Open Your Heart

by Aspen Winters

  "If I knew books were a way to your heart, I would have done it sooner," He told me.

  I glanced up from my book, stepping away from him a small frown on my face.

  Poseidon looked at me with a frown, eyes narrowed. "Stop shying away."

  I winced at his sharp words. I knew that I was now avoiding talking to him after I shied away from him in the bedroom. I just didn't know what to say. I could apologize, but I didn't feel I should have to for a natural reaction.

  "I don't know what you are talking about. I am just interested in the books." That was a lie. I was just trying not to start an awkward conversation and have weird pauses because I didn't know what to say.

  An arm turned me around and took the book from my hand, setting it down on one of the tables. I took a deep breath as I looked at the man before me, his green eyes looking into my own so intently. I licked my lip, as I averted my eyes, not wanting to look at him anymore.

  "You are so stubborn. I don't understand why it is so hard for you to put your heart out there." Poseidon took a deep breath, reaching out and cradling my face in his hands, making me look at him again. "Trust us not to hurt you, for we have to trust you with the same." He gently kissed my lips, letting his hands fall from my face before stepping back.

  I stared at him with wonder. I hadn't had a lot of conversations with this god before, but as I got to know him...he was someone I could see myself getting along with and developing feelings for. This god who didn't like to back down when telling me I was being selfish.

  He was right.

  I have been selfish. That was how I ended up getting kidnapped by Cronus. I put my needs over my safety and I also thought I could use my powers to protect myself.

  I didn't know the first thing about my powers. I also knew almost nothing about the new world I was in. These gods had come to save me, and I hadn't been the nicest person since our first meeting.

  It was time to try to open up more. I needed to try. I told them I would... Taking a breath through my nose I closed my eyes and leaned forward so my head met Poseidon's chest. I thought I stunned him, because he didn't say anything, but a few minutes later arms wrapped around me, bringing me into his strong embrace.

  "I don't mean to be selfish and I know you have all been trying to get to know me. I have not returned the favor either..." I paused, slowly opening my eyes, lifting my head to look at Poseidon's face. "I said I would try, but I haven't really yet. I will try from here on out, and if you don't think I am, call me out on it." I gave him a small smile, trying to convey all the emotions I was feeling at the moment. "I am not accustomed to sharing my feelings or being close to other people. Old habits are hard to stop," I told him as I took a few steps away from him.

  I stepped out of my comfort zone more than enough in the last couple days. I knew I needed to do that too, actually, to know these gods, but it still made me uncomfortable.

  "Can I read for a bit longer?" I asked, trying to make the tension in the room go away.

  I wanted to read a bit before the big conversation I knew was going to happen today. The conversation about my 'safety' and when I would be able to go back to the confines of my apartment. Sometimes I still wished I was in my apartment sleeping and this was all a dream, but at the same time I had started to like these gods and maybe they could help me trust again.

  "Yes, we have a couple more hours before it is time to meet the others. You should be able to read for a while." Poseidon moved away from me and got a book for himself. "We can sit down and read for an hour, then I will show you a bit more of Olympus." He held his hand out to me and led me to a couch that was hidden from view.

  I sat down and let myself get immersed into the book, not paying attention to anyone or anything around me. Though I had a feeling Poseidon was watching me the whole time I was reading.

  I will try to let myself be more open. I need to let my guard down. I will truly try.

  ~Clara~

  "I should have guessed this would be where you two would be."

  A voice interrupted my reading, glancing up I saw Hades standing a few feet away from us. I blinked and gave him a small smile.

  "Hello." I raised an eyebrow at him as I shut my book and let it sit in my lap. "What has you coming to look for us?" I thought we had time before we had to go meet up with the others. I threw a glance at the sea god who had a frown on his face as he set his book down on the arm of the seat.

  "I got done doing what needed to be done early, and decided I’d rather see you than hear the others argue with one another." Hades smirked, as he walked closer to me. If the others were arguing I wouldn't blame him on leaving to find the two of us.

  "What are they arguing about..." I paused for a minute, "or is it about what we are talking about later?"

  "It is more than that. They are stressed, trying to find information on the Titans and they are arguing about who has the best idea to go about finding them," Hades informed me as he sighed, running a hand through his already dark, messy hair.

  "Should we go have the meeting now, and get it over with? It would stop them from continuing to argue with one another," I suggested, wanting to know what was going on. I also wanted to know when I could go home. I knew Hope was probably worried.

  "I don't see why not. They may calm down if you are in their presence." Hades grinned, moving forward and offering his hand to me. I sat the book on the couch and took the hand he offered, giving him a nod of thanks.

  I glanced over to Poseidon who was now standing up and moving over to me. He gave a nod and let Hades take the lead.

  The god of death, put his hand on the small of my back and led me through the library. Poseidon followed behind us, silent.

  "How do you like Olympus?" Hades asked, voice curious as he kept his hand on my back. He continued walking, making sure I wasn't too far from him, and gave me enough notice by staring me in the right direction.

