Chapter 1: Fifteen Years Later
The view was magnificent from her position. She could see nothing but the sea, for miles and miles, illuminated by a growing orb of golden-orange light that transformed the sky into a mixture of shades from orange to pink with gold mixed in for good measure.
Her radiant ebony locks blew in the ocean breeze as she lifted her head and took a deep breath. Standing, she ran her fingers through her hair as her knee length Egyptian cotton dress, fashioned with a belt of silver, danced in the small wind. She slipped out of the sandals adorning her feet and placed them next to the white rose bush standing beside her.
Taking a few steps back, the girl dashed forward, jumping from the cliff and falling with style. Angling herself into a dive formation, she hit the water perfectly, making nothing more than a petite splash. Resurfacing, she looked back up to the cliff she had just stood on seconds ago.
A proud smile graced her face as she swam to a rock a couple feet away. She used her upper body strength to pull herself from the water and up to the natural seat near the top of the mini mountain. After nestling herself into the perfect position, she sat and watched the rest of the sunrise. Dolphins happily chattered as they jumped through the mild waves and danced in the air. Fish could be seen through the crystal waters and the girl felt at peace.
Less than a mile away, a young woman was galloping through a dense jungle on a white mare. The pair soon found themselves at a clearing that morphed into a field of sand leading to the waters of the Mediterranean. The sun sat on the horizon, growing at a steady pace. The comforting roar of the waves brought a smile to the woman's face as she slowed her stallion to a subtle canter, guiding it to the sea side.
She rode through the shallow waters as the island slowly came to life, in tune with the rising sun. The sweet melodies of the native birds filled the air as the harmonic clashes of metal on metal provided a steady beat for the bird song. Battle cries were carried by the soft breeze to the woman's ear. She shook her head and smiled at the sound, wondering why the first thing her sisters did every day was train rather than enjoy what nature had to offer.
As she began to slip deeper into her own mind, she failed to realize the blot of ink as it fell, like a raindrop, from the cloudless sky. Landing right in front of the stallion, it was immediately followed by a flood of identical droplets. However, unlike a normal liquid, the ink formed a pile that grew as more fell.
The pile morphed itself into a feminine figure; from head to toe it looked almost real. Curios, the stallion leaned forward and sniffed the figure. After the first inhale, the ink washed away to reveal a woman shrouded in a navy cloak.
Terrified, the horse bucked and threw her rider to the dampened sand. Stunned the woman's instincts took over as she drew her sword. Before getting to her feet, however, she felt a sharp pain in her midriff. Her eyes widened upon the realization of what had just happened, and her mouth opened in horror as blood began to spill out and pour down her chin. Using the last bit of her strength, she looked down at the sword lodged in her stomach as sticky wet blood oozed from the wound.
The hooded figure removed her sword, and replaced it with the other woman's; perfecting the counterfeit suicide. The figure maneuvered the arms and legs of the body in the appropriate positions, before leaving it to be found. Leaving their masterpiece behind, the figure made their way into the jungle, in the general direction of the grand marble buildings nestled on the hills in the distance.
Diana walked the familiar pathways with purpose as her eyes scanned the faces of her fellow Amazons in search of the youngest. She left no rock unturned as she made her way from the training facilities, to the royal palace; connected by a series of arches overgrown with pastel roses and ivy that created a wall-less hallway, to the throne room.
Entering the large room, Diana saw her mother seated on a throne of marble, encrusted with golden decals of laurel leaves. At least fifteen of her sisters were arranging flowers in gold and silver vases attached to the marble columns that lined the room and the adjoined banquet hall. At least twenty more were covering the wooden tables with silk cloths, while others arranged silverware on the newly silk-clad tables.
Diana approached her mother and bowed her head before speaking, "Mother, have you seen Kayley? I've been looking for her all morning but cannot find her anywhere."
"No dear, I haven't. Have you spoken to Donna? She and Kayley have become quite close over the years."
"I've tried mother but I can't find her either…I'm beginning to worry. It's not in Kayley's nature to just disappear."
