“He shouldn’t have humiliated her like that in front of other…individuals.” Evie was disappointed to hear that he would do such a thing. She watched his shoulders bunch at her words, as if it was already a sore spot.
Thelma shifted uncomfortably in her seat, “Yes. Well…anyway. He realized that the only way he could be overthrown was if the thread of his existence was cut. The only immortals with the ability to do that are the Fates. So he temporarily displaced the Fates, the only immortals known to have the ability to end the existence of a god. With their consent and cooperation of course and loyal to Zeus, they were aware of the scheme and conjured up a plan to temporarily become mortal, anonymity and humanity being their shield. It was only suppose to be until Tyche could be found and dealt with. The plan ended up backfiring on them all.”
Evie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The Fates were now human and they thought she was one of them? Blurting out a bark of laughter, Evie covered her mouth, her eyes wide in shocked hilarity.
"You’re telling me that they are in hiding, like a witness protection program and you think I am one of them? Are you serious?" She leaned over, arms wrapping around her middle as she laughed until tears fell from her eyes. It was all just too much for her to comprehend all at once. Covering her face with her hands, her tears evolved into despair over her loss of sanity.
"She does not believe us." Impatiently said, Zeus stopped his pacing in front of the windows, placing his hands on his hips. His back to them, shoulders tense, he stared out of the window.
"Wait a minute. I see what's happening. I'm schizophrenic. That's it! I'm having a psychotic episode. I mean, it happens when a person is in their twenties and I’m twenty five now so that would explain all of this. I'm really in an institution right now, right?" Evie sat forward in her chair, desperate for the explanation to be true.
"No dear, you're not having any kind of breakdown or episode. This really is happening." With that, Thelma leaned forward and placed her palms on Evie’s Face. Evie stilled, staring into her mother’s familiar eyes. Her breath hitched at the familiar and gentle gesture.
Thelma’s encouraging smile was a calming balm to her confusion. Wiping her eyes, Evie stood and began pacing as she bit her lip.
“So I have a goddess trapped inside of me until you can discover a way to safely release her. The goddess wants to get out but if I can’t mentally handle it, I will have some sort of break down or seizure and end up catatonic, effectively trapping the goddess forever. So you are all here in the belief that you will be able to successfully release the goddess without damaging her. Do I have this all right? “Evie stopped her involuntary pace; her question posed to whoever could or would answer.
Evie held her breath in anticipation, feeling as though she was on the very edge of a jagged and treacherous cliff, an invisible force slowly pushing her over the edge. One step forward, she would be over and unable to save herself from the inevitable loss of her life. Their answers were the step off of the cliff. Time seemed to slow as she watched their faces, gauging their expressions and body language. Zeus’s tense stare coupled with Thelma’s awkward avoidance of eye contact were not promising.
Thelma‘s dire voice intruded the pregnant silence, “That seems about right. “
Evie had just stepped off the cliff. Puffing out the breath she had been holding, she stumbled over to her chair.
Thelma took her hand. “She wanted to do away with you and your sisters in order to absorb your abilities. In doing this, she believed she could destroy your father. Overthrow him.” Thelma’s face fell in sadness, the mark of betrayal apparent on her saddened face. “The decision to transform you and your sisters into human form was the best and safest possibility until we could locate Tyche. “
Evie honed in on a word Thelma had just used, “absorb my abilities?” she asked a chill creeping down her spine.
Thelma’s answer was even more chilling, “The only way to absorb their immortal abilities as the Fates is to consume them, which is difficult to do if they cannot be found.”
Brow scrunched in confusion, Evie asked, “What do you mean by consume? Like eat? Could you please elaborate?” Her voice squeaked, unsure if she wanted to hear the answer.
Thelma sighed, her shoulders drooping in defeat, “You can use your imagination as to how that would occur. I can tell you it isn’t pretty.” She rubbed her upper arms as if the idea caused her flawless, golden skin to chill from such a horrific thought.
