Page 63 of The Cursed Chalice
“What god smells like stale wine, Ares? Think,” Hecate says as she presses her hands down on the bed.
“Dionysus?”
She grimaces at my answer. “Have you been out of Olympus that long? Yes, it’s Dionysus.”
“What does Dion want with Elias?” I ask.
Hecate places her hand on the side of Soraya’s neck. “That’s the real question. Now, let’s get this poison out of Soraya. Hold her down.”
Hecate throws her head back and hovers her hands over Soraya’s limp body. She begins to hum and then looks down at Soraya. A small wind picks up in the room.
“By torch and key, I cast you out. Venom, obey and depart with a shout. Climb from the depths, cough, and leave her breath. By fire and night, I conquer death.”
The smell of metallic blood is the first thing I smell. I open my eyes. Unlike before, I am on a bench on a balcony. I stand slowly in awe, pressing my hand to the marble column. The purple and gold curtains frame the stone window. Every stone, every stitch looks handcrafted, detailed, and beautiful. A single oil lamp flickers on the wooden table. I walk slowly to the banister, smoothing my hand over the stone. I look out, and I am in a city with a small coliseum-like structure sitting in the middle of it. The lights of many homes illuminate the city. It is quiet and glorious.
I trace my fingers over the gold tassels of the curtain. This room screams privilege, especially seeing how high up I am. I step away from the banister. Then I hear a faint murmur of someone’s voice. I turn my back to the balcony, slowly walk inside, and pull the purple curtains back. I stop in my tracks again as I see the same woman from my other dream on her knees rocking back and forth. There is a small table sitting in front of her that has a brown bowl with what looks like a heart of some enormous animal in it. She places a coin onto her makeshift altar, then a statue of a man with a spear and shield.
As I move closer, I see her in tears, and she lights a red candle. She then picks up a bowl and pours wine into it.
“Ares, God of War, I give you an offering. Begging you to give pity. I plead with you to come into the flame.
She wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. “I come to you not as a soldier, but as one wounded in a different war.”
Her red hair shines brightly under the lamplight. “Without consent, men were dragged into a war. Now I kneel before you, broken, begging for your presence. Lend your fire so my spirit would need to be crushed. Lend me your shield, please, so that I can protect myself from my enemies.”
She swallows and pulls the statue to her chest. “Strike them down swiftly on my behalf. Let my rage become my armor. Let my survival become my victory. Oh, Ares, great bringer of courage. Make me resilient, make me brave, make me unbreakable, and—” The dagger glitters as she raises it high over her head, stabbing the heart of the animal. “Make me resilient, make me brave, grant me revenge…set me free.”
Her red hair loosens, and she turns in my direction. She stands slowly and advances to me with the dagger in her hand. “Set me free.”
My eyes flutter open, and I hear a sigh. “She is coming through, Hecate.”
Is that Ares? Wait, where am I? Am I imagining Ares’s voice?Oh my God, Nisa. The men. I need to get to Nisa. I sit up with my eyes open.
“Nisa!”
“Shhh, Raya.” I look around and realize I am in my room at Ares’s home. My breath leaves my chest like hot puffs.
Hecate’s face is the first one I see. “Cate, where’s Nisa?”
I hope they didn’t touch her. If they did, I will make Elias see the depths of hell.
“She is safe, Little Flame. You are safe.” Ares’s warm hands gently hold my shoulders.
I rub my hands over my neck. “She is safe. I am safe.” I repeat it like a mantra.
“Drink this.” Hecate moves Ares aside and gives me a cup.
It smells putrid. “What the hell is that?”
Hecate smirks. “It tastes better than it smells.”
I make a face as I bring the cup closer to my mouth. Once I taste it, I look back at Hecate. “What is it?”
She chuckles. “It’s a little tonic.”
The tonic tastes like caramel apples with whipped cream.
I drain the cup and pass it back to Hecate, and she quickly exits the room.