"Well my child, she must be on the island somewhere. Continue your search, I would help but I must oversee the preparations for the celebration this afternoon. Ask Persephone for assistance, she is very good at finding things that don't want to be found."
"Thank you mother, I will make sure that Kayley is on time for the celebration." Diana replied with a slight bow before flying out of the throne room towards the stables.
Diana entered the stables and stroked the mane of Thávma, her black mare. The horses' keeper, Alkippe, entered and began to feed the queen's light brown mare Vasílissa.
Diana approached the blond haired Amazon and asked, "Alkippe, have you seen my daughter this morning?"
"No princess, I haven't. Kayley isn't usually one to ride before high noon."
"Thank you, I just haven't seen her yet today and I'm beginning to worry. This type of behavior isn't like her."
"Perhaps Princess, you might wish to talk to your sister. She just took her filly out to go for a ride on the south beach. It is possible that she and Kayley are meeting up to go for a swim."
"I'll be sure to find her. Thank you for the advice Alkippe." Diana replied as she left the stables and began her flight, over Chrysanthe's gardens, towards Themyscira's south beach.
Like her filly Eléftheros, Donna was full of life; she wasn't one to fall succumb to a daily routine no matter how much her mother begged. Queen Hippolyta wanted her youngest to train in the mornings, attend lunch with her sister and niece, and then in the afternoons Donna was to study with Alexa. After that, she was granted one hour for riding, then dinner with all of the other Amazons, and lastly she was to go to bed and prepare for the next day.
No matter how many lectures, or half hearted threats of solitary confinement for "self meditation," Donna refused to follow this schedule day after day. Like many other days, the seventeen-year-old Amazon chose to play hooky on this bright morning.
Artemis is probably sharpening her sword, ready to cut me in two by now. That woman sure has a temper when things don't go according to plan. Donna thought to herself as she reached the path that wound through the forested area of the gardens leading to the sands of the south beach. Now where could Kayley be? If I was two years younger, and it was my fifteenth birthday, where would I go to mope?
"How could I be so stupid?!" Donna cried aloud as she turned around and steered her white filly towards the cliffs that line the eastern side of the south beach.
In minutes she had left the main part of the gardens behind and entered an ovular clearing lined with white rose bushes and tall oaks for shade. Her eyes quickly scanned the area looking for an ebony haired teenager; and after seeing none, Donna quickly dismounted and drew her sword. Something was not right.
She hesitantly stepped forward as thoughts raced through her mind. All of them filled with confusion and worry. Where could she be? An hour before sunrise I heard her sneak out, so she obviously wanted to see the dawn. This is the only ideal place on the island to watch sunrise. It's also her favorite spot here on Themyscira. Kayley, where are you? You can't fly so you have to still be here somewhere?
Donna moved throughout the clearing, careful not to step on anything that might give away her position. She looked behind the oaks and in-between the rose bushes. There was a stone bench that overlooked the cliffs and the sea. She ran her hand across its finish and looked over the cliff-side. Her eyes dashed from rock to rock, looking for anybody that might be sitting upon one.
At first she saw none, but a closer look revealed the figure of a fifteen year old girl sitting on the rock farthest away from the cliff. Knowing that there were only two people on the entire island under the age of twenty, Donna rolled her eyes as she jumped from the cliff and flew over to her niece.
Floating directly behind the only other person on Themyscira under twenty years of age, Donna tapped the raven-haired girl on the shoulder and asked, "Mind if I join this little moping party?"
"I'm not moping Donna, I'm merely admiring the beauties of sunrise over the sea." Kayley replied without missing a beat.
"Unhuh, you didn't answer my question." Donna responded as she sat down next to Kayley.
"I assume you may join us."
"Us?" A new voice questioned.
Kayley immediately stood up and turned around. "Mother," she exclaimed, "By us I meant myself and-"
"Her favorite Aunt in the entire world." A red haired woman with feathered wings interrupted as she flew over to the trio.
