I didn’t lie to her, not even now when she was so eager for fresh air. I explained that in order to give her her walk, I’d need something in return. That made lines of concern crease her forehead—until she heard my request, and the reasons behind it. Then, just as I expected, she agreed, with all the compassion intrinsic to the goddess of marriage and childbirth.
Even in the predawn hours, with the air still cold and touches of frost on the grass, the grounds were lovely. Hera and I strolled in the garden behind the house. I chose that particular spot because it’s buried in a cluster of evergreen trees. Again, that was my caution prevailing. The rutted road was miles away, the main road even farther. No matter where on the grounds we walked, spotting us would be a virtual impossibility. The manor is so deep in the woods and so high up in the mountains that it’s nearly invisible. A worthy Mount Olympus.
Hera sucked in the cold morning air as if it were the most precious gift in the world. I was touched by her reaction. I found myself offering to take her walking again, both as a kindness to her and as an incentive for her to succeed with the favor she owed me.
She thanked me with all the grace befitting her. And when I escorted her inside, she was eager to reach out to Athena.
I brought her directly to Athena’s room and unlocked the door. I was decidedly uneasy about what I’d find inside.
She was lying on her back, an arm flung over her face, her hair a tangle that said she’d tossed and turned all night. Her chiton was clean, as was she, which brought me a great sense of relief. It meant that because I’d refrained from administering the drugs, she hadn’t vomited. But she’d withdrawn into herself. I could sense that because a fine tension rippled through her when I walked in, and yet she made no overt move to acknowledge my presence.
That changed abruptly when I urged Hera forward.
“Athena?” she asked softly.
Athena’s arm jerked away from her face, and her head turned toward the sound of a woman’s voice.
“It’s all right,” Hera assured her in a soothing tone. “I’m…Hera. I’m a visitor here, just like you. I thought you might enjoy some company. I know I would.”
“Oh my God.” Athena sat up, her disoriented gaze scrutinizing the older woman. “Are you real? Or am I hallucinating?”
I decided to insert myself at that point. I assured Athena that she wasn’t hallucinating, that I’d brought Hera to her as a source of comfort. I reminded her how she’d called out for her mother last night. She clearly didn’t remember having done that, but she flinched with emotion when she heard that she had.
Hera took a tentative step in her direction. “May I come in?”
Athena looked like a bewildered child. “Are you the person I heard through the wall? Is he keeping you here, too?”
“My room is next door, yes.”
“And it’s not just you. There are others here as well?”
Hera glanced at me for direction, and I nodded. There was no point in keeping it a secret. Soon all the goddesses would be united at the sacrificial altar, each one representing a gift to be savored in the afterlife.
“Yes, there are others,” Hera told her.
“How many? How long have you been here? Where is this place? Why is he keeping us locked up like prisoners? What does he plan to do to us?”
I wasn’t pleased with the rapid fire of Athena’s questions, nor with the direction they were taking. Hera must have sensed it, because she placed a silencing forefinger to her lips.
“Take a deep breath and calm down,” she advised. “I want to help, to offer you the comfort of a mother. But I can’t if you won’t let me. Nothing is going to be accomplished by this kind of agitation.”
Athena’s eyes were still glazed, and she was shaking with suppressed emotion. I thought, at first, that my plan had failed, that even Hera couldn’t get through to her.
Then, abruptly, things changed. Athena met Hera’s soothing gaze, and she promptly fell silent. As Hera had directed, she inhaled slowly, then exhaled. Finally, she nodded.
“I’m sorry,” she said in a small, quavery voice. “I’m just frightened, and I feel so alone. Please, please stay. I won’t lose control again.”
I’d been right. This was exactly what Athena had needed.
I was so exceedingly pleased, and yes, relieved by the results, that I made an immediate mental note to stop by the market later today and pick up a mango and some kiwi for Hera. Those were her favorites.
“Delphi?”
At first, I didn’t hear Hera addressing me, her voice was so quiet. But when she repeated herself, I turned and responded at once. “Yes?”
“Athena needs to speak freely and to accept my comfort without censure. That’s essential if you want me to establish the kind of bond that exists between mother and daughter. I realize this request is unprecedented, but may I speak with her alone? You can lock us in here and stand guard just outside the door. You have my word that I’ll keep her in check. But if we want your plan to succeed, I must gain her trust. If you allow this, it’s much more likely that you can gain hers.”
She had a point. Athena already looked calmer, and her shaking had nearly stopped. She was just sitting in the middle of the bed, watching us and waiting to see what we were discussing.