Charmed Destiny (The Charming Series Book 2)

by Dee King

  “Your mother and I will be leaving first and then you will leave.

  Remember, tonight is the first test, I know you can do this.” He gives me a thumbs up sign, and the door opens as he waves his hand in front of it.

  Outside you can see mythical beings lining our walkway, bowing as my father and mother take the walk down the path lit up with red solar lights.

  It was dark outside and I still had my shades on. They weren't coming off till the moment was right. The door closes as my father waves his hand in the air. I hate it when he does that. It almost hit me in the face. Show off.

  “Sir, your ride is here.” Another servant tells us.

  “Thank you.”

  There was no time to tell him to stop calling me that because I waved my hand over the door and it slowly creeped open. Zack and Ian were in front of me standing tall as statues with matching white suits on except for one

  small detail. Zack wasn't wearing Converse like Ian always did; he was wearing white skater punk shoes. They were so much alike and really never knew. I wave my hand in the air just as my dad did, and the door

  shuts. Showing off was something typical in my family, I just liked being the one to do it better. The crowds of people were clapping, and I could hear whispers among them. All the while, I smiled, staring straight

  ahead. Show no mercy, show no weakness. I am the son of the god of the underworld. It was expected of me. When the door to the carriage opened, I feel like I'm in a Disney fairy tale. I had forgotten how everything is so

  old school here. Of course, Pegasus fly the carriage, but still. The Pegasus fly together in unison, looking down you can see everyone waving, and watching us. Tonight was a night many of us were looking forward to,

  they just don't know to what magnitude this would be.

  “Remember, keep calm. Smile at everyone, arrogance will be on your side tonight. Remember that.” Zack tells me, just before the black carriage door opens.

  “Yea, yea, yea. I know.” I smile at him.

  Zack steps out first and you can already hear the crowd clapping. Not everyone was invited to these kinds of things, so it's kind of like a Hollywood premiere. There are creatures, servants, other gods and goddess' watching who was coming out of the carriage next. Ian stepped

  out next, and I can see him waving already. He eats this stuff up. In fact, for a long time, I believed he was only my friend for the shear attention alone, but he was just that kind of guy. Zack moved to one side, as Ian moved to the other. This was my time. Deep breath, I can do this.

  “Introducing Sebastian Andreas, son of Hades and Persephone.” I hear a loud booming voice say.

  I step out of the carriage to a crowd of roaring fans. I smile and wave at many of them as I walk the gold carpet laid out in front of me. This was ridiculous. We are gods but here we are just like them. Well, at least that's

  how I felt, but I knew my father wouldn't approve if I treated everyone equal. One day I would, and that would change everything. My heart stops. I see her.

  She is standing between Iris and London.

  Selene is wearing a flowing blue gown that touched the ground, her hair pinned up with gold specks glistening in the lights, and a gold leaf headband wrapped through her hair. Stunning wasn't even the word that came to my mind. Goddess was the only thing I could think of. She turned around and faced me, her blue eyes melting me away. I wanted so badly to go to her, kiss her perfect pink lips, and never let her go, but I had to control myself.

  “Sebastian.” She says in a quiet voice.

  “Selene.” I can't help but stare at her.

  “You look stunning.”

  “Thank you, kind sir, so do you.” She slightly grabbed my tie, letting it fall back onto my chest. I can see her lip twitch just a little almost forming a smile.

  “This way Sir.” Someone was talking to me, but I didn't want to go.

  “I will see you soon.”

  “Yes, you will.” She winked at me and I almost tripped over the carpet.

  That girl makes me lose my cool every time she looks at me. Gods, she looked like a piece of cake and I wanted to eat her. Okay, bad metaphor, but she looked amazing and I just didn't want to leave her side. Zack and Ian made sure sat at the right table. All the while, I watched where Selene was walking. She looked as if she were floating amongst us. Graceful, elegant, and everything a goddess should be. She was seated beside Colin on one side of her, and Alex on the other. I didn't even realize that Cato

  had sat down beside me.

  “This is awkward.” Ian leans over me, pointing to Cato.

  “No, just let it go. Just watch Selene. She is the one we are protecting.”

  “When aren't we?” Ian laughed and sat back in his chair.

  I hadn't taken off my sunglasses yet, and no one could see where my eyes were. My head was facing towards Cato, but my eyes were on Selene. I watched her, watching me, nervous. She didn't make eye contact with Alex, and Colin was too busy entertaining the others at the table. My table was closest to the council's table, and Selene's was on the opposite side of it. We faced each other, but there was no easy way to get to her. Alex nodded in my direction, but when I glanced over my shoulder, he was

  actually nodding at Ian. Ian stiffened up.

  “Friends?”

  “No.. that won't happen.”

  “You keep telling yourself that.” I laugh, leaning back in my chair, trying to relax.

  Deciding this was as good a time as any, I pat Cato on the back. He whips his head around fast.

