Hecate avoided any questions that addressed my present state. I had nothing on my plate. She did, however, answered my queries about the other gods. She said the Greek Pantheon started to drift towards North America decades ago since its civilization was drawing power. It worked that way as I started to remember. The Pantheon just moved wherever the power was strongest, like how it travelled from its origin, Greece, to Rome up until it settled in Britain, the last that I could remember. The gods did cause quite a fuss that brought the world in disarray such as the two world wars that claimed millions of mortal lives. She kept avoiding another one, a certain event that she kept steering away the conversation from.
Whenever she mentioned the gods, she said their names begrudgingly. At least I started to remember certain names because she kept ticking them like a list of people, or rather deities, to dispose of. I did not think she ever liked them. That was evident. Being an isolated goddess with transformed beings as pets was never a good sign. She may have wanted more respect, at least an ode to her existence as a goddess.
She looked at the pouch she picked up a while ago from the other room, it was glinting in a bluish color.
"I guess I should address the elephant in the room," she said. I was unaware of the expression she used (which I now know of, ha!) and decided to take it literally. I turned around, hoping an elephant was not actually breathing behind my neck.
Hecate rolled her eyes, I thought she was about to turn me into that elephant in the room. She let out a sigh of frustration. I couldn't really read her expression since it kept drifting like the smoke in her eyes, yet she remained in her old woman form.
"I cannot intervene on anything for certain reasons," she frowned "As much as I want to help you, you need to do this yourself, Zagreus.
"It is your fate to do this alone. I may not know much, but I do have an idea on where you can get help that might be much favorable to the gods," she said this with distaste.
"You must go south from here to Long Island, you will find a camp there" she said camp as if it was all too confusing to say. "The oracle of Delphi now resides there. You can ask her on how you can reclaim you place and even your memories."
That idea did not sound too pleasing, but I could not conclude so since Hecate was affected by her grudge too much.
"That is all I can say for you this is something too much powerful for me to break," she said, pity drawn in her eyes. Whatever I did in the past, it must have cost me a lot for even the malevolent goddess of magic felt sympathy for me, yet, I felt she was more than that. She felt so close to me. I hated myself for not gaining a clue of my past experiences. Everything that shaped my previous life was vanished, I only have bits of the world I belonged in, or maybe once belonged in because I was sure that I was being casted off.
To shift my attention elsewhere, I focused on the floor, which still had smoke spewing from the table. I wondered why it still released smoke, Hecate was multi-tasking here with her props and all.
She noticed that I shifted to the smoke. She reached from under the table and turned a machine off. The smoke dissipated. Obviously, I gaped at her.
"Wait, did you just?"
"Sorry, I was too anxious to see you that I forgot to turn off the fog machine"
"The what? That wasn't magic?"
"In some way it is, it makes the job much easier you know. I need the effects for the crowd and causing smoke to appear can cost me extra spells. I simply can't waste my energy on such matter."
I did not know which surprised me, the fog machine, Hecate fancying on the idea of effects or the fact that she could turn humans to cats but did not have the effort to cast smoke spells. Before I can pursue the thought, she thrust the glinting pouch towards me.
"I know you are good in magic because I have thought you well before, back in the Underworld. If time allows it, maybe you can finally remember how to use these."
I opened the pouch, inside were pieces that seems to be bones shaped into small squares. Various symbols of witchcraft and necromancy. I can barely recognize some of them. But as she said, in time I would begin to remember them, I need to harness power to do so – which I barely had.
"Don't worry, its very own magic will aid you. Do remember, however, that the true source of it lies within you, thus, you have to wield the remaining power you have to unleash their magic," she said as if reading my thoughts.
"But… I don't have enough power to activate these all the time. You did tell me about monsters, right? And they will be right behind my feet because of the smell I had."
Her eyes darkened, "Yes, I have a few monsters myself, but they seem to be fleeing from my control. They have become more restless recently like something is stirring…" before she could submerge herself in a deep pondering, she reached for something below her chair.
I was slightly expecting it to be another fog machine. She brought out a sword sheathed inside a black leather scabbard. The sword was obviously unused because traces of dust were evident on the it.
