Treasure of Calliope: Chronicles of Zeus' Daughters - Book 1

Chapter 13: The Challenges

Challenge 1

 Kyra and Tessa stepped into the portal and saw only darkness at first but soon the space lit up showing a path. As the path appeared the light in the space began to feel warm. One minute they were alone and the next, there stood before them an older and very refined looking woman. Her hair was grey, and she wore a longer white dress made up of what looked like leaves. 

“I can help you with your problem,” she said quietly to get our attention.

“Do you know how we can save our parents?” Tessa asked.

“You could save your parents if you had all of the power and riches of the world at your fingertips. Imagine how easy it would be to just snap your fingers and tell someone to do something, and it gets done.”

“Everything given has a price. What is the price for what you offer?”

“My price is very unimportant compared to what you could both do with the gift I am offering you,” she replied and vials with blue liquid appeared in their hands.

“Drink and you will have more power than any god and will be able to command the world,” she said.

Tessa and Kyra looked at each other and shook their heads no.  

“We don’t need power or riches,” Tessa said. “Our family is not rich but we are happy. If we had power, we would have more danger trying to attack us than we already have. We just want to find our parents.”

They both handed the vials back to the woman without a second thought. 

“You are not tempted to take my offer, are you?” she asked and then looked at Kyra. “You are a daughter of Zeus and we expected that you would want to follow in his footsteps, to find and acquire all of the power so you can rule.” She looked at Tessa with a confused look. “You are also daughter of an immortal, but it has not been claimed yet.”

“What?” Tessa asked.

Kyra held grabbed her hand. “Our focus is only on finding our parents. We don’t care about are lineage,” she said after Tessa gave her that look that they needed to address the new information once or if they got through their current situation. “We were taught to respect others, not control them,” Kyra replied.

“We understand how important nature is to you and want you to know that we have similar believes. Our family helps nature and have since we were born. I want to become a doctor so I can help animals,” Tessa said sounding more confident than she had ever felt before. She has always been passionate about animals and it broke her heart when she heard of the a***e some of them received at the hands of people.

The woman disappeared and a blue sky appeared above them.

Challenge 2

 Kyra and Tessa followed the path and began to see butterflies and birds flying around in the sky. The path ended and they glanced around their surroundings to see if there was nother one they need to follow. There was grass and dirt on the ground, hills and mountains on the horizon and trees of differing shapes and sizes all around them. The temperature which started very cold when they left required they wear heavy jackets but now, it was warmer, almost like springtime. The girls took off their jackets and just continued forward, not knowing if they were going in the right direction or not.

“What do you think our chances are of having everything being that easy?” Tessa asked.

“I think the Nymphs will make it much harder now to make up for that one.”

 “Where do you think our parents are?” 

“Honestly, I don’t know. When I first wake up, I think that this is just one bad dream and then realize that its not.”

“There is no way I would drink that nasty mess that Phoebe gave us in any dream,” she replied back and they both laughed but the laughter did not really reflect what they felt at the moment.

“I don’t know how but we’re going to find a way to rescue our parents and keep our family safe,” Tessa said and they both stopped walking again.

Kyra looked over at Tessa and watched as a tear fell down her face. “I don’t think I can do this, Kyra. I don’t want to do this. I just want to finish school and become a doctor. Is that really asking for too much?”

Kyra hugged her cousin. “You are strong and smart. The gift you have with animals is incredible.” She released her from the hug but grabbed both of her arms.

“How many times did our parents say that we couldn’t do something and we just put our minds to proving them wrong and did it?”

“More times than I can count, but this is different.”

“It’s only different because the stakes are much higher. Before we wanted to prove them wrong and now we have to prove that we can or our lives and those who we love will be in danger.”

“There are a lot of people counting on us and I know that even though it is hard, we can do it because we are stronger together. Let me hear you say it Tessa.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes you can. Stronger together!” Kyra yelled.

Tessa took a breath and felt her cousin’s strength. “Stronger together!” she yelled back.

