“Can't we do anything to help?” asked Ksenia.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon, I promise.”
“You can pray, Ksenia,” said Anna and then mother and son turned to go.
They entered the temple in a hurry and stood in the middle, facing the west. Phevos took the wands out of his backpack. They were still glowing. Anna took one and they stood side by side looking at the sunset.
The wands took the color of the sun with shades and swirls of light that matched those of the sky. Orange, violet, turquoise, mauve . . . The sea breeze picked up and the light of the setting sun engulfed the temple like an honored guest entering with reverence, bringing tears of ecstasy to their eyes.
“Mother, Poseidon wishes that you stay here! I am to go fetch them alone, but your position here is paramount. The light in your wand is the beacon that will lead us back to you! Do not move from here. Whatever happens, hold the wand and keep looking at the setting sun. Do not take your eyes away from it until it disappears on the horizon. The rest is up to Poseidon!”
“I will, my son, I promise!”
“This is the last day we’ve spent apart!” Phevos squeezed her hand, and they turned to face the west together. Half the sun had sunk below the horizon; it was a dark red semicircle surrounded by an orgy of pastel colors. The wands were still alternating colors accordingly. The others stood outside watching the sunset too, happy to be standing further away from the tourists and the repetitive flashes of their cameras.
Ksenia had an arm around her brother as she looked at the sun. She lost herself in that view, freeing her mind from worry. She no longer felt the need to turn around and check on the others in the temple. It was as if she knew that watching the sun in full faith was the most effective prayer she could choose at the time. This was the most beautiful sunset that anyone had ever seen.
Anna kept watching the sun as she’d been instructed. Tears streamed from her eyes as she marveled at the fire of reds and yellows in the sky. The light in her wand reddened more deeply by the second. The sun was almost gone. Just as the last trace vanished on the horizon, she noticed that the light of the wand had turned a solid red, the color of hot iron. It looked as if it could burn her hands, but she didn’t fear it. Her son had asked her to keep holding it, no matter what.
Suddenly, its color changed back to the original white. Now, it glowed the way it normally did when in the company of another. Anna guessed Phevos’s wand had changed in the same way too. Now that the sun had set, she could take her eyes from the sky. She looked next to her and smiled. Her son was gone. Anna stood and waited.
Chapter 32
Phevos opened his eyes and gasped. He was in the familiar public square outside his estate. Then, he felt the coolness of water and looked down to see he was once again inside the same fountain. He stepped out and looked at his wand. It glowed with a white light. He put it in his backpack and looked straight ahead, resting his eyes on the tall walls of his estate. Then, he noticed someone walking along the tree-lined path toward its gates, his head hung low. This man’s robes are wet! Father went into the fountain too. Is that him? How long has it been since I left?
“Father!” cried out Phevos breaking into a sprint.
Efimios turned around, his eyes huge. “My son! You’re back already?” he said as Phevos embraced him. The old man’s eyes lit up with alarm. “Where is Daphne?”
“Don’t worry, Father! Daphne is fine and so is Mother!”
“Oh my son, you have found her! Glory to Poseidon! He has done it all as he promised!” said Efimios, his voice breaking.
“Yes! I found Ksenia and Manos too!”
Efimios grasped his son by the shoulders. “Phevos, how long has it been for you? It has only been a couple of minutes since I left you!”
“It’s been five months for me, Father! But come now, there’s no time!” He motioned to the estate.
“Is it time, my son?” asked Efimios as he began to stride toward the gates with Phevos.
“Yes, Father! We must find Kimon and Eleni at once! They’ll be so happy with the news!”
Efimios halted, his brow creased. “We can not take them with us, Son! Poseidon never mentioned them. I guess he could not have foreseen Athena would take them too. Oh, the guilt I have had to live with all these years . . .” His voice trailed off, as he shook his head forlornly.
“Father, don’t worry! The time has come for them too! Poseidon has said so! Let’s go find them!”
