Kallos quickly lets go of Sean’s hand; she doesn't want people to think bad things about her. She knows that it hurt Sean’s feelings because his face changed. She doesn’t want to hurt his feelings. Kallos has to look away from him and as she does, someone catches her eye. She’s a girl that Kallos hadn't met yet. She was tall, at least five foot ten inches, and her hair is black and short, barely coming to the top of her ears. She gives Kallos a little wave.
“Hello!” The girl said. “Kallos, right?” Kallos nods. “Have the Hunter's told you about themselves, or are they hiding behind their pretty faces?” Kallos looks at Sean and he looks down. Then, the girl starts to laugh as she walks away.
“Don’t mind her. She is kind of weird,” Sean said and starts to walk to the school; Kallos follows him. She tries to talk to him to find out what that girl was talking about, but he just walks faster. By the time they walk into the school the first bell rings. Before Kallos gets to say anything to Sean, she sees Ian by the lockers.
“I’ll see you later, Kallos.” Sean leans in and kisses her on the cheek.
“Wait! Sean, what—,” but he doesn’t stop. She looks at Ian and wonders what they are hiding from her.
She sits in the same seat as before, and Ian is in front of her. Kallos looks up just in time to see Karissa walk in, and she glares at Kallos. When she passes Kallos, Karissa drops a note, turns around, and sits down. Slowly she opens the folded piece of paper.
Ask them what they are. I'm sure you have seen Sean's eyes change. Do you want to know what they are?
Kallos turns around to look at Karissa, and their eyes meet for a moment; then, Karissa looks away. Kallos turns back and is trying to pay attention, but she wants to know what’s going on. She is going to have a lot to talk about with Sean and Ian on their way home. Sean has already proven that he won't lie to her, but Ian is the sweet one, and she doesn’t know if he will tell her everything or try to protect her.
By the time she started to pay attention the class is over and the bell rings. Her mind seems to be in another world as Ian steps up next to her desk; she doesn’t even notice him next to her and grumbles something to get her attention. It doesn’t help that they can tell her feelings with that stupid necklace.
“What’s going on? You know, the best thing about these necklaces is we know when you are lying to us. So you can’t say anything.” He winks and puts his hand in the middle of her back. He walks them out of classroom, and Kallos knows he is waiting for her to answer his question.
“I need to talk to you and Sean after school. I have something I need to ask you guys.”
“Like what?” Ian is pretty good at shrouding his emotions.
“Like why I saw yours and Sean's eyes change to black?” All the color rapidly fades from Ian's face, and Kallos has a feeling he knows what she is talking about. Sean is walking up to them by the time they get to their lockers. He looks at Ian, and his eyebrows go together in confusion.
“What’s going on?” Sean asks Ian. Then Sean looks at Kallos and his eyes widen. “Did you have another attack?” He puts his hands on either side of her face. He even put the back of his hand to her forehead to check if she had a fever.
“Sean, she’s fine. Kallos wants to know why our eyes change,” Ian said as he walks past Kallos to his locker.
Sean looks away, and she doesn’t need a necklace to tell her that he is fuming. She just doesn’t know if he is mad at her. She didn’t do anything for him to be mad at her; Kallos just wants to know what’s going on.
“What do you know, and who told you?” Ian asks her as she is taking her books out for her next class. Kallos looks at him, and she swears he is glaring at her. She has to hold back her smile because he looks so cute when he’s trying to be intimidating. She has a good feeling that he never could get truly angry with her.
“No one told me anything. I just had weird feelings since I came here.” She knows she’s taking a chance telling him a lie, but she did add some half-truth in there. Ian just looks at her, and she knows he is trying to see if she is telling the truth.
“Fine, after school we’ll talk,” Ian said, and she looks over at Sean. She can tell he isn’t buying what she said. Kallos looks down because she doesn’t like to lie. She could have told them Karissa told her to ask, but she doesn’t like to start problems.
