11
Blinking my eyes, I wake up in a bright and airy room. Judging from the tall floor to ceiling windows, we’re at one of the highest points in the palace. Everything is crisp and bright. There’s not a speck of dust or grim anywhere.
Scanning the room, I see the familiar centaur making a draught of some kind. All the other rows of beds are empty.
Chiron.
He looks the same as my memories. As does this infirmary. Down to the preparation table the centaur currently stands at.
Currently he is grinding ingredients in his mortar. Pausing every so often to check on his progress before continuing. In one of these instances, his gaze lifts to me. His eyes emanate warmth and concern. “Ah yes, this is the Pandora that I have heard so much about.” He smiles brightly down at me from his preparation table. Long curly brown hair, beard, and bright brown eyes. He looks friendly and kind.
Unable to contain my curiosity, I ask, “Have we met before?”
In a place other than my visions. But I know that I couldn’t say something like that. People may think that I’m losing my mind.
Gently, Chiron replies, “Not in this life. I”m certain we’d remember each other if we’d met.” Chiron sighs. Walking over to a cabinet, he pulls out several jars, vials, and dried leaves. “And I”m certain you’d remember if you’d met one of my kind. Centaurs aren’t common in the mortal lands anymore,” Though he laughed, I could see the traces of sadness in his eyes that were unmistakable.
Sitting up, I pull my knees toward my chest as I face him. Turned so I no longer had to crane my neck to look at him. “Were they once?” Knitting my eyebrows, I watch the centaur who’s currently cutting valerian root.
Pausing his task, the knife hovers above the plant. Chiron nods. “We were hunted. The herds were forced through the Veil. Many who survived the mortals were then killed by the Veil.”
“Wait, humans ate centaurs?” My eyes grew larger in horror. Scanning my mind, I try to conjure anything that I can remember about centaurs. Admittedly, I don’t remember much. The priestesses once said that the creatures were full of murderous tendencies.
But looking at this man, it was hard to believe. After all, he’s a healer. Helping those who are sick and injured while preparing his own remedies in house.
The only murder he looks to have committed would be against the plants in his potions.
Sifting leaves from a pot of heated liquid, he continues speaking as he prepares his potion, “No, far grimmer of a fate for us and other humanoids. They’d cage us in for weeks at a time. Until they were ready for an expedition. Only to turn us into the woods, half-starved, where they’d hunt us for sport. Never to the point of death, no. Gravely wounding us. Allowing us to die on the forest floor or be finished off by another monster of the woods.”
Flexing his wrists, the iron shackles clank on the counter. Though no chain is left to bind his hands together. “Are you a prisoner here too?” My voice was only a hair above a whisper.
Shaking his head, Chiron replies, “No. I wear these to remember my family. To remember that I”m one of the lucky ones.”
Lucky? Lucky to have survived. Perhaps even fortunate to have escaped. But he now lives with unhealable wounds.
Scarred for eternity.
Glancing around, the room was empty other than the two of us. Which is likely for the best. Everywhere I go in the castle, my presence gathers the attention of everyone.
Almost like they could smell that I was different. That I’m a mortal.
Chiron then asks casually, “When did your visions start?”
My eyes widened at Chiron’s question.
How does he know? I have never said a word about them since coming to Caelum.
Though, he is medically trained so he likely would be able to see through my guise of illness. Although it was worth a shot.
Is he going to tell the others?
What do the gods do to people who see things that aren’t there?
Deflecting must be my best bet. “What?” I splutter. The words came out wrong. Opposite from how I wanted them. My voice was too forceful. Panic plainly detectable. “I don’t know what you”re talking about.”
“The last female I knew with those eyes had them too. Seeing things that were, things that are, and things that could be. I recall, the most terrifying of her visions being those of the future.”
Hope leaps in my chest. Someone who understands me. Maybe the person could help. “Who is she?”
“Chariclo… my wife.”
“You”re married?” My eyes widened. He felt like someone who does not have a family. That would so immerse himself in his work that he’d not have time for anyone else.
“I once was.” Chiron stays off out of a window. Solemn and silent.
A mournful look crossed his face, and I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. His words from earlier ring in my ears. He wears shackles to remember my family. “Was she one of the centaurs that was… you know… hunted?”
A silence passes between us. Instantly, I feel guilty for not checking my curiosity. This was his wife. Someone that’s no longer here. I shouldn’t be asking such invasive questions.
He is still obviously grieving her loss.
Just as I open my mouth to apologize, Chiron answers my question, “No. She was a human. In a previous life, she was a nymph to Athena. A human man was walking where he was forbidden to and saw her bathing. When Athena learned of her priestess’s ‘immodesty’, a term I use loosely, she was punished.” Chiron shook his head. Sadness permeates his face. “See, mortals aren”t the only ones who frustrate me. Immortals also are more than capable.”
