“What ever we want.”
Epilogue
Poseidon
“That’s really good, Audrey,” I encouraged with a smile.
The concentration on her face was priceless as I watched her try to hold the wave of water up over her head. She smiled back at me, happiness exuding off her.
“Yeah?” she asked. “How about this?”
The water shot forward, pushing me over and under the surface of the sea.
“Hey!” I sputtered, coming back up. “You better be careful. I could make you regret ever starting a water fight.”
Her skin glowed in the sunlight, a sight I’d never get tired of seeing. We’d been at our house on the island for some time now, working on getting her to control her new powers effortlessly. I loved that we shared this new connection we hadn’t before. I felt we understood each other that much better.
When I’d seen her drowning over a year before, no hope for survival, I’d acted out of guilt. Once again, I’d let Amphitrite coax me into something I shouldn’t have done and it needed to be fixed, somehow. Audrey had been only that—a face that made me feel better about myself. Even when I checked on her at the hospital, it was only to make sure she’d hit her head hard enough in her fall that I wasn’t remembered.
When I’d shown up at her home, it was for the same reason. It was only supposed to be for a few months, a quick stop to make sure I was still safe from every photo hungry, film toting “hunter.”
When she showed me the picture of John, I knew I couldn’t leave as quickly as I’d planned. My act of salvation that was to undo my murders had turned into a nightmare. I couldn’t believe that out of everyone in the world, I’d managed to pick the two that were tied together.
I settled in for the long haul, hoping that I could get Audrey to a place in her life where I would feel comfortable leaving her. She needed to be able to function again. Thankfully, she had started that journey on her own.
The more I watched her, the more I wanted to spend time with her. The familiar longings I’d had before were stirring, but in a way I’d never experienced. There was no way I would get her to spend time with me like that, I was sure of it.
I started out with the dinner invitation, hoping she would oblige me. Everything was going perfect, until I suddenly discovered that Mnemosyne was there as well, working on whatever she had planned to put into motion. She obviously hadn’t given Audrey any of her magic water yet, since she didn’t remember her almost drowning, but it was only a matter of time.
Try as I might, I couldn’t figure out where they were meeting. I didn’t want to come out and ask Audrey about it, or demand she stop going, so my hands ended up basically tied. As soon as I saw the jar of liquid, I knew that Mnemosyne was ready to exact her revenge. I stole it and dumped it down the drain as quickly as I could, terrified the little Audrey had would make her remember everything. I breathed easy once I was sure she hadn’t.
All that time, I was falling in love with her, more than I thought was possible. It was like every breath I took was for her. Each of my thoughts revolved around what I could do to get her to feel the same way. Her husband’s face, my victim, swam before my eyes continually, screaming that she would never forgive me when she found out.
Still, I wanted her to know who I was. I imagined taking her to somewhere with lots of water and unloading it on her, begging her to take me anyway. It was unlikely, but a man could hope.
Finally, because of my wishful thinking and inaction, I was caught and discarded. Fury and hurt whipped through me, tearing the ground around me to pieces. Only when Zeus intervened and demanded I stop was I able to pull it together enough to get out of there.
I went to my island, knowing the other Gods were meeting on Olympus to discuss my punishment for disrupting the natural order of the desert. I couldn’t find it in myself to care at that point.
Amphitrite wasted no time in sticking her blade right into my shoulder as soon as I stepped out of the water. I didn’t want to fight back. What was the point if the woman I loved never wanted to see me again?
And then she was there, trying to save me of all things! It was the extra push I needed. When the battle was over, I knew I would do everything I could to make it back to her. I didn’t tell her because I didn’t want her to wait around for me forever. She deserved happiness, no matter what became of me.
“What are you thinking about?” Audrey asked, catching me staring at her.
“You,” I answered with a smile, wading over and pulling her into my arms.
Talley barked from the beach, running into the water and swimming around us, her tongue hanging out of her mouth.
“Dinner time!” Audrey announced with a laugh. “Go home, Talley!”
She did as ordered, turning and swimming back to the beach. The palm trees swayed in the breeze, brushing the blue sky tenderly. White sand shone out from under them, but the foliage wasn’t what made this my paradise.
“Wanna race?” Audrey said, turning to me.
“Only if you’re prepared to lose,” I laughed.
She dissolved into the water and I followed suit, both of us racing towards the mouth of the tunnel to home.
“You let me win!” she accused, pulling herself out of the pool and onto the wood floors of the living room.
“No I didn’t,” I fibbed. “I’m the real winner because I got to see you in a bikini.”
She blushed, embarrassed laughter escaping her mouth.
“And there’s the blush I love so much,” I teased, pulling myself out of the water as well and taking her into my arms.
“I love you,” she said with a smile.
“I love you, too,” I replied. “I’ve been thinking about it. You love me, I love you, we live in the same house, take care of the same pet, have the same mythological powers that don’t exist according to modern society—”
She laughed, tipping her head back and displaying more of her neck. I took advantage of it, placing a soft kiss there.
