Memoirs of an Immortal (The Immortal Series) (17 page)

He raised my hands and helped me call in my weapons. I looked down and saw that my wrists no longer had any skin on them. I could see my muscles and blood. I jerked up still feeling weak.

“What have you done to me? Take them out now!” Anger now replaced all that I felt. I was horrified at what he had done to me. His look was hard and unwavering.

“I don’t regret the decision I made. You’re the strongest fighter. You’ll be able to shoulder this and become greater.” Hephaistos ended our conversation. He released his hold on me and left.

I could still feel his heat around me, his hands leaving a hot trail on my body. Prometheus quickly came to my side and helped me.

“He is quite difficult to understand. Try living with him. My mother took him in after he fell from Hera’s grace. He has always kept to himself, never letting anyone in. To be honest, this is the first time I have seen him speak so freely.” Akhilles volunteered.

I stared as Hephaistos walked away from me. What was stirring inside me?

Zoe held out her hands and healed my wrists quickly.

“Well done all of you. I’m impressed.” Akhilles clapped. “My brother has made weapons that only you can use so naturally. Oh and Psykhe, don’t worry too much, you did well too. Your Diavolis was the most difficult. But understand this. I will always be better at killing them than you.” He said smiling. His attention now was taken by Agape.

I massaged my wrists as I looked at Prometheus.

“Pro?” He looked at me with worry.

“I don’t know what rules Hephaistos’ mind.” He said with a hint of sadness.

“Enough about him.” I snapped. “I think… I think I heard it speak.”

He looked at me intently. “What?” He asked.

“I think it spoke to me or thought something. I don’t really know. Do they have a language?” I asked.

“You heard it?” Prometheus looked perplexed.

“Yes, its inner voice, it said something.” I answered.

“I knew you could hear thoughts, but never did I imagine you would be able to hear theirs.” He reached for my hand and lifted me up gently and dusted me off. “Yes, they do have a language. If you care to learn, you will need to speak to Hermes. He knows a great deal of languages, maybe he will be able to help you.”

Akhilles waved his hand in the air.

“That will be all for today, tomorrow will be even harder.” He smiled wildly. “So go back and rest.”

As we all began to take out leave, Agape took her time and looked at Akhilles as he walked away.

‘I hope he noticed me today.
’ I glanced at her and she quickly look at me, her mind betrayed her and I smiled. My sister was in love and I was happy for her.

The days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and our training had become more and more agonizing.

Akhilles wouldn’t let a moment go by without having to arrogantly criticize everything we did. He taught us how to fight in formation, how to fight on our own, we even were forced to use our abilities’ on help each other.

We would start early in the morning and end late at night. The only day off we would get would be if only Akhilles wanted it, which was never. I couldn’t help but think it had a lot to do with seeing Agape.

Our bodies thankfully healed every night, but it was our relationship that had begun to crack. When we were with our father we were would normally fight, but we had space to think and let things go. Now there was no such thing as space. We were together all the time. Agape would feel our emotions. Eirene would see our reactions and I would have to hear them all. It all became too much to bare.

“Enough Zoe! Can you not at least try harder, you only have a bow! It’s not like you would have to go close to them. Why can’t you get the formation right?” Eirene was growing more and more impatient, she and I would have no problem being in sync. Even Eva and I worked as one.

I know Eva felt left out because now Eirene and I were able to communicate, unlike before, when she was the only one that I felt in unison with. I tried not to lose patience, but Agape’s emotion ability would at times take over her, while Zoe’s lack of skill would get her frustrated and she would make dangerous mistakes.

Akhilles was always hardest on Zoe.

“Do you not get it? Your mistakes can cause us to lose a fight and that can’t ever happen. Should I just replace you? Should you just sit back and watch? Are you really Nikephoros’ daughter?”

He was always condescending to her. I understood why, but it would be Agape that would always get defensive and angry. She would go as far as refusing to partake in any exercises he had planned.

“Do you think by speaking to my sister that way, she would work harder? Who do you think you are?” She would yell back at him. “Do you not understand how she would feel, being embarrassed in front of her sisters? What gives you the right?”

