Leodocus looked into the mirror and what was staring back at him was the reflection of the prince he had once been. Since his exile, dawning fine fabrics, jewels and resembling royalty was only ever in his dreams. But he was now as regal as ever.
Then why did he feel undeserving of being in this finery?
"Majesty, lady Pythia is waiting for you in the gardens." The servant girl announced breaking his concentration.
"Right, I'm coming." He steeled his dark eyes and turned away from his reflection.
He had to focus and not getting distracted by anything except what needs to be done. Even with everything Leodocus knew and devised for his plan, he did have his apprehensions. What if she refused to help them? What if she tells Zeus of his plans? The latter was unlikely since reputation proceeds her relationship with the Olympians was fragile at best.
He walked confidently through the threshold of the vast gardens but luckily Olla the servant girl was here to escort him through this maze.
"How long have you been in lady Pythias' service?" he dared to ask to fill the silence as they walked.
"For about half a century majesty."
"Who were you in your mortal life?"
"Just a girl, daughter of a merchant but my sister was a priestess."
"For which god?"
"Artemis."
"And how is it that you ended up here?" he asked and she tensed at the question.
Since she'd been forced to ascend to this realm, no one had ever asked. She had been used to it because being a servant gave one a veil of invisibility when it came to strangers asking questions. But there was something about this particular guest, a prince, a son of the most powerful god in the universe. Somehow with his intimidating stature and imposing stare, she saw a hint of light in the black abyss of his eyes. She knew she could trust him.
"A creature, half-man, half…I don't even know to describe came in the night for my sister. It defiled her, my sister pleaded to Artemis but the goddess cast her away because she was no longer pure. I was stupid enough to follow her because I knew my sister lived to be a priestess and I thought I could help plead her case. I witnessed my sister fall to the goddess who struck her and die. Anywho I, unfortunately, laid my eyes upon her but she was with Pythia. I thought I would die right there but she took mercy on me."
"So you feel indebted to her?"
"I am majesty. Artemis was enraged a mortal would look upon her that she meant to take it out on my poor sweet father. I knew I would see no forgiveness with her so I begged Pythia, it turned out she needed a servant so exchanged my life so that my father may be spared."
"Does he still live?"
"No, he passed twenty years ago. My lady graciously allowed me to attend his funeral."
"And the mortals?"
"I stayed out of sight but I am thankful I at least got to hear all the things people said about him and see his final resting place."
"I see. Thank you for speaking with me." Leodocus gave her the smallest of smiles and nodded. He didn't know what to say to her, he has never been one for comforting others.
Eventually, they reached the middle of the gardens and there sat Pythias at a table filled to the brim with all kinds of foods and ample amounts of wine.
"Lady Pythia." Leodocus bowed before her.
"Oh finally! I was beginning to think you had been lost. Although I suppose you had a long night, she may be blind but Olla is still very good at pleasing men, isn't that right dear?" she said boisterously. The girl immediately turned red and bowed and scurried away.
"She is lovely but I did not partake." He said levelling his voice not to sound smug as he took a seat next to the goddess.
"Oh? Well, that is a first. Most who come here are filled with such adrenaline after surpassing my challenges that they often take one if not two of my girls."
"Yes well some men are fuelled after a fight but I'm afraid I was simply too tired."
"Then it is a good thing we speak now instead of last night. Leave us." She commanded and all the servants cleared the area. Leodocus poured himself a glass of wine and casually sipped it turning his gaze to the side to avoid hers.
A few moments of silence passed the two gods as they nibbled on the food, sipped wine and admired the view of the sky's orange hue.
"Tell me why you are here Leodocus." The goddess spoke as she stood up.
"I had hoped you could be of assistance to me and my brothers."
"In what manner?"
"I need a soul, the soul of a mortal girl."
"So you would have me take her soul and do what with it?"
"You are exceptionally good at what you do my lady, your methods are well known and better than the ones that came before. I need her immobilized for enough time that I may purify her soul. But I do not know the incantation."
"This is bringing me back. To a young handsome and pompous little shit, Apollo." She spat as if mentioning his half brother's name tasted of acid. Leodocus was not surprised at her disdain, for the large number of people that love the god of music, poetry and orphic religion there were many that hated him for one reason or another. He on the other hand had no feelings one way or another. He learned a great deal from him from fighting and the delicate art of divinity and worship.
