Chapter 3: Black Feathers and a Silver Arrow
It's been weeks since the incident happened. She's now formally a deity of something! Thank goodness! Persephone looked at the ceiling of her room – clouds are drifting from the huge glass enclosing her room at the moment. It seems like Apollo and Helios are in good moods right now. Heaving a sigh, Persephone placed herself in a lateral position facing her bed's side table. Fresh flowers are placed in her favorite Grecian vase made by one of the best craftsmen of Athens.
"Aren't they beautiful?" Persephone asked herself. Her eyes left the vase and traveled throughout the entire room when she noticed something. A little scroll was placed beside her pitcher of water. Now, who would be doing that?
"It must be mother and her reminders again." Persephone groaned, turning around and burying her face in her pillows and blanket. Her mother cannot seem to let go of her motherly affections to Persephone. Demeter doesn't seem to care that her daughter is no longer a little child but a deity of her own might and power now. These thoughts are running through her head when she remembered that her mother had given all the reminders she needs to remember for the entire month. Demeter is off to help the people of their harvests and their agriculture and that she'll be gone for six weeks at the most. She wouldn't be leaving messages like that. No, Iris and Hermes are there to constantly remind her of her duties as the new goddess of the Spring season.
"If mother won't be leaving me scrolls like that, then who will be doing such a thing?" Persephone asked herself. Frowning and trying to guess who would be leaving such messages to her, she buried her face in pillows and groaned. It would have been easier to move out of her bed, grab the scroll, open and read it instead of guessing what the untouched scroll could possibly contain but then again, Persephone is too lazy to move at the moment. The day is so perfect that it would be so nice to just stay in bed and enjoy the moment, no matter that she promised Artemis and Athena she would be meeting them somewhere.
"Oh Fates!" Persephone suddenly groaned. She almost forgot that she made that promise. Pulling herself out of her own bed, she rushed towards her huge mirror and concentrated. Slowly, her features begin to fix themselves. After a few seconds more, she no longer looked like a woman who seems to be playing under the bushes like a little child. Why, she looks perfect, fresh.
"As fresh as Spring could possibly be." Persephone whispered to herself and smile.
She was almost out of her room when she tries to remember what Artemis told her last night. Now, where will they meet again?
"Artemis, where will we go tomorrow?" Persephone asked the goddess of the Hunt.
"Somewhere nice and peaceful. Just the three of us. Athena, you and I." Artemis answered without looking at Persephone. As usual, the goddess of the Hunt is busy cleaning and empowering her bow – silver this time – and arrows.
"No clues as to where we will meet?"
"You will receive a message from me, tomorrow, before you go. All right?" Artemis said.
"You really won't be telling me where we will meet?" Persephone asked again.
Artemis smiled, placed her finished arrows neatly in one row and with a flick of her fingers, vanished into thin air. Persephone smiled, she knows those arrows are now under Artemis' beck and call. Every time the goddess will need those arrows, all she has to do is think of those and voila, an arrow will just appear out of thin air.
"You can really be insufferable, aren't you Persephone?" Artemis' cold gray eyes looked at her.
"Messages you say. Early morning. Right on that one." Persephone smiled.
Shaking her head, Artemis shoulders started to shake, and after a few more seconds, laughter could be heard in the garden of Artemis' room.
"Message." Persephone told herself. Eyes, widening, she looked at the scroll near her pitcher of water. Rushing to it, she immediately untied the rope keeping it in place and read:
Good morning Goddess of the Spring
Today, we will be doing something
Hunting, playing and talking
By the power of Three
We will make miracles; Athena, you and me
Come to the meadow
Where wild things grow
Where we spent our childhood
The place where the huntress loves to brood
Right at the big boulder
Where we play hide and seek when we're younger
We'll tell you stories
Underneath those big oak trees
So try not to be late
Remember, we have a date
Lovingly yours,
Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt
Smiling, Persephone put the little scroll into her belt pouch, walks out of her room and was about to take the spiral staircase down to Olympus' main transportation area when she heard shuffling of feet and some rustling of robes. Looking at where the sound is coming from, she stopped mid-way and bowed her head. The Queen of Olympus – Hera – in all her splendor and beauty walked ahead of her without even greeting her. Failure to notice her and acting as if the Queen did not see her was a good sign for Persephone. If Hera fails to notice her then Persephone can just act as if the Queen does not exist at all. Any exchange of words could only lead to petty fights or even arguments too. It seems like this is really going to be a good day. Walking straight to where the transportation area is, Persephone was about to vanish into thin air when she heard someone calling her and from the sound of it, it is Zeus, the Lord of Olympus himself.
