Eulises
I wake in the sand of the beach. I only barely remember being pulled from the waves. I dreamt of my wife's arms, on which note I'd like to dream again. I imagined her holding me, wrapped in the white silk sheets of our bed, her face smiling down at me as her hair made curtains around us, her cool hand on my cheek. Her planting a kiss on her fingers then putting them to my lips. Yes, I'd like to dream again.
Something smacks me hard in the side and I cough, rising. Not an unusual way for me to wake up in this cursed place.
"I served you goddess. I can lie where I like," I mutter, not rising, but slowly climbing to my aching knees, not able to drag my eyes off the crystal white sand to meet her no doubt disapproving gaze.
"I can be your goddess if you like though I think 'grandfather' is more applicable."
"Lord Hermes," I fall to my knees, glancing up to ensure it is him. Of course it is, perched, spryly on a rock, a lyre in his hands. His wide brimmed hat is low on his forehead hiding almost all of his rust colored locks. Brilliant yellow eyes glint at me with amusement.
"The one, the only, you ready to go home wily one?" he laughs, as if he's offering to walk me home from the wood in Mount Parnassus, where he would meet his son, my grandfather, and on occasion teach us grandchildren tricks.
"Do not jest with me, my lord. I know well the Earth-shaker will not permit my safe passage to Ithaca," I sigh, still on my knees.
"Take heart, my sister, who sponsors you and does love you dearly as the only mortal or immortal as deeply fond of being cleverer than everyone as her, has spoken on your behalf to the son of time, he has no qualms with you as you were brave in the war and fought well, and he permits you return safely home," he says.
"What of the curse of the seas?" I ask, "Seas lie between me and my homeland, not the sky. Has the master of them agreed to my safe passage?"
"Ahânotâentirely, no nor did my esteemed father actually consider that. However my least favorite uncle not to be confused with my employer uncle, is away from Mt. Olympus at the moment and my sister and I are of the general mind that what he is not aware of will only make interesting gossip once you make it home," he says, shrugging.
"Fine I'll do itâI had a raft the goddess destroyed it," I say, standing, "What makes you think he won't realize that I've cross the sea and ship wreck me again in an equally horrible place?"
"Like the last five places you mean? It's this little thing I refer to as 'hope', you wouldn't know of it nor would my sister you prefer these things called 'logic' and 'probability', me I fly on hope more often than not, and you could learn a thing or two from me I imagine," he says, ruffling sand out of my hair, then punching my arm as my grandfather used to. Ah, I suppose he inherited the gesture from this one.
"Very well, I have no qualms with it. I just need to know what I'm up against," I say.
"Oh, everything, same as before, but we fight on. We are warriors, we don't die alone," he says, grinning broadly now, "Come, listen while I tell little Cally that I'm taking away her latest play thing."
"Don't angerâoh me, got it."
"Yes, you're my sister's play thing first and foremost," he says, leading the way back up the beach towards the castle.
"I am at that," I say, dryly.
"What was your latest plan anyway? Athena didn't make a bit of sense, well she might have if I'd paid attention, but the gist of it was that I was to come and tell Calypso to let you go so I got that which I hope was the most important part---anyway what was your latest and greatest escape plan that upset my sister so?" Hermes asks, spinning around to talk to me as he walks.
"To ah---die, and win my life back in a game of cards or dice with Thanatos when he came for me," I say, wincing because I am well aware it is not one of my better plans.
"Oh that's divine; let's do that," stopping in his tracks and nearly causing me to run into him. "It's much more entertaining than this one and might be more likely to work as well. Than's stupidly trusting he thinks the best of anyone it's hilarious, let's."
"Maybe another time, I do think the goddess Athena is set on this current plan," I say, motioning to keep going.
"Oh. She probably is. Her and our uncle all 'stop bullying Than' , 'stop taking and touching things that don't belong to you' 'slay this monster' 'take this message' all work and no play, if you do die I'm showing up for that, though. I'll give you the weighted dice in fact. Than's marvelous to mess with," he laughs.
"I appreciate it," I say, dryly.
"Oh and Circe asked after you. What shall I tell her? Nothing? I care very little if it's true or not," he laughs.
"Did she?" I ask. Circe is.... Well, to say not my favorite person is a generality. My favorite person and in fact the only person I tolerate is my wife with my remaining family members running up somewhere there after my son.
"Yes, she did, something about worried about you, and your precious stupid face, I got very bored listening and completely stopped then I nearly got cursed--- it was a divine little visit. Care to send word to her?" he laughs. I'm going to guess he's hiding something in the message and knows all, but I'm more interested in pleasing him and getting home.
"Tell her what you will it will be more entertaining than anything I could think of my current state," I sigh.
"Oh, I thought you'd want to taunt her with your wife's beauty and days spent with your son," he scoffs, disappointed.
