Little Greek Gods

By Fran Shaff

Monsters, thieves, birds who shoot deadly feathers like arrows at their victims... These are the some of the hazards seven little children must face if they want to become the great Greek gods they were before their father Zeus turned them into human children. Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes, Ares, Hephaestus, Athena and Artemis will do whatever is necessary to return to Olympus as great gods again.

Coffee Time Reviews: Little Greek Gods is a poignant story that is not only incredibly well written, but makes the reader actually feel the emotions the children endure while on their adventure...I believe Fran Shaff composes a truly extraordinary story that captures the heart and captivates the soul. This story is a pure delight in every way.

Excerpt:

Setup: The children are arguing while they’re packing up their campsite.

The sounds of his brothers and sisters whining and arguing loomed so loudly over the campsite, that Apollo could hear nothing else.

“Looks like we’ve come across some very valuable merchandise,” a gruff voice bellowed over the bustle of activity.

The unexpected roar of the rough voice so startled the little gods that they immediately stopped what they were doing and spun toward the intruders.

“Merchandise?” Apollo said, repeating the key word the larger of the two strangers had used. He scowled at them and lifted his hands. “We haven’t any merchandise. We’re poor wayfarers, mere children. We have nothing of value, I assure you.”

The big man tugged at his scraggly gray and brown beard. He grinned at his shorter partner, his green eyes sparkling mischievously. “Did you hear that Flavio? They’re poor wayfarers. They claim they don’t have anything worth stealing.”

Flavio laughed, exposing a partial set of yellow teeth. “They ought to bring a good price on the block, don’t you think, Platomio?”

The large thief nodded. “A few of them might, but this girl’s a little scrawny,” Platomio said, taking hold of Artemis’ arm. “She may not be worth more than the price of a hearty breakfast.” He twisted her arm behind her until she cried out. “You should have eaten better, girl. I don’t know if it’d even be worth the trouble to haul you to auction in your skinny condition.”

Apollo pounced on the nasty, big man who was tormenting little Artemis. “Leave her alone!”

Flavio easily yanked Apollo away from his partner.

Within seconds Apollo found himself bound at the wrists. “You won’t get away with this!” he said, his words being his only means of retaliation.

Platomio stepped toe to toe with him. He gazed down at the boy and grinned, exposing gaps where teeth used to be. “Oh?” he said. “Who, pray tell, is going to stop us?”

Apollo looked down at the ground below him, and, for the first time in his life, he realized he was completely helpless.

“Tie up the whole lot of them,” Platomio told Flavio, “and see to it they’re linked together. They’ll be easier to manage if they’re connected to one another.”

Within moments Flavio had completed his task. The children were tied together, completely helpless and at the mercy of ruthless bandits who apparently intended to sell them into slavery.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fran Shaff
• Release date: Nov 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310257636

Fran Shaff

Just about all of us want to get away from the demands of everyday life from time to time. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the luxury of being able to take off to some new, exciting place whenever we feel the urge--unless we like to read.A book can take us anywhere we’d like to go. For readers who enjoy living vicariously in pastimes or in modern times Fran Shaff provides a great escape in the more than twenty novels she’s published over the years. Fran’s fictional books have won awards from readers, reviewers and fellow authors, and her non-fiction has been acknowledged in this way too.Love is the main focus of all of Fran’s books, whether they’re contemporary or historical, serious or humorous, written for adults or teens. Love between men and women and among friends and families is featured in her books because there is nothing most of us want more than to love and be loved. Happy endings abound, but the journey to reaching that joyful final moment is always a rocky struggle, just the way we want our fiction (even though we could do without the drama in our real lives).Look for new, full-length historical romance novels from Fran Shaff in the ten-book “Tender Mysteries Series,” available now and debuting throughout 2013 and 2014. The first novel in the series “Resurrected” is available as a free download at most Internet bookstores. The series is available in single e-book and two-pack paperback formats.Reviewers say:“Ms. Shaff is a gifted writer that always delivers in her stories.” (The Romance Studio)“I have discovered a great new author in Fran Shaff. She writes with depth and understanding and digs deep into the emotional lives of her characters bringing the reader with her all the way.” (A Romance Review)“Fran Shaff is a wonderful writer whose prose speak with passion from her heart.” (Fallen Angel Reviews)“Ms. Shaff writes about characters that warm your heart and give you a good chuckle as well.” (Coffee Time Romance)

