Designed by Death

by Melody Rose

  More than one is needed

  This you will learn

  Or else all is lost

  And fate be overturned

  Oh la de dah de dah de dah, la de dah de dah

  The vision rippled once more and returned to its original state when I first arrived. I tapped my fingers against my lips and thought about the words.

  “Well, they seem a little more straight forward this time around,” I mused.

  “I hoped they made sense to you because I don’t understand it,” Temperance said with a shrug. “But then again, it’s not for me. It’s for you.”

  “Yeah, unless my mom has another daughter I don’t know about, I think that’s a safe bet,” I said, unable to keep the hesitation out of my voice.

  “You think you got it, or do you need to watch the memory again?” Temperance offered.

  “I think I’m good,” I replied honestly. “I have a knack for remembering my mom’s prophecies. Especially when I’m directly in the situation they referenced.”

  “They tend to work that way,” Temperance said.

  “Yeah,” I resigned with a sigh. “Hey, thanks for taking the risk and coming out here to find me.”

  “Yeah, well, it seemed really important,” Temperance reasoned, trying to brush off her actions. “So enjoy Italy, I guess.”

  “I’ll do my best,” I answered with a half-smile. “If I, you know, make the right decisions and don’t let ‘fate be overturned’ or whatever.”

  “Look,” Temperance said as she reached out and put a hand on my shoulder. Even in the dreamlike state, I could still feel the weight of her reassurance. “Cheyenne, prophecies aren’t all that common.”

  “Are you sure you met my mother?” I joked, but Temperance continued on.

  “They occur for a reason, when the gods think we need a little help,” Temperance informed me. “As much as you probably don’t want to hear it, take your mom’s advice, and you’re going to be fine.”

  I smiled at the Fotia soldier. “Thanks, Temperance.”

  “You better bring some badass weapons back with you,” she said as she pulled away from me. “Ready to get some real sleep?”

  Before I could give her an answer, Temperance clapped her hands together, and the world fell, once more, into darkness.

  15

  “Hey, Cheyenne,” a voice echoed from far away. “Cheyenne. Cheyenne!”

  Suddenly there was a stinging sensation that jolted me away. I sat up with a jerk, and then a new pain erupted from the top of my head. I laid back down on the thinly padded bunk and held a hand to my pounding forehead.

  It was then that I remembered I was on the Argo, in one of the small cabin bunks. However, I wasn’t alone. My half-brother stood in the narrow space between the bunk and the door with his glowing blue arms crossed, and a cheeky smile spread across his face.

  “Well, that was the most hilarious thing I’ve seen since I’ve been back,” he snickered.

  “I’m glad you find my pain amusing,” I groaned as I rubbed the welt forming right on my hairline. My hand traveled down to my cheek, and I hissed as the stinging returned. “Did you… did you slap me?”

  Erich answered me with a shrug. “You wouldn’t wake up. How much of that lotus juice did you take?”

  “Just what Kiley gave me,” I said, the last few words swallowed by a yawn.

  Erich clicked his tongue. “Well, awake or not, we’re here.”

  “Already?” I blinked up at him.

  “You’ve been asleep for hours,” Erich pointed out. “So yes, already. I came to find you because as much as I don’t want to, I thought it would be the responsible thing to get back in the locket while you meet your new mentor.”

  “Good plan,” I agreed. I swung my legs over the edge of the bunk, careful to duck my head out of the way. Once I got to my feet, I realized the boat was no longer moving, and the sloshing in my stomach had ceased. I sighed a relieved breath and reached for the necklace at my throat.

  “You promise to let me out the minute you can?” Erich said with a pointed finger.

  “I promise,” I told him. After opening the locket, I added, “Now hop on in.”

  The ghost huffed an exasperated breath but transformed into his mini flame form and zapped into the locket. I latched it closed with a satisfying click. I ran a hand through my red hair, trying to straighten out some of the tangles. I wished I had a mirror to check my pale complexion for red spots or blemishes. Even though I wasn’t a vain person, I wanted to make a good first impression. It didn’t escape me that the Cyclops were doing me a huge favor for accepting me into this study abroad program a couple of weeks into the semester. I needed to prove to them that I was worth their faith and trust.

