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Ouch. Dang curly hair.
Furrowing my brow, I ask, “Athena, are you turning to marble like Apollo?”
The Goddess of Wisdom eyes me up and done. Like she’s sizing me up for battle. After her scrutiny was completed or resolved, she pulls her armor and chiton dress aside. “Unfortunately, yes.”
Peeking up her collarbone, I see the familiar sight of marble and gold crawling slowly up her body. Hers has progressed beyond Apollo’s ailment.
“How long does this go on for?”
The guard sighs. “For nymphs, satyrs, centaurs, and other magical folk, it can take as much as a month. For gods, it can be hundreds of years depending on magic usage and power reserves among other factors. Humans though… Days. Sometimes weeks. But once it starts spreading. The final extent of the disease goes quickly.”
Gulping, my eyes widened.
No. I need to get out of here. Regardless of if I'm able to assist the kingdom or not, I refuse to get caught up in the plague. The first chance I get, I'm out of here.
“Now, how about I take you downstairs for dinner,” Athena smiles reassuringly.
The smells of dinner floating down the halls after the divine taste of fruit with Ov finally tempt me out of my resolve. Since coming, I have had two options for the meals, eat with the family or eat in my room.
“Fine, I’m tired of that tasteless porridge anyway.”
Apollo, Artemis, Ari, Uncle Ov, and I sit in what could loosely be described as the informal dining room. Compared to many of the other rooms, this one is much smaller.
Instead of rigid wooden chairs which looked nice until you’d to sit on them for any length of time there were plush velvet chairs. A small oval table, which could comfortably fit about six, takes up the majority of the room. Starkly different from the lengthy but regal table that I had imagined. One where we’d be shouting down the table at each other or sitting in utter silence.
This room is far from that.
In fact, it almost felt homey.
Having taken my seat, I watch as Ari sits down in the only other spot available. Although there wasn’t a place setting for her, she beamed at the thought of being included.
“Good to see you Pandy.” Artemis smiled at me warmly. Her silver bobbed hair tucked behind one of her ears.
“It’s nice to be here with you all,” I reply.
Well, most of you all. Decidedly not my rather grouchy host who is brewing at the head of the table. Probably thinking of some scathing comment or some way to boss me around.
Servants flowed through the room. Dishing out the various entrees of our meal. Mutton was seasoned and was rich in flavor. Other sides flowed around too like vegetables, fruit, biscuits, and more.
There was so much to try. So many options compared to home.
As we wait on the staff to finish serving us, I look at where the captain is heading. Half wondering if she'll be unknowingly kicking Ari out of her seat.
Instead, the captain takes her place at the entrance of the room. As she stands, the goddess’s vacant expression. She was incredibly bored.
The all too familiar marble stone flows into this part of the palace too. White polished walls and ionic columns support the ceiling. A red rug spans the room. A large fireplace is roaring with a comfortable fire which reflects off the glass windows of the opposing wall.
Taking my first bite of the mutton, it nearly melts in my mouth. The food back home does not compare to the food here. Simple things like fruit and vegetables have so much more flavor. More fragrant.
“Good to have you joining our family, Pandora,” the deep voice of Apollo rumbles.
“It's Pandy,” I reminded him as I cut my food.
Arista snickers as she pushes the food around her imaginary plate. My smirk broadens.
Sighing, he nods Taking a couple of bits of his steak before Apollo gestures his silverware to the dishes outstretched in front of me. “Pandy, there’s a miniature teacup set by your cup, do you see it?”
I nodded once, curious about where he was going with this. Peering at its contents, I recognize liquid immediately.