"Father." Persephone said, bowing her head graciously as a sign of respect.
"And where are you going?" Zeus asked. It seems like the Lord of All is on his way somewhere.
"I am going to the meadow five miles west of Mount Olympus father. I am meeting with Artemis and Athena."
"Bring Hermes with you. Let him guard you until you are with Artemis and Athena."
"Hermes? But father, I can manage now on my own."
"No. I don't want you to exert too much effort in protecting yourself. Hermes can provide every protection you need until you are with your sisters."
"Where are you going father?" Persephone asked. It seems like her father won't be allowing her to go anywhere without Hermes watching her every move.
"I am going to the mortal world." Zeus answered quietly.
One look at her father, Persephone knows that Zeus is having an illicit affair with one of the mortal women again. And one look at her father, she knows that he is trying to keep it as a secret from Hera. Persephone gave her father a look that says 'I Know what you are really going to do down there. Don't make me tell Hera'. It seems like Zeus understood what her look is trying to tell him. Sighing, his father tried to appease her.
"All right, I know what that look of yours means Persephone." Zeus whispered to her while his eyes are darting from every corner of the transportation area, "I would really appreciate it if you'll keep your lips sealed about this matter."
"I would love to tolerate you father but in one condition." Persephone said softly.
"What? Fine but I cannot gamble your safety; anything but that."
"I don't want to see Hermes following or watching me as I go to the meadow father."
"Didn't I just tell you that –"
"I know father. I am not asking you to remove Hermes' protection, what I want you to do is to not make it look like Hermes is a pet dog or even a lover walking to the meadow with me. He should keep a safe distance, maybe a hundred feet to two hundred?"
"And why is that?"
"I don't want others to get the wrong idea father. If you know what I mean." Persephone answered, giving her father a playful and childish wink she knows Zeus loves.
"All right, all right, you may have your wish. Hermes!" Zeus shouted Messenger of the gods' name and thunder could be heard around Olympus. A few seconds more and Hermes is at her side, smiling mischievously.
"Yes Zeus?"
"I have a job for you." Zeus said.
"Of course, you always have a job for me father." Hermes answered.
"Don't be too smart on me young god."
"I didn't mean any offense father."
"None taken Hermes." Persephone answered quickly. If the conversation could end now it would do Persephone a lot of good. She's already running late.
"Thank you Persephone." Hermes answered, giving her a very warm smile that annoys her.
"I want you to guard Persephone until she reaches the meadow where Artemis and Athena are waiting. And try to keep a hundred and fifty feet distance from her."
"A hundred and fifty feet? But father, isn't that a little bit too far?" Hermes asked with a frown.
"It is near enough." Persephone snapped.
"No need to snap at me Persephone. I am just checking."
"Silence! I'll be going now." Zeus answered. Grabbing a fistful of his robes, he started walking to somewhere far from them and after a few seconds, lightning hit him and he was gone.
"I guess that hurts." Hermes whispered.
"Me too." Persephone said, wincing at the thought.
"So, where are we headed?" Hermes said, putting an arm around her waist and giving her a mischievous smile.
"The meadows." Persephone said, giving the young god an annoying smile.
"And what are we going to do there?" Hermes whispered to her ear.
"Oh. We'll be burying you alive, six feet below ground – me, Artemis and Athena – if you don't start removing your arms in my waist and if you won't start keeping that hundred and fifty feet distance our father ordered you to keep." Persephone said, twisting Hermes' wrist every two words.
"Ouch! Too nasty." Hermes said frowning openly at her while grabbing his own wrist and massaging it. She doesn't look like it but Persephone had this iron grip she learned from Artemis and Athena themselves.
"Lead the way." Hermes graciously and sarcastically said to Persephone. Whatever smile and courtesy he plans on giving Persephone is now gone. Persephone doesn't care. She plans to be an eternal virgin like her two sisters. No man will ever be able to snare her heart – no man.
