Twins of the Hunt - Book 4: The Labyrinth

Chapter 2: I Have A Nightmare Before My Mother's Questionable Parenting

1743 words

It was the same hell every night.

The nocturnal torture had begun the night Artemis had left to hunt monsters on the orders of Zeus. She'd departed five days after the Winter Solstice, ordering Thalia and I to recruit more Hunters and destroy the largest swathes of monsters in her absence. I'd asked her not to leave. (Of course, I hadn't told Artemis I didn't want her to go because I was petrified of my dream of Kronos and the warning from the River Styx, and her presence made me feel safe.) If I'd told her any of that, she'd have viewed me as weak. And I couldn't have afforded that to happen.

So, I'd asked: Mother, do you have to leave? Can't I-we come with you? It might be easier.

You know you cannot accompany me, Ainsley, the goddess had answered. You and Thalia must lead the Hunters, while Apollo and I hunt the monsters on Zeus's orders.

But I just held the sky for four days! I'd protested desperately. I can help you! I can handle it! I-

She'd laid a hand on my shoulder. I am not saying that you cannot handle it, Ainsley. I am saying that you are more needed here.

I'd gulped and searched for another argument, but I knew it wasn't worth the effort. The finality in her tone told me the conversation was over.

Good luck, Mother, I'd said, resentment beginning to boil in my stomach.

The goddess had nodded. Thank you, child. I know you will lead well.

Then she'd vanished in a flash of silver light. That evening, when I was preparing to climb into my sleeping bag with my bear skin blanket, the world had begun to whirl. A terror deeper and icier than the Mariana Trench had seized me, and I'd collapsed. The following nightmare was identical to the one I was experiencing now.

I was in a burning forest. Golden flames blazed around me, boiling the air and consuming the trees and bushes. The sky was as black as the charred wood of the trees, and despite the extreme heat, the chill of evil permeated the air. In the center of it all, encircled by a ring of fire, the Hunters battled for their lives.

Flames, in the form of Greek monsters, charged at my family and swallowed them. Zoë vanished into a hellhound's mouth, leaving only her scorched bow behind. I screamed. Watching her disappear was fresh agony and like losing her all over again. I raced forward, trying to help, but tendrils of darkness materialized from behind. They snaked around me, binding my arms to my sides and silencing my screams of rage, and the iciness of evil spread throughout my body.

One by one, the Hunters were all consumed by the inferno until only a trio remained: Dad, Raiden, and Thalia. The fiery monsters became fiery tendrils that snatched up the remaining trio and bound them.

This was your fault, the icy voice of Kronos hissed, so petrifying that it froze my limbs. I stopped struggling against the shadowy tendrils and gazed frightfully at Dad. The voice was exiting from my father's mouth even as he slowly stopped grappling with the fiery tendrils. The effort of speaking through this icy voice was draining him of life. All of this.

I wanted to scream: No, it wasn't! But in my heart, I knew it was. If I hadn't been so stupid, she'd still be alive. 

Yes, Kronos agreed, as though he could read my thoughts. And you could have prevented it had you joined me. Alas, little huntress, you did not. So, you will suffer.

The tendrils of flames tightened around Dad, Raiden, and Thalia. They ceased grappling and turned blue.

Choose. Kronos's voice exited from my mouth this time, and I quaked. Or I will.