I needed to gain control of my thoughts. I couldn’t afford to let my imagination and emotions run away with me. There was no way I was about to let some guy ruin the rest of my vacation. Some wonderful and magnificent guy who made me feel like the most beautiful woman alive. My heart felt like it was going to fall out of my chest and onto the floor. I curled up in the bed and cried. I couldn’t help it, the horrendous sobs escaped from my throat finally. The tears made their precipitous journey to the pillow, leaving behind streaks on my now red face. I didn’t want to feel like that. I didn’t want to cry or feel sorry for myself. I was beginning to look forward to going home, being with my friends and putting this, all of this, behind me.
Could I forget him though? Could I pretend that the newest god of love never existed? My own personal cupid.
The hours passed by quickly. Even when you’re sulking in a luxurious bed in one of the most amazing cities the clock hands continue to tic away. Without even realizing it, I’d spent the entire day in my bed. Mom and Dad were back.
“Cara? Cara, are you awake?” Mom called me.
“Yeah, I’m just relaxing.”
“Honey, what’s wrong?” She sat next to me, the corners of her mouth turned down slightly.
“Nothing,” I lied.
“You were crying,” she insisted.
“No, my eyes were just watering. I’m fine really.” I forced my fakest smile.
“Well get dressed, we’re going to dinner then a small party,” she said, digging through the closet.
“Great,” I mumbled.
“Enough with your pouty pity party! I understand you’re upset about Adrian but for crying out loud we are on vacation! You did what you needed to and now we get to enjoy the rest of our time.”
“You don’t understand. It’s not just about Adrian. It’s all of this. The only reason you brought me here was to fight with the gods, the only reason I was even born was to fight Cronus. Now what? I completed everything I was meant to do in my life by nineteen. What do I do for the rest of eternity?” I cried.
“He’s one boy. You’ll find someone else,” Dad said.
“Find somebody else? How many other immortal men do you know, Dad?”
“Well…” his voice just trailed off.
“Exactly. None.”
“You don’t need a man to be happy, honey,” Mom tried to soothe me.
I took a deep breath and tried to calm down, “Mom, Dad, he’s not just some boy. It’s not about me needing or not needing him. I love him. Yes, yes I’m still young and I have my entire life ahead of me, all of eternity. We were made for each other, granted he’s three hundred years old, but love and hate. Two beings that are supposed to be complete opposites aren’t.”
“I guess there is no reasoning with you.”
“Reasoning? What is there to reason with? What if someone told you that you couldn’t be with Dad? Or what if he completely blew you off and became an uber dick?”
“Your father is not a dick,” Mom whispered the last word as if it were disgusting.
“I’m not saying he is mom, but what if he was?”
“Let’s just get ready and go to dinner,” Dad interrupted.
“Yeah let’s go. Where are we going?”
“We’re going to the Acropolis Secret.”
“Wonderful. I’ll be ready in ten.” I turned and went to the wardrobe and dug through my dresses.
I picked out a shorter blue dress. It was a chiffon crisscross halter that I had found on sale. I liked it mainly for the bit of skin it showed below the chest and the rhinestone details. I grabbed my blue, leather sling backs and put my hair in a clip. Mom smiled and put a shawl around my shoulders. She hated when I showed so much skin. Our cab ride to the restaurant was rather short and it did have an amazing view of the acropolis. Everywhere around here seemed to have an amazing view of the place. I didn’t mind this time. Dad ordered a bottle of wine and we sat there, doing what he had done every night since we arrived. We drank the wine, picked at our food and talked.
“Are you going to the charity gala when we get back?” Mom asked.
“What?”
“You know the charity gala. The big event that your father and his partners participate in for the hospital every year.”
“Oh yeah. I forgot about it. Yeah, I guess I’ll go. I’m sure Brandy already bought my ticket.” I smiled, I really missed her.
“Do you want to buy your dress and shoes while we’re here?” Dad asked.
That perked me up. “Really?”
“Sure, why not.”
“Yeah, that’d be great.”
We finished our dinner and got up to leave. As we walked through the dining room I saw something that made me want to scream. Adrian was sitting there, with a girl. She was incredible. Her flawless, tanned skin shone beautifully in the light. The tight, form fitting green dress accentuated her slender body in all the right places and her poker straight black hair hung around her shoulders like silk. I couldn’t compete with that. She saw me staring at her and him. She reached across the table and lightly touched his arm. He smiled, looked up, and met my gaze. I couldn’t even cry. I was in utter shock. My heart was breaking even worse.
“Oh honey, I’m so sorry.” Mom put her arm around my shoulders and ushered me to the door.
“Cara! Cara, wait,” he called after me.
I spun around and looked at him, the anger burning in me. “Don’t. There’s nothing more you can say or do to me Adrian. I get it okay. You were just doing your job. Getting me to trust you enough to save your asses. Well, you did your job beautifully. Now, just leave me alone. Go back to your girlfriend and just, leave me be. Don’t talk to me. Don’t look for me and just stay out of my life.”
“It’s not like that, Cara.”
