“We’re not.”
“Like, you’re divorced?”
“Forever is a long time to love someone. Immortals do not have a need for divorces. We can get married multiple times.”
I don’t think I’d ever be ok with that. I want my bench’s ideal couple kind of love. Just the two of us, until death do us part. Or in my case, until dementia kicks in.
Heracles tries to steer the conversation back on track. “Thank you, Ariadne. Now Jason, what would you say was crucial for you to complete your quest?”
“My friends,” Jason answers without hesitation. “And Medea, my wife.”
Heracles turns toward us. “If you’ve listened carefully, you’ll now realize both Ariadne and Jason received outside help. One of a hero’s best qualities is a willingness to seek help when needed. If you’ll listen to my tale, you’ll understand how all too often this quality evaded me. My own pride was always my worst foe.”
After the informative conversation with the heroes and a short tour of the library, I can’t pass up the books’ siren song. While Gabriel and Amy head to the arena for weapons practice, I trail my fingers over the aged spines of the manuscripts, a sense of peace settling inside my heart.
“I love it here as well,” Ariadne tells me as she returns a book to its shelf.
I sigh. “I wish I could read them all.”
Ariadne’s blue eyes twinkle merrily. “I’ve lived for thousands of years and even I haven’t accomplished that feat.”
“What does it feel like? Living forever?”
“Lonely,” Ariadne replies earnestly, busying herself with rearranging books alphabetically.
I shift my feet in the awkward silence. “What should I read first?”
Ariadne’s gloom is instantly replaced by a smile. “Give me a moment.”
She comes back after a short minute, her arms laden with books. “These are my favorites on Mount Olympus. You’ll find all the genealogy trees, as well as some of the most epic stories.”
My too-wide smile must look like panic. “I know it seems like a lot. But you’ll read them in no time,” Ariadne assures me.
“Thank you. I can’t wait to start reading. Could I check them out of the library?”
“Of course. The gods aren’t much for reading. Nor are your fellow challengers, apparently.”
I grin. “More for us.”
“Exactly.”
I should go, but I have one more question. I linger, trying to come up with the right formulation.
“Is there something else I can help you with?”
“Are there books about exits from Mount Olympus?”
Ariadne stiffens. Her inquisitive gaze never wavers from me as she says. “Things have changed. There used to be ways in and out of Mount Olympus. But they were sealed a long time ago.”
“So how did we get in?”
“The blue—” She pauses. “It isn’t my explanation to give. I’m sorry, I can’t help you.”
“Whose is it? Who can explain, then?”
Ariadne looks left and right. Except for the books, we’re alone in the library.
“The Pythia,” she whispers before going down a row of shelves, putting space between us. “Good luck with your reading!”
I repeat the word I don’t understand in my head a few times to make sure I don’t forget. Then, regretting I made Ariadne flee, I decide to put the library to good use and look for the word Pythia on the spines. It takes me about half an hour to discover an old dusty tome on the subject.
Behind the leather cover, the engraving of an old woman with dead eyes awaits my discovery. The woman from the woods last night. I flip open the book and massage my forehead as I get confirmation as to who owns the answers I seek—the Pythia, otherwise known as Oracle of Delphi.
I guess I’m in for another stroll in the forest…
Chapter 16
By the time I emerge from the shadowy library, the sun has reached its zenith. Laughter emanates from the arena, where some of the contenders take jabs at their dummies and others practice their skills on the obstacle course. Clifford tried to jump over the boulder and is now sitting on top of it, dangling helplessly as he waits for the swinging to still.
Gabriel sits aimlessly in the sawdust, looking on the verge of tears.
“What happened?” I ask him, propping the dozen of books I borrowed between my arm and my hip so they won’t fall.
“Nothing.” He grunts, holding his head between his hands. “I’m hopeless.”
“You’re not. You just need more practice.”
“No. My father is right. I’m too weak.”
I hate this father I’ve never met who can hurt his son even from afar.
