Kris's Story

by Trudie Collins

I signalled to the hydra and he lowered one of his necks so it was almost touching the ground. I then swung my leg over so I was straddling it just behind the head. As soon as I told him I was settled he raised up again, keeping the top part of his neck flat so I did not slip down. I have ridden hydra many times and it is a fun experience. Rob and Rachel were in for a real treat.

  “That doesn’t look so bad,” she said uncertainly. Rob looked at her as though she had gone mad. “Hey, it was your decision to ride.”

  “Is it too late to change my mind?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she replied. “Now stop acting like a girl and mount up.”

  The hydra positioned his other two heads close to the ground and they both climbed on board. Rachel actually whooped with delight when she was hoisted into the air, earning her a look of disgust from Rob. I had to laugh.

  “Ready?” I asked when the three heads were positioned close enough that we could talk to each other without shouting. Rachel nodded. Rob said no. I ignored him and instructed the hydra to move forward.

  I forgot to mention how fast a hydra can run and Rob clung on as though his life depended on it. The ride was smooth and exhilarating as I held my arms out wide, enjoying the feel of the wind rushing through my fingers.

  I kept glancing toward Rachel, who was watching me closely. It did not take her long to risk letting go. One arm at a time, she cautiously released her hold on the hydra’s neck.

  Once I was sure that she was confident that she would not fall off I leaned forward and whispered into the hydra’s ear. He didn’t reply to my request, but a moment later the neck that Rachel was on started to move up and down, slowly at first but getting faster and faster. Before long she was whooping with joy.

  All too soon our ride was over and the hydra came to a stop. The sun would soon be setting and it would not be safe to continue at any speed for much longer. The three necks were lowered to the ground and we dismounted, Rachel with disappointment, Rob with relief.

  Rachel and I both thanked our mount for the wonderful ride while Rob looked like he was kissing the ground. The hydra then stomped its feet a few times to make the ground crack. Once the gap was big enough it managed to squeeze its body through it, then disappeared from sight.

  “Enjoy that?” I asked Rachel, who nodded enthusiastically.

  “Hell yeah,” she replied. I ignored her use of that word, assuming it was a slip of the tongue rather than intentional. “I don’t think I can say the same about Robert though.” We both looked over to where he was sitting on the ground, refusing to even stand up.

  We could have walked on for roughly another hour, but the ride had made Rob’s legs turn to jelly so we decided to take pity on him and made camp where we were.

  “We should get an early night,” I said as we were finishing our evening meal. “Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

  “Why?” Rachel asked. “What’s ahead of us?”

  “We have to cross a big canyon.”

  She groaned. “Not more steps.”

  “No.” I could not keep the grin off my face. “No more steps. This one has a bridge across it.”

  “Is that all?” she said. “I’m not feeling in the least bit tired. I could stay up for hours yet.”

  “You will need your wits about you tomorrow so the more sleep you have the better.” I took one of the black pineapples out of my bag and proceeded to cut slices from it. “This will help you sleep,” I said as I handed the pieces round.

  Rachel sniffed at it, but that did not tell her anything as it has no discernible aroma. It didn’t stop her from pulling a face though. I don’t really blame her. It does not look in the least bit appetising.

  “Just eat it.”

  “Yes Sir,” she said sarcastically, but took a bite anyway. Rob ate his without me having to give him orders. Rachel ate all of her slice, but declined a second one.

  They both argued that they were not tired, but I sent them to their tents anyway, knowing that it would not take long for the fruit to take effect and they would soon be unable to keep their eyes open.

  Before retiring to my own tent I took a quick trip to see Death so I could let him know that we would be reaching the bridge in the morning. I had been hoping that great-grandmother had changed her mind about speaking to me, but I wasn’t that lucky. My uncle informed me that she was really looking forward to seeing me.

  As soon as I returned to the camp site I ate some of the black pineapple. Knowing what I would be facing the next day I needed it if I was going to get any sleep.

  Rhea

  Rob did not scream at all during the night so we all slept well. We rose early, ate a quick breakfast and headed off. A short while later we arrived at the canyon. Rachel walked to the edge and glanced down, shuddering when she saw how high up we were.

  “So how do we cross?” Rob asked. “I thought you said there would be a bridge.”

  Rachel looked left and right, as though she thought she would be able to see one even if Rob couldn’t. The bridge was there, of course, it was just invisible to the human eye. I was suddenly overcome with an overwhelming urge to transport them both across, but it would annoy my great-grandmother and making her angry is something I would not recommend to anyone.

  “We need permission from the gatekeeper to cross,” I said, indicating with my arm that they should look behind them. They turned around and spotted a small wooden hut that had not been there moments before. They both looked at me, eyebrows raised, as though asking me what they needed to do.

  “It’s very simple. We go in one at a time. The gatekeeper will ask each of us a question that we must answer truthfully. If we do so, we will be allowed to cross.”

  “And if we don’t?” Rachel asked.

  “Just be honest,” I said, not wishing to answer her question. In reality, all that would happen is that they would not be allowed to go any further with their journey, but something told me that letting their imaginations run wild would be a better way of ensuring they only spoke the truth. “I’ll go first.”