“Shut up, Adrian. I don’t want to hear it. You could have at least told me the truth. I really fell for you. I went to Zeus and fought with him. For us! At least I thought there was an us. I’m done. I leave to go home in a few days, just leave me alone alright. After we leave you won’t have to see me again.” I was trying to keep my head; I didn’t know how much longer I could.
“What about when you come to Olympus,” he asked snidely.
“I’ll send a schedule so you know when to be with her,” I snapped.
I turned back to the elevator and got on. I watched as he stood there, staring at me while the doors slid shut.
“I can get any dress I want?” I asked my parents without looking at them.
“Yes,” Mom whispered.
“Any shoes I want?”
“Yes, and any jewelry,” Dad replied.
I nodded my head. At least I would look amazing for the gala. Even if I was going alone. No, I wouldn’t be alone. I would be with my friends; my friends who would be with their boyfriends and girlfriends while I tagged along.
What am I supposed to do once eternity comes? When everyone I know is gone? I can’t avoid Olympus forever. I’ll have to eventually see him again. Can I? Can I handle seeing him again?
The thought alone brought on a fresh wave of anger and sadness.
“Do you just want to go back to the room?”
“No, let’s go to the party. Where is it?”
“In one of the ballrooms back at the hotel.”
“Let’s go have fun.” I smiled.
The party was the beginning of tourist season dance for the hotel. I did have fun. There was music, hors d’oeuvres and wine.
“Cara?”
“Adrian?”
“No.”
“Adronis, what do you want?” I asked curtly.
“I, um, I’m sorry.”
“Why?”
“For what Adrian is doing. Don’t be hard on him. He’s only doing this because he thinks it’s best for you.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Don’t stay angry. Please.”
I just turned and left. I said good night to my parents and returned to the roo
m. Once in I quickly put on my shorts and t-shirt. The bed was looking better and better. The only solace I had was that my parents were going to spoil me with a shopping spree. I might have my heart broken but I would get a fabulous gown out of it and shoes. I climbed under the blankets and hugged my extra pillow; I let the pain set in. The tears soaked into the white linen. Mom and Dad came up a few minutes later. She kissed my forehead and lay down next to me. She always knew when I needed her.
“It’s okay to cry.”
And I did.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
We left the hotel after lunch. I had heard a lot of things about Ermou Street and a few others. I quickly jumped out of the cab and started going into the stores. After a few hours I hadn’t found anything I really liked and was getting upset.
“I’m not going to find anything.” I sighed while getting into another cab.
“What you are looking for?” the cabbie asked with a heavy Greek accent.
“Dresses.”
“Lots of dresses around,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Not the kind I’m looking for.”
“What kind? I will take you where you can find a beautiful dress,” he said with a smile.
“Well, when we go back home we have the gala to go to, and I need a dress.”
“Gala. The really big, important to my practice charity event?”
“Yeah, one and the same,” I laughed.
“I know the perfect store. You trust me; I will get you to a good store.”
“Sounds good to me.”
The cabbie sped through the streets and around the other cars. It was a short jaunt. The street sign read Korai. The driver stopped in front of a store and in the window I saw some of the most beautiful gowns.
“Perfect!” I squealed.
“I knew you’d be happy,” he smiled.
“Thank you,” Mom said.
Dad paid him and we strolled into the magnificent building. I was in awe. The dresses were so beautiful. A woman stood behind the counter watching us for a few minutes.
“English?” she asked tentatively.
“American.”
“Ahh, okay. What are you shopping for?” she asked with a big smile on her face.
“When we go back home, I have to go to a formal charity event. I would love to get my dress while in Greece.”
“Wonderful. Well, as you can see, Jovani has some of the most beautiful dresses,” she replied.
“Jovani?”
“A fairly popular fashion designer.”
“Oh, okay. Yeah they are really something else, but this is a costumed event. I don’t even know if you would have anything.”
“Do you know what you want?” she asked, browsing through one of the racks examining each article of clothing while looking at me.
“No idea. It does have to be period style though. What do you suggest?”
Her smile widened. “Actually we do have some that may interest you. Let’s see, curly brown hair, porcelain skin, beautiful green eyes, and a size two.”
“Four, actually.”
“Hmm, I never would have guessed.”
She turned back to the rack, snapped her fingers which caused another woman to appear from nowhere and began draping dresses over the woman’s arms. As she moved through the store picking out dresses and putting them back, the pile grew and grew. She led me to the back of the store where there was a dressing room. She ushered me in and hung all the dresses up.
“Take your time and make sure to model them for us.”
The first dress I picked off the hanger was a very soft royal blue fabric. The front hung loosely at the neck and the back scooped down to the bottom of my tailbone with a gold chain detail that outlined the open back. I looked amazing, but I knew Mom wouldn’t like the back. I stepped out of the dressing room and mom gasped. I did a spin and I heard her shocked gasp.
“What is that?” Dad asked.
“A dress, yes the back is open and yes it shows skin. I like it.”
Mom pursed her lips and stood, looking over me. “You look so beautiful. Put it in the yes pile.”
“What did you say, Calista?”
