The Augury

Chapter 03: Eternal City, Venus' abode.

“Oh, at last, you've regained consciousness!”

Harmony's entire countenance was jolted the instant she recognized the voice emanating from a man whose face was uncomfortably close to hers.

Upon first glance, she was immediately met with the sight of the most strikingly beautiful ocean blue eyes. These were eyes that seemed to capture and reflect the depth and mystery of the sea itself, sparkling and shimmering with a life of their own. His nose, sharp and well-defined, stood out prominently but in perfect harmony with the rest of his features. His lips that seemed as if they were masterfully crafted for the sole purpose of being kissed. All of these striking features were beautifully framed by a radiant golden curls. It was a sight that was both breathtaking and mesmerizing.

“W-where am I?” She questioned, her voice tinged with confusion and fear. As she surveyed her surroundings, she realized she was lying on an unusually large, majestic bed that seemed to envelop her in its comfort. Her eyes then landed on a familiar figure - it was him! The mysterious man who had taken her from the Emerald Forests!

“Easy there blondie, you're frightening our guest.” The man who had brought her here admonished, gently prying the golden-haired man away from Harmony.

Taken aback, she instinctively distanced herself from the man with the golden curls, her eyes darting between the two men in her presence. Her mind was a whirlwind of questions.

Where was she? What was this unfamiliar place? Was it normal for everyone to be so unbelievably attractive here? The grandeur and opulence of the place were a stark contrast to her previous surroundings, the furniture and exterior of the place exuding an aura of luxury and elegance was foreign to her.

The man who had captured her earlier was now sitting casually on the edge of the bed. His grip on her chin was firm, his veiny hand holding her in place as he flashed her a handsome smirk. Despite his intimidating presence, Harmony summoned the strength to try and pull away.

However, his grip only tightened further. “Chill, doll, we're not here to eat you. Although I can, if you want,” He whispered, his voice dripping with a sultriness that sent a shiver down her spine.

Harmony, however, was not one to be easily swayed. His words ignited a surge of flustered anger within her. With a swift, resolute motion, she smacked his hand away. “I'm not your doll,” she shot back, her voice strong and unwavering. She paused, gathering her thoughts before she continued, “Where am I? Who are the two of you and why have you brought me here? What do you want from me?”

“Relax, Harmony! You're in the Eternal City,” the man with the golden curls tried to explain. He attempted to put her at ease, “The only difference is that this is the God's place.” His words, however, only served to deepen Harmony's confusion.

“Stop playing games with me,” she demanded, her voice growing louder with each word. “Where am I, really?”

The two men exchanged a glance. The one with the golden curls looked visibly troubled, his mind racing as he tried to figure out how to explain. The other man, however, still wore that annoying smirk on his face, seemingly taking delight in Harmony's state of confusion and fear.

Just as she was gathering her thoughts, preparing to lash out again and try to articulate her frustration, the situation took an unexpected turn. Without any prior indication of anyone's presence, the door opened noiselessly. The entrance revealed a woman whose beauty was unparalleled to anything Harmony had ever witnessed before. Her breathtaking appearance momentarily silenced the room, capturing everyone's attention, and leaving Harmony momentarily speechless.

“Venus!”

The man with golden curls that caught then immediately sprang into action. He dashed across the marble floor, his footfalls echoing in the immense space, and with a bow of deference, he kissed the hand of the majestic woman.

Not far behind him, the other man followed. He too, with a sense of awe and reverence, strode forward and knelt before the woman. He pressed his lips to her other hand, his actions mirroring the first man.

Her eyes, wide and filled with disbelief, darted between the two men and the woman they were so obviously venerating. The realization dawned on her; she was not dreaming. She stood in the presence of Venus—the fabled goddess of love, beauty, and s*x. The reality of her situation was overwhelming. She was inside the abode of gods and goddesses, feeling a mix of intimidation, terror, and confusion. Why was she here?

“Hello there, little Dryad... Did they scare you?” Venus' voice was soft, like a gentle breeze rustling through the trees.

She moved toward Harmony, who was still in bed, her body rigid with fear. Petrified, Harmony remained silent; her mind raced but she had no words, no reactions to the incredible situation unfolding around her.

The golden-curled man seemed to sense her fear and immediately shook his head. “Venus, can you please explain it to her? It seems like she's still shaken from what happened...” His voice was filled with concern as he implored the goddess to offer some sort of explanation.

“I shall tell her myself then,” The goddess of beauty, Venus, paused her words for a moment, her mouth curving into a soft, welcoming smile.

“Harmony, dear, as you can see, you have been brought to my humble abode for a specific reason. A reason that you are soon to discover. But first, as is the custom, let us take a moment to introduce ourselves.” Venus added, her voice filled with warmth and kindness.

“Right, we forgot about introduction.” the golden-haired man interjected. He then proceeded with his introduction,

“Greetings, Harmony. I am the son of Jupiter from Ocemora, hailing the siren of the North Sea. I am Atlas." His lips curved upwards in a tender and sweet smile as he took Harmony's hand in his, brushing his lips over it in a soft, respectful kiss.

“Seriously, My goddess, this is boring— Alastair? If you please?...”

The man who had took Harmony to this place, Alastair, rolled his eyes dramatically at the use of the word 'please' as he sighed heavily. Yet, in the blink of an eye, his grimace transformed into the most flirtatious smile, aimed at the perplexed Dryad. He sauntered towards her once again, his hand reaching out to hold a strand of her hair.

“Alastair, son of Juno.” He introduced himself, his smirk never leaving his face as he stared at her with a look that could only be described as seductive.

With an intense expression, Harmony shot a piercing glare at Alastair. In one swift movement, she pulled her long cascading hair back. She then shifted her gaze to Venus once more. The words she spoke were softer, more gentle than before, but there was a noticeable edge to her voice, a clear sign that she was still on high alert. “I am Harmony Sage Asterlayna, the daughter of the late Queen of all the Dryads, Elenara. I hail from the lush and verdant Emerald Forests...”

Venus watched Harmony with a gentle smile gracing her face. She felt a sense of relief wash over her as she saw Harmony finally opening up, letting down her barriers just a bit. She nodded in understanding, acknowledging Harmony's trust.

Now, it was Venus' turn to tell her why Harmony’s brought here. However, before she could even part her lips to speak, an abrupt noise cut through the room: the door slammed open with a resounding bang.