"No." I murmured. "I cannot."
"I thought you might say that," Lachesis grinned. "Which means that you all shall die."
A thought came to me. "You cannot kill them. It takes Zeus’ sword to kill an immortal.
And you don’t have it."
Annoyance flashed upon her face.
"Correct. But we will find it. In the meantime, your precious friends and family will burn in this fire in torment until we find the sword and put them out of their misery. Your mortal mother, of course, can so easily die. Perhaps it would be more humane to choose her, Keeper.
Her death will be quick. If you choose Cadmus, you can suffer together."
"You would burn us alive until you find the sword?" I repeated in horror.
"Now you’re catching on," Lachesis nodded. "There is one small thing though. One little thing. There is a box, a box containing murderous souls. We know that Ahmose took it for you.
If you tell us where it is, we’ll let both Cadmus and your mother live. Only you need to die.
What do you think about this bargain?"
"I can’t give it to you." I murmured uncertainly.
But even as I spoke, my eyes turned once again to Cadmus and my mother. I thought of Ares and Aphrodite their laughing faces from happier times. I thought of Cadmus’ chocolate eyes sparkling into mine as he grinned. And I knew, in the space of that one second, that I would gladly do it. I would give them exactly what they wanted and I would exchange my life for theirs.
Thanks to the Fates, I had a couple thousand years of practice at dealing with sadness and tragedy. I could do this. I could put aside fear and sadness and do what I needed to do.
"You have prepared me well for this day," I said to them calmly. "But tell me, how do I know that you will stand by your side of the bargain? How do I know that you will release everyone else?"
"Harmonia, use your head," Clothos answered. "You will be alive in this pit until we find the sword. You will see us release everyone. You will be in agony, but you will be conscious.
That is part of the fun."
I thought on that for a moment.
"Alright. We have a deal. I will give you the box on one condition. Let me say goodbye to them. Please. Restore them to their normal selves so that I can tell them goodbye. I have never knowingly done anything to offend you or against you. I have done all that you have asked for thousands of years. Please. Can’t you do this one thing for me?"
I hated pleading with them. I hated it more than anything I had ever done. My hatred for them completely filled me up. But if I could just look into Cadmus’ eyes one more time and see the love that he held for me there it would be worth it. I could willingly step to my death.
"Give us a moment," Lachesis demanded.
She and the other two Fates convened in a huddle. I stood quietly, my gaze flitting from each suspended god and goddess to my mother and Cadmus. A moment later, the old hags turned
"Fine," Lachesis answered simply. "Where is the box?"
I slid my knapsack off of my back and pulled out the box. I handed it to her with shaking fingers. One of the ancient Keres started to say something, but at Lachesis’ glare, she closed her mouth and remained silent.
Lachesis motioned to a group of nymphs hovering nearby in the trees and then gestured toward Cadmus and my mother.
"Restrain them."
The nymphs stepped forward reluctantly and did as she asked.
"I would also like to say goodbye to Ares and Aphrodite," I demanded.
Lachesis narrowed her eyes at me, but still gestured toward another nymph.
"Get them down," she instructed. She turned back to me. "No tricks."
I shook my head. "No. No tricks."
I watched a couple of smaller nymphs shimmy spritely up the trees to the cocoons that my mother and father were restrained in. Pushing them, they swung the strange looking pods toward other servants waiting to catch them. Yet another servant released a pulley which lowered my parents safely to the ground.
Within a few minutes, they were unwrapped and stood lifelessly next to Cadmus and my mother. My mother’s silvery eyes shone in the firelight, but they were as empty as everyone else’s. I sighed heavily. It was heartbreaking and I was helpless.
Lachesis turned to them and walked from person to person, stopping to murmur something in each one’s ear. And one by one, the life returned to their eyes. As soon as they looked around and realized where they were, they began struggling hard against the nymphs restraining holds.
But it was no use.
"What is the meaning of this?" Ares roared. Cadmus sought my gaze and I watched as realization dawned on his handsome face.
"Why are you here?" he asked me. "What is this?"
"I’m here because I’m the only one who can save you," I murmured as I stepped to him. "I love you so much." I traced his face with my hand, lingering over his lips. His dark eyes were panicked.
"Harmonia, I don’t know what you are thinking, but whatever it is, put it out of your mind."
He desperately tried to hold my gaze, but I moved forward to Aphrodite and Ares. In their faces, I found such familiarity and comfort. Aphrodite was outraged, her lovely face practically shooting sparks.
"You will wish you had never even existed," she spit toward the Fates. "Release us this instant."
"Mother," I murmured. "You will be released soon. Please, protect Cadmus and see that my mother gets safely back home."
Aphrodite stared at me anxiously. "Of course, I will. But where do you plan on being?
You are always with me, right at my side. That should not change. I won’t have it!"
"For once, mother, you aren’t going to have a choice."
I kissed her lightly on the cheek and moved to Ares. He stood before me with a gaze like thunder. I vaguely remembered the time he had rescued me from Cleopatra’s golden barge.