Zeus stepped forward, his hand resting upon Thelma’s shoulder for a moment. “Tyche was angry and inconsolable, blaming me for humiliating her. She railed at me that she was never taken seriously and never respected.” He sat in his golden chair, a mournful quiet filling the space.
Evie eyed them with doubt. How could they not be able to find her! “You did humiliate her! Also, by the way, you’re Gods! You couldn’t just find her?” her blurted question seeming logical.
Zeus answered with evident frustration, “As Gods, we can track each others aura and use of immortal abilities. She has muted hers, meaning, she doesn’t use them. When she does, or any God does for that matter, a Skypunch alerts us to their location.” He shifted in his throne, crossing his legs again. “We seem to always be a step behind her because she knows what to expect and what to avoid.”
Evie’s brows furrowed. Her head began to pound as a headache bloomed behind her eyes. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she asked, ““what is a Skypunch?”
Zeus patiently explained. “A Skypunch is a large hole that forms in the sky scientifically explained by mortals as a meteorological phenomenon when, in fact, it is a beacon for the Gods.”
With her weak nod to continue, Zeus finished, “The three of you were already transformed. You were human girls, even more vulnerable than when you were immortal. We had made a terrible mistake. As young girls, you had no memory of who you were or what you were and your minds could not handle the reality, so we had to wait until you matured enough to handle the delicacy of the situation. So, for safety purposes, we separated the three of you in the hopes that we could moderate and control how much your mind registered. In other words, keeping your immortal sight at bay decreased your chances of suffering from psychological damage.”
Evie’s chest began to constrict as a burning sensation started low in her belly and traveled up her chest. Jumping up, her chair flew back, the distant sounds of wood splintering registered in her now buzzing ears. She could see their mouths moving, their movements static as a soft whisper intruded on her thoughts. Stay in control; don’t give in to the weakness of your human mind.
“Stop! Stay out of my head!” Slamming her hands to ears, she turned, desperate to get out of the room, the building, to just get away from what was happening. Her head felt as if it were splitting into two, as if something or someone else wanted out.
Banging on the walls, she searched with frantic chaos for away out, Thelma’s voice beginning to over take the hum that was conquering her sanity.
Behind her with eerie speed and silence Thelma continued, “Evie, please listen to us, none of us took into consideration how potent and complex the human mind would be.” Thelma attempted to touch her, despite the charged air in the room, “ It is simultaneously powerful and vulnerable. We had not anticipated the complication. Quite simply, the Goddess Lachesis, who you actually are, is trapped inside of your mind. It's a matter of freeing your human mind to the reality that you are a Goddess of destiny and to also accept it. Do you understand?"
Evie stopped her search to eye each of them. How long had they waited to free her mind? They waited, their gazes never wavering from hers. She looked to Zeus, her mismatched eyes wild with panic, “You waited twenty five years to free my mind?” her shock was palpable, her question a shaky whisper.
Zeus spoke softly, “Evie, right now is a race against time. We have always known where you and your sisters were, but Tyche did not, until recently. She does, however, have someone who is aidin
g her. She has also figured out how to narrow it down. She has been searching medical records.” He finished, patiently waiting for the realization to hit her.
“It’s my eyes, isn’t it? The anomaly is part of all of our medical records. She has been searching for the past twenty five years.” her voice sounded hollow.
Zeus shifted uncomfortably, while he played with the gold cuff links to his suit, “She has been searching for eighteen years. You started your mortal life at seven years of age.” His quiet tone sunk like a rock in her gut.
“How is that possible? I have childhood memories.” she stared dumbly at each of them as she mentally scanned her memories. The earliest memory she could recall was of Jezebel, her cat. She was seven when her beloved pet died.
“Jezebel. I was seven when she died.” looking at her mother, Evie saw the truth in her eyes. “That was my actual birth, wasn‘t it? Jezebel was a test, to see if I…she…Lachesis, could be….activated or whatever it was you were trying to do?’ Suddenly feeling at a loss, Evie turned back away, stumbling at the truths as they were revealed. Continuing her search for the doorway out, she could see them in her periphery. Zeus and Themis? Unbelievable.
