by Dee King
“Okay, we have boards. You ready to go down?” I walk to one of the surf boards. “I won’t be going down.” Colin states. He takes one of the surf boards under his arm. “We will see won’t we.” I take the other board. We walk down the stairs. I can feel the
rush of memories from Friday night flood my mind.
“Selene, Does he even know how to surf?” Chloe asks concerned for Colin. “Yea, he does. He thinks he is pretty good. We shall see who is the better one today.” As we begin to paddle out I can hear all of them talking on the shore. I hear my name
being yelled. It’s Chloe cheering me on. I keep paddling. The first big wave comes. We both stand at the same time. We are ready. The wave takes us. We ride. I let my hand touch the water. I follow the wave as Colin does. I hear a big splash behind me. I keep riding the wave.
I see Colin out of the corner of my eye swimming back to the shore. I won! I let the wave crash around me as I fall. I swim back to the shore where Colin is already sitting on the beach. I reach the shore.
“So, who is the better surfer?” I say with my board in hand.
“That did not count. I wasn’t ready. You should have taken the second wave.” “Whatever. The first wave was all it took to beat you.” I say with a grin on my face.
Chloe comes and high five’s me.
“That was awesome! You should see you two. It’s amazing. You guys were like in sync
with each other. Well, until Colin fell.” Chloe laughs.
“I just wasn’t ready. The next time I will be ready. You will not stand a chance.” “Oh okay.” I smirk. I am dripping wet. I try to air dry my shirt by fanning it. “That was fun to watch.” Alex speaks loudly.
“Thank you. I do love to surf.” I say knowing that Colin would not say anything to
acknowledge Alex had even spoke.
“Let’s get going. I have to work on a new car tonight.” Chris says to Chloe and I. “Actually, I do need to get going. I got a text saying I needed to call my agent as soon as
possible.” I start to give the board to Sebastian.
“Wait, Selene. I will take you home, don’t go just yet.” Sebastian asks me in front of
everyone. I look towards Chris who gives me a thumb’s up sign.
“Uh, okay. I guess.” I shrug my shoulders at Sebastian. Chris waves while he and Chloe
make their way to their car.
Chapter 17 We just stand there for a few seconds looking at one another. I take the board under my arm. I walk to the stairs of the balcony. I really just want to go home.
Not the mansion, but MY home.
“Colin, could you take me by my mom’s?”
“Sure.” Colin leans the board he borrowed against mine.
“I need to see my Mom, and I forgot something there. Could we run by there first?”
“Oh yea, that’s fine.” Colin walks towards the living room.
“Thanks.” I say while still hoping I am dry enough to walk through Sebastian’s house.
“Hold up.” Sebastian is by my side, “I can take you.”
“Good try, but you left your car at school. Remember?” I stare at him. Sebastian stands there pondering my words.
“No problem. We will take my other car. We will take Ian with us to the school, and then he can drive my car here and I can take you wherever you need to go.”
I seriously think over his proposition. I turn and see Alex grimacing.
“Ok, that’s fine. Is that okay with you, Colin? I will just catch up with you later.”
“I’m good with that.” Colin pats Alex on the back. He does this out of sheer spite. Alex looks furious.
I follow Sebastian. He walks through the house towards a door that I had not noticed before. He leads me into a garage. Not just a garage. A four door garage. He has a car I thought I would never see him own. It’s a Land Rover. Nothing shiny about this vehicle. It has sand covering the tires and all along the side. It looks like it has not been washed off in months. I absolutely love it! It’s nothing like what I thought Sebastian would own. I was expecting another flashy car.
“Sebastian?” I hear Alex speak Sebastian’s name. Sebastian unlocks the doors with his remote. “What?”
“This is how you treat your guests? We are just suppose to leave?” Alex clears his throat.
“Yes. First, you are not a guest. You weren’t invited. Second, when I open the garage door you can let yourself out of my damn house.”
Alex comes and stands face to face with Sebastian. I open the back door of the Land Rover to get in.
