Chosen

Ricker had appeared.

“What happened?!” Ricker fell onto the sand beside us, almost pushing us out of the way. I moved back and stood beside Finn as Ricker and Phoebe hovered over her. Her eyes were closed, but color had returned to her cheeks.

“She is free of their grasp, but not of their judgment,” Oreithya told Finn with a respectful nod. I heard Willow’s sharp intake of breath when she realized who the newest arrival was.

“And judgment shall be served,” an ominous voice added with malice. We all angled toward the voice and gasped. Three women now stood before us, watching us with impatience. Manifested in human form, I could feel the darkness they held within - they most certainly belonged to the Underworld. Their similarities were glaringly obvious. Their long black cloaks of velvet pooled at their feet, while large red amulets hung from silver necklaces; pulsing a deep, macabre red. Their hair touted every shade of red and orange; reminding me of a dancing flame.

“Who are you?” Phoebe stood angrily and glared at them. “Is Nadia behind this?” I was taken aback by her sudden show of courage.

“We are Tisiphone, Megaira, and Alekto,” one of the women announced with an old world accent. “We do not reveal who sent us.” Her golden eyes flickered bright yellow as she spoke.

“Ricker? Phoebe?” Carmen’s weak voice was barely audible above the crashing of the waves, but most importantly it was her own. Phoebe returned to her side along with Ricker, who smoothed her hair back from her face. “Ricker…they know.”

Ricker’s face paled as some form of recognition washed over him. Just as quickly, those pale features hardened with determination. The three women moved toward Carmen, but Ricker was already on his feet; blocking their path.

“I am to blame,” he declared, lifting his chin with conviction. “I convinced her to do it.”

“Ricker don’t…” Carmen attempted feebly.

“Stupid boy!” Another of the women snapped. “The act cannot be disputed. It is the intent we seek. She will not disclose her own intentions.” She took a menacing step towards Ricker. “However, your own shame and ire are also telltale byproducts of guilt.”

“No!” Carmen cried out, rolling onto her side to meet the eyes of the Erinyes. “He wanted it!

He told me we could do it. He said it would be okay. But I…I talked him out of it. I convinced him that we were too young. I thought I could make it up to him after…” she cringed.

“After you aborted your unborn child.” The third woman stated accusingly. I heard a collective gasp out of the onlookers as well as from my own mouth. Carmen had…an abortion? I couldn’t imagine how difficult that must have been for her, and how heavy of a burden that would be now. I had to admit her love/hate relationship with Ricker made more sense than ever now. She managed to sit up with Phoebe’s help. Her tired features contorted with undeniable fury.

“I loved my unborn child! But the baby would have suffered!” Carmen spit at them. “We were only fifteen! We couldn’t provide for it! We weren’t equipped to give it all of the things it deserved, and we didn’t have a clue what to do!” She met Ricker’s eyes, full of despair. “I did it…out of love. I thought it would be for the best.”

“Love,” The Erinyes repeated.

“What do you know of love?” One of the Erinyes scoffed; her yellow eyes flashing.

“I know what love is!” Carmen yelled at her.

“Your choices since then do not support that claim,” she raised an eyebrow.

“My choices?” Carmen shrunk back in shame. Her defensives crumbled visibly, softening her features and causing tears to collect in her eyes. She placed a hand over her heart in defense. “My choices were to protect myself. I just wanted to be normal! I wanted to go on dates like everybody else, and act like my biggest problem was what to wear on my date Friday night. But I knew…it wasn’t real. I didn’t really like any of those guys I went out with.”

“You cannot alter events that have occurred. The consequences must be attended to.”

“I know that!” She sobbed in earnest as her gaze darted to Ricker. “It just felt good to…be in control. It made me feel strong. At least it would for a little while. And then I would just go back to being scared and confused. I didn’t know how to deal with it! It’s not like the library has a ‘Dealing with Abortion for Dummies’ book.” She tried to grin at her own joke, but it didn’t reach her eyes. My heart was breaking for her. Coming from a history of violence and upheaval, I still could not imagine the extent of her pain and suffering. I also thought about my initial resistance to my stepmother’s direction to go on the pill for regulation of my period. I hadn’t really thought of it in the sense of actual pregnancy control until now.

“You cannot avoid what happened any longer,” the same Erinye replied. “The time has come for you to decide if you can use your pain for good, or if you will let it destroy you. We are here for the latter.” I caught the snide grin that played on her lips and shivered.

“I’ll use it for good, I promise,” Carmen pleaded weakly.

“And we’ll help her!” Phoebe stepped forward a little too quickly, almost tripping over her own feet. The Erinyes looked at each other and closed their eyes. They remained that way for several minutes as we all looked at each other apprehensively. Finally, they opened their eyes and gazed upon Carmen with resignation. “Truth and remorse. That is all we ever required of you. Many times the self-inflicted punishment of one’s own soul is harsher than any appointed retribution. Your intentions are virtuous. Our judgment is one of renunciation.”

“Thank you,” Carmen whispered as exhaustion took hold of her body. She slumped back down onto the sand as they continued.

“The soul of your unborn child will be extricated from the Vale. She will await your arrival among the Asphodel Meadows.”

“She…” Ricker repeated quietly, his eyes filling with tender happiness.

With that, the Erinyes promptly disappeared, leaving us drunk with relief and elation. Silent tears trickled down Ricker’s cheeks as Carmen rose to her feet with the help of Phoebe. She gingerly took his hand and smiled. “I loved our unborn child. And…I love you. I always have and I always will.”

Ricker’s light blue eyes gazed into hers and joy washed over him. “I love you, too.” He pulled her close and kissed her with obvious devotion. “Having you and knowing that she’s waiting for us -

when we die - gives me every reason I need…to live.”

Phoebe smothered them both in a sloppy hug as Finn put his arm around me and squeezed me tight. His smoldering blue eyes gazed down at mine full of affection, weakening every ounce of willpower I possessed. Having both he and Carmen return to us was almost too much to accept.

Happiness exploded in my heart and flooded my soul.

“May I have a moment?” Oreithya asked me cordially; her dark eyes shining. She took my hand and led me away from the group. Her touch felt like the soothing rhythm of the tide, and her voice reminded me of a symphony.

“You show the courage and loyalty of a great leader.” She held my hand, palm up, in hers and stepped in front of me. A ray of gratitude sliced through me when it dawned on me what she was doing. She closed her eyes and smiled ever so slightly. I noted the others halting their conversations to pay attention to Oreithya’s display of approval. My hand tingled and the glittery puddle condensed on my palm. Just as before, it hovered in the air and then burst. “Echete Epilexei.”

“Thank you,” I nodded graciously, and then remembered something that I had been wondering about. “What does Echete Epilexei mean?” She cupped my cheek with her hand and smiled at me lovingly.

“It is Greek for ‘You are Chosen’,” she clarified with a wink. Well that made sense.

Next, Oreithya approached the still fragile Carmen and embraced her in a hug. “Take care of yourself, daughter. You have been through so much. You deserve true happiness.” She raised an eyebrow at Ricker and grinned slyly.

“I can’t ever thank you enough, Oreithya.” Carmen hugged her again. “It is such an honor to meet you.”

“What was all that about?” Willow and Phoebe whispered to me curiously, pulling me aside with excitement.

“She Chose me,” I smiled proudly. “That makes thirty-eight Nereids.”

“That’s what the gathering was for?” Phoebe gasped.