Ágnostos

Chapter 20

Althea

"Hey there birthday girl," my father said, entering my room with a smile and a cupcake. "I know on Earth you're basically still eighteen but here, on this planet — you're nineteen."

I smiled, standing up from my place on my bed and accepting his cupcake and kissing his cheek. "Thank you dad."

"Of course," he said. "You've had a rough eight months thought I could do at least one nice thing."

I chuckled, setting the cupcake down on my counter. "Yeah because you're the reason I'm stuck in goddess world in preparation for a giant battle with a purple Titan."

My father laughed, running a hand over my short hair. "I hate seeing you upset Thea-bear."

I shrugged, biting my lip to keep from crying. It hadn't been all bad here on Fraygard. Just stressful and full of fighting, training, meetings and extravagant balls. All of the fighting had drained me of my own energy. I didn't feel ready to fight Thanos at all. But the goddesses were kind and funny. I hadn't seen much of Bia over the last eight months but Leto, goddess of motherhood, explained that Bia was never a nurturing being.

"She only knows how to be a mother to Nona," she told me. "And even that is just the tip of the iceberg of motherhood."

Not that, that helped any. I mean I finally find my mother only to find out she will never love me as much as her other daughter? Oh dame fortune how you mock me.

But Leto has been my acting mother these eight months so it's not all bad I suppose. I also managed to make friends with Nona and a goddess named Eirene. And Freya and Bellona has taken me under their wing. After I finally defeated Bellona, Freya demanded a dinner in my honor. How love and war worked so well in a relationship, I wasn't sure but somehow they made it work. Watching them made me long for Peter but I enjoyed their company.

"I just miss him..." I finally said.

My dad frowned, pulling me into a tight hug. "I know," he said. "I miss him too."

****

I entered Bellona and Freya's cottage the night of my birthday wearing one of my casual gowns. Of course, my version of casual doesn't follow the word gown but honestly, I was enjoying the fashion here on Fraygard.

"Althea!" Freya called, wrapping me in one of her warm embraces. "Happy birthday lovie!"

I smiled, hugging the plumper woman back as she kissed my cheek.

"Okay love," said Bellona. "Don't suffocate the girl."

"I'm sorry," Freya said, pulling out of the hug. "Nona should be here soon."

"We're eating in the garden," Bellona said, moving her half side of cornrows over her shoulder.

Bellona looked like the personification of war. She had dark skin, some patches of scars and burns lightening some of her skin. Half of her head was shaved, symbols shaved into it while the other side was in cornrows and dreads. She was incredibly tall and buff as well. It made Freya and Bellona as a couple even stranger with Freya's honey blonde hair, fair skin and plump body. An odd couple at first glance but after time with them, you see why they work.

Bellona put her hand on my shoulder, leading me to the garden.

"We got you a gift," Freya beamed as the three of us sat down at a table. She handed the box over and I smiled kindly as I began to open it.

"Thanks guys... but I already have a crown," I said.

"You can never have too many," Freya said.