He had been wearing much the same expression at the time. I smiled at him, cupping his face.
"I love you, father. Avenge this."
He nodded. "I will avenge everything." I did not doubt him. Fury simmered in his eyes, turning them almost black. He was the only one of the Olympic gods who didn’t possess the strange silver eye color. I hugged him quickly and moved again.
I stood in front of my mortal mother. She stared around us in bewilderment, unable to comprehend where we were or what was going on. I couldn’t blame her. It was so far beyond her reality that it was crazy. And as a mortal, she was immersed in the haze of this island much more quickly.
"Mom, I want you to know that I love you, okay?"
She nodded quietly. "And I love you. But what we are doing here? Am I dreaming?"
I nodded, watching her eyes fill up with the bewilderment that this island induced.
"Yes, you’re dreaming. Go back to sleep now. I’ll see you in the morning."
With wide eyes, she murmured an agreement. I choked back my tears as I motioned to Lachesis and my mother’s face once again went slack and lifeless. She did not need to see what was coming. Her mortal mind would break from it.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ares and Cadmus still struggling against the restraining hold of the nymphs. I moved once again to Cadmus and kissed him softly.
"Cadmus, I love you. Forever. Remember that." I felt a tear escape the corner of my eye and slide hotly down my cheek.
"Harmonia, don’t," he pleaded, his eyes full of pain. "Please, I’m begging you."
I pressed one more kiss to his lips and then turned away from him while I still could.
"Okay," I mumbled, taking a deep breath. "I’m ready."
I ignored the frantic protests from my family and Cadmus as I stood numbly in front of the Moirae. I felt my bloodstone lying limp and silently against my chest like the cold lump of stone that it was. It couldn’t help me here. Nothing could.
As I stood waiting for what seemed like an eternity, every feeling that I’d ever had, both goddess and mortal, flooded back to me with a vengeance. My lives flashed before my eyes-good memories and bad ones- and in that moment, none of the sadness mattered. Because no matter what life I led, no matter what sadness it contained, it was always outweighed by the joy and happiness that I found with my soul mate and my family. I had been very blessed.
As I bowed my head, I felt a strange fog descend upon me and I realized with a start that it was the effects of Ogygia. It was beginning to steal my consciousness. Very soon, I would forget my purpose here.
"Do it!" I hissed.
"Do what?" Lachesis asked me in amusement. "It is for you to do, Keeper."
I eyed the ledge of the pit. It was so close. Just two steps away. I took a shaking step.
Then one more.
I stood with my toes curled around the edge, ignoring the shouts and protests of the others as I felt the warmth of the fire heat my legs and my face. The orange flames were mesmerizing and I stared into them. Soon, I would be among them. And I wanted to do it while I was focused on the love that I felt while I could still remember it. Conjuring every peaceful feeling that I could, I drew upon my inner strength. Picturing Cadmus’ beautiful face, I lifted my foot.
"Wait!" a voice hissed. Keeping my foot poised in mid-air, I turned my head slightly.
A Keres had broken rank and moved forward.
"Wait!" she repeated.
"What are you doing?" Clothos demanded of her. But the old Keres ignored her, keeping her cloudy eyes fixed upon mine.
"Harmonia, remember," she instructed. "Remember! It is made from feathers and flame."
At the old hag’s words, as if someone had flipped a switch, a memory did form in my mind. A magnificent crimson bird with iridescent feathers and azure eyes. A bird that built a funeral pyre for itself and then lit it on fire...dying in its own flame. I could see it as clearly in my mind as if it stood in front of me. I glanced at my wrist. I had the mark and it was pulsing erratically right this moment.
I was the Phoenix, the Chosen One.
"Yesssss," she hissed. "You remember."
I nodded and turned my head toward Cadmus. "I love you."
And I stepped from the ledge.
The heat swallowed me up, consuming my breath as I fell, but it didn’t burn me. Oranges and reds swirled together as the flames rushed past. Time seemed to stand still as I moved in slow motion and I was suddenly no longer plunging toward agony. A gush of cool air swirled around me and lifted me from the pit, throwing me up and backward. I landed in a sprawled heap on the ground, safely out of harm’s way.
Looking up in amazement, I saw a Phoenix, magnificent and beautiful, rising from the ground. Every flame contained in the pit was now swirling into the massive bird as it flew upward with wings of fire. Its eyes were a brilliant and vivid blue and they were trained on me as it shrieked a deafening roar.
I clapped my hands over my ears as it flew into the sky, circling above us as it lit up the night with its glory. I was astounded. This island didn’t permit magic. Yet the Phoenix appeared to be unconstrained by anything at all.
And it had taken every lick of the fire with it. The pit was empty now and harmless. The Fates could no longer use innocent lives as leverage. Their threats were now empty. The nymphs realized it at the same moment that I did. They released my parents and Cadmus, while several others leaped into the trees to lower the captive gods.