Aricia was tucked in under a soft quilted comforter, her clothes washed and her body clean after days of wandering the streets. Hebe placed a cup beside her half-sisters bed filled with nectar while she placed a tray of ambrosia on the dresser.
The girl was burning up, and Hebe feared she had been poisoned. But Aricia had been unable to answer when asked. When Hebe had found her Aricia was barely conscious, unable to talk and half starved. But what monster had attacked her, Hebe knew not.
"Aricia, please try to eat." Hebe begged and forced a straw in between Aricia's lips. "Just sip a bit of the nectar at least."
The goddess of youth was relieved to see Aricia take a few sips, and immediately the color returned to the girl's face. "That's it! Now, try to speak!"
"Hebe? How long have I been here?" Aricia tried to sit up but it made her head pound. "Owww!"
"Shhh, lay back down little sister." Hebe said gently. "Good girl, now to answer your question you have been here for about three days now. You would be dead f Mother hadn't…"
"Hadn't what?" Aricia exclaimed. "Mother? What did Mother say?"
"She told me that you may be in danger, and to keep an eye out for you." Hebe told her. "Aricia you know you cannot stay here long. He always knows when you are being sheltered by one of us."
Aricia wanted to just die there under the covers. "I don't know what to do anymore Hebe! No matter what…" She put her face in her hands.
Hebe gently rubbed Aricia's back and tried to soothe her sister. "You're still burning up, and I won't allow you to go back out there so weak. Tell me what attacked you."
Aricia moved back down against the pillows behind her and cringed. "Eagles, he sent them after me. They chased me for days, always in the sky. Never resting, like spy satellites. When I couldn't force myself on anymore and stopped to sleep they came down at last. And attacked." Her arms were still covered with slash marks and gauges. "These were no normal birds. Zeus' birds, giants in the sky the size of Great Danes."
"How did you get away?" Hebe forced Aricia to eat a few bites of ambrosia.
"I just kept running, and running and running. I think they figured I'd keep going until I dropped dead of exhaustion." She brought her knees to her chest. "The moment I go back out there, they'll be waiting."
"Aricia…have you considered the option of…" Hebe cut herself off, too ashamed to finish.
"Death?" Aricia finished. "Of course I have sister. If I die Zeus will send me to the front of the line into the Fields of Punishment."
"He may not, oh dear little Aricia if you plead to all of Olympus you know that Hera is not the only one who will stand with you."
"I will not put Mother's well-being beneath my own. Every breath I take defies Zeus, and his anger is relieved on to our mother's flesh. He cares not who is truly at fault, he hurts her in my place."
"Aricia, you are not to blame at all!" Hebe exclaimed. "You did not ask for your birth."
"Be that as it may, I will not allow Mother to suffer." Aricia forced herself out of bed,
"No, get back in there! You are too weak to move." Hebe ordered. "If there are monsters waiting for you, you need to be stronger. Now, get back in to that bed and enjoy the brief time we have together." She gently forced Aricia to lay back down and pulled the sheets high up to her chin. "Now, you sleep for a few hours."
"Please don't be gone this time when I wake up again." Aricia begged.
Aricia had been forced to beg Hebe's hospitality before but she never could stay long. Hebe could only give her shelter for so long before it grew too dangerous. And now, it was even worse if Zeus was sending his demigod children after Aricia.
"I'll be here child, but you need to get strong fast. I can't protect you for too long."
"I know, I'll try my best." Aricia yawned and snuggled her face in to her pillows.
"Do you want me to sing you to sleep?" Hebe asked, "Like when you were a baby?"
Aricia was too tired to speak anymore so she just nodded. Hebe smiled and gently stroked Aricia's hair behind her ears and tried to coax her in to sleep. She closed her eyes and softly sang her favorite Celtic Woman song to her little sister. As her song neared its end she watched Aricia's eyes fluttered before shutting completely.
"Just try and survive." Hebe whispered as her form began to shimmer. She would return in the morning as she had promised. For now though, Aricia was alone.