Fiddling with my hands, I nervously look down.
“A word of warning when it comes to visions.” He pauses his work. Setting down his equipment. “What you see is a gift as much as a curse. Even the Fates have difficulty discerning what string will be the true outcome when woven into an entire tapestry of nearly identical strings. One hair out of place can cause a snowball effect far worse than what you were trying to avoid.”
Though I take in his words, part of me couldn’t contain the excitement.
My voice is excited. There’s someone like me in the castle. A cursed mortal who also has visions. Maybe she could help me understand all of this. We could share ways on how to cope with the visions. “Is she in the castle?” Maybe she can help me understand why the visions keep cropping up.
Pressing his lips in a straight line, I knew his answer before he even replied.
“No. She’s gone. When the Veil was created, we had to leave the mortal world. Only those who could pass as mortals could safely stay. At great risk themselves, yes, but still they had the choice. Centaurs, nymphs, satyrs, and other creatures were forced to flee. When my family tried to cross between the divide of the worlds to hide from the bloodthirsty mortals, we were cut off.”
A current of emotions crashed around the room like waves striking a rocky shore.
Clip
Clop.
Clip.
Clop.
Walking slowly to his supply closet, he selects his ingredients. The soft clinks of glass bottles and vials as he holds as many as he could within his arms. Contemplating what was needed. Running through his mental list, I recognize this as a distraction. A means to calm himself.
“I wasn’t fast enough.” He croaks, “Though our three kids and her were all small, I was weighed down with all of them on my back. We were captured and the humans tied me down. Forced me to watch as they put my family on their knees,” Chiron’s voice filled with tears.
Daring a glance, I look up at him. His eyes are glassy and distant.
“They were forced to renounce their ties to us. To me. All could’ve passed for mortals. Except me. Hence why we attempted the crossing. When they refused, they threatened to kill them. Chariclo held her head high and refused to renounce her love for me. My two daughters and son followed suit. Even when I begged her to. They said they could live if they cut ties with me.” Shaking his head, he looks down at his desk. Back turned from me. “They killed them. For my wife being a ‘Monster Fucker.’ Then they let me free. To live with the torture that I witnessed. I tried to follow them to the Underworld but couldn’t cross. As a child of Cronus, I was granted immortally. Cursed to live a life alone.”
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as we sit in silence.
Chiron’s hooves clip toward me brings me out of my thoughts. I ask, “Why are you helping me? My kind hurt you and those you loved.” Handing me a vial, I take it wordlessly. Mumbling thanks.
“All mortals aren”t the same. Like how all centaurs aren”t the same. My brethren are seen as savages of Olympus and the mortal world alike. I have learned that everyone deserves a chance.” After collecting the empty vial, he approaches the sink to clean it. “Inside each being is a box in their soul. Until you get to know them, you don’t know what lies within. You may be curious to peep inside but we don’t always know what’ll be released. I have seen enough of you to know what’s with your heart, Pandora. Inside Pandora’s box is kindness and hope. Now I hope that it will be contagious.”
Smoothing the crisp white sheets on my bed, I ask “Is that why you became a healer?”
“Yes.” Crushing up some roots, he adds, “Before I fought wars. Trained the most lethal of demigods that the world had ever seen. Watching people bleed out on the battlefield from my blade before being taken to the Underworld. Listening to their bellows as death overcomes them.” He sighs, eyes far away from his workstation. “Now I help soldiers recover from them. Helping families so they do not need to get ripped apart like mine.”
Being a healer is his escape from reality. Just as much as gardening is for me.
The silence between us felt crushing. For several minutes, only the unnerving quiet passed between us.
Chiron adds, “I”ll tell Artemis that you may leave in a couple of days. I suspect that you’d like to have some time out of your rooms.” Looking down at me, he waits for me to agree or disagree.
Returning his smile, I nodded.
Sighing, he continues, “Good. Then I”ll also request she escort you to your rooms when you”re discharged. If she asks me what happened, I”ll say that you’ve been having seizures and that I need to do more research on how to prevent them in mortals. That should buy you some time.”
Biting my lip, I gathered my courage to ask him another question. Even though I have asked probably too much already.
The centaur must have noticed too. “You can ask your question.” He gives me a small smile. “I don’t restrict knowledge from those who dare ask.”
My heartbeat thunders in my ears as I blurt, “Are my visions curable?” I want nothing more than for them to stop happening.
Pausing, the centaur contemplates my question. “Rarely. Sometimes they’re controllable. But it depends on the circumstances, sometimes potions are used to suppress or weaken them. Though little is known about these potions. In all my years, I don’t think I have ever seen any in real life.” Chiron muses, “My wife was able to mask it well enough. But the recipes are closely guarded secrets. Often kept in families but you need your rest.”
Laying back in my bed, I resist the urge to groan. Since coming to Olympus, it feels like I have only rested and I’m tired of it.