Megara: Ancient History

Fate's Hollow

If it weren't for the ice cold shiver running down my spine, Fate's Hollow would seem like a dream. A stream cuts through the middle of the blue-green grass, and mossy boulders encircle the clearing. At the foot of a trickling waterfall, there's that beguiling, lucrative zeusflower, floating in the bubbles. I almost want to take one and run, but I know what touching those forbidden petals awakes, and even Hesta's Bounty is useless if you're dead.

Ethos is enraptured by the Hollow. Distracted by the beauty. As if beauty isn't just a mask for evil intent and selfish gain. I almost smile at the familiarity of that metaphor.

I have to grab him by the arm and drag him forward.

"It's beautiful," he whispers.

"Yeah, charming," I say, shoving him into the stream. It splashes around his ankles, and I brace myself for what's next.

Whispers in the trees announce their arrival. Then, as if they'd been there all along, hiding in the shadow of the rocks, they step forward. Ugly and twisted, no need to cover up their flaws since they hold our very lives in their hands. I hear the slice of scissors opening and closing, and I shudder.

"What a handsome man, who was wandered into our stream."

"A shame he's here. I think he would've looked even better in a couple years."

"Let me cut the string! Please! Let me!"

"Ladies, ladies," I saw, pulling Ethos out of the stream before the Fates can hobble any closer. When he's out of the water, some of the daze in his eyes fades. "Let's not fight over loverboy here."

One of the Fates, with a single eye in her head, blinks twice at me. "I know you." She squints. "You've been here before."

"Don't be ridiculous Atropos! Nobody comes here twice."

"Well she has!"

"No, she hasn't."

"She has."

"Maybe you're not seeing things clearly!"

"I'm the only one with an EYE, Clotho!"

I shove Ethos to the ground so he doesn't idiotically stumble back into those intoxicating waters. "We're here to talk shop, ladies, sorry to disappoint you."

Atropos grumbles something under her breath, but Clotho steps forward. I dig my fingers into Ethos's shoulder, glad there's a stream between us. Not that it does me any good, but it makes me feel better.

"You must have a very good reason to be here."

"My boy here Ethos is walking into the lion's den, and he's kind of hoping you'll give him a sword." I whack Ethos on the back to get him started, but he's still staring at the Fates dumbly. I sigh. Why do I always end up doing all the work? "How much does it cost to get this man to the top of Mount Olympus alive?"

The Fates all gasp collectively. Oh, that's not good. Nothing shocks a Fate.

"No, no, no," Clotho says. "The top of Mount Olympus is for the gods. Unless this man is a god... there's nothing we can do."

"Not unless Zeus says otherwise!" Atropos sings.

"You're in charge of his fate, though," I say. "Surely you can just... hold off snipping that string until he reaches the top?"

"No, no, no."

"In fact, I might just snip it now!" the third one says, brandishing the scissors.

"Oh, to hell with you," I growl, yanking Ethos to his feet.

"I'm from hell, sweetie!" one of the Fates calls out as I stomp away.

You really can't find good help these days. If the Fates won't help, I'll do it myself. That's what I always end up doing anyway.

As soon as we stumble back into the forest, Ethos regains his clarity, and he looks back at me. "They were hideous!" is all he has to say.

"At least we didn't take any of their precious flowers," I mutter, starting to walk back the way we came. "If we had, we wouldn't make it out of this forest alive."

It takes a second to realize Ethos isn't following me. I roll my eyes and spin around to see why he's dragging behind, and my eyes lock on the golden glow coming from his hand. He looks up at me just as an ear-piercing scream cuts through the air.

"Run!" I shout, turning tail out of there.

This was not something I wanted to do twice in my life.

The branches close in on us, trying to trip our feet and suck us into the darkness of the forest. The deafening screeches of the Fates are getting closer behind us, and my heart thuds against my ribcage. Stupid, stupid Ethos! Of course he'd grab a flower, of course he'd be too dazed to control himself. This is why I always work alone!

Suddenly a branch curls around my ankle, and I smack into the dirt. I reach for anything, anything to grab on to, as the trees pull me backwards.

There's a cackle of the Fates just behind me, and I turn onto my back to see one hovering just above me. Her bony hands reach for me, and I cover my face with my arms.

Then there's an angry shriek, and I feel the grip on my ankle loosen. I look up to see something hanging in the air. Ethos reaches into his bag and pulls out a handful of some kind of powder, throwing it towards the Fate. She recoils, hissing at him, and he grabs my hand.

"Hurry!" he yells, pulling me to my feet.

We race as fast as our feet can carry us, but the shrieking fades behind us. The trees thin. Finally, we feel safe enough to stop, and I collapse onto a fallen log. We're silent for a minute, catching our breath.

"You didn't happen to keep that flower on you, did you?" I manage between breaths.

Ethos looks up at me cynically. "I dropped it."

I lay down on my back, staring into the treetops. "I guess I can't harp on you for that." I get up on one elbow, looking at him. "What was that stuff?"

He glances back into the forest, still on edge. "Celestial repellant," he explains.

I tap my fingers against the log. I don't want to appear ungrateful, but no one knows the dangers of being indebted better than I do. "Thanks for saving my life back there."

He raises an eyebrow at me. "Thanks for saving mine."

I watch him as he stands, glistening from our narrow escape. I can't tell if he likes adventure, or if adventure likes him, but the worst part is I can't tell if I like him. I shouldn't. I can't afford to like anyone.

Before my emotions can escape from the deep dark hole I've always shoved them into, I stand abruptly and meander towards him, pulling my hair over my shoulder. "Who needs the Fates anyway? You've got me."