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Here goes nothing.
Holding my breath, I press my index finger onto the spike until it draws a droplet of blood. A small hidden doorway materialises, and I squeeze through the gap without a backward glance. Once inside, the doorway vanishes behind me. I’m trapped inside this place. Gods, I hope Eileithyia is here.
The darkened space sends me into a blind panic, bringing back memories of the Void, and my throat constricts. I start to hum softly. The vibrations calm my body and I force myself to push onwards and focus on my mission.
Moving forward, I raise my eyes upward and sight clusters of tiny stalactites hanging from the cave ceiling, glowing like little mineral candles. As my eyes readjust to the dim light, I hesitantly walk down the rocky staircase in front until my feet find flattened earth and a long narrow hallway. I try to ignore the beat of my pounding heart in the silence, but the rapid thumping is hard to abandon. Leaning up against the cave wall, I slide forward cautiously taking small, steady steps under the natural hanging candle lights. It’s not long before an opening appears, brightened by a hollowed out rock cavity reaching the skies above. The sight gives my body a minor reprieve.
In the centre of the lightened space lies the worship stone with two stalagmites erupting from the earth beside it—the stones signifying mother and child. I reach out a hand to touch the minerals. The texture is oddly smooth and the symbolism causes me to tremble. Ultimately, I am here to find the identity of my birth god and the magnitude of this purpose is suddenly overwhelming.
A voice echoes around the chamber and I snatch my handaway from the stalagmite.
“I wondered the day you would seek me, Siriarna.”
Eileithyia emerges and lights a central torch, further illuminating the chamber around us.
I recoil at the arrival of the goddess.
“No need to be scared,” she says.
With a shaky voice, I ask, “How do you know who I am?”
“I knew one day you would come. And in light of recent events, I knew it would be soon.”
“So you know why I am here?”
“I do.”
“I need some answers. Will you tell me who my god parent is?”
“The Fates have sworn me to secrecy regarding semi god births, but your case is one for the rules to break. Follow me into my living chambers, there is much to discuss.”
The gravity of Eileithyia willing to reveal this sacred information causes my heart to quiver. I am about to discover the truth, the answer to a forbidden question. I stumble in my haste.Could I be more awkward?
The goddess’ chamber is nothing like the central alter. It is a contrast of luxury. The dirt floor has been replaced with intricate marble, and multiple tapestries hang from the walls. There are rich jewelled coloured velvet chairs with woven rugs beneath them covering the floor. It’s an underground palace, and I’m speechless.
Eileithyia beckons me to a chair. “What I am about to divulge will be of some shock to you. It will give you the answers you seek but will leave you a different person to who you believe you are now.”
“I’m ready,” I say humbly.
“I will start at the beginning… Many centuries ago, here on Knossos, a beautiful mortal princess started capturing theattention of the population and their worship soon followed. As the hoard grew, word made way to Goddess Aphrodite who was extremely displeased. She instructed her faithful son to compel the princess into falling in love with an average mortal, then hide herself away from society.
“Instead, Eros fell in love with the princess and could not bear to see her married to another. He wanted her for himself. He took his proposal of marriage to Zeus. Then he pleaded for immortality for his bride, so he could be bound to her for all eternity. Zeus agreed with the unusual request?it was the only time in history a god had requested the hand of a mortal, and he was intrigued.
“Unbeknown to Eros, Zeus planned to see first-hand the power this princess held over him. When he entered the Surface World and approached the princess, he too was captured by her beauty. So much so that he took her to his bed. Even though in love with Eros, the princess could not resist the Almighty Ruler. Zeus returned to Mount Olympus and forgot about the princess. He did not know he had left his seed behind.
“The princess sought my help. She was with child but wanted so desperately to marry Eros; she begged me to keep her pregnancy a secret, and take the child after its birth. She was so fragile and hysterical, I agreed with her request.
“After the wedding ceremony, the princess was offered a taste of ambrosia—food of the gods. Once ingested, her transition from mortal to god began. Days later, she feigned illness and returned to me here at Amnisos. I delivered her baby early, well before its due date and, with the help of The Fates, we froze it in time for centuries. Until Time itself could hold it no longer. When the newborn awoke, perfect in every way despite its early delivery, I placed it in the care of guide parents. The princess never saw her baby and was unaware of the awakening 18 years ago.
“That baby was you Siriarna. You were conceived from a mortal mother who transformed into a god during your gestation. You have inherited your power from your parents?the electricity of your father combined with the power and royalty of your mother. You are quite the enigma. Your god parents are Zeus and Psyche.”
I cannotbelieve what has just transpired. My parents are both gods. I am not a semi god. I am a god.
Iam a god!
I repeat this revelation to myself over and over, hoping it might make sense the more I hear it.And my father is the Ruler of all Gods.
“Now to a momentous warning. Zeus does not know of your existence—his reaction will be unpredictable. Psyche knows only that she abandoned a child from a shameful secret she has long hidden. She will not take the news of your renaissance well. Eros will not be pleased to learn of Zeus’ betrayal with the love of his life.”
