Chapter Four: Hecate’s Spell

 

With reluctant promises from Bobby not to tell anyone what Ares had said, Hestie left the Sterns’ ranch and headed home with her brother to figure out what to do next.

Their animals were eager to hear what had happened, so after Hestie and Hermie filled them in and consoled them as best as they could, they sat around the living room together trying to come up with a plan.

Hestie hugged one of the pillows from the couch and tried her best to keep from crying. She had to be strong for the animals. Kitty was already a mess.

“Are you sure we shouldn’t talk to Grammie and Gramps?” Hestie asked her brother. “Maybe they can help us.”

Hermie sat in the armchair closest to the fireplace. “Help us how? They don’t have powers. It’ll just worry them and make our situation worse.”

“How can it get worse?” Hestie asked.

“We’re going to have to leave home. You know that, right? Prometheus isn’t going to come knocking on our door.”

“I know, but…”

“And you really think Grammie and Gramps will be good with that?”

Hestie shrugged. She supposed her brother was right. They wouldn’t understand.

“Who’s going to take care of us while you’re gone?” Noodle asked.

Clifford barked at the poodle. “They’ve got enough to worry about right now. We’ll manage.”

“No. Noodle’s right,” Hestie said. “We’re going to have to ask Lynn to help.”

“And what are we going to tell her?” Hermie asked. “The truth?”

“I think so,” Hestie said. “Hopefully, she can keep a secret.”

“Man, this sucks,” Hermie complained.

Hestie noticed a few tears escape her brother’s eyes.

“I guess the only thing we can do is keep praying to Hecate and hope that she answers,” Hestie said.

Hermie headed upstairs.

“Where are you going?” Clifford barked.

“To my computer,” Hermie said. “I’m going to find out everything I can about Prometheus.”

***

 

Thanatos sat beside Therese on a couch in Demeter’s rooms, with Demeter, his mother, and Hecate. Cubie, the Doberman, and Galin, the polecat, lay at his feet. His father had left in a hurry—Than had no idea why—and his mother was pacing the room. Jen and Hip had spoken to them briefly, promising to find a way out. Meanwhile, Than and Therese still wore the magical cuffs at their ankles and wrists, which prevented them from leaving Mount Olympus, and there were guards on both sides of Demeter’s door. Cupid stood on the inside, and Phobos and Deimos guarded the outside. Extra security had also been positioned at the gates of Mount Olympus.

Persephone wrung her hands as she paced. “If only I could return to the Underworld for even a few minutes.”

“Quit saying that,” Demeter said from where she sat in the corner at her golden table—almost the same gold hue as Demeter’s hair. “Our agreement with Hades is ancient and unbreakable.”

“But Hecate could go,” Persephone said.

“I’m ready to serve, my lady,” Hecate said.

“No one can leave without Zeus’s permission,” Cupid reminded them.

Demeter stood up. “Am I to be a prisoner, too?”

“You can leave anytime,” Cupid said. “But you’ll have to get Zeus’s permission first. He’ll want to know where you’re going and how long you’ll be gone.”

“This is ridiculous,” Persephone complained. “Does Zeus have my husband on such a leash?”

“Should he?” Cupid asked.

Than wanted to say that if he were Hades, the first thing he’d do is conjure the helm and attempt to communicate with Hermie and Hestie, since the Underworld gods had been forbidden to speak with them. Or, he’d use it to listen in on the conversations of the other gods, to find out who was and was not his enemy.

But he couldn’t share these thoughts out loud. He could only pray to his mother and father and hope that his prayers were heard.

Suddenly, Demeter’s door opened, and Ares entered.

“Hecate,” he said. “Zeus wants a word with you.”

***

 

Hermie was reading an article on his computer screen at his desk when Hestie entered his room, followed by Clifford, Noodle, and Kitty. Hestie plopped onto Hermie’s bed, where the animals joined her, Kitty curling up on her favorite spot—his pillow.

“This is impossible,” Hestie moaned.

Hermie nearly jumped from his chair when someone else appeared—right beside his desk.

“Don’t lose heart.” It was Hecate.

Hestie climbed to her feet and threw her arms around the goddess. “I’m so glad you’re here! Are our parents okay?”

“Yes. They’re fine. They’re being kept in Demeter’s rooms. They’re comfortable and surrounded by family. What about the two of you? I can only imagine how frightened you’ve been.”

Hestie slumped back on Hermie’s bed, tears sliding down her cheeks again.

“We’re okay,” Hermie said.

“Just scared,” Hestie said.

“And not really sure what we’re supposed to do,” Hermie added.

“I’m here to help,” Hecate said. “Hello, Clifford.”

The goddess leaned over and pet the dogs and Kitty.

“Long time no see,” Clifford barked. “How are Cubie and Galin?”

“Sad about all of this, but otherwise well. I’ll tell them you said hello.”

To Hermie, Hecate was the most beautiful of the goddesses. Her long white and black hair was stunning, and her dark eyes were mesmerizing.

“Are you going to teach us a location spell to help us find Prometheus?” Hestie asked.

“That’s exactly what I’m going to do,” she said. “I’ve written everything down on this slip of paper.”