The meadow five miles west of Mount Olympus is deadly quiet. No sign of life could be seen except for the trees and grass and flowers that have been part of that place since the beginning of time. Artemis is sitting on top of a huge boulder while busily sharpening the head of her arrows and pricking her fingers to test each of the arrowheads' sharpness. She frowns every time she needs to apply more pressure than necessary in order for her to see ichor from her wound. Artemis spares her tall sister, Athena, a glance from time to time and each time she does she cannot help but roll her eyes. Athena had been pacing in front of her since the moment they arrived there. One look at Athena and she could tell that the goddess is on her guard again. Athena had always been too wise for her own sake. No matter what Artemis say, the goddess of wisdom will not let her guard down whenever they are in the mortal world. Athena thinks that when they are in the mortal world the deities are at their weakest. It doesn't make any sense for Artemis. She had been running in the wild and hunting since she became the goddess of the hunt and she never saw anything that could harm a weak deity much more a powerful one like them.
"When do you plan to stop your pacing? You're making me nauseous Athena . . ." Artemis said while slowly balancing one of her arrows.
"This is not a good idea Artemis."
"And why is this not a good idea Athena?" Artemis asked Athena while placing an arrow to her bow, pulling until she could feel the tension in her arms and shoulders building up and then after a single breath released it.
SWOOOSH!
"What?!" Athena span around with her spear ready at hand.
"I released an arrow. Testing if it's of the right weight, speed, sound, feel and –"
"Don't do that again!" Athena snapped at her.
"What's wrong with it? I just gave my arrow a test and uh . . . you know." Artemis said.
"It is unwise to waste good quality arrows. What is that for anyway? Putting good arrows to waste?"
Twirling her fingers in front of Athena and giving the goddess a smile made an elaborate movement of her hands and after a few seconds they could hear another swooshing sound coming from the direction where her arrow went. One second Artemis is holding nothing and then suddenly, within the blink of an eye, her precious silver arrow is now on top of her hand.
"See? No wasted arrows." Artemis said to Athena, smiling.
"Whatever." Athena said, clearly going back to her relentless pacing and looking around the meadow.
"What is wrong with you Athena?" Artemis asked the goddess after tucking away her bow and arrows.
"This is not a good idea." Athena answered.
"So you told me. Why?"
"Because this is an open area and we could get easily ambushed."
"And you think your pacing prevents us from being ambushed?" Artemis asked, with eyebrows flying out of her forehead incredulously.
"No."
"Then stop pacing."
"I am thinking."
"Well, try thinking without pacing." Artemis answered.
"I can't."
"Oh really?" Artemis asked.
"Pacing clears my head."
"And you are making me nauseous." Artemis said, touching her temples while she said that and looking at Athena. When the goddess continued her pacing, Artemis extended her arms in surrender, stood, grabbed Athena by the shoulders and looked sternly in the goddess' eyes.
"Listen Athena, you are being paranoid. Stop being too stern with yourself, loosen up! We're going to be fine here with Persephone. And you said you are scared of getting ambushed? Do you think you're the only one watching the entire area? No! I am trying to be alert too and your constant movement will give us away and will prevent me from listening for any approaching intruders. This is my place, we are somewhere I am strongest, the wild. We will be safe. You are with me."
"I am just . . . I don't know."
"Do you want a piece of advice? Try to be the predator, not the prey."
Athena gave Artemis a meaningful look and took a deep breath before slowly loosening up her shoulders. When Artemis can no longer sense any tension from Athena, she let go of the goddess' shoulders.
"Now you are talking." Artemis said. Jumping so she could reach the top of the boulder, Artemis crouched low as soon as her feet touched the boulder. She doesn't want to alarm Athena but the goddess really has enough reason to pace and be nervous. Athena is not being paranoid; she's just new to the power of being the goddess of wisdom and strategies that's why she cannot determine the difference between paranoia and a shouting instinct. Artemis however is a different matter. She had been in the game for three years now and she can perfectly differentiate paranoia and her survival instincts. Her survival instinct is shouting danger at the moment. That is one of the reasons why she let go of one of her silver arrows. Summoning that silver arrow, she sniffed it and uttered a curse. She could smell monsters from the direction where she released her arrow. Frowning, she sniffed the arrow again, the scent is faint; it makes Artemis think that whatever monster owns the smelly scent must be located somewhere south from where the boulder is located not east.
