by Dani Hoots
“Glad I’m not the only one with half a brain.” He held out his hand. “Name’s Peter. What’s your name?”
I shook his hand. “Chrys. This is Huntley and A.J.”
He glanced over at them, giving Huntley a little grin. “Well, I think you will fit in perfectly, Chrys. Not sure about your friend here, though.”
Huntley held up two fingers and smiled. Peter nodded. “Yeah, also I’m not too sure if he is the kind of friend you want to make here.”
“Well we are pretty good friends already,” I said, holding down Huntley’s arm as he was about to punch Peter again. I found it quite ironic, though, as both of them talked pretty close to the same manner, passive aggressively. Maybe that was why they didn’t get along.
The door opened to the office and a woman nodded to Peter. With a sigh, Peter stood up. “Well, see you around Chrys.”
The door shut and Huntley stopped resisting me pushing his arm down. “Why are you so nice to him? He’s just a jerk.”
A.J. sighed. “She’s nice to everyone, you should know that by now.”
I sort of resented that. Although my father was a nice person, he was also known for being merciless if the time was right. I didn’t want people always thinking I was nice and that they could get away with anything. Not if I wanted my father to take me seriously. “And he wasn’t being a jerk, he was just making conversation,” I added.
Huntley shook his head. “No, you don’t know guys like that like I do. He’s just a smooth talker, trying to get you to…” He sighed and leaned his head against the wall. “Never mind, doesn’t matter. We aren’t staying that long anyway.”
I wasn’t sure what Huntley’s problem was but I decided not to ask. He didn’t seem to want to talk about what his high school experience was like, at least not in any great detail. He mentioned hating it and the things he did, but that was about it.
After a bit, we were called into the office and Huntley got yelled at. He didn’t seem to be even phased, as if he been through this all before. Luckily I was able to get the principal to calm down using some of my powers and let us go back to class. By the end of it he completely forgot why we were called into his office in the first place.
By the time everything was finished, it was time for lunch. I was starving and could not wait to try high school food. We got into a massive line of teens all trying to get food. I figured it had to have been some of the best food in all the worlds for this many people to be lined up.
I was wrong. It was disgusting.
After a couple of bites, I felt like I was going to throw up. A.J. took my share, still hungry as ever. I swore he never ate this much in the Underworld. Once him and Huntley were done, the two of them took the trays to the garbage and tray stack. I sat there, waiting for them to come back. I kept an eye on them, kind of scared to be on my own in such a massive area, even though they weren’t that far. I wasn’t used to such crowds.
Most people just stayed away from us. I wasn’t sure if it was because they didn’t know us or if it had to do with Huntley’s antagonistic aura. He gave off the ‘step closer and get the fuck beat out of you’ feeling and so most just stared at us like we were some kind of freaks. Huntley also pointed out that we didn’t have British accents and that could be part of it. I honestly just think it was him.
But there was one person who would talk to me, and that was Peter. The boy I met in the hallway. He sat down next to me while A.J. and Huntley were still getting rid of the trays.
“Hi again.” He smiled.
“Hey,” I said, playing with my friendship bracelet. I wasn’t sure why he sat down next to me, but I didn’t mind since I didn’t like being here all alone. Something about him seemed familiar, as if we were on the same level. My heart raced, as for just a moment I thought he could be some kind of god. That seemed highly unlikely though, as a god wouldn’t hang out at a high school. That, and he didn’t look familiar whatsoever. It was probably just because he reminded me of Huntley.
“I’m throwing a party tonight.” He pulled out a piece of paper with an address and time on it. “Would love it if you could come. Everyone is going to be there. Don’t need to bring anything except your beautiful self. You can even bring your two friends if you want.”
I nodded. “Okay, sure. I will see if they want to go.” I didn’t know what I was saying, I had no idea what a party was. Yet, for some reason, I really wanted to go.
He grinned. “Great. I will be waiting.”
Peter left just as Huntley and A.J. showed back up. Huntley watched as Peter hurried off. “What did he want?”
I handed him the paper. “He is throwing a party. He said we were all invited.”
Huntley looked at the piece of paper. “You can’t be serious. Do you really want to go to this?”
I shrugged. That was the question, wasn’t it? I wanted to see what life was like as a human, but the more I learned at this school, the more I came to realize that I missed my father and the Underworld. This wasn’t me, I wasn’t my mother. Although it had been fun yesterday, today I was starting to get sick of it all and just wanted to see the palace again.
“I don’t know, I kind of do. How about this: we go to the party, then we can go home. No more stops, just go straight back to the Underworld. What would you say to that?”
Huntley rubbed the back of his head. “I don’t know, parties like this never end well.”
I game him one of my famous innocent smiles. “But you will be there with me, so it will be fun right?”
He glanced over at A.J. “Yeah, I suppose.”
