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Though I take in his words, part of me couldn’t contain the excitement.
My voice is excited. There’s someone like me in the castle. A cursed mortal who also has visions. Maybe she could help me understand all of this. We could share ways on how to cope with the visions. “Is she in the castle?” Maybe she can help me understand why the visions keep cropping up.
Pressing his lips in a straight line, I knew his answer before he even replied.
“No. She’s gone. When the Veil was created, we had to leave the mortal world. Only those who could pass as mortals could safely stay. At great risk themselves, yes, but still they had the choice. Centaurs, nymphs, satyrs, and other creatures were forced to flee. When my family tried to cross between the divide of the worlds to hide from the bloodthirsty mortals, we were cut off.”
A current of emotions crashed around the room like waves striking a rocky shore.
Clip
Clop.
Clip.
Clop.
Walking slowly to his supply closet, he selects his ingredients. The soft clinks of glass bottles and vials as he holds as many as he could within his arms. Contemplating what was needed. Running through his mental list, I recognize this as a distraction. A means to calm himself.
“I wasn’t fast enough.” He croaks, “Though our three kids and her were all small, I was weighed down with all of them on my back. We were captured and the humans tied me down. Forced me to watch as they put my family on their knees,” Chiron’s voice filled with tears.
Daring a glance, I look up at him. His eyes are glassy and distant.
“They were forced to renounce their ties to us. To me. All could’ve passed for mortals. Except me. Hence why we attempted the crossing. When they refused, they threatened to kill them. Chariclo held her head high and refused to renounce her love for me. My two daughters and son followed suit. Even when I begged her to. They said they could live if they cut ties with me.” Shaking his head, he looks down at his desk. Back turned from me. “They killed them. For my wife being a ‘Monster Fucker.’ Then they let me free. To live with the torture that I witnessed. I tried to follow them to the Underworld but couldn’t cross. As a child of Cronus, I was granted immortally. Cursed to live a life alone.”
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as we sit in silence.
Chiron’s hooves clip toward me brings me out of my thoughts. I ask, “Why are you helping me? My kind hurt you and those you loved.” Handing me a vial, I take it wordlessly. Mumbling thanks.
“All mortals aren't the same. Like how all centaurs aren't the same. My brethren are seen as savages of Olympus and the mortal world alike. I have learned that everyone deserves a chance.” After collecting the empty vial, he approaches the sink to clean it. “Inside each being is a box in their soul. Until you get to know them, you don’t know what lies within. You may be curious to peep inside but we don’t always know what’ll be released. I have seen enough of you to know what’s with your heart, Pandora. Inside Pandora’s box is kindness and hope. Now I hope that it will be contagious.”
Smoothing the crisp white sheets on my bed, I ask “Is that why you became a healer?”
“Yes.” Crushing up some roots, he adds, “Before I fought wars. Trained the most lethal of demigods that the world had ever seen. Watching people bleed out on the battlefield from my blade before being taken to the Underworld. Listening to their bellows as death overcomes them.” He sighs, eyes far away from his workstation. “Now I help soldiers recover from them. Helping families so they do not need to get ripped apart like mine.”
Being a healer is his escape from reality. Just as much as gardening is for me.
The silence between us felt crushing. For several minutes, only the unnerving quiet passed between us.
Chiron adds, “I'll tell Artemis that you may leave in a couple of days. I suspect that you’d like to have some time out of your rooms.” Looking down at me, he waits for me to agree or disagree.
Returning his smile, I nodded.
Sighing, he continues, “Good. Then I'll also request she escort you to your rooms when you're discharged. If she asks me what happened, I'll say that you’ve been having seizures and that I need to do more research on how to prevent them in mortals. That should buy you some time.”
Biting my lip, I gathered my courage to ask him another question. Even though I have asked probably too much already.
The centaur must have noticed too. “You can ask your question.” He gives me a small smile. “I don’t restrict knowledge from those who dare ask.”
My heartbeat thunders in my ears as I blurt, “Are my visions curable?” I want nothing more than for them to stop happening.
Pausing, the centaur contemplates my question. “Rarely. Sometimes they’re controllable. But it depends on the circumstances, sometimes potions are used to suppress or weaken them. Though little is known about these potions. In all my years, I don’t think I have ever seen any in real life.” Chiron muses, “My wife was able to mask it well enough. But the recipes are closely guarded secrets. Often kept in families but you need your rest.”
Laying back in my bed, I resist the urge to groan. Since coming to Olympus, it feels like I have only rested and I’m tired of it.
Three days I sat in the infirmary.
Though I don’t think it was because I was physically ill. I partially believe it was to maintain the front of me having unknown spasms to the House of Leto. Chiron was a godsend. The other reason I believe the centaur was keeping me here was because of how lonely I was rapidly beginning to feel in my rooms.
