Goddess of War

by Waverly Scott

  “Our clothes,” I whispered.

  “I know,” he said.

  “We can’t go into the city dressed like this.”

  “Or covered in blood, with a winged horse.”

  “Right. Pegasus.” I slid off and stared at him.

  “We should head back into the forest and out of sight.”

  “I really want to see. They’re acting like nothing happened. No police are out, nobody is panicking. How?”

  “Perhaps part of the reversal is that nobody remembers.”

  “How can they not? They were all dead not even two hours ago.”

  I was completely baffled but I knew he was right. There was no way I could go strolling into Thessaly in a ripped and torn chiton, covered in blood. There would be too many questions. Reluctantly, I allowed Heracles and Pegasus to guide me back into the safety of the forest.

  “We should find water or something for Pegasus.”

  “Yeah. Let’s hurry. I really want to get going.”

  We were fortunate there was a small stream not far from us. The massive horse buckled his knees and lay next to the water in the one beam of sunlight. I just laughed as he rolled onto his side and stretched out. The rest didn’t last long. Before I knew it we were back in the air, with Thessaly falling quickly behind. It still bothered me that nobody was acting panicked with having just been dead. I held onto the reins as we ascended high into the clouds. It was fields and small towns for miles.

  “How long do you think it will take us to get there?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure. It shouldn’t be much longer. Athens isn’t that far from Thessaly.”

  “Yeah.”

  The rest of our ride was silent. I couldn’t quit thinking about everyone.

  What if the reversal doesn’t apply to gods and goddesses?

  The thought was torture. The clouds began to disperse and the most amazing sight was below us. Athens and it wasn’t in ruins. The people were milling about the streets, riding bikes and driving cars. It looked like it had two days ago. I scanned the city until I was able to spot Syntagma Square; King George Palace was right in front of it. My balcony, the room I shared with my parents was in one piece. It wasn’t lying in the middle of the street. They weren’t crushed. It felt like a two ton weight had been lifted off my shoulders and the icy grip on my heart let loose. A very ungodly sob escaped my throat. Heracles tightened his grip around my waist, grabbing the reins when I shot my hands to my mouth. The acropolis was right in front of us. All of the temples were standing. The water surrounding it was a calm, tranquil blue.

  “Heracles, it’s all back to normal,” I gasped.

  “I see this.”

  “Maybe they’re all okay.”

  “We’re about to find out,” he held onto the reins tighter as Pegasus was making his final descent.

  He landed nimbly at the edge. I was off his back before he had stopped. I ran to the back of the Parthenon, screaming for everybody. What I saw made my stomach turn. They were all lying there. Not alive and there was one person missing.

  Cronus.

  “Heracles. He’s gone. He’s not here.” I panicked.

  “How is that possible?”

  “I don’t know. I had him tied up, he was knocked out!” I screamed.

  “Let’s worry about him later. Let’s find everybody else.”

  “Athena? Ares? Adrian?” I called, running even faster to them.

  I knelt down next to Adrian staring at him. I didn’t know what to do. Zeus hadn’t told me what to do if this happened. I wrapped my arms around him, cradling his head in my lap. I stroked his hair and cried. As I sat there I heard a low-raspy noise. I looked behind me and saw Adronis moving. Then another moan, it was Apollo. They weren’t dead. It was just taking them longer. I looked back down at Adrian and saw his beautiful eyes staring up at me.

  “Oh god. I thought it didn’t work!” I cried.

  Smiling up at me, he assured me. “It did. You did a good job, Cara.”

  “I knew you could do it, honey,” Athena said as she struggled to her feet.

  “That’s my girl.” Zeus gave me an approving nod.

  “I’m so glad you guys are okay. I-I didn’t think I could do it.” I looked at Zeus with panic stricken eyes. “He’s gone.”

  “Who?” he asked.

  “Cronus. He’s not here.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t know. I made sure he was unconscious before we left and tied up. Where did he go?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure. Let’s not worry about him right now. Let’s focus on getting things sorted. It’ll be okay.”