“You can keep trying, but this is far from over.” Sebastian leans into Alex.
“It’s over. You had your chance. You blew it.” Sebastian winks at Alex. Cali takes Alex’s arm and pulls him back.
I see Colin standing to the side of Sebastian. Cali whispers something to Alex. They walk towards the back of the garage. Sebastian opens the car door. He hits a button on what looks like a garage remote and the doors open. I turn to see Alex and Cali walk towards Cali’s car.
“Why are you sitting back there? Ian can sit in the back.” I shut the door to the vehicle.
“I will sit there when we drop Ian off.” Ian opens the passenger door and takes his seat.
Sebastian starts the engine at the same time I hear Colin’s motorcycle start. I look out the back as Sebastian backs the vehicle out of the garage. Something catches my eye. It looks like a shadow of a guy.
Definitely, a guy.
“Did you see that guy?” I ask as Sebastian turns the corner out of the driveway.
“What guy?” Ian says, turning his head.
“There was a man standing there. He was beside the garage.” I keep looking in that direction.
“I didn’t see anyone. Maybe you saw Colin’s shadow?” Ian asks.
“No. There was a guy. I am serious.” I roll my eyes at the back of Ian’s head.
“Sorry, Selene. I didn’t see any dude.” He tells me this, yet I see him raise his eyes Sebastian’s direction.
“I can turn around if you want me to go check it out.” Sebastian offers.
“No, that’s okay. It was just weird.” I pull my shorts down from creeping up my thighs.
“Are you sure? I know my house is fine, but if you’re not I will turn around.” Sebastian offers one more time.
“No, Sebastian, it’s fine.” But a part of me wants him to go and check it out.
“Take the car home, then just pick me up in the morning.” Sebastian hands Ian the keys to his car as we pull into the school parking lot.
“Cool. Check you guys later.” Ian winks at me. I wave at him, while I try to climb over the seat to sit in the passenger side.
“See ya.” Sebastian tells Ian.
“So, your Mom’s house, right?” Sebastian asks me, while driving away from his car.“Yea. It won’t be long, I just need to grab a few thing’s then you can take me back to the mansion.”
“I have never meet your Mom. Are you going to make me sit outside, and wait for you or am I allowed in?” Sebastian pouts.
“Sure. You can come in. I am not that rude.” I try to smile.
“I would wait forever for you. If you wanted me too.” He says as he parks the car in front of the house. I do not know what to say to that?I climb out of the vehicle. I find my keys in my bag. I walk fast towards the front door. I hurry, and open the door.
“Mom?” I yell for her. I walk into the house. No answer back.
“Mom! I just came to get some stuff, I brought Sebastian.” I yell out, just in case she is indecent. This is strange. Her car is here, but she is not? I shrug my shoulders at Sebastian. Sebastian follows me up the stair’s to my bedroom. I open the door, and my room had already changed. It felt different. It was the same room, of course, yet it felt like it was not my room.I walked straight to my nightstand where I kept my journal. My mother had gave me the journal for my thirteenth birthday. I have yet to run out of paper after all these years. It was like t
he book, my journal, always had enough paper. Sebastian stands in the doorway. He is leaning against the door frame as if he were holding it up. I watch him put his hand through his hair. His arm flexes showing his muscles slightly. I can see his ring shining. Like I had Friday night. I can not help myself. I just stare in awe of him. I turn back to the night stand trying to focus. I look inside. My journal. I now know why it looks similar. It is the same journal that Colin and I have from our father. The same leather, the same anchor symbol, the exact same looking journal. I pick the book up, and scurry to place it in my bag. I walk towards Sebastian.
“All done.” I tell him.
“Are you sure?” He asks me, blocking my way out of my room.
“Yep. We can go now.” I push past him through the door frame where he is leaning against. I feel his hand on my side. I stop.
“I want to take you on a real date, Selene. A date that I promise you will never forget.” I stand there looking at myself. My clothes all wrinkled from the surfing. My hair a mess, and here is Sebastian asking me out on a date.
