Long Past Dawn

Wonderwoman bows her head slightly in acknowledgment but the woman looks at me, her clear blue eyes seem to see right through me. For a second I feel as if recognition flashes across her face before it's back to what it was, after a moment she speaks, "Te invenies hic pacem."

I knit my eyebrows in confusion, te inven what now? I look over at Wonderwoman, she never said anything about people not speaking English.

Wonderwoman looks at the woman, her expression is unreadable. After a moment she bows, "Queen Hippolyta."

It must look as if my eyes have popped out of their sockets because the woman Wonderwoman called Queen Hippolyta chuckles, "Welcome Dawn, we have been waiting for your arrival."

Ok then. I smile and nod, glad that they can speak English. Queen Hippolyta motions to a girl maybe a little older than me, "Lyra take Dawn to get settled," She glances at Wonderwoman, "I wish to talk to Diana."

The girl nods, her olive skin, and black hair suit her, she somewhat reminds me of a shampoo model. We walk out of the field in almost silence, but after a minute I can't take this awkward silence any longer. "H-hey... Lyra was it?"

The girl looks at me and nods. "What do you need?"

I sigh in relief, I don't know what I would do if she didn't know English. "Umm, I was wondering why there aren't any men on this island."

Lyra stops in her tracks and spins to face me, her face a mixture of anger and maybe fear. "Don't ever ask that question again." Lyra snaps at me before her eyes softened, "I'm very sorry but I cannot answer."

I nod and assume it's probably a taboo of some sort.

The rest of the walk is spent in silence, neither of us tries to start the conversation again.

I look up at the island and gasp, the sun hitting the buildings, the trees in the background, the white sand on the beach. It looks like something out of an oil painting.

I find my pace speeding up, I'm curious as to where we're going on this beautiful place.

I follow Lyra through winding streets, I can't help but stare as people rush past us, some running, and some carrying baskets. I'm shocked just how vibrant this place is.

I follow Lyra around a corner and see no one seems to be on this street, the cobbled road is empty except for us. I'm starting to wonder if Lyra is going to kill me for what I said earlier.

Lyra ducks under a doorway dr.a.p.ed in colored fabrics. I follow after her and as soon as I enter I'm almost knocked off my feet by the overwhelming smell of incense.

I look around the small stone room, it's covered in throw pillows and dr.a.p.es in various dright colors, not to mention the dizzying haze of incense that blankets the room.

I'm so busy trying to ignore the incoming headache from all the incense that I almost miss the woman at the other end of the room who's sitting at a low wooden table. From the little light in the room, and even that is hazy from all the incense, I can only just make out her features. She's rather short, I wouldn't call her fat though she might be getting there, plump maybe, her skin is tanned and worn, it slightly reminds me of old leather, her hair is black with strong gray lines running through it.

Lyra bows her head slightly and when she speaks to the woman her tone is respectful, "Aranea, Queen Hippolyta has requested for your help."

The woman called Aranea turns to us and I gasp, her eyes have a film over them and I realize that she's blind. Aranea chuckles and calls to Lyra, "You can tell our guest that I'm blind, not deaf."

I feel my cheeks burn crimson and I burn my eyes onto the carpet. I feel stupid for my reaction. Aranea only seems to find my reactions more and more entertaining, which I find odd since she can't actually see me. "Do not worry child, I am not insulted."

Her blind eyes look over at us and when they pass over me I can't help but shiver. Aranea smiles before turning back to Lyra, "Lyra dear, leave me and the guest alone will you?"

Lyra nods and I think about saying that she can't see you but she's already halfway out of the room. "Good good." Aranea says before turning to speak to me, "Now come here child."

I walk as if in a trance towards the woman who gets up from her seat as I near. As soon as I'm in front of her she reaches out a weathered hand to push back a loose strand of my hair, her fingers are long and seem to remind me of a spider's.

"What is your name child?" Aranea asks and I can almost hear the age in her voice.

"Dawn," I say, trying not to let the incense get to me.

Aranea smiles sightly. "Avgí, I see," Aranea says as if she's trying to place the name somewhere. "May I touch your face? It's the only way I can see a face nowadays." Aranea asks.

Avgí? I'm trying to figure out what that means, it sounds greek but I'm not 100% sure, I'm stuck trying to figure out what she means when I realize she asked me a question. I nod in reply before realizing she won't be able to see my reaction. "Yes," I say, standing a little straighter.

Aranea smiles before letting her fingers roam my face, it's a weird feeling and I try not to flinch. I shut my eyes tight and after a moment I feel her taking her hands away. I open my eyes and see her muttering something to herself.

She looks at me again, "I'll have my work cut out with you, that's for sure."