"Damn it calypso, where are we going?" I said. "Could you even turn on some lights, while you are at it?"
"Don't get all feisty at me, there is no danger," said calypso.
"I hope so…" I said.
"Down here, we can talk without any… eavesdroppers," she said
What does she mean eavesdroppers? Is she implying someone is watching us? doubtful of her intentions, I cautiously followed her in an underground tunnel. Darkness covered every surface, I could not see. Normally I have what mortal may call night vision but since my powers were stripped away, it seems I lost that power. Stumbling around in the darkness can be dangerous especially for a woman with my condition. A wrong step could lead to an unfortunate accident. I slowly proceeded forward. A light flickered in the distance. I entered a large cavern, filled with book shelves, an underground library.
"A library?" I said.
"Yes… a library, why are you surprised. Did you think I spent most of my time waiting for a hero to be dropped? Of course not, that would be boring. So I read, everything from novels to science and engineering books. So this library has a bit of everything…" said calypso from behind me.
"Where were you? That tunnel was dark, I could have fallen," I said.
"Still treating me as a minor goddess, aren't you…mortal," she said, grinning," she said,
I faced her, slowing my breathing. Bringing my fists up, I said, "Is that a threat?"
"Calm down…Haven't we be through this already. Don't worry, I won't try to hurt you, so please forget about me trying to kill you, I was driven by pure emotion… now placing that aside, I brought you here for a reason." p
She remained silent, slowly moving toward a large gold-trimmed, table at the center of the library, filled with books and scattered papers. She motion me toward the table. I sat down. My gaze followed her every movement, at any sudden movement I won't hit her with all my strength, to knocking her out. She may be weak but she is still a goddess.
Calypso walked down the center aisle, pulling out a small black journal. Walking back she handed a book to me. The title said, "Principles of god reproduction: By Athena." Why would she hand me this?
"What is this?" I said.
"The title explains it all, it was a book written by Athena in collaboration with Aphrodite. To cut a story short, she wrote the journal before she figured out how to make brain-children. Supposedly she wanted children, but at the same time keep her vow of chastity. Why I am mentioning this, it pointless? Well its due to your condition, anyways" I said.
"Condition… do you mean my pregnancy?"
"Of course…. what else would I be talking about? Did you get dumber when you became a mortal? And before you try to punch me again… listen closely," she said, taking a deep breath," Athena comes up with a serious conclusion. For a godly child, a god or demigod, to grow successfully, it needs godly power. For a god, semen is used to impregnate the partner but it also gives the child enough power to survive to birth. Also it depends on the strength of the partner, if the said partner is mortal. If the strength of the mortal is too weak, the offspring may feed on the life force of the parent. It may cause side effects such as insanity or schizophrenia and in the worse cases is death. For a goddess, since the connection is more direct, power is feed directly to the child. "
"What do you mean?" I said.
"That thing you carry in you, is nothing more of a parasite," said a soft, but cold voice from the entrance.
I turned to see Apollo standing in the hallway. My blood boiled, begging for blood. How dare he call my child a parasite? But what are they trying to say? First of all, why is Apollo here?
"A thing? Don't you dare call my child a parasite?" I said.
"Artemis… don't you get it? You are not a goddess anymore. You have no godly power. It will bleed you dry before it starts taking your life force. You will die if this keeps up. Seriously I don't know what father was thinking."
As I stood, a sharp, scorching pain slipped through my body. My knees buckled, eventually giving under my weight. I fell unto the cold, smooth ground. I held my stomach in pain. I closed my eyes, biting my lip, blood trailed down my chin.
Apollo stayed where he was, not moving an inch. Calypso came to my side, setting me back on the chair. Why is he not helping?
"Apollo… Help…me" I pleaded. The pain only grew in intensity.
"I can't… this is my punishment. I cannot interfere." I said. To prove his point, he walked toward me but was stopped by a bright, golden barrier. "But I can't just stand here and not do anything… there are always loop holes."