“I think that’s a great idea.” I hear a voice from behind us say.
“Mom! Where were you? I called for you.”I know my face is turning shades of red. My mother was standing at the edge of the steps.
“I know. I am sorry. I was on an important phone call, and I could not yell back.” My mom walks toward Sebastian and I. Sebastian stands straight, and puts his hand out towards my mother.
“Ms. Athans. It is nice to meet you.” My mom shakes Sebastian’s hand.
“No, the pleasure is all mine, Sebastian.” My mom places both her hands covering his.
“Okay, well we are going to go now.” Embarrassed as I am, I muster up the courage to speak.
“Did you get what you needed?” I shake my head yes to my mother.
“Good. I thought you may come back for that.” She winked at me. How did she know that?
“Yes, I have seen one very similar to it. Recently.” I hold my bag close to me.
“I know. It was a gift from your father, but if I had told you that. Well, you would have never wrote in it.” Mom says with an arrogance. She was right. For as long as I can remember my father was a very sore subject for me. I now feel a little different. I guess he isn’t just a father. He is a God, but in my mind, he is still the man who left my mother a single parent.
Chapter 18
Mom leans in to hug me. She whispers in my ear. “Remember, I will always have your best interests at heart. Sebastian seems like a good guy.” I pull back from her embrace.
“Okay, Mom.” My mother gives me one more hug, and we all start down the stairs.
Why am I having to chose between the two of them? What does my love life have to do with being a Goddess? Why am I the only one who seems to have to make a choice? I hardly know either of them, and now I have to chose one. This makes no sense.
I look at Sebastian to make sure my thoughts were safe. He looks oblivious to what I am thinking. Good. I tell mom goodbye and promise to call her later.
We walk towards the Land Rover.
My mom stands there waving goodbye as we drive away.
Every time I see her I feel like that may be one less day I have to see my mother. It hurts to even think about that. Why would I not see her?
Sebastian stays quiet as we turn down the road that leads to the mansion. I feel like I should say something, but I am at a loss for words.
Sebastian parks the vehicle beside Colin’s motorcycle. I open the door, and it almost shuts on my leg.Sebastian is still sitting in the driver’s seat.
“Did you do that? You almost shut the door on my leg!” I yell at Sebastian.
“Hush! Someone is here. Stay in your seat.” Sebastian snaps at me.
“I can take care of myself!” I try to open the door again, and now it’s locked.
“Sebastian! Knock it off!” I start to pull on the handle harder.
“Selene! Shut the hell up for a second! He is close!” Sebastian yells at me. “Excuse me? Who is close? Let me out. NOW!”
“I told you I would never let anything happen to you, I keep my promises! So, please just stay seated. Put your seat belt back on.” I look to my right, and I see someone in the shadows of the tree.
“I see him! It looks like the same guy from your house.”
“Hang on!” Sebastian puts the Land Rover in reverse, and I feel like we are flying as we turn out of the driveway.
“Slow down. You are scaring me!” I scream at Sebastian. My fingers are going white from griping the side of the door. The vehicle starts to slow down.
“I know. I am sorry. Listen, I tried to warn you that people will not want the best for you. I am trying to save you. Call Colin.”
“Why?” I barely look at him.
“Just call your brother, and tell him that he has company. That I have you, and your safe.”
I look at him, but I do as he asks. Sebastian looks furious. His blue eyes a darker shade then I have seen before.
I take my phone in my hand. I have missed calls from Colin. I call him back.
“Colin, Sebastian says you have company. I am with him.” I try to catch my breath.
“Good. Do not come back here till I call you. Tell Sebastian it’s being taken care of.” Colin speaks quietly.
“What is being taken care of? The guy?” I ask.
“You saw him? Did he see you?” Colin sounds frustrated.
“I don’t know. I thought I saw a guy hanging around at Sebastian’s before we left for my house.”