  “She whined and moaned the whole time on Olympus. She really has no confidence in herself.”

  “Will you shut up, Heracles?” I shouted.

  “I see he’s been showing you his charm.” Hera laughed.

  “He’s impossible.” I sighed.

  “He has always had a problem with the way he speaks to people,” she replied.

  “I do not,” he protested.

  “Remember your twelve labors?”

  “Oh, yeah, well that was a long time ago.”

  She just gave him a yeah right look while shaking her head. She turned to me, smiling. It was over.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  It was hard saying good-bye. A strange fog washed over the water and Athens.

  “What’s going on? Is it the Titans? It’s Cronus isn’t it. There’s no way he’s still able to fight!” I panicked.

  “Cara, relax. It’s only Selene,” Zeus said.

  “Who?” I saw a beautiful ivory colored chariot descending, pulled by an immaculately white horse. Holding the reins was an incredibly beautiful young woman. Her long blonde hair flowed behind her. Her long white chiton hung loosely to her feet and a golden crescent headdress perched atop her delicate head.

  “She’s going to help us all get back to where we have to be without being detected.”

  I looked at Apollo confused.

  How could she help us?

  “I don’t understand.”

  “She’s not one of the well-known Olympians so it doesn’t surprise me you haven’t heard of her. Selene is the goddess of the moon. She is Hyperion and Theia’s child. Technically she is a Titan but she remained neutral during the Titanomachy.”

  “I see.”

  “Don’t worry. The Titans are not going to be attacking anyone any time soon.”

  I nodded, watching the gorgeous woman step delicately down from her chariot. Her porcelain skin was smooth and blemish free. Not even a freckle. She had piercing green eyes that stood out from her honey colored hair and pale complexion. They were the only bit of color on her.

  “I was told you need my assistance.” Her voice was soft and sweet.

  “We do, Selene. Thank you for coming so quickly,” Zeus said, gently embracing the young girl.

  “So, this is the mighty, Cara.” She turned her penetrating gaze on me.

  I shrank back feeling like a disgusting slob compared to her. My hair was matted to my face and neck with blood and sweat. Dirt and even more blood was caked to my arms, chest and legs. Blood streaked down my face. My once brilliant blue chiton was various shades of black, red and blue as well as tattered and virtually nothing more than rags.

  She stood in front of me examining my wounds and face for a few moments before smiling and leaning in for a hug.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re thanking me?” I asked baffled.

  “Yes, dear one. You have saved mankind, the world, and all of us. You are an amazing woman.” Her smile was so warm and inviting.

  I blushed and looked at my bruised feet. She turned and strode to the edge of the acropolis. She pulled a torch from the chariot and began spinning it in a circle in front of her. The flame extended across the water and into the sky. Everything slowed then stopped. Everything except us. I turned and looked back at Zeus, Athena, Ares and Hera. They smiled, obviously pleased with my reacti
on. I had seen so much over the past few days yet I was still so amazed with the power that the gods possessed. They were truly amazing and remarkable.

  “Let’s get going.” Zeus was the first to his chariot.

  “Are you ready to go back to the hotel?” Adrian asked.

  “More than ready,” I replied.

  “Good.”

  We climbed onto the chariot behind Athena while Adronis mounted Pegasus. I spun around to watch Heracles climb onto Hades’ chariot.

  “Where is Heracles going?”

  “Back to the underworld,” Athena said.

  “Why? Shouldn’t he be given something more than being dead again?” I asked.

  “Why should he?” she asked, confused.

  “He helped defeat the giants and titans. He helped save everyone. No matter how big a pain in the ass he should be given something as a reward.”

  “You know what, you’re right,” Zeus said watching the young man, “Heracles, come with me.”

  He smiled at me and sprinted to Zeus’ chariot. I’d saved one more person. As the chariot rose into the air I turned one last time to look at him. He nodded and waved. Athens was such a beautiful sight. The people were frozen in place but not dead. They all looked like mannequins. We raced past them without a care. Athena pulled the chariot up next to my balcony. She hovered there for a few moments waiting for us to get off.