Pulling a small glass vial, he threw it to calypso. Luckily she caught it.
"That is all I can do... I know I keep repeating myself but I must make it clear... father has forbidden me from helping you, directly," he said, "The vial, make Artemis drink it, and place her in sea water... it should lessen the pain. Calypso, I need you to need you to give Artemis some of you power at least twice a day,"
"I don't mind doing it... what do I get in return?" Calypso said.
"I will release you from you prison," Said Apollo.
Callow quickly opened the vial, bringing into my lips. I drank it. A cool feeling spread through my body. In a golden flash, a silver bath tube appeared filled with sea green water. Callow picked me up, and placed me in the tub. Like a distant memory, the pain slowly faded away. My breathing calmed. Slowly, my strength returned slowly.
"But you do know what will happen if I give her my power, don't you?" said calypso.
"Yeah, I do..." said Apollo.
"Tell me... Don't just speak like I am not here," I said, " I have enough...just tell, I will understand."
"Artemis, a God's essence is their power. So by Calypso giving you power, it might override your... traits effectively making the child mother calypso and making you a sort of an artificial demigod," Said Apollo.
"Ah...I see," I said.
"But since you were a powerful goddess and Poseidon's potion will keep that from happening completely but the child will still inherit some of calypso's traits. And about the potion. It gives you some degree of control of water, so your child can take power from the sea instead of your life force since the child will have an affinity for water. Poseidon hates you, but he won't abandon his son. He is doing it for the sake of the child, not you. He told me to clarify the fact," he said.
"He is not the only one isn't he," I said
"Most of the Olympian council is against you... along with several minor Gods... even Athena," said Apollo, "who cares about that? I need to get you out of here?" Apollo said
"Get me out of here? Aren't I safe here?" I said.
"No you aren't. Don't you understand? You were placed here to be kept under observation. Father himself ordered this escape while she is distracted." Apollo said.
"Father? For what reason? And who is "she"?" I said.
"DAMN IT… Artemis, I will tell you everything later. Now let us leave?" said Apollo.
Apollo, what is going on? Your breath ragged, and you keep looking over you shoulder as if someone is watching. It seems that there is more occurring than I knew. If I must leave, I will. I have never seen Apollo so frightened but I still hold some distrust toward him. Ever since that prank with the potion.
"Hey… weren't you going to get me out of this damn place," calypso said.
"Of course but only if you will protect my sister. Also, Zeus has declared your sentence void under that condition,"
"Fine… I will, "Calypso said.
"First, I want answers. And what the hell are you rambling about?"
"Why the hell are you being so difficult? I am trying to save your life. You are in serious danger, we must leave now," he said, "I will wait for you outside."
Apollo left in a golden flash. I laid in the tube, the cool, enveloping water soothed me for some reason. Once my pain became but a trickle, calypso slowly helped me out of the tub. My knees buckled but nevertheless, I stayed upright. The cool breeze trickled my wet skin, I shuddered. I felt cold. Quite an unusual feeling. Calypso brought me a change of clothes and a towel. After drying and changing my clothes, I looked at calypso. Her intense, sharp gaze watched my every move.
"Let us leave," I said.
"First may I ask if you Are you sure, Artemis, about what will happen if I directly feed your child, godly energy?" Calypso said.
"I think so… if it is for my child, I will." I said
"Alright, but before May I ask one question? Have you thought of any names for the child?" said calypso.
"No… but maybe Selene if she the girl… I guess," I said.
"Ha… naming your child after the titan goddess of the moon, how fitting. If the child is a boy, name him, Odysseus…" said calypso.
"Why?" I said," I was going to name him Perseus… after his… father," I said. My heart clenched. Perseus hope you come to forgive me for everything. I know I have said many times those words but my feelings of regret and sadness won't change.
