Chapter 5

Cleo: (Now…What is now? The ceremony?)

The urge to flee suddenly overwhelms me as I start backing away from the goddess bumping right into my uncle.

Turning around with the intent to put as much distance between me and her as possible not caring who stands in my way I try to shove away from him but to my surprise my uncle stops me by placing both hands on my shoulder.

Cleo: (when did he get so strong?)

Uncle: "Wait, wait. Please let me explain."

Unwilling to listen I brake his hold on me and start to dart towards the door only making it a few steps before Kale steps out in front of me cutting me off.

He doesn't look dangerous nor prepared to have a confrontation.

Cleo: (Certainly not dressed for this buddy…)

But the closer I get, I notice one very important detail.

Cleo: (His eyes…..Purple like hers!)

Realizing it would be pointless to go charging into him, a god. I turn back towards my uncle my body slumping in defeat. As I lock eyes with him everything inside me quickly turns to anger filled with betrayal.

Cleo: "What is this? What haven't you told me?"

Uncle: "I had a feeling she wouldn't wait for the council. She is here now with the intent to awaken you."

Cleo: "But you haven't told me what it means? What ceremony?"

My uncle pulls me in close.

Uncle: "Do not worry I will be here with you the entire time…"

Cleo: "Are you sure?"

Uncle: "Yes I will be here to witness the awakening."

Cleo: (HUMAN witness a witness.)

Athena: "Enough…It is time."

Her voice strongly echoes through the room as she approaches me but that's not what has caught my attention.

As she starts to get closer I see a small dagger resting in the palm of her hands.

Startled as first I take a step back but the closer the dagger gets the alarmed feeling starts to change as a calm washes over me. I can no longer hear what she is say just a low constant humming. Soothing loving, calling to me…

Before I can stop myself I reach out for it, trapped in its tranquility.

Caught off guard by the sudden change in me, Athena smiles as she takes a few steps back handing the dagger to Kale.

Athena: "It calls to you does it not?"

I find that no matter how hard I try I am still not able to fully process anything but the sound coming from the dagger. It's interrupting every other sense.

The goddess gently places one of her hands on my shoulder using the other to gently tilt my head upwards towards her.

Athena: "The call is deep and strong within you."

She holds our gaze for several moments and in those few seconds I catch a glimpse of something but it doesn't last long enough for me to figure out.

She takes a few steps back gesturing for the other to circle around us.

Her eyes begin glowing as she speaks several words in ancient Greek, raising her arms into the air her aura beings to surface.

Strong gusts of wind lined with traces of green begin to form a solid ring around the four of us.

She looks back at me with the dagger gripped tightly in her hands and in a deep chilling tone asks.

Athena: "Do you willingly offer your blood to this dagger?"

I can't begin to explain the flood of emotions that hit me in that moment.

Fear, anger, horror, disbelieve.

Uncle: "Cleo my dearest"

Numb with the emotion and unable to escape the circle all I can do is stare back at her with a horrified expression. I didn't even notice my uncle's hand on my arm until he walked away from me towards the goddess.

Cleo: (Blood offering? Nobody mentioned a sacrifice…..)

That's when I notice the pleading expression on his face as he whispered to Athena just before she placed the dagger in his hand.

As he stands before me it is not murder I see in his eyes but regret. When he speaks it flows through his words.

Uncle: "I am so sorry I kept you in the dark for so long Cleo but now it is time."

He reaches his hand out towards me waiting to see if I take his in return.

Uncle: "Please allow me to correct it starting now."

Tears rise up to eyes but don't fall as I place my hand in his pulling him in to a tight hug.

Cleo: "Thank you."

He place me at arm's length and turns my hand palm up and asks me again.

Uncle: "Do you willingly offer your blood to this dagger."

As I glance from him to the dagger I again begin to feel a calm wash over me.

Cleo: (I am not in danger and this is exactly where I want to be..)

Cleo: "Yes.. Yes I do…"

I no sooner get the words spoken he quickly slices the center of my palm with the point of the dagger. Making a small cut that begins bleeding instantly.

Cleo: "Ouch ugh"

Still holding on to my hand opening my palm back up, he places the dagger and closes my grip around it chanting in a whisper.

Uncle: "And with this offer let the bond begin"

He releases my hand bowing his head as he takes a step back.

At first nothing happens.

I am not sure if I am relieved or disappointed.

Cleo: (After all this?)

Cleo: "Is something supposed to happen?"

As Athena grows impatient the circle around us begins to die down.

Athena: "A human performing the ceremony I should have known that wouldn't have worked."

Disappointment, anger, and worry are reflected in her words.

Despite the wrath of a goddess my uncle lets out a sigh of relief.

Not wanting to hold the dagger any longer I start to walk towards the table to set it down but before I can take another step my world goes black.

The only thing I can see are flashes of silver like lighting but I am stuck unable to move unable to speak. As the strikes get closer, fuller pain starts shooting through my palm, then up my arm and going in to my chest. It feels as though I am about to burst from the inside and then there is nothing but darkness again.

The sounds of metal clashing together starts to ring in the distance followed my flashes or people fighting. Battles begin to surge all around me as woman are brought down left and right. There screams and cries overwhelm everything else.

With the next flash I am back at the ceremony but everyone is staring in amazement at me. Unsure why I try to move but I am too heavy.

Looking down I notice that I am not in my casual dress anymore but a full suite of armor and I am no longer holding a dagger but a long glowing sword.

Overwhelmed and horrified I release the sword flinging myself back as it falls to the ground.