My Tattered Bonds (6 page)

I stubbornly held my eyes open and a woman slowly came into focus.

Hecate.
 

I could’ve cried from relief.
 
The rest of the group quickly came into focus behind her.
 
Cadmus looked only slightly worse for the wear as he swept in and pulled me into his arms.

“Are you alright?” he asked anxiously, quickly giving me the once over.
 
I nodded, although when I did, the world started spinning again and I closed my eyes.

“The dizziness will pass,” Hecate said knowingly.
 
“But now our minds and hearts are unpolluted.
 
We are free to seek the Oracle.
 
Attempt to keep a clear mind- do not think on anything that troubles you.”

That was more difficult than it sounded.
 
I instantly wanted to ponder my disturbing visions, so I had to fight to keep them at bay.
 
But I could think on them later.
 
For now, I grasped Cadmus’ arm tightly.

“Are you well?” I asked quietly, reaching up to smooth his dark hair into place.
 

“I am much better now, my love,” he smiled.
 
 

“Have we truly been here for two entire days?
 
I think I’ve slept most of the time.” I looked around in bewilderment.
 
Aphrodite looked as disheveled as I felt.
 
She nodded in agreement.
 

“I feel the same,” she admitted, smoothing out the pleats in her short, belted skirt.
 
“This has not been a pleasant experience, Hecate.”

“I never said that it would be,” Hecate replied grimly.
 
“And I fear it will not get any better.
 
Come now, let us go.”

I took a few faltering steps, but my legs felt like rubber and I paused.
 

“Hecate, what did you give us?
 
I feel as weak as a newborn baby.”

She appraised me for a moment thoughtfully before answering.

“The herbs would not have left you so bereft, Chosen One.
 
I believe it has been the strength of your visions that has drained you.
 
You will regain your strength soon- you are strong.”

I nodded, but still didn’t feel confident enough to take another step.
 

Cadmus bent and slipped his arms under my knees, lifting me to his chest just like an infant.
 

“Rest, my love,” he instructed as he climbed the steep hillside with me in his arms.

“This isn’t necessary,” I protested.
 
But even as I spoke, I rested my head against his hard chest.
 
I knew Hecate was right.
 
Worse things were to come.
 
I might as well rest in the comfort of my husband’s arms while I could.
 

We quickly reached the top of the hill and we stood in a quiet group outside of the ruins.
 
It was completely silent and still and I felt the hair lift on the back of my neck.
 
Cadmus gently set me down and I stood uncertainly next to him.

“What do we do now?” I asked.

“We summon her,” Hecate answered simply.
 
Walking purposefully in front of us, she bypassed the ruins and stood behind it, directly in front of a large urn-like vessel.
 
It was ancient, that much was apparent.
 
I had the feeling it had survived thousands of years in this spot.

“We must offer her something of relevance,” Hecate said without turning around.
 
“Harmonia, come here.”

Cadmus released my arm and I stepped forward hesitantly.
 
The tone of Hecate’s voice unnerved me. It was cold and perfunctory.
 

“Harmonia, you must know that your blood is significant.
 
Have your visions attested to that?” Hecate asked, her blue eyes glittering.

“There has been quite a lot of blood in my visions, yes,” I confirmed.
 
“But not necessarily mine. Just... blood.”

Hecate smiled a haunting smile, her face so wise and knowing.
 
I was reminded once again that she was very, very old, older even than Zeus himself.
 
It was easy to sometimes forget that because she seemed so young and beautiful.
 
But when she spoke, those around her should certainly listen.
 
Her magic was powerful, her wisdom revered.
 
She watched me now, her vibrant blue eyes glittering.

“Ah, young one.
 
Blood is relevant no matter what the situation is.
 
It is who we are.
 
There is much to be learned from someone’s blood.
 
Their heart, their identity, their purpose.
 
Particularly in matters pertaining to the gods because there is always such deceit.
 
Blood can reveal the truth.
 
But in your case, it will always be a key.”

She turned to look at me, her face calm and impassive.

“Come forward, Harmonia.”

She extended her hand and I took it, stepping forward until I stood directly in front of the peeling, clay urn.
 
Hecate flipped up the hem of her skirt and pulled a dagger from the belt around her thigh.
 
I stiffened as she turned my arm over.

Quickly, she sliced a short cut in the heart of my phoenix mark and held it over the mouth of a silver cup.
 
My blood dripped into the cup and I tried not to flinch as I stood still and watched it.
 
