by Dee King
“Before you leave, I wanted to give you back your shoes.”
Sebastian follows behind me through the doors. I stop. He heads toward the front door. He motions me to the staircase. I follow him up the stairs. I walked to what I think is the longest hallway I have ever seen.
He opens a door on the right. I walk slowly in behind him. The room has the most beautiful ocean view I have seen. The sun is just starting to set. All the beautiful colors paralyze me for the moment.
“Here. I am sorry. I put your shoes in my room so you could get the chance to see what I see every day.” It truly was breath taking.
I look at Sebastian. He hands me my shoes in a box, wrapped with a red ribbon. “My shoes are in here right?” I wrinkle my nose at him.
“Yes they are. If you want to come back. Well, if you ever want to come back, just feel free to walk in. I have the feeling Alex is probably going to follow you wherever you go.”
“That’s ok. I can handle him.” I wink at Sebastian and walk towards his bedroom door. I spot a picture on a large, magnetic bulletin board.
He has pictures all over the entire board. I think I see my ninth grade picture. I move to see this closer. I look at all the pictures. Mostly they are of the ocean or him and Ian, but I am in a few. I am the only girl in any of the pictures.
I look at Sebastian. He looks at me. I tilt my head to see a picture of me better.
I’m not sure if I should be flattered or think I may have a stalker.
Sebastian touches my arm for a brief moment. His lips slightly part. Before he says another word, I leave the room. I am afraid I may have feelings for him, and that is not possible.
Chapter 10
I leave Sebastian’s feeling more confused than I had before I got there. In one day my whole world has been flipped upside down. I sit in my Jeep looking at my phone. I text Chloe and wish her well on her shoot in Los Angeles.
I could go to watch Chris at his car show, but I know I won’t be much fun.
I text Chris and ask him to send me pictures of any new cars in the show.
I should go home. I should talk to my mom, but I refuse to do that. I decide to call instead.
“Mom.”
“Oh thank the Gods! Selene, are you ok?”
“Yea, I think I am.”
“Why don’t you come home, we can talk and I will order pizza?”
“No. I think I am going to just drive around or take a walk on the beach.”
“Are you sure? I could come.”
“No. I have a lot to think about. I really need to clear my head.”
“I understand. Please just be careful. I love you. Please know that!”
“I do. Thanks Mom. I love you, too.” I hang up before Mom can talk me into going home. I just do not feel like I can right now.
I throw the phone back in my bag and shift into reverse. I start to back the Jeep out of his driveway, and I linger for a moment.
I can see Alex and Sebastian standing on the front porch. I leave the both of them standing there looking confused. I need to be alone to clear my head. I drive to my spot on the beach. I have the feeling this is the only place I will find some peace for a while. I pull up to the beach and someone is in my spot.
Great! Just great!
I pull into the empty spot beside what look likes an Icon Sheen Black with black wheels. It shines like it has just been polished. This is a very fast motorcycle. Chris would kill for one of these. He loves everything that has an engine.
There is a guy leaning against the bike. He is in dark faded jeans, black boots, and a black shirt. He still has on his aviators and there is a helmet on the seat. He looks like he is waiting for someone.
I turn off the Jeep and shove the keys in my pocket. I keep a hand on them though, just in case I need my pepper spray.
“Selene.” I look at him.
“Yea, and you are?”
“Colin.” He says with a smile. My hand slides closer to the keys in my pocket.
“You won’t need the pepper spray. I’m not going to hurt you.” He mocks me. He takes off his sunglasses and sticks them in the front of his shirt.
He turns around, and I start walking towards the beach.
“Wait. Hold up. We aren’t done talking yet.”
“Yea, we are.” I put my hand on my pepper spray.
“You really have no clue who I am, do you?”
“Should I?” I roll my eyes at him.
Whatever you want I am not in the mood.
“Oh, I know your not in the mood. Believe me. I can see that.”
“Excuse me?”
“Man, Dad told me you weren’t dealing with this well.” He steps closer to me. I pull out the pepper spray.
“Back off. I will use this!” I hold the pepper spray out close to his face.
He puts a hand up.
“If I know your name, don’t you think it’s possible that I also know you?”
“Ok. You know me. I do not know you. So whatever you want, I really am not in the mood.” I start to walk to the shore line. He follows.
“I understand your need to be in the water. Just your feet alone makes a difference, doesn’t it?”
I turn back and glare at him. He does look oddly familiar, but not enough for me to want to have a conversation.
“Yep. Love the water.” I turn back around and kick off my flip flops. I head towards the shore line.
He sits down on the sand.
“I forgot how beautiful Malibu can be at night.” He starts taking off his boots, lace by lace. I keep walking.
“If you put your feet in the water you could do more damage to me than you could with that pepper spray. But then, so can I.”
“What are you talking about? I already told you I was not in the mood. I meant that! Please just leave me alone.”
“Sorry, but no can do. Dad said you finally needed me, so here I am.” He has already caught up to me.
“You sound crazy dude. Who is your Dad? You may need to go home, and get back on your meds.” I pick up my pace as I stroll carefully through the waves crashing at my feet.
