I battled dark swirling water with arms and legs thrashing. Time and again, I swallowed huge draughts of water, and equal amounts spewed out of my mouth. It seemed the more I struggled, the harder it was to swim to the surface of the ocean in which I found myself--an unrelenting sea of black water. Waves towered over me and crashed down on me forcing me deeper into the water.

Far off, I heard voices beckoning to me, pleading with me to save them from the witch. I tried to tell them all I was drowning, but they called out to me all the more. I tried even more desperately to rise to the surface of my personal ocean. Tentacled creatures tugged at my feet and legs, hampering my efforts to rise to the surface even more. Hurricane force winds whipped the sea into a salty lather. Thunder boomed and lightning struck. I rose up long enough to vomit salt water and fill my lungs with much needed air. Then, down I was plunged, again.

After endless hours of battling the forces of nature, the voices seemed nearer to me, and the waves less violent. I saw a glimmer of sunlight piercing thick dark clouds. Suddenly, inexplicably, I found myself on dry land, warm and comfortable. Little forest creatures cuddled about me, covering me in warmth and love--squirrels, plump owls, chipmunks, rabbits, and fawns.

Apollo was saying, “She is healing on her own. Unconsciousness is apparently a fail safe to keep her from dying. Either that or Circe stopped killing people. That act has to take a large toll on her energy reserves. She, like our Athena, will have to take some downtime to recharge.”

I opened my eyes enough to see Apollo talking to Dad. They stood beside my bed. For I was in my own bed and not a bed of soft moss in an unknown forest. Helios, Ares, Bill, and Hermes covered me with various body parts. Not cuddly forest creatures after all, but the warm cradled feeling lingered. Bill and Hermes slumbered, and Helios and Ares waited, watching me sleep. My opened eyes earned me a kiss from Helios.

Apollo sat down on the edge of the bed and said to me, “It seems that we cannot protect you from the deaths of your followers. A negative side of the Oath of Binding, I suspect. Either you have found a method for protecting yourself or Circe has decided to rest, too. For you, rest is my strong recommendation. Rest and food. Memory will bring in some refreshments in a few moments.”

I sat up, waking up Bill and Hermes. “A method to protect myself? So that means every time Circe, or anyone else for that matter, kills one of my people I will pass out?”

Apollo gave me an indulgent smile, making me feel like an ignorant teenager. “That isn't what I meant. Actually, I was simply speculating.”

Zeus joined us on the bed. The bed was a huge one with ample room for all of us, so none of us felt crowded. My bed became a camping area.

As promised, Memory, Metis, and Themis arrived with trays laden with food. All of us, including the Titan ladies, ate breakfast in my bed, picking up bacon, sausages, pieces of fruit, pastries, or toast with our fingers. We had coffee for after.

I felt drowsy after my meal, likely owing to the depleted energy reserves, so my power partners plus my Dad joined me on the bed and we napped for several hours.

When I woke, only Helios and I remained in my bed. He dozed and my waking stirred him. He smiled at me telling me of his love with that one gesture. I rose to my feet after kissing him soundly. My poor battered body ached, but hunger ruled.

As I had so many times recently, I made the kitchen my first stop. My permanent house guests prepared a feast and the aromas from the kitchen could have guided me there if I were totally blind. Metis informed me that we would dine, formally and that I should dress for dinner. I grabbed two doughnuts to eat for instant energy before exiting the kitchen. My stomach muscles contracted but I held onto the mouthful of donuts without spewing.

I returned to the bedroom where Eli still reclined on our bed.

“Time for dinner. Metis says it is formal,” I said to him.

Eli rolled off the bed and took one of the doughnuts from my hand. “Good. I am starving.” He trotted toward the bathroom.

I donned an all-over lace A-line evening gown in royal purple and black strappy heels. I quickly pulled my hair into an updo and secured it with a large gold barrette.

My palace was chilly, so I removed a white ermine jacket from my closet to cover my shoulders. I decided to forgo makeup.

Eli was dressed in a dark blue tux and a white shirt with lace collar and cuffs. His cummerbund was black velvet. He offered me his arm and we walked to the formal dining room.

The table would seat forty people, easily. I moved to the head of the table and inevitably Eli sat on my right and Ares on my left. We aligned ourselves much as we had for the ceremony at Mount Olympus a week previously, with the eleven great Athenians, nearest to my chair. Zeus sat at the other end of the table and we filled the table with resident Athenians.

Domestics presented dinner beginning with pumpkin flower soup, then baby spinach salad with strawberries, caramelized pecans, and feta cheese dressed with balsamic vinaigrette and fresh cracker bread. Our entree consisted of stuffed chicken breast with apples, bacon, and goat cheese and Yukon gold potatoes and parsnips mashed together, and an assortment of roasted vegetables. The dessert included cappuccino brownies and vanilla bean ice cream. We had Bay of Fires, 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Australian white wine throughout, and good Kenya AA coffee with our dessert.