“Come on. I need to drop these books off back in my villa, and then we’re going for a hike. Fresh air will clear your mind.”
“I can hardly walk with this sword,” he says. “It’s too heavy.”
“Keep it though. It’ll strengthen you. There must be a reason the sword chose you.”
“Yeah.” Gabriel snorts. “To humiliate me.”
“Come on, sunshine.” I lead him out of the arena.
I feel guilty because I don’t tell Gabriel why I head to the forest, and again when neither the centaurs nor the Pythia are anywhere to be found. But by the end of our hike, Gabriel’s cheeks have retrieved their rosy hue, and his usual good mood has returned. Dimples crease his cheeks as he comments on the beauty and magic of Mount Olympus.
From the field of poppies where we lie, water nymphs splashing playfully in the lazy river beside it, it does feel absolutely magical.
“I think I would have chosen to be a nymph. They’re so graceful. What about you, Hope? What deity would you have chosen to be?”
I fiddle with a long blade of grass to hide my disappointment over our useless walk. “I don’t know. An Amazon maybe…they are fearless.”
“Being fearless would be nice. I’m scared of everything.”
“I think you sell yourself short. It took guts kissing that boy you liked without knowing how he felt.”
“I was more afraid not to. It was my only chance…” Gabriel pauses, concentrating on the poppy crown he’s been braiding as we talk.
“Your only chance at what?”
“At kissing a guy. If I win and get my wish, then I won’t want to anymore.”
I sit up straight and force him to look at me. “Are you saying your wish is to stop being you? It’s not an illness that needs to be cured! There’s nothing wrong with you.”
Gabriel starts weeping. “For my father it is. He would kill me if he knew.”
“Then he’s missing out on his beautiful son. You’re wonderful just as you are, Gabriel. You have to believe it.”
My friend throws himself into my arms, head folded over my shoulder while violent sobs make him shudder. I grasp him as hard as I can, uttering words of reassurance in his ear.
“I’m sorry your father is a bad person. But you can’t let bad people win. You deserve to be happy.”
“I don’t know how. I’ve been miserable forever. And my mom keeps trying to protect me, but she only ends up getting hurt.”
I keep rocking him until his eyes dry. When he’s done sobbing, Gabriel lets go of my wet shoulder that collected his tears.
“You need to find a better wish. For when you win…”
His lips stretch into the semblance of a smile. “What about you? I don’t want to win if it means you’ll lose.”
“I’ll be fine,” I promise.
The flow of his tears has given me an idea. I look at the river cascading softly down the slope of the mountain, toward the sea.
Tonight, I’ll swim away.
This evening we’re being hosted at Aphrodite’s palace—or should I say, love nest? The façade doesn’t differ much from the other palaces—white marble, twisted gold columns framing the portico, and two swan statues adorned with fresh roses perched on the rooftop.
But the inside is all
Aphrodite. Gauzy curtains flutter from the ceiling to the floor, creating cozy nooks. Plush, low couches invite guests to lie down and relax among tall ornate vases spilling over with roses and calla lilies. The air is thick with the flowers’ heady fragrance. A sitar conjures up a lulling melody.
The love goddess lies on her side on one of the settees. Her short, blush-colored dress reveals her perfection. Her eyelids are smeared with bronze powder and her lips are painted a vibrant red that makes her teeth sparkle white when she beams at us.
Ares, without his helmet for once, lounges close to her, his hand resting possessively on her bare ankle. They form a terrifying couple, both impossibly attractive and yet so at odds physically. Aphrodite is a sunny day, with her gilded hair and turquoise eyes, while Ares, with his wavy black hair and dark gray eyes, is a cold November night.
The goddess greets us. “Amy, Hope. Welcome to my humble abode.” She giggles.
I think the joke shows bad taste considering the splendor she lives in, but because she’s the only god who bothered to learn our names, I don’t hold it against her.
“Thank you for having us,” I mumble.