"As long as it's in the South, then we are safe." Artemis whispered to herself.
"What did you say?" Athena asked her.
"Nothing." Artemis said, smiling.
"Artemis . . ." Athena suddenly called her.
"Yes?" Artemis answered while secretly feeling the air for any irregularities.
"You are not a good liar." Athena answered while extending her right hand sideways and summoning her weapon – a spear made of a silver pole an inch thick with a mixture of titanium and platinum spearhead blessed by the Olympians themselves. Deadly.
"Oh. Am I?" Artemis said, smiling and at the same time summoning her weapons.
"How far?"
"About thirty-seven miles?" Artemis answered.
Athena looked at her then glanced at her bow and arrows. Smiling, Artemis made her huntress stance, readies her bow and arrow, pulls her arrow from her bow and aimed it south from where Olympus and her boulder is located.
"My arrows travel faster and farther than a mortal-made one. Hah! It is even faster than Nike." Artemis smiled.
"Aren't you a show off?" Athena said, hefting her spear in front of her in a battle stance spreading her feet for balance.
"I just hope Persephone is still sleeping. She'll be very much vulnerable." Artemis told Athena.
"Hey! She's with us. We're in the wild. We're safe." Athena said, smiling at Artemis.
"You're right. Besides, Hermes will be there to watch for her as she makes her way here."
"What?!" Athena asked, incredulity is very apparent in her voice, "You let that lecher be Persephone's guard?! Are you out of your mind?"
"Focus on the enemy, wherever it is." Artemis said in a cold voice. She could feel it coming nearer and nearer – fast . Looking sideways at the worried face of Athena she added, "Hermes won't do anything off, he knows what I'd do to him if he does. Besides, Persephone is smart, she can call off any god who tries to have the better of her. Relax and focus . . . it's moving really fast, towards us, any minute now."
"Let's just pray you are right about Persephone and wrong about it." Athena said hefting her spear higher, cold gray eyes getting colder.
"Whatever, It is coming." With those words of hers, Artemis let go of her arrow and fired.
Hermes could not really understand the goddesses of Olympus. He wanted to blame Zeus for the attitude the other goddesses have on the gods and even on mortal men. They tend to be aloof and stern at gods like Hermes. Even the eternally handsome and smart Apollo is having a difficult time courting one of the daughters of the River God Peneus – Daphne. Ares is the only one having an easy time with one goddess, Aphrodite. And in Hermes' opinion, hitting on someone else's wife is the lowest of low; even Zeus tries to avoid that. That pedophile of a god – Zeus, his own father – is not a very good model for the second generation of gods like him. It just feels so unfair for Hermes that three of the most beautiful goddesses of Olympus does not care or does not have any plans of marrying any one of them. Artemis and her influences on the two goddesses are too strong that Hermes and the other gods cannot find a way through it.
"Persephone!" Hermes shouted at the little goddess a hundred feet away from him. It seems like Persephone could not hear him or maybe the little goddess refuses to heed his call. Concentrating, he tries to reach out to Persephone's mind.
Hey, Persephone. We are nearing the meadows now. You better wait up for me and we will enter the meadow together.
Persephone gave him a look of deep displeasure and continued on. Cursing to himself, Hermes quickened his steps and closed the gap from a hundred to fifty feet.
Persephone, listen to me! Artemis wanted me to guide you into the meadow! Do not act as if you know things better than I do. I tolerated this crazy hundred and fifty feet distance idea of yours. Do not test my patience. Persephone! Wait for me! There's . . .
Hermes stopped on his tracks and feel for the air. There is something wrong in the place; he just couldn't put his finger to it. No matter, it seems like Persephone is in grave danger. Bending his knees, readying his feet for running; after a few seconds he was beside Persephone. Grabbing the little goddess by the waist, clamping her mouth shut with his own hands, she carried Persephone in one of the tall oak trees a few yards away from the entrance of the meadow.
Persephone is looking at him wide-eyed and mad. He could hear his own heart beating and Persephone's ragged breath. He knows that the little goddess will kick him to the death once he let go of her that is why Hermes decided to keep his hold on the little goddess until he explained why he did what he just did.
