Charmed Destiny (The Charming Series Book 2)

by Dee King

  room at our table for Chris, Chloe, and her mother to sit with us. I had the chairs placed beside our table just in case they were able to make it.

  “This is gorgeous.” Chloe said quietly to Selene and me. Chris came to sit beside me.

  “You don't hold back, do ya?” He smiled at me.

  “Not for Selene.” I smiled back. He knew I loved her. Chris had always known I loved her. He was the only mortal I had allowed myself to become close to over the four years of my time on Earth, and not just for Selene.

  “What happens next?” Selene leans over asking me.

  “They come to the tables to tell us congrats, then they are free to eat, dance, whatever.” I try to assure her that we are safe now.

  As others start coming to the table, I have to introduce everyone to Selene. There was no way she could know who everyone was or remember them. Each one of them had gifts for us, leaving them at the end of the table by

  Alex. We haven't spoked a word to one another since right before I walked out of the small dressing room. I would assume he was waiting for his father. My dad, Poseidon, and Selene's mom finally make their way to congratulate us. Every one of them smiling, almost as if they were the

  ones who were just married. They were just glad that they had won. This was a game to them, but not for Selene and me. Selene stood and kissed her mother on the cheek, thanking her for being there. Tears ran down her mom's face as she said such kind words to her. Selene didn't cry. Reading her thoughts would have been wrong at this moment. I knew she was upset with her parents. In a way, she felt betrayed by them. I could clearly understand how she felt now. Her father had many presents in his arms and unloaded them all in front of Alex. I heard them speak briefly, then they were back to their table. Colin, Iris, Cato, and the others came by quickly. None of them lingered at the table because everyone was waiting

  for him. Zeus. He would be next and he knew it. What would his words be? Would we be able to keep his composure, or would his son make a scene? Alex always did have a thing for drama. Which would it be?

  Also, how do you say thank you to a God that forced us to

  do this?

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Nerves of Steel

  Zeus stood taking Hera's hand walking towards us. Alex's parents were headed for our table as he was making the whole table tremble from his anxiety.

  “Calm down, dude.” Chris leaned over to Alex telling him to stop making the table shake.

  Selene's back stiffened and I sat straight, with my hand covering Selene's. Hera walked like the goddess she is. Smiling at each table she came across, standing tall like a statue. Her eyes were what told of her kindness. Selene's eyes matched in a way I couldn't describe. Zeus’s smiling made me even more nervous. They don't make their way straight to us like everyone else; they go down the line, starting with Cali. Shaking hands, saying words we couldn't hear. Hera tells Chloe how beautiful she was, and was honored to meet her. Then it was our turn. Selene rose from her chair, as I followed her lead. The water in her glass was boiling. She

  was nervous or angry, I couldn't tell anymore, but the glass was saying much more than she was. Hera leans in to Selene, whispering in her ear. Selene nodded a couple of times, then said thank you. Now, it was my

  turn. I take Hera's hand, kissing it gently.

  “Thank you for being here, it's truly an honor.” I bow my head, she lays her hand on my chin, pulling my face up to meet hers.

  “No, child, it's my pleasure. I have waited for this day. It's truly my pleasure to be in your graces, Sebastian.” She made me uncomfortable, yet comfortable, the way she said my name gave me chills. I moved back slightly as she let go of my chin, kissing each side of my face.

  “Congratulations on your vows. I hope the both of you are very happy together.” She said loudly, then told Chris it was a pleasure to meet him.

  Then she was standing with Alex. Zeus was still talking very quietly to Selene. She sat down before he was finished, her face becoming pale. I looked down at her.

  “You okay?” I ask her, she nods yes.

  Zeus standing in front of me, didn't scare me, he angered me. Whatever he had said to Selene had her scared, and that I didn't like. He takes my hand shaking it, I lean in.

  “Plan failed. Your son betrayed you and now you think you’re going to hurt my wife. Think again.” I pat him on the back as if we were hugging.

  “My plan has only just begun; you have no idea.” He laughs throwing his head back.

  Patting me on my back, he congratulates me, then moves down the table finding Alex still talking to Hera. The only words I can make out that he says to Alex was how could he, and something about how he hoped he could live with the choice he had made. Alex, smiling, says yes, and

  they made a big fake production about hugging one another, then they went back to their table. I feel a cold, clammy hand on mine. It's Selene's.

  “What did he say to you?” I put my arm around her chair, bending over so I could hear her.

  “He said... he said, that he hopes I enjoy my life as the Goddess of the Underworld, and that when our child comes he or she can only hope that both parents make the right choices for it, like our fathers did for us.” I didn't even have the words to say.

  What did that mean? Did he just threaten Selene? My child? I didn't even have a child. Was he going to

  keep playing this game until he found someone that would make him proud? What was he looking for? His plan had failed. Our fathers’ may have started this, but they couldn't choose for us to fall in love. That was

  our fate. She laid her head into my chest, staring up at me.