I steer Amy, whose greedy eyes are locked on the rubies dangling from Aphrodite’s ears, toward the atrium where buffets have been set up.
The inside courtyard resembles a tropical jungle with its lush trees and exotic flowers. Delicate, white-metal tables and chairs sprout from this jungle. Most are already taken by challengers, their backs stiff with awe, while the divinities favor the love seats where they can recline.
Hidden behind a palm tree, the sullen god who fascinates me so much glares at the crowd. I wonder why he keeps coming to these events if he finds the challengers so detestable. I tear my gaze away from him, afraid of infuriating him more, and look for Gabriel. He’s sitting close to Heath, who stares vigilantly at his surroundings while Gabriel looks bored out of his mind.
“I’m so glad you’re here!” he exclaims as I walk up. “How beautiful is this place?”
“Aphrodite’s earrings,” Amy mumbles besides me.
“What did she say?”
“She’s crushing on Aphrodite’s jewelry. Forget about it, and let’s eat.”
We leave Heath to his silent observations and raid the buffet. I need strength for the next part of my evening.
Gabriel’s plate is stacked as high as the tower of Pisa, Amy’s a close second. I make sure I don’t eat too much to avoid the drowsiness that comes from a full stomach.
When my plate is empty, I hug Gabriel and then release him to talk to both him and Amy.
“I’m shattered,” I lie. “I’m going home to rest.” This is part truth. I am going home, just not the one on Mount Olympus. “Remember what we talked about, ok? Find a new wish,” I tell Gabriel. “And Amy? Take care of him for me.”
They gawk at my curious goodbye but let me go without resistance. The dark circles under my eyes play in my favor. I look, and I am, absolutely exhausted.
Before leaving the atrium, I wave at them one last time then try my best to walk slowly out of the palace and not attract attention.
But as soon as I’m outside, I hurry toward the sea that calls to me in the distance. The sun is setting over the waves in a fiery display. The sight is breathtaking, and it beckons me inexorably forward. I can’t take my eyes off it.
It seems fitting—I came to Mount Olympus from a river and I now return home through another expanse of water. I’m not scared. I’m a strong swimmer and the sea is calm as a lake today. It will be a pleasant journey back home.
The moment my sandals hit the mosaic on the seafront, I toss them out. I wish I had a swimsuit to ease my movements in the water, but the dress is flimsy enough that it shouldn’t handicap me too much.
Standing on the water, beautiful maidens are dancing. They sing in tune with the ruffle of the waves, their green dresses billowing in the breeze. As they twirl gracefully, they scatter gems over the sea. The maidens are so captivated by their routine, they don’t notice the unremarkable human stepping into the water.
I sigh as the warm water caresses my shins. If I wasn’t on Mount Olympus, and setting off for home, I could almost pretend I’m on vacation in the Caribbean, going for an evening swim.
I dive in and shift to an energetic crawl, heading straight for the sun that swiftly sinks into the horizon.
My mind empties with each strong push of my arms until I become one with the ocean. This is why I always loved swimming. It keeps the dark thoughts at bay, replacing them with the sonorous splash of the water and my rhythmic breathing. One, two, three, breathe. One, two, three, breathe. And again…
I’m a fish, soaring in the waves, a bird flapping to freedom. Hope, the girl who’s always sad, with a sick mother and no father, vanishes. The world is easier in the water, reduced to the bare necessities—keep moving, and keep breathing. That’s all we ever need.
I barely register when night falls and the sun, my very own lighthouse, gets engulfed in the waves. The sky is clear and the stars twinkling over my head provide all the light I need. But my muscles are tiring after the long swim, and I haven’t yet crossed the frontier between Mount Olympus and Earth.
I’ve been gone for an hour at least. I must be getting close. Besides, I don’t think I have the energy to go back even if I wanted to. The only way left is forward.
