Of Ambrosia and Stone: Pandora's Curse

13

Having been officially discharged from the infirmary, albeit with stern instructions from the healer, I rest on a chair in my room. Already I miss the company of Chiron. Even watching him preparing tinctures brought me the comforts of home.

The healer’s words echo in my mind. Quicksilver. Why would he put quicksilver into my medicine? There must be a reason. Even if it’s lost on me.

After identifying what was in the liquid, I can’t bring myself to continue using the liquid. But I can’t get rid of it. Not until I know what dad was doing to me.

Shoving those fears from my mind, I watch Athena who stands solemnly from her usual position at the door. I make small talk with the goddess, but it’s not easy. She prefers short and clipped answers while hardly asking any questions of her own.

The most that I have heard her talk so far was when I asked about her boxing match against Ares. Oh boy, she gave me an enthusiastic play by play of precisely what occurred. The image was so vivid that I could’ve been seeing it through a vision.

A single knock reverberated off the door. “Come in,” I shout. Not feeling like standing up. Artemis opens the door with a look filled with concern.

“How are you doing, Pandy?” On one hand, she’s a vase of flowers and on the other she’s a stack of books.

I shrug. “I have been better.”

Artemis shoots me an encouraging look. “You gave all three of us quite the scare. Even Apollo was freaking out.”

My heart craves for that to be true.

I highly doubt that he broke his normal stony demeanor. “Yeah, it was an odd thing. Chiron suspects seizures but further testing may be required.”

“But it”s curable, right?” she questions.

Shaking my head, I shrug, “Partially manageable but not controllable. There are some things that I can do to keep them in check but even that won’t stop all of them.”

Nodding, Artemis fiddles with her hair. “At least you may be able to stop some of them. You scared me back there. I thought you were dying or being poisoned or something.”

“True,” I reply. “But question for you, why did you give in to Apollo?”

Ares was obviously someone that she despised. Yet when her brother went behind her back and made him her fiancée, that seemed like such a low blow. I expected Artemis to fight back. Especially for someone as strong and empowered as the Moon Goddess.

Artemis is the epitome of ‘I don’t need a man. I”ll do it by myself.’

But in front of her family at the dining table… she looked so meek. Nervousness is so unlike my friend. “It is my duty,” Artemis stated simply.

“To whom?”

Artemis’s eyes remain locked on the fire. “To my Lord and my court.”

To her Lord? The same Lord who’s also her brother. He has responsibilities to protect his sister? Shouldn’t he be looking over her wishes too?

Tucking my feet on the sofa, Athena’s demanding voice rings out. “Pandora, that’s a 500-year-old chair that was given to Hera by Hephaestus. Please remove your shoes from it and sit like a lady,” chastises Athena.

“Whatever,” I grumble as I remove my feet from the chair. “Back to more pressing issues than my disrespect against the hated forsaken former queen’s furniture. Artemis, you deserve to be happy. What about your duty to yourself?”

She flinches. Like my words were burning her skin.

“What about it?” Her normal energetic look is gone, replaced with a look of concern.

I press my lips into a tight line. “If you don’t advocate for yourself and your needs, no one else will. Instead, the world will use and abuse you until there’s nothing left of you to give.”

“You don’t get it.”

“Then explain what I”m missing,” I request. Lacing my fingers on my lap, I wait silently. Showing her that I’m here to listen to her.

Several moments of silence are held between us.

“I”m the sister of the Lord of Caelum. I”m not guaranteed the luxury of choice.” She explains, “For my kingdom, my home, my people, I”ll not put my needs ahead of theirs.”

“In the name of Gaia and the deepest reaches of Tartarus, why not?” I challenge. Athena chuckles from her normal position at the door, “Theny, did we ask your opinion on this? No. Go back to whatever your job is here,” I snap at the captain.

Glaring at me, the goddess rolls her eyes. “It is because Artemis has honor. You only serve yourself while she does what’s best for the greater good. Maybe you could learn something from her,” Athena states in her usual bored condescending tone.

Pouncing up, I glare at the captain. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I”m familiar with sacrifice. My family had five mouths to feed. My dad and I were the primary ones to put food on the table. Together, we check our traps, hunt, and forage for anything that we could get our hands on. When food was scarce, I would cross into the lands beyond the mushrooms. The air is toxic. It makes people see things. Even though it was forbidden, I did it nearly every day. Had I not, we’d have starved long before. If that’s not a sacrifice, tell me what you’ve done in your life that was a sacrifice.”

