Memoirs of an Immortal (The Immortal Series) (33 page)

“I have allowed you to get out your frustrations, but only to this point. Come at me again and I will not be such an easy target.” The anger inside me grew. I could feel my body reacting to my emotions. She ran at me and I hit her head on. We fought each other until I finally got the upper hand. I grappled her to the ground and render her immovable. She hissed and yelled, but I held her until she calmed down. I only let her go when I felt like her fight was gone.

I stood up and began to head towards the house. She rose up and yanked out her axe. I didn’t need to turn around. My other sisters only stood and watched, not knowing what to do with us, but when Eirene flashed her weapon at me, Eva grew irate.

“Enough Eirene, what in Hade’s name are you doing?”

I turned to Eva and gave her a look to stay out of this.

“You see Eirene that is why you can never lead us. Your emotions run to high. Your need to succeed blinds you, that’s why you make stupid irrational decisions.” I barked. She stood watching me like an animal about to strike.

“Fine, come at me. If this is what you want, then come.” I raised my hand and signalled her to attack. She hesitated, but finally came at me, I didn’t bother to move. I didn’t even take out my weapons. If this is what she wanted, let her have it.

Just when I thought I was about to get hit, Hephaistos appeared. He wrapped his arms around me and turned me, so that his back was exposed to Eirene’s axe.

“Let go, let go of me.” I yelled at him, he gave me a faint smile. I finally was able to break free, I reached for his face.

“Why?” I whispered.

“Why not?” He answered calmly. I quickly moved to his back, the axe embedded in him.

“I’m going to take it out.” I whispered and he nodded. I yanked her axe and held it in my hand. “I don’t mind when you come at me, but I will never forgive you for hurting him.” I roared. She stood shocked at what she had done. I threw the axe at her. It landed within inches of her feet.

“Why do you worry so?” He soothed. “Look.” He turned to expose his back. The wound had already healed. “See, gods are different.”

He was about to turn to look at me when I reached for his back and touch it. I wanted to make sure he was ok.

“I’m fine.” He reached for my hand and held it.

“Why did you…never mind, never do that again.” I said pointedly.

He made no effort to hear me. He lifted my hand to his mouth and gently kissed the inside of my palm.

“No.” He said as he nestled his face in my hand. “I will do as I please when it comes to you.” He breathed.

“Eirene?” He called to her, as he slowly let go of my hand. “How many years have you all been here?” He waited, but she didn’t answer still shocked at her behaviour. “How many?” He walked over to where she stood and waited for her respond.

“About three years.” She said meekly.

“It’s been more than ten years now.” He walked by her and sat down on a chair near the olive tree.

“What? It can’t be you’re lying. I know how long we have been here for.” She barked.

“What are you basing it all on?” He asked. “The seasons, the months, the moons, everything here, is what we gods decide it to be. Zeus prefers longer summers, Hera likes crisp nights. We decide what happens here. Ten human years have passed and if you do not believe me, why not ask the Horae. They are the goddesses of seasons and time. They are ones who control the natural order of time in the human world.”

I couldn’t believe what he was saying.

‘Do you think he’s lying?’
Zoe asked me mentally. I shook my head no.

I watched as Eirene became dumbfounded, as we all stood there realizing that the world we had believed we knew of, was still all an illusion.

“It would only be natural that the time here would be different. I just didn’t realize by how much.” Zoe murmured.

“It can’t be... Can it?” Eirene stood for a moment. She then left our home, where she went, we didn’t know.

Funeral

We had prepared everything we needed and met at our mother’s grave. We were waiting until it was sunset to begin. I sat myself down on the little hill overlooking what used to be our home. I watched as my sisters showed their lovers their past life, even the town that was here had started to slowly disappear. The world that I came from was leaving me and losing this place left me with a hole in my heart. I was born here. I grew up here. I lived and loved here and it slipped through my hands without me even realizing it. Zoe had joined me and waited with me, as my sisters slowly started to make their way to our mother’s grave.

Zoe had gotten herself up and adorned our mother’s grave stone with a ribbon. Eva did the same, while Eirene and Agape added flowers. I poured my last of my jasmine scented oil that my mother had made for me. Each of us lamenting, leaving food on the ground for her. Herakles had brought a sheep to sacrifice. He slit its throat and held its hind legs up in the air, so that the head would be facing the ground. The blood poured onto the grave and when the last of the blood came out, Herakles skinned it and threw it onto the fire. We sat there drinking while Zoe prepared the choai, an offering that was poured over the grave. She mixed honey, water, milk, wine and oil. Once she was done, we each took a cup. In one hand was our wine and the other the offering, but before we began to offer our prayer to Hermes to allow us to communicate our wishes to our mother, Hermes himself appeared. He led us in prayer and made sure that our wishes were passed down to her. We poured the choai over the grave and drank our wine.

Night came and the large fire now lit the sky.

“Do you think father is out there alone somewhere or does he have a grave we don’t know about?” asked Agape.

“I don’t know.” I said sadly.

“Could there be a way to find him?” Agape continued.

“I asked Horus to help us find him. With his eyes anything can be found.” Hermes said quietly. “We only have to wait and see.”

The night ended and we began to head back. I looked at what might be the last time that I set my eyes on my home. I took in a long breath and turned to leave. The portal was wide open, whispering to me that my immortal life was awaiting me.

A few days passed and we were consumed with Diavolis attacks. The attacks were so frequent and at so many different places that we had to constantly split up. My uneasiness about this was not a secret.

“They’re doing this on purpose. This is not something they normally do. These beasts have become far superior in tactics lately and we need to attack head on now, the best way to take them on, is to attack them first.” I commanded.

“What should we do?” asked Bellerophon.