I bit my thumb. “What do you think I should wear? Should I get a dress or something?”
Huntley rolled his eyes at me as A.J. opened his mouth, but closed it before saying something.
It looked like I was going to get to go to my first party.
The day finally was over, thank God, or Zeus, or whatever.
I was glad this experience knocked some sense into Chrys and that she wanted to go back home after the party tonight. I would have preferred us not going to the party at all, but she insisted. For some reason she was really looking forward to it, as if she longed to go. Whatever, A.J. and I would be there and wouldn’t leave her alone for any moment. Knowing that guy Peter invited her made me even more protective.
There was one more place Chrys wanted to stop before looking for a dress. And yes, she insisted that she wear a dress instead of something she picked up yesterday, as it was a party after all. Girls, I swore it didn’t matter where they were from, Earth or the Underworld, they always wanted to look good at a party. I told her it didn’t matter what she wore, that she was always beautiful, and although she did believe me, she still talked us into taking her to get a dress. Whatever. The fussiness women have over looking good for big events was something too hard to wrap my masculine mind around.
I also mentioned that she could snap her fingers and make any dress she wanted, but apparently that wasn’t the same. She wanted the whole experience. I also asked her what she was going to tell her dad when he found all the clothes in her room. She didn’t answer that, of course.
The last stop she wanted to make was at the British Museum. The history teacher today brought it up in class and Chrys seemed very interested in seeing it firsthand. I couldn’t blame her, especially since she could see relics of all the things that had come to pass while she was in the Underworld. It was odd to think that the girl I liked was alive for almost everything the museum had on display. And, yet, she appeared only to be the same age as me.
Museums in Britain were cool. They were free, just a suggestion of a donation. Also they were huge. Like I couldn’t even comprehend how huge it was and how much stuff it had to have held. I wanted to say it held all of the history in the world, as most of the artifacts were from different raids the British had during their empire days. It was a vast collection either way.
If my hometown had this, maybe I would have taken a liking to something at school
. Or maybe not, who knew, really, as it was because of Chrys that I started to take an interest in things.
We went through the different Asian cultures and relics that the museum had in store for us. Chrys appeared to be pretty interested in Muromachi art of Japan, along with their architectural style and zen-type decor. I had a feeling I knew what she was going to change her room into next. I wondered if she would like anime, and knew I had to introduce it to her when we got back.
A.J. liked the ancient middle east section, as there was a tiny plaque with his name on it. Apparently his full name was Agenor, Phoenician King of Tyre, but Chrys gave him the nickname A.J., as the “g” in “Agenor” sounded like a “j”. I was hoping there was no mention of him anywhere, that way I could rub it in his face later. Oh well.
We came upon the Greek section. A lot of the art was inspired by Greek mythology, so Chrys was able to identify all of them and told me stories of who they were. It was great to see her so excited about it, even though she knew she could never be introduced to most of those gods and that none of them knew she existed. She had to stay hidden in the shadows, and although I knew it hurt her deep down, it didn’t damage her to the point that she resented all of this. Because of that, I knew she was much stronger than I could ever be, even though at times her emotions would escape her control and she almost destroyed an entire section of the palace when that repressed fury erupted. Everyone had to have their faults, so I never held it against her. Besides, I doubted I could ever stand having no one think I existed, especially with so much power and so much responsibility. I knew she was lonely, but at that moment I realized just how lonely she really was. And I knew in my heart I would never let her stay alone.
We came upon a room with a bunch of statues in it. Chrys froze as she stared at one, a bronze figure of a woman. Slowly she stepped up to it.
I leaned over to A.J. “Who’s that?”
“Her mother, you idiot.”
Okay, now that he said that, I had to admit the statue did look a lot like Persephone. And Chrys. It looked a lot like Chrys.
Another man, probably in his late twenties, was studying the statue. As Chrys walked up to him, he glanced back between her and the statue. “Good lord, you look exactly like her! You must be a goddess!”
Chrys turned white. I wasn’t sure if it was because she didn’t want to be recognized as her mother, or if she was afraid somehow a god would find out. I quickly put my arm around her. “Yeah, my girl sure does look like a goddess doesn’t she?”
He gave me a look, realizing that I didn’t like anyone trying to talk to her, especially guys who were apparently trying to hit on her. He walked over to another statue and acted like that one was more interesting.
Chrys sighed. “Thanks. Wasn’t sure what was going to happen there. You are a life saver.”
I beamed. “No problem. But glad that others can see how beautiful you are.”
“I’m still going to go find a dress, Huntley.”
Couldn’t blame a boy for trying. I guess she was sticking to the dress.