“Why don’t we make it official,” I continued. “And get married?”
“Really?” she asked with surprise.
“Marriage is supposed to be one of the ultimate expressions of love, isn’t it? Tying yourself to someone for the rest of your life—at least that’s how it was originally intended.”
“You really want to get married?”
“I want to spend every day of the rest of forever waking up and falling asleep to your face. I want people to think of us as a pair and not separate entities. Never again will the name Poseidon be said without Audrey coming soon after, or the other way around as well,” I laughed.
“You mean it then,” she realized, laughing. “It’s not a joke.”
“I would never joke about how much I love you,” I said softly.
She bit her lower lip, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
“I don’t know,” she said teasingly.
“Oh, just say yes already!” I said in mock frustration.
“Yes!” She laughed.
“Now, was that so hard,” I said, taking her chin in one hand and kissing her deeply.
I broke away and looked into the eyes of my soul mate, reflecting the vast waves of emotions in their depths, knowing that I would never be complete without her again.
About The Author
Kamery didn’t grow up thinking that she would be an author. She loved to sing and act! She dreamed of the day that she would perform on Broadway. She also loved books and had an active imagination. She could come up with a story in no time and tell it to her friends. Over time, she realized that she could follow both dreams.
Now Kamery writes when she can, weaving tales in every direction imaginable. When She’s not working on her latest manuscript, she is at school finishing up her degree. Kamery loves learning and getting to do both of the things that she loves!
Currently, Kamery lives in the White Mountains of Arizona with her handsome husband and beautiful daughter
. They are her whole world!
It’s fun for Kamery to be so close to family and friends, especially her cohorts in Moonstruck Media. If it weren’t for them, none of her stories would have ever made it on to paper.
Where To Find Me:
Website: http://kamerysolomonbooks.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KamerySolomon
Twitter: http://twitter.com/KamerySolomon
Coming Soon From Kamery Solomon
Big Apple Dreams
Marama Adams knows without a doubt that she is meant to be a Broadway performer. Unable to wait any longer, she’s finally moved to the city from the west coast, ready for all her dreams to come true. She’s certain that her talent, work ethic, and positive thinking will land her on a stage in no time. Before she can really sink into the work though, Chris Williams, a handsome city native, steps in and begins to claim her heart. At the same time, her roommate’s brother seems to want more than friendship from her. Will she be able to balance between her dreams and love?
Please enjoy and excerpt from Kamery’s upcoming novel, Big Apple Dreams!
The plane jolted, hitting some turbulence, and I jerked awake, grabbing the arm rest in a panic.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” a voice said over the speaker. “The captain had turned on the seatbelt light. Please buckle up and remain in your seat as we begin our descent into New York City.”
I blinked a few times and sat up in my seat, running a hand through my hair. My muscles screamed at me in protest, having not moved almost the entire four hour flight. Thankfully, my bladder wasn’t calling for attention too badly that I couldn’t hold it until we landed at La Guardia Airport.
My headphones continued to play a show tunes list, tapping sounds clacking out of the tiny speakers. I turned them up since I was actually listening now, singing along in my head.
Stretching the best I could, I peeked a look out of the window two seats to my left. I’d hoped I’d get a seat with a view but was landed with the aisle instead. It was in the back, thankfully. I hadn’t wanted to spend the first thirty minutes on board dodging every bag that passed me, especially the backpacks.
We were still up in the clouds, nothing remotely exciting to look at. I sighed and rested back against my chair again, twisting my hands together in nervous excitement.
I had literally saved every penny I’d made since the fifth grade to move to the Big Apple. There was a musical I listened to one day when I was bored, the first I’d ever really paid attention to, and that was it for me. I knew I needed to get myself to the east coast and be in shows. Nothing had ever touched me the way those two CD’s did. Even now, I dreamed of being in that same musical and realizing my goals fully.
I worked hard, more so through my high school years. I sang in the choir, played in the band, dance on the dance team, and did every show that came around. There were only so many opportunities in a small town lost in the middle of nowhere though. I continually felt I was being passed over for parts because the director’s daughter or second cousin once removed auditioned as well. The other kids didn’t take it as seriously as I did either, which made it less fun for me.
Teasing can tear even the strongest of people down.
Once I graduated, I decided to study theatre at our community college, naturally. It was the cheapest school in the state and I saved even more money by living with my parents. I had a wonderful experience there, getting to participate in several shows and feel like I was cast according to my abilities.
It still wasn’t enough for me though. I dreamed of dropping everything and hopping on a plane, leaving all of the naysayers behind. There was always one person who acted snotty towards me.
“Oh, you’re still trying to do that?”
Yes. Yes, I am. I can’t do anything else—I was made to be a Broadway performer.