Book preview

LITTLE GREEK GODS

By Fran Shaff

Engaging Fiction for Young People

Little Greek Gods by Fran Shaff

All Rights Reserved

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013 by Fran Shaff

Characters, names and incidents used in this book are products of the imagination of the author and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the author.

Discover Fran Shaff Books and short stories available in e-format, paperback and hardcover by visiting her website at: http://sites.google.com/site/fshaff

E-mail Fran Shaff at: [e-mail]

This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dedication

Dedicated to the One True God Who has given people imaginations creative enough to devise wonderful stories for our enjoyment

Introduction

Today most people are monotheists, meaning they believe there is only one God, but centuries ago some cultures thought there were many gods.

The ancient Greeks who were polytheists, believers in many gods, created some wonderful stories about the gods they worshipped. In these delightful and often frightful tales, the gods of the ancient Greeks sometimes looked and acted like human beings.

A dozen of the gods, whom the Greeks believed lived on Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece, were called the Twelve Great Olympians. The first five of the Great Olympians were: Zeus, the supreme ruler, Poseidon, Zeus’ brother and God of the Sea, Hades, another of Zeus’ brothers who ruled over the dead, Hestia, Zeus’ sister and Goddess of Hearth and Home, and Hera, Zeus’ wife and the protector of marriage and married women.

The remaining seven Great Olympians were all children of Zeus.

Apollo, said to be the most Greek of all gods, had long, curly black hair. He was handsome and strong. Known as the God of Truth and Light, he was also the God of Music and Poetry. He played both the lyre, a stringed instrument of the harp family, and the flute. He was skilled in archery, and he used a silver bow.

Along with his twin sister Artemis, Apollo killed a dragon on the day they were born. He was known as a warrior god, but one of his main tasks was to help humans make peace with the gods.

The powers to heal and to see into the future were two of Apollo’s greatest assets. His sacred plant was the laurel, an evergreen tree with fragrant leaves. The dolphin, crow and wolf were among his favorite animals. Known as a herdsman, Apollo also worked with cattle.

Gray-eyed Athena was born fully grown when she sprang from the head of Zeus. She was her father’s favorite among his children, and she was allowed to carry his thunderbolts. She wore the aegis, a goatskin shield with a Gorgon-head and fringe of snakes, and carried a spear. Known as the Goddess of Warfare, her warring nature was that of defensive war. She fought to protect home and city. Nike, the Goddess of Victory, was associated with her.

Goddess of Wisdom, Goddess of the City and Protector of Civilized Life, Handicrafts and Agriculture, Athena also presided over philosophy, literature and the arts. She was the patroness of spinning, weaving and embroidery.

Athena invented the war chariot and the bridle. She tamed horses for human use. The owl was her sacred bird. Also special to her were the olive tree and the city of Athens.

Hephaestus, God of Fire, protector of smiths, patron of handicrafts, art and agriculture, was lame and ugly. As God of Metals and Metallurgy, the science of extracting metal from ores and making useful objects from them, Hephaestus could make anything. Volcanoes were his workshops. The Cyclopes, giants with a single eye in the middle of their foreheads, assisted Hephaestus in his workshop. The God of Fire also created handmaidens of gold to help him with his work.

Known as blacksmith for the gods, Hephaestus made the gods’ dwellings and furnishings as well as their weapons.

Hephaestus was usually a kindly and peace-loving god who was important to cities.

Ares wanted war and vengeance. The God of War was both ruthless and cowardly. When he was wounded in a battle he would let out one of his whining, hideous screams and head straight back to Olympus. Ares was tall, strong, handsome and always ready to kill. He wore a helmet and a leather shield and carried a bronze spear.