  There was a bang at the door. “Cheyenne!” Kiley called out. “You should get above deck. Your ride’s here.”

  I sucked in a big breath, hoping to acquire some courage and calm as I did so. “Coming!” I shouted back to the captain.

  Without another second to lose, I ascended the stairs and out into the daylight.

  Which was hella bright. Going from the dark, enclosed quarters below deck to the shining outside did a number on my eyes. I shielded them with my hand as my pupils adjusted and took in my surroundings.

  We were docked out on a remote beach with golden sand stretching for miles on either side of the shoreline. Rolling hills with flourishes of green and brown rose up from sea level, intimidating and impressive in their sheer size. There were some square villas scattered about the hills, looking like mini castles overlooking their lands. The water we floated in was the brightest blue I’d ever seen. It didn’t seem real, how the sunlight glistened across the white sea foam, making it shine with a pearly glow. Sea salt filled my nostrils, clearing my sinuses instantly. A light breeze whipped my hair up around me, welcoming me to the shores of Sicily, Italy.

  Once my eyes got used to the heavy sunshine, I spotted Kiley chatting with another woman. Her skin had that sun-kissed glow, like a surfer who was out on the waves from sun up to sun down. She had long waves of dirty blonde hair that was pulled up into a messy bun atop her head. While she spoke with Kiley, one hand moved about enthusiastically in time with her words. The other held tight to a copper staff that came up to her chin. The top of it was formed into a strange symbol that took my brain a second to recognize. It was a half-circle with seven points coming out of the top of it, making the staff a deadly piercing weapon. The arrangement was reminiscent of the Hekotas symbol, which depicted the sun’s rays as arrows. Once I made that connection, I instantly knew who this woman was.

  “Phaethusa?” I asked, interrupting the two women and their conversation. Both of them paused and shared a quick glance of surprise. I ignored this and continued on with my introduction, sticking my hand out. “I’m Cheyenne, daughter of Hephaestus.”

  Phaethusa eyed my hand warily, but then she took it with a strong and callused grip. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Cheyenne. And a surprise. How did you recognize me?”

  “Your copper staff,” I said as I indicated the weapon. “It’s carved in the shape of Helios’s symbol of the Hekotas. He gave that to you when he instructed you and your sister, Lampetia, to guard his cows, which Odysseus and his men later slaughtered.”

  A grim expression crossed over the minor goddess’s face at the memory of the mortal’s trickery. I bit my lip and reconsidered the notion of bringing it up. It probably hadn’t been the smartest idea, but it was the story that Phaethusa was most well known for.

  “You have quite the knowledge of Greek mythology,” Phaethusa commented with a calm tone. “It’s impressive that you could pick me out, recount my history, not only that but also be able to tell me apart from my twin, who is certainly the more well-known of the two of us.”

  “Well, Helios gave you the staff,” I reasoned. “While the myths claimed that Lampetia was his favorite, he trusted you more. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have given you that weapon.”

  That
compliment earned me a smirk from the daughter of the sun god. At the sight of it, I instantly felt a warmness in my chest, a mark of her approval. She narrowed her eyes at me, the half-smile still present.

  “You can call me Phae,” the goddess told me. “That is what Arges calls me, so he will probably want you to do the same.”

  “Arges?” I said, repeating the name in awe. “You work for the Cyclops?”

  “For a while now,” Phae said, her smile widening. “It’s not as though I have any cattle to watch anymore.”

  There was an awkward pause. I wasn’t sure at first if she was joking, but Kiley picked up on it quicker than I did and burst into laughter, slapping the goddess on the upper arm as though they were old friends. Even Phae released a chuckle herself.

  “You’re allowed to laugh, Cheyenne,” Phae said with a raised eyebrow, almost as though she was expecting me to keel over in laughter.