After what seemed like forever, she dropped my arm.
 
Moving forward, she set the silver goblet into the urn and stepped back.

“Close your eyes,” she instructed us without turning around.

Trustingly, we all did as she asked, listening to her guttural, incoherent chants.

Minutes passed and I ached to open my eyes, but I withstood the temptation.
 
After another minute more, however, a cold chill descended upon me and goose bumps formed on my arms.
 
Something had shifted.
 
The air was cold and heavy, and a palpable foreboding hung all around me in the air.
 

“I am here,” a chilling voice announced quietly.
 
“Why have you summoned me?”

I opened my eyes and almost gasped.

The Oracle was a frightening sight.
 
She was as pale as a ghost, perched on a gnarled, tall stool that hadn’t been there just a scant moment ago.
 
She seemed to almost float.
 
She was naked, but for a dark, crimson hooded cloak.
 
Her face was barely visible from beneath the hood.
 
The cloak was wrapped loosely around her, so loosely that her naked body, riddled with blue scrawling veins, was apparent.
 

As she hunched over, she held the goblet of my blood in her hands and it was clear that she had drunk from it.
 
My blood streaked down her chin.
 
She slowly lifted the cup again and took another long sip.
 
As she did, she moaned a long shaking sigh.

“I saw visions of you long ago,” she whispered.
 
“So long ago.
 
And now you are here before me.
 
You are ready to fulfill the prophecy, are you not?”

Her whispers were quiet, but they held so much weight.
 
They cut the air like a scalpel and we hung on every word.

I nodded.
 

She slowly turned her face to meet my gaze and once again, I wanted to gasp but did not.
 
Her eyes were made from blood.
 
They were not bleeding as the Keres did, hers were different.
 
They had no pupil or iris or white.
 
They
were
blood.
 
My stomach turned queasy and I gripped my hands together tightly.
 

“Will you do what you must?” she queried.
 
“No matter the personal cost, will you pay it?”

I paused.
 
What would be asked of me?
 
What did I have to give?
 
But in that moment, a vision of my daughter’s young, innocent face formed in my mind and I knew that I would give anything.
 
It did not matter what was asked of me, if I had it to give, I would.

I nodded.
 

“Yes,” I whispered.

“No matter the cost?” she persisted.

“No matter the cost,” I confirmed softly.
 
My knees felt weak, but I did not flinch or move.
 
I prayed that she did not sense my fear.

“You will face challenges that seem insurmountable,” she stated calmly. “You must focus on your purpose and on your strength and you will persevere.
 
There will be times when you question even each other.
 
Focus on the love that you have and you will overcome.”

I chanced a sidelong glance at everyone else. They were watching the Oracle in rapt fascination.
 

“Harmonia.”

She drew my attention back to her in a raspy whisper.
 

“You may have one question answered, but only one. Choose wisely.”

My mind instantly whirled.
 
What should I ask?
 
Did I want to know if I lived or died?
 
What obstacles would we face?
  
No. I knew without question what I wanted to ask and I didn’t hesitate.

“Where is my daughter?”

She cocked her head and studied me.
 

“She is where you must go,” she answered cryptically.
 
“When you reach her, you will find all that you seek.”

“But where is that?” I asked tremulously.

“You will find her in the Underworld.” The Oracle nodded slowly.
 
And I thought back to the word Raquel had scratched into the sand.
 
HELL.
 
I gulped hard.
 

“And everyone else?
 
They are in the Underworld also?”

“I am only able to answer one question,” the Oracle replied, her voice an eerie creak.
 
“Only one.
 
Have faith, Chosen One, and you will prevail.”

She began fading until only her eyes were visible, and then they disappeared as well.
 

“I will prevail,” I repeated.
 
“But will I survive it?”

I turned and faced my parents, my husband, my sister and her warriors.
 
They didn’t have an answer for me, but my husband’s jaw was clenched.

“Of course you will survive it,” he insisted.
 
“I will make sure of it.”

I smiled gently at him.
 
“We should go.
 
Our daughter is waiting.”

I turned to Hecate.
 
“How do we get there?”

She motioned to the old ruins.
 
“This temple is an entrance to the Underworld.
 
Follow me.”

“How convenient,” I muttered.
 
But I stood aside and allowed her to walk past me into the ruins.

Cadmus clasped his hand around mine and we followed her silently, while my parents followed us and Ortrera and her warriors followed them.
 
We were a silent procession as we made our way to the tunnel.
 
It wasn’t long before we stood in front of it.