Daughter of Mars

Daughter of the War God

Proserpina sucked in a deep breath, filling her infantile lungs with air as she reached her arm back and threw the spear. The sharp point pierced the center of the painted wood target.

She glanced over her shoulder to see if her aunt had been watching. Diana arched a brow in question. Proserpina whipped her head around, realizing she had made a mistake, but it was too late.

Steady but firm footsteps from behind her told Proserpina her aunt was coming. She sighed as she removed another spear from the basket.

"You've hit the target the last five throws. I think it's safe to say you've mastered this distance. Let's move back ten steps." Diana instructed.

Frustrated, Proserpina shoved the spear back into the basket. "Every time I get good at something you make it more difficult."

Diana crossed her arm over her chest. "That's how we improve ourselves. What would be the point if there is no challenge?"

Her aunt had a point. "It was fun when I beat Aradia the other day," Proserpina admitted.

Diana picked up the basket of spears and set it back. Proserpina took up a spear and looked back at her aunt. Diana nodded for her to continue.

Proserpina positioned herself in front of the target and with all the strength she could muster she chucked the spear. A smile spread across her face when it hit the center eye. She turned to her aunt beaming.

"Well done, Proserpina. See now, was that not more rewarding?" Diana pulled another spear from the basket and held it out to her.

"It was!" Proserpina took the spear.

"You're already moving her to fifty paces?" Aradia whined.

Proserpina found her cousin standing behind her, arms crossed in annoyance.

"I only just got to fifty paces last week. Why is she at fifty paces? She's only eight, that's not fair!" Aradia approached.

"This behavior is not becoming for a young worrier." Diana scolded her daughter. "We all move at our own pace. There is no need for this to be a competition. Now, come watch her with me Aradia, this child cannot miss the target."

Aradia puffed air out of her nose like a pissed off bull. "Sorry, mother," she half-heartedly apologized.

"If your truly remorseful you will commit to change. You know how I feel about empty promises." Diana raised a brow. "If you do not wish to watch then you can throw spears right along with her."

Aradia marched towards a basket of spears, she carried it over and set it down next to Proserpina's. Taking up a spear Aradia slid her foot back into the correct stance.

Proserpina couldn't help but watch her. She'd never admit it to Aradia but she was envious of her. Aradia was a lot like her mother. Graceful but powerful, skilled but beautiful. They were the ideal women and Proserpina wished she could be just like them.

Despite her best efforts to behave with grace, Proserpina was turning out to be more like her father. Strong, athletic, and skilled but savage in her movements. Diana and Aradia move like dancers but Proserpina and Mars move like a beast in the wild. Diana would often say that she had asked her to pick an apple but she uprooted the tree.

Proserpina watched Aradia throw the spear and it hit the target a little to the left. Aradia stomped her foot, turning to glare at Proserpina as if it was somehow her fault.

"Proserpina!" She heard her Aunt Ceres call for her. She was saved!

"Looks like that's it for today, Proserpina." Diana smiled.

"Yay!" Proserpina cheered, lazily chucking the spear in her hand. It hit the center of the target once again. As she turned to leave, she caught a glimpse of Aradia's face flush red.

"There you are." Ceres was waiting for her by the entryway, "Come, we don't have a lot of time before your father arrives."

Proserpina's face lit up. She had forgotten today was the day her father was to return.

"I have set out a gown for you already, now hurry off to the bath you're filthy."

Proserpina didn't need to hear more and ran off down the hall. "Walk!" Her aunt's voice boomed.

"Okay!" Proserpina slowed her pace until she turned the corner and then ran the rest of the way.

As she entered the bath, she breathed in the strong metallic-like scent. It was unique to her father's bathhouse. A combination of mixed oils and metal flakes, relentlessly circulated until they almost dissolved in the water.

Proserpina kicked off her sandals, leaving dust on the floor around her. She pulled her stained dress off and tossed it into the basket. Taking a running start Proserpina lept into the pool. She held her breath underwater, counting each second slowly in her head before popping up for air.

"I made it to 130 that time!" Prosperina called out, sleeking her hair back out of her face.

"Did you count fast or slow?" Ceres asked.

"Slow!" Proserpina answered too quickly. Her aunt gave her an all-knowing look.

"You need to focus Proserpina. You can play later." Ceres reprimanded her before leaving her alone again.

Proserpina swam to the opposite side of the pool and reached for a bottle sitting on the edge. She squirted a good amount of soap into her hand before rubbing it into her hair.

Proserpina tilted her head under one of the fountains and rinsed the soap from her hair.

The bathhouse was the room she liked the most, because of the ceiling. The stained glass roof depicting her father's most triumphant battle. He often spoke of it. The time when he defeated Aries and became the god of war. It was also Proserpina's favorite story. A heroic tale, full of fierce fighting. When the sun's rays would shine through the glass it would cast a red glow over the room.

"Proserpina!" Ceres called.

"Coming!" Proserpina dunked her head under the water and shook her hair out a few times before rushing up the steps. The metallic flakes left glittering in her hair. She grabbed a robe from the stack and wrapped herself in it as she hurried down the hall to her room.

"Took you long enough." Ceres crossed her arms over her chest as Proserpina entered the room.

She moved over to her bed and picked up the olive green dress. She smiled as her thoughts drifted back to her father. Oh, how she had missed him.