Efimios’s face erupted in a smile of pure delight. He followed his son, who’d rushed through the open gates and, despite being an old man, he could no longer feel the discomfort in his knee joints. The elation in his heart had given him wings.
Within seconds, they found Kimon and Eleni still sitting in the kitchen quietly together. When they saw Phevos wearing different clothes to the ones he had on when he’d left a few minutes earlier, they jolted upright. Crying with joy, they rushed to him posing many questions. Phevos promised to explain soon and asked everyone to follow him to the stables. With the help of a stable boy, they prepared the horse cart and, within a few minutes, the four of them were on it, with Phevos at the reins. The cart emerged through the gates as fast as the two fine horses could gallop, leaving behind a cloud of dust. As they sped along, Kimon and Eleni held each other crying as Phevos told them news of their children. They watched as the estate grew smaller and smaller behind them until it disappeared behind cypress trees and centennial olive groves.
When they arrived at the port, Efimios led the others to the sailboat of his captain friend. Poseidon required them to be in Sounio before sunset and they had to hurry. The captain accepted to take them there at once even though he wasn’t offered any information about their purpose or urgency. Soon, they were sailing on the vessel with the captain at the helm. The sea was calm that sunny afternoon, and a flock of seagulls soon appeared. From the moment they came, they followed the boat, flying in circles overhead.
“Tell me, Father,” asked Phevos as the four of them sat at the bow, “when did you throw the wand in the sea?”
“It was on the following day after we were all brought here by Athena. That fateful evening,” Efimios paused to frown at the devastating memory. “I went upstairs . . . I hid the letter to your mother in the box, left a handful of her buttons, my box of matches and your whistle in the drawer, and then, before returning downstairs, I hid the wand inside my clothes. The other two were at Mrs. Sofia’s. When we came back here, I threw it in the sea with the necklace.”
“But didn’t Athena take the necklace that night? How did you get it back from her, Father?”
“It was easy! She didn’t even care about it once her deed was done,” said Eleni, a bitter smile playing on her lips.
“She forgot it in the cave,” said Kimon, “She left it on the altar on her way out. I noticed it and gave it to your father.”
“Which wasn’t a surprise!” said Efimios. “You see, Poseidon had instructed me to throw the necklace with the wand into the sea in Sounio! Therefore, I knew it would wind up with me somehow.”
“This is amazing! So what did she do once she brought us all back here? What did she say?”
“She was furious,” said Kimon.
“She was ruthless, that’s what she was!” said Eleni.
“Ruthless, indeed!” confirmed Efimios. “When it was all over, I begged her in the cave to take us back, but she wouldn’t listen. She was too angry. Then I pleaded with her to help you at least. You were lying in my arms still unconscious, and we couldn’t bring you around.
“We feared you were dead,” said Eleni with a shudder.
“And in the end, she gave in. She touched you on the head and, just like that, you opened your eyes. She smiled haughtily to herself and went without another word. We never saw her again,” said Efimios.
“What did you do when she left?” Phevos’s face had grown pale, his eyes glassy with horror.
“We went straight to t
he estate,” said Kimon.
“I will never forget the look on your parents’ faces,” said Eleni to Efimios.
The old man chuckled and turned to Phevos. “Imagine their joy to find a grandchild on their doorstep! And, of course, to reunite with their own son again. I hadn't seen them since I’d decided to marry your mother and stay forever in her world.”
“Oh Father, I hadn't thought of that until now! It must have been hard for them to part with you.”
“I remember the last time I went back to announce to them my decision. I told them how much I loved your mother and they understood. Of course, they knew everything about my service to Athena. My mother hoped for me to settle down one day, so she accepted the prospect of a normal life for me, even if it meant she’d never see me again.” He shook his head. “It was hard to say goodbye to them . . .”
“I expect they were ecstatic to see you again,” said Phevos.