As usual, light conversation and the live music softly played by a very talented Japanese pianist dominated the scene. And it was only Sunday evening and not a special occasion. Apparently, the Titan Ladies would allow camping in the kitchen for breakfast and lunch, but dinner was to be lavish and formal.

Domestic. Again. If my ladies planned to have formal dinners every evening, I would need many formal dresses. I made a note to send Metis shopping. More ceremony that disinterested me but seemed to be expected. Bill was nearly as distressed as me but managed the many forks and spoons beautifully and his tailored tux didn’t hang on him as his work suits did. I vowed to have more suits tailored for him.

After dinner, Helios and I retired and slept for more than ten hours.

My day started early and was a repeat of the previous day, with me and my power group eating and sleeping the day away. By the time we finished dinner, I felt more like myself.

The date, December 21st, and the longest night of the year coincided with the time of Circe’s greatest strength. Apollo and Artemis spent the day gathering my followers to Olympia and most of them stayed on my island for their own protection. Yurts popped up all over and my island soon resembled a glamping site. But Circe still lurked out there, somewhere.

I gave Hermes the task of mobilizing his spy network to find her. Ares sent out his troops to look for signs of her. These Athenians represented the bravest of all of us because they deliberately stepped into danger. Circe proved already that she wouldn’t hesitate to kill my people, one at a time, if necessary.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Reports streamed in of probable locations. Hermes and Ares went to investigate everyone and still did not find the witch. Yes, she could go to ground and hide, but we were relentless and determined.

At about 10:00 p.m., she appeared in the vicinity of my island as an energy balloon, much as she did when she snatched Eli from me. Because I placed watchers along the island’s shore, she couldn’t hide from us. She approached slowly, from the east, doubtless being drawn to my house by the glowing energy from so many Athenians in the same place at the same time. As seen from above, my island glowed like the sun from the metaphysical energy surrounding it if one was adept at seeing the underlying lines of energy.

Boreas saw Circe’s energy bubble and summoned me via sat phone.

Ares, Eli, Bill, Hermes, and Dad joined me on the edge of the circular bay and we watched as she tried to breach the energy barrier.

By midnight, her attempt became more frantic. Even as her bubble of energy grew in size, she couldn’t penetrate the barrier.

More and more of her followers helped her and when she reached her greatest size, her entire coven united couldn't penetrate my wards. I felt a smug satisfaction with the confirmation that I was stronger than her.

The bubble grew to such a size that she completely covered my island in her dark energy, bringing cold snow and icy winds with her darkness.

Weaving the wards of protection around the island was easily done and once woven, I didn’t have to continually send energy into it. It stood alone and strong against darkness. The wards could not keep out the raging wind and biting snow of the natural world and we suffered in the elements. Still, Circe persisted.

Finally, I concluded, “She can’t get in. Plus, she and her followers are expending a lot of energy right now.”

Zeus said, “I wouldn't have thought her so bold. But, when she leaves this place, we will have a trail to follow. We must be ready.”

“Who will go after her?” Ares asked.

“I’ll ask for volunteers,” I said. “She kills too quickly.”

A voice behind me said, “I will volunteer,” and I turned toward Titan.

“You know how dangerous it is for you to follow her. She retaliates in very horrific ways,” I said.

“I hesitate to say it again, but I am not easy to kill or subdue. Circe will not know I am about,” Titan said.

“You can hide your metaphysical trail.” I made it a statement and he responded with a nod of the head.

“She knows we are watching her, and she will likely lead you on a merry chase, brother,” Eli said.

“Agreed,” he said. Then, to me, “My queen, I was unable to find Hecate for you, but I will find Circe.”

“I suspect,” Zeus said, “that Hecate didn’t want to be found. She has likely thrown in with that lot.” Dad gestured toward the hovering cloud of darkness.

I wrapped my arms around Titan because I felt a sudden surge of fear for him. Fear that he would be captured or killed by the darkness that surrounded my island. Titan was a follower who knelt before me and pledged his life to me. He was one of my Chosen advisors. I gave him a task, finding another Titan named Hecate, and he didn't complete it. Under a pang of guilt feelings and the idea that he let me down, he volunteered to go against our formidable enemy. The very least I could do was to assure him that I cared for him as an individual and not simply a follower.

“Titan Atlas, you must be very cautious. I will not weather your death well,” I said to him while still in his embrace.

“I will lift up the whole world onto my shoulders for you, my Queen.” He stepped out of the embrace and fell to a knee once again, placing a hand over his heart. He rose and joined us in our vigil.

