Charming Selene: The Charming Series Book 1

by Dee King

  “Today.. today was magical with you.” I tell Sebastian.

  “Every day is magical with you, Selene.” He leans in to give me a long kiss just before we get inside of his car. My feet seem to skip to the passenger side door. Our drive home we just talked more and he told me stories of his childhood.

  “Mount Olympus sounds gorgeous. Also sounds like a lot of fun.” I tell him.

  “It’s home. It’s fun but it will be more fun with you.” I look down at my hands.

  “Do you mean we are going to go there one day?”

  “That choice will have to be yours. We can stay here on Earth that is, but it really is.. how do I put this. It’s not advised.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean once we graduate we are supposed to go home and only come back for visits.”

  “Wait. I don’t want to move there. My mom, my friends, my family. They are all here. My life. My life is here.” My palms are sweating.

  “Calm down, we can do whatever you want. I will go wherever you want to go. Always.”

  “Okay.” I silently say. We park beside my Jeep. I get out of the car before Sebastian can.

  “Thank you for this beautiful day. I should be going.”

  “Why? You don’t have anymore finals tomorrow. What’s the rush?”

  “I just don’t want to intrude, you know?”

  “How could you ever do that?”

  “Because I have a feeling you have company.” I can sense that someone is near. I can see the figure walking towards us from the house. Sebastian turns around in front of me. He is blocking my view of the stranger. I place my hand on his back, exactly where the anchor tattoo is. I walk around to the side of him.

  I see the figure approaching faster. I feel Sebastian’s shoulders tense. You can see his muscles tightening through the sleeves of his shirt.

  “Son. Don’t just stand there. Give your old man a hug!”

  “Holy shit!” I actually say that aloud. Really loud. Sebastian moves to my side, wrapping his arm around my waist.

  “Dad?” Hades approaches us. I am starting to shiver.

  The God of the Underworld. The freaking God of the Underworld is standing face to face with us.

  “This must be the beautiful Selene.” He stretches his hand in front of me. I can hardly return the gesture I am shaking so much.

  “Let’s go inside, shall we?” He stretches out his arm to point to the house.

  I am gripping tightly to the back of Sebastian’s shirt as we walk behind his father. We walk inside where there is some kind of music playing. New classical I believe.

  His father shuts the door behind me. He is dressed in black slacks, a red button up collared shirt with an emblem of some sort on the right upper side of the shirt.

  He has the same dark hair that Sebastian has with the same piercing blue eyes. He looks just like Sebastian. Only older. I mean exactly the same. It’s uncanny.

  I catch myself staring at him with my mouth wide open. I look down at his feet. He is wearing converse. Converse? Really? Didn’t see that coming from the God of the Underworld.

  “You like my shoes? They were a gift from Ian.” He says with a smile that shows a slight dimple on his right cheek. He pulls up his pant leg and sticks out one of his shoes.

  “Pretty cool, huh?” He is asking me?

  “”Um yes. Yes, sir, your majesty, sir.” Sebastian and Hades start to laugh at one another, then they both look at me.

  “Oh, you poor sweet girl. Please just call me Hades or Dad. Either is fine.”

  “Dad?” I ask questioning this?

  “Yes, since you and Sebastian will be together for eternity now, might as well get used to that.” He approaches me. He wraps his arms around me. While I stay stiff as a board. He hugs me tightly.

  “It’s okay, Selene. I told you that you would love my dad.”

  “Haha.” I can barely get the words out.

  “Well, don’t be shy. Let’s go sit.” Hades walks into the living room. I take a hold of the back of Sebastian’s shirt, and pull him backwards towards me.

  “I am going to go home. I feel like this should be a time for you and your um.. Dad.”

  “No. You are staying. He won’t understand why you left. I promise you are safe. You are always safe with me.” He takes hold of my hand.

  I grudgingly follow behind him. His father is sitting on the couch facing the fireplace. His arms are stretched out across the back of the sofa. He has one leg crossed over the other.

  “I am not here to interrupt you two. I just had to see this for myself.”

