Mystress of Shadows
02-14-2014, 06:28 PM
Unknown Goddess
“Alexia, close your eyes.” That’s my mother speaking. You've probably heard of her. She’s Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty and Love. My father is Boreas, the fierce and moody Northern wind. That makes me a goddess as well, even though I’m not exactly well known. I am the Goddess of Fierce Emotions, Alexia.
“Why, do you have a surprise for me?” Her words had surprised me as she hardly ever had surprises. That is, unless she was breaking the hearts of mortals and gods alike. I sensed a hesitation in her voice as she tried to figure out an appropriate answer.
“Of sorts, so close your eyes and don’t peek.” I did as she asked, only to feel the familiar twist of wind that often comes with the whirlwind all Olympians use for quick transportation. My amber colored hair was whipped around viciously in the swirling wind, tickling my nose in the process. I sneezed delicately and pulled my hair out of my face, giggling. I should know better by know. I've only done this a few billions times. Finally, the wind stopped moving, and I knew we had arrived, whenever we are.
A deep breath signaled me that we were somewhere I was unfamiliar with. It smelled strongly of metal, sweat, and earth. However, there was something sweet smelling within all of this. It smelled much like the metal, but better, almost like a springtime meadow with wildflowers everywhere. I was strangely attracted to it, and it was weird as I had never felt attracted to anything or anyone. One thing brought me out of that train of thought.
It was silent; not even the wind made a sound, even though it was softly blowing against me. It lifted my hair and caressed my cheek, but it was silent. A sudden roar startled me, but I recognized it. It was the roar of Ares, the God of War. I listened as he launched himself off the ground. Shortly followed was the sharp clang of metal, and Hermes’ elusive laugh. A fight perhaps?
“You can look now, Alexia.” Her voice sounded proud, but that was probably because Ares was fighting. She never rooted for anyone else. She wouldn't even watch a battle unless he was fighting. Tentatively, I opened one eye, and then the other. A quick glance told me where I was, especially with the enchanted dummies running lose. These dummies were quick, and when they were finally smashed by the strength of a god or goddess, they would automatically piece themselves back together due to the magic placed on them by the sorceress goddesses, Circe and Hecate.
Ares and Hermes were having a skirmish not too far off. Ares was wielding a double-handed sword, one with such a weight that I could never hope to lift it, let alone wield it. Even with such weight, his accuracy was impeccable, only matched by the strength of each blow. By looking at his face, anyone could tell that he was quite irritated that his attack was blocked by the scrawny Hermes.
On the other hand, Hermes fought with two light weight blades meant for dual-wielding. The blades didn't drag down his speed in the least, and his accuracy matched that of Ares. His face was lit up in triumph, even though it was only a block. The blades of all three swords were shining with the golden ambrosia. The ambrosia was required to prevent the Gods and Goddesses from causing whoever they were sparring with from getting seriously injured and having to take downtime from their duties to the world below.
When I finally looked away, I was able to observe the actual training area. It looked like a spot in the Sonoran desert in Arizona, barren and dusty. There were large circles, each one at least a half mile in diameter. Ares and Hermes were fighting in one of these, exchanging blow after blow as time progressed. Four of the eleven remaining circles contained the dummies. I watched in wonder as Athena smashed one after another, only for them to regenerate. Eventually, I tore my eyes of off her to observe the rest.
I noticed a building off in the distance, probably 500 meters out. It was a low, gray building that seemed rather dismal. There were no windows, and only one door that I knew I would have to duck under to enter. Around the edges of this door, I noticed something peculiar. There was a pale pink light emitting from it, almost calling out to me. It was just barely visible, but it called for my attention. The next thing I knew, my mother had grabbed my arm and was starting to pull me towards the building. That’s when I realized why we were there.
I was getting my own weapon today. I had been terrified of this prospect for centuries ever since I saw Athena badly wounded in her battle with Medusa. Those two still have grudges after all this time, and they fight whenever they get anywhere near each other. I had seen the building in photos many times before and had never been scared, but when I was about to enter it, it was menacing. Getting my weapon would mean that I would fight, too, and I wasn't exactly what is called comfortable with it.
