Annie Chain and the Olympians: The Anomaly of the Sky

Chapter 9: The Dream That Reveals All (Well, Not Everything, But Close Enough)

For a few minutes, or what I thought were minutes (dreams are difficult to understand time in), I walked through the cave. I came to about the center of the cave before the scenery shifted. For a second, I thought my dream was changing, but then I realized it wasn't the dream. It was the cave. Metis had made herself a home by using her power to literally change the inside of the cave. If a deity was walking through, they would get thrown off by the regular appearance of the shallow part of the cave and probably leave.

But if they kept walking, they would find the cave shifted to a palace. I figured it was designed similar to Othrys' old design, seeing as Metis had gone through the trouble of coming back here anyway. The walls were made of marble, with gold accents along the walls. Velvet curtains surrounded large windows. The marbled tile floor was shiny and polished. It looked like it was well taken care of by servants, but I knew only Metis and the Anomaly were here.

The dream actually shifted then. I appeared in front of a throne made of gold and accented by huge jewels. On it sat an opposing looking woman. She had curling blonde hair, long and flowing. Her eyes were sharp and gray. Her skin was pale, looking like it had not seen the sun in years. I got the feeling once it was a deep tan. She wore a gown that was silver in color, one that would have been common in Ancient Greece. On her head sat a silver diadem with a single blue jewel in the center.

Metis, the Titaness of Wisdom, first bride of Zeus, former Queen of the gods, mother of Athena (and the Anomaly), sat on the throne before me.

I tried not to cringe at the sight.

I heard footsteps and turned my head to see the Anomaly walking over. Behind him were Ares and Athena, both scowling.

"Sit." Metis' voice was soft and airy, but left no room for discussion.

Two chairs appeared in front of the throne. Ares and Athena exchanged a look. The Anomaly frowned, walked behind them, and gave them a shove.

Ares winced and stumbled, clearly favoring one leg. Athena reached out, gently grasping his shoulder and helping him righten himself, before slowly guiding him to one of the chairs. Once Ares was sitting, she took her seat as well.

I wondered why they didn't just flash away and leave, when I saw the bracelets on their wrists. Maybe bracelets wasn't the right word. More like a cuff around their wrists. On the metal cuffs, were words in Ancient Greek. I read them and understood. Metis had enchanted the cuffs to block their powers. They couldn't do anything. The two deities were at her mercy. I gulped. That wasn't good.

"Athena." Metis studied her daughter, taking in every detail.

I realized that this was the first time Metis was ever seeing Athena. Metis had been pregnant when Zeus swallowed her, and had been part of Zeus' consciousness while Athena came to the real world. She'd never seen her daughter before. And Athena had never seen her mother before either.

Athena angled her head up, taking in her mother, but remaining stone faced. Her fingers curled into a fist. Her eyes flashed angrily.

"Metis." Athena greeted quietly.

Metis shook her head rapidly. "No, no! Not Metis. Never Metis. Mother. I'm your mother."

Athena's gaze remained level. "I'm afraid I do not consider you as such, Metis."

"Mother." Metis corrected softly. "Mother. That is who I am, Athena. I am your mother, no matter what happens."

"Hera is more my mother than you." Athena's voice did not waver.

"No! Zeus robbed me of the chance to raise you. He and Hera shall not rob me of my title!" Metis hissed.

Athena's eyes widened, and she leaned back in her chair.