Memoirs of an Immortal (The Immortal Series) (24 page)

I looked down at his hand and then looked at his face, he was smiling, his eyes somewhat narrowed.

“I’m sorry mistress. I know that you can punish me if you so choose, but my lord deserves more respect then what you are giving him. He thinks only of you and you think only of yourself. I have no clue what he sees in you, but here you are and I have to accept this, but I do not have to like you. He may be harsher and inelegant than most gods, but he is the truest to himself and for that I am glad to serve him. So here I am saying again, my lord has asked to see you before you leave?” He said bluntly. Fucken satyr. I wanted to reach over and pulled off his horns.

I wanted to leave because I wanted to see him.

“Where is he?” I caved in.

“He is at the weapon’s shop. I will take you.”

I walked through the courtyard. All of Hephaistos’ attendants stopped their work to look at me. We finally reached him, I watched as Hephaistos was sketching something and explaining it to his aide.

“My lord.” The satyr said.

Hephaistos stopped what he was doing and excused everyone. I waited until everyone was gone.

“Thank you for taking care of me last night and again, I’m sorry for my behavior.” I didn’t want to look at him, worried that I would lose all thought again.

“I’m surprised you came here. I thought that you were going to leave quickly, not wanting your sisters to notice.” He said in his deep voice.

The thought of my sisters didn’t even come to mind.

“Shit, you’re right! I need to leave now!” I headed out.

“Wait, the time of day it is now, your sisters must have noticed you left, so there is no point in rushing back just yet.” He was leaning against the table. His arms crossed. The way he stood showcased his large muscles.

I shook my head trying to regain my previous thought.

“What time it is?” I asked.

“Late morning. You must have been tired. I’m glad that you feel you can relax here.” He gave me a faint smile.

“Late morning? Then I’m late!” I stumbled, as I turned away from him. Hephaistos reached for my hand and gently held it.

“Why are you always leaving before we finish our conversation? Let me finish then you can leave.” He continued to hold my hand. I tried to control my heart from pounding nervously in my body.

“I’m glad that you came here last night” He pulled me closer and reached to place a stray hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my face. “I tried to figure out what you liked, I hope that I did well? You must come back soon. Father has his minions spying everywhere, so take care.” He looked at me for a long moment, his eyes fusing me to him.

“Where is it that you need to go this morning?” He finally asked.

“Apollon’s. This will be our first mission and he is to be in charge of us.” I concentrated on my answer, trying to focus my mind from wondering off to thoughts that no woman should have.

Hephaistos stiffened.

“Apollon,” He nodded to himself. “Well then, when you reach the bronze mirror, simply think of your destination and it will take you there.” Hephaistos had let me go slowly. We both hesitated for a moment.

“When will you be back?” Hephaistos beckoned softly.

“I don’t know, but I will, I promise.”

Our First Mission

I arrived in front of Apollon’s home. It didn’t surprise me how much it looked like a small temple. Apollon was always about grandeur. I walked up the marble steps and through the columns to the large wooden metal studded doors. It opened and I could hear my sisters inside.

I slipped into the large room hoping they wouldn’t notice.

“Well it nice of you to come, Psykhe.” Eirene was condescending as ever. “At least, we take our jobs seriously unlike you, who thinks this is a giant joke.” I was about to let it go, but I couldn’t.

“Why don’t you take your self-righteous personality and shove it up your ass. Unlike you, I don’t hold it over others on how great I am. So do yourself a favor and stop it right now. It’s not like either of us have less or more experience and if you hoping on age, well you’re too fucken old!” I bit out.

I hadn’t noticed that there were a few others there. Athena was behind Apollon, while Akhilles and Herakles were leaning up against the wall.

I thought I’d be embarrassed, but I wasn’t, surprisingly I just smiled and pushed through to the table that my sisters were sitting on.

