Arachne’s Gift

Chapter One The air crisped around the solidarity of the afternoon sun. Many people sauntered about as on the streets. The flashing lights streamed lined over people. Cars zoomed passed others as the lights turned. The shadows of the buildings rose over the people. Many people moved back and forth as they crossed the streets. Different ethnicities moved amongst the downtown area. The mixed color buildings blanketed the area with supreme technology of south meets east in the area. A woman with long straight blond hair, honey colored brown eyes, soft pale skin that the sun never kissed before. She stood average height with her hair braided to the side as her bangs almost covered her face. She wore navy blue colored dress. She had ambled bosoms and small curves. Her short eyelashes glanced up at the high-rise buildings. She wore cherry-pink lipstick and wore a spider choker necklace in silver with the letter ‘Z’ clipped to it. She looked up at the sun framing the sides of the buildings. The young woman frowned as she watched the people passed her. The winds blew passed her as she walked across the street. Her hair gusted with the winds once more as she glanced around her sensing something coming. Another man stood behind her having a faded black haircut, grey-blue eyes, olive skin, and wore a black suit with a tie as he looked at the young woman who was slender thin. He glanced at gently her then walked in front. “Zena, don’t you like it here?” he asked her softly. She looked up at him and nodded gently then touched her choker necklace, “I do, Kyros.” He nodded delicately to her and smiled while taking her hand. She glanced up at the sun’s reflection moving over the mirrored buildings. She gazed up at the sky once more feeling that she was lost to this jungle world of concrete. Kyros and Zena ambled across the street. She looked down at her polished manicured hand seeing a diamond ring on the left-hand ring. The people passed Zena in a blur as she studied their faces trying to remember them. She turned and narrowed her eyes as they walked up the steps to a high-rise building. Kyros stopped to talk to several people who came up to them. The wind floated through Zena’s hair as she surveyed the people around her. She frowned for things appeared too stuffy for her tastes. She stopped and entered in the building forgetting Kyros behind. He continued to talk to other people as she entered in the building. Dozens of people moved back and forth as they worked. She peeked over at the people walking back and forth studying them with an intentional nature. She grinned as they passed her with no introduction. Zena glanced up at the ceiling to see her reflection on the lobby floor looking up at herself. She grimaced for nothing was like her home. She was too far away and wanted to be near it. A group of men in suits walked by Zena, yet one with brunet neck length straight hair watched her with sapphire eyes. His Greek features stood out amongst the other men. He gave her a bright smile as his olive skin seemed to overpower her. She grimaced at him as he looked at her with a hypnotical smile. She shook her head and walked passed him. He stopped then checked her out like he was from the mile-high club, examining women for grade top quality meat observation. Zena narrowed her eyes at him. The man returned with the other men to exit the building. Zena moved a piece of her hair back wondering why he had looked at her inappropriate way yet couldn’t place the feeling from where she had knew him from. She heaved a sigh as the man continued to watch her as he left, at the same time, Kyros strode in. Zena kissed Kyros on the lips as he entered in and the other man appeared jealous. Her eyes turned to Kyros then back to the mysterious man who disappeared from her sight. She exhaled openly feeling his presence annoying was gone to her. Kyros took note in her behavior and kissed her lips once more, “is everything okay?” She nodded to him and turned the other direction holding his hand. Kyros took it and shadowed her to the elevator. He pressed the button for their floor. He turned to her and smiled sadly. “I know this isn’t Athens or New York, but we moved to Houston, yet we will make the best of this, Zena,” he commented. She smiled up at him as he held her hand. “I know Kyros. I said I would go anywhere with you and I have.” He leaned down and kissed her lips tenderly. She returned the kiss then pulled away from him as the bell beeped. Slowly, they got off the elevator and strolled to their door down the hallway. The wide windows somewhat enchanted Zena as she could see everything. She smiled briefly looking at the expansive place. Zena was an immigrant in his world on a K9 Visa. Kyros moseyed to their apartment door and slowly opened it. Zena watched him go to the door and she stood at the windows overlooking the entire Houston area. She placed a hand on the window remembering that she was in a new land and not in Athens. She would miss home, yet she was due to be married in ninety days. A sigh came from her mouth once more as she studied the lands below. She touched her spider choker, for it was only thing she had really of her home. As she turned to walk to the apartment door down the hall, some webs stuck to the window. Zena looked all around her and touched her choker spider necklace once more. As she looked at the modern décor apartment with all the technology one could have, Zena felt out of place, yet this would be her world. **** The sun began to set reflecting an orange and pink hue over the sky as the light moved into the open windowed office. Large and modern furniture was placed about everywhere. The walls were