One step after another, I told myself. It has to be done. I was only 324, but most Gods and Goddesses had their chosen weapon before they hit their 4th century of life. My own demigod sister, Ismene, had the courage to receive hers at age 259. I was beginning to be pitied by the others because of my hesitation, and that is not good for any immortal. It makes them seem weak and unreliable. The final step into the building was the hardest, but a tug from Aphrodite made me do it.
What I saw was stunning. The place was gleaming with gold and silver weapons, and it was as though Hestia had decided to light an eternal flame, creating a homely environment. There were maces and long swords, shields and scythes. Everything was deadly, each one was unique, but these marvelous weapons lining the walls did not hold my attention for long.
The pink glow I had noticed was still there, but it was emitting from one of the corridors this time. Unconsciously, I started walking towards it, curiosity nipping at me. My mother didn't try to stop me either. As I walked, I felt a new sensation within me, one I had never felt before. It was calming, yet exhilarating. It felt pleasant, and it made me go faster. I turned corner after corner, went down a couple flights of stairs. It was a maze, a very large one. Could it be the renowned Labyrinth? It was possible, as with every twist and turn, I came closer to possibly losing my way.
One last turn, and I came to a massive door. The shimmering door almost blinded me. There were intricate swirling designs racing along the door, making it seem as though the door was swaying in the pale glow emitting from it. The glow was as strong as ever. It was compelling me closer and closer, calling for me to come to it.
I could hear it. It was as though whatever was beyond that door was singing in the most magnificent voice I had ever heard before. It was sweet and soothing, maybe even smoother than the sirens’ song. There were no words to the song; it was simply a steady, enchanting hum. A hand, my hand reached out and pushed the door. It swung open effortlessly, and I finally saw what had attracted me so.
Behind the door was a bundle sitting in the middle of the small room's floor. A dark red cloth was used to hold something inside. It was oddly shaped, with something poking on end of the package like it was trying to break free. Hesitation surfaced once again as I took a tentative step into the room. I kneeled down in order to grab the bundle. My hand shook as I drew it to me. It was no bigger than a toaster, but it was heavy. I could tell there was a lot of metal in it, and a lot of magic, too.
I pulled on one end of the silver ribbon, and all the items came tumbling out. The first thing I saw was a helmet of pale pink and silver with intricate designs of swirls and shadows. There were forearm guards. I tried them on, and somehow they fit me perfectly. They had the same designs as the helmet, but I knew these were not what I was looking for. Looking around, I finally found it. It was a dagger with a stunning presence. I almost didn't pick it out of fear of tarnishing it.
The blade itself shone like a beacon. There were wisps of the pale pink glow surrounding it, making it intimidating. As my hand neared it, the wisps neared me, almost like it was trying to grab hold of me. At first I drew back startled, but a deep breath calmed me, and I reached out, this time grabbing the handle.
The blade balanced in my hand perfectly and felt natural. This was what had been calling to me all along. It's straight blade's noise grew stronger at my touch. I noticed a carving along the handle: Only for the one who can hear me. I can hear it, but why does that make me special, I thought. Of all the powerful goddesses out there, why me? The blade pulsed as though it had heard my thoughts. I was already beginning to feel like one with it.
I decided I wanted to try it out on one of the dummies outside, regardless of my fear of fighting. Leaving the helmet, I started heading back. As I studied my new weapon, I somehow knew exactly what I needed to go, and I found my way out with ease. The sudden light from outside stunned me, and it took a minute for my eyes to adjust.
All of a sudden, I realized that my mother wasn't with me. Then, a shrill scream ripped through the air. It was Aphrodite’s. My immediate reaction was to run in the direction it came from, and turning the corner, I stopped short. My mother was lacerated along her left arm, her fighting arm. Her weapon was on the ground, and she was leaning against the weaponry’s wall. The golden blood of immortals dripped down her arm, making a small puddle on the ground. The one who had challenged her was none other than Hera, Goddess of Marriage and fertility. Hera held a dagger, but there was no glow of ambrosia. This weapon was meant to maim, not spar. Hera raised her arm for another strike, but I grabbed her wrist before she could.
