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Helios on his blazing chariot had just begun to race across the sky pushing his sister Selene into hiding. Some towns still slept, but the forest began to stir. In this particular forest there was a breeze nymph who was known as Anemi. Her hair, composed of soft, white clouds fell to her waist. Her skin, snowy white, contrasted strongly with her electric blue doe eyes and soft lips. She happened to be chubby but it was a healthy sort of chubby. She sat in a towering tree staring up at the blazing sun. She soon heard a rich voice begin to sing
“While you live shine,
have no grief at all,
life exists only for a short while,
and time demands its toll.”
Anemi would swear upon her life that it was the most beautiful voice she’d ever heard. She lazily floated up to greet the singer but they were nowhere to be seen. She floated back to the tree and scrambled down. She sprinted through the forest, leaves falling softly like souls towards hades. She did this for an entire day before she skidded to a stop in front of an old man with the body of a horse in the gaping mouth of a cave. He was braiding a young girl’s hair which was coarse like hay. The elder softly motioned for the girl to go inside. The girl scurried off leaving Anemi and the man alone on the edge of the cave. “What do you desire, young breeze?” He rasped.
“I seek the man who sang so beautifully yesterday, might that be you?” She replied airily.
“I heard the man you seek but it is not I.”
“Have you seen where he disappeared to?” She inquired, her hair hovering over her huge eyes.
“All I can say is that no living man could sing so heavenly.”
Anemi let a giggle escape her lips before saying “Could you sing for me dearest elder?”
The man shook his head before saying “Only Apollo himself could soothe your longing for music.”
“Can Apollo teach me the way of music?” She inquired. The old man nodded calmly. She grinned in a childish fashion before asking “Where might I find him?”
“I would seek out the oracle of Delphi, she can impart the knowledge you seek.”
The man snatched Anemi’s hand and continued “I request you remain here while I retrieve something.” Anemi nodded as he shakily stood up and trotted into his cabin. Anemi spun in a circle through the air blowing leaves around until the elderly man returned holding an instrument that was known as a lyre. “This is the instrument of Apollo, treat it with respect.” She spun it round in her hand excitedly, she tugged on a string with obvious hope that she might make music. The man grabbed her hand once more and said “Wait till you meet the leader of the muses.” Anemi sighed before tossing the lyre up. It vanished in a gust of wind and the old man smiled warmly. “I wish you luck.” He told her as she glanced at him.
“My dear elder, might I know your name?”
“I am well-known as Chiron, now off with you.”
She nodded as she once again ran away.
Anemi departed from the forest in which she’d remained for centuries. The forest nymphs watched enviously but they waved goodbye at the very least. Anemi, unaware of their envy, screamed goodbye back with her hand flapping like the grass does in the wind. Soon she reached the domain of Poseidon where sea nymphs tried to ask her what she was doing. She replied to this with “I’ll tell you when I cross your home once more!” After two days of flying she reached the oracle’s home. There was a line which weaved like a snake that was full of humans. Anemi flew down and skipped the line. The human at the front frowned and said “Wait your turn!”
“I’m no mortal and won’t be put before one.” She replied sticking out her tongue. The human said no more and just frowned. Anemi flew into where the oracle resided and blew the human out with a puff of wind. She turned towards the oracle eagerly. “What do you wish for, child of wind?” the oracle asked in an echoey voice, keeping a reserved demeanor. “I long to meet the leader of the muses, Apollo, son of Leto and Zeus.” Was Anemi’s swift reply.
“Why do you wish to meet my master?”
“To learn the art of music” she said, bowing slightly.
“A noble desire indeed but to learn such a thing demands a diligent spirit.” The women rasped.
“I have diligence and would trade anything to learn such an art.”
“Begone child! Seek out my kin and request for directions to my abode. Only then shall I see you!” The oracle demanded… or rather Apollo demanded. The oracle’s voice at that moment though unintentionally had a musical quality to it which left Anemi even more determined. “I will prove to you, Apollo, that I am worthy of learning such an art!” The oracle nodded sharply before relaxing and returning to her raspy voice. “Begone like my master demands.”
“What kin did you speak of?”
“My greatest guess is that he spoke of the goddess of the hunt, now be off before he smites you.” The oracle snapped, her hands flying up in exasperation.
