Chapter Eight

Feels like you're making a mess
You're hell on wheels in a black dress
You drove me to the fire
And left me there to burn
Every little thing you do is tragic
All my life, oh was magic
Beautiful girl
I can't breathe
Disease
Matchbox 20

Upon crossing the River Styx, the River of Hate, Callestah was met by her Mother and together they walked through the Gate of the Underworld, past Cerberus who appeared to recognize her as he ceased his barking and lapped at her hand as they walked by. Coming through the tunnel to the Other Side Callestah looked down at her body to see the fresh marks on her breasts were gone and in their place were the small breast she’d always had. The blood oozing between her legs ceased, the scars on her back were gone and her hair was long, lush and auburn once more.

Callestah was very pleased. There were no aches and pains, no agony burning between her legs and, best of all, there didn’t seem to be any sign of the Heroin Demon wanting another bite of her. However, she reminded herself, she hadn’t been here long enough to be able to say whether or not she would suffer the DTs in the Under World. Still, even though she was dead, Callestah felt healthy, vibrant and alive.

Aphrodite and she wandered the open fields of the Under World, hand in hand, to the Palace with the hot ‘sun’ beating down on them and Callestah was clad as she crossed the River Styx, in absolutely nothing. Now as they entered Hades’ Palace, her alabaster skin was pink from head to toe. She hoped for a cool drink and something to wear now that they were beneath the breezy shade of Hades’ home. The air flowed through the open columns and provided a wonderful cross ventilation.

“I’m so glad you’re here my Daughter.” Lady Aphrodite smiled at her. “I have missed you.”

“I missed you too, Mother.” Calla returned. “Is this where we will live?”

Aphrodite’s smile turned a little saccharin but whatever thought she had in her mind didn’t vocalize. Instead she reached out and hugged Calla tightly to her full bosom when she was done holding her the Lady of Love stepped back. “Let me have a good look at you.” Calla, still naked, turned around or so her Mother could see her. When she turned back to face her Lady Aphrodite took both of Calla’s hands in her own. “You will be happy here, as you can see and as I told you there is no pain here.” Smiling she twirled delicate finger around and around on Calla’s wrist until the invisible strand of material fell away from it. Having no idea it was there, Calla didn’t notice when it fell away from her wrist.

“Momma! Momma!” Cried several voices and Callestah turned around to see a group of six people running down the hallway in front of them. “Momma!” The youngest one cried out.

“No,” Calla gasped, “this can’t be!” She stood up on unsteady legs and held her arms out to the group rushing toward her. “Orion! Naveen! Aphrodite! Cassiopeia! Andromeda!” She called out and began to sprint toward them. Kanan’s children rushed to her, they tackled her and brought to the ground with hugs and kisses. Calla looked at each one of them, called them by the name she’d given them and kissed them. “Ares! Achilles! My children! My children!” She sobbed and, naked, hugged them all in one massive group hug. “I never thought I would see any of you again.” Suddenly her heart, which had been heavy with guilt at leaving Daniel, Nicholas and Colleen behind, was light as a feather and all doubts about her Crossing were exiled from her mind. “Look at all of you!” She cried out and moved away so she could do just that. “You’re all so grown. Achilles? Is that you, my youngest son?” The boy who was two years older than Nicholas put his arms around his Mother. All of them were taller than she with ebony skin and dark eyes. So much of their Father in each one of them.

“It’s me, Mother.” Achilles whispered in her ear and reveled in the warmth of her touch and the fact that this was only the second time he’d felt his Mother’s arms around him.

“What a joyous little family reunion,” Aphrodite remarked with a smile. “I’m sure you’ll be glad to know that their father is here also.”

Aphrodite’s words cut through the elation like the sharp knife which had pierced her skin earlier. “Naganti Kanan?”

“Yes, my Daughter, of course. They’re all waiting for you, shall we go?” The Lady Aphrodite asked as she kept her smile. “You’ve a choice to make.”

Callestah got up from the floor on weak legs while keeping hold of the hands of the children closest to her. Kanan’s children backed away from their Mother, while they stayed in the room they kept their distance and watched the scene play itself out. “What choice, Mother?”

