Kainos sat cross-legged on the back patio, spine straight, hands resting loosely on his knees.
The evening air was warm and heavy with the scent of damp earth. Behind him, the swamp hummed softly—frogs, insects, distant splashes—alive and watching.
Galatea sat directly in front of him, mirroring his posture. Her eyes were closed. Her breathing was slow, measured, deliberate.
"In," she said calmly.
Kainos inhaled.
"Out."
He exhaled. They repeated this for a long while. Long enough that his legs started to ache. Long enough that his skin prickled with the urge to move.
"How do you feel?" Galatea asked without opening her eyes.
"The same way I've felt for the past four hours," Kainos muttered. "Anxious. Like I want to get up and do something."
Galatea smiled faintly. "Good. Let that feeling wash over you."
Kainos cracked one eye open. "If you're trying to help me train, wouldn't martial arts or sword practice make more sense?"
She opened her eyes now. "Not yet."
"Why?"
Galatea stood smoothly. "Because we're children of Ares."
Kainos frowned.
"We're wired for conflict," she continued. "Anger comes easy. With ADHD layered on top of that, patience becomes our greatest weakness. That's how some children of Ares die—not because they're weak, but because they can't wait. They rush. They react."
Kainos scoffed. "I don't have that problem."
"Oh?" Galatea reached behind her and picked up two wooden staffs leaning against the wall. She tossed one toward him.
Kainos caught it easily.
"If that's true," she said, rolling her shoulders, "let's have a friendly spar."
He rose to his feet, staff in hand. "Rules?"
"No magic. No bloodlust."
She stepped back into a loose stance. "If you can block ten of my strikes without attacking back, I'll teach you something new."
Kainos smirked. "Sword training?"
Galatea smiled. "Sure—if you win."
Kainos twirled the staff mockingly and dropped into a ready stance. "Bring it."
Galatea walked toward him casually, almost lazily. No tension. No pressure.
She swung a very slow strike.
Kainos blocked easily.
"Good," she said.
"That was really slow," he replied. "Is this a joke?"
She lifted the staff and struck downward—still slow. He blocked again. Then a low sweep toward his leg. He stopped it. He frowned. Something felt off.
The fifth strike started off slow again, then came fast. Like a jab straight for his face. Kainos reacted, then the strike shifted mid-motion, redirecting toward his chest. He barely blocked in time, heart jumping.
"What the...?"
"Good," Galatea said calmly. "Now do that five more times."
Kainos grinned, his adrenaline beginning to kick in. "Bring it."
The next attacks came in waves. Slow, slow, fast. Feint, redirect, accelerate. Left arm. Right leg. Chest. Head. Each time, he barely managed to keep up. His breathing grew heavier. His muscles burned. But he held.
Finally, Galatea stepped back and lowered her staff. Kainos bent forward slightly, hands on his knees. "Why'd you stop? You've got one hit left."
She smiled. "I'll use my last strike when I'm ready."
His eyes widened. "You're kidding right?"
"You just have to be patient," she said lightly as she turned to walk away. " Learn to anticipate it, but be patient at the same time."
I stared at her, realization dawning. "…You're going to leave me on constant edge."
Galatea smirked placing the staff down. "Yup."
She turned and walked toward the house. "Good night, little brother."
Kainos groaned. "She got me good… Oh well I bet it won't be that bad."
As I followed her inside I was surprised by the sudden sound.
POP.
POP.
POP.
Confetti exploded across the living room. "Happy Birthday, Kainos!"
I froze as Mom, grandma, Mary and several women from the coven stepped forward laughing and clapping. Candles flickered. A cake sat on the table. Streamers hung from the ceiling.
Kainos blinked. "…It's my birthday?" I then looked at my watch on my arm. "It's midnight!"
Mary and Ramona placed a tiny crown on my head, and they both gave me a kiss on my cheeks. "You don't turn six every day." Mom said.
