by Jessica Cage
“Yes, it is.” Tethys offered simply.
“I don’t understand how this is possible or why any of this is happening, but I know it in my heart. The connection I feel to you is greater than any I’ve ever felt before. I want to be happy about it, because I lost so much time with my mother, or my sister. Time I never thought I could get back. I would cry for days on end, praying that she would return to me, vowing to give whatever it took to make that happen and knowing that it was useless.” Asa wiped the tears that fell from her eyes. “And now here you are, familiar yet not and feeling like all that I remember of my home and of the woman I thought was my mother. I’m conflicted as to how to react, or how to even move in this moment.”
“It is a lot to take in Calypso, or Asa as your friends have informed me you like to be called now. I like that name.” Tethys’s gentle grin pulled the heartstrings of her daughter. “This moment, your being here, brings me such excitement, though I understand your confliction. I will move forward in whatever way is comfortable for you. We can talk about everything now or wait. I know that you came here with a purpose, to retrieve me, which you did, and to help your friend on her quest, which is still ongoing. I have vowed to help Delilah, daughter of my own. Whenever you are ready to discuss things, we can do that. And if you are never ready, we will deal with that in the best way we can.” She reached out and grabbed Asa’s hand, “I do hope that someday you are ready.”
The soft sniffles of Iris drew Asa’s attention from her newly found mother. She looked over her shoulder to the woman who was wiping fresh tears from her face and smiling at the pair.
“I'm so sorry I really did not mean to ruin the moment,” she wiped her nose and when that thin string of snot came away with her hand they all burst out into laughter, all except Tethys who stared at the girls and disbelief. She let them get the rest of their amusement out before she spoke.
“Now that you all have found me, and thank you for releasing me from that prison,” Tethys touched Asa’s face and then Delilah’s. “We need to figure out our next move. You said there are others that we need to find and convince to join us. Who are they?”
“Phoebe, Rhea, and Themis,” Delilah listed the names of the other titans Lehela had chosen to help them.
“Ah, my sisters. How fitting that we should be joined by such women of strength.”
“Girl power!” Iris cheered and Tethys laughed.
“That I like!” Tethys reached out to touch Iris’ face and for a quick moment she frowned before pulling her hand back.
The three women exchanged a questioning look, but no one spoke on it.
“The map marks their location, though we do not know which one they are. It was a lucky guess that you would be here in the middle of the ocean.” Iris again presented the map for them to examine again. Uncomfortable about the response from her touch, she handed it off to Delilah who then showed Tethys.
“What’s here?” Tethys pointed to the map. “What’s the climate like?”
“That’s Africa. Hot, lots of wildlife,” Asa shrugged. “Is that meaningful?”
“Could there be lions there?” Tethys answered.
“Yes, actually, it's kind of what they’re known for.”
“Well, it has been quite some time since I saw my sister Rhea, she always had a thing for Lions. Perhaps we start there?” she looked at Delilah. “Looks like you’re going to meet your grandmother!”
Being held inside a pillar for centuries really gave Tethys a huge appetite. More fruits were brought to them by Delilah's helpers and the titan gorged herself. The other fed as well and packed as much as they could carry for the next leg of their journey.
"So, how are we getting to Africa?" Iris peered out into the water searching for Marse who hadn't reappeared. "I gotta say, after that last trip, I'm not eager to get back in there." Iris looked nervously at the others. "Giant sea monster trying to pull me to the ocean floor, while I'm trapped inside a dragon's flesh is, not what I call a good time."
"What are you talking about?" Tethys asked. "Sea monsters?"
"On our way here, we ran into a bit of trouble. There are new dangers out in the sea." Asa said, "Massive, ugly things that I've never witnessed before. I'm sure the addition of all the pollution from the humans that has found its way into the seas has only aided in the evolution of their kind."
"And one of these things, it attacked you?" Tethys looked unpleased.
