Memoirs of an Immortal (The Immortal Series) (20 page)

“Now, that you have been training for quite some time” He began walking back and forth in front of us, “it is time to bring out your true nature.”

In front of us stood even larger Diavolis, however, these ones were different than the ones we had been fighting. These ones were equipped with armor.

“To bring out your true nature, you must only see the outcome of your battles. You must only feel what a warrior should feel. Wrath, anger and hunger for your prey, but it must not cloud your judgment. It is not about simply defeating these creatures. It is about annihilating them. It is their existence that threatens all that we hold dear. You must feel the change inside you.” Akhilles stood in front of us, while the Diavolis stood behind him, heaving and grunting, one even stepped forward and gnarled at us.

“Let go of your senses” He commanded “feel your emotions taking over, feel the hunt in front of you.”

With every word he spoke, I could feel a change happening, I was letting go. I could see the veins inside the body of the demons in from of me. I could hear their heart beating. As this new found feeling was taking over, I could feel a strong sensation embracing my body. I wanted blood. I wanted its blood. I wanted its death.

Hephaistos had shown up with Herakles, he passed us and handed over a metallic item to Akhilles. It was small about the length of a hand and it had a ball in the middle. Attached to each end were two open spiraled triangles. Akhilles held it in one hand.

“This is called an Astra, it can bring you to any part of this known world, today you will not be fighting these fake Diavolis.” He waved his hand behind him.

“It’s time to test your skills against the real ones. Do not fail me and do not fail yourself, for you will only bring shame to you and your family.”

Akhilles handed back the Astra to Hephaistos. He held it in one hand and waved his other hand over it.

The Astra flew from his grasp and hovered vertically. It began to spin and inside the spiraled triangles light began to appear. The more it spun, the more light came from it. The bright blinding light totally enveloped us. Within mere moments we were on top of a mountain looking down to a small unknown village.

I could see small children playing, as their mothers washed clothes in a wooden basin. They laughed and sang together, their mothers smiling at their children, a perfect backdrop of an ordinary life, a life that was about to be disrupted.

The wind picked up and I could smell them coming. Instinctively, I placed my hand on the ground, the earth rumbled. I could feel their movements, there were eight no ten Diavolis and they were headed this way. Despite their size, they were moving quickly.

Without another thought I took the lead. I instructed my sisters to flank me. Zoe had stayed behind and began to shoot her arrows. She was able to kill one just before it reached the village. I ran down the hill with all my speed. My sisters right behind me, but I was too late, I could see them attacking the villagers.

One had picked up the little girl I had seen before. She was wailing for her mother, her mother was underneath his foot. He began to laugh, to him this was amusing. He then said something in his language and crushed the mother with his foot. The child’s face frozen in terror, not one more word was uttered from her.

As I watched this unfold in front of me, I could feel a wrath within me burned. I wanted its head. My body began to change. My senses were more sensitive than ever. My eyes blazed with heat. I called forth my swords and began to charge, we fought with such precision. It was now innate in us. Each cut I made, miasma came out, the air was thick with poison, but in the end, they were destroyed by our hands.

I walked over to the little girl who stood over her mother’s body. Her body crushed into the ground, her daughter petting her hair, asking her to wake up. I could feel tears coming forth. The Diavolis were disgusting vile creatures, that needed to be obliterated. By the end, I was ready to hunt them all down and destroy them completely.

“Very nicely done girls!” Akhilles was clapping as he smiled at Agape, but she didn’t return the happy gesture.

I didn’t need my ability to know what we were all thinking. I looked at my sisters, the demons’ blood had turned black on our skins. Their faces had changes, but it was their eyes that had made the biggest impression on me.

The colors of their eyes were so vivid and bright, while their pupil was now a brilliant red. We were all breathing heavily. My body was still feeling the adrenaline rush. I needed space.

I walked over to a stream near the village. I needed time to regain myself. I knelt down putting my hands into the water and splashed my face. I gazed into the river, as the ripples were beginning to settle down I could finally see my face.

The green in my eyes were glowing intensely, while my pupils had become a bright red. I hit the water again not wanting to see this, not wanting to acknowledge the changes happening to me.

Hephaistos had walked over and stood next to me.