 #####

 The dirt and grass they walked on changed to flat cobblestones. The way the stones were arranged was exquisite. The shapes and colors worked together and created a path that looked more like art than a way to get from one point to another. Suddenly the scene changed and Tessa was sitting on a throne with Kyra bowing down to her. “Where are we?” Tessa asked seeing the surprise on Kyra’s face that she herself felt. 

“I don’t know. Its probably the next challenge so be ready for anything.”

The room of full of people but no one spoke. Zeus walked up and placed his hand on Tessa’s shoulder. “My daughter, I am so proud of you.” He looked around at the crowd not evening acknowledging Kyra. “Raise your cups to your queen. She alone rules Olympus.”

Kyra watched as everything seem to move in slow motion. She had always felt a little jealous of Tessa but it was because Tessa knew herself so much better. She hoped that one day she would know herself as Tessa did. For a split second, Kyra wanted to yell out to say she was Zeus’ daughter, not her cousin. Her heart quickly took over. If this was real, she was happy for her. Nothing would ever change that they loved and protected each other. They were family first. Titles fell much further down the list. When she looked back to Tessa, she saw her pain but held the goblet that was now in her hand. “To Tessa, long may she rule!” Kyra yelled out. “A strike against her is a strike against me and my sword is sharp.”  

Tessa gave Kyra a smile, relieved with her protectiveness.

“I’ve got your back girl,” Tessa winked and everything else faded away.

“And I know that you will always have my back, looking out for me.”

“We can’t worry about what the future holds whether it’s good or bad, happy or sad. We have to stay in the now, find our parents, and somehow find a way to keep our family safe from whatever is coming after us.”

“We can’t worry what’s in our future because we really have no control of it.”

“That is why I went for that run by myself. I felt like I had no control over my life. We can’t control the future, but we can control how we live and what we do. At least that’s what Agamede says.”

“She sounds very wise.”

“She is and I know you would like her if you met her.”

“If you think I’d like her then I’m sure I would. Is she why you seem so confident right now?”

“I don’t feel confident about anything. Right now, I’m terrified that we won’t be able to get what we need and we’ll never be able to rescue our parents.”

“Then what is keeping you going?”

“You, Cassie, Alexis, Helena, Alexa, Kat, our parents, grandmother and uncle Theos. Our family is our strength.”

“What about Atlas?”

“I see my future with Atlas but he is not my present. Family is past, present and future and will always come before everything.”

 Challenge 3

 The girls continued to follow the path. Soon they came upon a young girl about five or six. She had long black hair which was braided with white daisies. “You have done well so far but this last test requires openness and trust.”

“What do we need to do?” Kyra asked and as soon as the words are out of her mouth, there are two sets of weights in of them. One looked like not even the strongest man in the world could lift while the other looked like it would be a challenge if both girls were able to share the lift.

“These weights represent the truth which you each hide in your own minds.” The little girl points to the smaller of the two piles. “Tessa, that one is for you.”

“I don’t know how I’m going to be able to lift it unless I had Kyra’s help,” she said.

“You both must carry your own weight, but you can lessen the burden by telling each other the truth that you keep inside. Tessa, you begin.”

Tessa looked at me and then the pile of weights. She was first surprised by her large pile and then there was betrayal in eyes. They had always told each other everything but now it looked like that may not be the case on Kyra’s part.

“I am upset with Kyra for going off the other day by herself without telling me. But I think I am jealous because she had that time to herself. At school and now back at home, it seems like we are never alone. We have to carry expectations and cannot behave like others our own age. We can never just go anywhere outside of the house alone. I would love to just spend time in the forests just exploring, but our parents and the wolves would never allow me to be alone,” Tessa said and she sounded angry which was unusual for her. “And now I feel betrayed because there is clearly a lot she has kept from me.”

Suddenly, Tessa’s pile decreased by half.

“Tessa, I am so sorry. I feel like I have nothing but chaos of stuff in my head and was trying to work through some of it before I told you. I didn’t want to worry you. I had no idea that this was bothering me so much.”