white and gray with a trim coat. A woman came in and dropped off papers at a center desk in the room. Some other people came back and forth through the office as Kyros pulled some books from a shelf near the centered desk. A few minutes later, he moved back to his desk. Kyros sat in front of his desk looking over some documents. He glared at the recent events of what was happening to the company. He chuckled darkly to himself as he got up and looked out the window. Kyros recently got the promotion from New York office to move to Houston to become a VP of Marketing. He placed his hands behind his back for he had come along way. It was not easy to get far in line of work, but as a Greek man, for an advertising company, he did well. He glanced back at his desk to see a picture of his large family. He smiled looking at the picture of his aunts, uncles and a few brothers. His mother and father died. His aunts and uncles took his brothers and him in after his father died. His mother wasn’t well after funeral then slowly wasted away, then dying from grief of not having him. Yet all in all he had loved his family. To make get a good job was a part of his heritage. He loved his family and for what they did for him, yet he was orphaned at a young age. Kyros chuckled and strolled over to the picture frame and picked it up. It was tradition in the men in his family to get marry a good Greek girl, yet he had picked someone who was unknown to his family. They didn’t know Zena well, but they would be coming to meet her soon for the wedding. He turned his attention to the picture of Zena and him in a picture frame holding her as she smiled. Kyros let out a sigh of breath, for he was trying to balance his new life. He was getting married, had a new promotion, and moved to a new city with his bride to be. Kyros placed the picture back down and turned to the window once more. He was perplexed with everything and he felt about even her. A grin graced his lips as he pondered as to how she snatched him, yet he was hopeful that things would turn for the better. **** Gray and white walls stood out against the light fixtures on the walls. The night’s sky moonlight flowed through the room as one figure stood. The man with brunet hair and sapphire eyes stood holding some files in his hand. He looked over the photo of Kyros and smirked for he had seen that man earlier. Another man came in wearing a polo shirt and docker pants. He had chocolate hair, light brown eyes and a mustache. The man ambled passed the other and reached for the remote that was on the desk. The man with sapphire eyes turned to the other and glowered. “Argus, do you know who this is?” the man with brunet hair asked. The other man turned to him and to see the photo in the other’s hand. “That’s Kyros, he came onto the company a few weeks ago from a transfer. He was referred from the New York office by Haji. Kyros has an excellent reputation. He lives in one of the company’s apartments, Maximus.” Maximus turned his attention back to TV and flipped to a football game. He smirked, for he got some new piece of information but held a mysterious silent knowing of the man as he looked at his file. He set the man’s profile down as he would make his acquaintance. He had smirked knowing full well his hidden intents. Maximus wanted to know more about her. She was an enigma and he would catch her one way or another. Argus growled as he looked at the picture of them both for a split second then shook his head, for the man would have all kinds motives. **** Zena’s hand touched the window lightly as she gazed up at the window. Her hair appeared almost like a spindle web color as she turned her head looking through the window. As she took her hand off the window, some webs appeared on it then fell to the ground slowly disappearing. Zena looked at the modern décor and soft glints of red appeared through her eyes for a split second. She sauntered over to the kitchen opening the fridge to see food stocked in it. Zena pulled out some meat and began to eat slowly. She had to get used to living in this city and everything around it. She briefly touched her spider choker necklace and sighed. A laptop sat on the counter. She opened it up and went to Skype pulling it up. She sighed as she saw the name ‘Mama Zoe.’ An image clicked up and she saw a woman similar looking like her but older with grayish-blond hair. The computer beeped, and the image came on. Zena smiled warmly looking at the woman. “Zena, what a lovely surprise,” the woman said. “Mama, it’s good to see you,” Zena said. “Did you settle in right?” her mother asked her. “I did, and we are staying in the company’s townhouse,” Zena surveyed all around and sighed. “It’s all done. I don’t need to fix anything here.” Zoe laughed at her daughter. “Zena, I know your home sick. Just remember that we have to adapt. You wanted to pursue this American. You could have had anyone here in Greece. Once you have your eyes set on someone, you tend to go after them.” Zena rolled her eyes looking at her mother, “I know that, but we are just settling in. We will married within the time period.” “Zena have you asked yourself if you love Kyros just yet? I know you like him and love isn’t totally there for you but remember, baby, love is the only way. You are an Arachne by blood. We can’t escape what we are. Remember that we have to choose right or it is like a mating spider.” Zoe noted. “I know, Mama, but I’m away from everyone I know and love. It’s hard here right now and getting used to everything,” Zena observed. “You made this choice, Zena. Make sure you keep your secret well. No one cannot know what you truly are. That is vital. Only tell Kyros when you