Page 16 of Hekate: The Witch

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held her in great respect and with fear

of what they did not know she could do.

But that day she looked so small.

When I remembered my mother,

I tried not to picture that day,

but it was burned into my mind.

The moment she said,

‘Please take my daughter.

Give her a place here.

Remember, she is your blood too.’

Hades and Styx

The hesitation was there in both their faces.

Styx’s too-sharp eyebrows were furrowed,

Hades’ cool dark eyes harboured wariness.

A resounding crack and roar rose behind us.

Hades and Styx looked in its direction sharply,

then back at us as I flinched, my mother very still.

That was the sound of two angry Gods,

enraged at being denied entry to claim us.

Finally, the God-King of the Underworld

gazed at the River Goddess as his mouth set,

A quiet pact exchanged between them.

Then he reached out for my hand and said,

‘You have my word, Goddess.

We will keep her safe.’

‘Goodbye, My Child. Have Courage’

If I could go back and change anything,

it would be the last time my mother and I spoke.

I would have held her hand a little tighter.

Smiled into her eyes a little longer.

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