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The forest sucked. Pollux had been walking through it for a day now, unable to see the end. He didn't know where he was, or when he was. He'd been transported to nowhere. It wouldn't be so strange if it weren't for the fact that he'd passed several ancient Greek villages earlier. No one knew where the nearest fast food place was, nor did they speak in English. Apparently, they were in Hellas. Ancient Greece.
And that would have been okay, Understandable. Maybe he pissed off his father, and now he was making fun of him. Maybe he'd been sent on a quest out of nowhere, and Chiron had forgotten to tell him.
If only Castor wasn’t with him.
Castor. His twin brother. Who had long since died. In the Battle of Manhattan.
Now walking with him through this stupid forest, alive and breathing, and as silent as a mouse. This better not be a joke. It would be such a cruel, fucking joke.
Not only were they reunited again, but for some reason, they had returned to the age they had first arrived at camp. Ten years old. They were shorter, slimmer, without any muscles… and they tired more easily.
They needed to rest more and more often.
“Have you maybe talked with dad yet?” Pollux asked uncertainly.
“No, I don't have any drachmas on me, do you?”
“Same.” They walked in silence for a moment. “And… you didn’t pray too?”
“I don't know if that would have helped. If we went back in time, maybe it's better not to try?” Castor also omitted the fact that he was alive now, which would probably have shocked Dionysus.
“We don't have much to lose-”
“Or to offer. Unless you're telling me you've had a can of cola on you this whole time.”
“Nope. Or anything to eat. Or anything to burn.” Pollux sighed. How could they possibly get their father's attention? If they would simply call his name, he could get annoyed that they were calling him for no reason and interrupting his game of macao with Chiron. Or he'd have ignored them. Usually, they'd just go to the Main House and deal with more important matters there. But here... well, this matter seemed much more serious this time. For some reason, they were younger. And in a place (or illusion? Or dream?) that looked like Ancient Greece. What if they got hurt here? Would that be permanent?
What if they got hurt here?
"How about blood?"
"We're not very good at hunting-"
"Our blood. We'll say, 'Oh, look, Dad, we're not doing very well. Can you send a satyr to lead us to the camp? Or explain what's going on?' And when he feels we're bleeding out, he'll send help immediately."
"Or after a round of poker."
"Or after a round of poker." He nodded. "Okay, at least that sounds like a plan."
"Worthy of Annabeth." Annabeth would probably remind them that the smell of their blood would make it easier for monsters to find them. But Pollux didn't mention it. He didn't have a better idea.
"Ha! You wish!" They walked together to one of the taller pines. Maybe a sacred tree could act like a good quality antenna for godly parent contact?
They both knelt. Castor bit off one of the healing scratches on his arm. Pollux bit his hand. They didn't have any weapons with them, so the blood flowed in a thin stream. Maybe that was for the best? The wounds would heal quickly and wouldn't get infected from a random rusty knife. For a moment they stared silently at the liquid flowing down the trunk and into the ground. Then Castor began.
“I praise Dionysos, the God of Vine,
Lord of the far reaches of the mind;
in the thick of the woods,
along darkened paths,
kind-hearted god, father,”
“Please hear me and my brother,
Please help us find our home again,
and if you are busy with other matters,
oh great lord of wild nature,
and super cool theater creator,
please send us a satyr guide
or anyone who's free right now.”
“God of Mainádes, and other stuff,
you have too many titles by the way dad,
Please don’t delay in helping us. We are hungry and lost,
will you buy us McDonald’s on your way?”
“Amen.” “He’s notJesus! He’ll scold us!” “Yea, but he’ll appear, right?” They waited in silence for a moment. Nothing happened. Well. It felt good to try. But Dionysos didn’t even seem to hear them. Pollux rose from his knees and helped his brother.
“ελάτε παιδιά μου”
His vision grew dark. The air became damp and thick. The smell of wine surrounded him on all sides. Oh, cool, so pops did hear them! So… what next? They had to do something, they had to return to camp, they had to find a way back so…
“ελάτε παιδιά μου”
But another moment in this strange forest wouldn't be so bad, right? They didn't know how to get back anyway, they might as well rest.
He felt Castor grab his hand. He looked at his brother absently. Yes, they should check it out, why not? Something smelled good; they hadn't eaten in a while.