“Selene! Damnit! Stop!”
I don’t want to turn around, but I do it anyways.
He is standing there with his t-shirt over his right shoulder, his sunglasses now in his front jean pocket. He has a trident tattoo that takes up most of his upper left chest.
He has muscles that make Chris look scrawny.
Okay. Now you have my attention...
“Gross. Selene. Gross. You are going to wish you hadn’t said that after I tell you who I am.” He stands up straight.
“What? Who are you then?”
“I’m Colin. Your brother. Actually, half brother. My mom is a Goddess, but we share the same father.”
“Huh? I don’t have a brother.”
“Yep. You do. That’s me.” He steps towards me and grins.
I can hear something behind me. I pull out my pepper spray and aim it at whatever is coming fast towards me.
It’s Alex. What is he doing here?
“Selene. Are you ok? Who is this guy?” Alex walks closer to me and reaches his hand out for mine. I take it for the simple fact that I know Alex.
We both stand there in the water staring at the guy who just proclaimed to be my brother.
“Alex. WOW. Your all grown up now. I didn’t think you were ever going to grow.”
“Colin?” Alex drops my hand and steps toward Colin.
“In the flesh and blood. Long time, no see man.” Alex turns and looks at me, then back to Colin.
“What are you doing here? You aren’t suppose to be here.”
“Funny how that works out, right? One day I am enjoying the beaches in the Mount, and the next Dad is sending me here to protect my little sister. You don’t look happy to see me though? Why is that?”
Colin steps closer to Alex.
This guy has to be about six foot four. Alex is about six foot two and is nowhere near the si
ze of this guy.
“Thanks, Sis. I work out.” He flexes his arms. Alex does not look happy. I move to stand in front of Alex.
“Is he my brother?” I ask.
“Yes, unfortunately he is.” He looks down at me. I can see in his eyes that what he has said is true.
“Unfortunately? That’s a little harsh. I thought you would have let all that go by now?”
I look at Alex.
“Let all what go?”
“Nothing. He was just a jerk when we were kids. It’s not important.” He looks at me and tries to take my hand. I pull away.
“First, none of this makes sense. Why are you here, Alex?” He turns toward me,while he tries to put his arms around my waist. I grudgingly let him.
“I thought we were suppose to meet for our moon light walk? Remember?”
“I thought we weren’t going to because you seemed mad when I told you I would take a rain check?”
“No, I was never mad. I’m sorry. Did you want me to leave?” He grins at me. I feel like just falling in his arms, but I stay strong.
“No.”
“Yes. Why don’t you run home. I need time with my sister.” Colin gets dangerously close to Alex and I.
“I don’t think I can. See, I am here for Selene. You can tell your Dad that I have this under control.” Alex looks me up and down.
“Oh, I do not think that is wise of you to say. Look where you are standing. The only thing saving you from me is that you have my sister in your arms.”
Alex leans in closer to me. I feel such a calm in his arms. I look up at him. He is staring at Colin.
“I think the only reason you are here is because you don’t trust Selene to make the right choice. You are wrong. I have seen what she can do. So, you can go home.”
“Take your hands off my sister. This will not end well for you.” I look at Colin. I pull back from Alex’s hold around my waist.
“Would you stop? None of this makes any sense. I have a brother? How did I not know this? Why is everything such a secret with you people? No one has told me anything. I want some answers. I want them now!” I yell.
“I will tell you everything as soon as Alex leaves.” He starts to put his shirt back on. He looks at me.
“I promise I will tell you everything I can. If you just come with me.” He opens his outstretched hand to me. I feel drawn to go with him. I also feel drawn to stay with Alex. I stand there looking at both.
I walk out of the water. Not saying a word.
I just start walking towards my Jeep.
“Selene, I will follow you. You are going to have to talk to me eventually. You can run all you want, but I will follow.” I stop. I turn towards Colin.
“Fine..” Alex runs up to me, and takes my hand into his.
“One night. We will get to have our moment. I promise.” He bends down and kisses me slightly touching my lips. He looks back at Colin.
“I look forward to that moment.” Alex says smugly.
“Colin.” He walks away as he nods to him.
“Alex.” Colin grabs his helmet and keys.
“Ok. We need to go somewhere you feel safe. Any idea’s, because the beach is out. If we stay here, Alex will just send Cali next.” He knows Cali, too?
“My house?”
“Nope. That will not work. Your mom will be there.”
“I really don’t have many other safe places.” I stare over at my Jeep.
“Well, then our house it is.”
“I thought you said no because my mom is there?” He puts his helmet on.
“No. The house that is ours to share while we live on Earth. Wait. You don’t know about that do you? Of course, you don’t. Just follow me. K?” I look at him.
“Our house?” He puts his right leg over the motorcycle while the left leg holds it up.
“Yes. Our house. It’s not far.”
“Um,okay..”
“No worries little sister. Everything will be alright. I am here now.” I get into my Jeep, as he starts the bike.
“Make sure you can keep up!” He yells at me while he puts the motorcycle in reverse. I follow behind him, hoping I can.
He was right. I really had to try to keep up with him.
