Book of Panacea

by Tineke Peeters

  "What should we do?" Maria asked.

  "What do you mean?" I asked.

  "I think she is wondering if we should bury or burn Cyriel, Panacea." Maria nodded at Phatostai.

  Everyone was looking at me expectantly. All except Hades, he was checking his nails.

  "I don't know," I admitted. "When a creature dies on our Island, we bring it to the forest where the boundary would accept the creature. Not sure what happens after."

  I was lost; I did not know what to do and hated the feeling. I was supposed to be the sole expert. There was, however, another expert: Hades!

  "Can we leave the island to go home?" Was my first question. Both Artemis and Hecate shook their heads. Well, it was worth a try. I crossed my arms over my breasts.

  "Hades, tell us what the blanket is about and how to direct Cyriels' soul." Hades looked up, his face an impassive mask.

  "I have no idea what you are talking about; I do not guide souls anymore. The Elysium fields should be reached through my Underworld, but it is gone, thanks to Apollo, and so I have not been in contact with spirits or souls." He shrugged his shoulders.

  I balled my hands into fists and was starting forward, but before I could do anything, Maria thrust Cyriels' body in my arms and grabbed Hades by his cloth.

  "Ya are gonna tell me the ways for guiding Cyriels' soul, or I will teach ya all the ways a myriad can hurt a god." Hades' eyes bulged out of his head, as her grip on his cloth was also constricting his airways.

  As much as gods can't die and Hades being the god of the Underworld, I was surprised by how much of a wuss he seemed to be.

  Coughing and sputtering upon his release, he shot a glare at Maria.

  "If I wasn't bound, you would burn right now." Maria crossed her arms and kept her gaze on him.

  "Ugh, fine, whatever. The cloth is a spirit or soul guide. You burn the body wrapped in the cloth, say a few words, and the soul finds a new home." Hades dusted his hands off.

  "You know, if it wasn't for your granddad, none of this would happen! His soul would enter Underworld, be judged and be able to choose the river of forget, or to be guided to a new soul. None of this shit would happen either." He was pointing at me and waving his hands in the air.

  "If you weren't such an idiot, we wouldn't be doing this, anyway." Hecate replied with her arms still crossed.

  "Would everyone please shut up!" Artemis' voice thundered over the flower field. "I would like to return to my island, hoping Ascalaphus hasn't destroyed it. I want to pay my respects to Cyriel, so can we please begin?"

  "I am ready. What happened while I was away?" I looked up seeing Phatostai, who had gone to get wood for a fire. He was such a sweety! I smiled at him and he beamed right back.

  Without looking at anyone else, he began with the building of the wood into an organized pile with a little platform for Cyriel. He stood up and held out his hands for Cyriel, I shook my head and went towards the pile myself.

  "Be well, my friend. Good luck on your next journey and I hope we meet again." I gave a soft kiss on his head and put him on top of the firewood.

  Maria went next with both Lottie and Charlie saying goodbye as well.

  Artemis and Hecate said their goodbyes and lastly Phatostai. He put his hand on Cyriel, almost engulfing his body, and closed his eyes. After a few seconds he let go, and we all stood in a circle.

  Hades got glared at by everyone, making him raise his hands. "Fine!" He snarled.

  "It is simple really, only a few words, Phatostai, if you please." Hades was calm suddenly. I didn't trust it, but had no reason to stop this.

  "Phatostai? The fire?" Hades asked again.

  "Oh, right." He summoned his flame and with a nod from Hades, he put the pile of wood, with Cyriels small body on top, on fire.

  "Let your soul go to find its own way

  Begin your journey to a new place, find a new home.

  Tutur Iter."

  Maria let out a wail of grief. Phatostai grabbed me close to him as we watched the fire consume the whole pile. Everyone else was leaving.

  I gasped when I could physically see Cyriels’ soul leave him; it was similar to the smoke, but whiter. It made a complicated dance among all the random tendrils of smoke before disappearing. Not floating away like the smoke but disappearing as in 'poof' gone. I closed my eyes and turned into Phatostai's shirt. Cyriel was really gone, and as if knowing his friend was really gone, Apple howled loud and long.

  I would never hear his voice again, but I was sure I would meet him again someday. It would not be the same Cyriel, but I would know it was his soul. I was going to miss him.

  After a deep sigh, I got the tears under control, and let go of Phatostai. He looked at me and understood that I needed to be alone for a little while. He needed to stay to make sure the fire burned out completely.

  That evening, we sat around the fire waiting for Phatostai to return. He had stayed quite a while, but he needed to grieve as well. When he arrived, I was surprised by what he was carrying; Apple was constantly licking it. Guessing it was breakfast, I was a bit disgusted. No Apple slobber on my food! I shooed Apple away and gave Phatostai a cup with ambrosia, as he put 'breakfast' on his lap. With a trembling smile on my face, I got up.

  "We raise our glass to Cyriel. A wonderful and quite often, annoying friend. I will miss you. To Cyriel!" Everyone raised their cup at this and took a drink. Around the fire, we all reminisced our own experiences with Cyriel. Remembering his first meeting and interrogation, Phatostai managed to bring a brittle smile to Maria's face.

  When we heard a loud crack, we all jumped up, as Apple barked and yipped excitedly. He was jumping up and down in front of the giant white egg that I thought was for breakfast.

  "What is that?" Phatostai blushed when I asked the question.

  "Um, Apple and I found it. You see, when the fire was gone, this was left behind."

  "Huh," was all I could say to that.

  Apple was nudging the egg in Phatostais' hands. It was so big that he needed both his hands to hold it.

  "Can I see that?" Hecate asked. When she reached for it, however, Apple barked and snapped at her. Hades laughed and Hecate scowled.

  "Guess not," she mumbled.

  We all went around Phatostai and the egg, careful to keep the distance Apple had decided we needed to keep. Even I was kept away, for which I was peeved. The ungrateful little mongrel.

  All of a sudden, fire came out of the crack in the egg. Phatostai being immune to fire didn't get singed; my beautiful new dress was another issue. I patted it out when I heard the egg crack again; I looked up and was stunned at what I saw. Never in my life have I seen something so cute and ugly at the same time.

  It looked up at Phatostai and cried out "mama!". Everyone was laughing and Phatostai was looking bewildered at the creature in his lap.

  "Pana, help!"

  "You picked it up! You get to take care of it."

  "But I helped with Apple!"

  "Yeah, but I did most of the work, so this time I do less and you do more!"

  "Okay!"

  "A little help here, Pana!"

  "What now?!"

  "It pooped."

  "Yeah, so?"

  "On me."

  "Oh, uum, yell for Lottie?"

  "LOTTIEEEE!"

  The End… Or is it the beginning of the next adventure?