The Deities’ World: Callidora: Learning from Lakshmi (part 2)

[k_a_webb]

This entry is part 21 of 21 in the Deities' World collection

Part 1

This entry is part 21 of 21 in the Deities' World collection

Lakshmi laughed. “That doesn’t surprise me at all.” She knelt down and scratched behind the ears of one of the puppies’ ears, smiling. “I can’t imagine what it must be like to have three heads.”

“Neither can I.” Callie looked down at the puppies, puppies she couldn’t help thinking of as hers because she had been the one to do the majority of the work raising them, and smiled herself. “Some days it seems easier for them than others, but from what Dad said when we first found out that there were two puppies who had been born with multiple heads they’ll take longer than the others to mature. It has to do with having three different brains and each of the heads having their own personality. He told me that normally the heads will learn to get along, even though they will still have arguments about how things should be done, but there was one time when that didn’t happen and it seemed to be better for everyone, including the dog, to have it put to sleep.”

Nodding, Lakshmi moved onto the next head. “It was the right thing to do. Hades’ Kerberos isn’t the first of the three headed dogs, but he was the first to survive past puppyhood, because he had someone there to help him learn to live with having three heads. Without Hades he would have ended up like all the others and knowing what the heads are capable of, if they are in that position, would have guided Hades when it was up to him to make the final decision – and I think he is one of the strongest deities that I know as he was able to do something like that, as that is one of the most difficult choices to make.” She looked at Callie. “You’re lucky to have him for a father.”

“I know. Sometimes I wish I could see him more, because he is so busy at the moment, but I know I have wonderful parents, and thanks to them I have a close relationship with my grandmother as well, and Hekate, who I have always thought of as another grandmother.”

“Has Hades told you much about his parents?”

“When I’m ready he’ll tell me. He’s said that before, but I haven’t taken him up on the offer yet, because I wasn’t ready then.” Callie sighed. “Honestly I don’t know if I’ll ever be. I know that they’ve moved on, like many of the older deities, and Hekate’s mentioned them a couple of times in such a way that makes me think they were good people… so I can’t work out why I feel the way I do.”

“Fear, Callie, is the thing that’s stopping you. You’re scared enough that you won’t be able to make your parents proud and if you hear about Hades’ parents there will be more people you’ll feel you’ll have to be as good as, if not better.” Lakshmi reached out and squeezed Callie’s hand. “What you need to remember, sweetheart, is that no one is expecting you to be like them. They want you to be you.”

Mirrored from K. A. Webb Writing.

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