"This is a stygian iron sword from the forges of the Underworld. Hermes gifted this to me because he clearly couldn't think of anything else to give at that time," she rolled her eyes. "I have no use for such sword, so I am entrusting it to you."
She handed me the blade. It felt heavy at first, but I soon grew comfortable with as it fit perfectly in my hands. I gave it a slight swing, the dark blade gleamed.
"Umm… so you do know how I can reach this camp you're saying, right?" I asked while brushing off the dust from the sword.
"Yes, I have this for you," she fished something from her pocket and produced a silver pendant. Embossed on the pendant is a six-sided star that looked like a flower surrounded by a circular labyrinth. "This is my symbol, a strophalos, my wheel. It will grant you guidance to your journey. My children are actually in that camp, present this to them and they can aid you later on. If you ever meet certain crossroads, ask it for directions and it will show you the way."
Hecate entrusted me with her wheel pendant. I was not fond on placing any accessories on me, except for my ring, still, I wore the pendant since it would serve as my compass to find the camp.
"For all it's worth, you're good to go," Hecate stood up in finality. I could almost see the younger version of herself from the drifting expression. She could indeed cause all kinds of confusion.
"This wouldn't look that weird in mortal eyes, eh?" I said strapping on the sword onto my belt. Hecate laughed, which was amusing and confusing to hear at the same time.
"The Mist, dear. The Mist. It will shield mortal minds from anything. Monster attacks can appear to be gas leaks to them. Your get-up would be such a tiny thing for the mist to hide."
Of course, the mist. Damn. As far as I can remember, I was adamant to using it to my advantage back then. I had guises to roam around. I did not fight off monsters on streets that much or maybe I did… I stopped trying to grasp a memory I could barely reach.
"Maybe we should get along on your journey," as Hecate said that, a black Labrador barged into the room, holding a newspaper in its mouth. It placed the newspaper on Hecate's feet and barked at me. It sort of remind me of a pet we had in the Underworld. Cerberus, yes, Cerberus! how can I forget him? Of course, he was more than just a pet. I was not sure if the labrador liked my presence but when it barked, there was a shuffling sound from the basket on Hecate's left side.
"Oh, before you leave, I would like you to meet Hecuba" she motioned towards the dog. The name seems quite familiar. The dog was obviously a former human, for what reason she got transformed, I did not know. "And of course, my polecat, Gale," a white snout appeared from the basket.
"Gale's been very afraid to come out since your arrival. But she'll show up sooner or later," she gestured for me to follow her to the main side of the emporium.
Mandisa opened her yellow eye when she saw us. Her tail kept wagging from the countertop. "Uhhh… why did you decide to call this an emporium anyway? Isn't this too small? You seem to occupy a small side of this building," I had to ask one stupendous question before I leave.
"You'll see," she gave me a wink as an answer. "Mandisa, would you be so kind as to accompany Zagreus outside?"
Mandisa was definitely not pleased to accompany me. She was as begrudging as Hecate when she stood from her post. She looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to take the door and leave.
The cat accompanied me as I exit the shop and into the alley once more. Mandisa looked at me one last time. With a flick of her tail, she disappeared, along with the actual building.
Time seemed to pass much slower in Hecate's emporium. The dark sky and stars were gone and was now replaced by a distant blue afternoon sky. Nonetheless, I wouldn't argue that the talk was quite lengthy.
I scratched the soles of my shoes onto the spot where the red brick structure was at. It was only moments ago when Mandisa decided to pull one last disappearing act along with it. I was left alone in my pleasant solitude. At present, I was empty handed of any information. I only had my sword, a pouch of bones, and a pendant. The symbol of Hecate did not even show a sign that it knew the direction I was supposed to go. Maybe it casted a projection of light or glinted; but it did none of that. Sunset was approaching and I had to move fast.
Hecate did tell me that the pendant would guide me if I encounter any crossroads along the way. New York was filled with them apparently. The symbol may be exhausted to its core before I even reach my destination.