Silently, Athena observes me. Something changes in her unreadable expression. Was it my wishful thinking or was she looking at me with respect? Something that she’s never shown me since I came to this world.

Before I could make up my mind, the Moon Goddess cuts in. “Athena, please step outside. I”ll come and get you when your presence is needed,” commands Artemis.

Reluctantly, Athena steps outside. Huffing loudly at the insult. She storms outside muttering about snitching on us to Apollo.

With the door fully shut, Artemis’s fingers danced in the air for a couple of moments. The scent of earthy forest fills my room. Making me think of the countless times I was outside hunting or foraging near my home. The smell and taste of magic permeates through the air. “Little Theny has been nosy since she came to the manor. I have found it best to ward conversations from her little prying ears.”

“Probably smart,” I chuckle. “After all, Athena did give away that she plans to snitch our conversation to Apollo.”

Artemis shrugs. “Nothing has been said that would shock him.”

“Fair, now why in the name of the River Styx are you allowing yourself to be betrothed to Ares of all people. He isn’t your type...”

“I have no choice. You heard Apollo. If I were to go against him on this, he’d ban me from the court. This court is all I know. It has been my home my entire life and I don’t intend to leave my home. Plus, my brother is right. I can’t seek refuge in many other Courts of Olympus.” Artemis stares off into the fire, fiddling with her fingers. Nervous energy fills the room.

She doesn’t want this.

“There’s to be another way,” I pleaded with Artemis. “You”re the co-ruler of Apollo. You’ve as much right to rule as him. Could you use that to influence him and change his mind?”

Shaking her head, she looks off, unfocused and thoughts leagues away from where we’re now. “No. I”m not a co-ruler of Apollo. I”m an advisor and his sister. A member of the royal family but nothing more.”

Scrunching up my face, I reply, “How could he do that to you?”

“He did nothing. I chose this,” Artemis taps my knee.

Furrowing my brow, I ask, “But why would you do something like that?”

If she’d taken the co-ruling position, she wouldn’t be in this mess.

“Olympians, titans, primordials and minor gods alike may be immortal, but we’re trapped in cycles. Doomed to follow our pattern of fate. This pattern extends to holders of positions too. Like the throne of Caelum. I see the repetition. That Apollo’s throne brings no good to the god who sits there. Look at Zeus, Cronus, and Uranus. If someone isn’t watchful, the power could go to their head and cloud their judgment. Only for your descendants to come around and overthrow you. That won’t be my fate. Therefore, I declined my place. Giving it solely to Apollo.” Pulling out her dagger, she picks some dirt out from under her fingernail. Artemis explained, “The combination of us would have made it difficult. Under the guise of night, I see and hear everything in our realm. During the day, Apollo hears and sees the same. Together, it would be too much for the throne.”

“But you also could help keep the court protected at all hours,” I reasoned.

And keep your interests protected.

“Yes, I suppose so.” She sighs, “But that’s something that I can also bear as an advisor to Apollo. The court favors him. He is the sun, oozing light. I can’t blame them. I”m the moon, full of shadows and darkness. Where the darkest of monsters lurk,” her eyes look mournful. Filled with distress.

“I don’t believe that for one bit, Artemis.” Scooching closer, I lean my head on her shoulder. The moon is the light of the night. Brighter than any of the evening stars. You provide a break from the darkness.”

“Thank you,” she whispers. “But even with that, I don’t believe I can convince Apollo out of this. He has made his decision of what he believes to be best for the realm and I need to learn to respect that.”

“Could Uncle Ov help?” I ask.

Maybe the advisor could talk some sense into the Sun God.

Ov was beyond strange. When I think I understand him, I realize that I know nothing. The more I reflect on our interactions in the garden the more I want to know about him. Figure out what he is playing at. But with more knowledge of him, the more confused I become. Though, if he has survived this long with the gods, he must know how to keep his head down.

Maybe I”m overthinking this. Perhaps he is odd without any ill intentions.

She shakes her head. “For now, it’s up to the Fates, Apollo and Hera.”