  Sebastian sits on the other couch. I speed up my pace to hurry to sit beside him.

  “What do you mean, Dad?” Sebastian asks. Hades uncrosses his legs and sits forward.

  “I mean that you have really upset Zeus.” His mouth turns upwards into an devilish smile.

  “So? what does that mean for us?” Sebastian lays his hand on my knee.

  “It means you should be expecting that you will be summoned.” I look nervously at Sebastian.

  “Summoned?” I ask Hades.

  “Yes, dear. He will want to see for himself, then you will probably be asked to be married, in front of the gods. He will use that to be able to get you, Selene, to prove that this is not what you want.” He points to the both of us.

  “Married?” Sebastian and I both say at the exact moment.

  “The rumor is going around that this could be his plan. Don’t be nervous, it’s just a rumor.”

  “Rumors in Mount Olympus?” I ask Sebastian.

  “Not so much as rumors, more like little hints.” Sebastian says.

  “Did you know about this?” I look into his blue eyes.

  “No. In fact, I knew something would happen, but I wasn’t expecting this. Not at all. Is this common? It doesn’t seem common, Dad.” Hades stands.

  “It’s not common. Well, it use to be many a year ago. He is pretty upset.” He laughs that evil laugh again while walking to the kitchen area.

  “He can’t be serious, can he?” I whisper to Sebastian.

  “I think he is. We won’t worry about that till the time comes.” Sebastian whispers in my ear.

  “I think I should go now. I need to talk to Colin.” I say as I stand.

  “Okay, I understand. Thank you for today, Selene. It was the best day of my life so far.”

  “No, thank you Sebastian. It was really great.” I step up on the tips of my toes to kiss him on his cheek. We start to walk to the door. I pause.

  “It was nice to meet you, sir.”

  “No, the pleasure was all mine, Selene. See you soon.” Hades says barely looking up from something he was reading on the counter in the kitchen.

  Sebastian walks me to my car. I thank him one more time. I drive away with more questions.

  I decide I might need to write in that journal I got from my father. Maybe he has the answers I am still searching for.

  Chapter 26 Dear Journal,

  The next couple of days will seem to be a blur. I will be running all over the place to get everything I needed done before graduation. Chloe and I are going shopping for new clothes for graduation, and for the after party at Sebastian’s. This party is going to be very different than the party I just attended a week ago, though. This time I am going as Sebastian’s girlfriend. It still seems odd that I am his girlfriend, or whatever we are calling each other now. I have hardly spoken to him since his Dad came into town. Not because he does not want us to, but because I am a little busy doing human things. He said the party would be a night I would never forget. Some how that does not comfort me. I can’t shake the feeling that something is about to happen. I made the choice of who I loved, but I have this feeling this is just the beginning. I never knew you could love someone in such a short time. I guess when you truly fall in love, you really fall. Graduation should be one exciting day to say the least!

  I haven’t forgotten about Cato. I know I should mention s
omething to Sebastian about him, but I have no idea what? Why hasn’t Sebastian mentioned Cato to me? Not even once, since the incident. I feel graduation may be more than I bargained for. I wonder if his father knows that Cato is in town? Or was?

  If you can read this Dad, then please tell me what is going to happen next. I feel uneasy, and I can’t shake it.

  Your daughter,

  Selene Athans

  “Oh my gods! Can you really believe this? We are graduating today.” I turn to Chloe. “I know. It seems surreal, doesn’t it? I am so excited for this day.” Chloe takes her dress in her hands. She twirls around in the long, flowing white dress. She looks like a little ballerina dancer. I hear the knock on my bedroom door.

  “Come in!” I yell. Colin opens the door with two champagne glasses in his hand and a bottle of what looks like champagne.

  “We aren’t going to drink before we graduate, you know?” I say to Colin who hands Chloe a glass then me.

  “I know. It’s just grape juice. Nobody is trying to get you drunk.” His eyes perk up with the smile that shows across his whole face. He pops the cork open from the glass bottle. It spikes through the air. Chloe starts to clap.

