Solis: Modern Descendants

by elda lore

  I noticed Persephone staring at the cairn. She missed him. Harris Black, he’d called himself on earth. Hades, my cousin, was his real name. I’d catch her in moments of deep thought, and I imagined her mind wandered to him. I’d given him my gift, but only for a little while. Time cut too short, I worried the after effects would run long. A year later and I stood correct in my concern.

  “Can’t you bring him back?” she’d asked me. “Give him solar strength again. I know you did it the first time.”

  I couldn’t deny the truth, especially since I sensed she held back from speaking during dinner. In the openness of the rocks, there was no one to overhear her plea.

  “I can’t. I’m sorry.” I didn’t have the heart to tell her Hades didn’t want to go through the pain again. He didn’t want to prolong the hurt he or she would feel each time he visited. I told him to keep her for himself, but he refused. He didn’t want to trap her in the darkness of his world. I didn’t understand how love that strong couldn’t bind them together in some way. Then again, I thought of my own mother, and Zeke. Their love destroyed them both. I didn’t want to be like that. Love would not claim me.

  “She’s very beautiful.” I’d been staring at nothing, but in the general direction of Persephone, and Veva’s softened tone surprised me. Her typical bite gone, something sweet and painful filled her comment.

  “She is,” I sighed. “But she’s not my type.”

  “Why?” Last night we’d argued this point, as if Veva wanted me to take Persephone. Today, her question asked out of curiosity. I couldn’t be certain Veva knew the full truth. Hades had been a god among men, literally. I couldn’t die either, but he would kill me if I went after his love.

  “She belonged to another, and I don’t want to be second to someone.” The response seemed truthful enough and Veva’s eyes opened wide. Her head nodded once. Did she understand? My brows pinched at the thought. Had she loved someone before?

  “Did you know Had…Harris Black?” I corrected myself, almost giving away his identity.

  “Not really.” She shook her head, surprised that I knew his name. “He appeared out of nowhere, and then disappeared as fast as he’d arrived. Assumed dead, the investigators never found a body, but there was no way to survive what he’d been through.”

  I nodded slowly as if I understood, but I knew the truth.

  “She loved him. I’ve never seen anything like that. I watched love blossom before my eyes.” Veva’s hands cupped and then opened, her fingers exploding forth like an unfolding flower. “It’s like love was a living thing.” She chuckled. “Sounds stupid, doesn’t it?” She lowered her head and slipped her hands into the back pockets of her shorts.

  “I think…it sounds different.” I looked over at Persephone. “Like something special. I’m certain Had…Harris and Persephone were very lucky. Something like that only happens once in a lifetime.” I sighed at the thought. A human lifetime, at least. The life I’d lived, I didn’t anticipate love. I seemed to be following in my father’s footsteps—casual sex with multiple women because I couldn’t narrow my interests down to one. Heph asked me once if I thought it was because I hadn’t found the right one. He wanted a one and only. I didn’t believe in such fate, at least for me. It would take someone extraordinary to be the only one for me.

  “Feeling better?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.

  “Yeah, we can go.”

  VEVA

  Solis helped me into the back of the Jeep. The top removed, we rode with the wind in our hair on the way to our destination. I anticipated the return trip to be just as windy. Solis stripped off his T-shirt and dropped into the driver seat. As I sat behind him, I stared at the giant scar down the middle of his back: a jagged ripple of puckered skin. My eyes narrowed as I took in the raised flesh and the white line against tan skin. How painful had whatever been to cause such a scar? The line cut over his spine like a jolt of lightning electrifying his skin. Actually, the very mark looked like it. A bolt of lightning, wild and striking across the expanse of his back, like a night sky.

  I turned to Persephone. She noticed the same thing as me and our eyes touched briefly before each returned to stare. For some reason, I envisioned Solis as an angel who’d had his wings ripped from his back. My heart pinched and I covered my chest with my hand, rubbing over warm skin. Solis’ eyes caught mine in the rearview mirror. He watched the motion of my palm massaging the space above my left breast. As I let my hand slowly fall over my large curve, gliding down to my stomach, the Jeep swerved. Persephone and I tumbled side to side in the backseat, and I was reminded of riding in the bed of pick-up trucks on the farm.