“You require a Master, my Daughter. Someone to lead you, to guide you, care for your while you are here.” She explained. “You have many to choose from.” Aphrodite reached for her Daughter’s hand. “You must choose one.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re very bad, Daughter.” Aphrodite admonished with a smile. “You do very bad things. You lie, you steal and run away. Not to mention those things we should not speak of in front of your Forgotten Children.”

“Forgotten Children?” Calla gasped as she looked around Kanan’s children who ranged in age from their early 30’s to their early 20’s. “I never forgot any of you. I love all of you, please you must believe that.” The children said nothing and gave no indication that they agreed or disagreed with her.

“If you wish to stay you must have someone to watch over you, someone to tell you right from wrong and keep you on an even path. Come with me,” Aphrodite’s tone and smile seemed to lighten. “You’ll see they’re waiting just for you.” The Lady of Light and Love rose from her seat and extended her hand to her Daughter.

“Might I be clothed?” Callestah asked softly. She didn’t want to see who was waiting for her and she certainly did not want another Master to run her life.

“No.” Aphrodite said quickly and shook the extended hand to signal her Daughter to take it and rise. “They want to see you.”

“Might I have something to drink, Mother?” Callestah asked with sad eyes. “Please my throat is dry.”

“Soon.” Aphrodite told her. “It is time.” Her tone grew colder and more impatient as she stood there wrapped in her flowing purple organza robes.

Looking over at Kanans’ children and seeing the hope in their eyes that she would choose their Father for her new—old—Master, Callestah rose to her feet with a sad heart. She took her Mother’s hand and the group of people walked further into the Black Palace, down the open corridor and columns before them and deep inside where no light shone from the outside. Aphrodite led her to a large room which was very comfortable. There was a soft couch, two chairs, a bed curtained by reams of white organza fabric and a large archway which led out to a garden. “Sit.” Aphrodite told her and Callestah sat in the nearest soft chair.

One by one they entered the room. Naganti Kanan first, his children went to him and stood by his side. Kanan smiled at his Cha’Dech and nodded his head as he strode across the room to stand between the open columns and garden. Next Eros entered the room, his bronze skin glistened as though it had been oiled and his golden eyes smiled at her. His wings ruffled out to the sides as he stood next to Kanan and Psyche, the bitch who’d tried to steal Daniel away, entered and stood next to her Husband. Next up, David Jackson, big as life and looking just like Daniel. Calla’s heart stopped at the site of him. David smiled a slightly crooked smile but like the others said nothing as he walked past her and stood next to Eros and Psyche. Last but not least Andrew F. Hartley entered the room and stood next to David.

Aghast as she stared at Andrew F. Hartley and then back to her Mother Calla covered her mouth with her hand. “Why? How?”

“Mr. Hartley arrived moments before you did, my dear, courtesy of your Father.” Aphrodite explained. “Now then,” Aphrodite said easily, “I see we’re all here.” She smiled as she looked around at everyone in the room with those sea blue eyes and clasped her delicate hands together. “Callestah,” now she turned her body so that she faced her Daughter head-on. “Which one will you choose?” She waved one of those long fingered delicate hands toward the people on the other side of the room awaiting the decision. “If you choose Kanan you will be with your children….”

“Please, Mother, choose us,” Andromeda pled as she stepped forward. “It is time for my Ha’nok Resta. If you choose Father you can join us.” She invited.

“Co,” Callestah gasped. “Naganti Kanan! Cohanze! Ginan ete gin pelos!” (Naganti Kanan! Never! You have perverted my children!)

“Cha’dech,” Naganti Kanan intoned in a dark but soft voice, “quiet. She is my daughter, she is past the age and no one here has claimed her.”

Andromeda, however, looked very happy about the situation, she even appeared as though she were looking forward to her deflowering at the hands of her Father and older brothers. “Please, Mother…you can prepare me,” the young woman stepped forward, “show me what their touch will be like,” she dropped the simple robe she was wearing and stood before all in the room, like her Mother, naked as the day she was born. Andromeda had grown into a very beautiful woman.

