Free Origin of the Sphinx by Raye Wagner

have fallen asleep. I heard you cry out ‘Why?’”
    “Why? I…I thought the Fates… Phoibe’s baby is cursed...” He sounded confused, unsure of what to believe.
    “Damon,” she said, trying to keep her voice controlled, devoid of the tension she felt. “All the stress of the last few days, and staying up half the night... I think you are exhausted. We are still waiting for the Moirae.” The lie was delivered purposefully.
    He nodded his head slowly.
    Priska snapped her fingers. “I know. Why don’t you go home to Thalla? Aren’t the boys home, too? You all just need some peace right now. I will wait with Dido. I will tell you everything you need to know.”
    He nodded; his mind numb. He allowed Priska to lead him to the door, and without a goodbye he started to walk home.
    The next morning, Priska came alone to Damon’s house. She had left Dido sleeping, knowing no one would go near a house that death had recently touched so heavily. She told Damon the Fates had come, and that Dido had been taken to be with her mother and father. She saw relief pass over his face, and then guilt that he should feel that way. She knew her presence would be a reminder to him, so she added a farewell. She said that she was going to visit family in the north county.
    He nodded, his mind overwhelmed by the horror he was still trying to convince himself was only a dream.
    Priska bid him to make her farewell to the rest of the family, and then she walked out the door.
    ~ προχωρήσουμε ~
    Priska left the small home of Isaak and Phoibe. It was a few hours after dark, and she hoped to avoid meeting anyone. She carried Dido wrapped in a blanket. If anyone were to look, they would see the angelic features of Phoibe in infant form. Priska sighed, remembering when Damon had first brought Phoibe down from the grazing land. It seemed like just yesterday and now…She squared her shoulders, committing herself to do right by Phoibe’s child. As luck would have it, Priska met no one that dark night, and so as she walked, she planned.
    Priska returned home to pack. She would not raise the creature so close to where Phoibe grew up. It would not be fair to Phoibe, Damon, and especially Dido.
    Priska looked around her home. It had been nice living in Belen: quiet, serene– up until recently. With a sigh, she went to gather those few things which would be difficult to replace. She went out to the stable, pulled out her cart, and began to load it. They would need provisions until they established somewhere, she thought, pulling sacks of wheat down, loading Phoibe’s favorite grinding stones. She took seeds, cured meats, olives, and some flour that had already been ground. She would need to take a milking goat, she thought to herself. Moving…transition…it would be more difficult with a baby. A baby? What do you call a cursed creature?
    Priska went to check on Dido. She was sleeping quietly in the cradle Hera had given Phoibe. Priska felt resentment toward the removed goddess. As she reminisced on her limited experiences with the gods, she couldn’t think of a single time they had gotten involved and there had been any real benefit for those whose lives they touched.
    She returned to the packing.
    They would live remote, at least until Dido was older. As long as it took for Dido to be comfortable and self-sustaining, Priska committed herself. She shook her head, and with a deep breath she acknowledged she had no concept of what she was getting herself into.
    How do you raise a monster?

EPILOGUE

    Athan swallowed back bile. He’d had no idea. This was certainly not the picture of the gods he had been taught in the conservatory. Not that he had believed they were all good, far from it. But to be so cruel? So vindictive? He had thought that was all in the past… The past… This was the past. He shook his head.
    Having been friends with Symeon, Athan had met Apollo a few times. Sure, he’d been arrogant, but that was to be expected,