Hera turned and freed her arm from my grasp with a sharp yank. She was about to speak when she saw my new weapon. “My weapon,” she muttered, shocked t seeing it in the hands of an underling. Then, yelling in fury, “Why do you have my special dagger, the one only I'm supposed to know how to get to? And those arm guards are mine as well. How did you find them?”
“I followed the pink glow, and the song,” I stammered out, “Why are you attacking Aphrodite?”
“She blocked my way, though I don’t know why, and what do you mean glow, and what song?” She began to sneer at me in pure disdain.
“It’s happening right now. Can’t you see it? Can’t you hear it?” I held the dagger out, and I noticed the glow had grown darker, to that of blood red. The song, too, had changed. It was darker, more formidable. The notes were the same, but they were terrifying, so much so that I almost dropped the weapon. Shakily, I drew the weapon back, and it returned to the way it was before. Hera could see the confusion on my face as I tried to contemplate it.
“What’s the matter? Is it not working for you now? Is it not singing and glowing for you anymore?” Triumph sounded in her voice as though she had already won the battle. She was trying to bait me into an attack.
“It’s still glowing,” I murmured. “It’s still singing, but it changed. It wasn't pure for a minute. It was like a dark curse had been placed on it.” As I spoke, I can up with a theory. I thrust out the weapon towards Hera, and it changed into the dark thing it was before. Then, I walked over to Aphrodite.
The blade actually changed into a pale pink blade in the shape of a peacock’s feather. It was truly singing now, with the words of the ancient Greek language. Within the song, whose words I could not understand, I thought I heard my name.
“You can heal her.” An unknown voice spoke to me through the song. I look around trying to figure out who it was, but there was no one else there besides me, Hera, and Aphrodite. “You can heal her,” the voice repeated. It echoed, and was femininely mystical, but it was familiar. Realization struck down hard against my head. In disbelief, I looked at my blade. Again, the voice repeated, “You can heal her.” The glow of the blade warped as the voice talked, confirming what I thought. The blade was alive, though only for me. Only I could hear it. Only I could understand it. Only I could see the power it possessed. “Cut your finger and let your blood drip into her wound. It will heal her.”
Hearing a weapon talk to me was astounding. Even though I was not sure yet if I could trust this mysterious voice, I decided to comply. Gently, I pressed the blade against my left index finger till I saw my golden blood begin to swell. Then, I held Aphrodite’s injured arm up as my blood dripped drop by drop into her wound. With each drop, her wound closed more and more until there wasn't even a scar. At the same time, my own finger healed. There was no cut anymore, not on either me or my mother. “Daughter," my mother said addressing me. "How did you know to do that? I’m not even sure if I could pull it off, and you finger shows no sign of damage. Not even Asclepius could do that. How did you do it?”
“I listened to the blade’s voice. It told me what to do, and I listened.” I watched as Aphrodite raised an eyebrow in surprise of this answer.
Hera, beyond furious, came up and slapped me. She also attempted to take the weapon from me, but when she touched it, she pulled back sharply as though it had burned her. “I don’t get it. How is it that you know the blade as though you’ve held it your entire existence, and yet you just now retrieved it? Why can I not even touch it now that it’s in your possession? Explain it to me.” Hera, not getting an answer immediately, grabbed her dagger and attacked.
Somehow, I knew to lift my arm at just the right time, allowing her strike to bounce harmlessly off my arm-guard. I quickly followed with a counter-attack that I intuitively knew. My blade slashed her hand as I twisted my foot and pulled her ankle from out underneath her. Hera was knocked off balance, and she fell. By now, you could feel the rage seeping through her. With lightning speed, she knocked my weapon out of my hand by kicking it. In my surprise, she had time to rise up and lift me off the ground by the front of my Greek robe that was the custom wear for all Olympians.
