“Aphrodite” I paused in front of the statue. Something about her angelic smile reminded me of Bethany. We continued down the path as it curved, but something … something forceful was pulling me back. I spun around, and I wasn’t prepared, although I had witnessed the same magic earlier with the transformation of Athena.
The statues of Apollo, Poseidon, Hestia, Demeter, and Aphrodite were staring at me. I had to blink a few times to make sure that my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me. Their ashen stone eyes had altered and had irises and pupils. The eyes of the statues actually blinked and followed my every move as they witnessed my shock.
They were all coming to life.
Apollo stepped into the path of a ray of the sun, and vanished. Poseidon did as Evan had done before, and spiraled into a whirlpool of water. The water disappeared into the pond, at the center of the garden. Hestia and Aphrodite walked up into the sky as if there was a real stairway leading into the heavens. A nearby rosebush, amongst the dozens scattered around the garden, began to shake. Then the rose bush opened up, and Demeter stepped into it and disappeared as the bush closed and continued to flourish. Her body literally shifted into part of the rose bush. And I was completely and irrevocably floored.
Evan was beside me again. He must have noticed that I wasn’t with him, when I started following the deities around in shock.
“Now that they know you have returned, they are content.”
“Did they all return to Mt.Olympus?” I asked, feeling incredulous, even after all I had just seen.
“All, except for Poseidon.”
“Right, I nodded. “His home is the ocean.”
“The gods have taken the shape of sculptures this time.” Evan mused.
“What other shapes can they take?” I blurted out. I was so amazed that I could barely contain myself.
“Whatever they wish.”
“Such as?” I probed.
“You may see them in the flesh or you may see their image come to life in a painting, or through a mirage. They marvel at you.” Evan beamed. He had the look of a proud father on his face.
“Marvel at me? Why would the gods be impressed with me?”
“You are the most divine of all demigods, Zeus’ most unique creation, Delia, and they are well aware of that fact. Don’t be afraid. You may speak to them.”
Speak to them? Was he kidding?
Evan had a distinct twinkle in his eye that shined brighter than the afternoon sun, and it proved just how much he wasn’t kidding. Since I was strolling through a numinous place where magic actually existed, my fear at the moment was that they may actually talk to me.
“I wouldn’t know what to say to any of them”
“Relax. You don’t have to say anything. They will not be offended. My hope is that being here, and seeing them will help you to regain your memory, but I know this is quite awkward and surprising for you therefore, you don’t have to utter a word.”
“Ok,” I said, and felt relieved. I just wasn’t ready or open to the inconceivable thought of conversing with the gods right now. It was like being asked to have a chat with the Easter bunny who you have always known isn’t real, yet is standing right in front of you.
A warm breeze blew a few loose tendrils of my hair into my eyes. I brushed them away with the back of my hand. I closed my eyes, and sniffed the intoxicating aroma of the floral bushes surrounding the stone path. It was exhilarating for the senses. Although I couldn’t quite voice how I felt about what I had just seen, I was intrigued to see what else this stone path would lead too.
I quickened my pace around a bend to keep up with Evan. The next pair of statues was positioned on either side of a beautifully carved stone bench.
Ares and Artemis seemed to be standing guard over the sumptuous foliage, and whoever chose to sit on the bench. Besides his helmet, a shield, and a spear in hand, Ares wore nothing, and his marbleized nakedness commanded attention. I remembered all the different pictures of statues I had seen in my text book. I also recalled how the kids in my class had giggled and made suggestive comments when they were forced to try to look past the statues private parts. Just thinking of that now, put a smile on my face. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“What’s so funny?” Evan asked smiling curiously.
“It doesn’t leave much to the imagination does it?” My eyes guided Evan to the scantily dressed statue of Ares. “It was the topic of discussion a few times in class.” I giggled a little more.
Evan blushed as if he were the one who was naked. “The body is nothing to be ashamed of, plus, Ares loves the attention,” he whispered as though he didn’t want the statue of the warrior to hear him. I smiled an blushed too, keeping my eyes on Ares’ face the whole time.
I gazed at the marble bird bath. It was to the left of the dominating statue of Ares, and next to a sizable wrought iron gazebo, somewhat hidden by clusters of entwined vines and multicolored roses in full bloom.