  “What's up brother?” I say in a cold, joking matter.

  “Sebastian... I was going to tell you...”

  “Save it. I could care less.” I stop him before he could finish his sentence.

  “You know I'm on your side, right?” He is looking me square in the eyes.

  “You know what I know, is that I don't trust you. And if you ever lay a hand on Selene again I promise, brother, that will be the last time.” My tone and voice stay hushed.

  “Sebastian... I...”

  “Just save it till after dinner.” I put my hand up in front of his face and move my body close to the table, leaning so close to Cato that he could feel my every breath.

  “None of this shit means anything to me. I'm sorry dear old dad decided to keep you a secret. That's on him, not me. I'm sorry that you tried to come in between me and the girl I love, but if you even think that in some way

  you’re going to get back at me for their mistakes then you have sadly underestimated me.”

  “No, Sebastian, I haven't underestimated you. I just thought Selene would be the one to bring us together, and she did.” He waves at her.

  I almost punch him in the face for that little stunt, but I refrain.

  “That was your last warning. I don't know what you’re doing, but I promised you, and I don't make idle threats.” I sat back, feeling confident.

  “Never thought you did. I'm counting on that.” Cato leaned over into my shoulder.

  “And I'm counting on you little brother. We all have an end goal, so let's just make that happen shall we.”

  Confused, I just glare at him through my sunglasses. Keeping a close eye on Selene who is now smiling at whatever Alex is saying, which is making my blood begins to boil. Who do we trust, who do we know is truly on our side. My brother who sits beside me, Alex who has been my arch enemy since we were on Earth, or my father, who has obviously lied to me my entire life. Decisions, decisions, and soon we shall all find out where the true alliance ends and begins.

  Chapter Twelve

  She's worth the fight

  Everyone was now sitting, talking amongst themselves. You could hear laughter, glasses clinking together, and every so often, you could look around and see others watching you. Fake smiles, real smiles, and clueless

  smiles everywhere. The horns are blown and everyone stands to their feet to praise the council. The group of us, sounding louder than the people outside had.<
br />
  It's a rite of passage. Or what I like to call an ego trip.

  First in was Athena, looking like a badass chick. She is wearing a dark brown and gold sequin dress with a slit cut up the side to her thigh. Next was Aries, waving to us, wearing all white with his hair dipped in shimmers of gold. After Aries was Aphrodite, wearing a pale pink very

  short gown, her daughters beaming with beauty as their mother takes her seat beside Aries. Hera was after Aphrodite, Alex's mother, whom he looks nothing like. But unlike usual, was not Zeus, it was my father. The

  crowd starts losing their minds. Dad, right on cue, winks at a table of creatures, what most would call faeries. Then was Poseidon, who was wearing a blue tuxedo, with his hair fixed. Colin was cheering the loudest, as his father waved to all of us. Then he came in. Zeus smiled his cheesy smile at everyone. He looked like he was cut out of cream cheese. He has a perfectly structured body, perfect hair, and a dark colored suit. When

  they all sat down, we were able to sit. That's when I noticed Alex’s arm around Selene's waist, her head tilted back with a laugh. Ian grabbed ahold of my shoulder.

  “She is just playing the game.” I released my palms from the torture I had just clinched them in, as he whispered to me.

  The servants begin bringing in plates, more plates, and then even more plates of food. Bowing after each table had been served massive amounts of food. Leaning forward, I decide to see who Cato had brought as a

  protector. Maddox's brother? Why in the hell would Maddox's brother be his protector? Maddox must be furious, probably not as much as Colin must be. Harper was the love of Iris's life at one point. I wasn't for sure

  what this plan was, but for a moment, it made me smile. Good for Cato, going all out of bounds. We may be related after all. The food was piled on, handed down by each one of us to the next, where a servant would

  take the food back around the front of the table after each of us had been served. Wine was flowing in glasses and I even saw what looked like to be soda. That was weird. We never had anything but wine or water. I wonder how that was served. Alex. That was how. He had an addiction to the stuff on Earth. That's just amazing how he can get anything he wants. Just not the one thing he truly desires. I search for Cali among the tables; she was the only one I hadn't found. Then I see her. Wearing a dress matching her mother's, she was seated among our old friends from the mount. She looked gorgeous, and she was taking every advantage of that. Cali saw me staring at her, and then waved to me, smiling that stupid smile. I nodded to her, still not removing my sunglasses. This was better than having x-ray vision. No one could see what I was looking at or when.

  Of course, most think I am doing this for the arrogance factor that I am portrayed to have, but it was for me to be able to spy on others through tinted glasses. What's that phrase? Don't look at things through rose-colored glasses? I would tell those people to try it; it may make things

  more clear.

  “Welcome, welcome. We are all happy to have all of our loved ones’ home. May we all raise our glasses in their honor.” Zeus is now standing at the table, his voice roaring through the now quieted crowd.