"Yes," Iris visibly shuttered.
"Well, nothing like that will be happening this time. Not unless said monster is looking to lose its life." The woman walked to the water and knelt to put her hands into the waves. "Typically I command fresh waters, but with so many of my kind now gone, the sea is mine to command. If any being that dwells within its waters decide to defy me, they will face my wrath!" The waters stirred around her and then shot out like liquid bolts delivering her creed. “Now, come, join me.”
The women moved into the water until they were waist deep. At Tethys’s command the gentle waves moved into focused funnels which spiraled around each one of them creating individual pools of warm water. Iris gasped as she realized the liquid didn't soak into her clothing, she felt dry to the touch as a thin layer of air moved between her and the water she floated in. Each in their own cocoon of sorts, Tethys told the water to carry them forward. And as the night took hold of the sky yet again, the women set off on the path to find Rhea.
It was a terrifying idea, swimming through the dark waters with unknown creatures lurking beneath the surface. Nothing approached them. From time to time they would catch sight of fins, tentacles, and sometimes troubling sets of eyes, popping out of the water in the distance. The owners of the appendages never got close enough to be identified. It was as if the ocean life had come for one reason only, not to attack, but to get a glimpse of the titan who now ruled them.
Though they passed human life aboard boats, they were not seen because with them traveled a thick fog that lifted from the water and masked the passengers it carried. Tethys was just like Asa, the joy she took in connecting with the water was contagious. Before long, the women were laughing and talking as if they were on a simple train traveling across the states.
While Tethys asked Asa questions about her life to try to get to know more about the daughter she'd given up, Delilah chose to occupy her mind with Iris.
“Are you okay?" Delilah tightened her grip around that hand that clung to her own. Iris hadn’t let go since they left the island. Despite the faith that Tethys had in her connection with the water and everything that dwelled within, Iris knew if the ocean lost its grip, Delilah never would.
“Yes, a little exhausted, but I’m okay.” Iris answered as she scanned the open water for signs of menacing life. “This hasn't exactly been a normal sleep pattern for me. How are you doing with all of this? It’s a lot I know.”
“It is a lot, but I’m okay.” Delilah smiled reassuringly. “Tired, but I will survive.”
"You should have slept back on the island." Iris frowned at her. "You need to rest just as much as I do."
"It’s not that sort of exhaustion," Delilah rubbed her thumb along the back side of Iris hand as she gathered her thoughts. "Physically I feel fine, but mentally my head is just spinning, I feel clouded, unsure of my judgement."
“You don’t have to lie to me, you know. We're connected, Dee. I already know how you really feel, and I can tell that even now you are trying to hold something back from me. Those emotions you're trying to hide, they are valid, every last one of them, and you need to accept them.” Iris kept her voice low enough so the others couldn’t hear her. “Hell, I would be just as nervous, confused, and pissed off as you are. You’re meeting a part of your family, your grandmother. For so long you thought you were alone in this world and now that isn't the case. So much was taken from you, so much time, so much life. You have every right to be pissed off about it!”
"I suppose you're right."
“Look over there, that i
s your aunt and well, your cousin!” Iris squeezed her hand. “You have family here Dee, in those people and in me. Even while you’re on this quest for revenge, a typically dark thing, it is okay to feel happy for that. You aren’t alone anymore. No one wants to be alone.”
“It's more than that.” Delilah shook her head as she tried to properly form her thoughts. “I've never really felt alone, I had an entire community that cared for me. And here, as you said, I have so much more than I expected."
"So, what is it then?"
"I came here with every intention of setting this world on fire. I wanted to make everyone here suffer, not just Athena, not just the ones who hurt me and murdered my mother. I wanted this world to fall into the darkness and I wanted to watch as it was swallowed in madness and dance as it burned by my hands. The anger inside of me, it blinded my vision. But now, I find myself conflicted, yes because of everything you mention, but really because of you." She glanced at the two women having an awkward conversation not far from them. "These people may be some relation to me, but you I feel bonded with. With you I feel something that gives me a connection to this world. This moment, this piece of time has changed everything. It rivals centuries of planning my revenge. I'm conflicted because as much as I dream of the pleasure of its devastation I know that if I destroy this world the way that I have dreamed of, I will hurt you. I could never do that."
