Chapter 10 Mina's choice
Mina awoke to the sun's dull rays; since the moon has not appeared in the night sky Helios light had dulled in sadness for the lost of his sister. Mina looked around in dismay at the dingy room that they slept in and was surprised that she was the first to wake. Dreams have been troubling the poor girl and she did not know what to do about them. They were not bad dreams per-say, but they were strange.
Mina mulled over last night's dream in her head, in her dream Mina found herself by a lake, beautiful dolphins would rise out of the water playing with each other and Mina smiled in wonder, never before had she seen dolphins so beautiful. The grass beneath her tickled her feet as she moved and her vision quickly caught the lilies and roses growing all around her and beneath her feet small red anemone flowers grew. Mina drew in a deep breath as she recognized the anemone flower, they were sacred to Aphrodite. She knew the sad story that went with those flowers told to her by her mother. Once a long time ago Aphrodite loved a mortal named Adonis and wanted him by her side forever, he in turned loved her back but he was also a great hunter and while out one day hunting, he was killed by a boar and died in Aphrodite's arms, anemone flowers grew around him in death while the Goddess wept, but Mina was pulled from her thoughts of Aphrodite when a blinding white light appeared before her, and within that white light a woman stood, her long blond hair swaying in the breeze and her body naked to the eye with long legs, and full breasts, small curves and child bearing hips. The only thing that was concealed was her face. She floated in mid air and Mina bowed in shock, knowing she was in the presents of a Goddess.
"Mina, my child, do you know who I am?" A heavenly voice floated into Mina's ears, settling her heart to a normal rate, calming her within seconds.
"Yes Goddess, you are Aphrodite, Goddess of Love," Mina whispered in awe.
The goddess laughed, it sounded like doves singing a love song.
"It is well that you received me with open arms my child," Aphrodite said, "Do you know why I have come?"
"Because of Venus," Mina started, "Venus told me that I was not a Priestess of the Goddess Selene but a Priestess of the Goddess Aphrodite, you."
"She was correct; I have laid my hand upon your brow when you were but a babe. Your parents were poor humble folks that could not afford to keep you so when you were ten they sent your big brother to bring you to me so I may watch you grow into a woman," Aphrodite explained. "But there was a ambush and bandits slain your brother and took you, I in turn killed them and by that time you were scared, my only option was to give you to my cousin Selene for save keeping until you were old enough to come to my temple."
"I do not remember the bandits," Mina confessed.
"I know, I took that memory away from you, but I did leave you with a gift," Aphrodite stated, "The red bow atop your head was a gift from me, red always meant love and is one of my colors."
"Why do you come to me now? I am on a quest to save the Priestesses of the Goddess Selene?" Mina asked.
Aphrodite sighed, her voice lost on her for a moment, her face fell to her chest, but the darkness remained covering up her facial features.
"There is a Great War brewing; Queen Metalia is going to destroy the world if we do not fight her. I need a champion to fight for me, open your heart to me Mina so we may fight together," Aphrodite said sadly.
"I…I do not know if I can do that," Mina stuttered, "I don't want to betray the Goddess Selene."
"You have a big heart my child, but Selene would be happy to know that we are joined together as one, as it should always be," Aphrodite smiled. "Think it over and when you decided to take me within your heart, will your true power come forth."
Mina stared at Aphrodite, puzzled by her words, and slowly the color started to fade and with the color Aphrodite was gone, leaving her alone in darkness.
Mina took a minute to go over Aphrodite's words, but she just could not figure them out. Out of the corner of Mina's eye, she saw Serenity stir under her blanket, wiping the dream from her thoughts Mina went about her morning.
"Good morning, Serenity, did you sleep well?" Mina asked folding up her blanket and putting it back into her bag.
"As good as one could on these old, cold, wooden floors," Serenity groaned, rubbing her sore back.
Soon Ami joined them into wakefulness and started to roll up her blanket as well.
"Today, we will arrive at the south wall, the only problem will be the guards," Ami explained. "I can not make a portal through the wall; Queen Metalia has put a spell on the wall, making sure no other magic can manipulate it.
Mina and Serenity face fell with Ami's words.
"How do we get out then?" Serenity asked, getting up off the floor, donning her cloak before swinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Through the gates, we can try to hide our figures in black cloaks or we can fight our way through, those are, are only two options," Ami frowned.
"Then we better get going," Mina huffed, donning her cloak then stringing her bag over her shoulder, ready to leave.
Ami was the last to done her black cloak, she grimace when she placed it on her slim shoulders, she had found the cloak two houses ago in one of the closets and decided that she would need it incase they ran into trouble, the only problem was that it had many small holes and smelled liked death, but Ami bore the smell and wore the cloak to blend in.