"Listen Persephone" He whispered, "there is something wrong with the meadow. I don't know but I guess even Artemis anticipated that something wrong could happen, that is why she asked me to guide you until you reach the clearing. Even Zeus had thought the same too. I don't know why but I have a feeling that I should follow their orders. Didn't you feel the awful sensations that emanated from the meadow itself? Something is off there. I couldn't feel Artemis and Athena's essence there. Something ugly is trying to dominate both their divine essence. I want you to relax, trust me and keep calm. Can you do that?"
Hermes waited for Persephone to nod. It felt like waiting forever but after a few breaths the little goddess nodded. Hermes knows how trickery these goddesses are that is why he did not let go of his hold of Persephone still.
"Do you swear on the River Styx that you will not scream or run towards the meadow head long without waiting for my cue?"
Persephone nodded. Slowly, Hermes removed his hold on her and crouched low. He did a gesture that made Persephone follow suit. When they are crouching low, Hermes placed his index finger near his mouth as a sign that they should keep quiet. A few more gesture made the little goddess understand what Hermes means. He was about to take a little step when he heard Persephone speaking to his mind.
What does this mean Hermes? I can feel sadness flowing out of the meadow. If something happened to Artemis and Athena . . .
Don't worry Persephone, if something evil is in there I'll carry you and fly you back to Olympus as fast as I can. No talking now. Things can feel and hear what we are doing here.
It feels like forever for Hermes, he moves from one oak tree to another, pausing long enough to catch his breath and to wait for Persephone. He is using all his faculties as one of the gods of Olympus to protect Persephone and to cover their tracks. He doesn't know what he will find out at the clearing and by the fates; he doesn't know if he can find a way to escape with Persephone. He doesn't even know if he can fend the evil off long enough for Persephone to run. Hell! He doesn't even know if Persephone will run. The little goddess has this knack of being a heroine when she feels like it and that could provide more threat than a solution. No, his best chance is to take a peek and then if they are in danger, carry Persephone back to Olympus and once she's safe Hermes will go back to the other two goddesses – if they are still in there – to rescue them.
Oh, the things I do for these stubborn goddesses.
A pinch on his back made him winced and looked at Persephone. The little goddess gave him a look that clearly says I heard that you idiot. Frowning, he went back to moving towards the clearing. He was almost at the last oak tree when he stopped. His abrupt stop made Persephone stumble upon him resulting to sounds of twigs breaking and one look from the creatures in the meadow made him sure that everyone within a hundred miles had heard the noise. Three pairs of eyes looked at their direction almost at the same moment. He gave them his warmest smile and waved.
What is he doing here?
Now, what is this? He did not think that this place could be crowded with Olympians at the moment. He was chasing this wild and crazed lost soul before it could possess some mortal and the chase brought him in this meadow. One look around and he knows it is a meadow only the Olympians are allowed to enter. No matter, the chase brought him here and that silver arrow hit the mark very well. Hitting the soul's knee cap, shattering whatever is left of it made the soul howl in pain and it became wilder. But at least, the soul wouldn't be going anywhere else at the meantime.
Looking at the silver arrow in his hand, he smiled. He should have known that no mortal could make an arrow like this one – an arrow that could touch the dead – much more wield one. So, this is one of the silver arrows of the famous goddess of the hunt. Her aim is really true. He doesn't think that she hit the knee out of sheer luck or that she missed. No, she hit the knee to stop the soul from running swiftly towards their direction. She doesn't know what's charging towards them; all she knows is that she must slow it down. She did slow my prisoner down. But he hates it when deities hurt mortals, especially the lost souls like this one. Looking at the goddess of the hunt – Artemis – he could say that she is beautiful. And the one beside her could possibly be Athena, the goddess of wisdom, beautiful too.
"I believe this arrow is yours?" He asked Artemis who is looking at him with cold gray eyes.
The goddess nodded but didn't make any move to get it from him. Smiling he took a step forward, towards the two goddesses when he heard movements; twigs breaking. Looking at the direction where the sound came, he smiled.
"Oh! We have company." He smiled looking at the winged sandals of the god and a very little goddess with auburn hair.