“I see land!” Asa called out, interrupting the tension of the moment that was building between them. With a deep shudder, Iris turned her eyes from the woman who'd just caused every atom in her body to freeze.
Taking in the view of the land they approached transformed the tingles of anticipation to the goose bumps of anxiety. So much had happened in the passing moments, so much that was said and yet not, and instead of addressing that, Delilah and Iris prepared themselves for what was to come.
The levels of excitement, fear, and eagerness, were only made more intense by the pulse of magic that radiated against their bodies. From the moment the ocean released them from their personal pools and their feet touched solid ground, they could feel it. The titan they sought was close.
"Damn, even I feel that!" Iris gasped as the energy pressed against her chest in a continuous force.
"Rhea is here, and she is strong. I wonder who feeds her." Tethys scoped the shore for evidence as if Rhea would be hanging out with her apparent following.
"Feeds her?" Asa asked.
"Yes, it would seem there is someone here who praises her name. It gives strength quite like with the gods, except we do not fall to our knees without it." Tethys laughed.
"Someone here is praying to the titan, Rhea." Asa frowned. "Who prays to a titan?"
"The human sort have always had strange ways of celebrating idols. They give thanks to whatever gives them strength or courage. Perhaps someone found clarity of life or battled through a difficult moment after finding a relic of my sister's. That would be all it took to get the ball rolling. That’s how faith and religion are born. I would say my sister has herself a true following here." Tethys swayed as she continued to search for a sign. "We're close, I can feel it. But how do we find her?"
"Lehela's note says the location is marked just like yours was except with a fish," Iris shrugged as she reviewed the notes.
"Fish? Why fish?" Tethys shrugged.
"I don't know but hopefully it means it’s close to the ocean and there's some fresh grub available!"
"I have an idea," Delilah held her hand out and the staff she'd been hiding reappeared. The tip of it glowed and vibrated with energy. "I think this will lead us to her, like it did when it showed me the way to Iris."
"Good, because I really wasn't looking forward to another five hour scavenger hunt!" Asa exclaimed as they all started walking in the direction the staff indicated.
Delilah took the lead on their walk, letting the magic pull the staff and the staff pull her. They remained close to the shoreline and as they walked Tethys found herself lost in observation of the area around her.
"This is the world now, so crowded, so polluted with sound and smell. This is what humans have done to this earth, this precious gift of life." She spoke with disappointment.
"Perhaps a change will come. I can feel it in the air," Delilah looked around. "This world will not survive as it is for much longer. Magic is no longer hidden from the public; it is in the forefront and the humans are terrified. From my knowledge of their habits, when their frightened, often they try to fight. Fighting will only end in their loss."
"Unfortunately, I would have to agree with you. There has been a lot of talk about the changes that are already happening. A lot of people are already going underground to try to avoid the backlash." Iris’ voice held her own fear, worry for her people. “Those who were forced to come here from Oikos are worried. This is already a new world and they’re struggling to find their place in it at a time when it's all teetering on a delicate tightrope.”
“Do you think there is a way to avoid it?” Asa placed her hand on Iris’ shoulder as they walked. “Maybe it doesn’t have to be that way. We can all find a common ground and coexist.”
“If I’m being honest, no, I don’t think so. Humans have an itchy trigger finger. They are terrified of what was revealed to them and even more afraid of what wasn’t. It leaves room for their imaginations to run wild and for those who thrive off war to twist the masses into fear driven action. Already some of the top politicians are working to spread hate. Instead of encouraging their constituents to seek understanding and knowledge, they promote guns and tell them to prepare for what is to come. Rumors say that there are military departments all over the world which are getting ready to launch exploratory missions. If they do that, depending on what they find, it will definitely mean war.”
