The Armageddon

4. A Twist of Fate

THE REALM OF FATES.

The sisters of fate circled around admiring the grand tapestry in which they weaved the fates of every living being both mortal and immortal.

Clotho smiled as she took a beautiful golden thread shimmering with energy and a dull but intense and beautiful looking purple thread.

“what do you think of this combination sisters?” she asked her sisters.

“this is yet the best match Clotho” Lachesis said

“this should be amusing” Atropos mused.

Clotho smiled once again at their answers as she proceeded to intertwine the two threads into one. Once it was done, they began to weave the now purple and gold thread into their grand tapestry as they had done with many other before. The two threads represented two gods; Nike and Ares.

The fates always intertwined the fates of two who complimented each other as the brilliant silver thread of the kind, innocent and gentle Kore complimented the dull black thread of the cold and unfeeling Hades and as the warm and mellow green of calm, warm and motherly Hera complimented the vibrant and violent red of wild, insensitive and arrogant Zeus.

Moments later, I stormed into the place like a landlord coming to demand a year’s rent from her lowly tenants.

“Nike” Clotho purred.

“you took ages to come” Lachesis added.

“We’ve been expecting you” Atropos finished.

I hated it when they completed each other’s sentences, I have to keep looking from one face to another and take moments to understand what they are saying and the way they speak is really off-putting. They always spoke in riddles, which I find very annoying. They never could answer your question or tell you anything straight-out.

“I know that you are aware of why I am here,”

“Of course, we do” Lachesis said.

“You have to tell me what to do, you have to… no, need to give me answers” I said.

“We cannot tell you what to do Nike” Atropos said.

“it is not our place to do so” Lachesis added.

“I know that you let me come back to prevent all this from happening, but how can I when I do not even why or how it is even going to happen. I do not know where to start.”

They smiled at me as if they knew something I didn’t. That was because they did, but would not say a word.

“you have always been wise and resourceful; this should not be any different” Clotho said.

“we cannot tell you anything about what we see” Atropos said.

“what if I do something wrong and we all born to the ground, will you tell me then?”

“well you would have figure it all out, by then it would be too late.” Lachesis snickered.

I growled. Why did I even come here when I knew they wouldn’t give me the answers I seek. Everyone seems to enjoy getting on my nerves today and this is the height of it. I feel like just punching them in the face. All they do is sit with their knitting kits and gossip while messing and ‘weaving’ people’s lives as they see fit. Why did they not just give this task to someone more suitable?

I would have demanded that they give it to someone else, but even I know that it is impossible to change fate once it has been woven. Its like trying to overwrite the past. You can’t have two pasts.

I turned around and spread my wings ready to fly away from here when they spoke again “you will not be alone in this” said Lachesis.

“you will discover many things and meet souls you will forever be bound to” Atropos joined.

“The one whom you crown victor with your laurels and whose name you engrave on the victors shield of your heart is to whom you belong, goddess of victory.”  Clotho said finishing their chant.

Huh? What does that even mean? I think to myself, but I don’t ask because I know it will be pointless. I flew away with their words churning in my mind.  As the goddess of victory, I often honored winners with crowns of laurels and engraved their names on my victors shield in remembrance of their accomplishment for all eternity, like a hall of fame. Did this mean there was going to be a competition of sorts and I will crown a winner? That wasn’t unusual!

Little did I know it was much deeper than that.

Sigh, I wish had a dictionary of riddles.

This was an interesting twist of fate.

ARES

Several weeks later, I brought reports to Zeus. I found nothing amiss, everything was just the way it should be. Zeus became even more curious as to why Nike would make such claims after hearing the reports. He then ordered me to watch her carefully.

As more time passed, I watched her closely, but there was nothing absurd or abnormal about her behavior. The more I followed her, the more intrigued I became. I had had few encounters with the goddess in question, but I had never notice how graceful and elegant she was. Even now as I watched her spar with Athena in the arena from afar, her steps were light, her moves fluent. She was fast, agile and flexible. She was formidable warrior I must confess. Athena was a force to reckon with, but she was no push over either, she was on par with the goddess of war.

Nike was careful and observant. There were many times when she almost found me out even though I concealed myself and my aura as much as possible.

She always had a small polite smile on her face that hid all her emotions. Whatever she was thinking, I could never tell. She was always calm and polite, but she would tear you to pieces with her words should you should you be on the receiving end of her wrath and she would do it all with a smile on her beautiful face.

