THROWN INTO DOUBT

I awoke in a wooden cabin, staring at the dull mahogany walls. There was a small fireplace, and I coughed from the scent of soot. I felt really light when I got up - and quickly scarfed down the eggs and meat(which tasted like chicken) someone so kindly left - along with a mug of water. It didn't make me feel any less hungry, but the buzzing noise in my head softened. And I was able to walk without feeling like I was benching three hundred pounds with every step.

When I sat on a nearby chair, I looked out the window, and my battle with Monoetius came back to me. I'm guessing Elena and Helen decided to stay on his farm until I recovered. After all, Elena had her own share of injuries, and Helen couldn't protect us while fighting powerful monsters on her own. Helen was also roughed up - meaning she too needed time to recover. I wondered where the two were.

My sword was on the table. I grabbed it and headed out, and my first sight was the famous flesh-eating horses. Except I remember there being more of them. Were they eaten?

Golden chickens roamed freely, but they were an exception. Everything, from the cows to the goats, was locked up in steel fences. The atmosphere felt different than when I first came. It was silent save for the chirping noises and more serene. The animals weren't agitated by our presence - they kept quiet. Even the bluegrass radiated more brightly. It was as if killing Menoetius lifted a curse set in this place.

There were three other cabins next to the rooster hens. I went inside each of them but had no luck. Helen and Elena weren't there. Were they heading towards the cabin I was in?

I ran back, and sure enough, they were. Helen and Elena carried baskets in their hands, and both were covered in cloth. My belly rumbled. I sure hoped they had food.

The two noticed me as I sprinted towards them. "Sorry if you couldn't find me. I was looking for the two of you," I huffed.

Helen hit me with a bear hug, and I patted her head. "I guess I made you worry again, huh?" She nodded, still clutching me tightly. I hugged her back. "Sorry, little sis. Guess I was a little reckless."

"You don't sound sorry," Helen let go of me. "How do you feel?"

"Tired. Hungry. Really hungry. What's in those baskets?"

"Elena and I finished taking caring for the animals here. After taking a shower, we realized there was an orchard here, where dryads lived. Elena talked to them, and they gave us apples."

"Then we cooked apple pie," Elena continued. "We gave some to the dryads as thanks and taught them how to make it themselves."

"You two had an eventful day, then," I smiled. "I'm guessing the two of you planned to do something with the food?"

The three of us sat down and ate. The apple pie was top-notch. I sat, smiling as Elena and Helen discussed what happened while I was recuperating. Apparently, some naiads were interested in me. Elena shooed them away, and they didn't take that well. Until she offered them some pie, they would splash her dress with mud whenever she came near their ponds. And they would also make it hard for her to clean herself - restricting her access to their water.

"Sorry about that. I'm willing to go speak with those naiads if it'll-"

"No," Elena was absolute. "You most certainly are not."

"Well, if you're so sure. More importantly, when will we be leaving?"

"We could depart right now if you want."

"Have the two of you rested adequately? We were all beaten pretty badly. If either of you needs more time, we can stay until the day after tomorrow. Being hasty after our last fight will only endanger us."

"I am rather tired," Elena admitted. "But I don't think I need the entire day."

"I see. But I'm sure you alone healed my wounds and Helen's. I'll be happy to stay here another day or two if it means you can regain your strength."

"I'll tell you in the morning if I need more rest, then."

I nodded. "What about you, Helen?"

"Compared to the two of you, I wasn't hurt so badly. If Elena has no problems, then I certainly don't."

"Alright." I looked at my phone. Eleven p.m. "It's getting late. We should pack it in early. We'll have a big day ahead of us if we decide to move."

I found myself on the Isle of Lemnos in another dream. Elena's people had come out of their homes. They danced, sang, and laughed as they went about their day. Children played games with animal teeth, while their older siblings tended to the farms with the few men there. The women traded their grown produce for leather or silk, if not returning from a little hunt in the forest. When they went home to eat, some of the meat was offered to Kronos and the other Titans. What surprised me was that they offered me some as well, something I found heartwarming but also disturbing. Did these people think I was some sort of god now? How much did they expect from me?

The weather was nice. The wind brushed softly against my shirt, not too hot or cold. The skies were clear, and it was hot enough to go for a swim in the waters that surrounded the island. I might have done that, too, had something particular not caught my eye.

I heard hushed voices in the temple. Or maybe it's more accurate to say I "felt" them - hard to say. When I reached Elena's throne room, I came across a band of women huddled together in a circle. Were they performing some kind of rite?

I recognized one of the women, Morgan. She had a stern face on. I guess being in government is a pretty demanding job.

"I've been told Hypsipyle's sent a letter to us. Where is it?" One of the women got up and handed it over. I didn't know what she wrote, but it sure pissed Morgan off.

"This is all she has to say?" Morgan crumpled the letter and tossed it away. "Has she forgotten the debt she owes us?"

One of the women who sat down raised her hand. "At the very least, Lady Hypsipyle seems to have formed a friendly relationship with him. It should put us on good footing with the Titan Lord."

"Nowhere near good enough!" Morgan screeched. I got shivers just looking at her face - she looked like a devil when she was angry. "At a whim, Aphrodite could ruin us again! It is only because of Artemis we still draw breath - and who knows when she'll turn our backs on us! She is one of them, after all. Kronos will abandon us the second he deems us worthless. Only he can protect us. If Hypsipyle can't do it, I'll seduce him myself if nothing else. Our very survival depends on this."

I wanted to stay in the room, wondering who Morgan wanted to seduce, and what Hypsipyle had to do with anything, but the dream ended. I was in my sleeping bag, without any clothes on. I found Hypsipyle with her back turned to me. As I got up, I heard a sniffle.

"Elena?"

"Oh...you're already awake. Good morning, Yiannis." I had to shove the urge to go on top of her and do it all over again out of my head. Why did she have to be so damm beautiful?

"Is everything alright? I thought you were crying."

"Just a bad dream. Don't worry about me, I'm fine. Come on, we have to get going now."