I started to go back to the street where I met Mandisa. I retraced my steps, noticing that the neon and billboard lights were now turned off. The sounds coming from the bars were now dampened. The rush hour traffic was heavy. I winced every time the cars started to blare their horns out. The rush was felt even in the sidewalks. You could not truly tell what time it was in such as city because the same bulk of people flock the streets.
I never imagined a place to be like this. I never imagined anything to bloom out into something unimaginable like this back then. On the other hand, I was asleep for a century's worth so that made a lot of sense. Hecate did mention something about being touched by death and sleep though. "Could they have thought that I was already dead?" I pondered. A deity of the Underworld being dead is a confusing concept to handle. I could not really say the chances of it being true. Death did feel good to hear.
I finally found the storefront. It was a clothing boutique filled with mannequins and strange dresses, far from the huge gowns and heavy coats. I stared at my reflection on the glass window. I looked modern like I truly belonged now in this time. I wish I could say the same to the gods. I know that if I walked right into the place Chronos was saying, I wouldn't be welcome. I was not sure why, but a deep feeling of guilt formed within me. Was it something that I have done before? What the hell did I do? My eyes flashed a color, quickly dissipating.
I ruffled my hair, trying to shake my frustration. I caught a glimpse of a slithering shadow inside the shop. I did a double take, trying to process what I was seeing. When I blinked everything appeared normal and very colorful inside. The mist could not have been messing with me, I was not mortal… yet. I had to make sure there was nothing wrong – I should have done a double take on that too.
I crept into the store with stealth, trying to avoid unwanted attention. It looked all normal at first, the shop barely had any one in it except for three people I could see on the 'blouse' aisle. A sales clerk wearing a lilac blazer with a flower pinned on it was thrusting clothing options to two girls. The girl near her had black hair that had turquoise highlights. She looked like she was shielding her friend from the horrendous choices. The other girl had olive skin and brown hair; she was evidently terrified.
"Come on dear, try this on," the sales clerk kept insisting them, shoving a white dress towards them. "It will match your hair perfectly."
"I said we don't want it," the black-haired girl responded through gritted teeth. "The only thing that will match is my fist and your face."
"Now, now, don't be too brash about that sweetie. I still have options that you might like," her voice sounded oily and smooth – words that are not supposed to be used in describing voices. I scooted in between the racks, hoping she wouldn't sense me right away. She paused for a moment, sniffing the air. I could now see her face, a faint smirk forming in her red lips. "Let me ssshow you more of thossse optionsss I wasss talking about. Maybe you would think twiccce about choosssing that bloussse after all," she hissed. Her legs began to enlarge, ripping any remnants of her human skin and of her skirt. Two serpent legs appeared in its place. The sales clerk's yellow eyes stared frantically around as if searching for something. She could indeed sense me.
The girls backed away. They could only go far because the back wall was lined with shoe shelves. The brown-haired girl had the idea of throwing shoes at the monster. The creature only hissed and spat at them. "It ssseemsss that we're not alone," she said. I hid in between the clothes as I heard her slither on the other side. I was trying to remember anything about this creature. I must know something about it. Maybe I slain one before. Out of all things to disappear, why my practical knowledge? Time must have heard my pleas because a name popped right into my mind, the creature was a dracanae! They were half human, half serpent. I had to cut its legs off before it could attack the others.
"Lookssss like I have to deal with you two first before I catch any other pesssttt," she said and slithered back towards the two girls. I could hear thumping on the floor, shoes being thrown. I needed to scoot to the next bunch of racks to sneak behind her while she was preoccupied.
"I haven't had lunch in a while, sssince those pesky demigodsss damaged my kin, well, I can sssmell the blood within you making you much delightful to devour," she charged towards the two girls. There was a minor change of plans. The monster wrapped a scaly leg around the brown-haired girl.
"Celine!" her friend called. Celine let out a scream of agony as the dracanae tightened her gripped around her. The monster opened its mouth, ready to devour her.
Two things hit me at once, the first being the shock, second was the lack of game plan. I had a sword; how bad could it be? I mean the knowledge I could possibly have on how to wield and use it. The conflicting thought on the other side of my mind was letting the girl die. I knew I should not listen to it, but there was a dark thought all too familiar that protruded in my mind. Did I even have the right to interject someone's death? I was a deity of the Underworld; I saw ghastly faces of empty mortal bodies from time to time or at least I had. Such dark memories decided to resurface.