As the leader of the Athenians, I was not accomplishing very much. Getting forty-five people killed seemed to be my greatest achievement. Not an auspicious start to my reign as the new leader.

The sight of the obscuring darkness over my island unnerved me. The clouds roiled and churned violently. Worse was the feeling of dread that always seemed to accompany Circe’s presence. I sensed Eli felt the dread more acutely than I and Bill to a somewhat lesser extent.

Heavy snow fell from the agitated atmosphere and the angry winds blew the flakes in every direction. Still, we waited until the sky lightened with the coming dawn.

The whole world was gray that morning--gray sky, gray water, gray rocks beneath our feet.

The sun was full up before Circe withdrew. Titan was ready and waiting for that moment. He vanished from sight without saying any additional goodbyes. I gave him a silent, “Good journey,” and then fervently hoped he fared well.

I walked to the French doors that opened into my bedroom and removed my soaked clothes. After a few minutes in a warm shower, I put on black leather pants, a snug blue sweater, and a long red and blue plaid wool duster. Heavy wool socks and black suede boots keep my feet toasty.

I wandered into the kitchen where Zeus and Bill engaged in a chess battle with Apollo, Eli, and Ares offering suggestions and taunts. Themis placed a cup of coffee in front of me and I smiled my gratitude.

Finally, Bill accepted defeat and Ares stepped in to play Zeus.

“I thought I was good at chess,” Bill said as he sat on the bar stool next to mine. “But, it doesn’t matter what I try, Zeus wins.”

“Maybe our court jester is cheating,” Eli said.

“How can someone cheat at chess?” Bill asked.

“Part of the game is outwitting your opponent,” Ares said, watching for my Dad’s next move. “You are already intimidated by Zeus, so he uses that to his advantage and alters his style of play. You have to watch your opponent’s style of play and not just shove pieces around a chess board.”

“Style? What do you mean?” Bill asked.

“You are an elegant player,” Zeus said to Bill. “You often make beautiful moves instead of an aggressive approach. Your play is almost like a ballet. It is not a bad way to play, but as soon as your opponent recognizes what you are doing, they can easily defeat your elegant moves.”

Bill looked thoughtful for a moment and then said, “So the way to win a chess battle is to be unpredictable.”

“That is the way to win most battles,” Ares said as he tipped Zeus’s king piece over. He smugly grinned at our father.

“I almost never win when I play Ares,” Zeus said. “But it normally takes me longer to be defeated.” He rose from the chair and Apollo sat in his place. “Themis, you have any more of that coffee?”

“Of course,” she said and she placed a large mug in front of him.

“Does Ares ever lose?” Bill asked.

“I think I lost once,” Ares said, grinning.

“Nonsense, I have defeated you myself dozens of times,” I reminded him.

“That’s because your play is almost 100% defensive. Nothing aggressive about it. You protect every piece. It’s like waging war against a heavily fortified city. If chess allowed more pieces, I would probably eventually defeat you,” Ares said to me.

“This is an interesting study of our natures,” Eli said. “Bill always wants an elegant solution. Despite outward appearances, there lies the heart of a poet. I have seen your house, Bill. A portrait of gentleness and elegance.

“And then our Athena is always ready to defend the weak or those she is responsible for. Her chess game is the same. That is why the deaths of her followers hurt her so badly. Ares, you want to win quickly, often eschewing elegant solutions or a delicate approach. Full speed ahead, damn the torpedoes, and all that. Zeus uses guile and cunning to win the chess battle, relying on his ability to unnerve and outwit his opponent. It has been years since I played Apollo, but you grand physician, take a surgical approach, knifing your way straight to the king.”

“And what about you, Eli?” Bill asked.

I answered the question, “Eli is an observer, always. He will notice things others don’t. For example, Bill, after walking through your house one time, could draw a very detailed sketch of what was inside. Every knick-knack, the placement of every chair, the picture that is hung crookedly on the wall. Add to that the strategy of a chess game and he can not only remember every move, but he can also anticipate the next several moves.”

“But, I have beaten Eli about half the time when we play chess,” Bill argued.

“Anticipating a move is not an exact science. I don't always guess correctly,” Eli said. “And sometimes while playing, I get so caught up with observing my opponent that I lose track of my own game.”

“Chess is, then, a duplication of a war. How can we apply this to our war with the witches?” Bill asked.

“Interesting question, Bill,” I said. “To defeat her, we need Ares’s suggestion that we are unpredictable, and we need Zeus’s cunning and experience, Eli’s observational abilities, Bill’s elegance, and Apollo's surgical precision.”

“Most importantly of all,” Zeus said to me, “We will need your defensive ability to keep us all safe when the battle actually starts.