  “I love this day!” She blurts out. Colin fills our glasses with the juice.

  “I will leave you to it. I am sure neither of you want to be late today.” Colin backs slowly out of the door. Chloe and I raise our glasses and click them together.

  “Cheers!” We both say in unison.

  “Should I wear my hair up or down today?” I ask Chloe, laying my glass on the end table beside me.

  “I think up. No, wait. Down. The cap, remember.”

  “Oh, yea. Good thinking.” I look over at our cap and gown that is hanging on the closet door. The navy blue gown and the navy blue cap with the gold tassel, hangs slightly off the hanger.

  “Let’s do this!” I say to Chloe.

  We finish with our hair, then makeup. I glide the white, lace dress up my thighs. I reach around to zip it. I look in the mirror. The dress is short. It falls right above my knees as the sleeves fall just short of my elbows. I slowly slide my new white high heels on. I turn to see Chloe in her dress.

  “You look gorgeous.”

  “Thank you. You look amazing in that dress. I knew it would show all your beautiful, um, assets.” I laugh hard. We both drape our cap and gowns over our arms and leave the room.

  “WOW! You girls look stunning!” Colin is waiting at the end of the stairs for us.

  “Not to bad yourself.” I tell him. Colin is dressed in khaki pants, sandals, and a white cotton button up shirt that slightly show’s his chest. He even has it tucked in with a belt. I step closer to Colin. His belt buckle is an anchor.

  “An anchor?” I point to the belt buckle.

  “Yes. It’s my favorite. You like it?” He says with a grin.

  “Sure.” I smile back.

  “I do!” Chloe smiles while her eyes are staring at it. I elbow her in the side.

  “What? I do?” Her face turns a slight shade of pink.

  “Thank you, Chloe.” Colin nods at her.

  “Let’s go. I am ready for this day!” I shout while opening the front door. They follow behind. I start to walk towards my Jeep.

  “No. Not today. Today, you should ride in something better.” He unlocks the doors to the Mercedes. Chloe shrieks.

  “Only if I can drive?” I say, holding my hand out waiting for the keys from Colin.

  “Why not?” He drops the keys in my hand. I climb into the front seat while Chloe holds the door open for Colin to sit in the back seat. Chloe tries to pull the seat up a little bit for Colin’s legs to have room.

  “You look hilarious. Like a clown in a little car.” I say staring at Colin scrunched up in the back seat.

  “Just drive.” We all burst into laughter together.

  I pull into the parking lot of the event center. There has to be over a hundred cars here, already. We walk to the double glass doors. Ian is standing against the wall to my right.

  “Finally! We have been waiting!” Ian sounds disgusted.

  “Sorry, I didn’t know we had a date.” I laugh at Ian.

  “Funny. You are hilarious. You should be a comedian.” He says sarcastically.

  “Thank you, I do what I can.” He rolls his eyes at me. I look down. Ian is wearing a new pair of converse. I can not help myself. I burst into laughter.

  “New shoes?”

  “Hell yes. I needed a new pair.” We start to follow behind him. Chloe and I can not stop teasing him.

  “I see, you went all out for today.” Chloe says. Ian stops mid step.

  “I did. Thank you for noticing.”

  “Clueless...” I say with a smile. He turns back around to lead us to the common room with our classmates. I stop before we get into the room.

  “My mom is here. She will be looking for you. So, could sit with her?”

  “It was already planned.” Colin leans down.

  “Good luck today.” He kisses me softly on my forehead like my mother does.

  “Thanks.” Chloe and I walk in the room together, arm in arm. I see Sebastian surrounded by our classmates, people giving a high five to one another, talking, and laughing with one another. I never want to forget this moment.

  Sebastian moves through the crowd to Chloe and I.

  “You look beautiful. Absolutely, beautiful!” I let go of Chloe’s arm.

  “You do, too, Chloe. Very pretty.” Chloe twirls around for Sebastian, then does a curtsy.

  “Thank you, Thank you. Not too bad yourself, dude.” He is holding his cap and gown over his shoulder. He is in navy slacks, a white button up long sleeve shirt. He also has his shirt tucked into his pants with a belt.

