Elpis-Hope

Elpis didn't realize she was different from everyone else in Crete until she was five. After all, she had two parents who were normal. She looked normal enough, with straight blond hair and blue eyes. She did her chores about the house and her mother taught her how to weave. She prayed to all the gods she knew of everyday and burnt offerings on holidays. She played with her toys and was the definition of the perfect little girl.

Then, on a night like any other, she dreamed and no, it wasn't about being a princess. Elpis saw heroes on quests, wars, kings and queens, books, gossip, and things she couldn't define. The only thing in common with all the scenes were that they were tinted green.

When Elpis woke up, she went off to talk to her mother about her dream. Her mother was at her loom, meaning breakfast is an hour away, and humming softly.

"Mother, I had a dream last night."

Her mother keeps her eyes on her work. "That's nice Elpis."

"It had this green tint on everything."

She starts another line. "Well, dreams are a strange thing daughter."

Elpis was getting frustrated. "But it wasn't like my other dreams. I saw heroes and gore and gods-"

Her mother whips around to look at Elpis and spoke in a cracked voice. "Gods?"

Elpis nods. "Yes, along with fights and quests and wars-"

She gets up from her work and shushes her. "Elpis, are you telling the truth?" Elpis nods her head. "Then just forget about it, because you probably dreamed it up yourself."

The problem was that she couldn't. Every single night, Elpis kept having green tinted dreams that became more focused. It became so strong, she would have flashes and visions while awake. And it wasn't hard to figure out what they were about, the future.

After a few months, her whole town seemed to know something isn't normal about her. People start avoiding her when they visit her house, but a small few ask her questions and she gives them answers. Those answers have never been wrong.

Her parents tried to be supportive, but they didn't know what to do. Elpis couldn't blame them, she didn't know what to do either.

Elpis was six when a someone knocked on their door. Now, that doesn't seem strange when you think about how many people have come to see her the past year, but said knocker knocked in the middle of the night. It woke Elpis up, but no one else in the house and it didn't stop. Eventually, she got up and opened the door herself, but she was shocked by the knocker.

She was a grown woman in a glowing silver dress and braided auburn hair. Her eyes glowed like the full moon itself. She held a silver bow in her left hand and a quiver on her back. Even if Elpis hadn't seen her time and time again in her dreams and visions she would know who this woman is.

Elpis kneels and bows. "Lady Artemis."

The goddess chuckles. "Rise Elpis." She does as told. "Now I hate to be the bearer of bad news, that's Hermes job, but the Oracle of Delphi has passed away in her sleep this night." Elpis looks confused so the goddess leans down to her level. "That means a new oracle needs to take her place. Someone with the gift of sight and that person is you Elpis."

Her jaws drops. "But-I'm just-This can't-"

The goddess puts a hand on her shoulder. "It is your fate Elpis. Yes, you are young, but you have the natural gift of prophecy and you'll be a great oracle."

Elpis feels like crying. "What if I don't wanna be the oracle?"

Artemis sighs. "If it were possible, I'd offer you a place in my hunt."

Elpis smiles. Her favorite dreams are about a blond girl in silver hunting with other girls. "I'd like that."

Artemis smiles down at her. "I know, but you are to be my brother's follower and I will not take you from him."

A golden light, the sun himself lands next to them. He smiles and offers out his hand. "Time to go Elpis. Artie here will tell your folks."

"Don't call me Artie you big ball of gas."

She can't help but giggle at the twin immortals. Elpis looks at her house one last time before hurrying into the sun chariot. She'll miss her parents, but she trusts the will of the gods. Elpis yawns and hugs Apollo's legs. He places her on his feet as her eyes start to fail her.

"Get some sleep my little oracle, you've got important lives ahead of you."

She doesn't have time to question the meaning of his words because she goes into one of her hunting dreams.

Elpis looks at the blank books she bought. Well, they were empty but now the first page of one contained a prophecy. It was strange, because in her ten years on the job she had never once written or spoken a prophecy of such great importance. Elpis read it out loud, all alone in her cave, to make sure the spelling was correct.

"Seven half bloods shall answer the call

To storm or fir the world must fall

An oath to keep with a final breath

And foes shall bear arms to the Doors of Death"

She had a feeling this would take place long after her time as oracle of Delphi has passed. Hades, maybe it would be so old another oracle would have to give it. Elpis knew it was wrong, but she felt relieved that she wouldn't have to deal with the prophecy when it comes to pass.

Elpis knew she was ill, as did Apollo. He personally stopped by to visit his thirty year old oracle and caught her coughing up blood. Apollo rushed over to her and placed her on her bed.

"Would you like beverage to make you sleep?" Code for she's about to die and he wants it to be as painless as possible.

"I'd like that." Code for she's fine with the thread the fates have gave her.

Apollo hands her a cup and the liquid tastes like grapes and honey. Elpis hands the empty cup back to him once he finishes fluffing her pillow. She yawns and curls up in a ball.

"Sleep Elpis, you've got important lives ahead of you."

Unlike her six year old self, she doesn't have any dreams.

Nina awakes this time by throwing up blood, which she didn't even think was possible. Strangely, it went through her so she was laying on it. If and when Hades or his minions make an appearance, Nina is asking about the side effects of doing this.

But, now she focuses on all she has just witnessed. Elpis's life was a vast improvement from the last, but even if Theresa made bad choices she still got to make them. Elpis didn't get a say and, in a way, neither did Nina.

She returned to calm breathing on the bloody floor. Her eyes closed and she drifted off to a place smelling of illness and herbs.