Shadow travel was like riding in the wind – only dark and gloomy. It went on for a few seconds, and Cressida lay panting like a dog on the dark grass. Well, it felt like grass. She couldn't see anything at all, it's as if she was lost in the void of darkness, maybe she was.
She knew where she was indeed.
The mansion of Night was as it seemed. Dark. Dark everywhere, nothing Cressida could see in sight. She blinked hard and fast, not able to adjust to her bearings. There was nothing to adjust to anyway, just the dark. She stood on unsteady toes, her heart pounding against her chest. She made a mistake. She mentally slapped herself; out of all places she chose the mansion of Night – in Tartarus! Nyx was not even here, she was out in the night roaming freely. She knew well there were deities lurking nearby…
The air was dry around her, but a sudden impulse told her where to go. Despite the pitched black surroundings, her feet moved in swift movement, her mind focused and sharp, letting the feet do the work. Her hitched breathing told her she was near something, something that urged her to come near. Something powerful.
Cressida closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, she had to cover her eyes with her hand at the blinding light. She blinked fast; her short jet-black hair whooshed at the breeze.
A woman stood before her, and Cressida gasped at her striking beauty. The woman didn't look old though, she looked like a teenage girl but the ancient look in her eyes begged to differ. Her aura was so powerful; it reverberated throughout the mansion of night, casting light on all the dark places. She was the day itself, light and alive, the complete opposite of night. The woman's eyes were azure, brightly lit and if you could look close enough, you could see glimpses of the sun rising, and the clouds soaring above. Her hair was waist-length, pale and yellow. Her skinned was light like the sun rays, and her white tunic dress complimented her complexion. Her lips were naturally pink and everything about her was day. She was day.
Cressida couldn't breathe, couldn't talk. Standing before her was none other than Hemera herself. She was the personification of Day and the daughter of Nyx also. The woman smiled, and it was so mesmerizing, and just the sight of it was as beautiful as the sun deepening in the horizons, the sun setting.
"Hello Cressida, fancy meeting you here." Her voice was as soft as the clouds.
Cressida's toes glued to the ground.
"Who have we here?" A hardened feminine voice said – the voice seemed far away. By the look on Hemera's eyes, the light around her dimmed. She sighed, frustrated at whoever called out.
Cressida narrowed her eyes as a figure neared towards her and Hemera. Cressida felt bitter all of a sudden, she wanted to punch something, protest and start a war. She didn't know where all of these intense aggravating feelings had come from – but they weren't natural at all. Hemera noticed and one brush of her finger on Cressida's skin, brought happy thoughts of light and breeze.
"Really sister? Where's the fun in that! WAR IS INEVITABLE." The feminine voice was nearer, but Cressida couldn't make out where, even in the light that exuded from Hemera, the light dimmed and the surroundings were dark other than Hemera.
Hemera straightened, "Stop it, Eris. She's just a young mortal soul; your desire of war is not needed here."
Eris, the goddess of Chaos, Strife and Discord. Eris is feared for her unforgiving and wrathful nature. She's despised by the Olympians, even. Eris is the one who drives the conflicts and disputes of both gods and men. Cressida couldn't believe Hemera was a daughter of Nyx, she was light and friendly, and Eris did not seem all that kind.
The voice chuckled as if Hemera just made a joke. "You're joking! For the love of Chaos, you and your all light and fuzziness makes me sick. You need some darkness in your life, sister."
Hemera rolled her eyes; Cressida arched a brow at the sister's banter.
Then a figure emerged from the shadows and stood beside Hemera, who didn't seem all too happy being in her presence. Eris looked older, like she were maybe in her twenties, obviously that wasn't true. She wore a black toga; a long stygian sword lay on her waist. Her blue-black hair was up in a high pony tail, and her dark eyes gleamed at the sight of Cressida. She smiled like a psychopath.
"Oh, hey there. Sister," greeted Eris to Cressida. Then she gave a side long glance at Hemera, taunting her. "You didn't tell me we had company."
"Shut up, Eris."
"No you shut up, day! You're never in a happy mood at all when its night, are you? I bet you can't wait til the sun rises so you could leave us here, can you?" Eris glared at her sister ferociously.
Cressida found this all too amusing. Two all-powerful goddesses fighting like real sisters. It was hilarious for Cressida to watch. She expected to see them blast their magical powers at each other, but that wasn't the case.
"Can you two shut up?" a voice shrieked in the darkness.