“I shall take my leave, thank Apollo for offering me a chance.”
“BEGONE” she shouted. Anemi scrambled off letting a massive smile spread across her moon colored face.
Anemi flew up in the sky above the rough domain of Poseidon. The waves crashed below with sea nymphs waving up at her. Anemi giggled before waving eagerly and yelling “I’m going to learn the art of music.” Below the sea nymphs roared with excitement and envy causing a ship to slam into a cliff. Anemi howled her goodbye and the sea nymphs all hooted. Selene gazed at the small breeze nymph from her silver chariot with a sense of curiosity. After the sea nymphs went silent Anemi flew up by Selene and started to giggle uncontrollably. Selene gave her a soft smile before saying “I hear you seek Artemis, child.”
“I do, have you any advice for me?”
“Be wary, Artemis isn’t fond of those who impede upon her hunt.” The moon goddess’s ethereal voice replied.
“I shall be wary, thank you for advice, guide of the moon” Anemi confirmed. Selene nodded as she turned the chariot to land, leaving Anemi floating. Right before Selene landed she looked back up to Anemi and shouted “Request knowledge from Athena for advice on how to approach Artemis.”
Anemi looked down in surprise then gave her a thumbs up while doing a flip.
Anemi hovered outside of Athena’s temple gazing inside at humans who worshiped her. She landed softly outside before walking in and falling on her knees. “Athena, I beg of you to impart wisdom on me.” The only response was silence. Anemi tried again repeating the phrase. This time she felt a tap on her shoulder. “I am the high priestess, follow me, we’ve been expecting you.”
Anemi trailed after her while peeking over her shoulder. She was led back to a room which contained a tall owlish woman. The room was suffocating with incense and dim candles. The woman had sharp features and was dressed in Athenian clothing. “Greetings nymph, I shall offer you my advice for a price.”
“I shall offer you anything, stormy eyed goddess.” Anemi promised.
“Retrieve for me the song of a siren and I shall tell you how to approach Artemis.”
“I shall complete this task for it pleases you.” Anemi replied, bowing her head.
“Do not show your face here till you have what I desire lest you face death.” She warned before pausing and continuing with “The sirens use what you long for… but rather for death. Keep this in mind, child.” Flames started to crawl up Athena’s dress before she burst into flame and all that remained was smoke. “I’ll see you off now, young goddess.” The high priestess said, leading her silently away.
Anemi stared from the cliff at the group of bird-women. The women had bodies of birds that consisted of golden and silver feathers. Their faces held great beauty with pale skin, straight noses, and perfectly symmetrical faces. The sirens noticed her rather quickly and flew up to inspect her and perhaps… drown her. “What is a child of the wind doing in our domain?” One chittered.
“Maybe she can direct a boat with men to us!” Another chirped eagerly.
“I seek your song to give to Athena in order that I might meet Artemis and learn the art of music from Apollo.” Anemi informed them curtly. The sirens started to chatter among themselves before turning to her. “We shall give you what you seek for a price.”
“What might the price be?”
“We want you to give this to Hermes for he protects sailors from our song.” they said unison, handing her a piece of rock with scratch marks. “You shall find him at the entrance of the underworld leading souls to their eternal home.”
“Then off I go.” Anemi said, bending into a deep bow while waving. She jumped backwards and flew away in a flurry of leaves and feathers.
Anemi landed softly in front of an obsidian gate with cruel spikes. The air surrounding seemed stiff and cold. It nipped at her cheeks turning them bright yellow. A three headed dog waited behind it; the dog’s heads all watched her with keen interest. Anemi beamed at it and the dog let out a soft growl before plopping down. She looked away and sat down criss cross. Soon a man with winged shoes and a wand came to the gate with a weary looking human. The human hovered at the gate and it started to creak open. It sucked the soul in and then let out a moan when it shut once more. Hermes turned towards Anemi, for it was Hermes, and asked “A youthful nymph such as yourself couldn’t be dead.”
“I am but a traveler seeking the art of music and I bear a message from the sirens.” She informed him. He gave her a crafty grin before taking the stone piece saying “I remember you, child, I shall accept the message. Tell those temptresses that it is my task to protect travelers regardless of their demands.”
“It shall be so.” Anemi confirmed before flying off. The dog whined watching her fly off.
