Aelia
The villa was warm but not as warm as it is in the summer.
Clear crisp sheets of ice lounged on the clean painted windowsill of the misty glass pane as I peered out of it, admiring the soft swirls of snowflakes as they sauntered by. Delicate powdered snow coated the flat ground like a sparkling blanket.
It's been 5 years since I met my soulmate Edwyn but only a few hours since I last saw him and I already missed him with all of my being.
I sighed and reluctantly stepped away from the window, discarding my night clothes and slipping into the simple lilac summer dress that was waiting for me.
I secured the fabric bow in place and quickly put my silky cloud-coloured hair in a loose dragon braid, tying it in place with a dianthus hair clip. Loose locks of straight silver hair accentuated my facial structure, the shorter strands clinging effortlessly to my forehead.
I exhaled deeply before descending lightly down the plumbeous slated stairs and tiptoed across the mosaic tiles of the hall, swiftly making my way to the front door. I'm just about to turn the handle when I hear my father call out. "Aelia!"
I hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly trudged into the reception room at the front of the villa. The dark oak doors are wide open and the bright winter light is all snowy shadows. My father blended into them as he was slumped behind his desk, a grand beige lamp casting a soft amber light on the documents he was studying. He didn't even look up as I entered.
"Aelia get your mother in here now." His voice was colder than the sharp icicles that hung off the gutter on the roof.
"Yes father." What else could I say? "I'll go get her now." I winced at how weak my voice sounded compared to his. The hope that he would acknowledge me with pride died out like a flickering ember fighting against a strong breeze. Before he could look up, I quickly turned heel and walked out to retrieve my mother.
I crossed the long bright halls to her room, ominous light flooding the open space like a tsunami of dread. Anguished, the wooden doors groaned in agony as I knocked.
"Mother? Are you in there?" I waited for a reply but only heard a muffled cry. I sighed through my nose before slipping through the gap in the doors to find her lying on the bed shivering and crying.
"Mother?" She looked at me, her eyes hollow with suffering.
"Father is asking for you in his office." She let out another broken sob and I immediately wrapped her up in my arms, stroking her hair gently like she used to do to me when I was a baby. We stayed like that for many minutes before she found her voice once again.
"Take me to his office. I... I think I'm ready now." Her voice quivered as I helped her get to her shaky feet. Carefully, I led her back across the long bright halls and returned to the dark oak doors that guarded my father's office. I knocked and there was a rushed cacophony of rustling papers before my father spoke. "Enter."
Unsuspectingly, I pushed them open and guided my mother softly inside. My father looked up not sparing her a glance and gazed straight at me.
"Aelia go take that offering to the temple for Demeter. I need a private talk with your mother." I glanced at her, taking in her fragile state before hesitating, gazing back at my father.
"Go now, Aelia. Don't make me repeat myself otherwise you know the consequences." I froze as morbid memories flashed behind my reminiscent eyes before muttering "Yes father..." under my breath and walking out. I pushed the grand doors open as I exited and they closed sharply behind me.
I let out a long sigh again before crossing the mosaic tiles once more, entering the marble-designed kitchen to retrieve my offering. This masterpiece had taken me weeks to gather. It consisted of rare crops and flowers since Demeter was the Goddess of Harvest. Some saffron, aroids, teak tree seeds in a wooden natural container, some red camellia and a lone magenta narcissus with some simple scented candles all tied together by some farming string.
I decided to add the narcissus because it was the flower that represented life since Demeter was the Goddess of harvest I thought it was a rather fitting touch to add.
Carefully, I picked my wonderful creation up and exited the villa, silently slipping out into the fresh air. I took a deep breath, holding it in until blackened stars formed at the edge of my vision, and exhaled deeply.
I set myself at a fast pace, jogging towards the temple whilst cradling the offering carefully in my partially trembling hands.
The emerald green forests melted away into wide cattle-full fields with a fast-flowing river dividing them in half. The wind caught in my hair, making the dragon braid flap and flow wildly behind me as my footsteps stormed the uneven ground.
My icy sunlit eyes glanced towards the pure river as I slowed my pace, stalking towards it. Gratefully, I splashed the clean water on my face, allowing it to flow down my being.