“You were magnificent.” He breathed “Watching you fight. I knew that creating those blades was the right decision, you will bring peace. I have confidence only in you.”

I could see Hephaistos’ reflection in the water. He stood with his arms crossed looking at me. Night was falling and the color of the sky had turned blood red. I sat there quietly, not acknowledging what he had said. He then bent down and with his hand he gently touched my face and turned it.

“They’re called wrath eyes, we all get them.” He paused and waited. “To me, you will always be beautiful. Whatever changes happen to you, it will never sway my opinion of you.” He breathed. I reached for his hand, which was on my face and stroked it. I could feel my body calming down, the burning in my eyes had finally stopped.

I was startled when I heard a loud clap coming from behind us.

“Good work!” I recognized the voice, it was Herakles.

“Must you be here?” Whenever Eirene was upset or scared she looked for a place to vent, be it an object or a person. Today, it would seem Herakles was her target. “Your very presence brings up my breakfast.” She hissed, her thoughts were overpowered by today’s events, but her more recent visions of her and Herakles seemed to affect her further.

I knew that the idea of him being her mate angered her still.

“What?” He snapped, “I can’t even compliment you?” Herakles let out a large sigh. “Honesty, I don’t understand these women, particularly this one.” He pointed at Eirene.

She hesitated no longer and reached for her double axe.

“If you don’t understand me, maybe you’d understand my axe.” She began to flare her weapon at him, but all he did, was smirk. Herakles pulled out his club, whispered to it and a small whirling wind began turning it into an axe.

I looked at Hephaistos, as though knowing my question he answered,

“I made a special weapon for Herakles and dubbed it the ‘club of all traits’, since Herakles likes adventuring. I thought it best to create a weapon that can become anything he needed.”

I stood waiting on Eirene’s next move. “So you call that an axe. You do realize that my weapon is twice the size!” She began to laugh. “I will win.” Eirene was confident, she never faltered in her belief in her abilities or herself, but still he was a demi-god that was centuries older than her. This would become very interesting.

“Contrary to what you women think, size is not always important, skill is a much greater asset and that I have an abundance of.” Herakles responded his eyes did not move from my sister.

“Herakles, this is not the time.” Cried out Akhilles, but his words went unheard. To these two, no one existed right now, only Eirene and Herakles matter.

Eirene positioned herself slowly into a fighting stance, she then stood and waited. Herakles stood and watched her. The wind began to pick up and only the sound of the grass rustling was heard. We all waited with baited breath, seconds felt like hours, but finally Herakles lunged, which she easily deflected his attack. She waited for him to charge again, but he didn’t. She then took aim and attacked him, their axes locked, sparks flared, she pushed, so did he. She finally used the leverage of her locked weapon and swung herself over him and kicked him in the head, her axe flew into the air and so did his. She was able to quickly recover her weapon, but it was Herakles that chose to not chase his. He looked right at her and smiled, he then ran to her and with his godly strength ripped her weapon from her hands and threw it in the direction of his.

“Let us see how you fair without your little axe.” He challenged. They began hand to hand combat. Eirene was strong, but she knew that sheer strength wasn’t going to beat him. He was stronger than her, much stronger. I could hear her thoughts. She was constantly calculating her next move, trying to counter his. Herakles finally tackled her and grabbed both her arms and held them down. He was about to win, when he was thrown off her. It was as though a strong wind came and had flung him clear cross the grassy field.

Zeus stood with his arm extended. “I truly don’t understand how you are my son. You never treat a woman this way.” Zeus moved slowly towards my sister, who still was lying on the ground. “Eirene my child, are you all right? I apologize on behalf of my ill mannered offspring.” Zeus helped Eirene up and brushed some of the dirt off. “I watched your fight with the Diavolis through the Eisoptro, I was very impressed.” Zeus was like a proud father encouraging his children.

Herakles was far from us and still on the ground, after a few moments he stood up and brushed himself off and began to walk back.

“Hey old man, I was just trying to have some fun. I wasn’t going to hurt her. If anything I was teaching her a lesson.” Herakles yelled, as he was walking towards us.