Though he didn’t have a distinct personality, he was disliked by both his parents, Zeus and Hera, and often he was at odds with his sister Athena. The Greeks didn’t hold him in high regard either. His favorite animals were vultures and dogs.

Aphrodite, the sweet-smiling daughter of Zeus, is said to have sprung from the foam of the sea. The irresistible Goddess of Love and Beauty could charm gods and men alike.

Without the laughter-loving goddess who moved in glowing light, there was no joy or loveliness anywhere. Aphrodite was soft and weak, but when she got angry she could be very mean.

The Greek Islands of Cyprus and Cythera were sacred to the Goddess of Love. Her tree was the myrtle, a shrub having pink or white flowers and black berries. The dove was her bird, but swans and geese were also associated with her.

On the day Artemis was born, she helped her mother give birth to her twin brother Apollo. Together the two new-born siblings killed a dragon who was trying to hurt their mother. From the beginning, Artemis was known as a protector of women. The Goddess of the Moon also watched over young people. As Goddess of the Hunt, she protected young animals too.

The weapon Artemis chose was the bow, and she used golden arrows. The cypress, an evergreen, was her tree. All wild animals, especially the deer, were sacred to her. Artemis was held in high esteem by the people in wild and mountainous areas of Greece.

At the age of twelve or thirteen, Greek children became young adults. As a symbol of the end of their childhood, the young people would dedicate their toys to Artemis, the protector of youth.

Best Known as the Messenger God, Hermes was also the God of Commerce and Market as well as the God of Flight. He protected traders and travelers. His likeness rested in the form of a statue called a herm in many Greek homes. The herm protected the house from evil spirits.

Hermes wore sandals with wings and could move as fast as thought. He acted both as Zeus’ personal messenger and as guide to the spirits of the dead as they traveled to the Underworld.

The clever, inventive and cunning Hermes was also known as the Master Thief. On the day he was born, he stole a herd of cattle from his brother Apollo. When Apollo caught up with Hermes, he ordered that his herd be returned. Then he saw and heard the sound of the lyre, a stringed instrument the Messenger God had just invented from a tortoise shell. Apollo loved the music of the instrument so much he let Hermes keep the cattle in exchange for the lyre.

The Greeks had many gods besides these Twelve Great Olympians, but the focus of the story to follow is on Zeus and his seven children, Apollo, Athena, Hermes, Artemis, Hephaestus, Ares and Aphrodite.

Chapter One

Thrown From Thrones

Apollo’s dark eyes grew as large as the sun. He blinked in disbelief as he glanced at his small arms and rubbed them with his hands. He did it! he shouted.

Hermes gave his big brother a frightened look. What happened to us, Apollo? Why are we so small?

Shock coursed through Apollo’s body as he realized precisely what had happened. Our father has changed us into human children.

But I’ve never been a child in my life, Athena said, jerking her chin in proud defiance. You know very well I was born fully grown. How could I possibly become a child now?

Artemis giggled and spun in a circle. I like it.

Athena glared at her little sister. Leave it to you, Goddess of Youth, to enjoy being a child. After all, you’ve been one all your life. She folded her arms and narrowed her gray eyes. "Just what are the rest of us supposed to do? We can’t be children. I can’t be a child. I wouldn’t know how to begin to be a little girl."

Small Artemis tugged on Athena’s pink chiton and smiled up at her. "I’ll teach you to be a child. It isn’t very hard, and it is very fun."

Fun? A roaring voice thundered behind them. It isn’t fun; it’s war. Zeus has called us to battle. Ares released a scream that sounded like death itself. We’ll overpower our father and throw him from Olympus just as he’s done to us. We’ll send him to his brother Hades or worse. As he paused to ponder what he might do to Zeus a sinister look settled into his features. We’ll send him to Tartarus, deep in the bowels of the earth, the worst place in the universe, the place where Zeus himself imprisons his enemies forever.