"You’re going down, Alexia," Hera growled in my ear. "You never should have messed with fate." As I withered helplessly in her grasp, I slowly lost all my senses, starting with my vision, then my hearing, quickly followed by touch smell, and taste. It felt like my body was being put to sleep little by little, and eventually, I knew nothing of what was happening as I plunged into a deep darkness.
Thoughts raced through my head, all of them because of what had just happened. What of my mother? Is she ok, or did Hera get her, too? Am I even ok? Am I still alive? Well, I know I’m alive; I’m immortal, but am I in an eternal limbo or something of the sort? What’s going to happen now?
I found myself staring into a space-less place with no end. It was a pure black, one impenetrable by even an immortal’s impeccable eye. Nothing existed within this place, not even myself. I was there, and yet, I was not. No sound penetrated the velvet silence. Time wandered aimlessly around me. I couldn't tell if a year, a minute, or even a century had passed. This truly was a limbo of some sort, lost from space and time, even existence.
Suddenly, I thought I heard voices. It sounded as they were arguing, but they weren't. It was something far off, indistinct, subtle. A glow began to emanate from no source, changing my surroundings at the same time. My vision was foggy, then clear, then foggy again. They went back and forth, giving me glimpses of where I was.
I saw one thing that stood out; my blade. Its aura had dulled, and it was but a simple blade once again. Its voice called out to me once again, but its voice sounded slurred and incoherent. “Wake, Daughter of Aphrodite, girl of prophecy.” Girl of prophecy? I wondered. Why that? What prophecy am I supposed to be a part of?
I began to stir, but I was hugged before I could get any higher than a half sit. “Don’t you dare do that again,” someone’s voice warned me. It was Aphrodite’s. Her amber hair fell across half her face as she pulled back. Her eyes flashed and changed color as I stared into them. They expressed her worry, relief, and rage. Two pale skinned hands gripping my arms firmly, showing her slender yet mildly muscular frame.
I was jolted fully back into reality as she shook me slightly, making sure I was really there. “Yes, I know. Can you let go of me now?” She let go, fully relieved, before turning towards something. I turned as well and immediately grabbed my side. I had apparently been thrown down since my right side had a splitting feeling. I was bruised, but not broken, thank goodness.
Athena and Hera were locked in battle. The voices I had heard before were not voices, but the clash of blades. Hera’s rage flashed through her golden eyes her brunette hair whipping around in the wind caused by the battle. Athena was determine, and in rage as well, but her gray eyes expressed it much different than Hera did. It was more determined, not reckless. She almost seemed protective.
Their movement were too fast to follow. Flashes of red and gold and silver streaked through the air. Whirlwinds blew around us as the battle intensified. I could not see what was happening, but the sounds stopped. As the dust settled, I finally saw the end result. Athena had Hera on the ground, the point of her sword pointed at her heart. Hera’s weapon was sticking out of the ground too far for her to reach. Several lacerations could be seen on both of them.
To my surprise, Athena sheathed her blade. “Get up,” she said, “and don’t let me see you do something like that again.” Hera rose, obviously denying her defeat. She glared at Athena before pulling her blade out of the ground and turning from her. “It’s over, Hera.”
“You’re right, it is over.” Hera took a few steps away from us before turning back to me. The disdain in her eyes sent shivers down my back. “For now.” Did I hear her right? Did she really just say ‘For now’? Finally, she left, still as cold and vicious as always. Athena turned towards me an eyed me carefully.
“You have a unique relation to that blade of yours. Guard it with your life, and never let it leave your side again.” I simply nodded and grabbed my blade. I felt power surge through me as my hand held tightly onto the handle of it. As Athena turned to leave, I turned towards Aphrodite, who was now back to normal.
“Let’s go. I think that will be good enough for today.” I nodded in agreement and allowed her to whisk us out of the training grounds in the same fashion that we had arrived.
To Be Continued… XD
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THIS DOES NOT PERFECTLY FOLLOW GREEK MYTHOLOGY. PLEASE DO NOT POINT OUT FLAWS BASED ON THE ORIGINAL MYTHS. Thank you!
