We Bent Fate

Chapter 5.

MARTHA

For a few years, Zeus' judgment worked. But then I became unhappy. I was besotted with him and he was a mortal.

I longed for him when we were parted and I worried that this fragile life might be cut short by some unforeseen danger.

But I had a plan. I found my girdle of love and desire, and fastened it around my waist. When I was wearing it, no one could resist me. "This year, we will hunt together." I said seductively and stood in front of him.

He had no choice. He couldn't say no. He didn't want to say no. So I played at being a mortal and for a while even I forgot that I was a goddess. I would pull my skirt up to my knees, throwing a hand back to get my quiver of arrows. Sometimes in the night, I would confide in him my despair.

"My love, let's avoid the lions, the wolves and the other horrifying beasts that might tear you apart into scribbles. Let's avoid such dangerous hustle and rather stay together throughout our lives." I'd say and he would silence my mouth with his kisses, answering neither yes nor no.

But my poor mortal love, how could he have known that his very passion of hunting and my passion of loving him would take the shape of his own death?

How could he have known that mortals and the immortals are not meant to coexist?

And, most questionable of all, which of all the Gods would bear to see an immortal like me flourishing the seeds of my love for a mortal born?

I woke up with a start, gasping and my temple beaded with sweat. Austin stirred next to me, his arms curling around my waist now trying to soothe me back to sleep. I try to calm down and sunk back in next to him.

"Bad dream?" He asks, his voice raspy but soft. I hummed in answer and he pulled me closer.

I hesitate before putting an arm around him as I quell the wake of embarrassment of behaving so dramatically in front of Austin. But there is something more than that, that disturbs me.

It is this dream I saw. It brings back a feeling of familiarity; Of something I couldn't seem to grasp but it affects me well enough to stir a deep wall inside me.

Okay, I am just thinking too much now. Why on earth would I suddenly dream of a hunter and a huntress falling in love, anyway?

I tried to silence my mind and looked up at Austin, his eyes closed and solemn. His breath fanning my forehead. I smiled and closed my eyes as my mind replayed all the things that had happened today.

"Do you know how beautiful you are?"

I don't even remember him but something in him makes me feel.....familiar.

Obviously he is familiar to me. He is my freaking boyfriend. It's me who lost her memory.

You don't remember me but I can never forget you. No matter what happens.

I smile at his memory and try to hold onto it. The line repeats itself over and over again in his voice in my mind like an orchestra of my own and slowly, I feel myself losing into darkness with Austin's name on my lips.

The one thing I notice when I wake up in the morning is that I am too warm but the person who was keeping me warm is no longer there. I absentmindedly feel my hands over the cold mattress that he had left for me and immediately sit up, suddenly wide awake.

"Looking for someone?" I hear a low gruff of a voice, etched with amusement. I flush.

He stands across the room, shirtless and only in black Jockey boxers, grinning wide at me. I notice a few beads of water lain across his beautifully sculpted torso and then I avert my gaze. "Yeah..no..uh." I stammer and his grin widens. "What's the time?" I ask just to change the subject.

"Eight-thirty." He answers. "The breakfast is ready. I'll be waiting for you downstairs. Be quick!" He flashes a toothy smile as he slips in a white tee shirt and black pants, and I smile back.

The breakfast table was as quiet as ever till all of us had finished whatever was on the table. I was chewing on my last bite when suddenly something brushed my bandaged ankles and I yelped, almost choking on my food.

"What is it?" All three of them asked me in unison.

I looked under the table and spotted a black furry kitten, rubbing itself on my leg. I slowly pick her up and she puts a paw on my nose.

"Oh. That's Lulu." Lila says. "You adopted her."

"No wonder I did. She is adorable." I yelp out gleefully and she meows in response. An 'Awe' escapes my lips and my sisters roll their eyes while from the corner of my eye, I can see Austin ogling at me.

"Martha, if you are done playing with this fur-ball, do get ready. We need to go somewhere." Chloe said as she stood up from the table and left to the kitchen. I shared a look with Austin who shrugged in response.

***

The place was off the road near a barren, to the west. The black grilled gates opened with a creak, Tartarus written in Gold on the black nameplate, as we entered an unusually dark place and within the place stood a vast bungalow. I looked up at the trees surrounding the place as if they were deliberately trying to shield the place from the glaring gaze of the sun. I shivered as I looked back up at the familiar bungalow that Lila had told was our home.

We rung the bell and after a minute, a short dark haired woman opened the door. Her silver eyes widened when they landed on me. "Martha! My child!" She cried, her voice heavy as she took me into an embrace. I smiled at her and a wave of familiarity washed through me.

"Mom." The word rose in my mouth like blood.

"Yes, my child. You remember me." She says and kisses my cheeks. "Come inside, you. I was expecting my girls."

We entered the huge palace like bungalow. We were passing through a wide courtyard, it almost looked like a throne room. On the ceiling was a beautiful chandelier and I gasped. "This is my home?"

"Yes, sweetie. All yours. Of course, it is." My mother smiled at me. "Please sit down. I have to talk to you. It is important."

"Yes, mother." Chloe says, her voice sterns and I slightly frown at her, wondering if she ever smiles. "Is father home?"

"Not yet." Mother replies and then she looks at me. "Martha, your cousin brother wants to see you."

"Hello girls." I hear a hoarse voice from behind and I spin around to see a huge muscular guy grinning at me.

"Hi Martha, I am Hughoc. Your cousin. I am doubtful if you remember me." I don't say anything but smile at him. "I have some important business with you. Would you mind coming with me?" He says and I hesitate then nod. Lila gives me an assuring nod when I look back at her before turning to leave with my cousin.

I arrive at a separate room and he tells me to sit on the comfortable sofa across the room. I oblige and he follows me, sitting next to me. "Martha, you don't remember anything and I am here to help you. Do you understand?"

I nod, confused.

"Now, relax Martha. I need you to be patient with me." He cocks his neck to a side, flexing with his muscles and I feel slightly intimidated with his dark eyes. "Sit back, okay?" He holds my shoulders and bores his dark eyes into me. I can count the golden specks in his irises. My head sways a little, bobbing like it is out of control.

"Are you listening to me?" He says and I nod.

"Do you believe me?" He asks and I nod.

"Listen carefully." He says and my eyes start to droop a little. I suddenly feel very drowsy and tired. "Answer my questions."

In a second, I am tele-ported to somewhere weirdly familiar. A few faces skim through a slideshow. A few words cross and catch my ears and then I see myself. I see my green eyes and then I see a hunter and a huntress in disguise. I see a girl with green eyes and a fearful girl with a box. I hear my cousin clear his throat and I prepare myself.

"Who are you?" He asks and the answer comes before even I begin to give meaning to it.

"I am Martha Moirai, daughter of Nyx and one of the Fates. The demigod of death."