Chapter Text
I stare at my opponent on the mat, the man towering over me by a good five inches and ripped with muscle. We’re both breathing heavy as we stand taking a break from our most recent round of sparring. Droplets of sweat roll down my face and I shake my head to keep them from landing near my eyes before I grab a towel someone throws from the sideline and begin dabbing my skin. He’s had me training for months like this, and he never seems to tire. Then again, he’s Ares, the god of war; he never wears out.
“That was a good round, kid,” he huffs as he, too, dries his olive skin with a towel.
I nod. “I…can’t believe…I tagged you twice…in a row this time.” My words linger with my labored breathing.
“Your strategy in fighting has improved greatly.” I turn to face the owner of the voice, a woman standing as tall as her brother, her muscling well-defined like his. Her spear and shield hang across her back, a somewhat stern knit in her brow that doesn’t quite hide the hint of pride in her eyes. “I do believe you’ll be able to hold your own.” I stare, my thoughts looming in my head. Her stern look sharpens and her pride slowly fades. I should know better than to doubt the goddess of wisdom. “You don’t doubt me, you doubt yourself, Wren.”
Her words surprise me. “We talked about not listening to my thoughts, Athena…”
“I don’t need to read your thoughts when your eyes tell me everything.”
Next to her, another woman stands with her arms crossed over her sternum. “You are capable, you have been from the very beginning. If you weren’t we wouldn’t have taken you in.” She smiles and winks, unfolding her arms to make a heart with her hands. Sweet Aphrodite.
I can’t help but scoff. “Still don’t get why you all did. You’re all these amazing gods and goddesses of the Greek pantheon who oversee all of this universe along with the hundreds of other deities, yet you choose to take in some teenager who was minutes away from bleeding out on purpose for some unfathomable reason. Mortals die every day, many who had a life like I had, many who choose to go out like I tried, and none of you bat an eye with them.”
“They’re not you, silly girl,” a man says behind them, lying lazily on the bench against the wall. His winged headband flutters as he smirks at me, peering through giant square sunglasses. “You’re different than the other mortals. You didn’t deserve the way your life started.”
“That doesn’t ease my thoughts, Hermes. I’m still just a mortal who’s as insignificant as the rest of them.”
“As I told you when I plucked you out of Charon’s boat. You’re not insignificant, and you weren’t going to end your life knowing nothing but strife from everyone around you.”
Ares clasps my shoulder to get my attention. “You’re strong, little bird. That’s what drew us to you.”
I hold back my tears. “You know I can’t ever fully accept or acknowledge your reasonings, but I appreciate everything you say and do for me.”
He spins me around. “All right. One more round to end today.”
My shoulders sink. “That’ll make seven…”
“Good; seven’s the perfect number.” He takes my towel and throws it and his off the mat toward the other three. Aphrodite shrieks as they land close to her bare feet.
“EW! Ares! What in Tartarus was that for?!”
“Sorry my sweet. I wasn’t looking where I was throwing it.”
I muffle a laugh. “It’s such a good thing that Hephaestus keeps your relationships open.” His head whips towards me and I smirk. “All right then. Round seven. This is our last time to do this, anyway, right?”
The incredulous look he gives from my relationship comment fades and he gives me a smirk of his own. “You’re right, it is.” He assumes a battle-ready stance. “You ready for this new adventure?”
I mirror him. “After all you guys have prepped me for, I sure as shit hope so.”
I hold my ground, blocking the fists aiming for my face with crossed arms and brace my stance by locking my legs in place. Every strike he takes I block, save one where he tags my shoulder. I grimace but shake it off. Ares’ eyes light up with pride.
“Good, now come at me,” he lectures.
I obey, following through with a series of quick arm thrusts he easily deflects. I keep those strikes flowing, ensuring that he’s good and distracted before I link my leg with one of his and buckle his knee, getting him to collapse onto the mat.
“Clever girl,” Hermes sighs, clearly impressed as Ares gasps for air.
“No movie quotes from you,” Aphrodite chides. “It’s bad enough you’ve embraced this new look from that music Wren plays constantly.”
“He’s not wrong, though,” Athena says. I pin Ares to the mat, taking quick hold of his arm and pressing two fingers against the crux of his elbow. With a second of pressure, Ares goes unconscious. “She’s quite clever.”
One long, hot shower later, we five all sit at a circular table in a dining hall accompanied by several other gods who’ve overseen my care over the last six years. Zeus and Hera, Poseidon and Demeter, Apollo and Artemis. Dionysus is serving everyone food and drink, and Hephaestus is off to the side in the room working on his inventions.
“Are you ready for tomorrow, young Wren?” Apollo asks in his sing-song voice.
I smile. “I’d be more ready if you all told me where exactly we’re heading towards.”