“Shit. Okay. You stay with Sebastian. Keep your thoughts clear, Selene. Remember Migades, and Gods can hear you.” Colin says sternly.
“Clear of thoughts? That’s not going to happen. You guys have me freaking out.” I hear Colin breathing.
“I know. I am sorry. Just know you are safe with Sebastian, and do not come back here till I call you. Can you do that?” Colin asks.
“Okay, but I have school tomorrow.” I sigh heavily.
“Selene! Mortal high school does not matter right now. This is way bigger than stupid school. Just do what I said.” I hear the agitation in Colin’s voice.
“Yes, sir!” I screamed in the phone as I hung up. I look out the window of the Land Rover. I have no clue where we are.
“Where the hell are we?” I look at Sebastian.
“We are going to a safe place. I promise to explain once we get there. Everything will be okay.” Sebastian lays his hand on my knee. I remove his hand.
“I have no clue what is going on, and you want me to feel safe? Your doing a bang up job!”
“Once we get there I promise to explain more. If you promise to listen to me.” Sebastian tries to be sincere.
“Sure. Whatever you want. You are obviously in control.” I glare at Sebastian for a moment. “Idiot.” I whisper.
“What?” Sebastian’s voice raises.
“Nothing.” I say loudly, keeping my eyes on the road to the side of me.
This had to be the longest car ride I have been on in a long time. We were driving around in what seemed to be circles. Finally, we get to what looks like a home in the forest. The kind of home that Hansel and Gretel may have found.
“I am not going in that!” I say loudly as I point to the creepy house. Sebastian lets out a big laugh.
“Selene, I thought you weren’t like that?”
“Like what? Not into going into the woods, into a house that an axe murderer could live in?” I rub the top of my forehead.
Sebastian is laughing so hard that tears are falling from his eyes.
“What? Stop laughing. I am serious. I think I will take my chances with weird stalker guy back at the mansion.” I look him directly in the eyes.
“I am sorry, but are you not the one talking the other day in class about not judging a book by it’s cover?”
“Yea, but I was referring to people. Not axe murderers’ homes.” I do not budge from my seat.
“L
et’s just say that you will be pleasantly surprised.” He opens the door to the vehicle. As he steps out he stops.
“You taking your chances in the scary woods or are you going to go inside?” I seriously weigh both options in my head. I decide I do not want to be left alone out here. I open the door, and step out.
“I promise. It’s going to be okay.” Sebastian is still snickering at himself. He comes around the Land Rover and shuts my door for me. I feel very nervous. I feel like I am in one of those stupid horror movies where you are yelling at the screen for the girl to get back in the car.
I just stand there. Sebastian takes my hand and this time I intertwine my fingers with his. He squeezes my hand.
I follow closely behind him, still gripping his hand tightly.
I look around me. It’s pitch black out here, I can hardly see in front of me. We approach the steps of the shack. I try to hang onto the railing, but it looks like it is hardly attached to the porch.
Sebastian walks to the door. I follow closely. He raises his other hand in front of what looks like an old door knocker. He moves his hand slowly over it.
It looks like it is on fire, yet it is not. The door opens to nothing I could have imagined.
It’s beautiful.
Sebastian stands back. He motions for me to go ahead of him. There are hard wood floors. A large fireplace with a dark wooden chair to the right of it. A beautiful red oversized couch in the middle of the room.
I step towards the couch. I look to the left, and there is a table. A round table with a blue vase sitting on top of the table. Beside the table are two wooden chairs. Above the round table on the wall is a picture.
The photo has been enlarged and placed in a giant wooden frame.
I lean in to get a closer look. There is a little boy and a little girl hugging as they are looking at the camera. The picture looks older. Her swim suit is pink with yellow flowers. She is really giggling at whoever is taking the photo.
The little girl looks like me. In fact, I think I had that same swim suit.
I accidentally knock over the vase as I am trying to get a closer look. Before the vase can even fall, Sebastian has it in his hand.
“Whoa! That was amazing! How did you do that?” I say as I look at the vase.