“Kyra that pile is yours. I have never seen that much weight for one person before. It is time to free yourself from some of that burden,” the little girl commented.

“Come on. It’ll make you feel much better,” Tessa urged.

“How far will we have to carry them?” Kyra asked.

“You have to climb up that hill in front of you and place it next to the well that is up there.”

Kyra looked to Tessa and then the pile of weights in front of her. There was no way she would even get it off the ground. It was just too much. “I feel completely lost. One night I went to bed and the nightmares started with you being in danger. Now I can’t wait to sleep again so I can see this main who I just me. My time is always so limited with him because time with him cost me energy making me which I can’t afford because I have to save or family.” 

Kyra looked at her pile and it dwindled down a bit but it was still too much to carry. Kyra scanned her memory to find something that she can tell her.  “Agamede said that there are three plants that can create a potion which will help me to free Atlas, but I must find the plants. How do I make time to find the plants when our priority is our family? I know I am being selfish.” 

Her pile shrank a little more but she felt guilty for leaving out so much more, but the weight she had to carry was hers, not Tessa’s. 

“Kyra, I had no idea.”

“I never said anything because I knew I was being selfish.”

“It’s human to want things for ourselves. What else is bothering you that you haven’t told me?”

“I know this amount of weight makes it look important but it’s not. I can lift this. Let’s get this up that hill so we can find our parents.”

Tessa had disappointment on her face that Kyra would not share the burden she was carrying but chose to accept that she may have had a good reason. Each of the girls lift their load and started their climb to get it up the hill. As Kyra walk up the hill with her weight, she felt the pain which began to increase in her legs, arms and back. It was only with her determination that she continued despite the increasing pain. Tessa’s load was heavy but she was able to manage it. Kyra stumbled but recovered before Tessa noticed. Unfortunately, her ankle had twisted and will be swollen very soon. She was almost at the top when she started repeating, “Stronger together,” and that was she felt her family’s energy giving her what she needed to finish.

Both girls reached the top at the same time and when they placed their load next to the well, a white door appeared. The door opened and everything else disappeared.

“Now what Kyra?”

“I’m sure we’re about the find out.”

Another woman appeared but remained silent. She nodded and gave each of them a small smile before she turned around and walked through the door. 

“I bet we need to follow her.”

“You’re probably right.”

Kyra felt the pain from her ankle and used her best effort not to limp but Tessa noticed and quickly ran over and provided support so she didn’t need to put all of her weight on her ankle. They followed the woman through the white door and were stunned by what they saw the other side. The trees were huge but it only appeared that way because there were now very small. Both girls found themselves feeling a little disoriented after looking at a butterfly the seemed to be the size of a dragon as it flew in front of them.  Tessa glanced to Kyra with questions on her face. 

“This is their world.”

“Yes it is,” a woman’s voice said. Kyra and Tessa looked up to see her she stood several feet in front of them. She was surrounded by others like her but she was clearly their queen. “I am Eufime and Queen of this world.  I know why you are here.  We will provide our help but you must help us first.”

“We are honored to be here your highness,” Tessa said as formerly as she could. 

“What can we do to help you?”

“Kyra, daughter of Zeus, you begin your trials with our request. Seeing you, I can feel that power that you and your cousin have. Tessa, we look forward to the completion of this journey for you and your family. You are very young to be a queen, but your followers are very loyal and protective.”

Tessa and Kyra looked at each other and shrug their shoulders. They had to stay focused on why they were here.

“I understand now why your family is in such danger and your parents taken from you. You each have your own power but together like this, your individual powers are magnified substantially. There is someone I want to introduce you to, and it is she who is need of your help to find her son. If you succeed, we will provide support to you in your quest to find your parents.”

A beautiful woman appeared in a long blue dress which shimmered in the light. “Like you, I am also a daughter of Zeus. My name is Calliope and I am the muse of epic poetry. I have eight sisters, Cleio muse of history, Euterpe muse of tragedy, Melpomene of the lyre, Terpsichore flute-laying, Erato muse of hymns to the gods, Polyhymnia muse of dancing, Urania must of astronomy, and Thaleia muse of comedy.”

