Page 5 of Guided by the Stars
“I thought I was the one who hit my head last night,” I joke and nudge her with my shoulder. She nudges me back and I drop it because I am not sure what is going on or how to explain it, but it seems something weird is happening to both of us. Not knowing what to do about this feeling, I keep my mouth shut.
The rest of the afternoon passes by without incident and we decide to head out. I throw on my lace cover up and put on my flip-flops and we agree to hit the shops along the beach before going to the hotel.
We enter a general goods store, I grab a small basket, and start filling it with all kinds of snacks to keep in our room. We have way more food than we’d ever be able to eat in the two weeks left of our trip. Then again, we love having snacks while we get ready or when we watch tv, so they might all be gone by tonight. Up ahead there is a small souvenir shop. Deciding to pick up some stuff to take home, we make our way inside. It’s a small shop filled with t-shirts, key chains, shot glasses, and a million other touristy things.
Nora calls to me from the other side of the small shop, and I head toward her. She’s standing in front of a tall jewelry case with several necklaces in it.
My eyes immediately zero in on a package she has in her hand. They are best friend necklaces, a crescent moon and a sun. “They’re perfect for us,” Nora says.
Funny, we are so close, but so different. I am more of a night person and she is more of a day person. Nora has a warmcomplexion, a carefree smile, long, wavy golden-brown hair, and she has these soft blue eyes. Whereas I have porcelain skin, long, bright red hair, and my eyes are also blue, but deeper, like the purest blue ocean. She is more down to earth and I am more loud and unfiltered.
“Yes, let’s get them and grab dinner so we can head back to the hotel. I am exhausted,” I say and she nods.
At the cash register, the girl explains that the necklaces are aromatherapy necklaces and we each get to pick a scent to go with it.
“I’m getting this one,” Nora says, showing me a bottle with the word lavender on it that fits her perfectly. She loves that scent, it reminds her of her mother.
I look through the bottles and pull out one that says jasmine. The scent of jasmine has always been my favorite.
We pay for the necklaces and walk out. I crack open the energy drink I bought and down it quickly.
“Let’s change and go to eat at that fancy looking restaurant.” I nod happily because I love going out and food is a passion of mine.
I bounce on my heels and wrap my arms around her. “Yes! Who knows what kind of trouble we could end up in?”
Nora
When the Dead Speak
“Wait! This is the Oracle of the Dead?” I ask, ducking my head back into the passenger window, hoping I heard wrong.
We’ve been driving up the coast watching ships sail over the dark blue Acheron river. The sun was shining brightly enough to reveal caves hidden in the giant cliffs. It was beautiful. Now I’m standing on a gravel path, being told we have to walk up towards the dirty stones if we want to see the entrance to the dead.
“Yes, Miss Lukas, it’s the Oracle of the Dead. The Nekromanteion,” he says, pointing up towards the cypress trees where the journey to the Underworld starts. “You sure you want to be here? The gates have already been called open for the season,” he says, sending a shiver down my spine.Great, now I’m letting our old driver scare me.
He was very chatty on our drive up here, telling us stories about the Acheron river and how they link our world to the Underworld, just like the Styx water. According to him, thisplace is one of the most famous and the most dangerous, especially during this time of year, The entrances here are at their highest power, allowing safe passage. All because it’s the only time Persephone can escape her capture from the Underworld. It’s due to her mother, since she ensures all gateways stay open for her daughter’s arrival back home. The idea is sweet, it just leaves you to wonder what else can come through that door.
“We got it from here. See ya soon.” Adriane loops her arm through mine, pulling me away, and walks us up the gravel path straight toward the line of tourists. “Seriously though, he has a point. Do we want to be here? I mean, I’m all for the dead, but in this place, the grass doesn’t even want to be alive.”
I laugh, shaking my head at her. We’re both sick of the list Bill made for us. I was excited when Bill and Jane handed me the tickets. I pictured beaches, the sun, and some time away from the memories California holds. Nowhere in my imagination did I think he would have us trudging around Greece looking at some ancient temples, chasing after his fairytales. He’s obsessed. Luckily, we only have a few more stops left before we can take over and claim this vacation as ours.
“Let’s get this over with,” I sigh, taking the lead into the passageway we have to walk through. This place is like a demolished castle. Crumbled stones. Arches torn apart and walls halfway standing. The path we are on has the broken down parts on either side that lead us to dead ends, forcing us to turn. It’s like a maze. Walls appear at the end of the walk, making us take corner after corner, until finally it lets us out into the center of Nekromanteion. To the entrance of the chamber.
“It is a little interesting, right?” I say, looking around as we stand in the middle of the site. There are a ton of peoplehere. The question is, who are the tourists and who are the true believers? It shocked me when our driver said there are still ceremonies held all over Greece honoring the gods. I figured maybe a few here and there, but according to him, there has been a surge in recent honorings. How someone can still believe in this type of stuff is beyond me.
“Nor, check this out.” Adriane whips the camera up, snapping a shot of the sign placed in front of the steps. “Bill will love it. Let’s go in just for a few minutes to take some pictures. I promise we will be quick.” She gives me a reassuring smile, knowing how much I hate tight confined spaces.
I step forward, peering down the stairs. The familiar panic is rising in my chest as I look at the dimly lit dungeon. Okay, it’s a chamber, but it’s dark, and not somewhere I want to be. Why couldn’t they just perform their ceremonies in the open?
“Come on now. We got some ghosts to visit,” I say, taking a deep breath in and forcing myself to push away the hesitation. I take the lead, letting my fingers graze the wall. The stone changes from cool to damp as the sunlight behind us fades the further down we walk. Its warmth disappears completely as we enter the long, rectangular room.
An icy chill runs down my spine and an eeriness creeps along the surface of my skin. “Do you feel that?” I shiver again, the hairs on my neck prickling to life. “Let’s get these photos and get the hell out of here.”
“Okay, ten minutes. This is kind of neat, though.” She chuckles at my obvious discomfort and turns her attention to the chamber.
It’s almost like we are standing in an underground tunnel, just not as long. The walls surrounding us are cool and damp, making the air musky. The further into the chamber we walk, the dimmer the electric tea lights shine. At least it’s not as darkas I expected. “This is crazy. People would come down here bringing gifts thinking they could just enter the Underworld?”
“Actually, they would sacrifice animals. And mainly to bring the spirits to you.” Adriane and I turn to face the voice that interrupted us. He’s a guy roughly our age. Blonde hair. Brown eyes. He’s standing next to us with a smile on his face. “Sorry didn’t mean to intrude. I come here a lot with my aunt. It’s a custom,” he says with a heavy accent.