“Let’s get going to our next class,” Sean said and nods towards Ian. Ian just walks away. This is the first time he doesn’t kiss her or say something to make her roll her eyes. He just walks away. She doesn’t even look at Sean; she walks right past him and goes to class. Kallos sits down and looks up as Sean is walking in. She can see the pain on his face. She sees he can feel her emotions and it shows on his face. Not thinking about Sean and Ian, she pays attention to the teacher and pushes boy problems to the back of her mind.
Kallos is so happy when the final bell rings. The boys told her they wouldn’t lie to her, and she is going to see if they will hold up to their end of the bargain. She can almost feel Sean’s eyes scorching her back as they walk to their lockers; she grabs her pink and black backpack out and closes it behind her. Kallos and Sean didn’t speak to each other in their last class, which is fine. She is still hurting because of him blowing her off. She knows that he is mad at her for lying, but she had a good reason. Kallos may not like Karissa, but she isn't going to throw her under the bus. She just doesn’t want to break up Ian and Karissa's friendship even if she wants more with Ian. Kallos turns around from her locker, and notices Sean and Ian both next to their lockers. Ian still must have something on his mind because his normal gorgeous smile is hidden behind a sulking frown. This is the first time she hasn’t seen a smile plastered on his beautiful face. Okay, maybe they both know that she lied to them.
“We should start walking,” Kallos says. Sean and Ian aren’t looking at her; they are looking behind her. She turns around and isn’t surprised to see her dad. “Hey Dad, we were just going to head home,” she gives him her innocent smile.
“Okay, Sweetie, I’ll see you guys at home.” He glares at the boys before he pats her shoulder. She hears the boys exhale loudly when he walks away. Kallos shakes her head at them. She knows they are waiting for her to ask them about everything. She slows down so they can talk longer.
“I want to know everything,” Kallos looks at them.
“Well, do you believe in demons?” Sean asks her.
“Demons? You mean like with horns, tails and from hell?” Sean and Ian start to laugh, and she gives them both the look to let them know she isn't happy with them laughing at her.
“Sorry, but they don’t look anything like that. Most of them are really good looking. Our mother is a Fates Demon; she can alter people’s destinies. Our dad is human so we are only half demons”, Sean says, and that explains a lot.
“Is that why your eyes change to black?” Kallos asks, even though she already knows the answer. Sean gives her a slight nod, and she turns towards Ian. “What about you?”
Ian looks away, and she can tell he doesn't want to talk about this. “Sean is older than me, and he got more of the demon blood. My eyes don’t change, and I don’t give off evil vibes. Our parents found out that we’re reincarnated Ares and Apollo,” Ian adds with a quirky smile, not the one that she loves, though. It doesn’t light up his face. Kallos knows she has seen his eye change.
“Okay, so you two are part demon. What about some other people?” She turns to look at Sean. “What about the one girl we saw outside the garden; the girl with short black hair who’s really tall? Something seems different about her,” Kallos thinks she saw that her eyes were all black. Kallos’ mark was burning the whole time they were looking at each other.
“She is a full demon. She is a Succubus. Camilla hasn’t come into her full powers yet, and trusts me, we aren’t looking forward to the day when she does. Sean and I could alter people’s destinies, but it would cost us. Well, I’m not even sure if we could, since we are only half demons. Our
mother can if she wants too.”
So, Camilla is a succubus; Sean and Ian are half fates demons; and she is Aphrodite, well, sort of. Kallos’ world has just gotten much more confusing. She doesn’t know where her world starts and where the real world ends.
“Okay, this is too much to take in at once,” Kallos says and starts walking in the direction of home. There has been something really bugging her about her soul-mates thing, and she needs to know the answer, now. “I have another question to ask you guys.” Out of the corner of her eyes she sees both of them glance at her and then quickly look forward. She knows they can feel her discomfort, so she goes right for it. “How do you guys feel about being a part of me forever?” She really needs to know, but is terrified of finding out what they might say. They are both standing about five feet behind her and staring at her. Ian was the first to open his mouth.