“That doesn’t sound good, for either side. Hell, there are a lot of beings out there that would push for war on our side. They’re tired of hiding and refuse to go back to life as it was before the incident.” Asa dropped her hand from Iris’ shoulder, suddenly feeling regret for having caused everything that was happening. Before she could apologize for her involvement, Iris spotted a red building off in the distance.
“Look, there, is that a restaurant?” She rubbed her stomach. “Please tell me that it's a restaurant and that they’re open for business!”
“Yes from the smell I would say you’re right, and the sign says Bisque.” Delilah confirmed her bonded friend’s theory and smiled as Iris did a quick little happy bounce. The staff had ceased all vibrations and no longer pulled her to move forward. Once she lowered it, it vanished again.
“Bisque, as in the fish soup?” The woman was nearly salivating. “I love bisque! I bet they have it just waiting on hand for consumption.”
“Yes, and food orders aside,” Asa laughed at Iris’ display, “I would guess that we’re in the right place.”
Asa and Iris took the lead as the hungry woman continued to ramble on about food options. “I’m so hungry, you think they have anything good? I wonder how long the wait will be!”
“I have to admit that I’m looking forward to some hot food as well,” Asa laughed. “I’m so glad I’m not the only one who’s over the fruit and water diet! Don’t get me wrong, I love the healthy foods just as much as the next guy, but I need meat. Or should I say, the sphinx does. What I could really go for right now, is a nice juicy vampire, or a witch. I haven’t had one of those in a while.”
“Wait,” Iris stopped walking and turned on the shapeshifting siren, “What do you mean you could go for a juicy vampire?”
“What are we looking for here?” Delilah asked, interrupting their conversation and frowned at the incredulous look that Iris had given her. She hadn’t heard Asa’s declaration, so she didn't understand the look on Iris’ face or her reasoning for backing slowly away from Asa.
“I, um” Iris stumbled. “I’m not sure. Tethys said that Rhea likes lions right? Maybe something with a lion on it?”
“
Sounds good, let’s scout.” Asa clapped her hands loudly and started off towards the building ignoring the way Iris suddenly avoided contact with her. “Then maybe grab some of whatever it is that smells so damn delicious in there!”
“Yeah, sure,” Iris gave her a side eye wondering if it was the aroma of the food that tempted her or the workers and customers inside the building. She shuddered at the thought before she followed behind them.
“My sister is here,” Tethys hadn’t added much to the conversation, She stood there basking in the pull of the magic and the urgency of life around them. “I can feel her, she still sleeps, waiting to be released, but she is strong.”
“Good, so we’re definitely in the right place. Do you think you can pinpoint exactly where she is?” Delilah asked as she took in their new surroundings. The sounds of nearby life intrigued her. She wanted to see how different things were so far away from where she first entered the realm. Tourism would have to wait for another time.
“No, but she is here. My best assessment is that she is somewhere inside the building.” She lifted her finger to the restaurant. “That is where the magic is strongest. That is the core of the pull.”
“Great!” Asa cheered and headed towards the building painted in red.
Inside, they stood just beyond the entrance and every pair of eyes inside turned on them. The whispers about the newcomers started as soon as the door shut behind them. The gold painted lions head that hung in the center of the establishment from a beam was further proof that they had found the right location.
“Her,” Tethys pointed to the woman with the manager tag on her shirt. “It's her, she is connected to Rhea.”
“How can you tell?” Delilah asked.
“There is an altar, she is the one who tends to it, I can feel the energy from her prayers coming off her, in waves of hope. She thinks that my sister will help her through something dark in her life.” Tethys watched the woman carefully. "There is something heavy weighing on her shoulders, Rhea is the only thing that keeps this woman sane."