Eris and Hemera groaned.
"Um," Cressida found her voice. The two goddesses looked at her as if she weren't even there.
Hemera gave a gentle smile, Eris snarled. Hemera was about to open her mouth to say something but a whisper in the atmosphere echoed throughout the mansion, and the light dimmed darker around Hemera.
"The fates have answered your call, young demi-god. The future is in your hands, your journey is unpredictable. So, young mortal, Will you prevail, or will you fall?"
It's like the world was spinning around Cressida before her eyes. The words sprung free, and left the words tainted on her soul. It kept replaying and replaying non-stop in that low whisper,
Will you prevail, or will you fall?
Will you prevail, or will you fall?
Will you prevail, or will you fall?
Will you prevail, or will you fall?
Will you prevail, or will you fall?
Cressida stilled, and her eyes instantly shone those phenomenal constellations. Eris absently seized the sword on her waist band, and Hemera cocked her head to the side examining Cressida. "Hmm," she said softly, thinking hard.
Whilst Hemera was taking this sensibly, Eris lowered her eyebrows in confusion. "Why would the fates send a message directly for you?" she demanded. "But she's a mortal!"
"Hush, Eris. She isn't any ordinary mortal, and you know that. She is our sister, we share the same mother. Have you forgotten that?" Hemera's eyes were cloudy, the blue hazy.
Eris stomped her feet and the floor vibrated underneath it. Her dark eyes piercing and calculated. "And what a mistake Mother has done! Breeding a mortal? Ridiculous! What use does she have?"
The light around Hemera grew feeble, but she spoke confidently and quietly to her sister, Eris who looked as if she were about to strike and cause a war on earth. "Cressida's future may not be predicted, but I know very well it is imperative we don't question Mother's acts and purposes."
"I'm still here you know," Cressida said. Eris glared at her and Cressida found herself glaring back. Before Eris could do anything about it, Hemera spoke and faced Cressida.
"Sorry," she said. "It's important you head back to camp-half blood."
"No!" Cressida argued. "I can't! They'll cast me out – "
"They will not unless you show them you're one of them," Hemera said quietly.
"No, no, no, no!" screamed Cressida, she was furious and she was beginning to think Eris had that effect on her, because Eris was smirking. Nevertheless, Cressida was breathing harder, her pale face going red. "I WONT LISTEN TO YOU." Cressida wrung her hands in the air and her body engulfed into inky shadow, her starry eyes were even brighter.
Eris was smiling even broader now and she clasped her hands together under her chin as if planning an evil master plan, whereas Hemera was angry at Eris. Hemera thrust out her hand, and a willowy mixture of the sun and the clouds poured out to Cressida.
Cressida felt at ease and looked around in confusion. Her eyes went back to her natural colour and she wasn't engulfed in darkness. "What the Hades?" she wondered aloud. Then she faced Eris who rolled her eyes at Hemera. Cressida faced Eris with a pointed look, "You."
Eris gave a dismissive wave of her hand. "You should be angry. Angry at Mother for creating you! You don't even know what lies ahead, mortal."
Cressida reached for her bow and arrow which rested on her back. Hemera stopped her, "Don't," she chided, and then scowled at Eris. "Eris' power is affecting you severely, as a mortal, especially a daughter of Nyx it affects you even harder."
Cressida frowned and then her shoulders sagged. She hasn't realised just how exhausted she was.
"You look tired," Hemera observed. "When you were using your powers, your strength wore you off."
"What am I going to do?" Cressida mumbled, her head bowed down in weariness.
"I suggest you go back to the camp and seek refuge. You're safer there than ever. You don't know what evil there is in this world, or what lies ahead." Hemera said soft6ly. "I could transport you back there, if I must."
Cressida looked up. "I don't know if I can," she said honestly.
Eris eyes brightened as if she thought of something clever. "You could bring war to them! Oh," she rubbed her hands in delight. "What I'd love to see more than ever, is demi-gods blood lusting amongst each other…"
Hemera gave Eris a look. "No."
Eris sighed. "You're boring."
Something within Hemera lightened, and her aura was alive again. "Oh yes!" she smiled. "It's almost dawn! Quickly, Cressida, we must leave now!"
"Already dawn? How?" Cressida asked, confused.
"Time works differently in Tartarus, dear," Hemera said, and then she held Cressida's hand. "Now we must go. Are you ready?"
Cressida was not ready but she nodded grimly anyway.