  “Shit,” Solis hissed as he righted the vehicle. Heph held the roll bar to the side of his head and stared at his brother. Combing a hand through his blond locks, Solis’ eyes met mine in the mirror one more time. He winked at me.

  Shit, I cursed myself. I shouldn’t be teasing him. That near kiss was too much for me and I looked away, out at the open land of rocky hills and barren dirt. It amazed me olives grew in this heat and soil. Unlike the dark, rich earth of Nebraska, the valley’s land lay brown and dry. Yet Zeke definitely ran a successful business. His estate spanned miles upon miles, and we returned quickly to his property.

  Solis pulled up to the front door of the house, and hopped out to help me down from the back of the Jeep. Heph aided Persephone. I was about to thank Solis when the booming sound of Zeke’s agitated voice startled all of us.

  “Solis, I’d like to see you after you park, please.” He nodded once to his son and then spun for the main door. Heph arched a brow at his brother and Solis shook his lowering head. I suddenly worried Solis might be in trouble for taking Persephone and I off the main property. Zeke and Demi became highly protective of Persephone after she’d been missing for months a year ago. When she returned, cognizant of where she’d been and unharmed, the protectiveness remained. As I once told her, I thought she’d had a great adventure, and I hoped when she was ready she’d explain it to me. That day hadn’t come and it had been over a year.

  Zeke offered Pea and me the place to stay for the summer as a means of vacation. For me, grad school was on the calendar after I graduated, as I wanted to earn my counseling degree. For Persephone, she hadn’t decided what to do next.

  Persephone and I headed to our room. I needed a shower after the steamy day and Zeke liked people dressed for dinner.

  “I think Solis likes you.” I stood inside our room, removing the heart shaped rock from my pocket. My thumb ran over the sharp edges and the heat warmed the pad of my finger.

  “Veva,” she laughed. “It’s so obvious he’s into you. Besides, he’s not my type.” I looked up at her. Irony rang through my ears as she used the same phrase as Solis. I understood better what Persephone meant. She’d fallen for a tall, lanky man, with jet black hair, hanging in his face and down to his neck. Solis couldn’t be more opposite with his wild blond hair and honey eyes, not to mention the buff, tan body.

  “Are you ever going to tell me about him?” I sat on my bed across from hers. She flopped back on hers and stared at the ceiling. Taking a deep breath, she began.

  “Remember when I disappeared? I was with Har…Harris Black,” she said, swallowing hard. “His real name is Hades.” Her head rolled in my direction. “Veva, it’s hard for me to even explain where I was or how I got there, but it was otherworldly, literally. The story is long, but the short version is, I couldn’t stay and Hades didn’t want to keep me.” A tear trickled down her cheek.

  “Harris Black was named Hades. That’s a scary name, no wonder he changed it.” I laughed, shivering exaggeratedly, ignoring my friend’s tears. She didn’t want me to draw attention to them and she hated when I tried to sympathize with her loss.

  Persephone stared at me, willing me to understand something I couldn’t read in her eyes.

  “His father is named Hades as well. In fact, Hades Senior and Zeke are brothers.”

  I held u
p a hand, shaking my head. We hardly knew much of Zeke’s family history. Yes, he had brothers, but I couldn’t recall ever hearing their names. It was hard enough keeping up with his children. The absurdity of the relation proved Pea had lost her mind. Some post-traumatic stress disorder or something, since Harris Black’s death.

  “Persephone, you don’t have to tell me anything you aren’t ready for, but I’m your best friend. I can handle the truth.”

  “Veva, this is the truth. Hades is the son of Hades, Zeke’s brother. They’re both…gods.” She blinked at me as if disbelieving her own words. She took a deep breath. “God, it feels good to tell someone,” she muttered. I continued to stare at my delusional friend.