She made it to the sirens within a day and landed in the same place as before. The sirens once more caught sight of her and eagerly flew up. “What has Lord Hermes said?!” They all chittered.
“He has demanded that I tell you it is his task to protect travelers.” Anemi replied curtly. The sirens hissed before handing her a jar, “Do not open this, it holds our music.” The sirens turned away and started to chatter and click. They turned towards her with a gleam in their eyes. “We kill messengers who bring poor news.” One hissed. Anemi frowned, “Cruel fate, and worse for me, I fear.”
“Run youthful breeze before we tear you to shreds.” One siren chirped. Anemi turned and leaped off the cliff as the sirens did too. One swiped at her leg and thankfully missed. Anemi zoomed up, staring down at the sirens who followed. Helios watched from his perch on his chariot, amusement was written all over his face. A siren caught hold of Anemi’s arm pulling her down into the swarm and they quickly began attempting to rip her apart. Anemi pulled her arms vainly and shook her legs vigorously. A couple sirens screeched as they had received a foot to the face. The sirens soon learned that ripping her apart was not working. They began to scratch and claw at her. Golden blood started to spread across her and stain her toga. Then everything stopped. The sirens froze and turned away towards a cloud. One started to hiss and another shrank away. Hermes peeked out of the cloud, his face slightly tilted. “My dear sirens, why do you tear at the breeze? Do you have no dignity?”
“Begone Hermes! You have no place here.” the lead siren said, baring her teeth.
“Wicked creature, you oppose the god of travelers.”
“I care not for your role, we shall claim her life.”
“You dare to defy a son of Zeus?!” His eyes took on a hard appearance.
“That I do!”
”Remember Spawn of Achelous, I granted you a chance for mercy when you cross the gates of Hades.” He spat and the sirens started to screech at the one who caused it.
”SILENT SISTERS!” The leader hissed, her claws unsheathing. The sirens all backed away and one flew into the leader. The leader went flying into Hermes who looked down with contempt.
”Even your own kind forsakes you.” He said, looking her up and down. Anemi, off to the side, clutched her arms with teary eyes. Hermes turned to Anemi “You alone hold the verdict. What is this wretch’s fate?” Anemi hovered there, her mouth opened and yet nothing came out. The siren stared into Anemi’s eyes waiting for the final word. The siren’s eyes started to water and Anemi closed her mouth. In one huge sob Anemi shouted “LET THEM PERISH! Please…” The sirens began to scramble furiously to get away from Hermes. “OH SWIFT FOOTED ONE, SPARE US!” They all screeched as they pushed each other towards him. Hermes began to sing a tale mocking the sisters. The sirens still scrambling over each other began to fall towards their watery grave. “How fitting. They have died on their own blade, ” Hermes said, chuckling. The sirens clawed at the water as the bubbles slowly stopped. One siren who had yet to sink let out one last song. It was full of chitters and rich notes though lacking in words. Then she went under… and never came up again. The air between them and the water seemed to both become thicker and colder. Anemi floated there staring down her limbs frozen with the weight of her choice. All at once her hands went flying towards her face. She clawed at her face, her eyes wide and cheeks golden. Her button nose began to bleed and her cheeks turned a pale yellow as the blood trickled down. She let out an ear piercing scream. “What have I done? What have I done? What have I done?! WHAT HAVE I DONE!” Her voice was progressively getting louder. “You gave them a fitting death.” Hermes snapped.
”Their song was exquisite and sublime and I extinguished it! I took from them what I seek myself” she sobbed. Her hands, now stained with golden blood, fell limply to her side. Hermes glanced at her, he shrugged and said, “Life is a trivial thing, there will be more sirens.” Hermes snapped and disappeared. The silence seemed to scream in Anemi’s ear as punishment. She hovered there for what seemed like an eternity before taking off into the wind. She clutched the bottle of song while tears streamed down her face silently. She didn’t deserve to make a sound after destroying theirs. “I shan't return to Athena…I will find death and it will pounce upon me like a tiger.” Anemi muttered. She snatched something from the air and looked down at a lyre. “Apollo, hear me! I am undeserving of your song!” She threw the lyre towards the cliff where it shattered just like a glass heart. She stretched out her hand instantly wishing she could undo her destruction of the lyre. Tears rolling down her face, she raced away.