"Circe didn't use me ill, not as Calypso does. I've no ill will towards her," I say. Circe was lonely, I felt. She did use me poorly and I was her play thing as he so crudely puts it. But Circe let me go in the end and did give me sound advice for the journey. In another world I like to think, if she were not so alone with herself all the time and I not a ready victim, that we could have been something like friends. I never cared for her or desired her, and it burned her and she did take that out on me rather cruelly for a time. But I do hope if only for her sake that if she lived in a world where she was not treated so harshly by everyone, that she had the capacity to be different. It would be lying to say we didn't have a few decent memories even subservient as I was. I was her prostitute, willingly in that I wished to go home and serving her was the means to do that.
"Come, come, she says she misses you, say that you miss her? Suppose I told you she has another man about more like you than any of us would like, yet she still pines for you?" he laughs.
"Then I am pleased and hope he stays of his own volition for she was lonely and if she's found someone that does wish to remain I'm happy enough for her," I sigh, not interested in games, "If that's true though, you said 'supposing' so I take it that isn't true."
"It's like the truth. Similar to it. The words are true but not in that order rhyme, method, or manner you're taking them."
"As you will, I'm sure you were going to tell her what you wished anyway, I care little as I shall not see her again I hope," I sigh, "Tell her nothing, if she has someone else she is well rid of me and as I recall your visits did not specifically please her, not since you armed me with that moly."
"You're really not understanding how fun Circe is to mess with if you're me, but fine I'll make something upâstay," he's at the castle gates, "Stayâlet me see her alone. She'll be more cross with you there, just wait."
"My lord," I nod.
"But do listen, I'm about to rile her terribly," he laughs, before going in, while I say 'just get me out of here I beg of you' and he waves his hand dismissively.
I lean against the door, listening as he rouses her.
"Where's your bitch?" Hermes purrs.
"By the sea, sobbing, he usually is in the mornings. Why? What brings you here?" Calypso asks, suspiciously.
"He shan't be anymore. The son of Kronos has bid me come to tell you you're losing your plaything so sob to him if you like. The son of Laertes is to be permitted to leave so drop your spells and put down that dagger, you know I don't like to be stabbed," Hermes says, I can imagine him strutting about her hall, touching her things she doesn't like touched.
"No. You don't like when us goddesses take a mortal lover but you gods can take them any day of the week," she hisses. My heart sinks.
"I, personally, do not, my limited spawn are more than enough chaos wouldn't you agree? But if you have a complaint take it up with my brothers they are by far the offenders in thatâand so is my father come to think of it. Lovely seeing you. I'll expect him gone with the next tide."
"That's ridiculous. I found him."
"So???"
"That means I get to keep him. There's nothing else here to entertain me."
"That definitely sounds like your problem and not mine. Now, you can let him go or I can arm him with poisons, weapons, and anything else vile that comes to mind while I fetch it, and we'll watch the huntress become the hunted. I'd help him as well you know I like vexing Titaness witches."
"Fine, I'll let him go."
"Good."
I'm quite sure he's gone.
Her near silent steps near the door and I straighten up.
"Get in, you are to leave whenever it suits youâis that my dress?"
"Yes, as you took my clothes; don't be jealous it isn't my fault it hangs better on I than you," I say, folding my arms.
"Be gone go to your horrible tricks out in the woods building your stupid raft," she says, folding her arms also. I'm shorter than her and refusing to tip my head up and she's looking down rather arrogantly so I really wish I were properly clothed.
"Why should I believe you?" I ask.
"Hermes was just here," she says, annoyed.
"And what proof have of that?" I ask, "How do I know this isn't another game to break my will to yours? How do I know you won't prevent my escape as you have a seven hundred times?"
"It has not been seven hundred."
Several nymphs, "Yes, it has."
"Seven hundred and thirty one if you count when I just tried to swim away I personally do---,"
"What is it you want?" she asks, rubbing her forehead with slender fingers.
"Your word on the Styx that you'll not hinder me," I say.
"I'm not swearing an oath to a mortal," she scoffs.
"Then I'll have some wine and call upon Hermes my ancestor and request brief aid," I say, going for wine. The nymphs don't stop me; perhaps they have warmed to me.
"No, gods I can't bear his voice as well as yours. Very well, you have my word upon the River Styx that you will not be hindered. You can take what food and wine you require and the nymphs will help you with the raft as you wish," she says, glaring at me, "Is there anything else you require?"
"Would appreciate my clothes, but this dress is adequate as it serves me better than it ever did you."
"I won't miss your tongue."
"You say that now," I mutter, just so she can hear me. She throws something at me but I dodge and get back out the doors. Time to go to work. I scarcely believe I am going home. No, I don't believe that just yet. But I am going somewhere that isn't here and I will take that.