  “Hades took the form of Harris Black to see me, but he couldn’t stay. And I couldn’t follow him.”

  “But you’d already been there before?” I nodded, as if I understood, but I didn’t. “Why didn’t he stay with you?” I knew that answer, too. Obviously, Persephone still suffered from the violent trauma of his death. She stared at me, another tear slipping from her eye. My heart sank to my belly. My poor, beautiful Persephone, she had gone crazy, I decided. Poor Pea, but a thought struck me.

  “If Hades and Zeke are brothers, then his son, Hades, is Zeke’s nephew, which means Solis is…” my voice trailed off.

  “Hades’ cousin.” Persephone finished the thought for me. I stood from the bed and twisted a piece of hair around my finger. My counseling books encouraged to either play along with the story or try to recapture the truth. I paced the length of each bed.

  “So if Hades is a god,” I glanced over at her as I paced, “And Zeke is a god? You’re saying Hades’ son is a god, so Zeke’s son must be…” I couldn’t bring my mouth to form the incredulous word.

  “A god.”

  I smiled weakly at my dearest friend, caught between the sympathy she deserved and the meds she needed.

  “Honey, there’s only one God.”

  “You think I’m crazy, right?”

  “No, Pea. Just…I just think you’re sad and you miss him, and that’s okay. Making stuff up is a little freaky, but I love you still, and I’m sure Zeke has a brother, named Hades, who had a son, who is cousins with Solis. That all makes sense. Harris was a god, I’ll give you that. He was Grecian-statue-come-to-life in all his sexy glory,” I teased and my friend smiled weakly in response. In fact, it would make sense that Solis was a relation, as his physique rivaled those of the historic statues. Persephone’s head shook at my comments but her eyes haunted me. She wanted me to believe her.

  SOLIS

  While the south wing housed our guests, the north wing was home to the relatives. Zeke had his own wing off the main structure, facing east and his fields of success. I found him there, in his office. He stood staring out at the olive groves, but he also had a direct view of the pool area. I couldn’t be certain he wasn’t ogling a female body sunbathing on the patio.

  “Zeke.” I didn’t address him as my father. I’d had another man I called father, and Zeke and that man did not equate as equals.

  “Solis.” He turned to face me, sipping from a coffee mug. “Did you have a good day, son?” The title made me bristle. He liked to remind me I was his, as if my body didn’t already bear the mark.

  “Yes, we did.” There was no point disguising who I had been with, he saw me drop off the girls.

  “I’m pleased that you’re social, welcoming our guests.” He paused. “But you are aware that Veva and Persephone are special to me. They are more than visitors. They are practically family.” I did know these things. Zeke couldn’t decide between Hera Matron and Demi Fields, although the gossip said Zeke’s heart lay with Hera more. I only had confirmation that Zeke ever consummated his love with one woman, once. The rumors questioned if either girl was his daughter. He’d already assured me they were not his children, but he loved them as such.

  “Both girls are quite beautiful.” The comment made my back straighten, family or not, the fact remained they were not of our bloodline and that made them fair game to Zeke. I hadn’t seen him take interest in ones so young, but it was something I would not put past him.

  “I’m curious if you’ve taken an interest in either girl?” He stared at me over the rim of his mug as he took another short sip of the coffee within. My mouth fell open and then snapped shut, continuing my silence. I didn’t know if I’d taken an interest, either. Intrigued, definitely. Veva ignited something in me I hadn’t felt before, and yet strangely felt familiar to me when she was near me. Her hatred fueled a storm. Her touch sparked lightning. I suddenly feared admitting these things to my father.

  He nodded once before continuing. “I’d like to warn you that getting involved with either girl would be…complicated. Their mothers are strongly favored by me, and rumbling under the sheets with either girl could result in a family feud I do not wish to partake in.” His eyes narrowed. “Not to mention the stunt you pulled last summer makes Persephone beholden still to Hades.” I was well aware of the commitment between Hades and Persephone, as well as the result of their love affair. I’d done what I did because Hades asked me, and other than Heph, he was one of the few true friends I had in this so-called family.