"I'm ready," Ami announced.
"Good, led the way Ami," Mina whispered, her heart stopping for a moment in fear, until she heard the soft voice of Aphrodite in her ear, telling her it would be alright.
Ami pulled the door opened and quickly stepped out of the house with Serenity and Mina behind her, cloaks over their heads to hide their hair and their heads bowed so not to look anyone in the eye. This morning they were in luck, the streets were bare of people and judging from the sun, the day was just beginning. Within an hour the streets started to crowd with soldiers and children, starting their day. Ami, Serenity and Mina kept to the walls; sidestepping anyone who tried to talk to them. By noon they made it to the south gate without being caught or seen and Serenity breathed a sigh of relief, but that sigh came too soon as Serenity saw how many guards were posted at the wall. Six's guards all armed with swords and bows. Four stood at the gates checking everyone who passed through it while two other guards patrolled on a walkway build upon the wall, arrows ready to fire.
"What now?" Serenity hissed at Ami.
"We try to talk our way through," was Ami's only response.
Hidden in the shadows of an old broken down house a girl hid; her green eyes watching the girls in cloaks, waiting to see the outcome of their foolishness.
"Your friends are fools, if they think that they will pass through the gate without a fight," The girl hissed to her companion.
The red cat looked up at the girl and sighed before turning her eyes back onto her friends.
"Then we shall help them, you still got the gifts that Jupiter has given you?" The cat asked.
The girl nodded saying nothing more as she watched the girls approach the guards.
"We wish to pass through the gates, please," Ami said, smiling at guard.
"And what is your reason for leaving the city?" The guard asked, trying to peek under the woman's hood.
"We are on a mission for Queen Metalia," Ami lied.
"Papers," the guard ordered, stretching out his hands.
"Queen Metalia never gave us any papers," Ami responded back, nervous.
"The Queen always sends papers for journeying outside her city, come with me if you please," the guard commanded, grabbing a hold of Ami's arm.
Serenity and Mina stood in shock; they did not know what to do. Ami shook the hand from her arm; her body trembling in fright; a small wind came up and knocked her hood back, the guards froze for a moment realizing that she was one of the escape prisoners. Ami kicked him in the chest. He doubled over in pain.
"Get them!" another guard shouted, drawing his swords.
Ami quickly gathered her ring disks and tore two apart, she jerked her wrist back while holding the button, iron fangs produced around the disks and she flung one at a guard from atop the walkway who was about to shoot her, it landed in the center of his chest, blood poured out from the wound painting the walkway as he fell without firing a arrow, on the walkway. Ami threw her other disk and it decapitated the other man standing on the walkway, blood sprang from his neck and his body slumped to the ground. That left four guards to fight. Mina grabbed her whip and slashed it at one of the guards, who was trying to cut off Serenity's head, the whip wrapped around his right hand and Mina pulled backwards and his sword flew out of his hand and the man was flung backwards to the ground. Serenity did not have a weapon to defend herself so she used her feet to kick the fallen man and smashing her heel into his face knocking him out cold. Ami ducked underneath a guard and started to scurry up the latter so she may retrieve her weapons from the two men she had killed, she thought it wise to kill the archers first so no arrows would rain down on them. But another guard with swords held high, proved to be a might foe. That guard took it upon himself to climb after the girl, trying to stop her from reaching her weapons. His swords stabbed Ami in the right knee and she fell onto the walkway, small amounts of blood seeping from her leg. Ami turned to see the guard trying to climb the rest of the way up the latter, as he approached the top, she kicked out her good foot and kicked him in the face; he was stunned for a moment before he swung his sword again at Ami, missing by an inch.
Serenity and Mina tried to fight off the last guard, but he was a great swords man and they could not get a punch or whip through. Sweat clung to their brows and Serenity recieved a slash on the arm by the sword, blood sliding down her arm, making her cry out in pain.
Lita from her hiding place decided that enough was enough and with her lightening sticks in hand she raced from her spot towards the girls, Lita smiled as she snuck up behind the guard, his sword raised high about to strike Serenity, but Lita hit him in the back with her sticks.
Serenity closed her eyes as the guard drew his sword ready to cut her head off, too afraid to move she waited for the blow, but it never came. Serenity opened her eyes to see the guard stiff in pain, his body jerked a couple of times before he slumped to the ground; smoke coming off of his clothes.
"What…?" Serenity asked, confused.
"No time, let's go before reinforcements come," Lita said, looking behind her she noticed many onlookers watching the display, and from the looks on their faces, they were ready to charge at any moment.
