“Another trait you inherited from your mother,” she chuckled, as she reached out and grazed my aquamarine necklace with her fingertips. “You have much ahead of you, young goddess.”
“I feel completely lost right now,” I admitted shyly, somehow wanting to bare my soul to this woman.
“Of course you do,” she said softly as she took my hand. “But that is when our instincts are at their sharpest. The path of a goddess is never easy, which is why you were Chosen, Anastasia. You are at your best when your back is against the wall, when you have no other options, and when you feel you are at your weakest. Your parents were no different.”
“So you knew my father? Do you know where he is now?” My voice leapt an octave as anxiety about my father’s whereabouts surfaced.
“Your father was a loyal and distinguished man with a true heart of gold. I can recall the night he was killed in detail. Your mother took it quite hard.”
“But, I saw my mother in the Underworld…” I started to explain. She raised an eyebrow in surprise. “She told me he was still alive.”
She furrowed her brow in deep thought. “I suppose it could be possible, if…”
“If what?” I asked eagerly. Unfortunately, she simply smiled and took my hand; squeezing it supportively.
“We will have ample time to step back in time and discuss your history,” she urged, and then led me out the back entrance of the spiti. “But at the present moment, it is time to take a step towards your future.”
We were instantly drenched in sunshine as we strolled out into the open air. After descending another set of stone steps that put forth their best effort to trip me, we found ourselves in an extravagant courtyard; abundant with lush flowering bushes and trees. Nemertes escorted me to the center of the courtyard and abruptly oscillated to face me; a resolute calmness shadowing her pale green eyes.
“How much have you learned about your Epiphany Ceremony?” she questioned me.
“My ‘Epiphany Ceremony’?” I repeated; utterly clueless.
“Every Tyde who has been Chosen must take part in an Epiphany Ceremony on their eighteenth birthday. During that time their essence is fulfilled to its absolute entirety, and that is when they truly become immortal. You have been Chosen specifically to be the Leader of the Tydes, however you were not Chosen to be a Nereid because your mother could only choose you for one specific calling. All that means is that your future sisters must each Choose you separately in order for you to be welcomed into our sisterhood. Are you aware of what happens when a descendent is Chosen?”
“The god or goddess who Chooses them, must give them part of their own essence, right?”
“That is correct. So you see, in the few months you have been reacquainted with our world, you have exceeded our expectations and have easily proved your strength and loyalty to the Tyde Order. We wanted to invite you here today to allow some of your sisters to Choose you.”
“Wow…” I responded wide-eyed. “Do they all have to…Choose me?”
She nodded in confirmation. “Not all believe you are ready; however, I have a feeling they will be convinced one way or another before your Epiphany Ceremony on your birthday, which is January 1st.” She winked at me and then said, “Now, place your hand on top of mine, palm up.”
I did as she instructed. A peacefulness fell over her face and she closed her eyes. A slight tingling sensation stirred in the middle of my palm; gradually spreading throughout my entire hand. I watched with utter fascination as drops of sparkling clear liquid began to seep up from my skin, forming a small puddle in the middle of my palm. When Nemertes opened her eyes, the sparkling puddle detached itself from my palm, formed a small droplet that hovered precariously in the air for several seconds, then burst and disappeared.
When I jumped in surprise at the mini explosion, Nemertes snickered softly and kissed my forehead. She paused for several seconds as she met my eyes once more. In a soft but firm voice she spoke in Greek.
“Echete Epilexei.”
Before I could ask her what that meant in English, or how glittering water had percolated in my perfectly dry palm, she strode gracefully to the edge of the courtyard and chose a spot to stand.
Not knowing what else to do, I inspected my hand; finding only the same skin and nails that were there ten seconds ago. I didn’t feel any different, but maybe I wouldn’t until all of the Nereids Chose me? I’d also like to ask Nemertes if Keto was included in the ‘all Nereids’ comment. I had a feeling the only thing she’d want to ‘Choose’ me for was a punching bag.
A new storm of nerves erupted in my stomach as a striking woman dressed in the same traditional dress, but donning a bronze swath of fabric floated into the courtyard. Her sandy brown hair and sparkling caramel eyes were almost muted by the energy that her smile radiated. She breezed to a stop in front of me and clasped her hands together. I noticed her bronzed skin had tiny freckles that cascaded down her arms and dusted her nose.
“I am Psamanthe,” she announced with a simple dignity. “Nereid and goddess of sand.”
Phoebe was her descendent! She definitely shared Psamanthe’s unique energy and innocence, which had a way of ridding the world of its harshness. She smiled once more and held out her hand without another word. I placed mine in hers, palm up, and she followed the same steps that Nemertes had a couple minutes earlier. Another small drop of sparkling liquid pooled in my palm. A light breeze blew up around Psamanthe and lifted my hair, bringing the wholesome aroma of sea oats with it. Just as before, the droplet of liquid hovered briefly and then burst.
“Echete Epilexei” she proclaimed, tilting her head towards me respectfully. “Please tell Phoebe I am extremely proud of the young woman she has become.”
“She will be overjoyed to hear that,” I answered in an effort to sound as equally dignified and poised. I’m pretty sure I failed miserably, being that I was neither dignified nor poised. I inspected her warm, caramel eyes and found more of the same contagious energy swirling from within.
Apparently she was doing the same.
“You have a strong connection to the sand as well,” she stated with a child-like grin.
“I do,” I confirmed.
“I can sense its presence within you,” she said as she tilted her head in fascination. She stepped forward; her eyes darting back and forth and then whispered, “Try talking to the ghost crabs and see what happens.”
“Ghost crabs…?” I began to say, but she was already walking away with an impish grin.
As she took her place next to Nemertes, a third woman materialized inches away from me. I let out a light yelp and my hand went to my heart in surprise. I heard a light tinkle of laughter from Nemertes and Psamanthe. So much for the strong front I was trying to keep up. The newcomer wore a lavender swathe secured with dark purple jewels. As I met her enchanting violet eyes, a twisting wind whipped up around us. Her hair, with every tone of purple represented, swirled around her heart-shaped face. The loose sand and dust that surrounded the courtyard was swept up into a mini tornado that I now found myself enclosed in.
“I am Plexaure,” she announced in a velvety voice. “Nereid and goddess of the twisting breeze.” No wonder I was standing in a tornado! She presented me with her dainty hand, which was decorated with an array of silver rings that accented the row of silver bangles around her wrist. I placed my hand on top of hers and watched the liquid collect once again. After the sparkling droplet of liquid had disappeared, her tornado dissipated as well; sending spirals of dancing dust and sand across the courtyard.
“Echete Epilexei,” Plexaure stated before vanishing into thin air; reappearing next to Psamanthe at the edge of the courtyard. Without skipping a beat, a fourth woman, wearing a pale blue swathe and who had sparkling, crystal blue eyes drifted into the courtyard. Her unruly, thick hair extended almost to the ground and was as white as her dress, with only a handful of pale blue strands to add a touch of color. A serene peacefulness settled over me as her eyes met mine.