Six: Chimia

The fantasy I had built up in my head my whole life, the one where my mother would be glad to have me home and be proud of my work and accomplishments ceased to exist.

It lay shattered in pieces at my feet.

Why? What could her reasoning possibly be for this? Living with Malfizan was just a jab. I knew enough about people to know that my reputation was for being a child who was taking advantage of years of nepotism. I even knew that people thought Zeus's kindness to me had more to do with what he wanted between my legs than what I was capable of as an enchantress. None of that had bothered me; I knew who I was, and I'd thought I'd left behind the part of me that cared if anyone liked me back at the academy. If she knew I'd been here all week, she knew that I had a God-given husband lurking around. Echelon would think it was Mal, that I had come to the tower only to hide behind behind my mommy and man. No one would ever take me seriously again.

The thing that bothered me most of all was that she'd let me parade around her town for a week without even attempting to meet me, then dragged me to this impromptu tea without my knowledge or consent. What kind of mother could spend thousands of years ignoring her daughter, and then not jump at the chance just to see what I looked like? To hear my voice for the first time? If I'd longed for her all this time, had she not even thought of me?

The whole situation was bizarre, a level of melodrama that I had never experienced before in my life. I'd fought sea creatures, harpies, ogres, and giants to get here, but my mother? She was a monster unlike any other.

I said nothing. Did nothing. Just stared, wide-eyed, and before I could process anything, Mal had turned hot and ferocious like Hades' fire.

He stood, his massive, strong hands slamming hard against the table. I had my wits about me enough to levitate our meal out of his way, but so intense was their focus on one other that Mal and my mother noticed nothing about their environment.

"She can't just be tossed aside like this," he spat, his features twisting and contorting his face into a fearsome thing, very unlike the handsome one he usually wore. I had seen this happen to Zeus, once, while he was talking to Hera, and I could finally see the faint shimmer of gold that now glimmered threateningly from every inch of his skin as his muscular form flexed and curved forward. When we'd last seen each other, he didn't have any of that.

His wrath revealed his true might, and it was both captivating and horrific.

"She has rooms that I helped to prepare myself. You know what the people of this city will think of her. What they will do to her. What Zeus will do to her if he believes she has forsaken the marriage he himself has blessed." Mal looked as though he very much meant to continue, but before he could, an unmistakable chime sounded just feet from the table. I averted my eyes, but could still see the light of the glow that meant that an Olympian was materializing next to us.

My first day of training is going so well that Zeus has come to strip me of my powers himself.

From the light, a graceful figure emerged. I saw the shadow of their form in the glass of the roof's railing. She glowed so intensely that it looked like daylight all around us.

"Liessa. Alchimia. My son."

The low, commanding voice of Bia greeted us, and the familiarity of it soothed me. We'd spoken often while I was in training, and her comforting presence brought tears to my eyes. My mother and I both stood, faced our Goddess, and bowed our heads. Mal didn't move at all, but his mother's strength and ancient power reminded me of how far he had to climb. Of how truly powerful he would one day be.

"You may sit," she said gently, and I did, looking up into her eyes and pleading with them to bring happy news. None of this was going the way I had hoped it would. I felt suddenly helpless, battered, and ashamed. She smiled at me briefly, then turned her attention to her son. "You do not speak for Zeus," she reprimanded him harshly, giving him a look that held a particular meaning that I couldn't put my finger on, "and you." Bia turned her steely gaze on my mother, "will provide the appropriate accommodations for the princess as she trains. If there is any more of this foolishness from either of you, Zeus has promised to carry out the consequences himself. He would remind the two of you that only one soul here holds his blessing." Finally, Bia looked at me and her expression softened. She reached across the table, in front of her son, and held my chin in her hand.

"We have the highest hopes for you, kóri. Your instincts are unmatched, and we implore you--do not allow others to call them into question. Should you need me for anything at all, call for me. I shall assist my son in keeping you safe over the next three years." I realized, with a glance at the others, that Bia had frozen time. They could not hear us. Most likely, they could not see us. My hand shot up to cover hers, and I leaned into the small, intimate caress.

"Thank you, Goddess," I whispered. There was so much I wanted to say to her, wanted to ask. But I knew I didn't have much time, so I didn't waste it pestering her. When I needed her, she would come. No sooner than that. "I am indebted to you, your loyal servant should you ever need one." I felt her nod, then met her gaze for just a brief second. It was like being wrapped in a blanket knit from the sun's own rays.

Bia wiped away the single tear that fell from my eyes, straightened, and allowed time to resume. She was gone, and I was left alone again with Mal and my mother who looked equally annoyed by the interruption. I'd known that there was a lot at stake when I arrived, but I'd never thought that I'd be getting this much attention from Olympus. Not even a full 24 hours in and I'd needed Bia to save me from two big bullies.

Well...

I blinked, observing Malfizan, who had stood and taken a place behind me, but was fussing with his clothes, pretending like he wasn't looking at me though his peripheral could probably tell another story. His reaction to my mother had surprised me, shocked me even. I would have expected him to take her side before coming to my defense. As I thought this, Mal mistakenly brushed a fingertip against the tip of my shoulder. He couldn't have noticed, but I certainly did, sucked in for a brief moment to the strange magic I'd felt earlier. He had built up centuries worth of frustration with this woman, and for some reason, this had been the straw to snap his resolve in two.

I suppose she was just the easier target for all of that pent-up rage.

The feeling disappeared, taking its leave as swiftly as it had arrived, and I chastised myself for the frustration I felt at not knowing what else was going on in that mind of his.

"I will take my leave to check on your rooms." Even the snap of her departure sounded contrite. The Queen was gone as quickly as she'd appeared, into thin air. I felt as though I could breathe all over again.

"I cannot offer you apologies enough." My whole body swiveled to where he now kneeled, his head bowed to me. Maybe it was the relief of no longer being in my mother's presence or exhaustion from the twists and turns that The Palace had taken us on in the last hour, but I giggled. The giggling snowballed into full-on laughter, and just before I started wheezing in a fit of humor, I felt my temporary protector's arm on my shoulder. His eyes, dark orbs boring into me from where he was hunched over to look into them at my height, sobered me and brought my hysterics down to a calmer delight.

I couldn't help but smile.

"Are you okay?" he asked me.

"Oh, of course. I was only thinking that it's insane that you are only a head shorter than me doubled over like that."

We laughed together, and for just a small second, I felt like I might be alright without Fen for a while.