I found it hard to agree with Val about the ‘incredible people’ statement. As far as I was concerned I could count on one hand the amount of people I could lightly apply the term incredible to. Even then though I knew the chances of them betraying me were higher than the chances of them helping me.
“What do you do all day then?” I asked as casually as I could manage. I guessed she hadn’t begun training with Atlas if she didn’t know her Goddess. I mostly passed my day dealing with Hera’s old acquaintances I couldn’t imagine what Valentina did with all her free time.
Whatever it was she didn’t seem phased by it at all as she smiled sweetly, sipping her tea before responding.
“Well, I visit people. Read a lot. There’s a garden I’ve been tending to, the gardening helps me clear my mind.” She paused to think of other things, “I used to have a lot of chores at home having all this time for me has given me the opportunity to try things I’ve always wanted to. And Atlas has been helpful, whenever I need something he’s more than happy to help me get it.”
Interesting. I wished that Atlas could have been more helpful for me because from what I experienced he was quite happy throwing me to the dogs and standing back to see if I would survive.
“That’s good. I know what you mean, my life before this was all about school and my internship at the hospital. I didn’t have any free time to myself. It’s nice to be able to sit and watch TV without worrying about having something better to do.” I exaggerated a little bit; she didn’t need to know that even now I still barely had any time to myself. My words seemed to please her as she smiled and nodded again as I spoke.
“Are you going to open court tonight?”
“Oh yes, I’m excited to meet all the 12 Olympians officially. I mean, I know everyone who will be there but this is the first time we’ll be presented to each other as our Gods and Goddesses.” Once more I sensed a tone of sadness as she spoke. She probably wished she did she could be introduced alongside the others too.
I resolved that when she did figure herself out, even if Atlas didn’t want to officially introduce her to the other Gods I would do it for her. Valentina deserved to be treated as specially as she did everyone else.
“Have you picked out your dress yet?” I asked, sipping the last of my tea. She seemed lost in thought for a moment before she answered.
“No, I’m afraid I’m a bit lost as to what I should wear. I’m not from an important family like the other people here and some of the things that appear in my closet, no matter how much I try to think about fancy things, never seem to be good enough.” I could understand where she was coming from, I felt as out of place sometimes as well.
“Well, if you want… You could get ready here with me and then we could go together? I could help you do your hair and makeup. We could help each other pick out dresses?” Her eyes seemed to light up in excitement at the idea.
“Oh! I would love that. I’ve always wanted to have a girlfriend to get together with for parties and such…”
I laughed, unable to control it, delighted by her excitement. The more I spoke to her the more I came to realize she was different from the other girls here.
She was open and honest about who she was and wasn’t willing to compromise. I liked that a lot. In fact, it inspired me.
I had no doubt that like everyone else she had her secrets. We all had something we were struggling to hide from everyone. I sensed that hers was a dark secret she feared. She was worried that if it were revealed it would ruin her reputation amongst the other Gods.
I could sympathize with that sensation, no less because I knew how the others would use that information against you the minute they found out about it. Like Charlotte had when she’d learned of my reputation with boys back home. I wasn’t proud of it and she had only exploited that fact for her own gain.
“Excellent.” I clapped my hands together and stood up, gathering the now empty teapot and the two cups we’d been using. “Let’s upgrade this to something a little stronger. Any requests?”
“Oh, I don’t …” She bit down on her lip, thinking about her answer for a moment before uncertainly continuing: “a Cosmo?”
She didn’t drink, that was fair. I wasn’t going to force her to do something she didn’t want to. I turned and went to the fridge, thinking about sweet tea before opening it up and revealing a glassful of the refreshing drink. I closed the door and thought about another one and on the next opening the glasses had doubled. I pulled them both out and brought one over to her before heading to the liquor cabinet in my living room.
I got out a bottle of vodka and poured some on top of my drink, mixing it in before turning back to her.
“C’mon, let’s hit up the closet.” She blushed thankfully at the drink before standing up and following me into my bedroom.
“Wow, it’s beautiful in here.” She admired the canopied bed and the matching Rococo furniture, influenced by Versailles. I was proud of the room, it certainly was the boudoir fit for a Queen. Even if I hadn’t decorated it myself, Atlas had managed to set it all up exactly as I would’ve.
“What’s your room like?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“Nothing like this for sure… Think I could get a designer to do mine up like this?” She teased, turning to face me before glancing at the bed. “Mind if I sit?”
“Make yourself at home,” I gestured to the bed before walking over to the closet and thinking about a variety of dresses to pick from. When the doors opened, before me was a rainbow selection of dresses from bright red to velvet blacks. I turned to Valentina and like a presenter I waved a hand before them to offer her the selection.
“Do I pick one?” She said, brown eyes wide once more. She stood slowly and crossed over to me, reaching out to touch the dresses. “They’re all beautiful. I don’t know which to start with. I could have never even imagined such lovely dresses. You must’ve lived a glamorous life before this.” I laughed at her presumption and shook my head.
