both be back with you. I promise.

  With eternal love, Efimios.

  Anna read the last few words of her husband’s letter with difficulty. Her vision had become blurred. Hot tears streamed down her face, smudging words here and there on the paper. She brought her hands together to say a prayer, never letting go of the letter. She called out to God and, for the first time, wondered if Poseidon was listening too. She welcomed him to, as odd as it felt to her. She would call God any name now as long as he could help her. She hoped her husband and her son were safe, as well as her friends. Efimios had urged her to keep secrets from Kimon and Eleni. He couldn’t have imagined they would vanish as well.

  Hopefully, Efimios was taking care of them too back in his ancient world where, no doubt, Athena had taken them. Anna needed to believe that what her husband had written was true, and that one day, her family would be reunited again. She prayed this would include her lost friends as well. What had happened was unfair to them. They should have stayed with their children that night. She should never have let them get involved.

  Heavy with remorse and sorrow, Anna’s body tilted sideways like a tree being felled. Her hand caught the tin, hundreds of buttons spilling out onto the carpet. Anna lay there crying, her body shaking with every sob before the colorful contents of her sea treasure. As she clutched the letter against her chest, her husband’s smudged words on the tear-stained paper became her only lifesaver in a sea of despair.

  Chapter 24

  Olga sat behind the reception desk opening the mail, deep in thought. She’d been working in Pallada for around a month, substituting for Mrs. Sofia while she was away. The recent events had upset her, like everyone else in the neighborhood. Both her employers had disappeared mysteriously, as well as their tenant with his son.

  Olga couldn’t believe the inner strength Anna had shown. She’d lost her husband and child overnight. Anyone in her place would have shut down mentally. Yet, she’d proven capable to function on her own from the very first day and, what's more, to take care of her friends’ children.

  Anna managed only short visits to Pallada nowadays to supervise and help with what little she could, and Olga hadn’t complained about the double shifts she now had to do since Eleni was no longer there to relieve her of her duties. She hadn’t asked for extra pay either. It shamed her to even think to do that, seeing the sacrifices Anna was making.

  However, Olga did hope Mrs. Sofia would come back soon. She’d spoken to her on the phone the previous week. Mrs. Sofia’s sister was rushed to hospital again and, this time, it sounded like the end was drawing near. The news upset Olga but she agreed with Mrs. Sofia that when someone suffers so much, it’s best to let them go.

  Like Mrs. Sofia, Olga was kind and compassionate. In the last ten days, she’d visited the house to see the children every evening after work. She’d bring them little treats like chocolate bars, sweets, or strawberries from Mr. Giorgis’s store, anything to make them smile. She felt good to know she could contribute to the care of the children somehow, even if it only involved something so trivial.

  Olga was in her early thirties and had been working in hotels all her life. As a child, she loved to help her mother, who still worked at the family hotel back home, on the island of Sifnos. Many years ago, Olga had come to Athens to study Tourism and had got a job in a nearby guesthouse after her graduation. Kimon knew the owner, and that is how he’d met her. When the hotelier sold his business, Olga wasn’t happy with the new management and decided to look for a new job. At the time, Kimon was seeking a substitute for Mrs. Sofia, who was preparing to leave for her long stay in Corfu. When Kimon met Olga in the street one day, Olga told him she was job hunting and Kimon offered her the job on the spot.

  The sound of car doors opening and closing outside jolted Olga out of her reverie. A taxi had stopped outside. She saw Mrs. Sofia standing by the open trunk with the driver and jumped to her feet. The driver came up the stairs and left Mrs. Sofia’s luggage at the threshold. As he moved to go, Olga rushed to the old lady to welcome her. She hugged and kissed her but noticed she looked different. Her smile was not genuine, and she looked drawn, exhausted. Olga didn’t say anything; instead, she invited her to sit on the couch while she brought her a glass of water.

  Mrs. Sofia drank, then told Olga her sister had passed away. After the funeral the day before, she’d rushed back to her life in Athens, ready to face the routine again, as she put it, in order to look to better days. To her surprise, when she asked how everyone was, instead of a trivial response, she received more devastating news. Olga was reluctant to tell her, but when asked how everyone was, her upset was too obvious to conceal.

  Mrs. Sofia grew very distressed, and her eyes welled with tears that found familiar, well-beaten paths as they coursed down her face.

  ***

  “Anna! My poor, poor child!” Mrs. Sofia cried when Anna opened the door. The old lady stretched out her arms, and Anna fell in her embrace without saying a word. Moments later, in the sitting room, the two women allowed their tears to flow, away from prying eyes. Anna asked Mrs. Sofia about her sister, she heard about her passing and expressed her own sympathy.

  As the women continued to talk quietly, the sunlight streamed in through the window with solemnity, like another comforting friend. Mrs. Sofia took Anna’s hand and squeezed it with feeling, saying she’d arrived just a half hour earlier, and upon hearing the news, she’d come to visit her at once.