"Honestly Diana, do you think Kayley would be naïve enough to swim all the way out here from the south beach. Granted she does have great stamina and is in peak physical condition, but it isn't like she can get out here easily due to the strong currents, crashing waves, and jagged rocks everywhere." She continued in a joking manner, covering for her niece who did in fact swim out to their current location.
"It is nice to see you too Shayera." Diana laughed as she hugged her friend.
"And you princess."
"I'm actually quite shocked to see you here my friend. I never received your letter stating that you would be coming to the celebration today." Diana stated as she landed on the rock behind her daughter.
"Well that's odd," Shayera replied as she too landed, "I sent a letter at least two weeks ago stating that I would make it. It's weird that you never received it…unless someone else did and didn't inform you."
Both Diana and Shayera turned their heads and gave Donna their own motherly death stares.
"I thought it would be a nice surprise for you and Kayley. Especially since Shayera couldn't make it last year." Donna stated in defense.
"Well did you read the second page about how I couldn't stay long due to my daughter's tournament?"
"What second page?" Donna asked.
"And this is why we don't let you handle the mail." Kayley interjected.
"Will you relax? For the love of Zeus I'm only kidding. If I hadn't read the second page than why would I have told mother to move the banquet up for noon? Come on, it's almost time to eat," Donna exclaimed as she began to pull Kayley towards the shore, "I had Melina and Korinna make your favorite cake: chocolate with chocolate mousse icing and dark chocolate shavings. Come on!"
Donna pulled Kayley off the rock and into the air. They flew to the beach as Diana and Shayera followed at a leisurely pace.
"So how is Lila doing in lacrosse?" Diana asked.
"She's doing quite well; this summer season is keeping her in shape for the high school team. She really wants to make it again this year."
"That's good, how about John and Rex. How have they been?"
"Good, very busy though. The rainy weather lately has put their training on hold for a while."
"And they can't train indoors because?"
"I don't allow basketballs in the house so sparring is definitely out of the question. Between John and Rex, they've broken my house too many times." Shayera replied with a chuckle.
Diana laughed as she replied, "Makes sense. Thank Zeus the weather here is-" Diana was interrupted by an ear shattering scream.
Diana and Shayera tripled their speed and made their way towards the sound. Neither of them expected to find Kayley holding Persephone's lifeless body in her arms.
Donna was on the verge of tears as she looked to her sister for support. "We-we found her lying in a pool of her own blood. We do-don't know how long she's been here. Why would...why…why would she do this?" Donna stuttered as she tried to hold back tears. Amazons don't cry. We are warriors. She reminded herself as her sister analyzed the situation.
"I don't know Donna. Shayera, take Donna and Persephone's body to my mother and inform her of the situation. I'll get Kayley cleaned up and we'll meet you in the banquet hall. After a quick celebration we will address this further." Diana replied with an air of regality.
Donna and Shayera nodded as they took the body from Kayley's arms and flew back to the main part of the island.
Diana, on the other hand, went over to her daughter and led her to the ocean to help clean her blood covered hands. Kayley, in a trance-like state, followed her mother without complaint and without word. After Kayley's hands were clean, they walked in the same direction that Shayera and Donna headed just minutes before.
"She didn't kill herself." Kayley stated in a monotone.
"Kayley, you can't possibly know that for certain." Diana replied with a sigh, "It could be a possibility that not all is as it appears to be. But for now, we need to leave it be until we can find out the truth. We must do our best to celebrate your birthday until we know more."
"How can you say that Mother? She was one of our sisters, a fellow Amazon. Our main priority should be finding her killer, not celebrating my fifteenth birthday." Kayley shouted.
Diana turned to her daughter, and raised her chin up so that she could look into the teenager's sapphire blue eyes, "An honorable and noble thing to say my little sun and stars. But there is only one person on this earth who would want Persephone dead. And that person has been gone from this world for many years. So for now, we must not rule out the possibility of what we see. Now, we should probably hurry up to the banquet hall before Donna eats all of the food Melina and Korinna worked so hard to prepare."
Spoken like a true monarch. Kayley thought as she forced out the most convincing smile as she ran ahead. "Race ya there!" she called over her shoulder.
