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I studied the clearing once again It was a perfect circle, full of knee high wild grass and encircled by tropical trees

"A perfect circle", IBut what?"

"You’re such a se of the tree line, Lachesis walked steadily toward me, in her ancient, stooped form Not only was she ancient, but I was also quite aware that she had been rendered powerless, so I stood unafraid and waiting as she approached

"You’re such a proud little thing," she observed I stuck my chin out even further and she smiled "You always have been That’s a paradox Pride really should go against your peaceful nature"

"I a contentment and peace to those around me," I replied "It does not mean that I always feel it myself Of course I do not- particularly when there are those who continually endanger the peace that I love"

She sth that you possess," she observed "I like that"

"I care not what you like," I answered "Please tell me where my mother is You have no need for her I’m the one you want"

"And to get you here, we had to involve your mother She is restrained and you are outnuaze flew once again to the tree line I could see shadows of quite a few people surrounding us Calypso’s nymphs They were under the orders of the Fates I sed

"I aod of war He will be along shortly"

She laughed, a haunting sound

"I wouldn’t count on that, I’ht have been shall we say waylaid" She laughed again, satisfied and secure "I fear they will be of no help to you"

"Yes, you sound very afraid," I muttered

"Come now," she extended her hand "There is a party and we’re waiting for you"

I ignored her hand Did she really believe that I was going to actually touch her? I followed closely behind her as sheAs we crossed through the trees, the solemn nymphs parted and allowed us to pass Their expressions were at once curious, sorrowful and resigned I could sense that they didn’t wish to be participants, but they had no choice

A few minutes later, we stood in what had to be the very center of Ogygia On one end of the encae black tent stood proudly, its fabric rippling with the gentle breeze Facing it from the other end of the encampment was another tent, this one as red as blood

In thethe edges of the pit itself as it roared within A firepit Perfect

But that wasn’t the worst part Hanging upside down like bats frooddesses that I could not count them all From where I stood, I could see Alathea, Eris, Eros and Chaos There had to be at least 30 more, but I couldn’t see their faces froolden cords fastened at their ankles Their hands were criss-crossed over their chests and held tight by an odd looking sheer material that surrounded their entire bodies Only their hair was free and dangled doard toward the flahtly closed It was as if they were in a strange, comatose state, much like hoe found the Amazons in Eris’ home

"Eris helped you," I pointed out "She delivered Aphrodite to you Why would you turn on her?"

"Why do you care?" Lachesis asked "She is your sworn eneed "And I don’t care I was simply curious"

"Well, you knohat curiosity did to the cat" Lachesis sain here?" I asked her "What have these people done to you?"

"Absolutely nothing," she replied with a se"

"Of what?" I asked in frustration

"Of things that aren’t your concern" Another voice resounded through the enca froe of the fire where I stood with Lachesis

"You do not have the right to dee from us," Clothos snapped in her superior way

"Yet you cannot stop ic here" I looked to Atropos "Your breaths are no longer hazardous torendered powerless truly vexed her

Froed from the red tent The Keres I watched them with interest as they crept to where we stood When they reached us, I gazed at theasped

They were hideous It was no wonder they wore hoods Their faces were ancient, like the Fates, but their skin looked like cracked stone Their cloudy eyes were almost white and blood ran froround Everywhere they walked, they trailed blood

"Do we repulse you?" the one nearest to rew even ed bones

"We cry blood because of all that we have seen," she uttered Reaching out a gnarled finger, she trailed it along my jawbone "Such beauty," she hissed

"If you had seen even a portion of e have, you would not be so pure," she finished, dropping her hand back to her side "Our sisters have da due to the evil that we have witnessed"

"Much of it at your own hands," Clothos reminded her "You are not innocent, sister"

The Keres shook their heads "As if we had a choice," the one in the middle croaked

Lachesis stepped in "That is neither here nor there We have other things to attend to It is time that we filled dear Harmonia in our plans"

"So, tell me"