Metamorphosis

Chapter 14: The Golden Rock and Annie's Intuition

"So we have to go back?" Annie asks as she sips her golden nectar.

I sighed as I swirled my glass playing with the shimmering liquid. The last thing I wanted to do was see my so-called parents again. They had made it very clear that their lives were better without me in it, and what they said still stung.

"Yes, unfortunately."

"And your grandmother is the Goddess Hekate? That sounds pretty sick if you ask me," Annie seemed more amused than I was, maybe because this hardly felt real to me, but here we were sipping the golden liquor of gods.

Eros had hardly said anything; his face stuck in an off-distance look.

"Alright, so when do you want to head back home then?" Annie asks, pulling me from gazing at Eros.

"Um, I was thinking tonight-"

"I'm going with you," Eros interrupted. Both Annie and I stared at his sudden change from mute to talking again.

"Look, whose alive? I thought we lost you there for a second," I said teasingly. His face remained expressionless, which caught me off guard. I could feel his aura change to the shadow of himself again.

"I'm pretty sure Dove and I can sneak into the house by ourselves," Annie said, putting herself between Eros and me. I could feel some tension brewing; I stepped in.

"Look, if Eros wants to go, that's on his own accord. I'm not making him come, so it's his choice."

I noticed Annie give me her scrunchy nose look whenever she was dissatisfied with something or someone. I found it odd that she was acting like this all of a sudden.

"Dove, can I talk to you in private," Annie said through a false smile. She then pushed me into the bathroom and locked it.

"Wha-What in the holy hell is wrong with you!" She harshly whispers to me. I stand there, confused.

"We barely know him! Yes, he may be a god and all but have you read the stories on these guys?! They will turn on you in a split second, and lover boy over there could have an ulterior motive for following us around!"

My brow furrows as I cross my arms, "SO you think he saved us for selfish reasons?"

"Yes. Dove, did you not remember him say he came down to kill you!?"

I stopped and took a moment to think. Everything Annie was saying was right. He told me he wouldn't harm me, but Annie seems to have other feelings about Eros. I honestly thought he was kind...was that me being naive?

"Let's find out how to get away and leave," Annie says. I nod my head, unsure if I fully agreed with Annie, but I wanted her to feel comfortable. Besides, her parents were probably worried sick about her.

I open the door to find Eros right on the other side, "Ready?" he askes.

"Yeah, let's go." Annie zooms past me. I start to follow her, but Eros stops me. I look up at him; his eyes seem so far away. What happened to that charming smile and sensual playfulness he had?

"Is that what you think? That I'm going to hurt you?"

A small gasp escapes from me; shame wraps its tight coils around my stomach. I honestly didn't know what to think. Annie's words kind of threw me for a loop. "I-" I didn't even know how to explain it.

"Eros, thank you for saving us but, we don't need you to guard us. I know Phobos is out there, but I'm-"

"A fool if you think you're going without me," Eros's voice took on a darker tone. "Do you not understand what happened to your friend could have been much worse? Phobos will kill without hesitation, but you," Eros lefts my chin up to look at him, "your humanity will stop you from pulling the trigger when it matters most."

I felt paralyzed looking into Eros' eyes. They reminded me of choppy green waters, crashing and swirling into one another. But on the outside, he seems just still, compared to what I saw on the inside. He was fighting something, and I wanted to know what it was.

My hand found its way to his cheek; a shock went through my arm as I touched him. I could see his eyelids grow heavy as they closed, he leaned into my hand, and when he opened his eyes again, I could see beams of sunlight shining down through the dark clouds upon his calming green waters below.

I had never seen anything like this. Was this what my grandmother was talking about when she said my powers were awakening? Was I seeing Eros' soul?

Annie cleared her throat; I ripped my hand away from Eros' cheek and looked at her. Annie's hands were on her hips. "Come, let's get a move on already!" she demanded; I could feel my cheeks flush. I could still feel a tingling in the palm of my hand.

I didn't see what Annie saw. I didn't see Eros as a monster, maybe wounded but not destructive. "Wait, how are we going to get back home?" I asked; Eros scooped me up from behind and put me over his shoulder, then he picked up Annie.

"No, NO! I hate heights! Put me down!" She screamed, but before she could complain anymore, Eros shot up into the sky, and we were on our way back home.

The wind stung my eyes, I could hear Annie screaming all the way there, she was definitely going to be pissed when we set foot on land.

Once we stood on solid ground again, I was surprised to see that it was nighttime and Eros had dropped us off near my old home.

"Uh, Eros, how long have we been gone?" I asked as he put me down.

"A week or so-"

"WHAT?!" Annie shouts, "My parents are probably wrapping poles as Christmas presents with missing papers on them! Oh man, I have to get home!" Annie starts to breathe rapidly, I take her hand and try to calm her down.

"It's alright-" 

"Dove how am I suppose to tell them where I was?! They're not going to believe I was in Eros' Mansion!? Oh holy hell this is bad..."

"I could always wipe their memory."

Annie and I both turn to Eros who had spoken up. 

"Uh, you can do that?" I asked slightly curious.

"Oh holy no! You're not going to poke my parent's eyes out with your arrows! Nu-uh!" Annie refuses.

Eros furrows his brows, "Oh of course," then he leans in with a teasing smile, "Then I'll put their eyes in jars."

I gasped then shoved my elbow into his ribs, "Stop that your making her uncomfortable."

"Well, maybe she should think better of me," he says as he rubs his ribs, "What am I a savage? That's child's play," I hear him say under his breath loud enough for me to hear.

"You have a unique sense of humor you that?" I said.

"I thought that was already deciphered when you meet me?" He contoured.

Are you serious right now? He chooses this moment to be a playful ass? I rolled my eyes with a hint of a smile.

"Okay, All know is I am not going for a rollercoaster ride again. After we get whatever we're looking for from your parent's house, I'm taking the bus or hot wiring a car," Annie states. 

"Well, the mile high club isn't for everyone," Eros teasingly says to Annie's remark. My cheeks flush as I look over at him, he gives me a little wink and smiles.

"Oh barf, come on let's go before I puke," Annie says as she leads the way.

I follow her knowing Eros is right behind us. I wanted to be quick, hopefully, we don't wake anyone, lord knows I can't handle another one of my "mothers" rants.