Lifelight: Calypso Returns

15.

"Hera, Hera wake up." Kairu said.

Hera threw her pillow at him and tried to get back to sleep. Practice with Lam had gone on for longer and she was exhausted. He started to shake her.

"What Kairu, what is it?" She said.

"There's someone here to see you." He said.

"Can't they wait till morning?" She said.

"No,you really need to get up and see them." He said.

They walked to the back of the mansion, a bunch of people were standing in front of the glass windows.

"OK, which one of you is the reason I'm going to be a raging bitch in the morning?" Hera said.

The crowd opened to let her out the glass door. She went with it and stepped outside. At first all she saw was antlers, massive,intricate, snow white antlers. Then they saw her and there was an explosion of quiet murmurs.

One of the stag stepped forward and spoke, "Forgive my brothers, we refused to believe until we saw you. Now we see, the prophesy is complete."

"The snow deer of the Bridhil Mountains." Hera said. She shook her head to try and locate just where that knowledge came from.

"Yes Sidhera. I am Wouleck, we come to bear witness and pledge our loyalty once again."

They have traveled far.

"Well it's about time, where the hell have you been?"

Hera must face the darkness, we cannot laugh forever.

"You cannot just come and go as you please."

The stag has come a long way to pay tribute to you.

Hera realized that she had just been having an internal monologue. The stag was watching her with big, brown, patient eyes like schizophrenic humans with literal soul mates were something he saw every day.

"You have come a long way." She said.

"We have but the journey has been a great honor. The eldest doe felt the earth move, we sent sentries West and they confirmed it. Off the shore of Bithril, she rises once more. It was foretold." He said.

"What rises?" She said.

"This is our tribute, we bring you this message. Azmythica rises again."Wouleck said.

Hera ended the interrogation there. Balthur had already had stables prepared for the stags. The crowd split and went to sleep. She stayed up in the living room with Kairu, Yuli, Mika, Balthur, and Iso.

"So that's where you were? Rebuilding your empire?"

No,you and I are one. I only go where you go.

"You know, for a goddess, you are pretty lame."

This time, the conversation was internal as she waited for someone to figure out what to say. They all looked worried. She was not sure why so she waited. The weight seemed to get heavier by the second.

Iso paced and muttered things to Thur. Yuli and Kairu alternated between glancing at her and frowning at each other. The king joined them and it seemed to agitate Iso even more. Like a dream, Abu turned up with tea for her.

"I guess the cat's out of the bag." Mika said.

"I suppose so, I hoped we would have more time." Iso said.

"What are you guys talking about?" Hera asked.

"The story of Calypso, of the elixir ritual is known by everyone in our world. The rise of Azmythica is proof that the Goddess is back in Saira. Everyone will be looking for you soon, friends and enemies." Thur said.

"It is only a matter of time." Kairu said.

"I don't understand. You sent for me, didn't you know that this would happen?" Hera asked.

"That an island lost for a millennium would rise out of the sea it sunk into after a war that spilled blood across the planes? That your mere presence would cause it? No we did not." The king said.

He was angry and seemed twice as big, his voice was a throaty whisper,and his hair vibrated with the effort of restraining his anger. Gelife did not like her. Maybe it was because her soul mate was back to take his kingdom away or because she had dropped a host of problems on his lap, either way she did not care.

"I was happy to live out the rest of my life as a librarian. It is not my fault, this is not on me." Hera said.

The king speaks out of fear, not anger.

"Well, it's done. So when do we have her coming out party?" Mika said.

"Wait, we don't have to take her out. We can just wait and see how things go." Kairu said.

"No, I think it is better to get ahead of it." Thur said.

Yuli nodded.

"Then it's settled. I call Memorial day, all the symbolism and irony, the look on their faces when they realize Sithera lives." Mika said.

"What are you talking about?" Hera said.

"Introducing you to Saira, it will be a day of great celebration, for most of the people." Iso said.

She did not bother to turn up for training that morning. Despite everything that had gone on, she would hear it from Thur about taking breaks whenever she wanted she was sure. There was so much she did not know, so much she was afraid of. A dark cloud was looming and it was coming for her. In the grand scheme of things she was a vessel,once Calypso was free- and she would be free, she could be human again.

Lam brought her food later that afternoon. She had surrounded herself with books about the great war. There was nothing new, nothing about her at least. There was plenty about demons, and monsters and dark witches. They would be coming for her soon. And they were going to parade her around at a party.

"What do you know about Calypso?" She said.

"Is that why you're reading about the war? She was a goddess, she lost the war, fell into the ocean with her capital." Lam said.

"How do Saires feel about her and the ritual?" Hera said.

"They believe, they wait for her return still."

"What do you think about her?"

"I don't really. If she's coming then she will come."

"If she did, what would happen?"

"War,Calypso will be out for blood."