“She’s a young woman. She’s done some amazing things lately, I think showing some skin isn’t going to hurt anything.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
“It’s not, period,” Dad said.
“Then she can have it just to have it.”
I hurried back into the dressing room and put the dress onto my yes pile. The next dress was a bit more modest, but equally beautiful. It was a different shade of blue, but made of satin. The sleeves hung off the shoulders and reached to my wrists. The bodice laced up the back and the skirt poofed with all the petticoats. Another yes. I went through a few more gowns, a few were a strange floral print, a few animal prints, they were no’s. I didn’t like them at all. I was losing hope when I came to the white and gold gown. There were silver embellishments all over the bodice which looked like it would create amazing cleavage. I slipped it on and automatically knew it was another yes. Another Victorian era gown was in the pile. It was an iridescent bluish, green color with a gold beaded bust. It wasn’t nearly as nice as the others but still got an okay. The final gown that I fell in love with was also gold and white. My eyes widened when I held it up in front of me.
Oh my.
The sleeves hung off my shoulders and flared at the wrist. A beautiful crimson red fabric hung below the white sleeves. The bodice was adorned in rubies and the skirt had the same pattern in the front but the back was a remarkable gold. I slid into it and stared in awe. I loved it. There was no way it would be a no. I stood in the dressing room with my yes dresses spread around me. It was such a difficult decision. I know it was only a dress but looking amazing with the perfect dress would help. It would make me feel a bit better. I threw open the dressing room door and brought out all the dresses.
“Help,” I said.
“With what?” Dad asked.
“Picking out a dress.”
“Just pick one.”
“It’s not that easy,” Mom said.
Mom and the saleswoman walked from dress to dress.
“Okay so no blue shouldered and no iridescent.” I took the two dresses down and put them on the return rack.
I looked over the remaining gowns. I picked them up one at a time and put them back. I put the backless blue gown back on the rack and continued to stare.
“Not the blue one?” The saleswoman looked disappointed.
“Out of all of those, I like it the least. It is beautiful though,” I said.
“So which of the remaining three will you pick?” Dad asked.
I could tell he was getting tired and annoyed. He was never a big shopping fan. I held up the remaining gowns, switching them back and forth in front of my body. “I like the feel of the satin but the gold and white one made me feel like a princess.
“So which one?” Mom asked anxiously.
I smiled and held up the white and gold one.
“Wonderful!”
“Jewelry now!” I squealed.
They all just laughed.
“Right this way.”
The small glass counters held exquisite sparkling necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. Dad sighed and plopped down on the closest chair while we browsed. After an hour we left the store, bags in hand. We continued our walk down the street looking for a shoe store. I got in luck three doors down. It didn’t take us long in the store, and as we were leaving I saw him standing across the street staring at me. I walked to the edge of the sidewalk and waited as a truck rambled past. He wasn’t there anymore.
“Cara? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Mom. I just thought I saw something.”
“Oh. Come on, Dad has the cab waiting. Let’s go get some dinner.” She said, grabbing my hand.
“Okay,” I said, looking up and down the street.
Was I imagining things? I did see Adrian standing there didn’t
I? If he had been standing there, where did he go?
I slid into the cab, staring at the alcove. It was still empty. We stopped at a small café in Syntagma Square for dinner. We watched people walk past us and kids running around. I would miss Greece for a while. I wouldn’t be gone forever though. I would eventually be living here. There was no way I’d be able to stay near home once my friends and family were gone. I pushed my steak around my plate and picked at my vegetables.
“You have to eat more,” Mom said, pushing my plate closer.
“I eat fine.”
“You hardly eat.”
“She eats, babe. Let her be,” Dad said not even looking up from his own steak.
“Look how skinny she is,” Mom whined.
“If I remember correctly you were that skinny in college, too, and you’re only two sizes bigger than she is. So you really have no room to talk.”
“She’s skin and bones,” Mom pouted.
“I’m healthy, Mom,” I took a big chunk of steak and shoved it in my mouth, making a production out of my chewing.
We finished up and began our trek back to the hotel. We didn’t have far to go, just across the square. Adrian and Adronis were standing out front. I pursed my lips, held my head high and walked between them with all my bags. I could feel Adrian’s eyes borrowing into the back of my head. I didn’t turn to look at him. The elevator had just opened when we got inside and we managed to squeeze in. That was the last time I saw him while in Greece. I don’t know if he checked out or not, but he did as I asked and finally left me alone.
Chapter Thirty
I sighed with relief at the sight of our house. It was a welcoming comfort. I waited for dad to finish unloading our luggage before I went inside. I plopped onto my bed. The soft mattress felt relaxing against my stiff muscles. I let the down comforter swallow me whole as I drifted off to sleep. Sometime later I woke to somebody calling out to me.
“Cara!” the voice called. It was distant, too far away to know who it was.
“Mmm…” I muttered.
“Cara!”
I opened my eyes and lay in the bed waiting for the voice again.
“Cara! Where are you?”
I sat up and looked around. Nobody was in the room with me. I slid out of bed and made my way to the window. All I saw was darkness. My neighbor’s house was covered in shadows, the woods beyond were a mass of black.
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