Chapter Thirteen

The world lay open as an outstretched palm. There would be healing in leaving home for a while, I thought. Or at least it would nourish me differently than Mount Ida had. My aunts’ goodbyes seemed to last half an eternity. Tears slid across our cheeks, as they often did together. I’d told them about my meeting with Aphrodite. They listened attentively, both kept their eyes low to the ground, as if they could see all the way down to the underworld. When I’d finished, my voice wavering, they looked at each other first, then at me, both smiling and misty-eyed.

“We could not be prouder of you,” Oenone said.

“Truly,” Hesperia agreed. “What a credit you are to us. And a gift.”

It was me who felt pride now, looking back at the hills I would always call my home. From a distance, the river looked like a great serpent diving into the sea. Graceful black and white wings rose in circles into the sky, as a flock of storks flew south for the winter. I braved harsher terrain, carving my way along the Taurus, the mountains I had only known as flecks on the horizon all my life.

On my journey I came across a series of pools, so clear and inviting, I slipped out of my clothes and dived in without a second thought. I splashed around in joy when a figure drew itself onto the rocks across from me.

“Hello. A lovely day for a swim, isn’t it?” The one who spoke was a nymph, her wet hair clung to her figure, she pursed her lips expectantly.

I had been caught by surprise, and now felt ashamed of my brazenness. The air seemed to thicken around us, an uneasiness filled me. I felt my cheeks flush. “I am sorry to have disturbed you, I will go now.”

“Come on beautiful, let me get a closer look at you,” she cooed.

I started to swim back to the shore, paralyzingly aware of my naked body. I could almost touch the bottom of the pool with my feet again, when suddenly a hand tightened around my left ankle. A thin shout escaped my mouth, before I was dragged down by surprising force. She pressed herself to me, the world a blur of skin and the sound of my desperate, muffled screams. This is the end, I thought.

I met the air again. That is all I know. It took a tremendous effort to reach the bank, but I made myself do it. I closed my eyes, and summoned the strength to look upon myself again. When I did, I was whole and unscathed.