Page 54 of A Crown of Hopes and Sorrows

“I didn’t know that was possible.”

She shrugged as a wave crashed against the shore, reaching our feet and dampening the hems of our clothing. “As I said, it’s frowned upon. I bring that up for this reason. How would you like to speak with your mother?”

I sucked in a breath and stumbled back from her. “You could do that?”

“Yes. Though it’s draining. Five to ten minutes is all I can manage before the magic wanes.”

I considered that. Paused. Soaked in the quiet hush of the breathing of the sea, the world before everything in my life changed. I had never known my mother. All my years I’d believed she had died at my birth. Now, Hera claimed it was actually her doing. Regardless of the cause, I’d never met the woman. The only thing I knew of her was what Apollo had told me. He’d been generous with his stories and songs. He understood how I craved a connection with her. But I wouldn’t even recognize my mother if I saw her. This was my chance. It surprised me that fear gripped me over it. “Okay.”

Hecate nodded and then raised her hands. Sappho tensed, cowering into herself. Puffs of plum smoke swept out around Hecate, the gold of her eyes brightening, overtaking the flame of the torch in her hand. The haze surrounded us, darkening the world, so that only our breathing and Hecate’s light remained.

She snapped her wrist.

And the torchlight died.

For a moment, darkness consumed us.

My eyes ached against it, struggling to find a drop of light.

Then an ivory mist rose, and an image of a woman with silver, depthless eyes, smooth dark skin, and a long neck shimmered, like the figure struggled to appear.

“Artemis,” she said.

“Mother.” I trembled over the word.

She smiled, the smoke parting for a moment, causing her form to disappear and then slowly pull back together.

“I never thought I would get to meet you,” I said, my throat choking with tears. “All my life I’ve longed to.”

She blinked twice. “The fates prophesied this meeting to me. So much of life is at a crossroads right now. A heavy task lies before you and your brother. But an important one.”

“What is it?”

“You must both ascend to your rightful places and undo the wickedness your brother’s father has wrought in the world.”

“We’re supposed to take down Zeus?”

She nodded. “It’s a tremendous responsibility, but you were both born for it.”

“I… I’m not sure if I can… or if I even want to.”

Her lips pressed together, thick full lips like my own. “It’s a fearsome thing to walk amongst gods. But you came into this life screaming violently, your fists balled up like you demanded justice from the world alongside your breath. And I knew your father had blessed you with the courage and constitution you needed for your task.”

I stepped in closer, my feet dipping into the sand, and the fog moved again, Mother’s image fading and then reconstructing. “Who is my father?”

Her depthless eyes flashed. “One of my children has a father, the god of the sky. My other child, a god of the depths of the sea.”

“You mean Poseidon?”

“I do.”

The vision sparkled and shifted, and Hecate’s voice sounded out. “It fades.”

Mother tilted her head. “Be strong, Temi. You are brave and good-hearted. You were born for this.”

I swallowed, my fingers reaching out towards the image. “You know my nickname?”

Another smile trailed her lips. “Of course, I do, child. I gave it to you.”