“Alexia, close your eyes.” That’s my mother speaking. You've probably heard of her. She’s Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty and Love. My father is Boreas, the fierce and moody Northern wind. That makes me a goddess as well, even though I’m not exactly well known. I am the Goddess of Fierce Emotions, Alexia.
“Why, do you have a surprise for me?” Her words had surprised me as she hardly ever had surprises. That is, unless she was breaking the hearts of mortals and gods alike. I sensed a hesitation in her voice as she tried to figure out an appropriate answer.
“Of sorts, so close your eyes and don’t peek.” I did as she asked, only to feel the familiar twist of wind that often comes with the whirlwind all Olympians use for quick transportation. My amber colored hair was whipped around viciously in the swirling wind, tickling my nose in the process. I sneezed delicately and pulled my hair out of my face, giggling. I should know better by know. I've only done this a few billions times. Finally, the wind stopped moving, and I knew we had arrived, whenever we are.
A deep breath signaled me that we were somewhere I was unfamiliar with. It smelled strongly of metal, sweat, and earth. However, there was something sweet smelling within all of this. It smelled much like the metal, but better, almost like a springtime meadow with wildflowers everywhere. I was strangely attracted to it, and it was weird as I had never felt attracted to anything or anyone. One thing brought me out of that train of thought.
It was silent; not even the wind made a sound, even though it was softly blowing against me. It lifted my hair and caressed my cheek, but it was silent. A sudden roar startled me, but I recognized it. It was the roar of Ares, the God of War. I listened as he launched himself off the ground. Shortly followed was the sharp clang of metal, and Hermes’ elusive laugh. A fight perhaps?
“You can look now, Alexia.” Her voice sounded proud, but that was probably because Ares was fighting. She never rooted for anyone else. She wouldn't even watch a battle unless he was fighting. Tentatively, I opened one eye, and then the other. A quick glance told me where I was, especially with the enchanted dummies running lose. These dummies were quick, and when they were finally smashed by the strength of a god or goddess, they would automatically piece themselves back together due to the magic placed on them by the sorceress goddesses, Circe and Hecate.
Ares and Hermes were having a skirmish not too far off. Ares was wielding a double-handed sword, one with such a weight that I could never hope to lift it, let alone wield it. Even with such weight, his accuracy was impeccable, only matched by the strength of each blow. By looking at his face, anyone could tell that he was quite irritated that his attack was blocked by the scrawny Hermes.
On the other hand, Hermes fought with two light weight blades meant for dual-wielding. The blades didn't drag down his speed in the least, and his accuracy matched that of Ares. His face was lit up in triumph, even though it was only a block. The blades of all three swords were shining with the golden ambrosia. The ambrosia was required to prevent the Gods and Goddesses from causing whoever they were sparring with from getting seriously injured and having to take downtime from their duties to the world below.
When I finally looked away, I was able to observe the actual training area. It looked like a spot in the Sonoran desert in Arizona, barren and dusty. There were large circles, each one at least a half mile in diameter. Ares and Hermes were fighting in one of these, exchanging blow after blow as time progressed. Four of the eleven remaining circles contained the dummies. I watched in wonder as Athena smashed one after another, only for them to regenerate. Eventually, I tore my eyes of off her to observe the rest.
I noticed a building off in the distance, probably 500 meters out. It was a low, gray building that seemed rather dismal. There were no windows, and only one door that I knew I would have to duck under to enter. Around the edges of this door, I noticed something peculiar. There was a pale pink light emitting from it, almost calling out to me. It was just barely visible, but it called for my attention. The next thing I knew, my mother had grabbed my arm and was starting to pull me towards the building. That’s when I realized why we were there.
I was getting my own weapon today. I had been terrified of this prospect for centuries ever since I saw Athena badly wounded in her battle with Medusa. Those two still have grudges after all this time, and they fight whenever they get anywhere near each other. I had seen the building in photos many times before and had never been scared, but when I was about to enter it, it was menacing. Getting my weapon would mean that I would fight, too, and I wasn't exactly what is called comfortable with it.