  Anna felt moved by her compassion. She couldn’t help thinking the timing was amazing. She’d found her husband’s letter that morning, and now Mrs. Sofia had returned. There was going to be no delay. She would get the wands soon, after all. Despite her upset, Anna felt comforted, aware she had a mission to complete, knowing she could finally do something instead of going from day to day through the motions with a vague hope for a miracle.

  Mrs. Sofia asked Anna about that night. How did they all disappear? Was any evidence found? What had the police said? Anna replied to the questions in the same vague manner she’d answered the police, telling Mrs. Sofia the same lies she’d told everyone else. Her story was that she had a headache that night and went to bed early, leaving everyone else down
stairs to watch TV. She fell asleep and in the morning found only the children. Due to the state of shock that Ksenia was in during the first days, the little girl had been unable to offer anyone any information either. Anna felt guilty about the lies. But what could she tell Mrs. Sofia? Certainly not the truth. As she sat with her old friend, she started to form a plan in her head.

  Her husband had asked her to bury the entrance of the cave. She’d have to justify this to Mrs. Sofia, and she had to think quickly. What could explain her intention to bury the cave and keep Mrs. Sofia away from there? Anna had left the door of the cave open. She’d placed a boulder in front of it to make sure it wouldn’t be pushed shut by a strong gust of wind. The door had no lock on it. Only her husband could open it with the use of his necklace, but that was gone now too. She had to keep Mrs. Sofia away from that place. She couldn’t allow her to venture into it, alone or otherwise.

  Feeling already ashamed of herself for the load of lies she intended to tell Mrs. Sofia, Anna started to speak, expressing an obsession with the cave and an inexplicable fear of it. She fabricated stories that her husband had allegedly told her once, about how it was haunted by evil spirits.

  Mrs. Sofia became so horrified that Anna had to stop the conversation for the time being, intending to return to this subject again at a later time. She’d have to convince Mrs. Sofia that the cave was connected to the disappearance of her loved ones, despite the fact that the police had searched it and had found nothing there.

  The police had looked all over the orchard and when they got to the cave, they’d found it very odd with its decorations, thrones, elaborate wall torches and central altar. But that had not been the object of their investigation, and Anna had no information to give, saying she was only the tenant and not the owner of the property. She had commented, however, that the owners were eccentrics and had created this space in order to host theme parties for friends and family. The police seemed to believe it and thought no more of it. Everyone in the neighborhood had talked to them about Anna’s integrity and loving nature. Her pain was so obvious they had no reason to doubt what she said or to think she had something to do with the disappearance of her loved ones.

  The two women fell silent eventually and sipped their coffee together on the couch, each one lost in her own thoughts. Anna’s guilt subsided somewhat, and she felt ready to address the old lady again, this time with the most important issue on her mind.

  “Mrs. Sofia, I believe my husband left a box with you for me, is that right?”

  “Yes, psyche mou, that’s right! But how do you know that?”

  “Well, he mentioned he’d bought me something special for our anniversary . . .” Anna paused to swallow hard. “He said he gave it to you for safe-keeping, in case I found it accidentally in the house. There aren’t any good hiding places in our living quarters upstairs . . .” She forced a smile. “Not in the downstairs rooms either. You know how inquisitive small children can be.”

  “Oh, now I understand, kyra mou.” Mrs. Sofia smiled kindly but then a deep frown creased her brow. “Aye! Poor soul, he didn’t even get to give you your present! Agie Spyridona, this is crazy! Where have they gone?” Her lament caused Anna’s eyes to well up with fresh tears. As soon as she realized how she’d affected her, Mrs. Sofia forced herself to calm down. “I’m so sorry, Anna! Come on, calm down. Have faith in God! We’ll find them, you’ll see!” Mrs. Sofia patted Anna on her back, while Anna dried her eyes with a tissue.

  “I know Mrs. Sofia . . . I know . . . thank you.”

  “Good girl! Here’s a thought: why don’t you and I go to church this afternoon to light a candle? Let us not forget the power of prayer!” Mrs. Sofia shook a gnarled finger. “And I’ll ask my niece in Corfu town to do the same for you in St Spyridon’s church. And that’s a saint who performs miracles!” Her pale brown eyes lit up then, as if illuminated by hundreds of candles offered in prayer. The old lady had lit that many candles in her past, always with the same unwavering faith.

  “Bless you, Mrs. Sofia, thank you!”

  “Anna, if you want my advice, I say, pray! Prayer and faith are all you need for a miracle!”

  After a while, Anna excused herself to check on Manos, and Mrs. Sofia followed her to Ksenia’s bedroom. He seemed happy there, playing in his pen. They stood at the entrance of the room for a while just watching him and envying him for the blissful ignorance of his age. He was the only one left in the house who was incapable of conceiving the tragedy that had befallen them. Anna and Mrs. Sofia laughed as they watched Manos’s face light up with joy. They marveled at the chopped up words he managed to say, and the awkward steps he made as they held his hands.

