“Hey Sweetie; how was your day?” Mom looks at both of them, as she asks. She reaches for Kallos and wraps her in a tight embrace then reaches for her husband.
“Fine,” Kallos says under her breath and sneaks under her mother’s embrace as she walks in the direction of the stairs. She just wanted to get to her room and read the note. She can tell that her parents want to talk, and she doesn't want to hear it. There is so much she needs to think about before she talks to them, but Ian told her to read the note first. She rushes into her bedroom and slams the door with a loud thud. And leans against it as her anxiety increases for reasons she still isn’t sure of. She takes in her familiar surroundings; her queen sized bed sits in the middle of her room and her black and pink bedding was made; her mother makes her make her bed before leaving, which annoys her because it just gets messed up again when she has to sleep in it every night. Her black walls aren’t what you would normally see, but she added silver moons and stars all over the walls. Her room was like it was at her old house, and she loved it. She isn’t in the mood to hear anything they have to say to her. She reaches into her pocket and fishes out the note. She smiles, as she feels her heart skip a few beats. Slowly Kallos opens the note:
Kallos
Please don’t scream. There are some things I need to tell you. Look up.
Ian
She is confused, until she looks up and sees Ian Hunter standing in her room. She jumps back and runs into something, wait… not something … someone. She can feel the scream rising in her throat, but she holds it in and stands still.
“Please don’t scream; we need to talk.” Ian says from behind her. “Kallos, I don’t want your parents up here.” He whispers against her ear and she shivers.
Kallos whips her head to the side, so she can see him. “Why are y—”? He puts his hand against her mouth. She shudders and gasps because she feels a coldness go through her whole body. Kallos feels the blood drain from her face, and her heart rapidly pounds in her chest.
“Please just listen. If I move my hand from your mouth, you won’t scream, right?” She nods and he releases her. He moves in front of her. “Good. Your parents only know a little about you because you’re adopted.” Her mouth drops open, and she just stares at him. She couldn’t be adopted, could she? “I know you probably don’t believe me but, it’s true. Think about it.” She just shakes her head, and he reaches out to grab her hands. “This is the part where I'm going to sound crazy, but you are a goddess.” She burst out laughing and his hand quickly covers her mouth to drown out the sound. He has to be lying, a freaking goddess; she wishes.
He just smiles at her and takes his hand away from her mouth. “Well, a soon to be reincarnated one, anyway. You were Aphrodite. That birthmark is a symbol, and I bet you get weird feelings about people and things.” Her birthmark is itching, and burning right now. “You are going through the change, and I would like to help you. You will have powers, and I have a feeling that you will be very powerful.” How can someone so handsome be so crazy? Just her luck. She looks at him; and his brows furrow as if in a certain desperation.
“You need to go.” She puts her hand on his chest to push him away. She can tell that she hurt him by the look on his face. She crosses her arms across her chest and narrows her eyes.
“I know that this is a lot for you to process, and you’ll need time to take it all in. So, I’ll give you the time and space you need. When you’re ready let me know.” He turns toward her window and fiddles with the latch to open it.
“What are you doing? I will sneak you out the back door.” He stops and looks over his shoulder. He gives her one last smile and shakes his head. Kallos gasps when he jumps out of the window. She runs to where he was just standing, and hangs out of the window, but he is nowhere in sight.
Her mom calls her down for dinner and with one last glance glances out the open window she walks downstairs. Kallos walks into the kitchen to find her mother setting the table and her father pouring their milk into glasses. She looks at her parents and notices that she doesn’t look anything like them. Her mother has olive skin, green eyes, and straight blond hair. She is just shy of six feet tall and curvy in the hips. Her father has dark brown wavy hair and chocolate eyes. He is a little over six feet tall. Kallos has long reddish brown hair and blue eyes. She is barely over five feet tall. She really doesn't know why she has never noticed it before. Then, she looks around at all the pictures. There are some where her parents are much younger, and there are some of Kallos as a baby. Looking back she has never seen a picture of her mother pregnant. Her best friend’s mom has a lot of them, but not her mom. She looks back at her parents and tears form in her eyes. She closes her eyes for a second, “Mom, Dad?” They were already looking at her with worry on their faces. She smiles to try to hide the pain behind her eyes, but could tell that she’s not fooling them. “I have some home work to do and I am really tired. Do you mind if I eat in my room?” Her mom looks at her dad and he just nods.