  Unlike Colin’s there is nothing special about his belt buckle, except that it’s a very bright gold. I stare at the belt buckle for a moment. It looks as if it is glowing. I step very close to Sebastian.

  “Is your belt buckle glowing?” He looks down at the buckle.

  “Yes, I guess it is. It should when I am near you.”

  “Why?” I ask.

  “It’s from the Mount. It was a gift from my father.” I smile at him. We hear Mr. Larkin trying to get everyone’s attention. We turn to look at him.

  Everyone is now quiet.

  “Listen, up! We know everyone is excited, but we are still missing the valedictorian. Has anyone seen Mr. Christian Black?” Everyone starts looking around.

  “Chris isn’t here?” I whisper to Sebastian. Suddenly, the door flies open. “I am here! I’m here!” Chris yells as he runs to Mr. Larkin.

  “I was a little busy, sorry. I am here.” Everyone breaks out into laughter. “You are late, Mr. Black.” Mr. Larkin looks upset by this.

  “I know, I know, but I am her now. Who is ready to graduate?” He yells out to all of us. The whole class starts yelling in joy. Chris follows behind Mr. Larkin to where the principal is.

  “Wonder why he was late.” Chloe whispers to Sebastian and I.

  “I don’t know. That’s not like him. At all. Especially for today.” I can feel my fingers gripping the cap tighter.

  “I am sure it was nothing. Maybe car trouble. Don’t worry. He is here now.” Sebastian assures Chloe and I. It may not seem odd to Sebastian, but in all these years, Chris has never been late to anything that I can remember. In fact, he is always early. This doesn’t seem right. I start to look around for Alex and Cali. I do not see them anywhere.

  Now I know something isn’t right.

  We all walk into the event center. Alphabetical order. The crowd starts cheering. The music is playing loudly.

  I can feel the smile lurking across my face. There is a spotlight that keeps passing over us while we find our seats. It’s like we are the ALL-STARS to a basketball game. I find my seat, which just so happens to be beside Cali.

  Sebastian is before her. We are all sitting side by side. The principal stands at the podium while the other students find
their seats. Then it begins.

  “Students, teachers, parents, friends, welcome to the class of..” He keeps talking while I turn to my side and look at Cali. She has sweat just barely breaking across the top of her brow line.

  “Why, are you sweating?” I whisper.

  “I was busy.” She tries to brush her robe off.

  “Doing what?” I say sternly.

  “Trying to stop Alex. It’s under control now. I think.”

  “What do you mean you think?” I can hear my voice getting louder than a whisper. “I mean I think I fixed the problem. We can talk later.”

  “Shhhh..” Sebastian whispers to us both. We both look at him then one another. I decide to keep quiet. The principal talks for what seems like an hour. The choir performs two songs, which has parents crying in the stands.

  Then it happens.

  Chris walks to the podium.

  He places his speech on top of the stand. He begins his speech as valedictorian.

  “Today, we embark on the rest of our live’s...” I can see the little sweat bullets on top of his lip. I still sit here not believing that Chris, my brother, is the valedictorian. I would have never thought that would happen, but there he is standing tall, giving his speech.

  “Today I ask you, do you want to be a leader or a follower? Do we want to pave the way for the future generations, to let them know that anything is possible if you try, or do we want to stand by and watch others live our dreams. I think not! Graduates, be proud of what you accomplished, and know that we, WE are the future!”

  The crowd claps loudly. The students and I all stand to our feet clapping!

  I taste a tear that has fallen over my smile.

  The principal stands beside Chris and hands him a diploma. He begins to call our names to walk up the steps to receive our diploma. I nervously shake his hand while he places it in my hand. I can hardly see from all the flashes of cameras.

  I make my way back to my seat. I hold the folded diploma in my hand.

  I stare at it like its a magical piece of paper.

  My palms are sweating. I am slowly weathering the ribbon tied paper. Before I know what is happening we are asked to stand. We place the tassel to the opposite side as he informs us that we are all graduates.