have married otherwise, he might want to ship you back.” Zoe said sternly. Zena rolled her eyes looking at her mother, “I won’t, Mama. We are to be married soon. I want to make sure that Kyros is settled and I will get used to everything.” Zoe smiled at her only daughter and blew a kiss to the screen. “Zena, just know that being an Arachne is something that is a gift and a curse. We have to live through things all the time. We are burdened with purpose, for it is our heritage, but I am always here, baby.” Zena nodded to her mother and waved goodbye to closing the computer. She recognized what her mother meant. She exhaled and moseyed over to the window once more looking at the moon in the sky. Her hair once again appeared like that of a spider spindle. Zena knew the next day would be better. She was in a strange land, new relationship, and had a new city to nest. Apart of her smiled for she had what she wanted. In the reflection of the window, her eyes gleamed red once more. **** The clouds moved across the windows of the high towered buildings. Zena glanced out the window as Kyros approached her in the hallway. She turned to him and smiled a little. He leaned down on her lips and kissed her. He pulled her in and ran a hand through her hair. He sighed as she leaned against the window. A camera zoomed in on them as the make out session became more intensified as he placed his hands around her and groaned a little. Her eyes flashed with some red tints as she pulled more onto her. A few seconds later, they pulled apart and he sighed. Kyros kissed her lips and stroked her face, “I have to go to work, Zena but I will see you later.” She bit her bottom lip and looked up to him and kindly grinned. As he stepped back then turned, a thought came to her. Zena was in a new place and all she had to do was become something more. As she looked back at the window, a shadow of a lower body of spider stood, yet unseen. Her long silvery-white with light brown auburn tips was long to her stomach, covering breasts and her eyes turned glowing chocolate like the bowels of quicksand with red tidal falls blazing over the browns. Half of her form on top only was visible to her stomach. Her breasts were larger and as she beamed with sharpened teeth that mirrored death against the clouds reflections of the windows. She glanced back at the camera that zoomed in on them. To the camera she was normally standing there in her human form. As she turned, she was over seven-two in her spider form. Zena unconsciously touched her spider choker, for she was a descendent of Arachne, a weaver cursed by the goddess Athena. Her fingers appeared as long claws as she studied people down below. Zena knew there was going to be something wonderous in this land. She would find out what more she could do. As she turned her head and strolled down the hall, Maximus narrowed his eyes, for he had recognized her from somewhere. He licked his lips and found his obsession had become full circle as he watched her moved down the hallway with grace. Maximus determined there was something much more about this woman, then his previous so-called memory. He pursed his lips together and smirked after a few moments as this would be a fun challenge to determine what secrets she had. **** The sun rose of the calming sea above the cliffs winding into small roads intertwined for small travel. Lanterns were light in the distance as the winds frolicked against the stones and vegetation. The light of the stars warmed the sea with their glow as it refracted off. Zoe stood on the cliff and sighed holding her hands together in prayer. She shook her head and held her hands tighter for she was afraid for her only daughter. To be an Arachne’s descendent was to lead a hard life. Zoe speculated why so had moved so far away from home, yet she knew Zena wanted independence. She wanted to see the world. Zena to Zoe was too foolish and to see what she had in Greece. Her stubborn daughter picked a foreigner for a reason. A frown grew on her face as Zoe recognized that even around the island food wasn’t enough as to what they were. Zoe narrowed her eyes and contemplated that if it could be new hunting grounds? As Zoe turned around, some webs floated into air drifting into the sky. She would know what he daughter had done, and she would always be here for her. **** Deserts, bagels, cookies, other sweets and lunch food items were in closed off cases, for purchase. Soft music played as employees moved back and forth from the machines to serve customers inside the large yet small café shop. Chatter and noise equated all around as many business men gathered in groups drinking their coffee. Other customers sat at tables, eating, talking and on some computers. Others were on their phones as they texted away. Many business men in designer wear attire continued to drink their coffee and humble one another. Kyros treaded into the shop looked around to see a man’s eyes penetrate through him. He sighed as he moved closer. Kyros moved around the other business men and customers. He glanced at the man in front of him and sighed, for it was Maximus. He didn’t want to meet for business in a coffee shop, but the man insisted. The man stood up and chuckled as Kyros moved closer to him. He outstretched his hand for the man to shake his hand, “nice to meet you, Maximus.” Maximus shook his hand and grinned as he took it, “nice to meet you, Kyros. I am glad that we will be working together on many accounts together.” Kyros nodded and smiled at Maximus, “I look forward to sharing many things with you.” Maximus grinned evilly at Kyros for his comment had unleashed a dirty deed that would befall the man in more ways than one.