“Okay thanks. Good night.”
“I love you,” she hears her mom say as Kallos runs up the stairs. She goes to her computer and types in Aphrodite. She wants to know everything about the goddess.
CHAPTER THREE
Kallos’ alarm goes off and she wants to kick herself. She only got three hours of sleep. She stayed up and read everything that had to do with Aphrodite. She jumps when she hears her mother yell for her to get up. Moaning, she gets up and grabs her robe. After her shower, she put on a little makeup and got dressed. She stares at herself in her mirror and notices that her hair is starting to lighten up and her skin is extra clear. She looks around and finds her favorite red, long sleeved shirt. Her parents didn’t really care for it; they always said it showed a little too much. Then she puts on her white skirt. She really loves the way it shows off her tan legs.
She knew that her dad would flip, but she really didn’t care. She walks into the kitchen, and her dad is looking at his new Blackberry. She didn’t see her mom, which is weird. Her mom always makes breakfast for her in the mornings. “Hey Dad, where’s Mom?” Her dad glances up and looks down. His head quickly shoots back up and he narrows his eyes.
“What are you wearing?” he asks and narrows his eyes.
“Clothes. What does it look like I’m wearing a paper bag?” she barks back.
“Don’t talk to me like that young lady. I would almost prefer a paper bag to that get-up. I think you should change.” She really hates when he goes all “dad” on her. She looks at the clock and grins.
“Oh look, I don’t have time. You don’t want to be late on our second day do you?” He hates to be late to anything. They are always the first ones to anything and the last ones to leave. She hears him grunt and she smiles. She knows that she won and won’t have to change.
“Just get in the car.” Her dad is always the easy one to win over, but her mom would fight tooth and nail to get what she wanted. Kallos is just lucky that she isn’t here.
In the car Kallos looks at the man that she always thought was her dad. Is she really adopted? Most of her friends back at home have brothers and sisters. When she asked if she could have one, they said that she was all they needed. She needs to know. She opens her mouth and then shuts it again as she rethinks asking him at all. How could she ask him if he was her real father? He has been the one there for her no matter what. Besides, this isn't the time to ask. She could feel the tears form in her eyes. She quickly looks out the window so her dad wouldn’t see. She shuts her eyes and holds them tight fighting back the tears threatening to fall. A couple of tears escape, and she brushes them away with the back of her hand. She tries to think of something and the only thing that came to her mind is Ian: how he smiles at her and makes her feel like the only girl in the room no the universe. Then, she thinks of Sean and heat instantly runs through her body. The two boys are so different, but almost make her feel the same.
She feels the car come to a stop; she opens her eyes and can see th
at they are at school. As they are getting out, she can see Ian and Sean standing by the doors. Both of their mouths drop open. She looks down to hide her smile and laughs when she hears her dad swear.
“Have a good day.” She giggles; then she pauses, looks around, and says, “I love you Daddy.”
He looks at her. “You haven’t called me Daddy in a long time. I love you too KD.” She loves that name he made up for her. They smile at each other, and she walks toward the boys. As her dad passes, he glares at the boys, and they look down quickly to avoid his glare…
Ian looks amazing in his light blue shirt and dark blue jeans. She loves how his hair starts to curl at the end right above his shoulders. He isn’t smiling at her and looks nervous. She isn't mad at him and still doesn’t know for sure if she is adopted. Okay, she is ninety-nine point nine percent sure. Looking at him, she can feel something pulling her to him. Every time their eyes meet, she feels warm all over like a fire has been lit deep inside her. He is a good boy with an angelic face.