“Our parents told us about you, but we didn’t know that we were soul mates until a few days ago. We knew you were Aphrodite and it was your destiny to be with one of us; it’s part of the story. Both of us being your soul mate wasn’t part of the plan, but we will deal with it,” Sean smiles at her. It’s crazy to think that their parents knew about her when she just found out a few days ago. They seem to move in unison to her, and both of their arms encircle her. It's all too much to take in. She wanted to know everything, but she should have taken some time to get used to everything first. Kallos is still stunned about having two soul mates, but seeing how happy that made Ares makes her a little happy.
“I remember the first time our mother showed us a picture of you. You were about eight or so. You looked so cute in your red, puffy dress and a big red bow in your hair,” Ian laughs. She knows what dress he is talking about. It was for her Christmas program, and she had her first solo. “I swear that bow was bigger than your head. When I saw you, Kallos, I gave you a piece of my heart. I know you know that I’ve been with other girls, but they didn’t mean anything to me. It has always been you.” She can feel her heart melting.
“We should start heading home; your dad is going to send a search party for us. He’ll probably send some hounds to hunt us down.” This time when Ian smiles, it lights up his beautiful face, and his gray eyes seem to sparkle with little silver specks even more pronounced by the sun shining on us.
Kallos just shakes her head and starts to walk home. She loves how both of them can turn a tense moment into a fun moment. The thing that scares her the most is that she knows that she is falling in love with both of them. Or, maybe she already did love them. After that thought, she really doesn’t want to talk about anything else. Kallos doesn’t know if they know exactly what she is feeling, but it doesn’t matter. Her dad’s car is already in the driveway, and her mom is waiting for them in the doorway. Kallos knows it’s taken them an extra ten minutes to get home, and she really hopes that won't cause any problems.
This is only the second night for Sean and Ian here, and she doesn’t want to start a fight. Her mom’s face doesn’t show anger; it looks like it always does. She looks loving and happy. Maybe this is a good sign, and the plus is that Kallos doesn’t see her dad anywhere. The boys are walking behind Kallos, as she gives her mom a hug and a kiss. Her mom gives the boys a big smile that reaches her eyes.
“Hello boys. How was your day?” Kallos knows that her mom is asking all of them. It makes her feel good that her mom is including Ian and Sean. They walk in and Kallos can see her dad in the kitchen; he looks right past her and glares at Ian and Sean.
“Oh James, you need to stop. It’s not like they all did the nasty on the way home.”
“Mom!” Kallos screams and the boys start coughing while trying not to laugh. Her whole body felt like it was on fire. She looks at her dad, and he is now standing with his face as red as hers. She doesn't think he’s blushing.
“Oh, it was a joke! James, you need to relax and sit down,” her mom lectures him. To Kallos' amazement, her dad sits down. Slowly, she can see his color come back to normal. Kallos releases the breath she’s been holding, and she hears Sean and Ian do the same. “Well kids, how was your day?” Kallos smiles at her mom. She is so happy her mom is back to her loving self.
“It was great, Mom,” Kallos says with a smile.
“It was good, Mrs. Dean,” Ian says, starting to breathe normally again.
“The same, Mrs. Dean,” Sean says as Kallos' mom gives them a smile and shakes her head.
“I think my daughter’s soul mates can call me by my first name, Brooke,” she chuckles. Ian and Sean just nod to her.
“I’ll be right back; I want to put my stuff away,” Kallos starts to walk to the stairs. As she gets to the top of the stairs, her heart feels like it is going to pound through her chest. She holds on to the railing for support and knows that Sean and Ian will be there. She just hopes that they make it before she falls down the stairs. She tries to take a deep breath, but that makes her chest hurt worse. She tells herself to slow her breathing down.
Kallos’ head just starts to pound, and she is starting to see dark spots in her vision. She knows that she is going to pass out and they still aren’t there to help her. She turns her head, looking for them. There is no one behind her. She opens her mouth to scream, but that is when her eyesight and body give out on her. Kallos can feel herself falling, and she knows that falling down the stairs could kill her. All of a sudden, she feels arms around her waist pulling her into a strong warm body. She doesn’t know who it is, but it really doesn’t matter.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Kallos doesn’t wake up, well not really. She is lying on the grass in the garden, and she can see three people standing about ten feet from her. Two of them she knows, Ares and Aphrodite, but the other one she hasn't seen before. She can’t see him clearly, but she has a strong feeling he is Apollo. Kallos slowly sits up, and she can still feel a little pain in her head. She must have made a noise because all three of them turn to look at her.
