Chapter 6: Wander in the forest (part 9)

“Oh that is. Very poor of you. How long are here? Where do you stay in the days? What did you eat and drink?” Lily kindly said. 

“It’s about four days we are here.” said Heracles.

“No, it is the fifth day we are here, Heracles.” Gwen said quickly. 

“Yes, we are here five days.” Heracles continued, “Our shifting – circle brought us to the other side of the forest, a wild place, having nothing to eat and drink. We had no choice but to move crossing the forest.” Heracles turned pitiful a bit, “We had been in forest for days, hungry and thirsty.” he added.

“It’s difficult time for you, children.” lamented Lily. Her voice got a bit mercy, “I’m really sorry. I have thought you were thieves as I saw you picked oranges. I didn’t know what you have passed, not know you were too hungry and thirsty. I’m sorry.” she repeated. Her beautiful eyes glittered and tear seemed to be about to come out. It made Heracles, Amelinda and Gwen had a bit embarrassment.

“You don’t need to apologize. It is not your mistake. It is our mistake – don’t apologize to us.” said Gwen quickly.

Lily turned to Gwen looked at him with her beautiful eyes. It was really beautiful. She smiled gently. “Go with me to home.” she said kindly, “There has food and drink for you. It also has enough places for you all. You can stay in it till you find the way to leave. I and my mom always welcome you in our home.”

“You are so nice.” said Amelinda gratefully, “What must we do to repay you?”

“You don’t need to do anything.” said Lily smiling. “We go. My home is nearby.” she added. She turned her back to them then crept ahead. The time Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda could see clearly Lily’s lower body. It was a long big snake tail covered by blue glitter scales, very beautiful. It wriggled on ground helping her moving forward. 

“Are you sure?” whispered Heracles, stared at Gwen. He and the others were following Lily.

“Not completed but I can prove it.” whispered Gwen, “Lily,” said Gwen loudly, “I have a question wanting to ask you.”

“Yes,” Lily answered him.

“Are people here all look like you? I mean – they are half-human and half-snake?” he asked loudly. 

“No, they are not. Only I was half-human and half-snake here.” the voice Lily echoed back. She still kept moving ahead, not turning back. 

“Did you hear it? She said that only she was unique.” whispered Gwen again, watching on Heracles and Amelinda, “There has only half-woman and half-snake I know living on the world. She is Lamia.” his voice turned serious.

“Come Gwen – get rid of the stupid idea. Though she is half-human and half-snake, it doesn’t mean she was Lamia, the child-eating monster. She is not. She is too different. At least, I can see she is beautiful, young and very kind, not like Lamia who was described, ugly, odd old and cruel.” said Amelinda objecting to him.

“This time your imagination must be wrong - Gwen. Lamia was just a story from very long time ago. She can not live till now and still keep her youthfulness and beauty. Furthermore, Lamia doesn’t live in any place called Lernaen.” said Heracles, kept his voice low to not be heard by Lily.

“Uhm – I must think too much.” said Gwen, bowing head. 

They kept conversing and were left behind. 

“Hurry up! You are being left behind.” said Lily loudly. She stopped to wait for them. They stopped talking, hurriedly rushed toward hen then accompanied with her. There had small path inside the orange garden leading them out of it. When they got out, led them to go to the right followed the orange garden’s edge heading to a wooden house at the end of orange garden. It’s Lily and her mother house. They didn’t take much time to reach on it. It was a nice wooden house standing alone by the forest and the orange garden. Lily stopped in front of the door. She pushed it open then hinted Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda to come in with hẻ. 

“Mom,” Lily called loudly, “Where are you? I want you to see them, my new friends. They are people who come from outside.”

Heracles and his friends stood still behind Lily observing everything in the room. It was a simple living room. There had a wooden table and few chairs which were placed at the middle. The room didn’t large and very simple but it gave Heracles and the others nice and homey feeling, very comfortable. 

“You came back Lily.” An old woman wearing in gray dress appeared, walked toward them from mall indoor aisle.

“Who are those children?” the woman asked. She observed on Heracles, Lily and Amelinda but she didn’t pay much attention.

“They are my new friend – Amelinda, Heracles and Gwen.” said Lily, introducing them to her mother.  

“Very nice to see you in my house! You are the children coming from village, right?” said the women. Her voice was so warm.  

“No, mom - they don’t live in here Lernaen. They come from a place very far from here” squealed Lily excitedly. 

The woman was dumbfounded she speechless looking on Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda carefully a while. “You don’t live here.” she spoke up with a tense face. Wrinkles on her forehead shoved into each other but her eyes were very kind. 

“Yes, we don’t.” Amelinda answered quickly. 

The woman face turned tenser but it was quickly relaxed. 

“Where do you come from children?” said the woman. Her voice turned normal, very warm. Her face was nice and looked very kind. 

“We come from Tiryns.” Amelinda answered politely. 

“I don’t know that place. I also don’t know how you could you come here.” said the woman in her warm voice, “But, his will be your place from now. Stay here and consider it your home till you leave. I’m Calliope. You can call me Aunt Calliope.” 

“You are Amelinda, right?” she added.

“Yes, I am.” Amelinda answered, puffing her chest slightly forward. 

“You call Heracles and Gwen.” said Aunt Calliope, taking her eyes on each of them. 

“Yes, we are.” replied Heracles.

“You are really good kids but your fates are not very good.” said Calliope, looking deeply into each one’s eyes, “Stay here with us.” she added then turned to Lily.

“Lily - help them to have places to rest tonight. I will go and prepare for dinner first.” she said. Then she made her way to left. Though Aunt Calliope didn’t ask them much and she also didn’t talk much to them. Heracles, Amelinda and Gwen could see her a kindhearted woman and was person they could trust. Though, some saying from aunt Calliope made them difficult to understand.

“Follow me. I will lead you to your room.” Lily spoke up then moved. She followed the way her mother left, hurriedly went cross the living room to a lobby.

“What does your mother mean? Why does she tell us to stay and consider here as like our home?” squealed Amelinda curiously.

“I will tell you later when we have time. You need to take a rest first. I will arrange for you then will go and help my mother prepare the dinner.” said Lily.

Lily stopped in front of a door, pushed open it. “Come in.” she said, made her way to go in first. Amelinda was right behind her. Heracles and Gwen walked behind.

As soon as Heracles and Gwen went pass the door, a slight fragrance went in their nostrils, very pleasant. It seemed to be smell of dry grasses and flowers, reminded them to them a very familiar smell. Roger’s living room, it also had the same smell. Heracles thought of it at one. Right after the door was a tree rack. It stood opposite a bed which was placed leaning against two walls, a big bed. A wardrobe was set by the bed’s head and next to it were a small table with some stools. They stood by a window which was on the wall opposite the door. All the things were made of bright wood. They were very simple but good-looking and to give people a cozy feeling. Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda followed Lily passing the end of the bed and then stopped at the table. They made their way to sit on stools there while Lily continued moving to the wardrobe. Lily opened the wardrobe, rummaged inside awhite. Later, she took out some blankets and pillows folded carefully. She laid then on the bed then turned to them.  

“Take a rest. I will turn back as the dinner is ready.” she said.

“Thank you.” they said gratefully.

“You are welcome.” said Lily smiling. She stood here looking seconds then made her way cross them, passed the door then left.

After Lily went out, Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda made their way to the bed, laid their backs down the bed. The previous days took them a lot of energy; they really felt tired. With the pillows under heads, they quickly fell in sleep, very very deep sleep.