“No, I could never afford dresses like these back home. But I did used to read trashy fashion magazines for pleasure in the waiting room of the hospital I worked at. It helped keep me in the loop with fashion even if I couldn’t afford half the things in it.”
She smiled and nodded, “But now you’re a Queen and you dress like one.”
I laughed again, “yeah, something like that.” I reached out and pulled a deep, sea foam green dress out. “Okay, you pick one.”
Valentina reached into the opening I had created and took out the dress right beside where mine had been. It was lighter green than mine but the bodice was black with lace trim coming down like a corset before the green tulle flared out in a short little dress. It was awfully cute and certainly fit Val’s personality.
“Now, we try them on.” I turned and made my way over to the end of the bed, setting the dress down on it before shifting from my day dress into the much fancier one. It bore a diamond encrusted v-shaped shoulder strap and a matching diamond belt. The material was smartly wrapped in a sweetheart neckline before being cut off below the bust by a belt. The skirt of the dress was loose and it fit me like a glove but as I turned to admire myself in the mirror it didn’t have the awe factor I was looking for.
With all the speeches Val had given me that afternoon there was a renewed vigor within me to fight for the throne against Charlotte. I didn’t necessarily want it to be Aidan’s partner, but I had a right to sit next to him even if we were never going to be together again.
Plus, I wanted to look amazing tonight to make Aidan realize not how much of an idiot he was but also that I wouldn’t be affected by his pathetic games and this dress didn’t possess any of those requirements.
“You look amazing…” Valentina gushed as she turned to face me, her own dress clinging tightly to her own curves. The black bust of the dress curled perfectly around her bosom and the lace corset gave her such an air of feminine beauty.
She didn’t look like a child anymore, in f
act she looked gorgeous and for a moment my inner jealous monster flared its head. I conceded mentally this wasn’t a competition because we were friends and friends did not indulge in trivial senses of jealousy or hatred.
“Do you Val. Come and see.” I stepped out of the way to let her have a look and she smiled at herself, twisting as the dress fanned out while she spun.
“Wow… It’s fancy. I’ve never worn anything like this before.” Her hands rolled lovingly down her sides, brushing out the dress before she looked at me. “I like this one.” She admitted with a faint, pink blush.
I smiled, bemused by her modesty, “well, put it aside. We still have plenty of time before the party to try a few more on. You never know what you’ll think of the others.”
I took out a second dress, this time going for a light pink number made of silk. Valentina almost reached for a similarly colored dress before a shinier outfit caught her eyes and she took out a dusty pink and grey shift dress. My dress, once on, made me look as if I was headed to senior prom again. Despite the beauty of its one strap cut it was far too girly and childish on me. It most certainly didn’t hold the regality I required for my Queenly impression. Even the diamante belt that held the waist together was too childish for my taste upon a second glance, the pattern of it no doubt intended to mimic flowers but gave the impression of melting snowflakes.
Valentina, although having reached for a simpler sequined shift dress, looked glamorous in it once she had it on. It hugged her curves perfectly but hung loosely in all the right places to make her look like a movie star.
I knew that if she were to wear that dress tonight she would be turning heads and even making a few unknown enemies by drawing such attention to her.
“I think it’s a bit too frumpy.” She conceded, turning to me for advice.
I shook my head, “no. I think you look amazing. That dress is flattering on you.”
She turned in surprise to the mirror for a second inspection but I could tell even my opinion wouldn’t sway her.
“You don’t have to wear it if you don’t like it Valentina. You should only wear things you feel comfortable in, no matter what other people say.” She stared at me through the reflective glass of the mirror before she nodded in agreement.
“You’re right. Thanks.” We both began to undress again and spent another twenty minutes trying on other dresses to wear.
In the end, Valentina had set aside a black and grey number, made of bunched silk throughout the bust with a mid-length deep V-neck whose skirt was brush strokes of leopard print. I found a beautiful, extremely pale pink dress with a double layer skirt and a lace see-through bodice that both of us agreed were fit for a Queen.
But following my own advice I didn’t love it enough to commit to wearing it that evening. I was still sifting through the dresses looking for something that would be perfect when I came across a beautiful black velvet dress that I thought would look amazing on Valentina. I pulled it out and offered it to her.
At first her eyes widened at the revealing top it bore, before she agreed, “okay, I’ll try it on.”
I watched her take it, switching into it carefully and as she turned my breath left me. It was perfect. The velvet lay perfectly across her hips and tummy, accentuating her hourglass form. Despite the plunging v sweetheart neckline the dress had, it was still modest as the top half was still cut like a long-sleeved shirt but made from a mesh material. Along the collar and down the arms of the dress, beautiful intricate velvet lines had been drawn in patterns like tattoos. Val looked simply stunning.
“I think that’s it.” I said with an affirmative nod. She seemed excited as she turned to the mirror once again to take stock of herself and I could hear a soft gasp of pleasure as she stared.
“I…” She was speechless, which only made me smile. This dress made her look older than she was, a perfect reflection of the old soul she certainly possessed.
“Perfect?”
