RELÁMPAGO, leo valdez

XXXIII. the warning of thirteen days

0033. | THE WARNING
OF THIRTEEN DAYS

          The rest of the night was a blur. Nadia vaguely remembered retelling the story of their quest but she wasn't much help with her shaking hands and blurry vision that made it hard to formulate words. She couldn't think straight, especially after what had happened to her.

Nadia had never been more grateful to see a mattress in her life when she reached the Hecate cabin. So much so that she was able to ignore the statue of her mother that now scared her since she had met her in person. The statue was no longer mystifying, more a reminder of the pressure and betrayal she had experienced by her mother.

          But nevertheless, it was easy to ignore when her vision was so distorted with exhaustion and so was the green gift wrapped item on her bedside. She was out like a light as soon as her head hit the pillow.

            Nadia dreamt she was in a temple on the top of a tall hill. There was tourists ambling about with cameras and sun hats but none of them seemed to notice her. It was like as soon as their eyes drifted towards her they turned the other way immediately. Nadia could sense the Mist blocking their view of her and when she saw who was in front of her, she understood why.

           "Kaliméra, Nadejda. Good morning, Nadejda." Athena stood before her not like she had during their visit with the Sleep Stone, but different. She looked incredibly Grecian and regal, like she was in great power where they stood. Nadia then realised where they were. The temple was the Parthenon at the top of the Athenian Acropolis. "Den eínai exairetikó to sunrise? Isn't the sunrise exquisite?"

           Nadia wondered why she was speaking in Greek but she chose not to question it. Athena looked strangely content compared to how she had looked upon their first meeting, like she was drawing power from their surroundings. Nadia figured she was comfortable where they were in the city of her strength rather than a temple in Olympus. "Naí, yes," she said, seeing the yellow glow across the rising pale blue sky. "Allá nomízo óti protimó ti nychta. But I think I prefer the night."

           Athena's expression winced for a moment before she regarded Nadia. "Dystychós, den írtha edó gia na syzitíso ti sfaíra tou patéra mou. Alas, I did not come here to discuss my father's realm." Athena managed a small smile that Nadia noticed looked quite strained. "Den thélo na enochlíso ton ypno sas, allá eínai o mónos trópos pou boró na epikoinoníso mazí sas se aftín ti fórma. I do not mean to disturb your sleep, but it is the only way I can contact you in this form." She said, "Syntoma tha zérete tin alítheia, allá edó eínai pou eímai ischyróteros. Ísos na min méino edó gia poly, tha íthela móno na sas po kálá - o Enceladus den tha epistrépsei poly syntoma. You will soon know the truth but this is where I am strongest. I may not stay here for long, I only wished to tell you 'well done' - Enceladus will not be coming back too soon."