“How come I don’t see any statues of your father? I see plenty of Zeus and Poseidon,” I asked. A.J. and Chrys gave me an annoyed look. Apparently I had said that a bit too loud as a couple of people were looking at us quite strangely.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Could be a couple of reasons. First off, my father isn’t full of vanity like his brothers. Second, he doesn’t leave the Underworld often, if at all, so not many humans know what he looks like, not until after they are dead that is.”
“And the fact humans hate him because he represents death. Of all the gods, humans have resented him the most, fearing the afterlife and what it represents. They don’t want to praise him because he sentences them to their death,” A.J. added.
I never thought about it that way. I guess humans didn’t really like thinking about death so it made sense, but having known Hades for a while, I knew he had to be one of the best gods out there, one that cared for humans more so than any that I knew. Then again, I didn’t really know any others, only from stories. But he did make sure all the souls were judged rightfully and he did so without bitterness, only with compassion. I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it.
Chrys, on the other hand, would be next. She had the compassion, I knew, and could fight when the situation demanded it. I realized now that places like these, seeing all her family and other gods as mortal art forms, had to be hard on her. She would never see herself as a statue, never have anyone praise her for all that she will do. Hell, the world probably wouldn’t even notice if she came to power, it would just go on being the way it was, totally ignorant of the immortal realms. I didn’t know which I felt sorry for more, Hades for never being worshiped like the other gods, or Chrys for never being known like the others have at one point in recorded history.
Either way, it had to hurt.
“Why does your father always stay in the Underworld?” I asked, instantly regretting the decision. She already felt bad about leaving him there with her mother and coming on Earth without him knowing, even though it had only been a short amount of time since we left. She probably didn’t want to talk about her father until we got back to the palace.
She shrugged. “Too busy, I suppose. He hates his brothers as well, so there’s that. Not many really like him and a lot more fear him. He doesn’t have many friends so there isn’t really a reason for him to leave. But mostly because he is too busy. There are always souls to be judged. Death never takes a break.”
Made sense. Seemed like Hades got the short straw on this one though. It was no wonder he kept his daughter so close. He probably was pretty lonely. I mean, he had a few others who were down there, but none of them were really anyone you’d want to play poker with, or talk about the latest Underworld gossip. I mean, they weren’t that lively.
Get it?
Well, I wouldn’t let Chrys be lonely if I could help it. I knew that eternity was a very, very long time, but it was either eternity with her or an eternity wherever Hades decided to ultimately put me, which hopefully wouldn’t be Tartarus. It really depended on how I treated his daughter. I just hoped I wouldn’t do anything stupid, or get caught doing something stupid. Maybe this whole escapade to Earth might be counted against me in that way.
Knowing me…
“Is there anything else you want to see, Chrys? It’s starting to get late and if you really want to get that dress, then we should probably leave soon,” A.J. said.
She nodded. “Yeah, I’m done. Thanks Huntley for bringing us here. You have been a great tutor.” She winked at me when she said tutor. I smiled as A.J. rolled his eyes.
“What, am I not good enough for you, A.J.?” I pushed him forward as we started for the exit. He gave me a sharp look.
“What did I say about touching me? And no, you are a worthless tutor.”
“Yeah, well if it weren’t for me, you two would be incredibly lost.”
Chrys responded before A.J. could come up with some form of his trademark snarky response. “He has a point Huntley. If it weren’t for him, we probably wouldn’t have been able to come to Earth, at least not safely. The two of us would have been completely lost.”
A.J. shut up and left the museum to help Chrys in her quest to go find ‘the perfect dress’.
Okay, I finally understood why Chrys wanted to find a dress. And might I say damn she looked so beautiful in the dress she finally picked out. I know it should have been obvious but black was definitely her color.
She twirled around in her dress, a little black number that came above her knees. It was a bit like Belle’s gown in The Beauty and the Beast, except not as elegant, a bit nicer on the eyes to be honest. Not that cartoons could compare with the real thing. With the combat boots she was wearing, the way her hair was curled, and her dark makeup, she definitely looked like the princess of darkness.
And I wanted to kiss her so badly.
The fact we were away from her father should have l
ed me to believe I could get away with just one kiss. But A.J. was here and he seemed like he would be a tattle-tale. Though he never mentioned the pomegranates to Hades, I think it was more for Chrys’ sake than mine. If I stole a kiss, even if Chrys initiated it, Hades probably would still think it was my fault.
And down to Tartarus I would go.
I always thought fathers who were over protective of their daughters, saying they would shoot the boy who made their daughter cry, was absurd. First off, would they really shoot them? And second, they would get arrested if they did. Hades, on the other hand, could definitely cause an eternity of pain to whoever hurt his daughter. And he wouldn’t face any repercussions. He was definitely the scariest father I had ever met. And, ironically, one of the nicest as well.
Chrys was still waiting for a verbal response from me as she stood in front of me, her hands on her hips. I must have been gawking this whole time, because she had a sly smirk on her face.