“Does he really have a throne upholstered with human skin?” I asked just as Ares’ stone body shifted, making a bone chilling, nails down the blackboard kind of sound, and became human. He raised his spear which magically became stained with blood.
“Yes, the skin of those he has defeated in war.” Evan said, and then directed his next statement to Ares himself. “She is only curious, my lord.” Ares lowered the spear and looked at me guardedly. It was then that I realized that I was holding my breath.
“Breathe, Delia, he will not hurt you.” Ares kind of marched off, and vanished behind one of the tall hedges.
“I’m trying,” I said. “Believe me I’m trying. I just can’t believe that I’m standing here amongst… the gods.”
“Amongst family,” Evan corrected. Easier said than it was to truly believe.
I slowly twirled around in a full circle, taking stock of what I’d seen. The beauty of the garden and the presence of these divine beings were overwhelming, but I’ve never felt so alive and at peace. Being here, and seeing the foliage from above, from my balcony, were to completely different views. From above it looked like a lovely garden, but being in it, and walking through it was enchanting. It had to be one of the most fascinating places in the world.
“They are a part of us and we are a part of them.” Evan remarked, looking into my eyes. “It’s alright to feel the wonder of their presence, and to be captivated by them. They are why the members of the Ischeros exist.”
“And why we have powers, right.”
“They created us in their glory. Their power is just a small part of what we have inherited.” I nodded in awe, unable to say anything.
We continued to stroll down the path that seemed to go on forever. I had no idea that the garden was this enormous. The hem of my dress swept across the cobblestones; as I listened to my shoes make clickity–clack sounds against it. Artemis had also come to life when Ares had and watched patiently, smiling while Evan led me further down the path.
“She is a huntress and Apollo’s twin sister, right.” I whispered, not wanting Artemis to hear me. The goddess of the hunt, hence the bow and arrows she hauls on her back.” I said. Evan nodded, seeming pleased. Just as Artemis disappeared with a wave of her hand, she literally turned into what looked to be pixie dust. I looked on in amazement, once again.
Opposite the gazebo was a sculpture completely comprised of metal like the Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz, but weirder with muscles and a beard. This time it took me a few seconds but the realization surfaced. It was Hephaestus, the god of fire and metallurgy, which I think basically, means that he is a metal smith. Although, Hephaestus wasn’t good looking like the majority of the other male gods, he had married the stunning Aphrodite which proved that beauty was in the eye of the beholder. But still, it’s too bad that Aphrodite was a bit of a floozy, and couldn’t completely devote herself to him. She was too busy chasing that cutie Adonis.
Hephaestus’ metal body began to melt into skin. The real Hephaestus was present although, still quite unattractive. He picked up an axe that I hadn’t seen lying on the grass. Then he vanished into the cobblestone walkway right in front of the glimmering statue of the always jovial god of wine, Dionysus, Nikolas’ ancestor. A small statue of a satyr peeked out from behind him.
Next to Dionysus was the statue of Hermes. He was the only Olympian god who was authorized, by Zeus, to visit Heaven, Earth, and the Underworld. In my opinion Hermes had the worst job, which was also given to him by Zeus. Upon death, Hermes leads the illfated souls to Charon, the ferryman, who then takes the souls across the river Styx to the entry gates of the Underworld, for a price.
I gawked in amazement as the wings on Hermes’ shoes became feathered and began fluttering about like the wings of a bird. He winked at me, grabbed something from the gazebo, and flew upward into the cloudless sky. His ascent was faster than the speed of light. It didn’t matter that I had already seen several gods come to life, and disappear before my eyes. I was downright dazed by it all. Evan looked lost while he poked around the vacant gazebo.
“I wonder what Hermes stole from in here,” Evan said, looking suspicious. I’d forgotten about Hermes’ penchant for thievery. The god of thieves, no doubt. Suddenly the wreath which Dionysus wore on his head became vibrant, intertwined ivy. Dionysus took in a deep breath and turned his gaze from the gazebo, chuckled, and sipped from a golden chalice. I guess he thought Hermes stealing something from the gazebo to be amusing. I couldn’t help but smile at the presence of the jolly god. His round belly shook as he chuckled, sort of reminding me of Santa Claus if he were donned in a toga.