I sighed deeply in refreshment at the clean cooling waters before I set myself at that punishing pace once again.
In less than a few minutes I arrived at the Sunstone Shrine - or as others called it The House Of Offerings. Both names were valid I suppose.
And you guessed it.
It was built entirely handmade from stone and concrete as well as sunstone - which was the stone of leadership - to showcase our mortal "appreciation" to our guardians.
Except the Gods and Goddess' Altars.
Allegedly, they chose the material for their Altars themselves.
Rapidly, I caught my breath and walked up the sacred serene steps and past the Main Altar. Of course Zeus had to have the biggest and most offerings. He was the God of Gods after all.
I paused beside his altar, my eyes snagging on the statement beneath Zeus' name that was engraved into the divine sky blue stone, lightning bolts surrounding that engravement.
The statement read:
"If you mere mortals dare to go against my power, then I will strike you down with my godly wrath."
There was a strident roar of thunder, lightning flashing glaringly in the baby blue sky.
Honestly.
Deities just loved to flaunt how worthless we are compared to them by demonstrating their power.
And these were the omnipotent guardians that were supposed to safeguard our race?
Pathetic.
I scoffed and walked past Zeus' altar, past Hades' and towards Demeter's offering altar. The marbled stone was covered and surrounded with gifts and offerings, all of them praying desperately to her for a good harvest.
I sighed and knelt on the provided offering square, lighting the candles that emitted a calming scent. I put my hands together and breathed deeply, steadying my partially trembling limbs and clearing my mind from my father's usual antics, and exhaled again.
I prayed for a good harvest; a good ripe season of fruits and vegetables for us mortals to sell. After a few minutes, I opened my chalcedony eyes and placed the offering right next to Demeter's name, politely nodding to her statement in acknowledgement, all the rare species of crops standing out against the bland common flowers that surrounded her alter like a divine beacon.
Except the solitary narcissus that lay at its feet.
"Please, Demeter. If your divine presence is listening, we desperately require a good full ripe harvest to trade and sell." My voice echoed in the grand Sunstone Shrine hall but I didn't care. I heard a rumble of rain outside like her sacred whisper and took it as a good sign. I muttered a quiet yet grateful "thank you" under my breath before standing and dusting my knees down mindful of my lovely lilac summer dress.
My ocean eyes glanced at Hades' Altar.
Not a single offering.
No prayers.
Nothing.
I suppose that made sense: everyone feared him after all.
Any coward would fear the God of the Underworld.
Out of instinct, my fingers plucked that singular fuschia narcissus from Demeter's offering and placed it on Hades'. He needed an offering. Even if it was just one. This time I spoke my thoughts out loud.
"Hades... If you're listening to me right now, then I offer you this narcissus as a thank you for protecting The Dead for so long."
I rose again and was about to leave when my eye was caught by Hades' statement engraved on his hell stone altar.
"You mustn't fear me. I will be your guardian in death; your protector."
Short but simple; talk about getting to the point.
How convenient.
My prayer complimented his statement perfectly.
Maybe he wasn't like all the rumours that had been spread.
Maybe he wasn't so bad after all.
Maybe...
I shook my head and sighed once again, trying to clear my mind but Hades' statement circled my thoughts over and over like a shark surrounding its prey.
"Aelia?"
A voice spoke, snapping me out of my troubled thoughts.
Edwyn!
I greeted him with a soft kiss, fireworks erupting at the contact. I felt him smile against my lips and kiss me back. The tingles flowed through all my being, pulsing in my veins like blissful pleasure.
I pulled away for air.
"What are you doing here, Edwyn?"
My voice rang with happiness.
"I was walking past and decided to make a prayer to Demeter for a good harvest."
Agreeing, I nodded and motioned to my offering.
"I had the same thought. Mine has that narcissus."
I saw his eyes widen in surprise.
"A narcissus? Where on earth did you find that?"
I smirked and replied.
"A woman never reveals her secrets."
He let out a soft laugh before slipping his hand into mine as we walked out the Sunstone Shrine.
"The saying goes 'a magician never reveals their tricks', silly."
He smirked back, proud of himself.
"And I could be both. Who knows?"
I retorted with a teasing grin and he laughed softly.