Whatever hesitation I had was immediately erased by the cries of the black-haired girl. Her extreme anguish and distress ringed across the boutique. My senses tingled and I quickly emerged from my hiding place. Another rack was right in front of me, but I could now visibly see the dracanae. She was wearing a golden armor from her waist up. She had a Spartan helmet, complete with the spear and shield. It might have summoned the weapons as I showed myself because she gleamed more heavily as I stared at her.
"What's thissss?" she shifted her attention from her meal to the racks in front of me. Celine was only inches away from the saliva dripping from the mouth of the dracanae.
"Back off," I said "and die" the urge to kill was tingling within me. I did not place 'or' in between, I provided no options to hold back. Maybe all this time I was waiting for such excitement to come along. I unsheathed my blade, pointing it defiantly at the monster, though it did not look menacing against the pink laced dresses in front of me.
Upon seeing my blade, the dracanae's eyes widened. It gawked at me for a while. As if renewed with energy, her face showed a smirk of confidence. "You have a sssmell different from thessse two. I'll like to find out why by chomping you into piecccesss." I was really sick of hearing that I smell.
Still gripping Celine with her leg, she slithered towards me. She walked like a human, but her serpent legs slithered at the same time, it was confusing and awkward. That did not stop her other leg from crashing into the rack. I dodged the attack and rolled onto my side. She was fast despite her big legs and weird walk. I had to attack from her back in order to free the girl, but that seemed to be impossible at the moment. Her serpent leg soon found my leg and was bound to grab it. Her attention was momentarily caught by the black-haired girl's shoe throwing, this time, she threw a bunch of clothing options in. I took the time to lunge at the serpent leg that was about to twist my leg. With a quick swipe, I sliced it off. The dracanae hissed then chuckled.
"Foolisshhh boy," the chopped off leg began to grow back "I have been given ssstrength that you cannot posssibly imagine. I have been given immunity and power because of the divine ssstirring."
The dracanae did release an aura of strength so different, not that I could remember anything to compare it with. This stirring of sorts was giving her strength and power unimaginable to her before. I stood up and turned my focus on the girl. She was barely breathing because of the tightening of the dracanae's grip, soon, her life would falter. The thought of death coursed through my mind once more. No greater death would it be than killing the dracanae off. I still had not found the time to study the bones Hecate gave me, so it would be no use to focus my remaining energy on magic. I had to find a weak spot with my sword.
"Let me finissshhh up my meal before I deal with you," she raised Celine towards her mouth, her fangs prepared to slice her into bits – taking her essence. With that in mind, anger rose within me. It was a different kind of anger, like it had roots very deep because when I tapped into it, it set a wildfire ablaze. I could no longer think straight as my temper peaked through.
I darted towards the monster with all of my pent-up anger boiling. My ears could hear different sounds. Laughs and noises of slaughter echoed in my head. A distant scream drowned in the shallows. I lost control of myself as I charged towards the dracanae. It tossed its spear at me, but I dodged the aim, it barely missed my shoulder.
"You can't overpower me you fool," she said with too much confidence. I knew it had to end. She was wavering and she was not going anywhere.
I was now right beside her. She was much larger than I had imagined but that did not stop me from doing my next move. I jumped towards her and sliced her left leg. She recoiled as flames engulfed her sliced leg. I could feel the sword absorbing the energy from my anger. Before she could react and regenerate, I cut off her other leg, freeing the girl from her grasps. Celine's friend quickly rushed to her aid, cradling her head. She was saying something to me, but I could not hear it because of the ringing in my ears.
A throb of pain shot through my right eye as I drove my blade into the armor of the dracanae. I did not know how it penetrated the armor; I did not bother to care. All I knew that it brought me great pleasure to kill her. The dark flames burning into her flesh and divine gold armor.
Before she could disintegrate into her death, I had one last glimpse of my reflection. My right eyes glowed brightly with blue flames. She turned into dust with a twist of my sword. I soon dabbled with oblivion as I collapsed onto the floor, losing my remaining energy.