Diana laughed and flew after her daughter. Teenage mood swings were something she would never get used to; and with Kayley, there was no way to predict them. As Diana caught up to the teenager, she grabbed her daughter by the underarms and lifted her into the air.
"That's cheating!" Kayley called out, as she held onto her mother's wrists so that she wouldn't fall, as they flew higher and higher into the sky.
Kayley had flown with her mother before but not since she had been a little girl. Being unable to fly herself, she had forgotten the feeling of the wind through her hair and the chirping of the birds' right next to her ear. But what she had missed most was the beautiful view of the island. The sun illuminated the marble structures and gave them a breathtaking glow. Yet the flight ended all too soon and the duo landed in front of the palace doors.
"Shall we?" Diana asked as she opened the door and ushered Kayley inside.
A chorus of "Happy Birthday!" welcomed Kayley as she entered the grand hall. The entire island had gathered to celebrate the girl's fifteenth birthday.
The marble columns that bore the weight of the palace were wrapped in spiraling red and blue banners. White stars hung from the ceiling and a fifteen-layer birthday cake was located to the right of Queen Hippolyta's throne
As Kayley tied to take in everything her Amazon sisters had done for her, she felt her body being pulled towards the tank-sized cake by an outside force. "Donna what are you doing?" Kayley asked.
"Shayera has to leave soon so you need to fly up to the top tier, blow out the candles, and cut the cake!" Donna exclaimed as she pushed her niece towards the white cake decorated with stripes and stars in red and blue.
Kayley turned to the seventeen-year-old and gave her a look of disbelief. With a sarcastic huff she replied, "You know I can't fly! Out of all of the Amazons only you and my mother can fly. Why in Tartarus would you all of a sudden think that I was grant-"
"Blah, blah, blah stupid technicalities, mumbo gumbo blah, blah," Donna interrupted, "I know you can't fly silly, it was just a figure of speech. Why do you think there's a ladder standing right beside the cake hmm?"
With a shake of her head and subtle smirk at her aunt's raised eye-brow, Kayley ascended the ladder to blow out her candles. Donna flew up beside her and shouted, "Make a wish!" startling Kayley and nearly causing her to fall from the ladder onto the hard marble floor. However, she kept her balance and playfully pushed her aunt as she sucked in a huge breath ready to blow out the fifteen candles.
But before she had the chance, a gust of wind blew the flames out for her. All heads turned to see who had crashed the party.
Standing in the doorway, was a woman. Dressed in a floor length Grecian dress and a navy blue cloak with a hood that hid her face, the woman made her way through the hall and advanced towards Queen Hippolyta.
As she walked, the crowd of Amazons parted like the Red Sea. Kayley descended from the ladder and stood next to her aunt Donna. As the woman in the cloak passed Kayley, she stopped and turned her head to look at the birthday girl. In that split second, Kayley felt as if a sword had been driven through her skull and punctured her brain. But being raised by a society of female warriors, Kayley showed no signs of her discomfort and just stared at the stranger who continued on.
As the figure approached Queen Hippolya's throne, Diana placed her hand on her sword and moved in between her mother and the stranger. Glaring daggers at the hooded woman, she forcefully stated, "Show your face stranger. What are you doing here?"
The figure looked towards Queen Hippolyta who raised her hand and gently commanded, "Stand down Diana. This woman is an old friend. What news do you have?"
The figure knelt before the queen and replied, "The time has come my queen. You must make your decision."
Before the queen could reply Diana interjected, "What decision?"
"Diana, stand down," Queen Hippolyta scolded.
"Mother how can you trust this woman? She refuses to show her face." Diana objected as she pointed the tip of her sword towards the stranger.
Queen Hippolyta nodded and the stranger nodded in reply. She removed her hood and almost every Amazon drew their breath. Standing before them was one of their own, and Amazon who had betrayed her people. With her golden hair and clear blue eyes, everyone stood in shock, not wanting to believe that she had survived.
"Aresia." Diana hissed.