Grace of Gods Boxset: Reincarnated Greek Gods YA/NA Series

by Kyleigh Castronaro

I knew it was none of my business but as soon as I got back to my own apartment I sat down at the laptop and did some research on withdrawal. I couldn’t explain to anyone why I felt like I had to take care of him. I assumed it was in my nature: we were alone here, away from home and it was nice to know someone was looking out for you. But I also felt that calling to him, like we were kindred spirits.

  I’m sure his history was far different from mine but after what I went through, and seeing him when Atlas brought him in, it made me feel for him. I knew how that felt; I knew how draining it was... Not physically but emotionally and spiritually as well.

  Sometimes it’s nice to know someone understood, even if it’s only a fraction more than everyone else.

  I read through the symptoms quickly. He was experiencing pain, cramping, agitation, sweating... I had noted all these things. He was also supposed to have insomnia, but he had been more unconscious than conscious. Maybe Atlas had done something to him he slept through the worst of it? Or maybe his God was doing something to protect him...

  The more I read, the more I came to realize this wasn’t the worst of it. Eventually, he would move into a period where his body was going to try and physically expel the last of the drugs in his system. He was going to vomit, go the bathroom, and, no doubt, beg for relief.

  I frowned to myself, sitting back from the computer as I stared at the list of symptoms. Why would someone do this much to themselves they would have to go through something like this when they could no longer access their addiction?

  I closed the laptop and stood up anxiously. I wanted to do something, go back to him, and heal him properly he never had to go through any of that, but I didn’t have that kind of power. Maybe one day but for now I was as useless as I had ever felt.

  I paced and fidgeted with things around the apartment before I decided that going to tend to that garden would help me focus and clear my mind. I wanted to be hopeful about this new life I was being offered but I couldn’t help but think about how terrible it was to be – seemingly – the only person around right now. I wasn’t used to being this alone, I usually always had at least one other person around to talk to if I needed it. There was always Cleo in the library, but I didn’t exactly want to rush back there and find her.

  Hopefully, it would only be a few more days of this listless existence before more people began to arrive at Olympus.

  Chapter 5

  I spent the next week balancing my time between working in my garden – turning it into my own personal Eden – and taking care of the boy. He never woke up, not a single time that I went to visit him. But I knew that he was waking up occasionally because each time I went the water had been drunk or the food had been eaten.

  At least he was fighting his battle with me; that made me happy.

  My flowers, though, didn’t seem as fortunate. Every single time I returned to his apartment, no matter how short a time I had been gone for, they would always be wilted and blackened when I got back. Like something was sucking the life energy out of them. This didn’t deter me from continuing to bring them; I insisted to myself that they were helping his recovery as much as I was.

  I never saw Atlas again after that first day; I didn’t even think he was going to see the boy when I wasn’t there. Maybe he thought if fate wanted this God to survive it would see it through. Myself, though, I didn’t wish to toy with fate where someone’s life was involved.

  When I was with the boy, I amused myself by talking to him as if we were having a conversation. I told him all sorts of things, using him as my own personal diary. I shared with him my thoughts on my Goddess, my sadness, and my loneliness. As time passed, although we’d never spoken a word to each other, I felt closer to him than I ever had to anyone else. Sadly, I doubt he heard me but it was still comforting because besides Cleo, I still hadn’t found anyone else in the mountain.

  I hoped because Atlas hadn’t been around for either of us he might’ve been out gathering more people for Olympus. But the more days went by I started to wonder if maybe he was some crazy psychopath who was kidnapping people and I was stupid and gullible.

  As I came out of my garden late one afternoon I nearly ran headlong into another person. I stumbled back in surprise, partially because I was shocked to see someone else walking around– how had he found my garden?

  “Hello!” He said with a grin, holding out his hand politely, “Jed.” I couldn’t help but smile, feeling the excitement bubbling inside of me at the idea that here was my wish: another human being, who seemed perfectly normal.

  “Valentina.” I shook his hand politely.

  “This your garden?”

  “Well, I don’t think it’s mine but I’ve been working on it for the last few weeks...”

  “It’s lovely.” His eyes surveyed the area around us appreciatively before looking back at me and grinning again.

  “I was exploring to see what this place has to offer.”

  “Well, the way I understand it... It has about everything.”

  “Yeah, I was thinking that too.”

  “Oh, did you not speak to Atlas when you got here?” “The guy that brought me here? No, I haven’t seen him since.” I frowned slightly, wondering how busy he could possibly be to not make time for anyone.

  “Oh, well, he told me if you concentrate hard enough on what you want or need the mountain will provide it.”

  “Excellent.” Jed said thoughtfully, running a hand through his hair as he looked around again.

  “Why, what were you thinking?” I probed.

  “Well, I wanted to throw a party we can all meet each other properly. I was trying to scope out an area to hold it. I thought maybe having a club would work, but clubs are loud and that doesn’t give us the chance to talk. But they certainly have a lot of booze, and I like that.” He grinned mischievously.

  “You can use my garden if you’d like. I’m sure we could conjure enough things to make it a suitable place for a social gathering.” Jed stopped talking and looked down at me in consideration before grinning and nodding.

  “That would be great! I thought this place is perfect.”

  “Of course.” I smiled politely before diving in with another curious question, “, when you say, “we” ... Do you mean there are other people here?”

  “A few, but no one has ever met each other that’s why I thought a party would be right.”

  I smiled, “I like the sounds of that.” But how had I managed to miss enough people that a party was necessary? Had I been that caught up in my garden and with the boy? “When were you thinking of having the party?”

  “Tonight?” He said questioningly.

  I licked my lips and looked around the garden for a moment before nodding, “doable, I think.”

  “If you can handle décor and all that girly stuff I can do food and drinks.” I sensed it would be mostly drinks with him.

