House of Thebes: The Beginning

by Courtney Cole

  that he has taken another heir to his throne. I am free to continue about my own destiny.”

  I froze. We would not need to live in the mortal world?

  Zeus smiled. “Ah, my son. You will soon discover that there is no such thing as ‘your own destiny.’ Our destinies are often intertwined with and determined by others. In life, we make choices and decisions based on the actions of others, therefore re-carving our destinies time and time again. You will have a long, twisted path in life, Cadmus. But your life will be worth it.”

  I stared at my grandfather in puzzlement. A long, twisted path?

  Zeus ignored my gaze, choosing instead to continue speaking to Cadmus.

  “Because of your bravery in saving Ortrera and Harmonia and because you have served your sentence with honor, I offer you this gift. During your travels to find Europa, you built a small city called Cadmea. It has grown in your absence and is a bustling and successful metropolis now, frequently referred to as Thebes. I make you this offer: You can, if you choose, live in Thebes as ruler. You will be king of Thebes, and Harmonia will be your queen.”

  Cadmus was silent, considering the offer. I chose this moment to interject.

  “Grandfather, will Cadmus remain mortal? I ask, because based on his bravery alone, I think that it would be reasonable to suggest that he be granted immortality. I do not wish to watch my husband grow old and die in front of me.”

  Zeus studied me for a moment. His silver eyes reflective.

  “What you say is true, granddaughter. And I have taken it into advisement. However, if you choose to live in the mortal world, you must do so as mortals. But I offer you this option: You may live as mortals until such time that you would like to return to the Spiritlands and make this your home. At that time, you will regain your immortality and I will grant immortality to Cadmus, as well.

  “In doing it in such a way, you would gain the best of both worlds. You will experience mortal life while at the same time ensuring that you will also live forever at any time that you choose. The one caveat is that you must not die while in the mortal world. If you do, your fate will pass from my hands to my brother, Hades, since he is the god of the dead. And he is well-known for wanting to keep souls in his kingdom, the Underworld. It is not likely that he would allow you to leave. So, in taking this deal, you would be taking a risk. But Harmonia, bear in mind that sometimes in life, the greatest things are attained by risk-taking.”

  I swallowed. Then swallowed again. Turning to me, Cadmus took my hands.

  “What do you think, Harmonia? I will not force you to live in the mortal world if you do not wish to do so. I think we would have magnificent adventures, though. With you by my side, there is nothing that we cannot do. I fully believe that. And then after we are tired and have accomplished much, we can return here to your home and live here together, forever. What do you think?”

  Every eye in the room was upon me as I pondered the choice. Zeus was correct. It was a risk. If I died while in the mortal world, I would instantly be removed to the Underworld where I would live under Hades’ rule. His warning from months ago returned to me and I almost shuddered. Had he been trying to tell me something? Did he foresee that my mortal life would end badly?

  I stared into Cadmus’ eyes, and found them to be warm and true. I knew, in that one instant, that I would go anywhere he wanted me to go. I would take any risk that needed to be taken, as long as I was by his side. I pushed Hades’ warning from my thoughts and nodded.

  “I will go with you.” Turning to my grandfather, I added, “Someday we will return to Olympus and I will resume my place as goddess of peace and harmony. Until that time, I will rule Thebes at the side of my husband.”

  The entire room erupted in applause.

  Cadmus pulled me to him gently and any lingering doubts that I had vanished with his kiss.

  Chapter Ten

  My home in the mortal world, in the city called Thebes, was almost as beautiful as the home I had just left in the Spiritlands.

  Thebes, just as my grandfather had described it, was busy and successful. Our palace was situated in the center, so that we could see every angle of the city. Our palace was made from the finest of stones, of marbles, granites, limestones and onyx, not that it really mattered to me. Finery was fine, but it wasn’t necessary. I found that all I really needed was Cadmus. And very soon, he would officially be mine.

