34
Spring Equinox
Divine days melt around me. Not so easily estimated and counted. Mortal days have a distinct beginning, middle, and conclusion like a story book. Divine days are like the wind pushing leaves across the horizon. Dancing in the sky, following the beck and call of the wind like music.
It felt like I had only been away from my home for weeks. Yet the Spring Equinox has arrived. Magic thrummed in the air. I couldn’t help but roll over in my bed and throw a pillow over my head. Goosebumps ripple from the sensation of magic across my skin. Reminding me of someone dragging feathers gently over my skin.
Nearly unbearable, I roll my hips underneath my blankets.
Damn, why is magic affecting me like this?
Stretching, I know what I want. Craving to feel the magic closer, I crawl out of bed and stare out of the window. Pinpointing the area in town where the magic seems to be thrumming from.
Vanishing in such a heavily guarded castle would be nearly impossible. Especially when the manor seems to be on such a strict lockdown from the recent attacks.
That’s, except for the hidden passageways.
No, I warn myself. That’s not what I’m doing. I don’t want Apollo upset… Even if the festival looks so interesting and fun.
Maybe I can get my fill from afar from my window instead.
Stepping toward the window, I watch minor gods and goddesses shuffling in and out of the courtyard in masquerade masks. The normal garments accustomed to the Apollo’s court have been abandoned. The crowd was all wearing shades of red, white, and pink. Satyrs, nymphs and other creatures scattered amongst the crowds with brilliant masks.
Masks…
I wonder if masks would make it harder for the guards to find me, even if I were able to slip out?
Dressing quickly, I pulled a red dress from my closet. Embroidered flowers spiral up the dress. Picking it because it contacts beautifully with my curly brown hair. Loose curls flowing midway down my back, I go to my walk-in closet. A couple of weeks ago, I found something buried deep inside, forgotten by time. Then I found the precise box that I was looking for. Opening it, I look down at the white mask with gold trim. Leaves, flowers, and butterflies jutting out.
Wrapped in golden silk in a painted wooden box, my finger traces the shell of the mask.
“Do you like it?” asked the low voice. “Please tell me you like it.”
I whirl around to find Apollo. Smiling broadly at his gift, I reply, “I love it Apollo. It captures my essence. Does this mean you are allowing me to go to the festival?”
Cocking his head to the side, Apollo raised his eyebrow as he asks, “Since when do you need my permission.”
Fair enough. I suppose that if I didn’t have his permission, I would still go. be sneakier about it.
“Oh yes, I forgot we talked about this in the garden. I thought you meant that we’d keep this up until the Spring Equinox passes.” My time in my rooms have become so much more bearable. With the end date in sight, I”m relieved.
“Love, maybe you should sit down. The equinox isn’t for several months,” he replies. “Perhaps it”s the stress of the wedding weighing heavily on you.”
“Wedding! What wedding?” I ask. Widening my eyes, I take a step back from him.
He steps closer, closing in on my newly acquired space. “Our wedding. Remember, your mother promised you to me.”
Promised me to who?
“Call for Chiron,” Apollo barks an order at the guard in the hallway. “My lady has fallen ill.” Turning on his heel, his robes flourish in the makeshift wind. My vision swirls back into focus.
Apollo is gone.
The box I”m holding has faded considerably from time. Persephone was the last to live in these rooms. Did the memory belong to Persephone?
Perhaps she’s leaving me clues.
A trail to find her.
Slipping on the mask I touch up my lipstick before throwing on my cloak that I swiped the sconce by the servant stairwell and give it a quick tug. Surveying myself in the mirror, I knew that the guards would still have a hard time finding me with my face obscured and my ears not exposed.
Slipping out down the stairs, I ran into no one. Likely everyone who’s available took the night off for the festival. Down the passageways, through the creepy deserted cavern and up the final staircases.
Standing at the gate, I listen with an ear pressed to the door, no mindless chatter of gods. Clicking open the side door, I look around the street. No one is watching. Pressing the door shut, I wander the back alley that exits to a main street. Tall walls cast dark shadows in the side street.
Slipping out onto the main street, I see divine flooding in the area. Compact rows of townhomes, businesses, and gardens sprawl around the manor like a labyrinth. Walls bedecked in ribbons and lanterns in shades of red, pink, and cream. The largest courtyard holds what feels like most of Apollo”s court. All of which are filled with pure glee. Dancing merrily, flirting with hopeful romances, and relaxing from the daily stressors of life.
“Have you heard Lord Apollo has opened his wine reserves?” A black-haired god with brown eyes states gleefully to a man on his arm.
The handsome man returns with a mischievous smile, “Ooo. No, I have not–”
Pushing past the couple, I continued through the festival.
What’s so bad about this festival that I need to lock myself away? Internally, I roll my eyes. Everyone seems to be having a good time. trying to let the pain of day to day life bog them down.
Slipping into town, I headed toward the largest gaggle of people. Following the magic which is increasing in intensity as I get closer and closer. My face flush, the sensations are almost orgasmic as I hit the peak.
Even through the chilled air, I can feel the lust claw its way under my skin. Yes, everyone surrounding me seemed merry enough but there was something primal about this holiday. The dimmed lights, packed crowds in the streets, even how the crowds rolled against each other. Strangers, flirting with complete and utter strangers in ways that made me only blush.
Others dance in the street; I keep my head down. Spring Equinox with the gods is truly unlike how Spring Equinox is celebrated at home. The gods, goddesses, nymphs, satyrs and other creatures all feel so animalistic. Never had I ever been seen grinding against anyone like that… Even on a fertility holiday.
Back home they’d have been the talk of the town in all the bad ways. Here, it feels like it’s accepted.
The bonfire flutters in the evening light. Shadows of dancers cast evil looking shadows around. Silver hair bouncing in the low light catches my eye.
Artemis.
Dancing with another woman. The woman has long curled black hair and bright silver eyes. Adorning head, along with a simple gold mask is a circlet of the moon phases.
Her features felt familiar, but I can”t place how I know her.
Is she a Moon Goddess?
No. Artemis is the only Moon Goddess. If she sees me, I”m definitely going to be sent back to my room.
Our eyes connect. Recognition flashes over her face. I duck into the ground behind me.
Do I go home? But then again, Artemis doesn’t seem to be listening to her twin either. I don’t want to go back to being stuck in my room as much as she didn’t want to either.
Maybe Artemis didn’t see me? Yep, that”s wishful thinking.
Artemis storms toward me. A sheen of sweat glows over her face. Even through the mask, I feel her frustration. She demands, “What in the bloody depths of Tartarus are you doing here?” Pushing my shoulder backward, Artemis crosses her arms around her chest.
“The same could be asked about you.” Eyes surrounding us flash in our direction. I pull Artemis to a quieter bit of the street, “It all makes sense now. No wonder you don’t want to marry Ares. Maybe you should tell Apollo—”
“Stop. We need to go back to the castle now,” she states as urgency floods her hushed tone. “Leaving the city all together would be the best course of action. I can’t lose you like the others.”
Softly she yanks my arm toward the castle, I remain rooted in place. “No. I wouldn’t want to force you to end your date so soon.” Freezing, Artemis cautiously flashes her eyes in my direction. Softening my tone, I ask, “What’s her name?”
Panic flashes in Artemis’s eyes.
“Relax. I”m not going to tell anyone. Your secret is safe with me, regardless of if you choose to tell me,” I reassure.
“I met her here,” Artemis replies as she shrugs. An uneasy look on her face said it all. She’s not being truthful.
“Which is also why you brush off your brother’s arranged marriages,” I clarify. Since coming to the realm of the gods, Artemis has told me about other attempts by Apollo to marry her off. All to older men like Poseidon.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she says as faintly as she could manage, “Yes.”
Keeping my eyes downcast, I make sure not to make unintended eye contact with anyone.
With a drink now in my hand, I sit on a firm wooden stool.
“We need to go, Pandy, before Apollo finds us,” whispered Artemis.
My eyes locked with a set of familiar gold eyes. We share a long gaze between each other. Approaching me, I contemplate turning to leave but that would be useless. He has spotted me. Pounding, my heart thunders in my ears. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I contemplate how to proceed. Grinding my core into the firm chair, I stop. it’s rubbing all of the wrong nerves.
“Why do I need to go? Isn’t this my whole purpose in this world? I was brought here for this night.” I state. This holiday is a strange mixture of jovial and somber. Frenzied and poised. All of which were present in the god staring at me from across the street.
“Pandora, you don’t understand. I don’t want what happened to the others to happen to you.” Artemis begs, “No one deserves that fate. Not you. Not any mortal. We still have time to get out of this city. We can even come back after this evening.” Frantically, Artemis floundered.
Arista whispers in my ear, “Artemis is the protector of maidens. She knows what’s best for you.”
I wistfully sigh as my curiosity of the festival takes hold. My bones crave to witness the festival firsthand.
My head is spinning from the wine and the magic. This world is intoxicating. I want more. To see everything this festival has to offer.
Maybe I don’t want what”s best for me. I want to be here. In the immortal world with Apollo and Artemis. Even if these are my last hours, I don’t want to spend them fleeing. I want to enjoy myself. Living a full and eventful night.
Swirling pack festival goers, Apollo makes his way toward us.
Too late.