‘Nice, finally someone had to tell her, that’s why I love you.’
Eva thought elatedly. ‘
Honestly speaking, I’d rather follow you. Sometimes Eirene’s high handedness can get overbearing.’
I turned to look at Eva to hush her up.

Apollon cleared his throat.

“Let us continue! So here it is said that the Diavolis will attack next. The size of the army is still unknown, but my oracles are working on finding out.”

‘
So how was the first night? Did anything happen? He didn’t touch you did he?’
Apollon’s thoughts entered my mind, as he spoke to all of us.

“I think we should send you down. Let you figure out what to do. That way Athena and I can best judge your abilities.” Apollon pointed at a city on a map, but he wasn’t looking at the map, he was looking at me.

I looked at Apollon. He wanted answers, which I didn’t think, I needed to give him.

Athena continued. “We leave in an hour. Prepare yourselves.” Athena summoned Apollon and left the room.

“Did you really need to do that in front of them?” Eirene yelled.

“Why? You were doing the same thing? Unlike you I was defending myself. You, you were posturing, so please cut the crap and leave me alone.” I snapped.

I wasn’t going to deal with her right now. I looked over to Herakles, he stared at me intently.

“What? You too? Why is it? Because you like my sister? Remember this, she is my sister and what happens between us is our business, not yours. Now do yourself the favor and stop giving me that look.” My eyes never left his. Akhilles nudged Herakles out of the room. Eirene didn’t say anything after that.

I looked over the map and tried to see for any viable positions.

“So you think by being over the ridge, we stand a better chance?” Eva was asking, as she stood over me.

“It’s not about a better chance,” I answered. “It’s about a better position to seek out our enemies. It’s not about the advantages we have, but it’s how we use our abilities and our dominance, that will decide the outcome. Don’t think because we’re immortal, that we are guaranteed to win, but rather it’s our skills and superiority and how we best use them that will balance the fate in our favor.” I remarked.

Eva nodded in agreement. “So what do we do?”

Agape and Zoe encircled the table to look at what I was suggesting, while Eirene stood up to leave.

“If you decide to not be a part of this because of your own ego, then we might as well admit that the gods were right about us. I heard your thoughts. You have nothing to offer, but your visions. I realize that it may be a valuable asset, but if that’s all you’re relying on, it won’t be enough. We have to think of our abilities as bonuses, not our only quality.” I stared at her back as she stopped in midstride. “Look Eirene, I want the gods off our backs, we can do this, so let’s come together and think strategy rather than ego and pride.” I pleaded.

She lingered for awhile and eventfully conceded and sat herself back down. We huddled together and came up with our line of attack.

Akhilles had come back inside and told us to follow him. There in the opening stood Hephaistos and Kelalion.

“My brother has brought you your armor. Try it on and get yourselves ready to fight.” Akhilles motions to where Hephaistos stood.

We walked up to the armor on the ground. Kelalion didn’t pay any attention to me. I realized that perhaps Hephaistos had told him not too.

I looked at the armor he had made us, there were four that looked the same, but one that was different. Zoe’s was a simple hard leather breast plate. On the back was a place for her bow and arrows. Eirene, Agape, Eva and I had metal breast plates, each with orate designs on them, specific fashioned to our tastes. It seemed that Hephaistos understood that Zoe was more a defensive fighter rather than an offensive one. She wasn’t going to be on the battlefield as much as we were.

“Zoe come here.” Hephaistos called her to him. He proceeded to show her why hers was so different. “With this armor you have the ability to transport yourself to your sisters’ aide. In the back there is an infinity pocket, here you can store any medicine you have.”

We readied ourselves preparing for our fight. Agape went around and tied our long hair up in high ponytails. I guess she was nervous.

“At least we can look good, right?” She said while fumbling with Eva’s hair.

‘
Why can’t I see it, by the gods, I’m trying’
Eirene was frustrating herself.
‘I want to know if we’ll win.
’ I sighed, tired of hearing her.

I wish she would just be the ruthless fighter I knew she was, instead of her holding onto her mental skill.