I turned around when I saw multiple lights begin to glow behind me. It was Mira. She was surrounded by the other nymphs and dryads. The swamp water behind the house had a luminescent glow to it. The nymphs and dryads were surrounded by a number of fire flies. It looked liked they were dancing around the girls.
Emerging from the water Nia their leader began to stand on the waters surface. Then like on cue all the girls began to dance. Their hips swad and moved in a captivating motion. I couldn't stop looking. That's when I heard the sounds of drums, I couldn't see them but the beat was fast and the girl kept up with it. Mira began to sing to. Then I realized they were doing Méringue.
Méringue. is a fast-paced, and elegant social dance that serves as a national symbol of Haiti, distinct from the slower Dominican merengue. It emerged in the 18th-19th centuries as a Creole fusion, blending African rhythmic patterns.
The ladies were so beautiful and the singing was so captivating, almost to captivating. Mom then came up standing over me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"They worked really hard on this performance honey."
I nodded. " It's beautiful, no they are beautiful. I feel so honored."
Samira smiled. "You should honey it's your day, and there are many more surprises in store."
Far away, under a silver-washed sky, at the C.C.'s Spa & Resort a girl stood before a woman of impossible beauty.
The girl was young or looked young to be exact. She looked no more then twelve or thirteen, she looked beautifully breath taking. Her auburn hair long and tied back, her eyes were silver-gold and sharp. She stood straight and unyielding in a silver silver tunic as she face another woman.
Another woman lounged across from her, long dark hair braided with threads of gold, her green eyes gleaming as she smiled. She wore a silky black dress that clung to her like a second skin.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, of the great Artemis coming to my resort" Circe said lightly, "Are you looking for a retreat for your hunters? I wouldn't blame you. They are ladies after all and I bet they need years worth a work done to help them relax."
"No," Artemis said flatly. "My hunters will not being needing your services."
Artemis then placed a silver crescent sigil on the table.
Circe's smile tightened as she lifted it. "The sigil of Selene… I haven't seen this carried in a long time. So why are you showing me this Artemis?"
The door opened. Heels clicked as another woman walked in.
A woman with radiant skin and flowing red hair stepped inside, designer sunglasses perched on her nose, a white silk dress with a thigh-high slit flowing as she moved.
"She's showing you that," Aphrodite said smoothly, "to see if you'll answer the call."
Circe stood. "Aphrodite. Darling. I love the new look."
Artemis frowned. "I thought you two hated each other."
Circe laughed softly. "She didn't like my father exposing her little entanglement with Ares. Ancient history between them, but we have no issues currently."
Aphrodite smirked. " Hello Circe. I believed You've heard about the prophecy."
Circe shrugged. "You'll need to be more specific love, their are so many it's hard to keep track, not to mention you gods are the ones who worry about that stuff, not like it has done you any good doing so." She smiled.
"The Son of Blood," Artemis said.
Circe's smile faded. "Ah that's why you both are here. Your here to recruit me in this Greek civil war." Circe sighed as she summoned a young girl to bring over a silver tray with what looked like a mimosa.
"No thank you. I quite like my peace and quiet here in the sea of monsters. Good luck to you all though."
Aphrodite's tone turned cold, but a smile still showed on her face. "All daughters of the moon must answer the sigil."
"I am not one of them, Ask my mother not me" Circe replied sharply.
"True. But You owe your mother Hecate, and she would like it to be a request instead of a debt to be paid. " Artemis said.
Silence.
Circe exhaled. "…What do you all want?"
"The next person who comes to your resort bearing this sigil," Aphrodite said, "you help them. No matter who they are."
Circe stiffened. "Is it a man or woman?"
"They are my child, and they will have this sigil" Aphrodite said softly. "And you will help them. Or this resort might find itself under new management."
Aphrodite picked up a mimosa from a tray, turned and walked out.
Artemis was already gone.
Circe stared at the sigil. "…Selene. Mother. Artemis, and Aphrodite. What are you all planning?"