Gods among us

Fourteen

Mark looked at his phone. It was 2.15 pm and no sign of Nora yet. OK, he thought, she might be a bit late.

Nora was a few meters away from the museum when she saw Mark standing right outside. He looked stunning. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a blue shirt that made his eyes even brighter.

He saw her approaching and took a deep breath. A Goddess, the familiar voice came back in his head.

“Hi” she said smiling

“Hi Nora” he replied.

“Apologies for being late” she said.

“Don’t apologize” he said and kissed her hand.

“Shall we?” she said

“Yes” he said and they headed towards the museum.

The rest were watching from a distance.

“So, this is how our brother looks like in this lifetime” Amy said.

“Father to some of us” Lilly commented.

“Handsome” Mary noted.

“Is funny how they are always a match” Kate said. “After all the fights, all the cheating, she keeps falling for him, every time, on every lifetime!”

“He is falling for her as well!" Phil said. “Anyway, we can go now, but keep in mind that we have to split into teams. Amy, Kate and myself one team,  James, Lilly, Sarah and Tony another one and Mary, Alex and Kevin will be the third team. Make yourselves visible, make sure he sees you. Don't say anything Nora. Just pass by them.”

“Yes sir” Alex said, making a military salute and everyone laughed.

The museum was crowded. A lot of people waited to get a ticket.

“I have the tickets, Mark said, no need to wait in the queue.”

“Awesome” Nora said.

“You look beautiful” he said and held her hand.

Nora looked at their hands. Suddenly a warm breeze passed by them. Nora took a deep breath. They are here, she thought.

It was the first time in this lifetime that they were all together at the same place.

She smiled at him

“Thank you” she said.

They entered the museum and looked around.

They joined a group of people that had a tour guide hired and at that point that they joined the tour guide was explaining the meaning of the statue that was in frond of them.

“I never thought you would do a VIP tour in a museum” Nora told him.

Mark smiled.

“As I said, I don’t know anything about Greek mythology, so I could use some help.”

Oh you know more than you think, Nora thought.

Lilly, Tony, Sarah and James passed by. Made eye contact with Nora and they looked at Mark. Mark saw them but he followed the group and did not pay any attention to them. OK, let’s see what happens with the next ones, Nora thought.

The group stopped in front of a painting showing the battle between the Titans and the Gods.

“In Greek mythology, the Titanomachy was a ten-year series of battles fought in Thessaly, consisting of most of the Titans (an older generation of Gods, based on Mount Othrys) fighting against the Olympians (the younger generations, who would come to reign on Mount Olympus) and their allies. This event is also known as the War of the Titans, Battle of the Titans, Battle of the Gods, or just the Titan War. The war was fought to decide which generation of Gods would have dominion over the universe; it ended in victory for the Olympian Gods." The tour guide explained.

Mark could not take away his eyes of the painting. Battle, Titans, Gods, a Goddess, the voice was still in his head.

Nora was observing him. He touched his forehead.

“Is everything OK?” Nora asked him by touching his shoulder

Mark looked at her hand. A battle, he kept thinking. Gods, Titans, what the hell?

“Mark?” Nora said again.

Mark looked at her eyes.

“Ahm yes, yes I am fine, just a headache that is all.”

“Would you like to go out for a while? To take some fresh air?” Nora asked.

“No, I am fine, no need to miss the tour just because of a stupid headache” he said.

Nora smiled at him and looked at the painting once again.

Mary, Kevin and Alex approach them.

“Guys look, this is Zeus fighting against the Titans.” She said to Alex and Kevin. 

Mark turned towards Mary looking surprised.

“Zeus you said?”

Nora and Alex looked at each other whilst Kevin was looking at Mark.

Mary looked at him.

“Yes, in the painting, Zeus, the King of Gods, fighting against the Titans.”

“I see” he said confused and turned on Nora. “Shall we follow the group? We will miss them if we don’t.”

“Yes, let’s go.” Nora said with a smile. She gave them a quick but meaningful glance, they smiled at each other and continued walking.

An hour later, Mark was impressed and at the same time relieved that the tour was over.

“How are you?” Nora asked him once they got out of the museum.

“Better now that we are outside” he said.

Phil, Amy and Kate came out of the museum and were trying to find Nora and Mark.

“There” Phil said and moved towards them.

“Nora” Phil said.

Nora and Mark turned on Phil.

“Phil” she said smiling and hugged him.

Phil looked at Mark.

“I know you, he said. Mark, right?”

Mark looked at him.

“Yes, you are right, he said. We met few months ago in front of the office.”

“Indeed. I was waiting for her actually” Phil explained.

“I see” Mark said.

Amy and Kate came closer.

“This is Amy and Kate” Phil said. “ And this is Mark. You know Nora already.”

All four nodded.

“Did you like the exhibition?” Nora asked them.

“Yes, quite informative, Amy said. I loved the statue of goddess Demeter.”

“Who?” Mark asked.

“Goddess Demeter, the goddess of the harvest and agriculture” Amy explained.

“Are you all interested in mythology?” Mark asked.

Nora smiled.

“We like the stories, as I told you” she said.

“I see that” Mark smiled as well.

“OK guys, apologies, but we need to go. Was nice seeing you again Mark” Phil said.

“Indeed, Mark said. Nice meeting you all” he said to the rest.

Once they were alone, Mark put his hand at Nora 's waist.

“Hungry?”

Nora looked at him.

“Starving” she said.

“I know the perfect restaurant and it is close by. Would you like to go?”