“To see us all!” said Efimios. “They welcomed Kimon and Eleni who were strangers to them with equal gladness. For us, it was such an odd mixture of emotions. We were glad to be alive but distraught to be away from our loved ones, and also worried sick about you, who seemed lost for days . . .”
“They were lovely people, your grandparents . . .” said Eleni.
“Yes, they were. I remember them both well. So does Daphne,” said Phevos.
“Shame we lost them so soon,” said Kimon.
“And the cave? When did you destroy it, Father?”
“On the same day I threw the necklace in the sea with the wand. I woke up that morning determined to set Poseidon’s plan in motion.”
“How come Athena didn’t seek vengeance for that?”
“I honestly don’t know, Son! Poseidon instructed me to destroy the interior of the cave and to seal its entrance. He assured me she wouldn’t punish me for that and, indeed, she never did. Perhaps he knows her well. Maybe she was so pleased with herself after what she’d done to us that she didn’t mind. Who knows? Maybe she never intended to use you or anyone else as her servant. I am guessing this is why she didn’t even care to pick up the necklace on her way out.”
“Strange,” said Phevos.
“Indeed! But then, who can fathom the thinking of the Gods?”
“Were you sworn to secrecy by Poseidon? Is this why none of you ever told me or Daphne anything all these years?”
“Yes, that’s right. And believe me, Son, it was hard to do.” Efimios patted Phevos’s hand. “Especially during those first few restless nights . . . You cried for hours in your bed asking for your mother although you couldn’t even remember what she looked like any more. Oh, I was shattered! All I could do was be there for you, but I couldn’t tell you a thing.”
“It’s been hard not to be able to speak about my children to anyone all these years,” said Eleni. Her voice wavered, and fresh tears escaped from her eyes. Kimon put his arms around her. He’d been her tower of strength all these years.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Eleni. Soon it’ll all be over,” said Phevos.
Eleni slid a hand inside her robe and produced a small key. “You see this?”
“What's that?”
“That’s the key to the back door of my house.” Eleni wiped a lingering tear from her cheek. “I locked it that night after tucking my children into bed for the last time.”
“She’s been carrying it about her person all these years,” said Kimon as he held her close to him still.
“This key has been giving me strength all along. It’s been the only thing from home I have left. I’m going to give it to my children today when I see them, just to show them I never forgot them.”
Phevos gave her an encouraging smile. “I’m sure you’ll find they never forgot you either.”
“Can I ask you something too, Son?” interrupted Efimios. “From what you have seen in the last five months, has Daphne been an integral part of Poseidon’s scheme? Do you think it would have made a difference had she not been with you?”
“Why do you ask that, Father?”
“You see, I had to make a difficult decision earlier today. Poseidon had instructed me to send you to the future world when I saw the necklace again, but he hadn't said anything about Daphne. When I sought his protection I only had one child: you! But once we got back here, I became blessed to have her as my daughter. So I didn’t know what to do when she started crying and begging to stay with you. In the end, I thought I had nothing to lose if I let her stay in the fountain with you. I thought if Poseidon opposed, he simply wouldn’t let her leave with you. Still, I was unsure when you both disappeared before my eyes, and it has been playing on my mind ever since. Have I chosen well? I haven't put her in any danger, have I, Son?”
“No, Father! Rest assured that this experience has only benefited Daphne. She has a job in Pallada helping out Mrs. Sofia now! And what's more, she’s engaged to be married!”
“Oh! What wonderful news!” said Efimios.
“And guess who the lucky man is!”
“Who?” all three asked in unison.
“Mrs. Sofia’s son, Aris! You probably don’t know him . . . He was raised in Corfu and now he travels all the time. He’s in the Merchant Navy—”
Efimios’s face lit up. “Yes, we all know of him!” Kimon and Eleni nodded excitedly.
“He’s a great guy, Father!”
“Does he love her, Son?”
“He loves her enough for Poseidon to have to blind him today!”
“What?” said all three in one voice.