Akhilles and Agape would often fight, enough to allow us a break, which I welcomed.

“What gives me the right?” He hissed. “I will tell you, little girl. I am Akhilles, one of, if not the greatest fighter. I’m the only one who can truly train you. Now do you understand?” He began poking at her shoulder as he spoke back to her, towering over her much smaller frame.

Zoe was always very careful not to allow her mind to wonder, but finally her mind slipped.

‘Why am I not good enough? I could do this, I have to do this.’

That night we came back late from Akhilles. None of us spoke to each other, as we went quietly to our rooms. As I walked in, the moon lit my bed up, inviting me to sleep. I quickly washed my body of any blood and dirt and changed from my dirty clothes. I almost ran to my bed.

As I lay comfortably there I was slowly being taken in by sleep, when I heard a voice.

“Shit, come on.” Someone was outside in the garden. I raised my aching body up and looked through my window.

There was Zoe, trying to practice. I watched her as she kept repeating the drills and trying to perfect her bow and arrow technique.

At that moment, I felt sympathy for her. We took to fighting like fish to water, but she was not always the strongest. She was good, better than any human, but not enough to please my father or Akhilles. I always wondered why he was harder on her and now I understood. He wanted us to be able to hold our own. Zoe was always the weakest, but she was by far the smartest.

I got out of bed, got dressed and went to the gardens. There I stood watching her and waited until she acknowledged me.

“Do you plan to watch me all night? Can I not have some privacy?” Zoe bit out.

I understood why. She was self-conscious around me.

“If you are trying to practice it, wouldn’t it be better to do it with one of us? I could help you. At least correct what you are not seeing.” I really wanted to help. I didn’t want my sister to feel this emotion of being pitied and looked down on.

‘
I don’t want your help. I can do it myself.
’ She thought resentful.

“Zoe please. I can help you. Come on, the two people who taught us this level of fighting, was father and now Akhilles and both have the same temper. I don’t think you thrive with someone humiliating you. You’re the type of creature that needs proper guidance.”

Zoe stood quietly and finally agreed.

‘Tell her, I’ll help too’
Eva could always make me smile.

“Eva will help you too and we’ll take turns ok?” I relayed the message and so began our double training.

I was right about Zoe. She was the type to listen to detailed instructions. It wasn’t enough to barked orders at her. She needed an environment to thrive and thrive she did. Within months, Zoe had become a top student in melee. I was astonished on how well she was doing.

But leave it to Akhilles to think it was his training that finally broke through to her. We never bothered to break it to him, it appeared to bring him joy and we never thought to take it away.

The five of us began to finally move in harmony. Our movements were enhanced now, that we were immortal. We moved quicker than before so to see us fight now was impressive. I was proud of us and how far we all had come.

“Ok, ok let’s have a break everyone, watching you all fight is making me tired.” Akhilles yawned as he was stretching.

He sat himself under a tree and closed his eyes. Eva and I were in the middle of fighting. Eva’s double sickles was high in the air, while I was about to block her attack. It’s was hard to stop simply because someone wanted us to. Our weapons were halted in mid air. The only thing that kept going was our heavy breathing.

We looked at each other waiting to see who would give way first.

“Come on you two just stop for now, its rare when we can have a break.” Eirene was always serious about these things.

I swear she always took out the fun of competing with each other. I gave a final smile and a scene flashed before my eyes. It was me and Eva, we both continued our fight and it was Akhilles who ended it. He was furious that we interrupted his nap.

I shook my head no to Eva and she retreated. We walked over to Eirene and sat down. I placed my swords on the ground next to me and as I lay down and stretched. I nudged Eirene for her leg, which she begrudgingly offered as a pillow. The sun was hot and beating down on us, the heat was stifling. There was no wind to help cool us down and the heat blanketed itself on our skin.

“Can you pass me the water?” I asked.

“No! I know what you’re going to do with it and we need it.” Eirene answered. She must have seen the image of me pouring it all over my face.

“Honestly do you not get tired of being so straight and narrow, always the mother? Always so put together? Don’t you for once in your life want to just break from your mundane way of thinking?” I spouted.