“Thank goodness!” Kitty purred.

“The spell is best read over a bright light. It makes the magic more illuminating,” Hecate added.

Hermie furrowed his brow. “Can’t you stay and perform the spell yourself?”

Hecate mussed his hair and smiled. “It may take you a while to gather all the ingredients.”

Hermie blushed at the goddess’s show of affection.

“How long?” Hestie asked.

“Weeks, months? I don’t know. Most of the items will be easy. You’ll need a map of the world, four blue candles, a silver bowl, water, and incense made of jasmine, lotus, thyme, or mesquite.”

“We’ve got a silver bowl,” Hermie said. “And a world map.”

“Mom’s got dried thyme in the pantry,” Hestie said. “Will that work?”

Hecate shrugged. “It would be better to buy incense sticks, because they burn slowly. You can find them at the drug store.”

“What else do we need?” Hermie asked.

“This is the hard part,” Hecate warned. “For the location spell to be accurate, you’ll need something that Prometheus has personally touched.”

Hestie slumped over and covered her face with her hands.

Hermie lifted a finger in the air. “He touched you at some point, didn’t he?”

Hecate shook her head. “You can’t use a living being.”

“Why not?” Hestie asked.

“Because it must be burned in the spell,” Hecate said. “And before you ask why I wouldn’t sacrifice myself, since I’m immortal, it has nothing to do with being afraid of being burned alive. Believe me. I’ve experienced that more than once in my lifetime.”

“Really? Why?” Hermie asked.

“I traded places with many a witch unjustly sentenced to burn at the stake.”

“Oh, my gods,” Hestie said. “That’s awful.”

“And if you used me in this location spell, the magic would point to my location, not to Prometheus’s. So, you must use a nonliving object for this to work.”

Hestie fell back on the bed, her head barely missing the wall behind her. “This is impossible.”

“How can we do that, Hecate?” Hermie asked, feeling as hopeless as his sister. “That sounds harder than finding Prometheus himself.”

“I have a few ideas,” Hecate said. “But none that are easy.”

Hermie crossed one leg over the other and sat back in his chair. “We’re listening.”

“The first torch,” Hecate said. “It was a giant fennel stalk given to Prometheus by Aether, who got the fire from Helios.”

Hestie sat up. “I thought Prometheus stole the fire from Mount Olympus.”

“That’s how the story is often told,” Hecate said. “But that’s not how it happened.”

“Anyway,” Hermie said, “where can we find the first torch?”

“I don’t know,” Hecate said.

Hermie thought he was going to be sick. “Okay.”

“But Aether might,” Hecate said.

“You want us to pray to Aether?” Hestie asked.

Hecate shook her head. “I’ll question him and get back to you.”

“Wait a minute.” Hermie recalled something he’d just been reading in an article. “What if we create an original flame?”

“What are you talking about?” Hestie asked.

“The fire for the torch relay for the Olympics,” Hermie explained. “They create an original flame using mirrors, and it’s passed from torch to torch. If, for some reason, it goes out, they can’t just relight it with a lighter. They create another original flame with mirrors, because they at one time believed the flame came directly from Prometheus.”

Hecate seemed to consider it. “That’s not a bad idea, but I just don’t know, because an original flame comes from Helios, not Prometheus.”

Hermie sighed and bit his lip, trying to rein in his frustration.

“But I’ll talk to Helios and see what he says,” Hecate added.

“What were your other ideas?” Hestie asked.

“Pandora’s jar,” Hecate said. “Prometheus knew it was a trick and took the jar away from Pandora, but his brother Epimetheus got it back for her.”

“Wait. I thought it was a box,” Hermie said.

“Bad translation,” Hestie put in. “It was a big jar made of clay. Zeus gave it to Pandora and told her not to open it. He knew she wouldn’t be able to resist.”

“I’m familiar with the story,” Hermie said. “But I thought it was a box. Pandora was the first woman, made to bring down mankind after Prometheus gave them fire, right?”

“I hate how women are used as a curse in all the early stories,” Hestie complained.

Hecate winked. “You and me both, sister.”

“Where’s the jar now?” Hermie asked.

Hecate shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Hestie fell back on the bed again, this time catching Noodle on the leg with her shoulder. Noodle winced and moved over.

“Sorry, buddy.” Hestie stroked the poodle. “You okay?”

Noodle licked her cheek. “You just surprised me.”

“But maybe Epimetheus knows,” Hecate said. “I’ll go to the Titan Pit in Tartarus and question him, as well as Aether and Helios. This may take me several days.”

“What should we do in the meantime?” Hermie asked.

“Go buy lots of maps, blue candles, and incense sticks,” Hecate said.

Hestie sat up again. “Why? I thought we only needed four candles and one map?”

“The spell may not work on the first try. It’s best to be prepared for the worst.” Hecate gave them each a hug. “I’ll return as soon as I can.”

“Wait. Hecate?” Hermie said. “If you had all these ideas for using the location spell, why didn’t you start working on this a long time ago? Why wait until now?”

Hecate’s face turned white. “I, I’m not at liberty to say.”