One step after another, I told myself. It has to be done. I was only 324, but most Gods and Goddesses had their chosen weapon before they hit their 4th century of life. My own demigod sister, Ismene, had the courage to receive hers at age 259. I was beginning to be pitied by the others because of my hesitation, and that is not good for any immortal. It makes them seem weak and unreliable. The final step into the building was the hardest, but a tug from Aphrodite made me do it.
What I saw was stunning. The place was gleaming with gold and silver weapons, and it was as though Hestia had decided to light an eternal flame, creating a homely environment. There were maces and long swords, shields and scythes. Everything was deadly, each one was unique, but these marvelous weapons lining the walls did not hold my attention for long.
The pink glow I had noticed was still there, but it was emitting from one of the corridors this time. Unconsciously, I started walking towards it, curiosity nipping at me. My mother didn't try to stop me either. As I walked, I felt a new sensation within me, one I had never felt before. It was calming, yet exhilarating. It felt pleasant, and it made me go faster. I turned corner after corner, went down a couple flights of stairs. It was a maze, a very large one. Could it be the renowned Labyrinth? It was possible, as with every twist and turn, I came closer to possibly losing my way.
One last turn, and I came to a massive door. The shimmering door almost blinded me. There were intricate swirling designs racing along the door, making it seem as though the door was swaying in the pale glow emitting from it. The glow was as strong as ever. It was compelling me closer and closer, calling for me to come to it.
I could hear it. It was as though whatever was beyond that door was singing in the most magnificent voice I had ever heard before. It was sweet and soothing, maybe even smoother than the sirens’ song. There were no words to the song; it was simply a steady, enchanting hum. A hand, my hand reached out and pushed the door. It swung open effortlessly, and I finally saw what had attracted me so.
Behind the door was a bundle sitting in the middle of the small room's floor. A dark red cloth was used to hold something inside. It was oddly shaped, with something poking on end of the package like it was trying to break free. Hesitation surfaced once again as I took a tentative step into the room. I kneeled down in order to grab the bundle. My hand shook as I drew it to me. It was no bigger than a toaster, but it was heavy. I could tell there was a lot of metal in it, and a lot of magic, too.
I pulled on one end of the silver ribbon, and all the items came tumbling out. The first thing I saw was a helmet of pale pink and silver with intricate designs of swirls and shadows. There were forearm guards. I tried them on, and somehow they fit me perfectly. They had the same designs as the helmet, but I knew these were not what I was looking for. Looking around, I finally found it. It was a dagger with a stunning presence. I almost didn't pick it out of fear of tarnishing it.
The blade itself shone like a beacon. There were wisps of the pale pink glow surrounding it, making it intimidating. As my hand neared it, the wisps neared me, almost like it was trying to grab hold of me. At first I drew back startled, but a deep breath calmed me, and I reached out, this time grabbing the handle.
The blade balanced in my hand perfectly and felt natural. This was what had been calling to me all along. It's straight blade's noise grew stronger at my touch. I noticed a carving along the handle: Only for the one who can hear me. I can hear it, but why does that make me special, I thought. Of all the powerful goddesses out there, why me? The blade pulsed as though it had heard my thoughts. I was already beginning to feel like one with it.
I decided I wanted to try it out on one of the dummies outside, regardless of my fear of fighting. Leaving the helmet, I started heading back. As I studied my new weapon, I somehow knew exactly what I needed to go, and I found my way out with ease. The sudden light from outside stunned me, and it took a minute for my eyes to adjust.
All of a sudden, I realized that my mother wasn't with me. Then, a shrill scream ripped through the air. It was Aphrodite’s. My immediate reaction was to run in the direction it came from, and turning the corner, I stopped short. My mother was lacerated along her left arm, her fighting arm. Her weapon was on the ground, and she was leaning against the weaponry’s wall. The golden blood of immortals dripped down her arm, making a small puddle on the ground. The one who had challenged her was none other than Hera, Goddess of Marriage and fertility. Hera held a dagger, but there was no glow of ambrosia. This weapon was meant to maim, not spar. Hera raised her arm for another strike, but I grabbed her wrist before she could.