  “Sebastian? What did that mean?”

  “I have no idea. He talks in riddles. Don't let him get to you, that's what he wants. He didn't win today, nor will he ever be able to control our lives again. No one will.” I kiss her on the forehead where golden specks brushed her hairline.

  “Let's dance.” She says to me, lifting her head off my chest, then lifting my hand up, as she stands.

  Dancing with my wife. The word wife alone was a haunting, gratifying word. We begin to dance, then others join us. We were all laughing, dancing, singing along with particular songs. It was a great day, a great night. Iris asked if she could cut in when Colin had asked Selene for

  a dance.

  “Hey. This was great. Thank you. You did a great job.” I thank Iris for all the beauty she had put into my sudden wedding.

  Iris would be the closest thing I had to a sister, even if she was Alex's sister.

  “Thank you for letting me.” Her eyes twinkle in the candle light that we are all now dancing under.

  “It's none of my business, but...” She puts her hand to my lips.

  “I know. I have to make a decision between the two of them. My heart says one thing, but my brain says another.”

  “You are causing pain for both of them. Colin isn't who he used to be, he's changed. He's angry. He sees it. Cato is ... well, Cato is Cato. I don't know him.”

  “Sebastian, Cato loves you. You're his brother.” I roll my eyes, turning her as we keep dancing.

  “Yea.”

  “I'm sorry about your mom.” I had tried not to think of her at all today, no tears would be shed.

  “Thanks.” I look over my shoulder seeing Selene and Colin still dancing.

  “I promise; you will be the first to know when I choose.” Laughing at her, I smile.

  “Everyone will know.” When we give our love to someone, all gods and goddess' know. They may not know who, but they know. Iris truly hadn't chosen a love.

  “What's going to happen next?” She interrupts my thoughts.

  “What do you mean?”

  “His plan failed, Alex betrayed him. You don't think this is over do you?”

  “Yea, that will be between the two of them now, not us.”

  “Oh, Sebastian, there is so much you don't know.”

  “Enlighten me.”

&n
bsp; “I can't. I just want you to be on your guard. Promise me, okay?”

  “Yes. I'm always prepared.”

  “I know.” She kisses me on the cheek, with the song ending.

  I look for Selene, but now Chloe is taking me by the hands to dance with her. This is like a merry go round.

  “Thank you for doing this for her, for us.” Chloe lays her hand on my shoulder.

  “It's what she wanted.”

  “Yes, but you don't understand. You don't know Selene like I do.” This troubled me.

  “She has always been lonely. I think you were exactly what she needed.”

  “Thank you, Chloe She will never have to worry about being alone again.

  Ever.” Those words surprised me.

  I was what Selene needed? I felt like I needed her more, but this made my heart happy. We finish the dance with

  no other words spoken. We didn't need to; Chloe had made my night. I thank her for the dance, looking again for Selene, when I see her. She was dancing with Chris. I knew I couldn't cut in between them, but that didn't

  matter because Cali was now standing in front of me.

  “Cali?”

  “Sebastian, I will never be able to forgive myself for what I did. I promise I will spend forever making it up to you.” She was right.

  I didn't know if I would ever forgive her for what she did that night.

  “Let's just dance and get this over with, alright?”

  “No. You have to hear me out. We are leaving tonight when the gates open for them to go back to Earth.”

  “That's great.” I try to sound nice about it, but I didn't care.

  “You have to come with us.” I begin laughing at her. Really laughing. She had lost her mind.

  “Cali, I'm not going anywhere with you or Alex.”

  “If you don't, you may not be safe.”

  “You’re kidding right? You mean Alex is scared because he betrayed his father for you. This doesn't have anything to do with me. If Alex had done what he was told to, we would be going through the trials right now. We

  would have passed, but either way, I would be married to Selene.”

  “I'm serious. You are not listening. You're not safe here. Your father hasn't told you everything yet, you’re going to be the one to take over if he doesn't do it by tomorrow.”

  “Huh?”

  “You’re going to be the God of everything, tomorrow. If you don't want that to happen, you will need to come with us.”

  “That's crazy. You are crazy, Cali. I never knew how crazy you were till right now.”

  “Listen, this is serious. If you’re not ready for what is about to come, then you should come with me and Alex.” She was persistent I'd give her that.

  “Thanks, I will figure it out on my own.”

  “I really am just trying to help. I hope you and Selene are happy.”

  “Thank you.” The song had ended. She bowed to me, then found Alex, who was standing behind us.

  “Congrats, again. I hope that Cali was able to convince you to come with us.” Alex was shaking my hand, pretending to hug me, as he talked quietly on the side of my ear.