  I gave her a slight chuckle. “Sorry, I’m just still a little groggy from the lotus juice,” I gave as an excuse.

  “I see,” Phae said as she switched the copper staff from one hand to the other. “Well, you will have quite the car drive for it to wear off. Come now, we should let Kiley get back to campus.”

  “It was good to see you again, Phae,” Kiley said with another squeeze to the goddess upper arm.

  Phae replied with a pat on Kiley’s hand. “Same here. Until next time.”

  “Indeed,” Kiley agreed. Then she offered me a salute. “Good luck, Cheyenne.”

  “Thanks for the ride, Kiley,” I said with a wave as Phae led me down the plank towards the dock. As I descended, I felt the locket bounce against my sternum, a subtle reminder that even though I was about to head into an unknown situation, leaving behind all of the familiar, I at least wasn’t alone.

  Phae led me to a parking lot where a black SUV with tinted windows waited for the pair of us. She climbed into the back, and I followed suit, even though it was on the other side. In the driver's seat, there was an official chauffeur, complete with a pressed suit and crisp cap.

  The situation felt very weird and official, definitely a level of class and sophistication I wasn’t used to or remotely prepared for. Luckily, Phae seemed perfectly comfortable, almost as if she was in her natural habitat.

  “Back to the villa, please, George,” Phae told the driver.

  “Certainly, ma’am,” George replied with a swift and curt nod.

  The car started with a low purr and glided along the road. I watched the Sicilian countryside blaze by as we drove along. The lush greens and brightly colored houses continued as we traveled. There were people on bicycles riding alongside the road, while I noticed small fishing boats out on the ocean which stayed in our view nearly the whole time.

  “It’s amazing,” I breathed, not even realizing that I spoke aloud.

  “It’s a beautiful country,” Phae agreed. “Even with all of the modern updates, it is one of those places that has never lost its charm.”

  “Have you been here all that time?” I asked, curious about her origins.

  “Is that just a secret way to ask me my age?” Phae said with a raised eyebrow.

  “Oh no,” I said hurriedly. “I was just curious. I mean, you seem to love the area, and I was just making small talk, but we don’t have to. Silence is perfectly fine with me too. Unless you want to--”

  Phae cut me off with a sprinkle of amused laughter. “There is no need to be nervous, you know.”

  “That just makes me more nervous,” I grumbled, slouching in my seat a little more.

  “Arges doesn’t just take on any apprentice,” Phae assured me. “He was impressed by you, that is not a small compliment.”

  “You keep mentioning Arges,” I said, noticing her specific word choice. “But what about Brontes and Steropes? Will I not be working with them too?”

  The goddess pursed her lips together and looked straight ahead for a moment. I instantly recognized that I asked another sensitive question.

  “It is probably best that you ask this now and not when we get to the villa,” Phae said, her voice taking on an official tone. She continued to avoid my eye as she spoke. “The three brothers no longer work together, and it would be to your benefit to not mention Brontes and Steropes to Arges when you are working with him.”

  “Can I ask why, or would that not be to my benefit, either?” I chanced the question, sensing that I was toeing the line to a dangerous degree.

  “It would be quite detrimental to you if you asked that question, yes,” Phae informed me.

  I licked my lips and put my chin in my hand, my eyes drifting back to the window. I couldn’t help the disappointment welling up in my chest. I wanted to work with the three Cyclops responsible for making the trident, the lightning bolt, and the helm of invisibility. Before my father was born, they were the best blacksmiths on the face of the planet. They helped the Gods win the war against the Titans, turning the war in favor of our godly parents. Knowledge from the three of them was the closest I could get to learning from my dad directly since they worked with him once he had been made the god of the blacksmiths. The fact that I would only be learning from one-third of that trio sucked.

