The air felt colder as the Pegasus flew ever higher, until he landed in a pond, gently like a feather. Pegasus’ confused snorting snapped Eudoxia out of the trance-like state she had got in. "Oh, I apologize. We never really told you where we’re supposed to go. I need to find a cave that has never been lived in. In the cave there is something that I need," Eudoxia paused for a while. "It has to be something important, right? Why else would Apollo send me on this bizarre and vague quest - no offense to you, Pegasus. You are truly magnificent." As she patted Pegasus’ neck, he let out a happy little neigh. For a while he paced around, turned his head and was listening to something. Then, with a jolt, Pegasus turned around and continued flying.

After a while he suddenly stopped moving forwards and seemed to back up. He sounded distressed, almost afraid, and then he buckled. Not prepared for anything but a smooth ride, Eudoxia’s grip slipped and she flew across the sky - fortunately, not for very long. She flew right into a small silver fir tree. The needles shred the jeweled cloth from her face and stuck everywhere in her hair. After checking for injuries and contemplating the absurdity of the situation for a while, she decided to climb down the life-saving - mostly pesky tree.

She was indeed in front of another cave. She could hear nothing at all. It made her nervous. Not even drips, no bats, no birds, nothing. As Eudoxia stepped into the cave she felt shivers run up her spine. The cave was very spacious, the echoes of her own weak "Hello?" echoed back loudly.

"A traveler. How curious."

Eudoxia winced at the whisper right next to her left ear.

"You know, I am quite a traveler myself. All the way from Arabia."

Now the dragging whispers were next to her right ear. Eudoxia felt a chill rising from deep inside her. "Who are you?" she asked cautiously

"Who am I? Excellent." In front of her the being stopped with the whispering to both, Eudoxia’s terror and relief. "I like introductions. So many options, now what should I say... let’s start with names. Mine is Arachnos. From our brief encounter, I am certain you are a human, isn’t that so?" Without waiting for an answer, the voice continued: "Here’s the fun part. No prejudice, alright? I’m a djinni." He exclaimed that happily, as if it was a revolutionary invention.

Eudoxia shook the instant goosebumps out of her body. "I... don’t know really how to... ehm... My name is Eudoxia?" Foreign myths were not among her expertise but she could tell from merely the atmosphere that she wasn’t exactly dealing with a minor, gentle spirit. Blindness is bless’d for them you will speak to. No danger if you serve. You must take them. Your power wipes clean dread that the Dream brought... "I’m here to serve? Do you have a task for me? Perhaps something to deliver?"

"A human to serve a djinni. That is... wonky. Something to deliver?" The djinni laughed. In the presumably empty cave it sounded like a murder of crows. "That do I certainly have. A package, if you will." An amused chuckle.

"Anything. This is something I absolutely have to do."

"A child."

Eudoxia was more confused than when she had her journey into the divine, and forgot her nervousness for a while. "A child? What child? Where would I take her? Why?"

"Questions, questions, so many questions. Understandable. Nothing that complex, sweet mortal. You will take your child out of here and give her a good life."

That is a way to make things creepy in one sentence, Eudoxia thought and the anxiety made its way back. "I don’t have a child. I-I don’t even want children. I’m not a family person. I’m a s-seer. I live in a temple. The priestesses, what would they think? I am sworn to maidenh-"

Arachnos was quick to interrupt: "You are correct, you do not possess a child, yet. As for the temple, well, that would be a no-go, since obviously I have a mind to come with. You agreed to do anything, right? I haven’t been among the mortals in a very long while. No worries, I will be undetectable, one among many ordinary critters in your world. Like a cat. No, that’s boring, already done that. The feeling of coughing up hair balls, unforgettable."

Eudoxia was stumped: "This whole thing of yours is ridiculous. And what about the child? Who would even sire them?"

"Well, me, of course," he said, as if it was obvious from the beginning: "Lady... I am living the best centuries of my life. Here. In the middle of nowhere. I have no family, no friends - well there is Azazel but he is kind of preachy and I have no interest in that."

Annoyance was starting to bubble to the surface. "Have I no say in this matter? You know what, I have never liked a single male in my life so what makes you think that even for a second I’d let you have your way with me?"

Arachnos chuckled again: "What an interesting woman you are. However, that won’t be a problem, dear."

Eudoxia froze. "Phem? How did y-"

"You had your guard down, friend, and the top most thoughts are easy to get a glimpse at. Now, now, you seem awfully nervous. Why don’t we sit down and breathe deep for a while."

She felt a warm hand on her neck. The faint, familiar scent of myrrh and lavender was stirring up all the hidden feelings Eudoxia had kept secret for so long: "She would never-" a finger interrupted her sentence and pushed her lips to silence.

"I would. This is a chance you will not get again, dear. A one time offer," she heard the djinn say in her voice. Lovingly, but not in the manner Phemonoe spoke.

Feeling terribly shameful and guilt-ridden, she agreed: "I accept." This is a divine mission. Maybe my visions will let me sleep in peace after this sacrifice. She was wrong. So very wrong.

Next Chapter: Birth of a Half-Breed