The goddess vanished.

Hermie glanced at his sister, whose mouth had dropped open, too.

“That was weird,” Hestie said.

***

 

Hestie and Hermie cooked a frozen pizza for dinner and spent the rest of the day researching—she on her laptop and he on his desktop, but they hadn’t come up with any more ideas on where to begin their hunt for Prometheus. Bobby called to check on them, and they reassured him that they were fine, for now. He made them promise to call him if they needed anything—anything at all.

That night, Hestie tried her best to get some rest. Between the dogs whining in their sleep, the restless pacing of her rats in their cage, and her own bad dreams, the night was miserable.

The next day, she went downstairs to let the dogs out and to eat a slice of cold leftover pizza. She gave the dogs their kibbles and Chidori her seed and water. She checked on Jewels in her sandbox and turned the heat lamp back on. Then she went upstairs to Hermie’s room, where he was bent over his own screen, with Kitty in his lap.

“Let’s try the spell with your idea of the original flame,” she said.

He looked up from his computer. “Hecate said she didn’t think that would work.”

“What have we got to lose?”

He bit his lip. “I guess we could make a supply run and give it a try.”

Hestie frowned. Hermie wasn’t yet a licensed driver. He’d had no interest in learning. Hestie had a learner’s permit but still needed more practice.

Then Hestie said, “Desperate times call for desperate measures, I guess. Come on. I’ll drive.”

“We could ask Bobby to go for us,” Hermie suggested.

“Let’s not bother him over something this simple,” Hestie said. “Let’s wait until we really need him.”

Clifford begged to go along for the ride, but Hestie told him he needed to stay in case Hecate came looking for them. Plus, he was the only one she trusted to watch over the other animals when no human was at home.

***

 

Hermie was terrified in the passenger seat of their mom’s old Lamborghini as Hestie slowly backed out of the garage and down their long, curvy driveway. His hands hurt from clenching his fists so hard that his knuckles had turned white. He wouldn’t say it out loud, but this may very well be the most dangerous part of his and his sister’s path to fulfilling their destiny.

Once she was on the road and heading toward Lemon Dam, she slammed on the brakes, throwing them both forward against their safety belts.

“What the heck?” he asked her before using his inhaler.

“Sorry,” she said. “I thought I saw a cat on the road, but it’s just a rock.”

“Maybe we should call Bobby,” Hermie said.

“No, it’s okay. I got this.”

Hermie was glad when they had bought their supplies and were safely back home. Finally, his heart could slow back down to its normal pace and he could breathe without an inhaler.

They took the slip of paper Hecate had given them with the spell written on it and carried the rest of the ingredients to the table on their back deck. Noodle and Clifford followed, but Kitty didn’t want to be anywhere near fire.

Hestie lit the incense with a lighter and put it in a jar, smoking end up. Then she took the paper with the spell written on it and read aloud:

 

Light four blue candles and place them at each cardinal point around a silver bowl, filled three-quarters with clear water.

 

Hestie flicked the lighter and lit the four blue candles, which she’d placed around the silver bowl.

Then she read:

 

Burn incense made of jasmine, lotus, thyme, or mesquite, and allow the smoke to wash over the bowl.

 

Hestie used her palms to manipulate the smoke from the incense so that it passed over the bowl of water. Then she read:

 

Place an object, or part of an object, once touched by Prometheus over the flame of the candle at the northern point, until the object catches fire. Then, using the flame from the burning object, set fire to a world map.

 

Hermie used a magnifying glass to direct the light of Helios onto a scrap of paper.

Once it caught fire, he said, “An original flame.”

He took the original flame and held it to the world map until the map caught fire. “Now what?”

Hestie read:

 

Drop the object and the burning map into the bowl of water.

 

Hermie bent his brows. “Are you sure?”

“That’s what it says.”

Hermie put the last bit of the scrap of paper with the original flame and the burning map into the bowl. He was surprised when the map continued to burn.

“Now what?” he asked.

Hestie read:

 

When the flames die, stir the water in the bowl clockwise with your finger four times, and ask the water to reveal the location of Prometheus.

 

Hermie bent over the bowl and watched the map shrivel down to a very small scrap before the flames ceased and there was nothing but smoke coming from the bowl.

“Isn’t the water going to be hot?” he asked, not wanting to burn his finger.

“Let me do it.”

Hestie bent over the water and cautiously dipped her finger into it. As she stirred, she said, “Please show me the location of Prometheus.”

Hermie was astonished when the only unburnt piece of the world map floated to the surface.

“It’s Lemon Reservoir,” Hestie said with a huge sigh of disgust. “It didn’t work.”

“Unless Prometheus is here.”

Hestie frowned. “I doubt that. I guess we’ll have to wait and see if Hecate has any luck finding an object Prometheus has touched.”

Hermie thought over everything they had done, to be sure they’d followed the steps correctly. Then something else occurred to him. “Didn’t Hecate say to read the spell over a bright light?”

“Isn’t the sun the brightest light there is?”

“Not under a bright light. She said over a bright light.”

“Oh, yeah!” Hestie said. “Let me grab a flashlight, and we can try again!”