I saw what she was thinking and blocked her punch.

“There is nothing wrong with me.” She retorted.

“I didn’t say there was, but Eirene, you need to just let things go sometimes or at least don’t smother us. If you choose to be this way fine, but we don’t need to.”

She was about to say something, when Themis showed up “So this is training?”

Themis was as beautiful as always, her hair up in a loose bun, her chiffon dress a soft purple. She looked down at my face. I was thankful only because she was blocked the sun.

“We were told to take a break” I responded.

“More like it was quiet time for Agape and Akhilles.” Eva added.

We all glanced over to the other side. There under a large mastic tree was Akhilles lying down on Agapes’ lap, she was caressing his hair, while he was holding her other hand and sleeping.

“Well I guess they will be bonding soon.”

I looked at Themis. “What is bonding and why is she doing it?”

I began to worry.

I realized with my time in this world that nothing was unexpected and that almost anything goes and I didn’t want any of my sisters involved with any games that the gods played.

“It’s nothing to worry about, trust me.” Themis smiled, now I grew more worried. “I came here under specific orders to invite you to the dinner. Tonight there will be a banquet and since you all have been here long enough, I think it best to introduce you to your new extended family.”

We each gave each other knowing looks. I waited for Eirene to see something.

“They are of no use.” She said to me. “They only work if the gods allow it and when it comes to the gods, they allow no one to have power over them. Therefore, Eirene stop trying to see in the future and Psykhe stop trying to see her visions.” Themis said laughing. “Now, I will send you all home since I have more authority over Akhilles and we will get you all dressed up. I have to say, I am excited about this, you all are like my daughters.”

I laughed I was thinking on how Themis was seeing us now. All cut up, bruised and bloody. Our weapons nearly twice our size, as we were lying on the ground, sweat beating off us. But there she stood, smiling proudly. I didn’t want to disappoint her. I was going to do my best tonight.

The Banquet

True to form, Themis had everything ready for us, as I entered my room there was Aegle as bright as she always was. She smiled and floated to me.

“Psykhe, I missed you!” She sang and hugged me. I was surprised that I could feel her touch.

‘
She’s not happy to see me.’
I heard her say.

“Of course I’m happy, what are you doing here?” I asked.

“Well Themis wanted a few of us to help you get ready for tonight, so here I am.” She winked. “I even picked out your dress. I thought that green would really suit you because of the bright green in your eyes.” She floated to the dress and showed it to me. “I’m so excited!” Her voice sang.

“Come let me get you out of these dirty clothes and all cleaned up.”

She had a bath waiting for me. She helped me take off my blood stained clothes and I slowly slid into the hot water. Her light touch scrubbed the dirt and blood off of me. When I was done, she wrapped me in a large sheet of linen and sat me down in front of a mirror.

She stood behind me and began to fix my hair, putting together a soft bun with loose ringlets that fell freely. She then floated over to the hearth taking a small piece of coal. She then crushed it up with some water and prepared my eye makeup.

“So how do you like being here? Have you adjusted yet?” Aegle had asked, but before I could answer, I heard her inner voice.

‘
I heard that they have passed all expectations, that even the gods are excited to see them.’

I smiled listening to her. I had decided to dedicate myself to this new life of mine. I was happy that we had started to make an impression.

“You know Aegle, beside my heightened physical abilities, I also have developed another skill. I want you to try to block your thoughts from me. I realized that nymphs are carefree, but I don’t want to feel like I’m betraying our friendship by not telling you. I already feel horrible that I’m always hearing my sisters, I can’t give them the privacy that they deserve.” I wanted to be honest with her, she has always appeared to be sincere with me and I didn’t want to take advantage.

‘Oh! I already knew, not much goes on in this world without us nymphs finding out. Don’t worry, I have nothing to hide from you, I know we have not been close, but I have always wanted to be friends with you, but thank you for telling me.’

I looked at her through the mirror and watched her as she smiled at me.

After I had finished getting dressed, I turned and faced Aegle.

“Oh! You look so beautiful.” She clapped her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide.