Empusa nodded. “Yes, I’ve heard talks of them. They are on the Isles of the Blessed.”
I looked at Hecate. “You act as though you knew that they were here at one time.” I raised an eyebrow. She looked at me sheepishly.
“I did know that. But I never would have dreamed that Hades would have kept them there. This is very strange. I would have thought he would have hidden them more securely.”
“Perhaps now would be a good time for you to explain exactly what happened… what you did to assist Hades,” Aphrodite suggested gently. “We will not hold it against you, but I think we need to know.”
Hecate looked pained as she stared past us, but she nodded.
“Alright. You already know that they promised me that if I helped them, they would release the curse on Empusa- that they would put it back where it belonged on Mormo. So, I agreed to help with whatever asked me to do. I would have done anything.”
“And what did you end up doing?” I prompted.
“As you know, if you eat in the Underworld, you are constrained here. Hades created a duplicate Mount Olympus on the Isles of the Blessed- Zeus’ palace was replicated to the smallest detail. With my magic, I bewitched the doorways of Zeus’ banquet hall to become a temporary portal to the Underworld and they were transported to the Isles of Blessed, unknowingly of course. They thought they were on Olympus. They ate, drank and were merry… and they didn’t even realize what had happened until late in the night. It was a brilliant plan, I have to admit. Hades thought of every detail.”
“But you carried it out,” I asked sadly. She nodded.
“Yes. His plan was successful because of me.”
“But since they have eaten here, they will be imprisoned here,” Aphrodite said, her lovely voice shaking. “How can we un-do that?”
“I do not know,” Hecate said miserably. “There must be a way, however.”
“Well, we shall all think on it,” Ares instructed. “But for now, we must rest for a while. We are all weary and we know what we must do next.”
“We do?” I asked warily. The expression on Ares’ face was too joyful to bode well for the rest of us.
“Of course we do,” he replied. “We must cross the oceans of Elyria.”
“Of course we must,” I sighed. “You do realize that it contains Hydras?”
“Yep,” he answered happily. I sighed again.
But I was distracted by shadows in the mouth of the cave. I looked up to find Annen, Ahmose, Alexi, Eris and the four Amazon warriors who had accompanied Annen to the Spiritlands.
“That was quick,” Ares commended them. “Welcome.”
I took one look at Ahmose’s grim face and knew something was wrong.
“What is it?” I asked quickly. He wearily studied me for a moment, probably assessing my state of mind.
“I’m fine,” I snapped. “What is wrong?”
“It’s your mother,” he answered simply. “Your mortal mother. She has been taken from Calypso’s island.”
I gasped and I felt my knees go weak.
“I should have known,” I muttered. “I should have known that he would do something like this.”
“There’s no way you could have,” Cadmus soothed me. “Ogygia was the safest place for her.”
“Apparently it wasn’t,” I replied.
“This does not change anything,” Ares said. “Our course of action must remain the same. We will travel to the isles to see Zeus. Hades will show himself at some point and reveal what he wants.”
“He wants me,” I answered limply. “He wants to keep me here.”
“Well, he can’t have you,” Cadmus growled. “He’ll have to learn that the hard way.”
I smiled what I knew was a weak smile. They hadn’t seen how determined Hades was.
“I can’t wait,” I told everyone. “I would never be able to sleep anyway, knowing that he has my mother. I’m sure she’s terrified. Can we leave now, please?”
“There is a boat,” Empusa offered. “It’s very old, but it is large. It’s moored down the coast a ways away. I do not know whose it is.”
“I think it is meant for those who are granted access to Elysia,” Aphrodite said. “That is how I remember it anyway. I think that all who earn the privilege of spending eternity in paradise must pass that one final test. Anyone who is good and true and possesses the purest of hearts can pass the oceans safely. The Hydras will not harm them. When it dispatches its passengers in the isles, the boat will sail itself back to the coast, to await the next passenger.”
“That is correct,” Hecate confirmed. “That is the way it has always been.”
“Well, then,” Ares proclaimed. “Let us go. I am an amazing sailor.”
I rolled my eyes at Raquel, who had edged up to my side. “Your grandfather thinks that he is amazing at everything,” I told her. She eyed him. His bulging muscles glistened in the light from the mouth of the cave. He was large, strong, handsome and assured. She looked back to me.
“Is he not?” she asked innocently.
I sighed. “I suppose he is. But it would be nice if he wasn’t quite so aware of it.” She giggled, then grasped my hand.
“Is everything going to be alright?” she asked nervously. I dropped to one knee and stared into her eyes.
“Everything will be fine,” I assured her. “I promise.”
My words echoed throughout the cave, reiterating my assurance.
“Let us go!” Ares called impatiently. I held Raquel’s hand and dutifully followed everyone to the beach.
When Empusa said ‘boat’, she probably should have said ‘ship’. It was enormous. Large and wooden, it creaked in the shallow water by the shore, its hull covered in barnacles and moss. White sails were rolled in the masts and lines whipped in the wind. Strangely, it didn’t appear to be anchored, it simply stayed where it was.
“Are you sure you can sail that?” I asked Ares uncertainly. He glowered at me.
“You doubt your father?” he asked indignantly. “Of course I can sail it.” He stomped ahead and as he plunged through the shallow water, a rope ladder dropped over the side of the ship.
I raised an eyebrow and turned to my husband.
“Fun, right?” he grinned.
“Yeah, fun,” I sighed. “Not exactly what I was thinking… but what can you do?”