  Ksenia was going to be in school for another couple of hours, and Anna offered to escort Mrs. Sofia to Pallada in order to get the package from her. They got out into the street with Anna holding Manos in her arms. Mr. Giorgis was outside his store, and they stopped to greet him. He expressed his condolences to Mrs. Sofia for her sister’s passing and then Anna asked if she could have a few empty cardboard boxes. Without asking what they were for, Mr. Giorgis offered to drop them by the house in the evening after closing time.

  Mrs. Sofia didn’t ask either and Anna was thankful for that. She intended to talk about that soon but wanted to do it in privacy. Mr. Giorgis asked the two women to wait, returning quickly with two bags of fruit. The women declined to take them at first but he was adamant. Like Olga’s little treats to the children in return for a smile, that was Mr. Giorgis’s way to offer comfort. As often applies to gestures of kindness, it’s not what you give, but the fact you’re giving that matters. A loving heart is always a giving heart, just as the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference.

  The two women thanked Mr. Giorgis and went on their way, Anna giving Manos to Mrs. Sofia in order to carry the two bags. When they reached the entrance of Pallada, Mrs. Sofia went straight in to meet Olga. The young girl had seen them coming and rushed to hold the little boy, squealing with joy.

  Anna watched them from the threshold, her features pinched. She’d stopped there, her body rigid, frozen by an overwhelming feeling. Today, there was no reason for her to turn her face away from the hateful sign above her head. Today, she felt triumphant enough to face it. She raised her eyes, and when she saw Athena on the painting, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

  A feeling of abhorrence coursed through her body like a jolt of electricity. Her husband deserved praise for painting such a vivid picture of Athena. The sight made her gut clench. Anna took a deep breath and dug her nails into the palms of her hands as she held the bags.

  “It’s my turn now, Athena. My move,” she whispered behind gritted teeth, and then, fully composed, entered Pallada.

  Chapter 25

  Mrs. Sofia stepped into her room in Pallada still holding Manos in her arms. Anna followed her inside and asked if she could speak to her about a serious matter. Mrs. Sofia was taken aback. Her smile faded from her lips. She’d had more than a fair share of distress recently and hoped not to hear any more bad news.

  She sat down by her small table and asked Anna to join her. Holding Manos on her lap, Mrs. Sofia looked at her friend with a worried expression on her face. When her heart started to race, she wasn’t too surprised. She’d had to change her medication while on Corfu in order to protect her heart from frequent palpitations. Since the heart attack she’d suffered shortly after her husband’s passing many years ago, doctors had advised her to avoid upset, but somehow, life had kept creeping up on her, having other plans. Instinctively, she placed a hand on her chest.

  The gesture alarmed Anna. “Mrs. Sofia, are you okay? Shall I get you some water? Let me have Manos! Was he heavy to carry?” She stood and stretched out her arms.

  “Don’t worry, kyra mou. I’m fine. Just say what you have to say,” replied Mrs. Sofia motioning to Anna to sit back down. She was used to her heart problems by now. They never seemed to worry her, unlike others, who panicked every time she
even hinted on her heart playing up. She hadn't even realized she’d placed her hand on her chest. She took it away, placing it on Manos’s tummy. The child gave a little giggle that made her smile, before fixing Anna with a benevolent, expectant gaze.

  Anna gave a soft sigh before speaking. “Mrs. Sofia, I’ve made a decision. It may sound strange after what's happened, I know . . . but I have to do it.” She tipped her chin.

  “What decision is that?”

  “I have to leave. I have to go away.”

  Mrs. Sofia’s eyes widened. “Go away? Where would you go and why?”

  “I . . .” Anna faltered. She was tempted to tell another lie but then thought that Mrs. Sofia deserved better. The way she sat before her, with Manos in her arms, she seemed like an earthly angel of kindness. They made a picture of innocence, and they both deserved better. In the next few days, she would allow herself to lie in order to justify burying the cave but not for the favor she needed to ask today. No. She had to remain honest for that. She couldn’t tell the truth to her old friend, but she could beg her to understand anyway. “I have to leave Athens and move to Sounio,” Anna finally said.

  “To Sounio? What for?”

  “Please don’t ask me why. I cannot tell you.” Anna gave a deep sigh. “But believe me, I have a very serious reason. Can you just take my word for it? Can you do that?” Her eyes were pleading.

  “Anna, you’re a good woman and a good person. Of course I believe you! I don’t understand, yet I won't ask you again about your reasons if that’s what you want. But have you given this enough thought? Do you seek to leave us so you can forget? Because trust me, if that’s what you’re doing, it’s wrong! You can't run away from pain. Pain will find you as long as you carry it. The best way to beat it is to will yourself to heal. Time helps! But running away is the wrong thing to do.”