“Co,” Callestah whispered to Kanan’s family. “I will not do this.”

“Eros perhaps? You always did so love to play with your Brother.” Aphrodite coaxed. “You can live with him and Psyche in their home in the Elysian Fields.”

Callestah’s stare turned to the man she’d once called Brother. Were it not for the Wife standing with him she might pick him as her New Master. Callestah had no desire to allow Psyche’s touch upon her skin or to allow her whatever vengeance she still sought. Having the bitch lay with Daniel was enough for Callestah.

“No.” Was all Callestah said to that suggestion, which left her with David Jackson and Andrew F. Hartley. “Mother, please, why must I have a Master? I’ll be good, I promise.”

Aphrodite frowned and shook her honey-blonde head while her eyes turned sad. “If you wish to stay the way you are, Daughter,” she looked Callestah up and down to note the nice fresh skin on her, “you must do this. You cannot be trusted. Daniel was far too lenient with you I never should have allowed him into your life.” The Lady of Love admonished herself for the deed.

Someone else entered the room. A little girl about 12 years of age. She had red hair, green eyes and freckles. The little girl who looked so much like Colleen except for the eyes took Aphrodite by the hand as she stood by the Lady’s side. Calla couldn’t take her eyes off of her, her mouth dropped open as she dropped to her knees. “You’re me.” Calla whispered as she reached out for the little girls’ hand. So long since she’d seen that innocence in her eyes when she looked at her reflection in the mirror. So long since she’d looked out on the world with anticipation instead of dread.

“This is my Daughter,” Aphrodite told her in a cold voice.

“Then who am I?” Calla asked as she looked up at her Mother from the floor and still reaching for the girls’ hand.

“I don’t know,” Aphrodite shot. “Now choose.”

“Mother, you called me here…” Calla stammered and began to cry. “You wanted me to come…”

“I took pity on you and offered you safe passage across the River,” Aphrodite scolded, “because once you could have been my Daughter…before you killed me! Now choose!” She demanded again.

“I told you she never wanted you.” Psyche hissed with glowing triumphant eyes.

On her knees on the cold stone floor Calla looked from David Jackson to Andrew F. Hartley both of whom were staring back at her but were silent as the stone under her knees.

“Mother, please, I’m sorry, it was an accident, I never meant to hurt you,” Calla sobbed. “I love you, Mother.” Aphrodite just stood there looking down on her with a distant stare. All of a sudden it was so clear to her and Calla knew she’d been tricked by the one person she thought still loved her and whom she thought she could trust. “I want to go back.” Calla stammered as she stared into the eyes of the girl she once was and was reminded of Colleen. “I’m going to be a Grandmother, I want to see my Grandchild. Please Mother I want to go back. I want to go home.”

“It’s too late for that!” Aphrodite was on the verge of screaming. “If you’re lucky you can watch them grow from Lord Hades’ throne room.” The screeching pitching dropped low and dark. “But, of course, you will have to gain Hades’ favor first.” Calming herself Aphrodite knelt by Calla and took her hand. Calla searched for kindness in her Mother’s eyes and found none. “You’re here now and you will stay with us, all of us.” Aphrodite let out a small smile and looked over at the two remaining men. “Which one?”

“David,” Callestah whispered to no one. “I choose David Jackson.” If she had to stay with someone Forever throughout all of Eternity he might as well look like Daniel.

In the hands of David Jackson appeared a gold chalice which he held out to her. “C’mere Callie,” David told her.

Aphrodite snapped her fingers loudly. “Leave us,” she said to the others. “You know your task.”

Grumbling their displeasure Kanan and his children, Eros & Psyche and Andrew F. Hartley departed the room. Kanan’s oldest sons stayed with him while his other children made their way off to other parts of the Palace.

None them were chosen but that didn’t mean they were completely left out of the fun. The group of people hastened their pace as they made their way to entrance of the Black Palace and a very special guest they were about to greet.

End Chapter Eight
Tarnished Heroes:Something Happened on the way to Heaven
Continue to
Chapter Nine