“Yes, I think,” she turned to me, grateful and excited, “Thanks Savannah, I love it. Now we need to find something for you.” I turned back to the closet and stared at it for a moment before reaching in and drawing out a strawberry colored dress.
“I think I found it.” The dress fit tight like a glove on me, pencil skirt in length and one shouldered like the others had been. But on this shoulder sat a bunch of ruffled and folded pieces of material, attached to a draped collar, crossing to the other side. The dress itself was peplum in style but instead of going all the way around it only hung in the middle on the front and the material fell like a folded waterfall to the bottom of the dress.
I looked like a real Queen as I stared at my reflection and Val stood behind me nodding her head in silent agreement. It was modest, but still sexy. It was everything I wanted and more. Anything Charlotte could wear would look trashy next to me I knew it.
“We’re going to be the hottest girls there.” Valentina giggled and I turned to look at her, smiling and nodding. She was blushing at her statement but I could feel the pride resonating off her. I got the impression she had never been able to dress like this, for one reason or another, and she liked it. Even more with me there encouraging her to do it.
“You’re right about that. Now it’s time to accessorize.” We conjured two pairs of designer shoes then we set to dressing our hair and faces up.
By the end of it I resolved that girl time had been exactly what I had needed, how Val had known I didn’t know... but I was grateful for her appearance back in that hallway. I had completely forgotten about the crushing feeling Aidan had left in my chest and found myself excited for the evening ahead of us.
I was going to be presented to the other Gods and this time, no matter what lies Charlotte spread about me... I was the only one who could ever look the part of the Queen of the Heavens.
Chapter 23
The doors of the throne room opened and everyone was there. People I was familiar with at this point, and even people I’d never seen before in all my time here. But apparently, Valentina knew everyone. But not in the way everyone knew me.
Her eyes swept the room before she burst into a big grin and moved further into the room to say hi to people, give hugs and complement people. My eyes followed her, wishing I could be more sociable like that but she seemed to have this unique knack to make people feel at ease around her and I knew that was mostly what contributed to their reception of the younger girl.
I still felt a sense of protection over her. The inevitable wandering eyes of some of the boys in the room watched her as if wondering where this girl had been hiding. It was too easy to brush her off as too young when she wasn’t dolled up like this. But here and now, the way she maneuvered herself around the room she looked like the woman she was growing into.
Catching a waiter as she passed with a tray of drinks I took a flute of something for myself and decided to leave Valentina alone for now. She seemed to be handling herself quite fine without me.
I didn’t exactly know where I was headed or who I was going to talk to but with my newly acquired confidence, and desire to impress people with my innate Queenly skills, I knew I had to seek out people who could be on my side instead of Charlotte’s.
Immediately I knew what I wanted to do. Charlotte would be prone to seeking out the ‘higher’ class, not that there was much distinction of that in this crowd with everyone’s access to finery. I also knew that would mean lesser Gods to her as well.
She’d seek the help of the Olympians because they had the most power but what Charlotte didn’t understand was that although there was more power with the Olympians, there were more lesser Gods in general, equaling if not surpassing them, with power.
I already felt more cunning with that plan under my belt and allowed my eyes to search about the room for my first target. It was hard to pick though, harder still to discern who was God, Titan or otherwise. I knew there were muses but I wasn’t sure if they fell into the realm of being Goddesses or being something else.
It probably wouldn’t hurt to get friendly with everyone but I needed a starting point instead of jumping in.
Spotting a petite strawberry blonde hanging around at the back of the room I started toward her when suddenly a bulky presence stepped in front of me.
“Hello Savannah.”
I stepped back, turning my chin upwards to see his face. It took me a moment to remember his name, “Lincoln.” I stepped back more, putting some space between us though it made no difference as he closed in on me again.
“You look absolutely divine this evening. Where’s your date?” He let his eyes glance around as though he expected a man to appear at my side before they settled back on me, lazily taking in the curves of the dress.
“I’m going solo for the evening. Besides, I didn’t realize that this was a bring a date sort of affair.”
“You didn’t come with your husband?”
“My what?” I laughed; the question was rhetorical because I knew that he meant Aidan. I couldn’t believe he’d referred to him as my husband. “No. We did not come together; we don’t have any intention of ever going anywhere together.”
“Oh, are you and the hubby having a lover’s quarrel?”
“We’re not lovers, we’re not married, we’re not anything.” Lincoln looked thoughtful for a moment, an unnerving smirk crossing his features as he stepped closer.
“Well, lucky for me.” He reached out and brushed a bit of loose hair behind my ear letting his fingertips linger against the soft skin hidden there before dragging them away down my neck.
The gesture sent a series of shivers down my neck and my stomach knotted uneasily as I stared up at him. I had flashbacks of what Griffin had tried to do and ignored the fear that Lincoln might try the same thing.
Greek Gods, specifically the Gods, seemed to all be under the impression that they could have whatever they wanted whenever they wanted it, because they had the power to command. They were all arrogant and selfish people, to my horror all being exactly the kinds of guys I had vowed to avoid.
Grace of Gods Boxset: Reincarnated Greek Gods YA/NA Series Page 21