  “On that note, as you know, I go to the Fields’ Farm each summer to help Titus and his daughters with whatever they need. Since they both agreed I should remain here and supervise their girls, I’ve decided to send you. This also prevents a risk of repeating what you did last summer for Hades.” His eyes narrowed at me and an electric current ran up my back, shocked at his knowledge.

  “So I’m being punished for taking the girls out rock climbing?” The anger in my tone struggled to remain suppressed. My fists clenched at my sides. This was the biggest bullshit he’d pulled in a long time.

  “It’s not punishment, it’s a privilege. I’m giving you responsibility to help Hera and Demi.”

  “You’re banishing me for entertaining their daughters.”

  Zeke’s eyebrow rose. “And how exactly did you entertain them?”

  Bile rose in my stomach. I wasn’t the lowlife he was, taking two women at once. “Not like you’d think, Zeke. We went rock climbing. Heph was with us. He can confirm everything remained legit.”

  “Speaking of Heph, maybe you’d consider the Fields farm as support for him.”

  Fuck, I wanted to scream. I hated how my father used Heph against me. He knew I’d do anything for him. Knowing the truth of Heph’s heritage slayed me. It had never been a burden until now.

  “And how long will I be gone?”

  “All summer, of course.” Zeke triumphed at my defeat, a trait not uncommon to my father. He ruled supreme over his gaggle of children. Despite the illegitimacy of most of us, I remained one of his true children by a failed marriage. He once feared me, but I let him keep the upper hand. One day, he’d push me too far, like his own father pushed him. Wrath filled my veins.

  “This isn’t exactly fair.” He hated when I pulled the fairness card. You’d make a good lawyer, he laughed. If I was his true son, and he recognized me, he’d be forced to treat me fairly. It wasn’t appropriate that he treated us unequally, but no one promised all children would be loved the same. I stormed from his office. The skies matched my anger. A dark cloud covered the estate and thunder rumbled under the surface like the tension rolling under my skin. I fumed as I stalked the hallway leading to a familial common space. I burst out the door as the thunder clapped louder and stomped around the pool. Every time I headed to my studio I took a different path, determined no females would follow me. Lost in my anger, I trampled new ground to the hut. Lightning cracked the dry sky. I clapped my hand and rain tumbled like a sharp shower head, spraying the hot earth with refreshing drops. I ripped down the canvas Veva made and hung a new sheet. Stretching on my toes, I stroked the first burst of darkness and continued in my anger to paint a stormy landscape.

  + + +

  The next morning, I found Veva in the family library. Seated at a ta
ble amongst several old books, she flipped frantically from page to page.

  “Those are heirlooms,” I teased, as one piece of parchment threatened to rip in her haste. Her eyes dropped to the yellowed paper and she smoothed her hand down the crease of the binding. She looked up at me, wide eyed and curious.

  “Is that true?” The tone of her voice made the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

  “Is what true?”

  “You killed your father?” Her question floored me. My fists clenched instantly at images which brushed away sleep and caused me years of uncertainty.

  “Where did you hear that?” I remained stuck in place, but Veva stood slowly, her brow pinching at my poised stance. Every muscle in my body tightened. She stepped toward me, but I shook my head in warning. We weren’t at a point to share secrets.

  “Locker room talk,” she stated, tilting her head still noting my tense stance.

  “Always believe what you hear in there?” My false smile and clenched teeth pulled a slow curve to her lips. Her adamant “Yes,” relaxed me as she teased.

  “That’s unfortunate,” I replied, letting my momentary irritation release slowly. My hands unclenched and I leaned against the door jamb.

  “I heard you were an amazing lover from there, too.”

  I laughed in response, relaxing completely. Surely, she jested, and I was quick to retort. “Want to test out that rumor, and see if it’s true?”

  “Not on your father’s life.” Her tipped head proved she’d circled back to being mean.