“Let it go Eirene, just trust in us and we can do this. This is what we have been waiting for. Each of us was born to our father and mother for this purpose, we are meant for this life. So stop forcing your premonitions and enjoy the hunt.” I smiled at her knowing this would get to her.

“The hunt?” She looked over at me and grinned. “Nice touch.” She said slyly.

“Are we ready?” I asked. They all cried out a powerful war cry.

“Let’s go then.” I shouted.

Hephaistos lingered for a moment longer watching me. I met his gaze when Apollon made his way to my side. I could hear Hephaistos’ low growl. He then called for Kelalion and excused himself. I noticed that both Apollon and Hephaistos took great care to distance themselves from each other.

Athena called us over to a door by a cave in the back of Apollon’s home.

“Through this door is Argos. Do not involve yourselves with the people there. Just go down and do what you are trained to do.” She opened the door, there over the ridge was the city of Argos, my sisters stood back and waited, but I didn’t, I walked right through.

I stood over the ridge overlooking the city. The sky was painted with various orange and reddish hues. The moon was climbing slowly, the city below glowing. They were in the middle of a great festival, wine was flowing and meat was grilling. The smells and sounds were overpowering, the memories behind them intense.

My instincts kicked in and suddenly I stopped admiring the city. I crouched down, putting my hand onto the ground. I could feel them coming. The vibrations on the earth seemed intense and unwavering, they were a large brood.

“Ten… no fifteen Diavolis. Northeast, coming fast.” I said calmly. “Are you ready? Remember the plan, keep your thoughts open to me, since our hearing is sensitive I could tell you what to do.”

My sisters ran into position, I held back for a few moments. I inhaled the air, I thought I’d be nervous, I thought that I’d be scared, but nothing of the sort came. Only this overwhelming feeling of excitement, I was ready for my prey.

“Ah this is a good day. This is a very good day.” I began to laugh, as I ran towards them. The blades of grass slightly stinging me as I ran, my rapid speed blurring my surroundings.

As I ran, I yanked my weapons out. The pain was less than last time. My blades gleamed with the moonlight hitting them. The closer I ran to them, the stronger the Diavolis’ stench was, it had overtaken the sweet smells of the celebratory festivities. We had intercepted them before they reached the city. We all stood staring at each other waiting like statues, our breathing being the only thing that proved our existence.

No one in Argos had noticed. I could hear the Diavolis’ thoughts. I began to make out some words it was a mix of our language and with a language I had never heard of.

‘Who are they
?’,
‘what do they want?’
But everything else was too difficult to understand. They charged at us as we waiting calmly, when they were close enough I cried out “NOW!”

I spearheaded our attack. My swords whirling through the air, cutting into the Diavolis of my choice, my thoughts controlling my threads helping me wield my swords. Eva and Eirene flanked me, wielding their weapons with ease. Zoe stayed back and offered her arrows, while Agape came from behind them and used her javelins to herd them into place for us. We had finally come together, a nice quiet synergy. My sisters were speaking to me through their thoughts and we could gauge on what to do next.

The battle was long, but invigorating. Towards the end, we began to toy with them. As the last one fell, we stood on top of a large mound of dust that where once the Diavolis, each of us feeling a sense of triumph.

Finally, Eva broke the silence, as she began to laugh, it was contagious. Our laughter took over and we hadn’t noticed Apollon or Athena standing there.

“Well then, that took less time than expected. Well done. It’s time to go back!” Athena seemed impressed.

“Why leave? There’s a party going on and we can celebrate!” Dio was walking towards us from the city. “I saw everything, nice work. Come let me buy you a drink.” Dio was laughing and was starting to take us down, when Apollon flew overhead and stopped right in front of him.

“No they need to head back, now!” Apollon took me and yanked me across the field and through the door.

I hadn’t realized that I was injured until he touched me. When we reach his home on Olympos, I double over in pain. Zoe ran to me.