The Leviathan's Constellation

Chapter 2: Cassiopeia 9022 BCE

"He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still." -Lao Tzu

Cassiopeia took a breath to compose herself before she walked through the portal she had created and into a large throne room. There was a large table in the middle with charonte demons sitting around it chatting loudly. They looked at her, quieting slightly at her arrival. She looked to the other end of the room towards the empty throne.

Mother must be in the gardens.

She turned out of the room leaving the demons to continue their discussions. It was not unusual for Cassiopeia to appear at random to visit Lilith. She was the only god who visited her on a regular basis. After the prophecy was decreed, over 18 years ago, her mother had sent a demon with her brother and hid him in the mortal realm then fled to Kalosis, the Atlantean hell realm. Archon couldn't kill her here so as her punishment, he trapped her here until one of her children died. So here her mother sat in prison waiting for her son to grow up and destroy the Atlanteans. Cassiopeia walked down the dark corridor towards the gardens. The walls were black marble with gold streaks like crackling lightning. As she got closer to the garden she could hear the garden moths chirping and smell the sweet apricot-y smell of oleander mixed with the sweet floral smell of belladonna. She turned the corner and walked through the gate into the garden. The garden had over 100 different types of flowers and plants and, as expected for a garden in the hell realm, all of them were deadly. The garden was in a courtyard in the center of the palace. On the far wall, water sprang from a large fountain which fell down the wall into a small pool. Her mother liked to sit and look into the pool, which showed her what was happening in the other realms. Today, Lilith was sitting on her favorite bench near the center of the garden. One of her charonte demon companions slowly brushed her long blonde hair. The demon looked up at Cassiopeia as she entered and whispered to Lilith.

"My little star. So wonderful for you to visit me. I am saddened that I had to send for you to come."

"I'm sorry, matra, but Archon has been more paranoid than ever as the 18 year mark approaches. It's been nearly impossible for me to come any sooner."

She felt bad about not visiting her mother more often but she knew she had to be cautious. Even though Archon was her father, if he found out she was visiting her mother he would unleash his wrath on her.

"Well, funny you should mention it, that is why I wanted to speak to you. When your brother gets his powers he is going to need help. Someone to be there for him. To guide him. I want that someone to be you."

Cassiopeia was taken aback by what her mother was asking and slightly angered. Just the fact that she knew where her brother was put her life in danger but now her mother wanted her to go visit him and teach him how to use his powers. If Archon found out that she not only knew where her brother was but that she helped him become stronger no amount of family bond could stop his wrath against her. Not even his fear of Set or Lilith would stop him from killing her. Why did Lilith care so much? Her brother had caused all of their current problems. If not for him, Lilith would be free from this domain and living where she belonged, in the pantheon with her daughter and the other Atlantean Gods. Cassiopeia would have her mother and not have to sneak around to see her. Acheron, in her mind, had already destroyed the Atlantean pantheon by tearing her family apart. But now her mother asked her to go protect him, to help him become strong and powerful. It hurt her that her mother would put her in danger for the safety of her other child.

"Why me? Why not send a charonte? Why not bring him here and train him yourself."

"You are can teach him more than a charonte could about control. I can't risk bringing him here and Archon sensing him in my domain." She could hear the aggravation in her mother's voice growing. "Why are you so bothered by this request? He is your brother."