I looked at the man that stood in front of Persephone curiously. His hair was as black as the night sky and his eyes were a deep dark blue. He was intriguing, I had to admit, and I couldn't help but get lost in those gorgeous eyes of his. It was Persephone's voice that brought me back to reality.
"Davina, this is Calix Mortane," the Goddess told me, "He's a son of Nyx and Erebus."
"Hello Davina," he greeted me in a dulcet voice, "I'm honoured to meet you." My heart fluttered at his words and I wondered why.
"It's nice to meet you too, My Lord," I replied, assuming that he was a deity.
"Please, call me Calix," he told me. I smiled and nodded.
"What brings you to the Underworld, Calix?" I asked.
"How much have you heard from the human world?" he asked curiously.
"Not much, my Father believes that I don't need to worry myself with such things," I replied. My Father, the River deity, Acheron, was incredibly protective of me.
"Well, my brothers and have been waging war against our sister, Eris," Calix replied.
"The Goddess of Strife and Discord," I recalled, remembering my lessons.
"That's right," Calix replied, "She's been turning people to stone and Hecate is attempting to make a potion to reverse the petrification. She needs one more ingredient. The problem is that this ingredient can only be found within the depths of your Father's river."
"And my Father is wary of most other deities," I sighed, seeing the problem.
"It seems that way," Calix agreed, "Is there any way to convince your Father to give up the ingredient? I need Hecate's potion. The situation in the human world is too dire for me to return without it."
"I'll see what I can do," I assured him, "Maybe you could come with me and discuss the situation with my Father? I'm sure he'd be willing to help you if he knew what was happening."
"Calix, will you be joining Hades and me for dinner?" Persephone asked.
"Of course, My Queen," he replied.
Persephone nodded, satisfied with that response and Calix turned to me.
"Lead the way," he told me.
I nodded and the two of us walked away, leaving Persephone alone in her garden. As we walked, I couldn't help but wonder who Calix was. Persephone has introduced him as a son of Nyx and Erebus, so he could be a God. But something about him made me think he was more than that.
His beautiful voice brought me out of my thoughts.
"Forgive me, but you're a demigod, aren't you?" he asked.
I almost froze in shock. How did he know that?
"Yes, but how did you know?" I asked.
"I could sense it," Calix replied, "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
"No, it's fine," I assured him, "You weren't prying. I was just surprised that you could tell. Persephone said that you're a son of Nyx and Erebus."
"That's right," Calix replied.
"What do you preside over, if you don't mind my asking?" I asked.
"It's...it's complicated," Calix replied hesitantly. I looked at him, both confused and puzzled by his answer. Was there something wrong with what he presided over? I could feel his apprehension, so I knew that he wasn't ready to tell me, and didn't press the subject any further.
We reached the shore of my Father's river and the water rose up, forming a vortex. The vortex subsided, revealing my Father, Acheron, in all his glory. He was dressed from head to toe in black and his coal coloured eyes held joy as he looked at me. I guess you could say that I resembled my Father in terms of appearance. We both had the same hair and eye colour.
"Davina, my little raindrop," Father greeted me.
"Father," I replied, "This is—"
"Calix Mortane, yes I'm familiar with him," Father replied as he shifted his attention to Calix.
"Acheron, it's good to see you," Calix greeted my Father.
"What brings you to my shores, youngest son of Nyx and Erebus?" Father asked.
"I need an ingredient that resides within your river's depths," Calix replied, "My sister, Eris, has been turning humans to stone. If they remain that way too long...they become residents of the Underworld. My purpose does not allow me to let this happen. Hecate has begun brewing a potion to save them all, but we need one last ingredient. Please, river deity, help us."
"I have no reason to help you, son of Nyx and Erebus, but I will," Father replied, "I have noticed an increasing number of souls on my shores and crossing my river. Eris' madness must end and I realize that I made a mistake in refusing to help Hecate. I'm sorry for that."
"I'm glad you understand the circumstances, Acheron," Calix replied, "Did Hecate mention what the ingredient was?"
"A flower that grows at the bottom of my river, but I'm afraid it won't bloom for another three weeks and unless it has bloomed, it will be useless to Hecate," Father stated.
"I understand," Calix assured my Father, "I can't return to the human world without that potion, so I'll wait for the flower to bloom."
Father nodded.
"I'll return to the palace then," Calix told my Father, "Thank you, Acheron."
Father nodded again.
Calix walked away and I felt a pull on my heart. I wanted to go after him, but why?
"How do you know Calix, Father?" I asked.
"Calix and his brothers are the Fates," Father replied.
"The Four Fates?" I asked.
"The very same," Father told me, "They used to live in the Underworld, but they went to the human world a few years ago and decided to stay there. They're tasked with safeguarding the fate of humans. This whole thing with Eris has been difficult to say the least."
