Ch. 10 - Can't, I Have Work
1519 Words
AYLA’S POV
I placed my hands on my hips. “So who’s next?”
“Excuse me?” Ares asked.
“Well, you said we got to get calling on your friends for answers, and we’ve already called on two. Both of which were unhelpful,” I said, tapping my lips.
“Selene was helpful.”
I shrugged. “Oh yeah, suppressing the wolf thing. And then everything else was just vague. Told us to stick together but didn’t explain why at all. So I guess she was somewhat helpful.”
Ares sneered. “If it weren’t for her, your power would already be consuming you. Just like your mother.”
My eyes flashed. “What did you say?”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t mention her.”
I stood, starting towards him. “What do you know about my mother?”
He flexed his jaw. “I know she’s the descendant of which your cursed bloodline stems from.”
I narrowed my eyes. “And that’s all you know?”
“Apollo,” he stated, changing the subject.
He thought I’d let the familiarity with which he spoke about my mom slide. But I’d just put it on the back burner for now. Right now, we need to focus on gathering information. I sat back down, keeping my eyes on Ares as he closed his eyes, making his mental phone call to his friend, Apollo.
I didn’t know much about Greek mythology, but I was familiar with Apollo as the God of the Sun. And as expected, a blinding light filled the room, making me cover my eyes. When I removed my hands from my eyes, a very obviously golden God stood before me. Light radiated from him, his skin darkly tanned and illuminated. I still had to squint my eyes to even look at him.
As he flashed me a charming grin, the light lessened, but it was still there. But dimmer. “Hello, Ayla.”
How did all these Gods already know my name? What was going on with my life that I had caught the attention of not one, but multiple Gods that I never knew existed until now? “Hey there,” I said meekly.
He bowed his head, holding out his hand, which I placed mine in his. He kissed the top of my hand, and as he looked back up at me, he winked. The God of the Sun just freaking winked at me. I felt like passing out again.
I looked him up and down as he turned towards Ares. His golden blonde hair was in a bedhead disheveled look, and I wondered if it was intentional or if we’d interrupted some God nap of his. Did Gods sleep? Nap? What did they do with their time when they weren’t interfering in the lives of humans?
Realizing that the two were now talking, I pushed away my thoughts. I didn’t have time to think about those silly things. I needed to relieve myself of this curse and shifting. Selene may have suppressed my wolf for now, but I hope she can take it from me entirely later. I didn’t want to be a damn werewolf. Shifter, shifter, I chided myself.
“I think you very well know what you need to do, Ares,” Apollo said casually, examining my knick-knacks on the shelving above my TV.
“If I did, I wouldn’t be calling on you, of all Gods,” Ares growled.
Ares and Apollo were not besties, I noted mentally. Apollo turned back towards Ares, flashing him a grin and a wink to me. The wink seemed to undo Ares’s anger, and he stalked toward Apollo. “You’ll not make her one of your concubines.”
Apollo held up his hands defensively. “Chill out, man. I had something in my eye.”
And as if to punctuate his point, he winked again, a sly smile crossing his face. Bullshit. And Ares knew it was, too, based on the low growl emanating from his throat. “Apollo…”
Apollo shrugged a shoulder and went back to examining my shelves. “Mortal collections are so interesting.”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks. But can we get back to the point? You said Ares should know what he needs to do, and you two were discussing why we were there. My curse.”
He crossed his arms behind his back and swung back to face us both now. “Moirai. You must visit them to obtain the information that you need.”
“They’ll be of no use. Do you think I haven’t considered them? But they can only tell us what will be, not how it will be. And even that isn’t certain, as they rather be vague at all times. Just as you are being.”
I looked between the two. “Who is Moirai?”
“The Fates,” Apollo offered with a smile. “Three Goddesses that control the destiny of all mortals and Gods alike.”
“Oh.”
Ares stomped at Apollo. “I don’t want her near them.”
Apollo’s eyes fell to me and then back to Ares. “I see.”
“What do you see?” I asked.
“Nothing, nothing. It’s just an expression,” he said, his eyes flittering between the two of us still. “Nonetheless, Moirai is your best bet for answers.”
“Leave,” Ares said in a hushed tone.
Apollo leaned closer. “Couldn’t hear you, Ares. What was that?”
“I said leave!” Ares bellowed.
Apollo stepped back, amusement on his face. “You know where I’ll be.”
And with another flash of light, he disappeared. I blew out a breath, falling back on the couch, feeling exhausted. I wasn’t a social person, and having so many people come and go from my apartment all day had been exhausting. My social battery needed a nap. I watched as Ares sat down, interlocking his fingers and resting his elbows on his knees, looking down. “Are you okay?” I asked quietly.
He remained staring at the floor. “I’m afraid that Apollo is correct.”
“Can’t you just call them up, and they come in a flash of light like him?”
He shook his head. “No. We must journey through the celestial realm to meet with them.”
“Then let’s go. What’s the holdup?”
“Their realm is not accessible as a mortal. First, we must venture to the Garden of the Hesperides, where you will consume an apple to gain immortality.”
My eyes widened. “What?”
“The effects are not everlasting. They used to be in the times of the Gods, but since the universe has shifted, their effects on mortals have lessened, and now they only serve as a light snack for the Gods. But we must have you consume the apple, reach out to the celestial realm before the effects fade, or…”
“Or what?”
“The celestial realm will consume you.”
“Can’t we just grab some apples for the road?”
Ares shook his head. “No. They lose all potency once they leave the garden. And we have no idea how long the effects last as it is. So we would need to be quick. Very quick. And get you out of the celestial realm in time.”
I chewed my lip. “Why don’t you go without me?”
“I can only tamper your power when I’m near you. And as Selene stated, we’re best to stay near one another.”
I groaned. “This isn’t fair.”
Ares snorted. “Life isn’t fair, mortal.”
“So when did you wanna get going?”
Ares’s eyes wandered to the clock on my wall. “First thing in the morning.”
“I have work.”
Ares raised an eyebrow. “You’re joking, right?”
I threw up my hands. “I have bills to pay and already have a point on my record. I can’t afford to miss work if I want to keep my job. I work a day, then take the next day off. I have a weird schedule. We’ll have to go after work.”
“No.”
“Pfft, I’m not going before work. I have a life, Ares.”
“One that won’t last long unless I help you.”
I stood, putting my hands on my hips. “Look. You can hang out here while I’m at work, and then after work, we can go or the day after. But I’m not going tomorrow.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“To work?”
He nodded. “I can’t trust you’ll be safe if I’m not around.”
“I work in a coffee shop. You’re going to be pretty bored sitting there all day.”
“I’m a God. Everything bores me.”
I lifted a shoulder. “If you insist. But okay. Work tomorrow. Me and you. This will be…fun…”
- Writer