“That’s a lot of sisters to grow up with. How did your mother keep you all straight?” Tessa asked.

“Our mother Mnemosyne did not raise us. We were given to Apollo and Eufime. They loved us and taught us many things. Apollo helped us develop into who we are today,” she said as she looked over to Eufime with love in her eyes. “Zeus seduced our mother for nine consecutive nights although he was married to Hera.”

“He does that a lot, doesn’t he?” Tessa asked.

“Yes,” is all Calliope said and her voice grew angry. “I should not be angry because Eufime and Apollo loved us as their own. Apollo had many sons but the one daughter he had died very young. 

“When I found out he was my father and I was told the story of how he seduced my mother by changing his appearance to look like my dad, I got really angry with him. Now, I have to deal with his enemies who he wronged and are now trying to kill us. I can understand why you might be angry with him”

“I apologize. I am one of many who are not happy with Zeus for his actions while he has been on the throne. Zeus has had many other children including Apollo and his brother Artemis who were conceived by Leto, Hebe with his wife Hera, Leda with the human Helen of Troy and Persephone who was conceived when he seduced Demeter. His actions do not define who you are.”

“Eufime says we need to find your sons remains. Can you tell us about him? What happened to him?” Tessa asked.

“My son loved music and Apollo gave him a golden lyre which he taught him how to play. He became an accomplished musician and traveled with it playing for those who would listen, charming every living thing. During one of his trips he met, fell in love with and married a Dryad princess named Eurydice.” 

“Your son sounds like he was exceptional and we can hear from your voice how much you love him,” Tessa replied in almost a whisper.

“Thank you for saying that. Yes, I think he was quite exceptional and I love and miss him very much. He told me one day how happy he and his wife were, and I was so happy for him, grateful he found someone that would always be there for him.”

“What a beautiful love story,” Kyra interjected. 

“It was, however they did not get their happily ever after like they should have because she was also loved by another man. His name was Aristaios and tried to force himself on her and in running away from him she was bitten by a snake and died. Orpheus was determined to rescue her and so he journeyed to the underworld. When he played his lyre for Hades and Persephone, Hades agreed that Eurydice could return on the condition that he leave the underworld and not look back. Orpheus agreed and was grateful, but as he was leaving, he did not hear any footsteps behind him so he looked back and watched as his beloved disappeared. He was devastated and lost without her. He wanted nothing to do with other people, especially other women. It is my understanding that he ended up in Thrace. The women there tried to seduce him but when he declined them, they became angry and tore him into pieces. I have heard tales that pieces of his body eventually ended up on the shore at the island of Lesbos where they were collected and put into three vessels.” 

“We will begin our search on the island of Lesbos and hope we can find some clues,” Kyra stated.

“The only thing we were able to find of him was his lyre. I give it to you in hopes that it will help. Perhaps having something that was such a large part of him will help you to find him. Apollo and I have used all of our contacts and spent an entire existence trying to find him. If you can do what we have not been able to, I will help you in finding your parents,” Calliope told them.

“How do we find you once we find your son’s remains?” Tessa asked.

“I cannot be found until the next full moon when I will be among the Pieria Mountains. Go to the largest lake and look to the highest mountain. There is a patch of woods at the peak of that mountain, go there and the Nymphs will guide you the rest of the way.” 

“Thank you. If you could point us the way home, we can get started,” Kyra replied. 

“Follow that path, it will take you to where you came in at. We wish you good health in your journey. But before you leave Kyra, may I see your ankle?”

“Okay,” Kyra replied and stepped closer to her. 

She brushed her hand over Kyra’s ankle like someone would brush off the shoe. “There you go. All set.”

“Thank you,” Kyra said.

Kyra walked back to Tessa and they followed the path in as directed which led to another portal. This time, after they walked through it, they stood outside the tree where they originally started greeted by the white wolf and her pack.