“Oh, but it’d spoil the surprise, dawling!” Hermes chimes in, hiccupping from his chalice of wine.
A laugh escapes me as I roll my eyes. “I agree with Aphrodite’s earlier comment. I shouldn’t have shown you that music. You’ve embraced that version of you.”
He fluffs his fur coat. “But doesn’t it make me seem more fabulous?”
“Enough, Hermes,” Poseidon warns, the grumble in his voice like waves on an ocean.
“You’re just mad that the music shows you getting your ass handed to you!”
“Hermes,” Zeus’ voice booms. “Enough.” That garnishes silence from the messenger god.
“Can I at least get a hint of where we’re going? I mean, clearly it’s some place where I’ve had to train like crazy with Ares and Athena for practically a year, and you all had me take a test some time ago.”
“You’ll see what it is tomorrow,” Athena promises.
“Your pack is ready to go,” Artemis adds. “It’s filled with what you’ll need initially, then it will contain what you’ll need most. Keep that pack with you as often as possible.”
I nod, then stop about halfway. “Wait…you make that sound like you won’t be around…” The table grows silent, the only sounds being Hephaestus hammering on his work, and I stare at them all. “Don’t tell me I’m going alone…”
They look at one another. “You’re not going alone,” Athena replies. “We are going to be there. However, we won’t be with you the way you’re used to.”
Panic wells within me, though I try desperately to quell it. “How do you mean?”
“This universe has their own deities, just like every other universe in existence,” Hera explains. “They govern their realm and have very stringent rules set in place. When we explained your situation to ensure your safe passage, they agreed that you’d be welcomed by them, but we can’t interfere with their people.”
“Not to mention that we must be here, too, to oversee those who worship us,” Demeter adds.
“Yes, that, too.”
“When we arrive, our powers will be greatly reduced, and we can’t be seen by their people,” Athena says. “Therefore, we will be there in a different way. Unfortunately, that means that, at least for the first few months, you won’t be able to hear us.”
My eyes widen, and I’m unable to hold back the fear. “No…no, no, no…” My gaze whips around to each of them. “I…I can’t not hear you…I have to hear you…You all keep those thoughts away…I’m going to—”
“Wren.” I face Poseidon and we stare at one another. Silence stills the room once again, even the hammering ceases. In my head I hear the rolling tide of the oceans, the sound of it beating against the beach. It grounds me and soothes my thoughts.
“You’ll be fine those first few months,” Apollo says, taking hold of my forearm. “You’ll be so busy that you won’t have time for those thoughts to occur.”
“And as I stated, we will be there with you,” Athena promises. “Even if you can’t hear us for some time, you’ll still see us.”
“Don’t forget what we’ve each taught you, little bird,” Ares says, his voice rough but calm. He glances at each god before continuing. “You are strong enough to outlast any opponent, including yourself.”
“You are smart enough to outwit any obstacle,” Athena says with a grin, “including yourself.”
“You love enough to find good in any friend,” Aphrodite hums, showing her heart hands before gesturing them toward me, “including yourself.”
“You sow your own seeds and grow to be a better version of yourself,” Demeter grins.
Hermes hiccups. “Yes, yes, you’re a badass who can kick ass and take names.” We all stare at him. He lifts his chalice. “All of you giving her your little thematic philosophical quips. Inflate her ego just enough and she’ll be as pig-headed as lightning wielder over there.”
My jaw drops as lightning flashes in the sky outside. Thunder immediately follows “Hermes you dick! Are you trying to have Zeus smite you?!”
“Oh dawling, you should know by now that big daddy Zeus can’t strike me down with his little light show. For all he knows, I may like it.”
Zeus’ eyes narrow at him. “Do you want me to test that theory?” Hermes opens his mouth to speak, freezes, then clearly thinks better of it in spite of his drunkenness and shuts it. “That’s what I thought. Dio, no more wine for him.” The king of the gods then turns and faces me. “You will be fine, Wren. We will ensure it. While universes have their similarities, remember that this one won’t be like here. You’ll have friends.”
“How can you be so sure?” I ask.
“We’re positively sure,” Apollo says. I look at him and he taps his temple. The god of prophecies, of course.
“All right, enough worrying,” Hephaestus yells out from his work station. I turn to face him. “The girl needs to eat and rest; she’s got a long day ahead of her.” He stands and approaches me, and I gawk at what he’s carrying. A handful of weapons of varying types – daggers, a hunting knife, even bladed discs, leather clothing armored with a material I don’t recognize. “You’ll wear these tomorrow.”
I blink in surprise. “You made all this for me?”
He shrugs. “You’ll need them.”
After a moment, I nod and accept his gifts. “Thank you.” I turn to face the rest of them. “Thank you all.” I draw a deep breath to keep my emotions in check, then I smile. “I’m ready for tomorrow.”