  I turned my thinking around as I watched the waves, the villas, and the greenery go by. I was in Italy, for Pete’s sake! For the next several weeks, I would be in one of the most beautiful places in the world, studying only blacksmithing with one of the top blacksmiths in the universe. Even though it was only one of them, it was also the one I needed, since Arges had been responsible for making the helm of invisibility, which was ironic considering his name meant “bright” in Greek. But Brontes, translated to thunder, made the trident and Steropes, lightning, made the lightning bolt. I was there to learn about armor and defense, so learning from the other two who made weapons like me was probably not what I needed. So I took a deep breath in, relishing the salty scents from even inside the car and tried to be grateful for this opportunity.

  It all came back to Ruby and her mysterious death. I needed to focus on the task at hand so I could get back to Hades by December 1st with the helm. But just because that was the end goal didn’t mean I shouldn’t enjoy my time in a foreign country either.

  Phae, George, and I rode in silence for the remainder of the trip. I had to bite my tongue back a couple of times to keep from asking stupid questions. Or at least what Phae would probably consider stupid questions. I lost myself in the beauty of the countryside and was even more amazed when the ocean disappeared from view, and we delved deeper into the outskirts of the city. There were more trees acting like fences from the acres of property that lived beyond. Between the close trunks, I did manage to glimpse a couple of mansion-like houses with fountains and manicured trees.

  I didn’t know what I thought the Cyclops residence would be like, but I certainly didn’t picture an Italian villa. We passed through an intricate iron gate with high brick walls surrounding it. The car traveled onward, onto the property, and my mouth dropped instantly.

  Before us was a marble mansion. It had the quintessential Italian architecture with its round towers but low, sharp corners. It was a contrast between the new and the old. The windows had bright blue shutters that matched the color of the ocean which was the mansion’s backyard. A swimming pool was positioned off to the side of the property that looked as though the water fell off the side of the cliff. The house looked sturdy despite its precarious position. We could hear the roar of the waves the minute we left the car, and the ocean breeze was back to messing up my hair.

  “This is where Arges lives?” I said breathlessly.

  “It’s been remodeled over the centuries, but yes, this is his home,” Phae informed me with the tone of a tour guide. “I’m sure you would like to see inside. However, Arges is anxious to meet you and instructed me to take you down to his workshop the minute you arrived.”

  My heart leaped at the thought of seeing the workshop. “That’s fine by me,” I told the goddess. “Can I
bring my tools?”

  “Of course,” she said as she gestured with her hand. “They are in the back of the car.”

  I retrieved my supplies from the trunk of the SUV, George making sure to open and close the door for me because he wanted to be useful, and I wouldn't let him carry my supplies. It was nice to hear the familiar rattle of the various hammers, chisels, and clamps in the bag. It was a sound that reminded me of what I was here to do.

  I was about to forge.

  Once I had my stuff, Phae beckoned me around the left side of the house, on the opposite side of the pool. There was a set of steep stone stairs I hadn’t noticed before that descended the cliffside.

  Unfortunately, I caught a glimpse of how high up we were, and I immediately froze. Phae walked down several stairs before she realized I wasn’t following her. When she looked up at me, I stood with both hands desperately clutching the straps of my black bag, looking wildly up at the sky.

  “What are you doing?” Phae asked blankly.

  “Just give me a minute,” I said with an audible swallow. I squinted my eyes shut for a moment and thought about all the times before now that I’d conquered my fear of heights. I tried to recapture that excitement I’d felt moments before and squash the sudden panic that seized my muscles.

  Phae must have read the fear all over my face because I could hear her exasperated sigh even over the roar of the waves. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of heights?”

  “I’m a daughter of Hephaestus,” I complained. “I like my two feet on the ground. Not in the air or underwater.”

  Phae rolled her eyes. “Well, the workshop is down here, and if you have any hope of working in it, you need to get over this fear and quickly.”

  I took a couple of deep breaths in and out, coughing once from the salty air. Then I stared intently at the ground, watching as I moved one foot at a time, down one step at a time. I didn’t dare take my eyes off my own feet, I refused to look out onto the beautiful ocean, especially not if it was going to make me freeze again.