We both knew exactly where we were going.
The Weeping Willow was what we called it.
It was a huge overgrown willow tree that provided plenty shade, its long leafy arms teasing the ground, half shy from the vast lake that stretched out in front of it.
The towering mountains would make anyone feel small; well except a God or Goddess of course.
And right at the centre of that mountain range, tallest of all and most eye-catching, was Mt Olympus where our gods and goddesses resided.
Legend has it that if you could successfully climb to the top then Zeus would grant you a drop of his blood to transform you into a demi-god as a prize for your courage.
Of course everyone believed that tale but no one could actually achieve it.
Apparently, some species of mythological monsters lived on Mt Olympus, therefore making it impossible for anyone to succeed.
An expected stunt from Zeus.
The opportunity to power was just within our reach, yet still just out of it as well.
Edwyn and I swept the draping branches aside and perched against the tree, my head on his shoulder as his fingers traced my dragon plait whilst being careful not to ruin the pretty pattern and my pale lilac dress grazed the lush dry grass with a soft caress.
The hours felt like minutes; time flies when you're with loved ones I suppose.
An obnoxious ringtone blared, sharply cutting through the serene silence. I pulled out my phone with a soft exasperated exhale, picking up the call. My father's voice sounded sharply on the other line.
"Aelia, I don't care where you are. Get your arse home right now."
There was a livid tone in his voice, one full of constricted anger, rage and fury.
I flinched and went to speak but he cut me off.
"I don't need your excuses. Get home now."
And just like that he hung up, leaving me shaken and Edwyn gazing at me with concern deeper than the voluminous lake in front of us.
"Aelia, what's happening?"
His voice was serious.
I sighed and replied, my voice sounding small and powerless as if Zeus himself was standing in front of me.
"My father is demanding I come home. Right now. No excuses. And he sounded pissed."
Edwyn's expression darkened for a moment before he held me tight in his arms at an attempt to comfort me but I gently pulled away.
I felt the spark between us flicker and fizz before dying out.
"I have to go, Edwyn... He's already snapped once and it won't be pretty the second time."
He was silent for a moment before he just nodded, letting me go.
My apologetic eyes met his hiddenite ones for a moment before I turned heel and reluctantly trudged my way home.
The emerald forests didn't seem as vibrant anymore as I walked past anxiously. The river seemed to flow slower, matching my morbid mood. Even the cattle had hidden in their stables like they were afraid of my father's wrath too.
The bright white walls of the villa came into view, however they looked duller and more caved. Maybe they were dreading what was about to happen as well.
Silently, I pushed the front doors open slipping inside and closing them quietly. I could hear shouting and crying coming from the bedroom.
That was my father's voice, and Mother's crying.
Not wasting a second, I sprinted rapidly up the stairs - skipping a few and nearly falling back down - and ran to the door, pushing it open hastily.
And that was the horrific sight.
The strong metallic scent filled my nose and I froze.
Blood.
My father was brandishing a belt, the scarlet liquid dripping thickly down the metal clasp.
My mother was curled on the bed crying, blood crawling from every repugnant opening. Out of reflex I ran in, grabbing the belt tightly, struggling as we wrestled for it.
"Father stop! Why are you doing this?" Tears brimmed in my eyes as I fully processed the horrific scene.
My father's eyes were wild with emotions.
"She dared to talk back to me... She had it coming to her!"
He yanked the belt from me and lashed out, the metal connecting with my temple. However I refused to cry out.
I wasn't going to give him that satisfaction.
He went to strike again but sirens sounded sharply outside the villa and the doors were busted open, authorities flooding the building faster than my processing consciousness.
Police busted into the room and my father's face flashed with fear and horror before he was tackled and disarmed roughly by a rather wide officer, handcuffs forced onto his wrists. My mother was rushed to the paramedics stationed outside whilst another medic prepared to treat the gushing cut on my temple.
I stood there shaken as everything happened around me, unable to process it all.
What the hell just happened?
Did Mother speak out against Father?
Or did he just want an excuse to beat something?
As I came to my senses, I realised that my wound had been treated by a paramedic as others swarmed around my mother, desperately trying to stabilise her.
I couldn't process it all.
I fainted.