Appearing out from behind the snow ball white hydrangea bushes, were two dancing satyrs and a beautiful, woman in a sheer slip holding a basket of overflowing red and white grapes. They stood at Dionysus’ side as he glided upward just above the garden’s gates, and looked to be headed straight for the forest of pines.
“Where did they come from? Who is she?”
“Dionysus called on them. He doesn’t reside on Mt.Olympus therefore; he enjoys the company and entertainment of the satyrs and beautiful maenads on his travels.” Evan said, giving up his search in the gazebo.
Evan took my hand in his, and I immediately became nervous. We strolled a little further down the path, and stopped in front of the goddess Hera, Zeus’
jealous wife (her jealousy stemmed from Zeus’ reputation of being a cheat), and sister.
Incestuous and as ghastly as that may seem, marrying your brother wasn’t that unusual for the gods, yet it had sent the classroom into a repulsive fit. I don’t know why, but my mind went to the entry I had written in my journal about Hera possibly being jealous that I had sought the advice of Athena about the choice I made between Evan and Gerald. I couldn’t tell how she felt as she eyed me closely now, once taking on her human form.
Hera gestured to me to follow her. I let go of Evan’s hand and did. After just a few steps she disappeared just as the others did. I was no longer paying attention to where I was going; my clumsiness was partly a result of the hysteria going on in my head at the moment of Hera’s vanishing.
I stopped abruptly when I nearly bumped into the largest statue of them all. It was the luminous sculpt of Zeus. He stood taller than all the others gods. I guess as he should since he is the selfdeclared King of Mt.Olympus, and their leader. I looked up at his large face as his head tilted upward causing his curly beard to swirl around in spirals. He was now in human form. His broad chest added to the magnitude of his stature. His emerald hued eyes, which reminded me of my own, met mine.
Then something really strange happened.
The medallion, which was resting on my chest, began to rise upward as if an invisible person was holding it. The sky blue diamond shaped like a lightning bolt seemed to pull in the light from Zeus’ eyes. I looked up at him, and he stared down at me for a brief moment then suddenly turned his head upward and away from me in the way one would turn to snub someone. Simultaneously, the light dissipated, and my medallion dropped back onto my chest. Zeus was gone as If he had never been there. What just happened was obvious; I had been rebuffed by Zeus. I stood there dumbfounded as I pondered the significance of his actions.
I was jolted by Evan’s crisp voice. “He is waiting for you to acknowledge him. Don’t take it personal.” Evan reached out, and tenderly pulled my chin to face him. “He can be arrogant at times.” He whispered.
I smoothed the front of my dress as I tried to calm my rattled nerves. I was beside myself with anger. I didn’t understand what I had done wrong. I didn’t know how I was supposed to go about acknowledging him.
“What did I do wrong?” I asked, grabbing Evan’s arm lightly as he began to walk further into the garden.
“Actually, you’ve done nothing wrong,” he said stopping to turn and face me. He looked into my eyes as if they were a portal into my soul. “You are not at fault.”
“I don’t get it. How was I supposed to acknowledge him?” I asked.
“You couldn’t.”
“You’re talking in riddles. I don’t understand what you mean.” I said, sounding every bit of frustrated as a hamster in a maze.
“The only way of acknowledging Zeus, or any of the Olympians, would be remembering them, and accepting your purpose. Not to acknowledge them and not accepting your purpose, is defying them.” What Evan said was an awakening. I needed to regain my memory, soon because I couldn’t fathom what the consequences would be for defying the gods, especially the king of the gods.
I tried not to let my timorous disposition show on my face as Evan led me to the marble topped, stone patio table. Just a few yards away from the table was the breathtaking pond which Poseidon had sunk into. In the pond were several schools of glittering multicolored fish. At the center of the pond was a mischievous looking cherubic angel that served as a fountain, trickling water into it. I waited for it to smile, wink, or do something that would prove that it too was alive, but it just trickled water into the pond as if it couldn’t be bothered for a little interaction.
“That one’s just a fountain.” Evan chuckled, lightly as his eyes followed mine to the cherub.