"Because like Perseus, I have not forgotten that man. Also wouldn't it be pointless to name the child Perseus. He will always be compared to his father with that name," calypso said, "Let us leave this island before I do anything,"
"Fine" I said
We quickly left the library, passing through the unnaturally dark tunnel, to calypso's home inside the cave. Calypso summoned two large traveling bags. She began to fill the bags with everything from food to extra clothes and mortal money.
"Why are you packing even though you can summon what you need?" I said
"Normally yes, but once I start feeding you godly energy I will become weak, and I will be unable to summon anything, so we are going to need physical supplies." I said.
As she finished packing, she handed me one bag while she took the other. The bag almost tipped me over, since the bag weighed much more than I had thought. Which was weird since I am sure I could pick up heavier object… when I was a goddess but for a second, I had forgotten that simple fact, which could endanger me in the future.
The journey to the pier was an unfortunate one. Coming to terms with my lack of strength caused many stumbles and near falls occurred along the way. Luckily by fortunes decree, nothing happened that would endanger me. Arriving at the pier, A white yacht stood in the harbor, on the side, in large blue letters, "Redemption."
Redemption? What a funny name? But it makes sense this boat will be the beginning of what is to come. Whether good or bad, I shall move forward. I will set things right and I won't give in. even with my unmoving determination, I have an uneasy feeling. The future will be filled with difficult trials and obstacles.
"How will we escape? There is normally there is a barrier around the island, that prevents me from escaping," calypso said.
"We can help,"
Turning in the direction of the voice, Hermes and Apollo walked in our direction.
"What the bloody hell are you doing here Apollo? Didn't you just leave? Are you mocking me? Because if you are I will kick your ass right now, regardless of your status as an Olympian…" I said.
"You need to escape, are under her watch… she has you under surveillance, I don't understand why. What does she want with Perseus? And she wants you away from him. So if you meet Perseus again he will hate your guts," said Apollo.
"Enough of pessimism, we have to get you out of here," said Hermes.
We quickly boarded the boat. Dropping the heavy bags. I gazed at my brother. He simlied, happy for some reason.
"The boat will take you to Alaska, it should be away from the god's circle of power. You should be safe, from one threat anyways.' Said Hermes," A gift from Poseidon to his granddaughter… He hates your guts Artemis,"
The boat began to move. I felt the flow of the ocean currents pull the boat along. I saw Hermes had Apollo a golden bow and a single arrow that crackled with electricity. He placed the arrow, starching the bowstring, ready to fire. Aiming at the barrier, he fired. The arrow met the barrier in a thundering explosion, the barrier broke apart. We were free. The boat continued on it journey, shore becoming smaller and smaller as are distanced increased.
"Apollo…Who do you mean by she?" I yelled.
"Beware of Athena," said Apollo.
Soon the island disappeared from out view. I sat down on the floor, taking a deep breath. The ocean soothed me, my pains reduced to a mere trickle. What had just happened? I don't have a single clue. What did he mean beware of Athena? I don't have a clue but I guess I will have to see what fate has I store for me?
"Now that we are from that damn island, let me fulfill my part of the contract," said calypso.
Calypso moved toward me. She wrapped her arms around me, quite intimately, our foreheads touching. My mind went blank. A subtle but common feeling. Calypso let go, knees buckling. She had become a bit weak.
"Calypso, Are you alright?" I said.
"Yes, but the child took more energy than I expected. It would lead be to guess that your child will be a powerful one. Let me take a rest first." said calypso. Her breath heavy, and sweat trickled down her neck.
My body felt lighter, almost as it were free of any burden unlike heart made of lead. After a moments rest, calypso seemed to stabilize. She sat beside me, saying, "I wonder what the future have in store for us, Pain or happiness?"
"I can't say I know, but I know there is a difficult road ahead of me," I said, staring at the setting sun. Night was coming.
*Another chapter, rewrote it since i spoiled alot of good stuff i want to reveal later... And they escaped.