Serenity and Mina stared at the girl who had rescued them, not believing their luck. It was Ami's scream that brought them back to the scene at hand.
A guard stood over Ami, on top the walkway, his sword held high over his head. Ami lay on the ground, her arm over her face trying to block the blow. Without a thought Mina ran over to the walkway and flung her whip at the guard, catching his leg. As the guard was about to bring down the sword to kill Ami; Mina yanked his foot, the guard swayed, he lost his footing and fell off the walkway and onto the ground. Ami quickly scurried to the men she had killed and retrieved her weapons before climbing down and racing over to the other girls.
"Let's go!" Lita shouted, ushering the girls through the gates. Yells could be heard from the crowd as they started to make their way to stop the girls.
"Who are you?" Mina asked.
Lita shook her head at Mina as if to say now was not the time, and with one forceful shove Lita pushed Mina through the gate with Ella trailing behind her. It was Lita who took control of the situation, guiding them into the trees that lay beyond the gate. With her head held high and ears perked, Lita led them through the forest as if they were old friends, knowing the way without thought. Soon they came to a small cave surrounded by trees; Mina, Serenity and Ami almost walked pass the cave if it was not for Lita who beckoned them into the cave's mouth. Once inside the girls stared at Lita with wonder and it was then that they noticed that Lita had a companion, a small red cat.
"Oh, what a pretty kitty you have there," Serenity cooed, lifting the cat and placing her on her lap. Serenity fingers started to scratch the cat behind the ear, making the cat purr.
"So, who are you?" Mina asked again.
"My name is Lita, Priestess of Zeus, I have come to aid you," Lita said, sitting back against the cool stone wall.
"Priestess, you are a long way from home, what brings you to Volos?" Ami asked, not trusting the girl.
"Jupiter and I came because he sensed trouble through the trees telling him he had to come to Volos; I volunteered to join him on his journey," Lita explained. "We met a friend of yours, Ella, and it was my decision to help you, while Jupiter keeps an eye on Queen Metalia in Volos."
Serenity's and Mina's head shot up at hearing Ella's name.
"Where is Ella? Is she safe?" Serenity and Mina spoke in unisons.
"Why don't you ask her yourself," Lita said, closing her eyes.
"But she is not here," Serenity cried.
"Yes I am," Ella whispered.
Shocked, Serenity almost dropped the cat, and for a moment she wondered if she had gone crazy, never before had she seen a talking cat.
"It's me, Serenity, Queen Metalia turned me into a cat," Ella cried, her sharp green eyes staring up into Serenity's blue ones.
Serenity eyes filled with tears and she could hear Mina sobbing in the back ground. It was true, their dear friend Ella had been turned into a cat. Tears fell from her eyes landing on Ella's small nose and it took a moment for the girls to regain their composure.
"I am sorry Ella, we should have looked for you," Mina cried, her head peeking over Serenity shoulder, looking at Ella.
"No, it is not your fault, I should never had left," Ella sobbed, new tears matting her fur.
"Is there no way to turn her back into a human?" Ami asked Lita.
"No, all Jupiter could do was give her a voice," Lita said sadly.
Serenity brought Ella up to her chest and embracing her in a hug.
"Please Serenity, that is not all, I told Queen Metalia everything that I knew, she tortured me and I could not help myself, please say you will forgive me for betraying you," Ella cried, afraid her friends would be mad at her.
"Its okay, Ella, I would have done the same if our roles were reversed," Serenity assured her and Ella could see Mina nodding.
"But we are together now and that is all that matters, lets get to Thessaloniki before it is too late," Mina said, taking Ella into her arms and giving her a hug.
"I think we should stop at Elis, beg King Endymion for help. He is the closest ally to King Damon," Lita stated logically.
"I'm not sure he would help, we were directed to go to Thessaloniki," Serenity said.
"Yes, but Elis is on the way maybe a little more north than expected but we should go there first, it would only take two days by foot, please Serenity we need all the help we can get," Lita explained, her eyes pleading.
"Yes, let's go and see King Endymion for help," Serenity gave in.
Mina and Ami smiled at Serenity decision and they were glad to have another person on their side. Five priestesses traveled for survival and Serenity prayed that they were not too late, that they would make it in time to save her fellow Priestesses waiting back in Pherai.
"We will stay here tonight and journey tomorrow, I know my way to Elis," Lita stated. "Get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be long day."
Here is the next chapter, yah some action, got to love action, well I hoped you enjoyed it and I will be back with another chapter soon. Keep reading and don't forget to review. As always Smile.