“Sure” she said and they started walking.

Mark was thinking. Zeus, Goddess, Gods, Titans, a battle he heard in his head.

Nora was observing him.

“Is everything OK?” She asked.

Mark looked at her.

“I think so” he said. “OK here we are” he said and he opened the door to the restaurant.

They went in and sat by the window.

“Mark?” They heard a voice.

Mark was surprised . He looked on his right and saw JJ starring at him. Oh no, he thought, what on earth is she doing here?

“JJ” he said, “What are you doing here?”

“I am working here, remember?”

“Of course, I just thought that you were not working during the weekend” Mark said.

“Usually not, JJ said, but I am replacing a colleague now.”

“I see” Mark said.

JJ looked at Nora.

“Aren’t you going  to introduce me to your friend?” she said smiling

Mark looked at her.

“Of course, he said unwillingly. This is Nora Williams, Nora this is JJ Lawrence.”

“Nice meeting you” Nora said smiling whilst they were shaking hands.

“Likewise” JJ said. She turned on Mark.

“What are you doing here?”

“We went to the museum”

JJ looked at him surprised.

“YOU went to a museum?” she asked Mark.

Mark got bothered by that comment.

“Yes I went, he said in a dry manner. And now if you excuse us, we would like to order”

JJ was surprised by his behavior. Nora as well. They were both looking at him confused.

“Yes of course, JJ said. Will you please tell Anna that I will call her for the wedding preparation?”

Marks eyes got darker. Suddenly the sky turned grey.

Oh no Nora thought.

“I will” he said between his teeth.

“Thank you, JJ said. And also, I will come by your place as I need her to try a few dresses on, she will be my maid of honor” she said looking at Nora.

A lightning crossed the sky. Nora was worried. She touched Marks hand.

“Congrats” she said smiling.

“Thank you” JJ said.

Mark stood up and he was starring at her.

“You were leaving” he told her.

“Yes, have a great time you two.” She said. Then, she turned to Mark and whispered

“What is this?”

Mark looked at her and whispered back

“None of your damn business.”

What's wrong with him? she thought but she chose to remain silent. She turned and left.

Mark sat down. Great he thought.

“Is everything OK?” she asked him

NO he wanted to yell.

“Yes” he said out loud. “Let’s eat .”

The waiter came and they ordered the food.

“How is your fish?” He asked her

“Very good, she said. And your steak?”

“Also good. I told you, this restaurant it really good” he said.

Nora smiled at him.

“So, tell me, how come you are so into mythology?” he asked.

Nora smiled.

“I just like it, she replied. No specific reason”

“I see” he said thinking.

“Did you like the exhibition?” she asked

“Yes, he said. Very interesting.”

“Was there one person that you liked more?”

“You mean one God?”

Nora smiled

“Yes,  she said. Or a scene, something that got your attention. Today we heard of a lot of people. Was anyone that you still remember his or her name?”

Mark gave some thought on it.

“Cronos” he finally said.

Oh daddy, Nora thought.

“Interesting” she said

“And Zeus” he continued

Of course she thought.

“OK she said. It seems as if you learned something today.”

He laughed.

“Well a whole new world opened in front of me.”

You have no idea how right you are about that she thought.

“I am happy for you” she said out loud.

At the same time, JJ called Niko.

“Niko, she said, we need to talk, NOW.”

Niko was surprised. What the heck happened he thought.

“Why? What happened? Are you OK?” he asked.

“I am fine, she said, but can you please come at my work?”

“Yes of course, Niko answered worried. In 15 min I'll be there.”

“Great” she said and hung up the phone.

Oh my God she thought. What is going on? Why is he out with her whilst Anna is at her parents’ house?

Suddenly her phone rung. She took a look in the screen and saw Anna’s name blinking. Oh no, she is the last person that I'd like to talk to she thought.

After a few more rings the phone stopped ringing.

JJ took a deep breath of relief. Few seconds later she received a message from Anna: ”Where are you? Is everything ok? I am calling Mark and he is not answering, I called home as well and no one is answering either and now I am worried...”

JJ took the phone. OK she thought, let’s have a call.

Anna answered at the first ring bell.

“JJ, she yelled in agony, is everything ok?”

“Yes yes everything is fine, JJ said. Sorry about earlier was a bit busy.”

Anna took a deep breath.

“Oh OK, I am sorry is just that I got worried. No one was answering”  Anna said.

JJ tried to calm her down.

“There is nothing to worry about. We are fine! How are you? How are your parents?”

“I am fine and they are good as well. Apologies again, she said. I was just worried but I am happy that everything is fine”

JJ smiled.

“No worries, I just have to go now, a costumer just walked in. When will you come back?”

“Monday evening” she said.

“Good, then I 'll see once you're back. Take care and greetings to your parents.”

“Thanks JJ, bye.”

JJ hung up the phone and was still looking at it. Mark, you i***t she said.

Niko came in the gallery worried.

“What happened?” he said and hugged her.

JJ hugged him back.

“Oh Niko” she said

“What?” Niko asked

“I saw him.”

“You saw whom?”

“I saw Mark with a woman”

Niko looked at her surprised.

“With Nora?” He asked.

`”You know her?” JJ asked him surprised.

“He told me about her but he also said that is nothing. Where have you seen them?”

“In the restaurant at the corner.”

“Mark, you fool” Niko yelled and shook his head.

“JJ, he finally said, Anna should not find out about this. At least not from us. If he wants to tell her that's on him, but we should not meddle. “

JJ nodded.

“Agreed” she said.