  I decided within a few hours of arriving in my new home that the mortal world wasn’t nearly as dismal and horrible as so many of my friends and acquaintances had always made it sound. Not even close. It was actually lovely here. The weather was tropical and warm, the sun bright and cheerful. I most certainly could not complain about the beauty.

  The people of Thebes had welcomed me with open arms, as well. They were a colorful and loud people and they already respected me for giving up a life on Olympus to be with their King. Although, in all honesty, it wasn’t nearly the hardship that they imagined.

  We had invited the entire city to our wedding this evening, as well as the Olympians. It was to be a grand affair, much grander than I needed, but exactly as grand as my mother thought it should be. Aphrodite simply could not resist putting together a party of epic proportions.

  “Harmonia,” she called, entering the sitting room portion of my suite.

  She padded lightly across the woven rugs and cool marble floors before she stood in front of me. She was radiant today, in a mint gauze gown and silver jewelry that matched her eyes. She held out her hands.

  “Are you ready to see your gown?” she asked excitedly. “It is going to look beautiful on you. We hired the services of the best seamstresses in the city, so your gown is actually made by local mortals! I thought that would be a nice gesture.”

  Aphrodite chattered excitedly as she led me to where my wedding dress was hanging. Strangely enough, I didn’t care what it looked like. I simply wanted this day to be over so that I could begin my life with Cadmus. I felt as though I was in limbo right now, simply waiting for my life to start. But very soon, we would be together. We would be married and it would be official.

  He would be mine.

  Because of that thought, I was able to patiently smile at my mother.

  “Alright. Show me.”

  She pulled away the sheets and my dress hung before me. She was right, as she almost always was in these matters. The gown was beautiful. It was strapless and the bodice was made from lace. The gauzy skirts were made from the finest of silk with pearls embedded in the hem and the voluminous fabric seemed to float to the floor. It was simple and elegant, exactly my taste. I turned to my mother.

  “Thank you for keeping it simple. I love it. It’s perfect.”

  “I know,” she agreed happily.

  My mother continued chattering as she called in my new maids and everyone began the process of making me beautiful for Cadmus.

  My long dark hair was twisted into an elaborate chignon, my eyes were made up intricately with green cosmetics, my lips were painted with red. My mother and my servants had just buttoned up the hundred pearl fasteners that lined my back when there was a knock on the doors to my suite.

  A maid quickly appeared to me with Hephaestus, my step-father, limping at her heels. He had limped for as long as I had known him, the result of a birth injury.

  The girl bowed low. “Your step-father, your highness.”

  “Thank you,” I told her, then looked in confusion to Hephaestus.

  He and I didn’t interact very much, since he obviously detested my father. I was a product of Aphrodite’s dalliances with Ares. I couldn’t quite blame Hephaestus for not wanting me in his sight. I was a visible reminder of my mother’s constant betrayal.

  “Hephaestus,” I greeted him, kissing both of his cheeks. Hephaestus was a giant of a god, so I had to stand on tiptoes. “I’m so happy that you came.”

  “I wouldn’t dishonor Aphrodite by missing her daughter’s wedding,” he told me gruffly. “Every other
Olympian is in attendance. I should be here as well.”

  “Well, thank you, all the same,” I told him awkwardly. Hephaestus wasn’t known for his social graces.

  He thrust a large velvet box into my hands.

  “Your wedding gift. I made it myself. I thought you might like to wear it to the ceremony, as a reminder of home.”

  Surprise rushed through me, then warmth. Perhaps he didn’t hate me, after all. It was an interesting turn-of-events, but my very nature craved peace. I would accept any olive branch that he cared to offer me.

  I snapped the velvet lid open and gasped. Nestled among silk, a perfect red bloodstone glistened from the white folds of fabric. It was at least three inches long and hung on a glittering, thick golden chain. It was quite a stunning olive branch.

  “It’s beautiful,” I breathed. “It must be very rare. I’ve seen many green bloodstones, but rarely a red one.”