Now, Sean is a different story. He is the boy every parent warns their daughters about. He has dirty blonde thick hair that touches his shoulders. He was the only person she has ever seen with smoky gray-blue eyes. He has a black V- neck shirt and light blue jeans that were torn at the knees. He tops that off with a black leather jacket. Both boys had almost the same effect on her. She smiled at both of them and they returned with a warm smile.
“Hey guys!” She says with a grin.
“Good morning, gorgeous.” Sean said as he grabs her hand and kisses it. She giggles.
“Good morning, Kallos.” Ian bows his head to her as if she is a queen. He can make her feel special by the little things. The bell rings and the moment is gone. The boys walk with her to her locker. She doesn't have to look around to know people were staring.
“Kallos, did you talk to your parents?” Sean asks her, and she shakes her head.
“No, not yet.” She looks over at Sean and he smiles. He looks at Ian and shakes his head.
“So, what did angel face, here, say to you?” Sean sneers. Ian glares at Sean, and she thinks that they might start fighting.
“At least angels don’t lie, unlike a demon hiding behind a mask.” Ian growls out.
“Stop fighting.” Kallos says, as she puts a hand on each of the boy’s chests. She knows she can’t really hold them back; they are both taller and much stronger than she is. With her hands on them, she feels a warming sensation coming from her hands. She looks at Sean, and he must have felt it also because he looks stunned. She turns her head and looks over at Ian. His mouth is hanging open. Kallos immediately removes her hands from them. Sean and Ian step back in sync away from her. Before she can ask what is happening, Sean turns around and walks away without saying a word. Ian abruptly follows. She is left standing alone in front of her locker. Kallos watches them walk away and she leans her forehead on the cool metal of her locker. Boys are frustrating.
****
Sean knows he is running away. He couldn't help it. When Kallos touched him, he felt as if she was holding his heart in her beautiful little hand. He went into the closest bathroom and turned on the water. White shiny dark green walks fill his vision and three sinks line the wall with a large mirror. Maybe he should talk to Ares; this isn't right. Something is wrong, very wrong. He did notice that his brother was feeling the same thing he was; well, at least it looked like he was. He splashes cold water on his face in an attempt to get his breathing under control. Yeah, he knows he shouldn't have left Kallos the way he did, but it felt as if he was going to explode if he didn't get away from her. He heard the bathroom door open and didn't have to look to see who it is.
“What is going on?” Ian's voice cracks and it reminds Sean to clear his throat.
“I don't know. It is as if we are both connected to her.” Sean looks at his brother through the mirror. Ian's face is red and sweat is dripping down. His baby blue eyes seem a little dull, and his skin is redder than usual. Sean knows what this means, and it has nothing to do with Kallos. He turns around to face him; Ian's eyes wouldn't meet his. “Ian, look at me.” Ian's eyes only locked with Sean’s for a few seconds, but Sean saw it. The blackness is streaking through the blue of his eyes and threatening to take over.
“I'm not like you and Mom. Remember, that is what you have told me this past year.” Ian pauses so he can take in a deep breath. “I'm like Dad, besides being a god.” He smiles when he said god.
“You know it cou—,” that is all Sean can get out before Ian's fist hits the wall.
“Don't say it. I am not a demon.” Sean puts up his hands and backs away. Ian closes his eyes and tries to get his breathing back to normal. Sean remembers going through this and how angry he would get. Little things would drive him crazy, but the big things made him want to hurt someone or himself, which is what Ian is doing. He needs to call their mom, and tell her what is going on with Ian.
“Okay, I'm sorry. Let's just go to class.” Ian relaxes, opens his eyes, and all the blackness is gone as if it was never there to begin with.
“Yeah,” Sean puts his hand on his brother’s shoulder and they walk out of the bathroom together in a comfortable silence only two brothers can achieve.
****
Kallos has no clue what just happen. She took a deep breath to steady herself and walked to her first class. Thank goodness that it was homeroom. She walks in and notices Karissa sitting in the back, and she quickly moves toward her.