“Don’t worry! It only lasted for a few minutes. He can see fine now!” Phevos told them all about the surreal events that had taken place near the Temple of Poseidon. Soon, they were all chortling, amazed at Poseidon’s ingenuity.
***
The sailboat finally arrived at the cape of Sounio. Efimios had been the first one to make out the temple in the distance. Exhilarated at the sight, they were all standing at the bow as the boat sailed toward the shore, bringing closer and closer to view the temple that had become the answer to their prayers. Discussing their plan of action in hushed tones, everyone marveled at the idea that Anna was waiting in the temple, or rather, in its derelict self in the far future, being the one chosen by Poseidon to bring them all back. Only Poseidon could have had the brilliant notion to bring them back together inside his sanctum with a wondrous leap across the centuries.
At a close distance from the port, yet, still far enough to avoid prying eyes, Efimios called out to the captain to lower the sail and drop anchor. He also made him promise not to disclose to anyone what he was about to witness.
When his father prompted him, Phevos threw his wand into the sea. They were all still standing together at the bow. In the first few moments that followed, the tranquillity of their surroundings was broken only by the squawking of the seagulls that still circled the boat overhead. Small waves made a soft splashing sound against the keel. The afternoon sun shone softly as it crept toward the horizon.
Suddenly, a single wave rose high from the sea surface, far away from them. Making a mighty roar, it started to approach rapidly, in a very peculiar way. Instead of being followed by other waves, it advanced on its own, surrounded by calmness. All the while, an eerie, white light followed it underwater as it moved ahead.
Finally, it stopped at the bow right in front of them, rising even higher until it was at eye level. Two wands were glowing on the very top. Phevos’s wand had attracted the other just as Poseidon had promised. Efimios reached out to take them and, as soon as he did so, the wave sank into the stillness of the water, as if it had never existed. The old man handed his son the two wands for safe-keeping in his backpack. The captain had approached to take a closer look at the strange, approaching wave. As he watched Phevos place the wands in his backpack, he stood aghast, despite the fact that after a whole life at sea he had a few amazing stories to tell. Yet, he’d never seen anything as wondrous as this.
Still confident the captain woul
d never betray their secret, Efimios patted him on the shoulder asking him to weigh anchor again and make sail for the port. When they reached the dock, they jumped out in a hurry, aware that the sun would soon be setting. Efimios spared a few moments to say goodbye to his old friend. The captain cried as he embraced him but didn’t pose any questions. Instead, he made sure to assure Efimios that he’d never speak of what he’d seen.
Without further ado, the four took the uphill path, stopping briefly at a spring to drink water. Halfway to the top, they reached a busy marketplace. An inn and a line of workshops stood opposite a small square. The low murmur of a shopping crowd echoed in their ears from an open market a few feet away. All the stalls were busy, the merchants chattering noisily with customers.
Although Phevos and the others never approached the stalls but carried on ahead past the square, they still managed to attract attention to themselves. Inevitably, Phevos raised a few eyebrows among the passers-by, who stared at his strange clothes, shoes and backpack. In response, he picked up his pace and kept his head low, feeling glad that both the wands were out of sight in his backpack.
Leaving the square behind, they carried on along the road that continued uphill and, after a while, they reached the temple of Athena. Although they knew they had nothing to fear, they felt uneasy to be near holy ground dedicated to her at a time like this. Just in case, they quickened their pace as they walked past it and never noticed the old woman lurking in the shadows behind the marble pillars. The gnarly figure watched them go for a few moments, frozen on the spot with disbelief, her dark, sunken-in eyes ablaze with malice.
When a young priestess came out from behind her, the old woman muttered something under her breath and stepped aside. Then, with a low, guttural sound, she retreated further into the darkness.
Instinctively, Phevos turned his gaze in that direction, but all he saw was the priestess standing outside the temple, marveling at the beauty of the sky.
The Necklace of Goddess Athena Page 31