"Yes he had attempted this before but he used Medusa. I wish you to help me."
"This is ambitions Leodocus." She turned her head to him but just in time he looked the other way.
"I know uncle Hades will help me."
"How can you be so sure? Hades is quite possibly the most brooding being I have ever met and I have the pleasure of being in the presences of Thanatos."
"He and I have a special rapport."
"Had you mean. You haven't seen your dear uncle for almost a century." Pythia said in a clearly condescending tone. Leodocus did not appreciate it one bit but so easily engaging in a war of words in his world ends with a war of swords and blood. He was in her domain and could be so quick to anger and risk this mission or his life for that matter.
"My lady I understand your apprehension—"
"This is about the prophecy, isn't it?" she said he felt a small part of himself get angry. That dammed prophecy had derailed his entire life and for years he or his brothers would not even breathe a word of it. It was a trigger but since then he had learned to channel it or rather bottle it in as to not do something rash.
Pythia saw the prince had been affected by her words even though his facial expression remained impassive. She saw it all in his eyes, she enjoyed the feeling of seeing him unsettled so she probed deeper. If he were truly a son of Zeus he would lose his composure soon and look upon her. Oh, what a prize that would be, holding such a powerful soul in her hands! She just salivated at the thought.
"You must despise Helenus. Whenever he or that wretched sister of his spoke it brought nothing but darkness."
"He only did his duty—"
"Duty!" she laughed loudly and evilly. "Do not be so noble little prince, you hate that sickly cretin for the fate he bestrode upon you and your brothers." She moved with the silence of the cat and slither of the snake as she walked around him in a circle.
Leodocus knew what she was doing, baiting him to have an outburst so he shut his eyes and steadying his stance.
"Such a terrible fate for you all but you know I often wondered, if your dear father was so afraid of being usurped by his offspring then why are all his other children still in the pantheon? Surely that prophecy applied to all the fruits of Zeus' loins…unless it didn't. You all were the last born having not yet sworn fealty to him and his throne."
"My brothers and I would have never betrayed Zeus—"
"So you say! But how could poor old daddy know with certainty? He has always been a power-hungry monster before anything else but it surprised me that none of your mothers fought to keep you." She said laying a hand on his cheek in a lethal yet nurturing manner.
"You hurt, you hurt because your family, your flesh and blood cast you away like you were nothing. And now you come to me scrabbling for a way back to the life you once had. Tell me, sweet prince, do you think your life will ever be the same? Do you truly believe your father and mother and all the rest will welcome you back with open arms?"
Leodocus remained quiet because these were the many questions that kept him up for most nights especially now. He could feel the fury building up in his blood but still he had to remain stoic, unmoveable even to these harsh words.
"To live in exile is such a torturous experience if you are the kind of person that would just take your punishment and parish. But if you are like me and so many others you would use it to kill the former you and rise again as someone new, someone with power and unmatched strength, someone who can make a domain out of a prison." She leaned into his face, having to tilt her head up to accommodate his height.
"Why do you want to go back to those that abandoned you? Why not start anew?" she whispered, her cold lips brushing against his warm skin but Leodocu had had enough of her taunting and took a step back from her.
"I did not come here to talk about history."
"Oh but you did my sweet prince, you wish to right the wrongs done to you and your kin. And should you prove successful it would be history being made once more." She sighed walking away from him to pick at the blue roses that decorated the shrubbery.
"You Olympians are an ambitious bunch among other things…I never thought it possible to empathise with one of you, I suppose I have been so exposed to mortals that they have rubbed off me. Of perhaps I have grown bored." Pythia seemed to be talking to herself as she trailed off, staring into the distance.
Leodocus narrowed his eyes as he took steps towards her, her tone had sounding encouraging but he still needed to be vigilant in case this was one of her tricks.
"Leodocus son of Zeus, I will help you…" She said and he halted his steps.
"I would see you through your quest however should you fail I want something from you."
"I would give anything in my power." He humbly bowed in front of her. A vicious smile crept onto the goddess as she cupped the young prince' chin to face her even with his eyes closed shut. The flame in her eyes erupted with delight.
"Good, your soul should do fine…"