The First Episode

The Diary of Russia princess of didymos June 23,954bc

my mother, Quine Aura was lying on the gilded bed,her body covered in sweat, her face ashen as an attendant brushed herd damp, blond hair from her pale blue eyes. even through the pain,I’d never known my mother to appear more joy- filled than she did that day and I wondered if she been this happy at my own birth.

The room w as crowded with court officials and my father, the king, stood to the side of the bed with his dead of state.

The long, glass windows were open,letting the fresh sea air offer relief to the heat of the summer day.

(It is another beautiful boy,) the midwife happily proclaimed,wrapping the newborn infant in a blanket.

( By sweet Artemis’s hand, Aara, you’ve done me proud! ) my father said as a loud jubilant shout ran though the room’s accupants, (Twin boys to rule over twin isles!

At only seven years of age,I jumped up and down in glee, at long last, and affter my mother’s numerous miscarriages and stillbirths, I had not one brother but two.

Laughing, my mother cuddled the second- born infant to her pale breast white an additional midwife cleaned the first born.

I snuck through the crowd to watch the first born baby with the midwif. Tiny and beautiful, he squirmed and struggled to breathe through his newborn lungs.He had finally taken a deep clear breath when I heard the cry of alarm from the women who held him.

Zazus have mercy,the eldest is malformed, majesties! My mother looked u, her brow creased by worry.How so? The midwife carried him over to her.

I was terrified that something was wrong.The babe looked fine to me, I waited while the baby reached for the brother who had shared the womb with him for these months past. It was as if he sought comfort from his twin.

instead, my mother pulled his brother away, out of his sight and reach . (It cannot be,,) my mother sobbed, he is blind.

( not blind, majestic,) the eldest wise women said as she stepped forward though the crowd.Her white robed were heavily embroidered with gold threads and she wore an ornate gold crown over her faded gray hair.( he was sent to you by the gods.) My father, the king, narrowed his eyes angrily at my mother. [ you were unfaithful?]. He accused her.

( he will be destroyer, this child). The wise women said her ancient voice loud and ringing so that all could hear her pronunciation. His touch will bring death to many, not even the gods themselves will be safe from wrath.

I gasped, nor really understanding the significance of her words.

How could a mere baby hurt anyone?He was tiny. Helpless.

( Then kill him now) my father ordered a guard to draw his sword and slay the infant.

( nay! The wise women said, halting the guard before he could carry out the king’s will.( kill this infant and your other son dies as well. their life forces are combined. It’s the will of the gods that you should raise him to manhood.)

The older twin sobbed.

I sobbed, too, not understanding their hatred of a simple baby.

I will not raise a monster, my father said

You have no choice, the wise women took the baby from the midwife and offered to my mother.

( He was born of your body, majestic,) the wise women said, drawing my attention back towards her and my mother.He is your son.

The baby squirted even louder, reaching against for my mother.His mother .She cringed away from him, clutching her second- born even tighter than before.I will not suckle it.I will not touch it. get it away from my sight.

The wise women took the child to my father.And what of you, Majesty? Will you not acknowledge him?

Never, that child is no son of mine.

[ Then he will be called Acheron for the river of woe. Like the river of the Underworld, his journey shall be dark, long and enduring. He will be able to give life and take it.He will walk throughout his life alone and abandon—- ever seeking kindness and ever finding cruelty.

The wise women looked at the infant in her hands and uttered the simple truth that would hunt the boy for the rest of his experience. ( May the gods have mercy on you, little one. No one ever will.)