  Instead of a door there was a curtain at the entrance. I pulled it aside, took a deep breath and entered.

  There was very little light inside, but I could still see clearly. Great-grandmother sat in a chair, looking like the frail old lady I knew her not to be.

  “Kris,” she said and stood up, holding out her arms. I walked up to her and hugged her tightly.

  “Great-grandmother.” There was no warmth in my voice. Though I love her dearly, I was there against my will and I wanted her to know it. “What do you want?”

  “Let’s sit and talk for a while,” she said, sinking back down into her chair.

  “I prefer to stand. Why don’t we get this over and done with?”

  “Very well,” she said, frowning at me. Did she really expect me to behave any differently seeing as I was ordered to be there? I wasn’t sure exactly what she would ask, but I knew what it would be about.

  “What are your intentions toward Rachel?”

  “I don’t really think that is any of your business.”

  “Under the circumstances, what you think is irrelevant. We both know you have to answer my question if you don’t want to explain to Rob why you are preventing him from rescuing his girlfriend.”

  “You’re being unfair.”

  “I want to know what is going on in your head and it appears this is the only way to do it,” she said. “Now answer the question.”

  I tried to think of a way to get out of it, but could come up with nothing. Either I told great-grandmother what she wanted to know or I stopped Rob from rescuing Tammara. Somehow, I didn’t think that would help me win Rachel’s heart.

  I slumped into a chair in defeat. “I intend to do everything I can to get her to stay down here.”

  She nodded as though she had been expecting me to say that. “Have you told her how you feel?” I shook my head. “Why not?”

  I was fed up with being interrogated. “I’ve already answ
ered one question, I don’t have to answer any more.”

  “It’s your great-grandmother asking, not the gatekeeper,” she said. I glared at her, refusing to answer. “Alright. If that is the way you want to be. Tell me this; how does she feel about you?”

  I looked down at my hands as I spoke. “I honestly have no idea, but she has met Ankou. That should tell you all you need to know.”

  She didn’t comment, so I stood up. I was about to leave, but paused in the doorway. “What is her question going to be?”

  I should have known better than to ask. “You know that I will not tell you that. But I can assure you that I will not let her know about anything we have discussed.”

  If she thought that would make me feel better about Rachel meeting her she was wrong. As I left the hut I was worried and angry. I had a hard enough task ahead of me as it was without her interference. And I was rapidly running out of time. If I didn’t get Rachel to fall for me soon it would be too late.

  “What’s wrong?” Rachel asked as I approached. My feelings must have been written all over my face.

  “Nothing I want to talk about.”

  Rob was the next to enter the hut. Rachel started to follow him, but I held her back. “He must do this alone. What passes between him and the gatekeeper is for them alone to know. If he comes out alive he will not speak to you about his experience, so do not waste your time asking him.” Was I being overdramatic? Maybe a little, but Rob does not know when to keep his opinions to himself and I was not sure how my great-grandmother would react if he offended her.

  Only a few moments later the curtain twitched and a forlorn looking Rob walked out.

  “What question were you asked?” Rachel asked as she rushed to his side, completely ignoring everything I had just said. Rob just shook his head.

  “Your turn,” I said and pointed toward the entrance to the hut. Reluctantly, Rachel pulled aside the curtain and walked inside.

  I began to pace nervously while Rob sat down and looked sadly into the distance. I have no idea what great-grandmother asked him, but whatever it was he was not happy about it.

  Rachel was in the hut for a lot longer than I had been expecting and my feeling of foreboding began to increase. I was about to go inside to look for her when I saw the curtain twitch.

  When she came into view she looked like she was in shock. What had my great-grandmother done to her? Rob rushed up to her. “Are you alright?” he asked in concern. “What happened in there?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” she said. I was not surprised. Nobody ever wanted to discuss what went on between them and great-grandmother. As Rob and Rachel spoke I noticed that she was cradling her arm.

  “What happened to your hand?” I took her injured appendage in mine and turned it over.

  “Jill bit me,” she said, snatching her hand back. “I tripped over her and she retaliated.”

  I didn’t laugh, though it took all of my self-control to keep a straight face. I have never heard of great-grandmother’s pet ferret biting anyone before. Then again, I have never heard of anyone tripping over her before either.

  “Give me your hand.” I was concerned that she had pulled away from me so forcefully. It was almost as if she didn’t trust me anymore.

  “It’s fine,” she insisted, cradling it in her other arm.

  “Don’t be a martyr.” I sounded irritated and I suppose I was, though not at Rachel. Great-grandmother had definitely done something to upset her. Without waiting for her approval I grabbed hold of her arm and pulled it toward me. I gently ran my fingers over the bite marks and she watched in amazement as the skin sealed itself. Surely by now she should have been used to my healing skills.

  “Thank you,” she said and smiled at me. She looked almost shy.

  “Can we get going now?” Rob asked before I could ask her about the look on her face. My sarcastic response left my lips before I had time to stop it.

  “Be my guest.” I waved my hand toward the chasm.

  Rob started to walk toward it, then stopped. “The bridge is still not there,” he said.