Hera turned and freed her arm from my grasp with a sharp yank. She was about to speak when she saw my new weapon. “My weapon,” she muttered, shocked t seeing it in the hands of an underling. Then, yelling in fury, “Why do you have my special dagger, the one only I'm supposed to know how to get to? And those arm guards are mine as well. How did you find them?”
“I followed the pink glow, and the song,” I stammered out, “Why are you attacking Aphrodite?”
“She blocked my way, though I don’t know why, and what do you mean glow, and what song?” She began to sneer at me in pure disdain.
“It’s happening right now. Can’t you see it? Can’t you hear it?” I held the dagger out, and I noticed the glow had grown darker, to that of blood red. The song, too, had changed. It was darker, more formidable. The notes were the same, but they were terrifying, so much so that I almost dropped the weapon. Shakily, I drew the weapon back, and it returned to the way it was before. Hera could see the confusion on my face as I tried to contemplate it.
“What’s the matter? Is it not working for you now? Is it not singing and glowing for you anymore?” Triumph sounded in her voice as though she had already won the battle. She was trying to bait me into an attack.
“It’s still glowing,” I murmured. “It’s still singing, but it changed. It wasn't pure for a minute. It was like a dark curse had been placed on it.” As I spoke, I can up with a theory. I thrust out the weapon towards Hera, and it changed into the dark thing it was before. Then, I walked over to Aphrodite.
The blade actually changed into a pale pink blade in the shape of a peacock’s feather. It was truly singing now, with the words of the ancient Greek language. Within the song, whose words I could not understand, I thought I heard my name.
“You can heal her.” An unknown voice spoke to me through the song. I look around trying to figure out who it was, but there was no one else there besides me, Hera, and Aphrodite. “You can heal her,” the voice repeated. It echoed, and was femininely mystical, but it was familiar. Realization struck down hard against my head. In disbelief, I looked at my blade. Again, the voice repeated, “You can heal her.” The glow of the blade warped as the voice talked, confirming what I thought. The blade was alive, though only for me. Only I could hear it. Only I could understand it. Only I could see the power it possessed. “Cut your finger and let your blood drip into her wound. It will heal her.”
Hearing a weapon talk to me was astounding. Even though I was not sure yet if I could trust this mysterious voice, I decided to comply. Gently, I pressed the blade against my left index finger till I saw my golden blood begin to swell. Then, I held Aphrodite’s injured arm up as my blood dripped drop by drop into her wound. With each drop, her wound closed more and more until there wasn't even a scar. At the same time, my own finger healed. There was no cut anymore, not on either me or my mother. “Daughter," my mother said addressing me. "How did you know to do that? I’m not even sure if I could pull it off, and you finger shows no sign of damage. Not even Asclepius could do that. How did you do it?”
“I listened to the blade’s voice. It told me what to do, and I listened.” I watched as Aphrodite raised an eyebrow in surprise of this answer.
Hera, beyond furious, came up and slapped me. She also attempted to take the weapon from me, but when she touched it, she pulled back sharply as though it had burned her. “I don’t get it. How is it that you know the blade as though you’ve held it your entire existence, and yet you just now retrieved it? Why can I not even touch it now that it’s in your possession? Explain it to me.” Hera, not getting an answer immediately, grabbed her dagger and attacked.
Somehow, I knew to lift my arm at just the right time, allowing her strike to bounce harmlessly off my arm-guard. I quickly followed with a counter-attack that I intuitively knew. My blade slashed her hand as I twisted my foot and pulled her ankle from out underneath her. Hera was knocked off balance, and she fell. By now, you could feel the rage seeping through her. With lightning speed, she knocked my weapon out of my hand by kicking it. In my surprise, she had time to rise up and lift me off the ground by the front of my Greek robe that was the custom wear for all Olympians.