I think I have been this way before. I didn’t know there were any homes out this far though. We take a sharp turn down a very sandy road. Looks like we are actually driving on a beach.
I see a house.
It looks identical to Sebastian’s house. The only difference is that the front of this one looks like the back of Sebastian’s house.
I pull up beside Colin. He jumps off the bike and places his helmet on the seat. I just sit there. Staring at this house.
“You gonna come in or do you prefer to stay outside?”
I am not sure what I am even doing here. Yesterday, everything was so simple. Now, I have a brother and a mansion?
I take my keys out of the ignition and pick up my bag. Walking towards the steps, I look in amazement at the house.
I follow Colin inside. He throws his keys on a table as we reach the balcony. The table is an exact match to Sebastian’s. In fact, the only thing different about any of the furniture is that there are sea foam color cushions, and matching pillows scattered everywhere.
There is a door similar to Sebastian’s. The glass is frosted.
I keep my keys in my hand, and my bag over my shoulder. Colin opens the door to let us walk inside. I must look shocked because his eyes are huge.
“Selene. Stay here. Someone is inside,” he whispers to me.
He walks into the house and I lose sight of him. I look around the balcony.
I do not see anyone. I start to head down the stairs when I hear a loud crash coming from inside the house. I drop my keys and my bag and take off running towards the noise.
Colin has someone on the ground.
“Colin, Colin. Stop it’s me.” He releases the intruder. It’s Sebastian. My mouth drops open.
“What the hell are you doing, Sebastian? I could have hurt you.” Colin helps him up. Sebastian brushes himself off.
“You know you could have just told me you were coming by.” Colin brushes himself off, too.
“I know. Sorry. Selene left my house and I was worried about her. Alex has a hold on her that I can’t seem to break. I was worried about her with him. Have you seen her yet?” Colin coughs. Loudly.
Sebastian looks towards me. He looks back at Colin.
“A warning could have helped.” His face is turning a slight shade of pink.
“Sorry. You just started in before I could.” Colin laughs and places his hand on Sebastian’s shoulder.
“Sorry. Again.” Sebastian smiles at Colin. I just stand there staring at the two of them.
“I am so confused. Are you two friends?”
“You could say that.” They both laugh at one another. I feel like I’ve been left out of a joke. Sebastian and Colin walk towards me.
Colin picks up a book. A very large, leather bound book.
He hands it to me.
“What is this?”
“Proof. You still do not believe everything that has happened. I can feel and sense it. Although, with us being siblings you should be able to know I am your brother. Do you not see that we look alike?”
I stare at him. He’s right. He has short blonde hair. He looks like he has not shaved in a couple of days, and blue green eyes like mine. We even have the same jaw structure, but his is more defined. His nose is little like mine, and he crinkles it the same way I do when I laugh.
I feel like I might faint. I need to sit down. I look over to my right where a large couch is. I sit down, and just try to make sense of this.
“You see it now don’t you?” He comes and sits beside me.
“I know this is probably very shocking, and I am sorry you had to meet me this way. We should have meet many years ago.” He puts his arm around me. I let him hold me. I can not help the tears falling down my face.
“I just can’t believe all this. Really. I just want to understand. Why me?”
“Everything will all make sense in time. Trust me, there was a plan set in motion many, many years ago. I know it may be hard for you to believe, but I do know that everything will be okay. You’re going to have to learn to trust me.”
I’m cry into Colin’s arms.
Sebastian sits on the arm of the sofa and puts his hand on my back.
I can feel Colin raising his hand to my face.
“Please don’t cry. Look in the book. There are more answers in there than I can give you.” He moves his arm from me. He opens the book.
Words appear.
“You and I are the only ones that can open this book and read the pages. Even Sebastian will only see blank pages.” I look over at Sebastian. He nods.
“We all have our own books. Our fathers did this for us before we were born. The book tells our story. It can help guide us if we get lost on Earth. It tells what our father wanted for us before we were even born. We all have one. Sebastian, Alexander, you and I. We are the only four who have these books. Most Migades would not even know such a book exists.”
I take the leather bound book in both of my hands. It opens in the middle. By itself.
“This doesn’t make sense. From what Mom told me there are many Gods and Goddess’. Why just us four?” Sebastian stands up.
“Because our fathers are the three Gods that are the most powerful. There are no other Gods that have the powers our fathers have.”
I look back down at the open page as words suddenly appear.
It’s hand written like a journal.
I look at Sebastian then Colin.
“Why don’t you read some of this for a few minutes and we leave you be.”
I stare back down at the book. Sebastian smiles at me as he and Colin turn and head towards the balcony.
“I chose to have the most beautiful daughter this world has ever seen. I have meet a mortal with the most wonderful soul. She has offered to carry my daughter, and raise her knowing that when she becomes of age, she will chose whether she stays on Earth or leaves for eternity to Mount Olympus. Hades and I have worked our plan well enough to know that his son will protect her against Zeus’ son. We know of his plan. I will not have my daughter be a part of it. I can not stop her, nor him. I can only provide her with the gifts that I have so that she can chose the right path for herself. Chose the right path, my half mortal child. My only Migades.”