Aphrodite is the only one that walks to Kallos; Ares and Apollo remain where they are. Aphrodite seems to be floating on air; Kallos can see her feet weren’t moving. Aphrodite's holds her hand in front of Kallos' face to help her up; Kallos slowly grabs Aphrodite’s hand. Aphrodite may look small and fragile, but she isn’t when she pulls Kallos up in one strong pull. Now, they are inches away from each other. Aphrodite is taller than Kallos. She looks down at Kallos and smiles warmly at her. Her smile seems to dull the pain in Kallos' head.
“Is that better my dear?” Aphrodite asks, and Kallos has a feeling that she knows it is.
“Yes, but I thought you said that only my soul mate could do that.” Aphrodite grins and lets go of Kallos' hand. That’s when Kallos notices that Ares and Apollo have moved up to them. They are standing right behind Aphrodite; this is the first time Kallos gets a really good look at Apollo.
He has long black hair that is pulled back from his face. His eyes are a striking blue, just like Ian’s. Just then she realizes he is shirtless, nothing more than a loincloth is covering his chiseled chest and abdomen. Kallos forces her eyes to look away from his drool-worthy body to look him in is light blue eyes before she embarrasses herself any further. “So, I hear both of the soul necklaces changed.” Her brain is acting funny, and she has to replay the question he just asked.
“Yes, they put them on at the same time, and they both almost passed out. Then, they both had silver necklaces,” Aphrodite states before Kallos can answer Apollo. Looking back to when Sean and Ian put the necklaces on, Kallos remembers they stopped breathing. She remembers that Aphrodite didn't tell her what would happen, or what would happen if they took off their necklaces.
“Aphrodite, why didn’t you tell me about the necklaces? How it would kill them if they removed it? And why didn’t you tell me that when they took my pain, they would feel it too?” Ares starts to chuckle and Apollo stares at her in astonishment.
“Well, I couldn’t have known that they both would have been your soul mates. Would you have let t
hem take your pain if you have known that it would hurt them too?” Kallos doesn’t say anything because they all know the answer. “That’s what I thought. Do you understand that the change can kill you? It has killed the others, and if you make it, you will be the first one since me. It does help that you have them to help you with the pain. I know that Sean told you that you will still feel the pain and you will. It won’t be like it would have been though. I am sorry I didn’t tell you more about the necklaces, but once again you wouldn’t have given it to them.” Aphrodite is right. Kallos wouldn't have wanted to risk their pain for hers. She feels that since Sean and Ian have met her she has been just taking from them, and they aren’t getting much in return.
“What else don’t I know?” Aphrodite smiles at her and takes Kallos' hand in hers.
“Ares told you that we have waited a long time for all of our souls to be connected. Kallos, it has finally happened. I love Ares and Apollo. I know you have the feelings for Ian and Sean. Learn from me: if you decide to choose one, it won’t be an easy choice. You all will always be connected to both of them no matter what happens. The boys will always feel what you are feeling.” That isn't what Kallos wanted to hear.
She will always be connected to them, and they will always feel what she is feeling. “I want to know what they are feeling too,” Kallos didn’t realize that she said it out loud until she saw the humor on Aphrodite's face.
“That will only happen if you are mated with that person,” Aphrodite responds. Apollo and Ares are smiling at Kallos like they know something.
“How do I mate with them?” Kallos asks. Aphrodite smiles at her and Ares turns around to hide his big smile.
“You must be in love with them and then make love to them.” Just the thought of being in love and making love makes Kallos blush. Her whole body heats up to its peak. “But don’t worry that won’t happen for some time. You have to get through the change before any of that can happen.”
Kallos (Kallos Series) Page 10