"You’re going down, Alexia," Hera growled in my ear. "You never should have messed with fate." As I withered helplessly in her grasp, I slowly lost all my senses, starting with my vision, then my hearing, quickly followed by touch smell, and taste. It felt like my body was being put to sleep little by little, and eventually, I knew nothing of what was happening as I plunged into a deep darkness.
Thoughts raced through my head, all of them because of what had just happened. What of my mother? Is she ok, or did Hera get her, too? Am I even ok? Am I still alive? Well, I know I’m alive; I’m immortal, but am I in an eternal limbo or something of the sort? What’s going to happen now?
I found myself staring into a space-less place with no end. It was a pure black, one impenetrable by even an immortal’s impeccable eye. Nothing existed within this place, not even myself. I was there, and yet, I was not. No sound penetrated the velvet silence. Time wandered aimlessly around me. I couldn't tell if a year, a minute, or even a century had passed. This truly was a limbo of some sort, lost from space and time, even existence.
Suddenly, I thought I heard voices. It sounded as they were arguing, but they weren't. It was something far off, indistinct, subtle. A glow began to emanate from no source, changing my surroundings at the same time. My vision was foggy, then clear, then foggy again. They went back and forth, giving me glimpses of where I was.
I saw one thing that stood out; my blade. Its aura had dulled, and it was but a simple blade once again. Its voice called out to me once again, but its voice sounded slurred and incoherent. “Wake, Daughter of Aphrodite, girl of prophecy.” Girl of prophecy? I wondered. Why that? What prophecy am I supposed to be a part of?
I began to stir, but I was hugged before I could get any higher than a half sit. “Don’t you dare do that again,” someone’s voice warned me. It was Aphrodite’s. Her amber hair fell across half her face as she pulled back. Her eyes flashed and changed color as I stared into them. They expressed her worry, relief, and rage. Two pale skinned hands gripping my arms firmly, showing her slender yet mildly muscular frame.
I was jolted fully back into reality as she shook me slightly, making sure I was really there. “Yes, I know. Can you let go of me now?” She let go, fully relieved, before turning towards something. I turned as well and immediately grabbed my side. I had apparently been thrown down since my right side had a splitting feeling. I was bruised, but not broken, thank goodness.
Athena and Hera were locked in battle. The voices I had heard before were not voices, but the clash of blades. Hera’s rage flashed through her golden eyes her brunette hair whipping around in the wind caused by the battle. Athena was determine, and in rage as well, but her gray eyes expressed it much different than Hera did. It was more determined, not reckless. She almost seemed protective.
Their movement were too fast to follow. Flashes of red and gold and silver streaked through the air. Whirlwinds blew around us as the battle intensified. I could not see what was happening, but the sounds stopped. As the dust settled, I finally saw the end result. Athena had Hera on the ground, the point of her sword pointed at her heart. Hera’s weapon was sticking out of the ground too far for her to reach. Several lacerations could be seen on both of them.
To my surprise, Athena sheathed her blade. “Get up,” she said, “and don’t let me see you do something like that again.” Hera rose, obviously denying her defeat. She glared at Athena before pulling her blade out of the ground and turning from her. “It’s over, Hera.”
“You’re right, it is over.” Hera took a few steps away from us before turning back to me. The disdain in her eyes sent shivers down my back. “For now.” Did I hear her right? Did she really just say ‘For now’? Finally, she left, still as cold and vicious as always. Athena turned towards me an eyed me carefully.
“You have a unique relation to that blade of yours. Guard it with your life, and never let it leave your side again.” I simply nodded and grabbed my blade. I felt power surge through me as my hand held tightly onto the handle of it. As Athena turned to leave, I turned towards Aphrodite, who was now back to normal.
“Let’s go. I think that will be good enough for today.” I nodded in agreement and allowed her to whisk us out of the training grounds in the same fashion that we had arrived.
To Be Continued… XD
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THIS DOES NOT PERFECTLY FOLLOW GREEK MYTHOLOGY. PLEASE DO NOT POINT OUT FLAWS BASED ON THE ORIGINAL MYTHS. Thank you!