  Everyone raised their glasses with him, and said, “Here, here!” This was so stupid.

  When I was a kid, I always thought this was lame, that it was the way that we could all keep patting the big dogs, gods and goddess', on the back. Rolling my eyes, I hear someone inside my head.

  Sebastian.

  What?

  Watch to your left, the servant is eyeballing you, and no it's not a chick.

  I look to my left and I see a male servant, who stands taller than most, watching my every move.

  Thanks.

  No problem, bro.

  Cato glances at me, then back to Zeus who is still rambling on about how we are all so glad everyone is home, and had decided that this was where

  they belonged. Something about after the dinner he had something to show everyone, and he hoped they enjoyed all of his hard work. Yea, right. That God hasn't done anything that didn't have something in it for him. Vanity

  was real, and he was the God of it. Still watching my left, and watching Selene, I then heard my name. Shit, I wasn't paying attention.

  “Sebastian, please stand. We are glad to have the son of Hades home, don't be shy.” Zeus is pretty much shouting at me.

  I stand to my feet, pushing the chair back, and standing taller than I ever have.

  “Please, say a few words.” Zeus is still holding his glass in his hand. I look around, so are the others.

  “Thank you, all father, Zeus. I am glad to be home and I am very excited to see what the future holds.”

  There, back at you ass hole.

  “True, true, and we are glad to have you home. Thank you Sebastian.” He moves his head up and down, I take a small bow, and then proceed to sit down.

  “Selene Athans, only daughter of Poseidon, please stand.”

  This was his plan. To show everyone who we were and let them know he was still running the game. Selene stands up from the table, her glass shaking as her hand tries to settle itself, as she sits it back down on the table.

  “Thank you, Zeus. It's an honor to be here.” She sits back down fast.

  A part of me wanted to run to her, but I knew she could hold her own.

  “No please, stand and tell us what it's like for you here. Have you enjoyed today?” He is antagonizing her and I was beginning to get angry.

  Ian has a hold of my arm secretly. I could pull away, but I know what he's doing. My father is shaking his head back and forth. I remain in my seat and try to stay calm.

  “Well, it was a busy day, Sir.” Everyone begins laughing.

  “Indeed, the first one usually is. But here time stands still, and I hope that you’re happy with the decisions you have made.” This is a two-step question. He wants to know about me, and he wants to know she chose to stay in Mount Olympus.

  “I am very confident in my choice, Sir, as I am sure anyone in my shoes would be.” That's my girl!

  “That's great news, great news! Welcome, my dear, welcome.” He nods at her, and she finally sits.

  “Cali, daughter of Athena, please stand.” Cali moves swiftly and is standing with her back to all of us.

  “I couldn't be happier to be home, Sir. Thank you and I look forward to serving under my mother.” Athena is smiling as her daughter has answered as she was coached to do.

  “Thank you, Cali, we welcome you home with open arms.” She sits, and smiles at everyone at her table.

  A part of me wants to gag. I now understand why Selene never liked Cali. She was full of herself and was the perfect match for Alex.

  “Alex, my son, please stand.” Alex being the good son that he is, smiling at everyone, making me want to punch him in his perfect face.

  “Thank you, father. I, too, am very happy to be home, and look forward to the future.” He raises his glass towards me.

  Is he kidding me? I stand to my feet, taking my glass in my hand, while Ian releases my arm. He stares up at me.

  “Here's to the future.” I announce. No one is speaking and Alex is still staring at me. Colin, Selene, Iris, Cato, Ian, Maddox, Zack, London, and Harper all stand with us, glasses in hand.

  “To the future!” Colin shouts.

  All at once, we all yell, “To the future!” Cali looks like she just got ran over by a Mack truck. Shocked by our outburst, she melts down into her chair. We all smile at one another. The tables have just been turned and no

  one knew what to do next.

  “To the future.” My father announces, then Poseidon, and the whole room is now standing on their feet.

  Zeus is smiling, but he knows. He knows his son has just come forth and either switched sides, or declared war, and my bet was on the declaring war part. Everyone takes their seats and the chatter begins again, partaking

  in our delicious meal. I had almost forgotten how wonderful food tasted on the mount, making me forg
et that I needed to be aware of my surroundings. I check my left again and the manservant is still watching me. This was my test and I was about to fail.

  “What is your problem? Why are you staring at me?” I move away from the table.

  Walking towards the man, I take him by the arm drawing him towards me. It looks like I am whispering in his ear, which I am, just no one knows why.

  “Nothing, Sir. Nothing, just making sure everything is okay.” He looks down at his feet.

  “Well, you can stop now. Look at me again and this will be the last time you ever work at my table.” I say it cold, and harsh, but if this guy was one of the many minions working for Zeus, he was just getting in my way.

  “No Sir. Won't happen again.” He keeps his eyes on his feet.