  “Actually, yes it is. It’s just invisible.” I looked at Rachel and winked. Sometimes annoying Rob could be great fun.

  “Invisible,” Robert said in a sarcastic tone. “Do you really expect me to believe that?”

  “Believe what you want. The bridge has always been there, we just can’t see it. Now that you have passed the test, we have to wait.”

  “For what?” Rachel asked with interest.

  “For the old woman to reveal the bridge.”

  She stared at me, unsure if I was telling the truth or not. I stared back at her, not blinking or changing facial expression. Would she believe me? She didn’t query my statement, so I guess she did.

  We sat down by the edge of the gorge, looking across at our intended destination. Rob sat a little way off, refusing to come any closer. He seemed to be sulking, though whether this was due to the delay or whatever had happened between him and great-grandmother still preying on his mind I didn’t know. Nor did I care.

  “Who is that old woman?” Rachel asked as we sat waiting for the sun to set.

  “You would probably know her as Rhea. She is also my great-grandmother.”

  For some reason this made her blush and she began to fidget uncomfortably. What on Earth had she been asked to cause such a reaction? I considered questioning her, but I would be wasting my time.

  “So did she name her ferret Jill because that is what female ferrets are called or is it just a coincidence?” she suddenly asked.

  “The question you should be asking yourself is whether humans call female ferrets Jill after my great-grandmother’s pet.” Let her try to work that one out.

  “So what about her husband, your great-grandfather? What happened to him?”

  “We don’t talk about Cronus.” I refused to say anything more and an uncomfortable silence enveloped us. It’s not that I didn’t want to tell her, it’s just that the family agreed, a long time ago, that Cronus was a taboo subject and I will not break that agreement for anyone, no matter how attractive they are.

  Rachel eventually broke the quiet. “She must be very lonely.”

  I couldn’t help it; I burst out laughing. “You have got to be kidding me. Is she still playing the lonely old woman who has been deserted by all her family and friends role? I would have thought she would have grown tired of that by now.”

  She raised a questioning eyebrow at me.

  “She is far from lonely. She only comes here when she knows someone wants to cross the bridge. A very long time ago she appointed herself as Death’s gatekeeper, knowing that many lost souls would wish to see him and he is a very busy man. She spends most of her time visiting various family members and, as you can imagine, there are rather a lot of us.”

  Rachel pulled a face as though she had a horrible taste in her mouth. Obviously she didn’t like being conned. She looked out across the empty expanse and gasped in surprise as the bridge started to appear.

  “Was that there the whole time?” she asked suspiciously.

  “Of course. It was just invisible. We did what Rhea wanted us to do, so she has revealed it to us.”

  “Could you see it? Could we have crossed at any time without speaking to your great-grandmother?”

  I grinned. “You catch on quick, don’t you? Yes, I could have gotten us across, but I didn’t for two reasons. One, Rob has to do this journey properly. Rhea wanted the opportunity to speak to you both and what Rhea wants, Rhea gets.” I neglected to mention that it was actually me she wanted to speak to. “Secondly, would you really have been able to cross an invisible bridge? You would feel like you were walking on the air. Personally, I think it would have scared the shit out of you.”

  “Excellent point. Speaking with your elderly relative was much more bearable. Even if she did threaten to feed me to her pet rat.”

  “Ferret,” I corrected. Great-grandmother threatened to feed her
to Jill? And Rachel believed her? Humans are more gullible than I realised. No wonder they always tell her the truth.

  “Rat, ferret, what’s the difference? They’re both vermin. So why did you have to endure her interrogation?”

  I frowned, unable to hide my anger. “There was something she wanted to ask me and for some reason she did not trust me to tell her the truth. This way she guaranteed I had to.”

  “What?” she asked curiously.

  “We both know I am not going to answer that.”

  Rob had finally noticed that the bridge was visible and walked over to us. “Are we crossing or gossiping?” he snapped at us.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Rachel asked him.

  “Nothing. I’m just impatient to get moving.” His tone of voice betrayed him. He was lying, but I had no idea why. There was definitely something else on his mind, but he obviously was not going to talk about it.

  We crossed the wooden bridge without any issues. It swayed as we moved along, making Rachel grab hold of the rope supports for dear life, but she didn’t complain.

  I found another lake for us to camp by and somehow managed to persuade Rob to join me in some fishing.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” I asked as soon as we were alone.

  “No,” he snapped, then sighed. “Sorry. I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

  “Is it just what my great-grandmother asked that is bothering you so much or is there something else?”

  I wasn’t expecting him to answer, but he did. “She made me think about something that I would rather not.”

  I nodded my understanding. “She is good at doing that.” I didn’t push him any further. He would talk about it if he wanted to. We continued to fish in silence until I announced that we had caught enough to provide a decent meal.

  We cleaned and descaled the fish before returning to the campsite where I prepared a fish stew. Nobody was much in the mood for talking, so we all went to our individual tents early.

  As soon as I was alone I vanished, reappearing in Death’s study. I was not surprised to find him there.

  “You work too hard.” My uncle just grunted. He didn’t even bother looking up at me. I continued anyway. “We’ve crossed the bridge.”