The book Karissa is reading has some sexy man with vampire teeth on the cover. Kallos smirks at her because she knows that she has probably read every vampire book out there. Kallos sits next to Karissa who looks up and smiles.
“Hey, Karissa. How are you?” Kallos says as she is getting settled in.
“Please call me Kris; everyone does. I’m doing good. How are you doing?” Kallos isn’t good, but she doesn’t want to tell Kris that. She seems so sweet; Kallos just smiles at her.
“I’m good,” Kallos says, even though it is a lie
“Do you mind if I sit here?” Kallos turns and looks up into Ian’s baby blue eyes. He has his hand on the desk next to hers. She thinks back to only a few minutes ago when she touched him and Sean and got that mysterious feeling again. She also thought back to how he left her.
“Kallos did you hear me?” She mentally shakes herself.
“Sorry. That’s fine.” Ian smiles at Kallos and she shivers in response to the sparks traveling through every cell in her body when she’s near him. He sits down, and as Mrs. Kendall walks in, she tells them that the last five minutes of class could be free time. Since Kallos doesn’t have any homework, she pulls out her favorite book. It had everything that she loves in it. A teenage girl falls madly in love with a vampire and three other boys. Talk about drama. Kallos isn’t really reading; she keeps thinking about Ian and Sean.
Before Ian pulled away, she thought she saw something flash in his eyes. She glances over at Ian and notices that he has a birthmark on his lower left wrist. It was bigger than hers, maybe a little darker. His has to be at least five inches long. It looks like a bow with an arrow drawn. Maybe it is a tattoo. Ian looks over at her and Kallos quickly looks away. She knows how it feels when she catches someone looking at her mark. She can feel her cheeks heating up. So, she takes a deep intake of breath.
“Kallos,” she jumps and looks up. Ian is looking at her. “At lunch Sean and I need to talk to you.” Just the mention of Sean’s name makes her heart beat faster. Kallos is having a hard time catching her breath she doesn't know if sitting with them is the best idea
But looking at Ian, she can only tell him, “Okay.” He smiles, and once again, she feels her cheeks heat up. She has never forgotten who she was around a boy, much less two. All of her friends make fun of her, since she hasn’t had a boyfriend.
She keeps looking at the clock, and is relieved to see it’s almost lunch. She feels anxiousness like none she has ever felt before now. She wonders why she gets w
eird feels whenever Sean and Ian are around.
As she is walking toward the lunchroom, she can see Sean waiting for her, but he isn’t alone. He has four beautiful girls with him. The red head touches his waist, and Kallos wants to scream, Mine! Where did that come from? He isn’t hers, even if she wants him to be. She is almost upon him and starts thinking maybe I should keep walking… She is just about to turn away, when she hears her name. Crap! She stops and looks at him. He smiles at the other girls and they giggle. “Ladies, I have to go.” The red head pouts and gives him a puppy dog look.
Kallos wanted to laugh at her. She never understood why girls did that. Kallos looks closer at the other girl and could see that she was wearing an LV scarf wrapped around her neck and Ed Hardy shirt and pants. The girl glances at Kallos and rolls her eyes. “Sean don’t you want to skip lunch and come with me?” She winks at him, and he just grins at her.
“Sorry Mary. I already have plans.” Then he starts to walk to Kallos, which only takes him three steps. “Come on Kallos,” he says as he holds out his hand for her. She can feel something inside her reaching out for him before she even moves her hand. She gives into him and puts her hand in his. As they walk away, she notices that most of the kids are staring at them. She is just about to pull away, but Sean tightens his hold as if he knew what she was thinking.
They walk past the lunch line and straight to the back of the lunchroom. She glances around, and didn’t see anyone but Ian sitting at the very back, and he was alone. He smiles at her and then at Sean. She looks at the table, and Ian already has their lunches as well as hers. She is so hungry and instant relief washes over her as she realizes how thoughtful they were to think of her meal also. When she gets closer, Ian stands up. He moves to a chair next to where he was sitting and pulled out the chair for her.
Kallos (Kallos Series) Page 3