“Dear son, if anyone needs a lesson perhaps it’s you. No wonder no woman wants you, you’re a brute with no class. You have no traits of me or your mother.” Zeus continued. “Let us go back now, tomorrow begins anew. I want you all to have dinner with me in the great hall.”

Hephaistos took the Astra and within seconds we where back.

Zeus instructed us to come to the great hall when we were washed up and dressed. I had chosen a dress from the few I had and placed it on my bed. I could hear my sisters’ thoughts as I was getting ready.

‘I hope Akhilles will be there’
. Agape thought.

‘Herakles better not show his face and if he does I swear, I’ll punch
him.’
Eirene was even less impressed with him now.

Even Zoe seemed excited.
‘I wonder who
we
will meet tonight.’

‘Hey Psykhe! I’m almost ready, wait for me ok?
’ Eva was the only one who would often talk to me through her thoughts.

When I was done, I waited outside my door for Eva. She was about to speak, but Eirene and the rest showed up too.

‘Did you see how Eirene handled Herakles? Don’t tell her, but if Zeus hadn’t shown up, Herakles for sure would’ve won, don’t you think?’
Eva nudged.

I looked at her and shook my head no. I thought that at least Eirene would have gotten the upper hand.

“Come on! She totally would have lost!” Eva had said out loud.

“Bravo Eva” I told her.

“Shit! It’s not easy to always do this mind thing.”

Eirene turned her head and glared. “You doubt I would’ve won?” Eirene snapped.

“No one doubts it. It’s just too bad we couldn’t have seen it to the end that’s all.” Agape said as she smiled and began to stroke Eirene’s shoulder.

“You think so?” Eirene seemed calmer.

Agape turned and winked.

“Good girl.” I whispered.

The usual dark blue flames were replaced with a lighter shade, as it lit our way through the corridors. It looked beautiful against the passing windows of the palace.

There was one particular window along the way to the great hall that I always stopped at.

Here in Olympos there was a large ocean, named Halia. The palace was built on the cliff overlooking it. Tonight the moon hung low and bright, it was a stunning crescent moon. The calm sea mirrored the moon’s reflection. The air was filled with the scent of jasmine and incense. The summers here in Olympos were tranquil and at times, if you listen carefully, you could hear the songs of the sea maidens named Nereidas.

Nereidas were beautiful creatures that lived happily in the ocean, half woman, half fish, they were daughters of Poseidon. It’s said that the moment a man would see one they would instantly fall in love. I was so taken in the sounds and sights, that I didn’t notice that my sisters were no longer there and that Apollon was the one next to me.

“You like to lose yourself don’t you?” His face was inches from mine looking out the window. “You know technically you should have noticed me. Perhaps you should go see Asklēpiós.”

I didn’t bother to turn my head, mostly because I was worried he’d try something. I continued to look out at the sea, taken in by its bewitching spell. It reminded me of the ocean back home, but here the ocean’s colors were vibrant, the waves lively and the sounds mesmerizing.

“Why is it, that every time I’m with you, my ego feels bruised? So now I’ve lost you to Halia.” He sighed heavily. “I wonder if there will be a time that you will look at me the way you are looking at ocean right now.” Apollon was moving in closer, making me move the opposite way.

“Let’s go Apollon, it’s time for dinner. We mustn’t keep father waiting.” I moved quickly and began to walk away.

I opened the golden doors of the great hall, the room was lit, but no one was there. I could hear music and laughter. I waited and finally heard one of my sisters.

‘Where did she go now?’
Eirene asked herself.

Apollon was right behind me as he took my hand. “Come on, they’re on the balcony.”

We walked through a large door behind Zeus’ throne and there was everyone. I stood beside Apollon and my sisters stared. I realized quickly and moved away from him.

‘
Why did you come here with him?’
Eva gave me an accusatory look.

“Stop thinking so much, I met him on the way.” I answered.

After feeling a bit embarrassed, I finally looked up and took in all that was around me.

The balcony was enormous. It was lit with large red flames that floated in the air. The flames lit the balcony just enough so as to not take away from the beautiful ocean that it overlooked. There was plenty of fish being cooked over the fire. A tall boisterous man, who looked older than Zeus was laughing and enjoying himself. He finally turned my way and saw me. I must have been staring, I lowered my head immediately, but before I could move away he was next to me.