Finally, I’d had enough. I hadn’t finished a degree, even though I’d had more than ample time, and I was tired of waiting around for my dreams to magically come true. I ditched my last class, quit my job, went straight home to my laptop, and bought a one way ticket to the Land of Dreams.
My parents were supportive as always, but made sure to voice their concerns, checking to make sure I really wanted to go. Nothing was going to stop me at that point though.
A thorough apartment search online landed me with a furnished studio in Harlem. I managed to nail down a job at a chain restaurant with an Internet application and long distance phone call. Everything was falling into place, one block at a time. I couldn’t go anywhere without a dorky grin plastered on my face.
Finally, the day arrived for me to leave. I’d packed two suitcases of essentials during the week leading up to it, boxing everything else I wanted to bring up so it could be mailed.
“Are you ready to go?” Dad asked, stopping in the doorway to my room.
“Yeah,” I said, a nervous twinge in my stomach. “I’m just grabbing a few last minute things.”
“We’ll mail it right over if you forget anything,” he said reassuringly.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“It’s what I do,” he laughed.
Mom called him from downstairs, saying something about the time and he left, giving me another smile.
I slung my guitar bag over my shoulder and hefted up one suitcase, rolling the other behind me. Before I left for good, I turned and looked at the one place that had really been mine my entire life. A small smile graced my lips and I walked through the threshold, closing the door behind me.
A tearful goodbye followed at the terminal after our long drive into the nearest city.
“You call me as often as you can,” Mom ordered, clutching me to her in a death grip.
“I will,” I laughed through my own tears. “I love you, Mom. I love you, too, Dad.”
“You’re going to knock ‘em dead,” he said, his own eyes misty.
“I’ll see you in a few months,” I said, breaking away from them.
“Come when you can afford it,” Dad said. “Take care of yourself, first. We can wait a little longer if we need to.”
I hugged each of them again and kissed their cheeks before turning to face the security checkpoint.
“This is it,” I said, looking back and smiling at them.
“We love you!” Mom said, crying as she waved.
I took a deep breath, trying not to be overwhelmed by all that was happening. So many different emotions ran through me at once. I was scared to leave the familiar, but I couldn’t wait to step foot in the place I’d been dreaming of since I was ten. Leaving my family behind was as hard as I’d expected it to be, even with my dreams calling from feet away.
I straightened, readjusting the strap on my shoulder, and stepped forward confidently, my heart racing.
I reached the guard’s stand and handed him my boarding pass and driver’s license, elation running though me.
“Marama Adams,” he said, marking my pass.
“I go by Mara,” I said with a smile.
“Where are you headed today, Mara?” he asked without looking up.
“New York City,” I said excitedly.
“Have a good flight,” he said with a smile, handing my things back.
“Thank you!”
I walked through the checkpoint and turned to wave to my parents one more time.
“I love you!” I called.
“We love you, too!” Mom said again.
“Call us when you get there,” Dad yelled.
“I will!”
I turned to the front again and started through security, joining the crowd of people doing the same.
My first flight had gone well, the only rough part being the landing in Denver. I’d never flown before, but handled it very well according to the woman next to me how almost threw up all over the place. As I pulled my carryon out of the cabinet above my head, the attendant informed us that my connecting flight had been delayed two hours.
I deflated some, let down that I’
d have to wait that much longer to get home. The airport turned out to be pretty awesome though and the time passed quickly.
Here I was now, flying over the one place I wanted to be more than anywhere in the world. I tried to look out the window again, catching a glimpse of green through a break in the clouds.
“Excuse me,” I asked the attendant passing by just then. “How much longer do we have?”
“About twenty minutes,” she said with a smile.
“Thank you.”
I slunk in my chair again, drumming my fingers on my thigh impatiently.
“First time in the city?” The man next to me asked.
“Yeah,” I said, grinning again. “You?”
“Born and raised,” he laughed.
“Awesome! I bet you loved every second of it.”
“It’s a pretty cool place,” he said with a nod. “Do you want to switch seats?”
My heart leapt into my throat as I eyed him to see if he was serious. The seat between us was empty so I didn’t have to feel bad about squeezing around someone.
“I really do,” I finally said, an apologetic tone to my voice.
“Hop on over,” he laughed, unbuckling.
“Sir,” the attendant said, coming up from behind us.
“I know,” he said. “I’ll sit right back down, I promise.”
I grimaced, feeling bad for getting him in trouble, but scooted into his seat all the same.
“Thank you,” I said as he sat down.
“No problem,” he said, waving me off. “It’s your first time. You should get to really experience it.”
I wasted no time in pressing my face into the window like a moron, drinking in everything there was to see. I didn’t care if I looked like a dork, I was excited.
On the ground below I could see that we were coming into a more populated area and I looked forward the best I could, trying to make out the famous skyline. There was nothing to see though, so I settled with staring at the ground, so excited I thought I might burst.
Poseidon (The God Chronicles) Page 17