“As Gods, eighteen years is nothing but a flash of time. We tried a couple of times throughout your life through pathologic reveries or life situations, but your mind was slow to safely comprehend each test. Until now. It seemed that Lachesis did not want to wait any longer, which would explain your lack of sleep and relentless dreams.” He stated the facts as he sat down.
Staring at the cool marble wall before her, Evie marveled at everything she had learned. Her mind felt overloaded with shock and grief of losing her ignorance to the truths newly revealed.
“I need to process everything. This is really overwhelming.” She turned and numbly continued her search for a way out. She could have sworn she was looking where she thought she had come in. Finding nothing but marble, Evie felt frantic, slapping the length of the cool wall with the palms of her hands. Unable to find the exit, she started to panic and anger began to heat her blood.
“Evie wait.” Thelma rushed over to her, gently pulling her arm in an attempt to stop her. “Please don’t leave yet, not like this.” She pleaded, her face a mask of concern.
She needed air and she needed to escape the brevity of what she had just learned. “Let me out. I need to get out. Now.” Her voice rose, as her heart began to beat a frantic staccato in her chest.
Thelma continued, trailing after Evie, despite her obvious distress, “You need to know that you are my daughter and what was done was done for your safety.”
Zeus waved her off, “Let her go so she may ‘sort things out‘.”
Evie whirled on her mother as the illuminated room began to dim. Layers upon layers of her otherworldly voice echoed off of the walls and floor causing a vibration to emanate as she demanded once more, “Where. Is. The. Door.” Turning she slammed both palms against the wall just as fractals of light shimmered and burst causing a door to appear and slam open.
Controlling her breathing, Evie closed her eyes for a moment. Upon opening them, she found Zeus and Thelma watching her, their eyes wide.
“Mom…Themis, whoever you are. I need to lie down. My head hurts. We wouldn’t want that, would we? After all, the goddess in me wouldn‘t hear of it.” and with that, Evie walked out of the apartment, as the ornate brass door softly closed behind her while darkness consumed the ethereal room. A pregnant silence followed until Thelma turned to Zeus, a concerned question in her eyes.
His answer was chilling. “Yes. That is an interesting development. I’m not sure what to make of it.”
Chapter 12
Kratos stood at the pinnacle of Mytakis, the highest peak of Mount Olympus, pulling deep breaths of the thin air into his lungs. For an ordinary mortal, the atmosphere and temperature alone would kill them. Kratos, however, was not ordinary and was not a mortal.
Gazing out at the beautiful and breathtaking vista before him, he marveled at how uninspiring it all was to him. On a bitter chuckle, he realized that he did not have to analyze the reason for his disinterest. After all, when you are a god, nothing is new and exciting unless you are experiencing it from a mortal’s perspective. It wasn’t that he resented his existence, on the contrary. He was the first son of Pallas and Styx and a God appointed by Zeus as a winged enforcer, a high honor that he loyally served. He was strength and power, forces for which his high position required and expected. It was a position he held for more time than he could remember, because time was of no importance. Until now. The events involving Evie were disturbingly refreshing, making him…feel.
Bracing his hands on his hips, he closed his eyes as he dropped his head back and immediate visions of Evie began to assail him. Her facial expressions, the wariness in her eyes, her sensual response to him…it all made him feel…alive. He hated and wanted it; she was like a potent drug to him, ambrosia to his immortal soul. It certainly was unexpected and frankly, irritating.
Opening his eyes, he was not surprised to find Zeus hovering just before him.
“You can see now why I have forbidden immortals, especially Gods, to become involved with a mortal.” silently stepping onto the grassy tuft of dirt and rocks next to Kratos, Zeus regarded the landscape with him.