Send our father to Tartarus? Hephaestus asked, stepping toward Ares. I agree he must be punished for what he’s done to us, but I think we can find a more merciful way to avenge Zeus’s mistreatment of us. After all, he is our father.

Apollo stood between Ares and Hephaestus. Brothers, we must not spend our time quarreling about the fate of our father now, he said, trying to bring reason to the upsetting situation he and his siblings were in. Before we do anything else we’ve got to find our way out of our human forms and back to our greatness on Olympus. He turned to Hermes. Can you take a message to Zeus?

The messenger god clicked his feet together, shooting wings from the sides of his sandals. At once, Apollo. What would you like me to tell him?

Tell him to change us back to the gods we were before he cast us out of Olympus, Athena shouted.

No! Artemis protested. She smiled at Hermes. Thank him for turning us into children. As she joyfully spun in a circle, her long, black hair danced around her shoulders. It’s the most wonderful thing that’s ever happened to us.

You tell that ogre if it’s war he wants, Ares growled through gritted teeth, "it’s war he’ll get.

Not war, but he will pay for what he’s done, Hephaestus said. Tell him that.

Hephaestus and Athena are both right, Aphrodite said gently. I don’t want to fight my father, but I don’t intend to stay in this childish state. She tossed her silky, blonde locks over her shoulders and straightened her graceful stance. It’s impossible for me to be courted as long as I’m a child. I’m the Goddess of Love and Beauty, and I must have suitors. Tell Zeus to restore us to Olympus at once. It’s the decent thing to do.

Apollo, Hermes said, what do you want me to tell Zeus?

As Apollo carefully eyed each of his siblings he noticed only Artemis and Hermes seemed to be at peace. His other four siblings displayed signs of every emotion from anger to hate.

He wasn’t exactly sure how he should convey his message that they wanted to return to Olympus in all their glory, but somehow he had to make their desire known--and he had to do it in a way that wouldn’t upset any of his siblings any further.

Tell Zeus, Apollo said slowly as he looked at Hermes, tell him…he should know that we--

Lightning flashed brighter than the sun in the clear sky above. Thunder shook the trees in the meadow around them. The ground trembled, and a voice as loud as a screaming eagle bellowed, I’ve heard everything you’ve said.

Apollo knew at once Zeus was talking to them even though he couldn’t see him.

Stop your whining and complaining immediately! Zeus ordered. Be silent, and I’ll tell you why I’ve changed you into mortal children.

When Apollo looked at his siblings he saw that each of them was looking upwards and trying to speak, but no sounds came from their moving lips.

It appeared their father had made sure he’d have their full attention by rendering them speechless.

You’ve grown gluttonous with an unquenchable thirst for power. You’re selfish, and you harbor thoughts of taking over my position as the greatest of the gods, Zeus said in his overwhelming voice. You think only of yourselves and your power!

The disdain laced within his words shook the clear skies like thunder, causing the former formidable gods to tremble like the human children they now were.

I have sent you to Crete, the island where I was raised in secret, so you could learn what you need to know to find your path back to Olympus. When you have earned the restoration of your powers, I will return all of you to your previous greatness.

Apollo saw Ares shake his fist at the sky, but his moving lips remained silent. He didn’t have to hear his brother, though, to understand what Ares was likely trying to say.

For now, Zeus continued in his thunderous voice, you will live like mortal children. You’ll hunger and thirst and work as they do. You’ll learn and fight and fear.

Apollo looked at Athena. Her arms were reaching for the sky, and he saw her lips utter two unheard words, But, Father…

Thunder struck again just before Zeus spoke. Though you are now stripped of most of your powers, I do leave you with these abilities which you can use on your journey.

Journey? Apollo thought. It seemed more like they’d been unjustly condemned to a world of suffering than that they’d been sent on a journey.

"Hermes, you will keep your ability to move as fast as thought so that you may carry messages for your brothers and sisters.

"Apollo, you will no longer be able to see into the future, but you will retain your power to heal. However, you will be able to use your healing ability only once while you are here.