  “It is most assuredly one of a kind,” he replied. “I thought it would look lovely on you.” He stepped around Aphrodite, ignoring her astonished expression, and lifted the heavy necklace from the box. Unclasping it, he fastened it around my neck.

  It came to a rest against my chest and I felt a shiver of cold run down my spine from the cool stone. It was large, the side of half my fist, a crimson blood-red with dark black veins running through it. I ran my fingers along its face, enjoying the cool smoothness of the stone.

  “Thank you, Hephaestus,” I gushed to my step-father. “This will be my favorite gift today, I am sure of it. It is breath-taking. And so very thoughtful of you.”

  He flushed, a rare show of emotion for him and then nodded his large head.

  “I am glad you like it. As I was making it, I fancied that it might bring you fortune throughout the years. As my wife’s beautiful daughter, you deserve any fortune that it might deem fit to bring you. Congratulations on your wedding, step-daughter.”

  He nodded once more and then took his leave, limping slowly across my sitting room to exit the double doors. I turned to my mother.

  “How kind of him,” I said in wonder. “I never would have thought that he would even bother attending my wedding, much less bring such a lovely gift.”

  “Yes, it is strange,” my mother agreed, her eyes narrowed as she stared after him. “Very strange. But, let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth, right? The necklace is beautiful and he is right. You look lovely in it.”

  I fingered the cool stone again. It was such a heavy presence in my fingers and resting against my chest. It was a piece with substance. It felt just right against my skin.

  “I think I’ll make it my signature piece,” I mused to my mother as I studied myself in the mirror. “It definitely makes a statement.”

  She murmured her agreement as she messed with my skirts. She straightened and gazed at me in the mirror.

  “You’re right. It looks perfect on you. You should wear it often.” She turned and faced me, fiddling with the bloodstone and then with my hair. “Oh, I almost forgot,” she said, slipping her amethyst ring off of her finger. “I want you to wear this today, as well. You know that I wear it all of the time. I want you to wear it as you take your vows. It will bring you luck.”

  I slid it onto my index finger. “I feel very lucky and blessed already. Between my new necklace and your amethyst, I’ll have all the fortune I’ll need.”

  Aphrodite smiled and kissed my cheek. “You deserve it, my love,” she whispered, wiping a tear from her eye. “You are the sweetest daughter any mother could have. I’m so blessed to have you. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you.” She sniffed and then sniffed again.

  “Mother,” I smiled patiently, accustomed to her rapid mood swings. “I’m not abandoning you forever. I’m not dying, either. I’m getting married. I’ll still talk to you all of the time. I’m sure you’ll visit often.”

  “Of course I will,” she promised. She sighed. “It’s probably almost time.” Leaving my side, she peeked out my bedroom windows. “Yes, everyone is gathered. It’s time, Harmonia.”

  My heart beat picked up and I was petrified and excited at the same time. In a few minutes, I would be bound to the man I loved for all of eternity. It was a daunting and delicious thought.

  My mother accompanied me down the marble stairs, holding my elbow so I wouldn’t trip in my skirts. Being cast mortal had made me a little clumsier than I once was. It had also taken away my superhuman speed and the ability to read minds, in addition to every other magical ability that I once possessed.

  “Don’t worry, my sweet,” my mother whispered. “You’ll get it all back someday. And no matter how old you are when you decide to come home, Zeus will restore you to the prime of your youth, just as you are today. You will be forever beautiful.”

  “Like you,” I answered in a whisper. My mother hadn’t aged a day in thousands of years.

  “Like me,” she nodded.

  We descended into the courtyards which were fragrant and beautiful. They were also filled with as many people as could fit into the outdoor space. All of the townspeople, the Olympians, the minor gods and goddesses of the Spiritlands and even the Muses were in attendance. Hades was seated at the back and he turned to catch my gaze. His was impassive and guarded. He had already warned me. He wasn’t going to waste his time doing it again. I shuddered slightly and then put him out of my mind, positioning myself at the top of the stairs.