Hermes, the winged-footed-god, frowned at him. He knows where Hermes is coming from. It is very unusual for him to be seen by other deities and he could bet on the lost soul's freedom that it shook Hermes to his very core to see him in broad daylight.
"Thanatos, what are you doing here?!" Hermes asked him.
"Ah! Is that how you greet a friend of yours from the underworld?" He asked Hermes.
"Good day then. What are you doing here in this meadow and with that?" Hermes asked, incredulity in his voice tinged with some curiousness for the lost soul tied with black ropes fashioned by the Underworld itself and is used to capture lost and wild souls like this one beside his feet.
"A lost soul, running amok. I was chasing him from sun up to sun down for five days now. A very fast runner you could say that again. I was losing hope of catching him until Artemis," He pointed at the goddess of the hunt with the silver arrow "hit his knee cap, slowing him down to the point that he could no longer run. I tied him and saw the silver arrow, I thought I could give it back and here I was."
"A lost soul?" The little goddess asked him with hazel eyes as wide as tea cups at the moment. Very innocent.
"Yes. They are the souls who refuse to accept that they are dead and still try to live, possessing mortal bodies, compelling those mortals to do their bidding. It is a nasty business and job if you ask me, but here I am."
"Thanatos." Artemis said, biting at the name and wincing as if it tastes bitter.
"Yes?" He asked.
"I felt someone evil." Artemis said in a clipped voice.
"That must be this lost soul. He killed mortals after possessing them. He raped a young mortal girl, and then fed on her like an ugly and wild beast. It's his unforgivable acts that you sensed, making him evil." Thanatos tried to touch the lost soul's shoulder but it snapped at his finger like a rabid wolf. Trying to smile, he added, "This will definitely go straight to Tartarus. If he just accepted his fate when he was ushered by Charon to the judges he could have been brought to Asphodel. It was very bad of him to run away and ravish mortals. Failure to accept Death – me – will lead to this insanity resulting to eternal damnation in the very pits of Tartarus. But then again you wouldn't understand it, you are immortals."
"And you think you do understand them?" The little goddess asked him. "You are also immortal right? Thanatos, the god of the dead or Death himself."
"And you are?"
"Persephone, the goddess of the Spring. This Artemis, the goddess of the Hunt. Athena, the goddess of wisdom and strategies and this is Hermes. You know him." Persephone said.
"So! You are Persephone. Now I understand." Thanatos said with a smile.
"What do you mean?"
"Never you mind." Thanatos answered with a smile. Now he knows what's keeping Hecate excited by the prospect of their Lord Hades marrying a goddess named Persephone. She is beautiful in a different way than the two. The two goddesses' beauties are regal ones while Persephone's beauty is something else. Her beauty is oozing with life, invigorating beauty. She is the one for Lord Hades. I can sense it.
"What makes you understand them then?" Persephone asked.
"Because I am Death. I understand what it is like for them. I was the one brought out of the darkest abyss of Tartarus to unleash mortality in the land of men. I was called to make sure that only deities like you would bathe in immortality. I am Death itself, surely, I know myself more than anyone of you knows me. Enough of this; I need to go and bring this to the judges to be judged. Good day to all of you."
After he said those words, he opened up his back and black feathery wings – like a raven's – sprouted out of it, flapping his wings bringing out strong winds to fan the deities looking at him. Smiling, he carried the lost soul – now too weak to fight him – and fly higher than the tallest pine tree. Nodding at them, he dive head first into the ground – his speed making a screeching sound – and vanished.
"That is awesome." Persephone whispered.
"Wicked!" Hermes agreed.
"Show off." Artemis murmured, looking at the silver arrow sprawled on the ground with three black feathers near it.
"Stupid." Athena said shaking her head. "Let's go, we got a lot of things to do today. Hermes, you can go."
"You are not letting me come with you?"
"No. Now, go." Artemis answered.
"Fine." Hermes said with a tone that says 'You nasty goddess of the hunt! You!'
He could hear those words from above. Thanatos, smiling at himself and feeling so godly at the moment, went straight to where the judges are and dropped the lost soul in front of them without even greeting them. Turning his back and making his way out he could not help but think 'Until you and my master meet again Lady Persephone. Until then. And you, goddess of the hunt, I have a feeling we will meet again.'