"But I thought you weren't keeping tabs on the human world," I told him. My Father was never one to care about humans. I wondered why he suddenly was now.
"I've heard things from Hermes and Thanatos during their travels here," Father replied.
"But why keep tabs on a place that means nothing to you?" I asked.
"It means something to me because this entire situation involves you, raindrop," Father replied.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I suppose it's time I told you," Father sighed, "I had hoped this day would never come."
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"What do you know about the war between the Moirai and Eris?" Father asked.
"I know about Eris and the trouble she's caused in the human world," I replied, "And I know the Fates have been fighting to stop her." That was really all I knew about the whole situation.
"That's all true, but things are a bit more complicated than that," Father told me, "The Moirai vowed to remain in the human world and safeguard the fates of humans. The Gods and Goddesses praised their efforts and Eris grew jealous. She descended from the heavens and began wreaking havoc in the human world, the Moirai tried to contain her, but they weren't strong enough."
"Why not?" I asked, curiously, "The Fates are responsible for manipulating destiny aren't they?"
"They are," Father replied.
"Then they're among the strongest deities," I countered, "How were they not strong enough to contain Eris?"
"The Fates are cursed and they won't be at their full strength until their curse is broken," Father told me.
"Cursed?" I asked, "Cursed how?"
"I don't know the specifics," Father replied.
"Is there a way for them to break the curse?" I asked.
"They have to find their soulmates, the Fated Four, daughters born with the blood of the Underworld in their veins. The demigod daughters of Melinoe, Hecate, Hermes, and myself," Father explained.
"So that means me?" I asked.
"You're my only demigod daughter," Father told me.
"So there are Four Fates, which one do I end up with?" I asked. I was curious. Who was I meant to be with?
"I'm not sure, I don't even know if the other three members of the Fated Four have been found," Father replied, "But Calix Mortane is one of them. He is one of the Moirai."
"Which one?" I asked curiously.
"I don't think it's up to me to disclose that," Father replied as he shook his head.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because it would be disrespectful," Father replied, "Calix should tell about himself on his own, you shouldn't learn about him from me."
I nodded.
"I need to get back to the palace," I told him, "It's almost time for dinner."
Father nodded.
"But there's one more thing before you go," he told me.
"What's that?" I asked.
My Father kissed my forehead and I felt a surge of power shoot through my veins.
"I have left your powers dormant for too long, and I'm sorry for that," he told me, "I thought I was protecting you. I was wrong."
"I understand," I assured him. I didn't blame my Father. He'd been trying to protect my from a prophecy and an uncertain future. I couldn't be mad at him for that. "Will you teach me how to use them?"
"Of course," he replied, "Now go eat and then try and get some sleep. Sleep well, raindrop."
I nodded and watched as he sank down into the river. Now some might question why I needed to return to the palace to eat and sleep. Well, my demigod status didn't allow me to sink into the river to sleep like my Father. I needed to sleep in a normal bed.
I turned and began walking back to the palace, feeling the usual wariness of the souls on my Father's shores. I'd always been attuned to the emotions of the entities around me. It was a gift as much as was a curse I suppose. It gave me a sense of empathy, but there were times when I wasn't sure if my emotions were my own.
I entered the palace and immediately came across Calix. He was walking down the hall towards the dining room. He stopped when he saw me.
"Davina," he greeted me.
He was looking at me with a twinkle in his eye and as I caught sight of my reflection in a shield on the wall, I understood why. My hair had turned darker and become sleeker. My eyes sparkled. What had happened to me? Was this the result of my Father awakening my powers?
And more importantly, was what my Father said true? Was Calix a Fate?
"Are you a Fate?" I asked curiously. Then I mentally kicked myself. You can't just go around asking people that kind of thing.
"How did you know?" he asked.
"My Father told me," I told him.
"I see," he mused, "We...we should probably get to dinner. It's rude to keep the King and Queen waiting."
I nodded.
The two of us walked down the hall in awkward silence and I couldn't help but wonder about the man next to me. He was a Fate, but which one? The Inflexible? The Allocator? The Designator? The Weaver? I wasn't sure, but I wanted to find out. He was a puzzle that I wanted to unravel.
We entered the dining room and I heard Persephone's voice greet us.
"Good evening Davina," she greeted me, before turning to Calix, "Calix, we're so glad you both could join us."
"Thank you for inviting me, My Queen," Calix replied.
"Dare I ask just how bad it is in the human world, Calix?" Hades asked from his place at the head of the table as Calix sat down. The Fate sighed.
"I'm afraid the situation has gotten worse since my brothers and I last spoke with you, My King," Calix replied, "And it seems that Eris has gotten stronger."
AN: Thanks for reading! Be sure to drop some comments and vote!