They were bruised, hungry, thirsty, tired. They should rest - they should keep going-
Something was wrong.
Ah. They were in the forest. They didn't know this forest. They should keep going.
Kastor felt his legs getting tangled. He heard voices, maybe birds, maybe wild animals. Some of them could sound like people. Above them stretched the sky, cloudless, with a million stars. For a moment, he thought gravity would disappear and he would fall into this sky, like into an abyss, and he would fall and fall and fall until he died again. He couldn't die again, he was already dead, so how-
Why was he alive, where was he, he had to go back-" Castor tugged on his hand. Oh right, he himself was Pollux.
He heard the buzzing of crickets in the grass. The hooting of an owl. The rustling of trees. He was so tired. His brother chuckled.
"Why does the leopard eat lunch in a different part of the forest every day?"
"What?"
"Because he doesn't have a favorite spot."
Pollux laughed. "Pff, come onnn, that's awful. Sounds like one of Dad's dad-jokes."
"And you laughed anyway."
"Because you're a weirdo, that's all."
"Aha, sure."
They continued on their way. Huge plane trees, old cypresses, and wild olives passed them by. They had just entered the forest; maybe they'd find their way back soon?
He felt like he was back in camp. As if they were trying to sneak past curfew and outwit the patrolling harpies. Well, it was more dangerous here, and they couldn't trust anyone because monsters blended in more easily. Fortunately, they hadn't seen any monsters for several days. Actually, they didn’t even see any humans. Only animals, occasionally.
For example, that goat.
Pollux stopped.
He was so hungry.
"Pollux?"
He looked at his brother. He was about to propose a cruel act, but turning back to the goat, he noticed there was nothing in there. It probably left.
They were silent. They continued on their way. Huge pines, ancient pines, and wild pines passed them by. They had only just entered the forest; perhaps they would soon find their way back?
It was already dark, the stars were appearing in the sky. He hadn't eaten anything for a long time. He remembered receiving some goat meat and bread from a traveling merchant yesterday. A very kind man. Had he and his twin eaten everything already? This time, it was Kissos who stopped. He collapsed onto a fallen branch and sighed. Pollux chuckled.
“Woah, it's clear who's in better shape.”
“Stop talking nonsense, we've been walking like this for two days, I'm exhausted.”
“Hey, exhausted-” “No-” “I'm-” “Terrible, don't even dare finish that sentence.” Sykites laughed.
They were silent for a moment.
“...”
“Are you… really here?”
The crickets and the night sky eavesdropped. It was quiet again.
His twin peered down at him. “I… I think so. I remember fighting, and then… something stabbed me, a sword, or maybe those were claws, I’m not sure... And then I woke up on the shores of Acheron with Charon waiting for payment. Thanks for those obols, by the way…” Castor closed his eyes, smiling. “He wasn’t so bad, you know? The ferryman, I mean. It felt a bit like a rowing class. Quite funny, it’s just a shame it was so short.”
“Aha. Yeah, because swimming down the Styx must be great fun.”
“Better than court. That was scary. And stressful. Rhadamanthys was looking at me strangely. Actually, he seemed to look at everyone like that. Maybe after all these centuries, his eyesight had gone bad or something. It was completely dark in there.”
“And then?”
“Then the Elysian Fields. Nice. Great, actually. A full-blown party. Just… well, I wish you were there too.” Pollux had seen that look before. A frown. Reddened eyes. Castor wanted to cry. “I- I mean, not that I want you dead-”
“I know”
“And I understand I just had bad luck-”
“I know.”
“And probably the Fates had it figured out-”
Pollux hugged his brother tightly. “I know. I missed you too.”
They sat in silence for a while.
“Did… did dad..?”
“Yeah… he… he was silent a lot, but he wouldn't let me go anywhere alone. He also spent all his time at the cabin. I couldn't go anywhere for more than ten minutes without him stopping me, picking me up, and taking me back to the cabin. Not that he had to do that often, he constantly looked like he was about to cry.”
Castor snuggled into his brother's shoulder, slowly stopping sobbing. He wiped his tears with his hands, not looking at his brother. He pulled away. “I love you.”
Pollux smiled weakly. “I love you too. And yes, I missed you too.” They stood up. It was already dark, so they continued on.
Pines, pines, pines sang along the way. They'd only just entered the forest anyway… a short walk wouldn't be a bad idea, right?