  "I didn't get to see a lot of it because I wanted to stay in the library longer." A blush dusted over my cheeks in embarrassment. Books were one of my biggest weaknesses. I adored them. They had been my best friends growing up, and still gave me company because I preferred them over humans.

  Hades gave a soft chuckle. "Everyone will probably end up showing you certain places here. It is rather beautiful up here, but I prefer my home in the Underworld."

  He had me curious.

  "What is the Underworld like?" There hadn't been any books that ever went into great detail about the Underworld, and I didn't really know how accurate those books were.

  "It is darkly beautiful. There are different layers of hell. Different planes that are controlled by gods. There is the place where the Titans reside, but there are also the different sectors other pantheons control," Hades explained, looking at me from the side of his eyes. "It is rather complex. But there are different creatures that live in the Underworld. My Cerberus for one."

  I interrupted him, "You mentioned him before, so he really is real, and looks like the plush you gave me?"

  "Plush?" Poseidon spoke up, eyebrow going into his hairline as he looked between the both of us. "What did he give you?"

  I blinked, red coming to my cheeks. "A stuffed animal version of Cerberus. Hades noticed I like stuffed animals and gave me one as a peace offering after we had a...." I paused trying to find a better word to use than argument, "...misunderstanding."

  Poseidon gave Hades a look, who just ignored him and gave me a small smile.

  "Yes, he looks quite a bit like the gift I gave you. Just much bigger, and he drools."

  I bit my lip trying not to laugh at the image in my head. "He sounds adorable." I smiled, not saying anything more as he led me down another hall. All the hallways look so similar. If I was by myself I would have gotten lost at the first turn I took.

  "Maybe soon I can take you to the Underworld," Hades suggested.

  I paused looking at him. "Maybe." I flashed him a genuine smile as we went into a big room. It was the room I h
ad been in when Ra brought me here to talk to them all before. I saw that all of the gods were standing around. I noticed that Zeus looked the most exhausted out of the gods.

  I wonder what is wrong with him. I hadn't spent a lot of time with Zeus, but he did not look like his normal self at all. I stayed silent for now though. Everyone had a serious face on and I knew this was going to be a talk that I didn't like.

  "The atmosphere is rather tense in here. What is going on?" I asked as I frowned at them all. They were acting quiet and not much like themselves.

  "We just ran into some dead-ends about the Titans. We are trying to track them down," Zeus told me, sighing as he went to sit down at one the throne like chairs.

  I nodded standing there, waiting for them to start talking. I wanted to get this conversation over and done with. "When am I going home?" I asked, trying to get the conversation going. Though, seeing the looks on the gods’ faces, that wasn't a good thing to start off with.

  "That is one of the things we need to talk about too. We know you won't stay here on Olympus, so we have a few ideas for your protection. Though, to get everything set up, we need you to stay here longer." Hades was the one who spoke, making me frown.

  "I need to go home to make some calls. I have been gone...four days now. I usually don't go that long without talking to my sister...or having a call from my mother harassing me." They probably blew up my phone and I had a feeling that once I called them that would be a whole new kind of drama. I usually texted Hope every other day and my mother called at least every few days if I pissed her off. I had pissed her off more than I had before, so she probably called more than once a day to get my attention.

  There was silence after I talked and I didn't know why. Was it something I said?

  "You will agree? Just like that?" Eros spoke, surprise evident in his voice as he looked me over.

  I could be agreeable when I wanted too, but I haven't really been around them. I guess I could understand the surprise.

  I nodded. "Yes. I know I was being unbearable before. I don't like the situation I am in still, but I am starting to accept it. I don't fancy being kidnapped again either. I will stay here a few extra days if I can go home and get a few things and make a few phone calls." I didn't think I was being too unreasonable. I didn't have my cell phone, and I didn't know if I could make a phone call from Olympus. I also wanted to get some of my own clothes. I knew I had clothes in the room Poseidon said would be mine for the duration of my stay, but it felt weird taking her clothes when I could never ask her permission. She was gone and I couldn't ask her.

  The gods looked at one another before Zeus agreed, "That is fine. It will only take two to four days for the security we want to put around your home to be in place. We aren't going to take a chance with you being taken again." He sounded exhausted when he spoke about it, and I felt the guilt start to come back full force.

  I looked away from them and nodded. "I agree. I just can't disappear though. I want to talk to my sister and I was probably fired from my job too." The last part was said softer, but the gods still heard it.

  "We will make sure everything is paid for," Hades reassured me.

  I grimaced at the thought of someone paying for my bills. That wasn't something I wanted, but I didn’t have a choice. They definitely wouldn't let me out of their sight for eight plus hours a day. That would probably be too long and anyone could try to kidnap me at my job.

  "That isn't what I want, but I don't really have a choice now." I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment, rubbing them in irritation.

  "If you want to find a job when this is all over, we won't stop you. For now, when you are in danger, it would be best that you didn't." Zeus sighed, looking at me pleading with his eyes.

  "Once everything is calmed down and we know you aren't in danger, you can go find a job and work like you want...but until then. We are going to put protection measures in your home."