“Eirene, you and Eva will need to find out their strong hold, where they are and what we need. Zoe created smelling gases that can easily subdue a massive Diavoli camp. We only need to surprise them. The rest we can handle ourselves.” I said flatly.

“Excuse me, so what you want us to do is attack head on? If we weren’t demi-gods and immortals, I’d tell you that’s the definition of suicide.” Akhilles commented as he sat quietly playing and smelling Agape’s hair.

“That’s the problem. I’m tired of dealing with them the way the gods want us too. We should be setting the rules, not the Diavolis. Day by day they have grown far more superior and smarter, now that we are here it’s time to change the battlefield. I’m sure my sisters would much prefer to own it, instead of them controlling us when they want.” I was growing impatient with Herakles and Akhilles.

They have grown so complacent when it came to the Diavolis. To them this was a game to pass their time.

But the reality was if we weren’t going to change, the world would be taken over by these creatures.

“Fine, I’ll do it the way you want, but I’m not going to take the blame when this all blows up in your face.” Akhilles added.

Agapes’ annoyance was screaming in my head, she stood up and walked over to us.

“Oh shut up Akhilles! It’s not like you have a choice.” She snapped. Akhilles’ mouth dropped open. Having been embarrassed, he stalked out of the room and left. I laughed and looked at Agape.

“Seriously, I love him, but he can be such an ass. Never mind him, what can I do?” She asked.

“You could help Zoe. I’ll come up with various strategies, this time we control the fight.” I smiled content that my family was on the same page as me.

A renew vibe filled the room and we had all grown excited. A shift was coming and we all felt it. Herakles came walking into our meeting.

“The elders have asked us to join them for dinner. They want us to go now.” He said grimly. I noticed this wasn’t the usual Herakles, gone was his boastfulness.

“What is it?” asked Eirene.

“What?” He snapped.

“Come on now it’s not like I don’t know you, did something happen?” She asked. He gave her a long look and nodded no.

Careful tonight, Hera’s on a war path.
His eyes never left Eirene’s, but his mind was clearly speaking to me. I made no gesture to not alarm my sisters.

We all stood in front of the great hall, the doors for some reason seemed so much smaller than usual. I guess with time, this world had become so natural to us, that it no longer frightened me. The doors open at will and we enter. Everyone was there and the dinner was set. The music and wine were flowing and the party was lively. Before I knew it, Themis was beside me handing me wine.

“Where have you been?” I nearly screamed.

I had missed her so much. She had gone off on her own traveling and seeing the world. She gave me a faint smile.

“I’m sorry about your mother, had I been here maybe it would have been easier for you.” She offered.

I loved how thoughtful she always was of me. “It was good you weren’t here, there are things in this life I need to deal with on my own.” I murmured. “What I would really love for you to do is tell me about your adventures.” I smiled. We both cheered and drank our wine. She then began to regal me about her escapades and how she learned a lot of the world that I spoke to her so fondly about.

“Humans are such interesting creatures, so unpredictable, so much fun to see and live with. As a Titan I only knew my world, but now I can’t wait to see more.” She poured more wine in my kylix and we sat and enjoyed the food and each other’s company.

“By the way, how are things with Hephaistos? Have you both…” She winked and I shook my head,

“Ever since last year things with Hephaistos have come to a stop.” I shrugged. “It’s my own fault, but looking back I’m glad everything happened the way it did.” I took a sip of wine. Themis looked at me with an inquisitive look. “It made me realize a lot about myself. I’ve kept holding onto my memories, thinking if I didn’t, I would lose myself, I guess…” I shook my head. “I just don’t really know anymore. All I know is that I’m happy with who I am now.” We both hit our cups together and finished our wine.

Themis pouring was interrupted by a loud yelling of my name followed by an order to sing. Only two words came out of Hera’s mouth and both were filled with spite.

Themis eyes grew angrier, in this world Themis was my benefactor. She stood up to speak, but I took her hand.

“It’s fine.” I whispered.

“It is not fine with me.” She snapped.

“You are a full fledge family member now. Zeus may be your father here, but I am your mother and no one will speak to my child in that fashion especially her.” She was venomous with her words. I stood up and kissed her on her cheek.

“I love you too.” I winked and walked to the center of the room where Hera sat next Zeus.

Both were drunk, Zeus less so, I could sense her hatred for me from where I stood.

“When I order you to sing, you will sing, now do it.” She slurred some of her words. I diligently followed her orders and began to sing, she interrupted me. “No not like that, sing another song.” I did as I was told, thus began the dance of her trying to humiliate me.

With every song I started to sing, she interjected. Finally I had had enough. I could see how my sisters saw me in their mind, their thoughts aligned with my own.

“You are drunk and I am done.” I proceeded to walk back to Themis when she threw her kylix at me, it shattered on the wall.

“Do not turn your back at me. I am your queen whatever I say you will do.” She stood up and glared at me. At this point most of the guests had decided to leave. It was always best to steer clear of Hera’s wrath. Her wrath had no bounds, where she could be the most compassionate of women, she could be to most ugliest when angry.

“My son, he is a joke to you? You have whored yourself and he has bared the brunt of your humiliated. I have seen everything I need to see. You are not worthy of him. Therefore, I will break the bond you have with him and you are to never be with him again.” She growled.

“Hephaistos and I share a bond that you can’t break. Try if you will, but he and I can’t be torn from each other.” I challenged. She seemed to somber up quickly from my declaration, her stance was murderous.

“Enough woman! You have yet ruined another of my dinners and I grow tired of your malevolence. Go now.” Zeus ordered, she looked at him her eyes wide, her mouth beginning to distort. “Do not speak to me wife, NOW GO!” Zeus’ voice echoed throughout the hall.