  “Meet me at the café by Syntagma square in two hours. Go get cleaned up.”

  “Okay,” I replied.

  She was off before I could say good-bye. Adrian and Adronis made their way across the room, sneaking out to their own rooms before everyone reanimated. I walked into the room and saw my adoptive parents. My mom was sitting on the bed, her head in her hands and her hair blowing lightly from the breeze. Dad was pacing. His hands were behind his back, his brow furrowed and lips pursed. They knew I was missing. I ran to the dresser, pulled out a sundress and other things then went into the bathroom. I started the shower, waiting until the steam clouded the mirror before I climbed in. It only took a few minutes before I heard pounding on the door.

  “I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

  “Cara Marie Gray! Where on Earth have you been?” Mom shouted through the door.

  “I’ll talk about it with you when I’m done. Right now I just really need to shower.”

  “Hurry up, young lady.”

  I didn’t hurry. I took my time. I figured it was the least I deserved for saving the world from utter destruction. Half an hour later I was pulling on the dress and putting my hair into a ponytail. My parents were standing at the door when I went out. It freaked me out a bit. I just looked at them and made my way to the mini bar. I needed a mountain dew really bad.

  “Are you going to start explaining yourself?” Mom asked, tapping her foot.

  “You already know what happened.”

  “No we don’t,” Dad responded.

  “Oh no? So I’m not adopted. I wasn’t given to you by Athena?” I questioned.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Mom, don’t play coy with me. Don’t you two remember anything over the past two days?”

  “Honey, two days ago we were back home,” Dad told me.

  “No, we’ve been here for four days. I’ve spent the past two days fighting with the gods.”

  “It happened?” Mom looked at me wide eyed.

  “You really don’t remember?”

  “No.”

  “You guys were…” I bit my lip trying to hold the tears at bay.

  “We were what?” Mad pushed.

  “Dead,” I said in a hushed voice.

  They stared at me in shocked silence. I quickly turned my head down to the floor. It was so hard looking at them when forty-eight hours ago they were lying beneath the crumbled ruins of our balcony and they weren’t my parents. I love them so much. It shouldn’t matter that they’re not my biological parents. They devoted their lives to me. They raised me and loved me. Isn’t that what parents are? Isn’t that what they do? Love their child unconditionally whether that child is a product of their love or adopted? They saved me, kept me safe and let me have a normal life. So, I don’t have one set of parents. I have two.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  It was hard telling my parents about the battle. How do you describe someone when they’re dead? How do you tell someone about the destruction of the world? I couldn’t even cry. There were no tears left. My parents though, they cried. Mom was holding onto dad. Clinging to him really. I’d never seen her like that. Thankfully as I was finishing with my recap someone started knocking on our door. Mom jumped up, wiping her eyes, and opened the door.

  “Cara, Adrian is here.”

  “I’ll be back,” I said, quickly kissing my mom on the cheek.

  “Not too late, we still have reservations at the Tudor tonight.”

  “Right. I’ll be back before then.”

  I turned and slid out the door. Adrian was standing there smiling at me.

  “What?” I asked.

  “Nothing,” he replied.

  “Tell me,” I urged.

  “Well, it’s just that, you look so beautiful.”

  “It’s just a sundress and flip flops.” I laughed.

  “Yeah, but you still look amazing and the last time I saw you, you were covered in blood and mud with rags on.”

  “Let’s go meet up with Athena.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the elevator.

  “Adronis is already on his way there.”

  It didn’t take us long to get to the Grande Bretagne Roof Garden. In fact, I could still see the rooftop of our hotel from where we were sitting. We sipped on glasses of wine and I pushed my lobster linguini around my plate. A late lunch but dinner wasn’t until later. It was hard for me to concentrate on what everybody was talking about. I was still worried about my friends and family back home.

  “Cara, what’s wrong?” Athena asked.