“Young girl, what makes you sorrowful?” A young adult asked. She had long silvery hair that was tied into a ponytail. Her eyes glittered like the moon that rested upon her brow.
“I have lost the right to learn my greatest desire.” Anemi muttered, clinging to a branch of a tree.
“Who took this right?”
“I did and now I seek death by the hand of the huntress.”
“I don’t kill without cause, Anemi.” Artemis said, climbing onto the branch. Anemi turned towards her with stretched eyes and gaping mouth. “Goddess! Forgive me for my disrespect!”
”I shall offer you my advice. The music which you seek so vehemently belongs to everybody and nobody. Nobody deserves something so beautiful. The birds sing and yet they rip into larva without a second thought.” She paused thoughtfully before continuing “Music promises many things but kindness is not among them.”
“I took the music from their lips and destroyed their beauty.”
“Just as they attempted to do to you. Justice is an odd thing, child.”
“It doesn’t justify me.” Anemi said gazing at her swinging feet.
“Apollo will take something greater than what he gives. He will give you a curse for his gift and one for your actions. If you desire divine punishment seek him out on Helios’s island.” Artemis said, patting her head gently before jumping down. She whistled and hounds and nymphs all joined her. She waved while jumping on a stag which carried her off with nymphs following behind. Anemi stared at the place where Artemis had once sat. The silence enveloped her for a moment then a frog began to croak. After the frog the crickets joined in. Slowly but surely the music of the forest began to sing. The frogs, crickets, birds, rustling of branches, and cicadas all sung together in a beautiful harmony. An owl landed on the branch turning its wide gold eyes towards her. “Greeting creature of Selene.” She said, patting the owl.
“Who,” the owl replied. Anemi chuckled, swinging her legs “Is music not beautiful?”
“Who.”
“Why! the symphony surrounding us!”
“Who.”
Anemi sighed before leaping down from the tree. “I shall see Apollo but not to claim music but rather Hades.”
“Who.”
Anemi stared at Helios’s island from a cloud. There was a massive statue of Helios and cows surrounding it. The cows munched at the grass and if you looked a little closer you would see that they all shined. She bounced down and tread on the grass with utmost care. Anemi walked for at least half an hour till she reached a palace which loomed over her. A little boy swung open the door. He had a grin and was waving furiously. “Hi, I’m Phaethon!” Anemi waved back though it was much more timid. “I’m Anemi.”
“I KNOW! UNCLE APOLLO TOLD ME YOU WOULD COME!”
“Wonderful…”
“FOLLOW ME! UNCLE TOLD ME TO BRING YOU!” He interrupted. Anemi followed wordlessly into the marble walls. “I would show you my room first but Uncle said to bring you directly to him.” He said pouting. The walls were vibrant with paintings, tapestries, and carved marble. She passed through multiple hallways each with its own curios till she reached the last hallway. “Leave Phaethon, I shall speak to her myself.”
“OKAY!” He yelled before zipping away. Apollo exited a room and gave her a warm smile. “Do you still seek music? It is mine to give.”
“I am undeserving, I seek death.” Anemi muttered
“Why? The sirens died so you might live.”
“They need not have died.” She replied
“Hermes would’ve had their lives no matter what your choice. His offer of mercy was but a facade.” Apollo said, hovering over her.
“How was I to know? I still wanted their death.” She said, defending her guilt.
“I shall punish you but only if you accept my gift,”Apollo offered.
“I shall.”
Apollo began to walk around her muttering something. “You shall have the gift of song, young breeze. There are two prices, one for the gift and one for your act against the sirens. You shall wail in suffering when you pause your eternal song. You will lose all physical form and humans will curse the coldness you bring. Do you accept this fate?” Anemi paused, her thoughts running through it rapidly. She stood there before saying hesitantly “I do.” The wind began to pick up and a booming voice began to sing. The lyrics were never repeated and never shall be. The wind started to tug at Anemi’s clothing till both she and her clothing were gone. All that remained was the faint voice of Anemi’s singing. “How tragic, Clio will tell your story even though you can’t Anemi.” Apollo muttered, his hand reaching into the wind as it fled his home
That my friends is the story of the chilly wind. She seeks nothing but grants us her song. Listen closely for she paid dearly. Her wail and coldness are part of her. They will always haunt her as the price for her choice.