Page 211 of Hekate: The Witch (Goddesses of the Underworld #1)

Queen of Ashes and Corpses

I watched her

until her legs gave way

and she collapsed on the cliff’s edge.

It was her coronet that gave her away,

her silver hair flowing behind her,

flowing indigo silken dress torn.

This was Hecuba, Queen of Troy.

Leaving Thanatos to his work,

I made my way to her form,

before the Greek soldiers saw her

and did their very worst.

She did not turn to look at me.

‘What good is it to be a queen

of ashes and corpses?’ she asked,

distraught. I did not respond.

Instead, I waited.

When she turned to me,

I saw the tears streaking her face.

‘They killed my husband,

all of my children.

Why did they let me live?’

I knew why they had let her live.

The value of a queen

was higher alive than dead.

In my silence the answer dawned on her.

I saw it in the slow horror

which crept across her features.

It was astounding how cruel

mortals could be towards each other.

All in the name of victory.

I saw the resignation of decision

across her features within a moment,

and she turned back towards the sea.

From the corner of my eye

I could see soldiers approaching.

On the beach below, a crowd gathering.

This was when I knew what to do.

A strange thought came to me and I said,

‘I can help you. Let me help you.’

‘You cannot help me.’

A broken sob escaped her lips.

‘I simply want to see my children again.’

I considered this.

‘Your children are in different realms

of the Underworld. You will be able

to see them all if you choose this.’

Her face flitted from despairing to eager.

‘It is all I want.’ From my bag of simples,

I withdrew a dark blue urn.