Usually, she would head to the bath house after a sparring session and then she would spend the rest of her day with friends or reading some form of literature, but no today. I followed closely behind her hidden in the shadows as she headed back to the Arena. It was dark now and I wandered why she would go back when she just came from there not so long ago. Did she want to train more?

There was no one, it was empty as it should be by this time. But she already knew that. She stopped and looked round. What was she looking for? She started walking toward the stone table in the far corner when she stopped again and glanced behind her. Her bright hazel eyes staring straight in my direction. Her eyes narrowed before she looked away and continued walking.

That was a narrow escape. It was almost as if she was staring right at me, but I knew she couldn’t see me.

 She stopped right in front of the large stone tablet.

The Olympic games that took place once a century was fast approaching and that tablet had the various games and competitions and their participants written on it. She studied it carefully, tracing the names with hare hands until it stopped on a particular one.

Poseidon

Poseidon was to participate on the second and fourth day of the Olympics.

Read the letters carefully as her usual smile appear on her face, before turning around and walking away.

What was that about?

I had been following her for weeks, but found nothing and out of the blues, she’s interested in Poseidon? Maybe she plans on joining his team this time around. She had always been by Zeus side, but it seems there is something happening between them. Though that should not have to be kept secret right?

Nike

Since the fates would not give me answers and Zeus would not believe me, I am going to what I see fit. I have a plan, and it has already been set in motion.

I was going to start with Poseidon. It’s a good thin that during my discussion with Zeus earlier, he had mentioned the name of those involved and I would use that little slip up to my advantage.

I needed to get into Atlantis, Poseidon’s domain. I needed him to be away so I waited till the Olympic games. Everyone was going to be on Mount Olympus for the during each of the games, though it wasn’t compulsory, it was tradition and anyone who doesn’t, well I would deal with that later. A perfect distraction. Poseidon is one of the oldest and ruling gods so he was definitely going to be there with a whole lot of his people. That reduces the number of people I have to go through to get in to Atlantis.

Poseidon was going to participate in sword fighting on the second day and archery on the fourth day.

I would carry out my plans on the fifth day.  

I am also expected to participate.

On the second day, the sword fighting would take more time and if I was gone long, my teammates would get suspicious and I am sure that Zeus was already watching me.

That reminds me, I have been having the feeling of being followed lately and I wouldn’t put it past Zeus to gift me with a stalker. I would take care of that spy later.

I needed to help. I knew I couldn’t possibly do all this on my own, all this save the world blah blah blah. I already had a list of people whose help I could use. The issue now is how to approach them without my dear spy, batman or cat woman snitching on me.

Two weeks later,

I had looked for Ares earlier, but did not find him, so I headed to the arena where Athena was waiting for me.

 “Ares” I called when I saw him fastening his leather armor. I hadn’t seen in the arena for a while now. I usually caught glances of him around. Never spoke much.

He looked up when he heard my voice.

“Nike” he answered.

I gave him a wide smile. When he stood straight, I had the chance to look at him properly.

And my! Did he look good. He was fine male specimen; Well built and tanned. I wandered what it would be like to have those strong arms wrapped around me. My face heated at the thought

I averted my gaze when I realized I was starring. I saw a smirk playing on his lips and I think I turned a shade redder.

“have a favor to ask of you” I said and he rose a questioning brow with a slight tilt of his head.

“I would like to be on your team for the Olympic games.” I said simply.

He was quiet for sometime like he was calculating something. His sharp blue eyes narrowed at me.

“yes” was all he said as he went back to what he had been doing. He was a man of very few words.

“wait, yes?” I asked confused. he didn’t even argue.

He gave me a look that said ‘is that not what you wanted?’

“are you not going to ask why?” I asked him.

“I eventually find out or is there some reason I should be wary of?” he questioned.

“not at all” I replied.

“Then I shall see you when I see you” he said as he walked away, his arm brushing mine in the process. The contact made tingles run down my spine and I felt sparks fly. He smelt of cinnamon and leather.

I let out a heavy breath to composes myself. I knew better than to let myself be attracted to any god.

Ares

As I walked away, I kept replaying our conversation and her voice in my mind. Her voice was gentle and calm, but firm and confident like the waves of the sea.

My ego grew bigger when I realized a gorgeous goddess like her was checking me out. I truly did not mean to tease her, but I could not help but smirk. When my arm touched hers, I felt like I had been electrified. I caught a whiff of her sent; lavender and pine

I had thought that she had been interested with Poseidon’s schedule for the Olympics because she wanted to join him, but it turns out that was not the case. There was more to this and find out I shall.