“ελάτε παιδιά μου”
They should be heading back. Back to- back. The air was damp and thick. They smelled of wine. They joined hands. The road was winding and bumpy. They brushed against bushes and stood on the edge of rocks, just to get this journey over with. The air rustled. It hummed. It played. It sang. The stars winked at them with every third eye. Fortunately, Pollux no longer felt the fear of falling into them. He actually welcomed it with open arms. What would be wrong with being lifted into the sky? He would be pinned, pinned as a piece of history, like other Greek heroes. Being remembered wasn't so bad. He squeezed his brother's hand. He lingered again, gazing at the sky. He felt affection. His brother, the same one, from his mother's womb, from his father's desire, was here with him. Only with him, he wouldn't go anywhere without him.
And he admired the night sky in the same way.
He pulled Castor further. His legs were tangling. It didn't matter, he felt he was close. Closer and closer. The pine trees around them parted to clear a path. The brothers bowed in response, smiling. They had been taught well, they had manners when they wanted.
Closer and closer. Animals played lutes. They saw the glow. The stars.
They must have fallen here because now they laid on the ground, surrounded by circles of small stones. Were they also dancing on their edges like Castor and Pollux?
They walked on, naked women and men were dancing in the starlight. Castor chuckled. He licked his lips hungrily, looking at the bodies. Pollux was hungry. It had been a long time since he had eaten.
But they smelled a better scent, sweet and tart, dry, aromatic, both floral and fruity. They'd drunk this before after a battle, probably after the one in which Pollux died. They would drink it again. His brother would stay here with him.
His brother would stay here with him.
His brother would stay here with him.
Fury shivered inside him. Pollux couldn't afford to lose his brother again. It had been so long since he'd seen him, and now they were together again. What the hell were they doing? It was dangerous here!
They didn't know anyone! They didn't know these people. They should leave, they should find a safe place! The brother nodded at his brother. Before them, a white structure stretched into the forest. Pollux led the way up the stairs; no one noticed them, so they should be safe here. Maybe it was abandoned? Here they would be together. True, with no stars, no people, no animals, but together, safe. It was better than being apart; they should stay together. They should hide from the others. He climbed the steps, he first, he wouldn't let his brother fall again, he wouldn't let him, and he wouldn't leave him, he entered the darkness. Safe. He entered the darkness.
The air was heavy. Humid. He could feel smoke obscuring his vision. He continued walking, almost stumbling a few times, his eyes blurred with fatigue, or perhaps tears. On the edge of his consciousness, he noted that the temple was larger inside than outside.
He should go back.
He should go back-
A warm hand cupped his cheek.
"Mine."
His?
Before them stood the god Dionysus. He was tall. Or maybe they just were the short ones. So, so tiny… He was tanned, his dark, curly hair fell to his shoulders. His purple chiton was disheveled. A leopard tail tangled around them. Gold jewelry gleamed on his horns. Sparkling like stars. Was he dancing with the stars, too?
Pollux felt his eyelids droop. He struggled to keep his eyes open.
“It's all right, my children, it's all right. You're here. With me. I'm so proud.” The god took them both in his arms and hugged them. Pollux looked at his brother. It had been a long time since they'd been held like this. Not since they were children. Something was wrong?
The god, the second father, sat down in his armchair with them against his chest. He was so gentle. So attentive. He stared. Pollux decided to stare back and see if the god was blinking.
He wasn't blinking.
He was smiling, though, with very sharp teeth. “Thank the fates. Thebes has given me two sons today. Truly, this is a holy night… Do you perhaps have any names my children?”
Castor raised his head. He pointed to himself, “Castor,” and to his brother, “Pollux.” His head fell back onto his father’s shoulder. The god purred contentedly.
“How sweet, my little kittens.”
Pollux bristled at these words. “We… we have to go back.”
The god let out a soft, morbid chuckle. “And where are you supposed to go back, my dear?”
Pollux tried to concentrate. He had to answer his father. And he really did have to go somewhere. Somewhere… safe. He was supposed to lead his brother to safety. His head was spinning. Where was the camp? Why was he in the forest? Why was he sitting so politely on this god’s lap instead of trying to get home? He had to go, he had to go, he had to-
The intense purple of his father’s eyes was very pretty. But difficult to look at. He closed his eyes. There was still purple behind his eyes. He had to answer his father, but what was the correct answer again? “We…” He was breathing hard. Pollux was tired. Maybe he should talk about this later, for now he was tired… “We… we were supposed to go back to dad.”
