A single, piercing ray of light shown in the darkness as the Helot opened the door, flooding the downstairs area with an iridescent glow. Flanked by a squad of soldiers, the man’s downtrodden body quickly made its way to the entrance of Kallisto’s prison cell. He opened the door and backed away as the head of the soldiers stepped inside. The tall, armor covered man rested his hand on the hilt of the sword in his belt as he spoke, “You. Woman. Come with me.” His voice was gruff and authoritative. Kallisto was sitting on the ground against the wall in the corner of the cell. She lifted her head from its drooped position and looked into the guard’s eyes.
“Where am I going?” She asked. Her voice was barely above a whisper. She hadn’t spoken in what seemed like decades. It may have very well been centuries. The man didn’t answer. Instead, he sneered at her and spit on the ground at his feet. When he turned back and walked out of the cell, Kallisto immediately stood up to follow. Being anywhere else was better than being here.
Kallisto walked between the squad, one man on each of her sides with the sneering guard at her front and a man twice her size bringing up the rear. Her hands and feet were shackled together. This was amusing to her. Do they expect me to take them all by myself, she thought. She had barely eaten since she had been imprisoned. Walking was hard enough.
She was brought into a brilliantly white room. She expected it to resemble The Parthenon but instead, it was simply four white walls and a white ceiling. There was nothing in the room other than Kallisto and the men who escorted her. Immediately, those men disappeared. In their place stood a woman of immense beauty. Her deep red curls extended all the way down to her waist. Her piercing green eyes held a fire that terrified and mesmerized Kallisto equally. Athena.
The goddess slowly circled Kallisto, extending her hand to grasp a small piece of her hair. “Are you ready?” she asked. She stopped in front of Kallisto’s face, dropping her hands to her side. She leaned forward until her lips brushed the edge of the Spartans. That light touch sent a shock through Kallisto’s body. She no longer felt weak or hungry. Athena had restored her strength to its peak. The deity was only a fraction taller than Kallisto but her eyes dropped dramatically as she continued. “Do you remember everything I told you?” The warrior thought Athena was attempting seduction but all Kallisto felt was fear. She barely nodded. “Good.” Athena said. She brought her lips up and kissed Kallisto’s forehead.
The warrior was immediately transported to a place she had never been. She looked down and realized Athena had given her the armor she had died with. Her bronze shield was already strapped to her left arm, covering the most vital parts of her body. Her helmet was in place, allowing only the slits of her eyes to be seen. Her breastplate hung heavy on her chest, accompanying the belt that carried her sword. Her spear was in her right hand. Its familiar feel was only the slightest comfort in this alien world. Kallisto immediately dropped her knees to a defensive crouch, holding her shield close to her front. Only from her eyes to the top of her helmet were visible around it. She dropped her spear parallel with the ground and clung to it tightly. She scanned the horizon, taking in any detail she could before her opponent made itself known.