Dreams

I laugh at another of Hermes' jokes as we dinner and almost choke on my food, my brother giving me pats on my back when he notices it, stopping when I gesture letting him know I'm fine.

-I'm strong, no mutton can kill me. - I see him smiling in amusement and resume eating.

-Well, is there any news?

-Nothing. - Hera answer Apollos' question, but Ares cuts it.

-Tena is having dreams. - he smirks as his mom glares at him, my father clearing his throat and taking a sip of his drink awkwardly, Apollo raising a eyebrow - Every night, pretty much.

I look at Hestia, she seeing where this conversation can end up as well. Her tanned, full of freckles skin goes slightly pale. She rises a soft and round hand, her eyes looking at my brother and stepmom in concern as her copper hair is framing her face, the color matching perfectly with the one of her irises.

-Oh. - Artemis says, quickly noticing what's happening - Really? - I confirm with a motion of my head. The twins look to each other before the blonde one look at me.

-Well, that's not...normal. You know, for a god or goddess to have dreams. If we do have they´re a forecast. I would know.

-Well, maybe she's just a little different. - my stepmom interferes - Her nightmares makes no sense, anyway.

-Nightmares? Thena, you're having nightmares?

-Let's not talk about it, okay? - Zeus pronounce after looking at his wife and other sister - How's...the war?

I get a little bit nervous and look at my dad. Him, uncle Poseidon, uncle Hades and Hermes have the same eyes: really light and bright, a blue color just like the morning sky. He also have a tan, muscles, a full hair and beard with the same white color as the cumulus clouds.

-It would be a lot easier if the god of war was on battlefield with us. - my sister talks directly. As expected I'm also not allowed to go help - We have been fighting for more than two years now, we do not know if we can keep the monsters away from here for much more time.

-And there's the prophecy. - her twin adds - "The war divinity", remember? We need Ares.

-He's protecting the Olimpus.

-Is he, Hera? - the girl asks, glaring at her directly - Or is he protecting you? You have the king protecting you, why do you need the best warrior too?

Silence.

-I will... - I stand, not even a little bit ready to deal with such a situation - ...go to my room.

-I'm coming with you. - the messenger god informs, following me - I have to get out of here early, anyway.

We walk together, letting the family discussion behind us in time to hear their voices get loud and harsh, just one of them in a soothing tone, obviously my aunt trying to calm everyone down.

I take a deep breath, Hermes looking like a heavy weight was taken off of his shoulders when we get far enough. We stay in a comfortable silence for some time until I remember something that was mentioned.

-Hermes?

-Yeah?

-Which prophecy? What were them talking about?

-Oh. - he looks ahead, - You know, the war started more than two years ago and we all agreed that a prophecy could be useful for us to know what to do, so Apollo did all his magical thing and got one.

-Do you remember it all?

-Yes, it is pretty short for a prophecy, actually. It goes...

"As the enemies arrive

Coming from deep down the ground

The war divinity

Will come in field surround

By it’s dear fraternity

To complete at least it’s fate

And no other deity

Will ever get to equate

To what this one will do

Or, even more, create"

-That's...really pretty short.

-What are you thinking?

-It's just a theory... - I mumble to myself as my eyebrows go down into a frown - ...but...

-Atena? What are you thinking about?

-It is possible for the prophecy to be incomplete? - I see a expression of surprise on his face.

-I...never got this possibility under consideration.

-Was Ares with everyone when you all got the prophecy?

-He was.

-Normally, when the one who's the prophecy is about is present, it refers to this person directly, with "You should" or "shouldn't" or talking about things this person cannot forget or giving advice, you know?

-Well, he is the god of war.

-And that is also strange. Why not "The god of war"? Why "The war divinity"? If we didn't knew he's the main divinity of war it could be referring to anyone. A god or goddess. Maybe...Enio? Or Eris, she could also be a possibility.

-If someone can figure it out I believe is you. - he says as we get to the door that leads to my room.

-Thank you.

-You could talk to the twins tomorrow. I have to get up early to delivery messages to uncle Hades and Poseidon.

-Okay, give them a hug for me.

-I will. - he lays down and gives me a kiss on the forehead, I give him a peck on the cheek.

-And take care.

-This I cannot promise. - he says joking and pretends to be hurt when I lightly slap his arm - Ouch.

-You and Apollo are both drama queens.

-Oh stop, you're making me blush. - we start laughing and he gives me a hug - Sleep well, Thena.

-You too. - he gets away as I get in my room, going straight to bed.

Hermes' wish for me to sleep well did not work. The same vision from other nights repeat in my brain.

I'm in a cavern, ten times bigger than any other that I have ever imagined. Orange and yellow lights reflect on the nearest rocks, but the walls and the ceiling are just too far away to be illuminated, so most part of the place is on the dark. There was some nights that I could not see more than this, but this is a different case. I look down.

A river of flames flows to a huge opening on the ground in front of me. Souls on it's stream, burning and yelling in agony, swimming against the fire in vain, the once living people trying to escape the consequences of their sins on the surface. It cannot be done.

Phlegethon.

I turn around, seeing three beings that were behind me, a animal and two persons. It was always easy for me to recognize the owl, the same that always visits me and lands on my window, but it's the first time I see the faces of the pair. I don't know them. I'm sure I don't know them.

"At least..." a voice in my head says "...not yet."