“Aww, my little olive.” He felt a kiss on his forehead. It was quite nice. “You just got back, son.”
“Are you… are you angry?” Castor’s voice was only a whisper.
“No, honey. Why would I be?”
Pollux took a shuddering breath. “Because, because we didn’t get back immediately. And we got lost.” Somewhere in the background, his brother was playing with his father’s chiton. “And we were gone for so long…”
“You’re here now. And you won’t get lost again. You’ve come back to me, and I won’t let you lose yourselves again. I’ll take care of you, forever. You’ll see.”
Pollux heard the clinking of glasses. Water being poured. No, not water. Wine, 14.5% alcohol, grapes, oranges, ambrosia. Wasn't his father forbidden from drinking?
He glanced at Castor. His brother, wide-eyed, stared at his father's wrist. Why? Had he spilled some cola?
The golden liquid dripped from his wrist into the first glass. It mingled with the wine and gleamed brightly. The god held his hand to the second goblet. Ichor poured continuously. Finally, the cup was filled to the brim. Dionysus licked his wrist like a cat.
Pollux grabbed his hand, feeling for the wound. It was already closed.
He was patted on the head.
"Come on now, I told you I wouldn't let you go. Don't worry, it will only strengthen our bond, oh and don't worry about a hangover, the wine is weak-"
"You're not our father."
Violet.
The god's eyes focused on Pollux.
"You're not. Our father, no, he can't-" "Drink." The god of madness looked furious. Pollux bristled at his gaze, trying to escape his grasp. He felt sick; he saw purple, purple, purple everywhere, he had nowhere to run, no way to escape-
“Pollux. Drink.” His father repeated, this time more gently.
“This will kill us! Are you trying to kill us?” His twin looked like he was about to cry. Pollux actually felt the same. This Dionysus was different. He was scary. Terrifying.
But they raised their glasses to their lips anyway. Or perhaps they hid behind them.
“Of course not. You are my children, my domain won’t harm you. Especially my ichor, or nectar. I just want you to be safe. You just emerged from the forest; you must be tired, right?”
They nodded uncertainly.
“Then I will let you rest after you have drunk your cups. You will be fine. You have my word.”
And no way to escape. At the first opportunity, he'd probably entangle them in madness again. They had to try to leave on his terms. Castor nodded. He tilted his cup. The god watched him drink the goblet. At that moment, Pollux began to imitate him.
"Tch, little brat." Ah. Apparently, he hadn't succeeded.
Strong hands pulled him back by his hair. One held the goblet to his mouth when he tried to evade it, and the other covered his nose. He tried to move his head, but to no avail. The air in his lungs quickly escaped as he struggled in gods’ grasp. Finally, he opened his mouth slightly. The taste of the liquid flooded him instantly. He couldn't spit it out, couldn't breathe. Would this version of Dionysus choke him?
"Come on, the sooner you do it, the sooner it will be over. You're a very brave boy, my son, but such tricks are just poor ideas. Maybe next time it will work."
The heat burned his throat. He felt like he was about to explode. He had too much power, his body was too small, everything expanding and growing with him. It hurt. It hurt mercilessly. Atoms were tearing apart his nerves. Muscles throbbed, bones crumbled, simultaneously rebuilding themselves. It was all too much, too much; he seemed motionless, but just swallowing caused him merciless pain. His mind couldn't grasp what was happening, but he felt his father's presence. His brother, still being near. It was better now. He calmed down. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He felt that beyond the temple walls, a multitude of beings were celebrating his arrival. He sensed them and recognized them, seemingly different, yet the same. They seemed small, insignificant, less important than his father and brother. Unnecessary. He would rather ignore them now; they were just a nuisance, and he was tired. Although their songs and cries were pleasant.
Dionysus- dad, smiled tenderly. He stroked his head. Pollux's eyes closed and opened slowly. The last drop fell onto his tongue. This wine was quite sweet. Somewhere in the background, he heard the sound of glasses being thrown aside.
"More?" He looked pleadingly at his father through half-closed eyes. But he only kissed his forehead, chuckling to himself.
"Later my son, later."
And he fell asleep with his brother in his father's arms.