  “Huh? Oh, it’s nothing. Just thinking about back home. I’m anxious to see my friends now.” I twirled the noodles on my fork and shoved them into my mouth, chewing slowly.

  “I see,” she said, studying my face.

  I twirled my fork in the pasta again. It was a good way to avoid any more questions. I chewed even slower, a lot slower. I alternated from staring at my plate to the acropolis. Athena, Adrian, and Adronis’s voices were so distant, nothing more than a mumble really.

  “Cara? Did you hear me?” Athena asked.

  “Hmm?”

  “Please pay attention, Cara,” she stressed.

  “Okay, sorry.”

  “I asked if you knew about ambrosia and nectar.”

  “That’s the food of the gods right?”

  “Yes, when you are ready to come back you will get to drink it for the first time. Your aging will stop and as long as you continue drinking them you will stay at that designated age forever.”

  “So I can be young for all eternity?” I asked, my interest piqued quite a bit.

  “Yes.”

  “Is that why you are thousands of years old and only look twenty-three?”

  “Partially. It helps me retain my youth, but this is how I was born. I wasn’t born the normal way.”

  “Oh, right. I remember reading about that. You were born from Zeus’ head.”

  “Right,” she said.

  “I can drink it whenever I want then?”

  “No, only when you are prepared to leave your life with the mortals and ready to join us on Olympus.”

  “Did you drink it?” I asked Adrian.

  “Yes,” he replied.

  “How? You don’t live on Olympus.”

  “I spend half of the year there, half here.”

  “Oh.” I looked at Athena. “Can I do that?”

  “Yes, of course you can. But, only drink when you are sure you don’t want to age anymore. You are still young; you can wait a few years if you wish.”

  “Well, I know I don’t want to
be eternally nineteen. It sucks being stuck in this awkward teenager, adult phase sometimes.”

  They all just laughed.

  “We will call on you from time to time.”

  “Why?” I was confused why they would need me if I was going to be living with them part of the year.

  “If something happens and we need you, you’ll have to return to Olympus. You were created as a protector.”

  “Something happens?” I inquired.

  “Yes, if we have another issue, like with the Titans, you’ll have to help take care of it.”

  “Oh, I see. Is that the only reason you’re offering me all of this?” I asked.

  “No, it is your birthright. You were born of two gods. You are a goddess. You have as much right to be with us as Apollo or Demeter does.”

  I just nodded. I couldn’t help feeling a little hurt. It was as though they were using me. I was their cleaner. I picked up their messes for them. Adrian reached under the table and gave my leg a squeeze. I looked up at him, my eyes glistening as the tears welled up.

  “Excuse me. I have to get back to the hotel. My parents have reservations for dinner tonight,” I whispered, holding back the tears. “Adrian and Adronis, I hope you still plan on joining us. Good-bye.”

  I turned and left the restaurant before they could protest.

  ****

  The bathroom mirror didn’t show the reflection I hoped it would. All I saw was the frown on my miserable face. If I didn’t change it, my parents would know something was wrong. I took a deep breath, let it out and put on a smile. It was convincing enough. I practiced the smile as I finished my makeup and hair. I dug through the garment bag until I found the three nice dresses I’d brought with me. The first was the same dress I’d worn the first time we had dinner. I didn’t want to wear it again so I shoved it back in. I took the other two out and hung them on the door. This was a good diversion. The first dress was a shorter, strapless Jessica McClintock number. The top half was shiny black with a belt and the bottom reminded me of leaves. Mom had bought it for me for a wedding we went to last year. The other dress was also black but by Dalia MacPhee and had white crisscrossing at the abdomen. I stared at them both for a few minutes before grabbing the Dalia MacPhee. I pulled the delicate dress over my head; it hung down to my knees. I smiled again while putting on my jewelry. I walked out of the bathroom and sat on my bed. Mom and dad were all ready to go. I dug through the bag under my bed and pulled out a pair of pumps. The first pair I pulled out was red, peep toed pumps. I was feeling brave and adventurous. I wore them.