Page 154 of Hekate: The Witch (Goddesses of the Underworld #1)

By the Light of Gemstones

My reasoning at the time

was rooted in logic.

Light led the way,

whereas darkness hid

any path that lay ahead.

So as I followed the crystal light,

carefully avoiding the teeth-like

minerals growing up from the cave floor,

I noticed that along

the uneven walls of rocks,

there were paintings.

The colours were warm,

rich purples and bright yellows,

crimson and vermillion.

But the paintings were…

I shuddered as I looked upon them.

They were clearly of battle.

A brutality shone in the swords,

the bodies of Gods and Goddesses

being ripped to shreds.

Even on these uneven walls,

I could see how violently

the artist’s brush had slashed,

creating clear images

of every cruelty of war.

And then my stomach

turned as I realized

with a cold shock

that these images

were of the Titanomachy.

The cruelty of my family

hurting, maiming,

trying to destroy each other

spread along the tunnel.

My hands shook now

as I froze, every thought

inside my head

was screaming at me

to turn back,

turn back now.

But turning back

meant accepting defeat.

All of this would be for nothing.

I had to continue.

I just had to.

So I took a lavender potion

from my bag of simples

to calm myself,

steeled my nerves

and continued.