Calypso stared blankly out to sea. The helicopter had dropped her off around an hour before, and that was all the time it took to explore the tiny island. It was covered in sand, which seemed odd to Calypso because she thought that most of the Aegean isles were rocky. A cave with a curtain hanging in the doorway sat mysteriously in the middle of the island, but Calypso wasn't ready to venture into that. Instead she walked over to the other side of the cave and gasped at the lush garden that awaited her. Olive, fig, and pomegranate trees provided shade from the September sun. Cabbage and lentil plants hugged the ground, while grape vines climbed up an arching trellis. They must have prepared this as soon as I was brought to the asylum, she mused, amazed by the magnificent garden. Chickens wandered around, followed by chicks. Calypso's hand wavered in front of a plump pomegranate, but she wasn't accustomed to the island, and she wasn't ready to eat its food. She pulled her hand away and ventured into the cave.
When she was inside, Calypso realized it wasn't so much a cave as an hill of rock hollowed out. An ancient Greek style bed was pushed against one of the walls. The pillow was rumpled and the blanket was flung to the end of the bed. Dried herbs hung on the wall, giving the room a spicy, exotic scent. A clear pool of water sat in the middle, casting dancing shadows in the lamplight. Calypso was awed by its simple beauty.
Tired of being suspicious, Calypso took off her clothes and slid into the surprisingly warm water. The pool was like the rest of the room, hollowed rock. Calypso realized that she would have to empty and refill it every time she bathed. She felt immediately grateful for the freshwater spring she found in the garden. Calypso grabbed the bar of coarse soap of the side of the pool and scrubbed her body and hair until she was sure she was clean. She sat in the balmy water for a while longer, savoring the relaxing feel of the water. She stepped out when her fingers pruned and cursed her stupidity. Calypso knew that the cave was well stocked, so she hadn't bothered to look for a towel or change of clothes. After a few moments of looking, Calypso shrugged.
I'm all alone on this island, She thought. So she wrapped herself in the blanket from the bed and walked outside. She sat on a slab or rock and stared out to sea. Calypso knew this test wouldn't last only a week, and she questioned if they were coming back for her at all. She closed her eyes, and enjoyed the warm sun and salty ocean breeze.
Who cares it they're never coming back, Calypso thought. This is the first time I've been relaxed in a month.
Unfortunately, the peace was short-lived. At the sound of yelling, Calypso's head snapped up. Two women were fighting on the beach, and two birds were fighting over their heads.
Oh no, I'm hallucinating again, Calypso thought, but craned her neck to get a better look. One of the women was breathtakingly beautiful, the most beautiful woman Calypso had ever laid eyes on. She had the clearest blue eyes Calypso had ever seen, and gorgeous olive-toned skin. Her shiny black hair curled down her back in gleaming ringlets. She wore the kind of dress Calypso had seen in pictures of Greek goddesses. Shiny gold bands clasped her arms and a delicate gold circlet sat on her head. The other woman was beautiful too, but didn't seem to flaunt it like the first one. She had the same skin tone as the other one, but she wore her long, dark brown hair in a braid down her back. She wore an ancient Greek tunic and silver bracelets jangled on her wrists. Her gray eyes were filled with knowledge and pride. Strangest of all were the birds that hovered above the women. A dove and an owl, fighting over their heads. All of a sudden, the dove jabbed the owl in its wing, and the owl tumbled to the ground. The woman in the tunic fell to her knees and started to care for the wounded bird. The beautiful one marched over to Calypso, her perfect face marred by anger. She raised a hand and to strike Calypso, but dropped it, and lost the angry look on her face as a confused expression replaced it. Calypso stood paralyzed, terrified by the stunning woman.
"You’re not Calypso," she stated, "What’s your name, girl?" The woman crossed her arm, awaiting an answer.
"C-Calypso Baros," she stuttered.
The woman looked her over. "Well you’re mortal all right, but I can't send you back. Love is in the air," she said with a smirk.
"Who are you?" Calypso asked, wondering what the mysterious woman meant about “love being in the air.”
The woman stiffened, straitening her back indignantly. "I am Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, lady of the doves," She crinkled her nose, "And you are a mess."
Aphrodite touched the coarse blanket Calypso had wrapped around herself. It started to change shape, and before Calypso knew it, she wore a Greek tunic. It was the purest white with exquisite embroidery lining the bottom. Silver bracelets clasped her upper arm, and her cropped hair became long again, braided over her shoulder with silver threads. Aphrodite held up a mirror, showing Calypso her reflection. Her light olive-toned skin looked clear and healthy, and all traces of tears were erased from her face. Calypso started to hyperventilate, scared by the realness of the hallucination. She was starting to get light headed when the other woman approached, her owl flying behind her.
"I told you Aphrodite, she is not your Calypso. Let her go!" she yelled, her owl screeching above her.
Aphrodite glared at the other woman.
"This girl is mine! She was given to me by the fates and father Zeus!" Aphrodite yelled back.
The other woman looked at Calypso
"I cannot help you anymore, Calypso. I did my best to keep you sane, and I have done everything in my power to free you, but I am not permitted to meddle in your life directly any further, so the Fates have decreed."
The woman’s gray eyes filled with sadness. She looked Calypso over and had a worried look on her face.
"Oh dear, I didn't do a good job, did I? It's very hard to keep someone sane over such a distance."
The woman touched Calypso's head gently. As soon as her fingers made contact with Calypso's temple, her mind cleared. Calypso almost laughed; she was so happy. She was completely sane again! All the pain that came in Royce's Asylum was gone, replaced by the pure joy of being well in the mind. Calypso looked at the woman who saved her.
"Athena," she whispered.
The gray-eyed goddess smiled.
"Smart girl," she said, "I don't think the Fates will mind that I restored your sanity."
Athena turned to face Aphrodite.
"You have no consideration for people's feelings, Aphrodite. Remember Helen?"
Aphrodite's face hardened. "Helen was mine to give! Who do you think gave her that legendary beauty?"
The two women went at it again and Calypso retreated into her own little world.
This is impossible.I'm on an island in the Aegean sea, two godesses are fighting over me. And yet... Calypso looked over at the two women and started to shake uncontrollably. Athena caught on to Calypso's fear and glared at Aphrodite.
"We'll finish this later," she said through clenched teeth and took Calypso's arm and led her into the cave.
"You don't have a blanket?" Athena asked, gesturing toward the bed. Calypso looked down at her tunic. Athena sighed and started to rummage around the cave.
"I can't remember where Calypso kept the extras," she said, opening a hidden drawer in the wall.
Calypso The name echoed through Calypso's head. Why do they keep saying my name like I'm not here? People keep hiding things from me, first Royce, now Athena. I'm so tired of it!
"What is going on?" Calypso yelled, losing it. "Why did Royce kidnap me? Why am I on this island? Why do people keep acting like I'm not Calypso? I want answers!"
Athena's face darkened. "Don't speak to me like that girl! I am a goddess! I do not have to do anything you say!"
Athena's harsh tone shocked Calypso and she shrunk away. "I'm sorry," She apologized weakly.
Athena's face softened. "I will tell you, as long as you don't speak to me that way again. You need to learn your manners."
Calypso hung her head. "Yes, Athena," she sighed, feeling like a schoolgirl in trouble.
Athena smiled. "Good, now that we have that settled." Athena waved her hand and silver sparks danced around the room. After a minute they took the form of a glittering loom.
"We'll discuss this while I make you a blanket." Athena sat down and started to weave, telling the story as she did it.
I am not familiar with Greek Mythology, are the owl and dove significant or symbols of something? Also, is Athena Calypso's muse??