  My mother smiled. “Ready?”

  I nodded.

  As soon as we took our first step down the limestone terrace steps, Apollo began playing his lyre in the sweetest of songs. He was a gifted magician. As his musical notes filled the gentle breeze, the Muses began signing and my jaw snapped shut in surprise.

  They rarely sang for mortals. For them to perform here, at my wedding, was surely a testament to the honor Zeus was bestowing upon Cadmus. My grandfather must truly believe Cadmus to be worthy of respect. It warmed my heart to know that the god of gods shared my views on the man that I loved.

  And all of a sudden, there he was. Cadmus stood with Zeus and my father at the edge of the terrace, amid flowers and greenery and the bluest of skies. He was beautiful, so vibrant and strong, such a muscular warrior. Everything else faded away and before I knew it, I was standing in front of him.

  His eyes were frozen on mine. His lips moved.

  “You are beautiful,” he murmured to me, raising my hand to press his lips to it.

  We turned to Zeus, who said a few words to all of the attendees. The townspeople were in awe of this greatest of Olympians and a hush fell over the crowd when he spoke.

  “We have traveled here today to witness my beloved granddaughter, Harmonia, joined in marriage to the brave Cadmus, previous slave to Ares, prince of Phoenicia and now King of Thebes. As Cadmus promised me and Harmonia’s father, they will become a team, working to create a wonderful life. They have chosen to remain here, in Thebes, and so here today, I offer them to you, good citizens of Thebes. They will rule this land and lead you to even greater prosperity. And when they have done all that they can do here for you, they will return to me and live for eternity.”

  Zeus turned to me, his silver eyes glinting and serious.

  “Harmonia, my sweet granddaughter. Do you wish to become the wife of Cadmus, King of Thebes?”

  I nodded. “I do.”

  “Cadmus, King of Thebes, do you wish to become the husband of my granddaughter, Harmonia?”

  He nodded. “I do.”

  “Then I now decree that you are husband and wife. I pray that your union is prosperous and that you have many sons and beautiful daughters . I pray that the Fates will bless you and the Muses will sing to you every night in your dreams.”

  Cadmus turned to me, cradling my face ever-so-gently in his hands before lowering his lips to mine in the softest of kisses.

  The crowd cheered and clapped and I could hear glasses breaking in the excitement. I didn’t care. All I cared about was feeling my husband’s lips u
pon mine, the heat from his stare and the silk of his hands across my back. Suddenly, I couldn’t wait until we were alone. A fire had begun in my belly and I knew it would be a slow burn until bedtime.

  We turned and faced our guests, then took our first steps as man and wife.

  * * *

  The stone steps leading up to our bedchambers were longer tonight than they were this morning. Cadmus held my hand and led me along the way and my only conscious thought was to wish we were already there.

  It had been a long evening. We had mingled with everyone at the party. I had been hugged, kissed, fawned over and cried upon. Cadmus had been passed around and ogled by every female in attendance. We were both bone-weary.

  But definitely not too weary.

  Cadmus opened the doors to our suite and I entered, turning to kiss him as soon as our bedroom doors were closed and we were alone.

  His kiss was feverish now, not as gentle as it was earlier. But I understood. The fire that had been building in my belly was now consuming my entire body, every nerve ending aflame.

  “Let’s go to bed, wife,” Cadmus murmured against my mouth.

  I nodded, unable to speak. Instead, I folded into his warmth, his strength. I found that my legs no longer wanted to support me, so I clutched Cadmus. He scooped me into his arms and carried me easily to the bed, lowering me to the silken bedclothes.

  “You are so beautiful,” he whispered. “I’m a lucky man.”

  With the candlelight flickering behind him, I could honestly say that I was the lucky one. The world had never seen a more beautiful mortal than Cadmus. Not even Achilles was as handsome.

  Cadmus pulled me to my feet and unbuttoned my gown for me, allowing it to fall in a puddle around my ankles. I stepped out of it and turned