  I did understand where he was coming from and I would do as they asked for now. As long as I got to see my family, and not locked in some tower here on Olympus, I would agree. I had a feeling if I didn't cooperate, they might just do that.

  "I will agree to this...but are you going to tell me what this security is?" I didn't know what they were going to do to make me safer. I had no clue what kind of protections gods could make.

  "We are having talismans made to put around your apartment building and in your home. We are also working on one more thing, but we don't know if it is possible yet," Eros told me as he gave me a small smile. "Once we know if the second thing will work, we will tell you. We will know if it will work by the morning."

  I nodded, understanding, and would take that answer until tomorrow morning. I was just excited to go home and talk to Hope. Talking to her always made me feel better.

  "When can I go home to get my things then?" I was super excited about going home. I knew it would be only for a few minutes, but being up here on Olympus didn't feel like home. It felt like I was at a fancy hotel and I was afraid of touching anything in fear of breaking it.

  "Tomorrow morning. I am having people set up the talismans. This way if the Titans set any kind of trap or anything, it will be taken care of," Zeus informed me as he stood up and gave me a look I didn't quite understand, but he quickly averted his eyes.

  "I have a couple of meetings to get to. I will talk to you more later." He then quickly left, leaving me standing there in confusion.

  "Did I piss him off?" I asked, not knowing why he was acting so stand-offish to me. He didn't want to talk and left before we could talk about anything but 'business'.

  Hades and Poseidon both laughed at my question.

  "What? He left pretty quickly. I am assuming I angered him somehow." I was confused by their laughter.

  Ra and Eros who were standing off to the side seemed to understand what was going on too.

  "No, little Dove, he is just frustrated with himself and he was worried when you were kidnapped. He isn't one to easily convey his emotions." Poseidon paused looking at me. "Like someone else I know."

  I huffed at this, looking away from him. This only earned laughter from the rest of the gods in the room. My thoughts went to Zeus.

  I hope he is okay.

  ~ Zeus~

  I sighed as I left the room. I was feeling a mixture of emotions. I felt guilty that I had let my anger get the best of me and I had let Clara, my Bonded, out of my sight. Then she got kidnapped and tortured. She may forever hold scars on her skin.

  I rubbed my eyes, sitting down at my desk with my head in my hands, hunched over in my chair. I didn't know what to do. I was surprised she didn't blame me. I did.

  Clara had started to see things more rationally though. She did agree to our safety terms, that was one step.

  "You know she thinks she angered you." Hades came into my study, leaning against the frame of the door.

  I could hear pure amusement in his voice making my lip curl in anger. "Why would she think that?" I really was confused by this woman. She never did what I thought she would, be it her actions or her thoughts.

  "I set her straight. That you were frustrated and were worried about her when she was kidnapped. She is a bit worried still though," Hades said, as I raised my head from my hands, sitting up in the chair. "You should talk to her and clear the air. She is trying to get to know us. She is trying and I don't want her pulling back from you because she thinks you are mad at her." Hades gave me a disapproving look.

  "I will talk to her. I will be the one taking her to her house. This way we can talk." I stood up looking at Hades again. "The other security we talked about, is it going to be possible?" I wanted to know if it would work, if not I would have to figure out a different way to protect Clara.

  Hades smirked. "It will work. It will be here in the morning for her."

  I nodded, that was one less thing to worry about then. That was good.

  "She won't be against it, do you think?" I didn't want Clara making a bi
g deal of it. I didn't want to fight her right now. I was low on energy and didn't think I had it in me to argue.

  "She won't. She is being rather..." he paused for a moment, lip twitching, "...agreeable to everything. I think she knows how much danger she is in."

  I nodded. If she knew that, then that meant she would make sure that everything we did for her protection was followed through. No more fighting about it. I didn't want to have a repeat of what happened before.

  I quickly got rid of those thoughts in my head, looking at Hades. "Is there anything else you wanted to talk about?"

  Hades frowned looking me over. "Get some sleep. You may be a god, but you need sleep to keep your energy up." He then threw something at me. A golden apple.

  I rolled my eyes, but accepted it knowing it would help me.

  "I will. I am going to look over some files before sleeping. I will talk to Clara in the morning and you can bring the surprise for her." I gave him a look, telling him he could leave me alone now.

  "Fine. I will show her around some of Olympus. I don't plan for you to be at the meal tonight. I will make an excuse. Get some rest so you don't look so worn down. You look like you could fall asleep standing up." Hades turned and left me alone after he said that.

  I shook my head, he was always one who liked to get the last word. He was also the one who liked to make sure everyone was one-hundred percent healthy.

  I took the apple in my hands and sat it on the desk. I would eat it in a bit. I moved over to the balcony and stepped out onto it. The sun had already started to set and the stars were starting to show up in the sky.

  I will talk to her tomorrow...and maybe I can lessen some of this guilt.

  ~Clara~

  I frowned as I looked at Hades who just gave me a pat on the head. “No worries. He isn’t mad at you. I will go have a small chat with him. I will either come find you later, or see you in the morning.” He then walked out of the room leaving me with Ra, Eros and Poseidon.