  “Alex, I don't know what the hell is going on, but I'm not doing anything with the two of you.” I smile at him, as we fake a pretend friendship.

  “I hope you know what you’re doing, brother.”

  “Don't.” I push back from him, as he moves away from me.

  “Okay, I won't push, but if you change your mind we will be leaving with Chris, Chloe, and her mom. The option is on the table. If you have to leave later, you can always find me.”

  “Um... thanks.” Alex walks away with Cali on his arm, then I watch as they begin to dance with one another. I see Selene standing over to the side. Rushing to her, I see that her smile is now a frown.

  “What's wrong?”

  “Why are people warning me that we should leave here, tonight?” I take her by the arm, pulling her back up to the table.

  “I have no idea. It seems that Alex and Cali are leaving tonight, too.”

  “Yea, everyone is. Except us? What's going on?” We are now in whispers.

  “I don't know. I swear. Do you want to leave tonight, too?”

  I didn't have the answers, furthermore, I didn't have a clue as to what any of them were doing. Then thunder broke out loudly. Loud enough we could hear it over the music. The music cuts off and we watch as both our fathers come racing to us.

  “Everyone needs to leave.”

  “Why?”

  “Just do it.” My dad is behind us now, pushing us to the doors.

  The crowd starts fleeing the building. Zeus was angry, and now I guess we are going to see his wrath come to life. The only people left in the reception hall of the temple are our closest friends, family, and some not

  so beloved acquaintances.

  “Selene, you will need to take the mortals back to my house. Sebastian, you will need to get the crew you want to take with you, then you follow us.”

  “Wait.” I shout as Poseidon is taking Selene by the arm with him, and my father pushing me to the small group now gathered on the dance floor.

  “Dad! Knock it off. You’re scaring everyone.”

  “They should be scared. Poseidon was right! You need to take your best fighters and defenders with you, then meet me at his house. You have less than ten minutes. Make it fast.”

  I watch as Aries is now guarding my father, alongside Apollo. I'm left standing with a small group of people.

  Alex and Cali had already left the reception. Now, I had to make a choice on who was going to try and save me? I could save myself.

  “Look, I don't need an army or whatever my father said.” I start pushing through the crowd, when Cato grabs my arm.

  “You're wrong. You need us. You have to choose.” He opens his hand moving it around for me to see my options. Ian casually walks to me.

  “I'm sorry, man. I wish I could, but you know.” He looks down. I place my hand on his shoulder.

  “I will be back. Thanks brother.” We hug one another, then stand back. He moves to the side.

  “The better question I guess is who wants to come with me? I'm leaving, I'm not letting Selene out of my sight.” I walk away from them leaving the reception hall.

  I see my Pegasus flying over my head, coming down to land right in front of my feet. I jump on his back, as he soars above. I didn't look back to see who had decided they were coming with us. I get back off him, running into Poseidon's home. Selene is standing in a small huddle with Chris, Chloe, her mom, and Colin. He was going to help her after all. Footsteps behind me, I see that some of them had decided to join me. Zack was right behind me, Cato following him, Harper, and then Iris.

  “You will need us. Don't argue.” Cato tells me, and for once, he was probably right.

  My father comes storming through the door, with Aries and Apollo.

  “No time for standing around folks, we have got to get moving.” My dad starts forcing everyone out of the house. I grab Selene, taking her hand.

  All the while, her face looks terrified. I didn't know what was going on either, but if Zeus wanted a fight, I guess he was going to get it. My dad, Poseidon, Aries, and Apollo led us down the street. Harper and Zack are on one side of me, while Cato, Iris and Colin follow behind Selene. The

  mortals now look like ants compared to all of us, as we run to the boat dock. Thunder clapping again, with a lightning bolt striking down close to where we were walking. We kept moving. Fast. The boat was ready, with

  Alex and Cali already on board. They both lend a hand to help everyone on. Poseidon goes to the front of boat, asking Colin and Selene to join him. Even though I know she is hesitant she goes anyways. We all stand back watching the three of them. Poseidon puts his arm in the air, making a circular motion, and the boat is turning around in the water. We hear Poseidon yell something, but I couldn't make out the exact words, till I saw the tridents rise from the water. Three golden trid
ents rise from the

  water, making their ways to their hands. Poseidon looks down at Selene, and then all three tap the tridents on the boat, and we were sailing. Thunder, lightning, and storm clouds brewing over our heads. This wasn't going to be easy to get out of the mount. Chloe is clinging to Chris, as her mom is hugging the both of them. I wanted to tell them everything was going to be alright, but I wasn't sure it was. As the mountain opens, the storm gets worse. The waters were rising. Poseidon points the trident towards the water, and for a brief moment the water stays calm. We push through the opening of the mountain with ease. I turn back around, and the mountain was closing. We were almost far enough away from the mount. I walk fast to my father.