After another long while, the sea shifts to a restless state, as though stirred by an oncoming storm. The waves get angrier, first slapping the sides of my face then covering me whole, blinding me and sneaking into my nostrils and mouth. Panic creeps in, settling inside my heart. I swim under the surface to avoid the backwash. I haven’t been able to see where I’m going for a while anyway. The currents grow stronger, pushing me off course. When I come up for air, I don’t know which way is what, but Mount Olympus’ shores are nowhere to be seen—at least I’m not swimming backward.
My chest hurts from holding my breath and my thighs and biceps scream in agony. It won’t be long now before my body gives out. I scream at the waves as I tear through them, but my voice is engulfed by the howling winds.
At last I meet resistance and desperately throw myself against it. Like the wall hidden inside the clouds, an invisible fence hinders my progression. Panic and exhaustion have robbed me of my capacity to think rationally and come up with a solution. I’m a tiny fish with no thoughts inside my brain but survival, and like the trapped animal I’ve become, I bang repeatedly against the wall, hoping that my weight alone will bring it down.
As usual, hope alone doesn’t do any good. Stuck between ferocious waves and an immovable mass, I’m rocked in my water prison, bludgeoned by the recurrent attacks. When at last my skull slams the wall, blessed oblivion takes over as I sink under the dark water.
Chapter 17
Someone breathes into my mouth. I fight the alien rush of air, rejecting the attempt to bring me back from my sleepless dream. It didn’t hurt there. If I open my eyes, reality will win and I’ll be faced with my fears again. I need to go back to that state of nothingness, but the lips pressed to mine won’t relinquish their hold. Excruciatingly, my lungs sputter back to life.
My eyelids flutter open. The sullen god’s coal eyes latch onto mine while he breathes for me. We’re still under water, but my vision is clear and my previously numb cheeks start burning. Now that I’m awake, the mouth-to-mouth feels like a kiss. I try to squirm away from his grasp, but the god refuses to let go. He drags me downward until our feet hit the sandy bottom of the ocean. Before us is the dark entrance of a grotto.
The god pushes a last surge of oxygen into my lungs before breaking our strange kiss. I hold my breath but he shakes his head, encouraging me to release it.
“You can breathe now. Don’t worry,” he says, wrapping one of my arms around his shoulder to help me walk inside the grotto. My heart flutters at the touch of his bare shoulder peeking out of a sleeveless tunic.
Each of my limbs hurt, but his touch gives me strength. As
I take my first step, a flash of pain zings through my left ankle. It has to be broken.
“Nereus will heal you,” he promises.
The dark entrance turns into a sparkling, grand hall. The walls are gray silicate, and beautiful mosaics made of aquamarines and diamonds adorn the floor. Marble statues representing sea monsters and mermen are scattered at odd intervals while schools of multicolored fish swim idly across the vast hall. A tall man with a long beard and black hair that falls past his shoulders greets us.
“Kieron. What brings you here?” he asks warily.
“She’s hurt. Can you help her?” my rescuer says as he helps me lie down.
“Why didn’t you beseech your uncle?” the man asks.
The young god scowls. “You know Poseidon won’t help. He’s probably the one who unleashed the storm on her. The foolish girl tried to escape.”
Were it any other time, I would have something to say about his unkind words, but I hurt too much, and he did save my life.
“Why did you try to leave, girl? You did come to Mount Olympus of your own volition.”
I finally open my mouth to speak. Clearly, whatever the young god did to me has worked, or I would have run out of oxygen a long time ago.
“I didn’t,” I rasp. “I’m not supposed to be here. Just tried to save someone.”
This brings a smile to the old man’s face. “At least we have one challenger with a true heroic heart.”
“Nereus, she’s in pain.” My savior reminds him.
The man kneels besides me. “Good deeds deserve a reward.” He holds his hands over my chest.
A green glow from his palms encompasses my entire body. Although he doesn’t touch me, his glow caresses me as clearly as the warm waves on my skin. It runs from my face to my toes, stroking each injury and mending them instantly. A grateful smile settles on my lips as he takes my pain away.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. What is your name, child?”
Olympian Challenger Page 10