“They become a constant presence in your mind and body, as if you can’t get enough of them. Why do you think there are so many demigods in existence? It is because of their potent charm and mortality.” clasping his hands behind his back, he studied Kratos’s profile, watching his hard jaw grinding in response to his inner turmoil.
“Are you going to warn me to stay away from her? It didn‘t work before, so why would you think it would now?” the calm questions did not match the firm set of Kratos’s jaw or his tense, bare shoulders.
Zeus chuckled and clapped him on the shoulder, causing Kratos to look at him with surprise. Smiling, Zeus continued, “Easy, my boy. I wasn’t able to keep you away from her before so what makes you think I could or would try now? I’m only going to say that you have a unique opportunity to enjoy what you can while it lasts. She will not be human for long.”
Kratos was momentarily shocked with Zeus’s admission; after all, she was his daughter. Before he could question him, Zeus continued, “You misunderstand what I am saying to you. Anything with a mortal woman, whether it is emotional or physical, is a rare occurrence and should be savored and cherished. You have a relationship with her already; you simply must remind her, make her remember. You could have the love of the mortal and goddess. It is a rare gift, Kratos.”
Zeus stood next to him, both of them a formidable sight, their broad shoulders equal in strength and height. Their powerful stance belied the vulnerability they carried as a result of unfulfilled love.
After quiet contemplation by the god of all gods, he admitted a sadly inspiring truth, “I hope to have my daughters back soon. Despite what anyone may think, I do feel love and loss; I just have more experience hiding it.”
Hearing Zeus’s steps grow quieter as he chose to meander down the perilously steep mountain peak as if he were taking a pleasure stroll, Kratos pondered what the God of all Gods said to him. Kratos needed her to remember, he needed her back. What if the time he had with her was not enough to bring her back to him? Would the goddess and mortal embrace each other and remember him and their bond? He had to believe that they would.
Chapter 13
Evie took the elevator back to the apartment. Kratos had left her and she wasn’t sure where he had gone. She hated that she felt alone and vulnerable without him and she hated not knowing why she felt that way about someone she had just met. She worried her bottom lip, as each floor in the elevator was represented by a ding. Finally coming to the eightieth floor, the doors slid open to reveal the familiar but imposing apartment door. His apartment. She felt relieved, at least something was a little familiar and she could use all the comfort she could get at this point. Walking in, she found herse
lf in complete and unsettling darkness.
“Hello?” she echoed to the silence. He wasn’t there. Shoulders slumped, she padded over to the leather sofa, and plopped onto it with a loud sigh. Where had he gone? She needed rest and she needed clarity. Her stomach growled. She also needed food.
A goddess, one of the Fates. It was so unreal, wasn’t it? She opened her eyes to the darkness, realizing that she needed, wanted some light. Standing, she walked throughout the apartment, switching on all of the lights. Once everything was lit, she sighed with relief; as if the light could keep her safe from….she didn’t even know what.
She rummaged through the refrigerator, satisfied with the Greek yogurt she found. As she sat on the couch to eat it, she chuckled at the irony of it. Greek yogurt. Shaking her head, she pulled the foil top off, licking it clean.
“That tongue of yours could be the end of me.” Kratos said as he stepped around the large leather sofa, walking towards her.
Evie jumped in response to him, the yogurt dropped to the floor and dripped onto the chocolate brown rug. She looked at it with longing. He laughed, shaking his head as he changed his direction, walking to the refrigerator. Finding another yogurt, he pulled a spoon out of the drawer and padded back over to her on bare feet.
He shrugged as he looked at his feet. “I didn’t want to startle you.” He bent over and retrieved the dropped yogurt and handed her the new one, his fingers skating briefly across her palm. Her heart skidded into an erratic beat as heat shot straight to her groin. What was wrong with her?
“You left. Where did you go?” she asked, the disappointment apparent in her voice.
Walking over to the windows overlooking the city, the electric blinds silently opened all the way, without him touching the control. She should have been in shock and awe by the immortal ability but was not.
The Allotter:The Threads of Destiny Page 9