  “I can do décor and food for you.” I said with a smile and he smirked at me.

  “Yeah, cool. Perfect. I’ll see you tonight then.” He turned and started to walk away in a hurry. I felt myself panic slightly, not wanting him to go yet. After a week of being alone I had finally found someone else in this place, I could talk to and the most I was going to get was a two second conversation about party planning?

  “Jed!” He turned and looked back at me, eyebrow arched.

  “Do you... do you know who your God is?” I said quickly, licking my lips.

  He appeared thoughtful for a moment, mulling over what he was going to say before he tilted his head from side to side in an uncertain way. “Yes and no.”

  I frowned, confused by the answer.

  “I think I do but then I might be wrong.”

  “Oh,” I said, nodding slightly, “I don’t have any clue.” “I’m sure it’ll come to you, kiddo. We can brainstorm tonight if you want, round up a list of suspects.” I smiled and nodded at him.

  “Yeah, okay.”

  “Cool. Well, I’ve got to go get
ready and let everyone else know about the party.”

  “Okay... How many people should I prepare for?” “Maybe a dozen?”

  Twelve people? How had Twelve people slipped under my radar entirely for the last week?

  Retrospectively, I had been spending most of my time in the garden or at the boy’s bedside. But still when I was crossing through the hallways I was always thinking about other people and hoping one day I might walk through a door into a crowded room.

  “Alright, can do.” I said, trying to seem unfazed as Jed grinned at me one more time as he turned and left me alone again.

  I cast one more look at the garden for a moment before walking out the door after Jed. Except, the door took me back to my apartment and didn’t give me a chance to pursue him.

  I sat down at my kitchen table, quickly drawing up a rudimentary scheme of how I wanted the garden to look tonight. I imagined fairy lights strung over the patio, cast iron tea tables, bunting, a stone table for food displays. I wanted cupcakes, candy, little finger foods like mini hamburgers and mini hot dogs.

  I ended up getting somewhat carried away at the idea of the party and when I was done I had a four-page spread of my terrible sketching of the party space. I gathered it all in my hands and went back to the door, hoping that between the drawings and my thoughts I would be able to make it a reality.

  To my delight, and somewhat surprise, when I went back to the door my garden looked exactly how I had drawn it... Only it was much prettier and far more colorful.

  It was perfect.

  I grinned to myself; pleased with the work I had managed to do and hoped that Jed would like it as much. It obviously wasn’t the club experience he had first mentioned, but a garden party would be the perfect atmosphere to meet people for the first time.

  Even the food looked fabulous. I realized then I still hadn’t had any lunch and resolved that having some now was only ensuring a quality product was being served.

  Loading my hands up with a few of the treats I went back through the door to the apartment, wanting to get ready.

  The only time I had ever, in my entire life, put some sort of effort into my appearance on an occasion was usually Mass at Christmas time. Even then, I never wore makeup or did some intricate style on my hair. It was always left hanging down my back and I mostly focused on my clothes which was always the latest homemade dress my mother had made from a pattern she got at the quilting store in town.

  When I opened my closet, thinking about clothes, nothing inside looked remotely like anything I had ever worn in my life. Not only were they shorter than anything I had ever worn but they were also more skin baring than anything I would’ve been allowed to wear.

  But I was a Goddess now, I told myself. Perhaps this was how Goddesses were supposed to dress. I flipped through the options looking for something that wouldn’t be too far out of my comfort zone but was still something I would’ve liked to wear even if my parents would’ve disapproved. I managed to find a dark purple, almost black dress with spaghetti straps that was looser than some of the others looked, although it still ended on my thighs like a mini skirt.

  It was mostly a simple sundress when I looked at myself in the mirror. But it was perfect for the casual atmosphere I wanted to create at the party.

  Ending up in the bathroom to brush out my hair I noticed that Atlas had also stocked me with makeup. But as I stared at it trying to figure out what was used where I realized that maybe jumping out of my comfort zone twice today wasn’t the best idea. I should leave makeup for a day when I got the chance to do some research on what to do with it and how to wear it. It wasn’t like I wouldn’t have all the time in the world later.

  When I finally decided I was ready to go, I also noted that it was far too early to be getting to the party. As much as I was excited about the party I didn’t want to seem excited that waiting around for an hour before everyone else was my only option. I decided to go and check on the boy.

  I left the apartment and thought about where I was heading, arriving right in the hallway that held his bedroom. I was beginning to familiarize myself with his door. It was different from mine, a darker wood accented with brushed silver handles and a knocker. It was the knocker that made his door original, like people would want to knock on his door before entering. I wondered if there was a reason for that before opening the door.

  I, myself, didn’t want to knock at all.

  The apartment was as I had left it; dark, ominous and only the soft glow from the bedroom where I had left the candles burning offered some light.

  I walked straight into the bedroom without a second thought; surprised to find the bed I had left him in empty. The toilet in the bathroom flushed and the door opened, making me turn with a start. The boy was leaving the bathroom, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand when he stopped and stared at me. It was a strange moment where we both stood there staring at each other questioning; then I remembered I was the intruder and this wasn’t my apartment. I shouldn’t have let myself in.

  “I’m sorry!” I stammered, stepping toward the door quickly, feeling the flush creep up my cheeks.

  “It’s okay.” He said, stepping toward me and shaking his head. “It’s alright, I don’t mind. I owe you... You’re the one who has been taking care of me, aren’t you?” He smiled or tried to, licking his lips and holding out his hand. “Griffin, I’m Griffin.” I blinked slowly, still hovering in the doorway before conceding and shaking his hand.

  “I’m Valentina.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, finally. I knew I had a nurse but...” He smiled shyly and looked at the side table laden with all the things I had been bringing him.

  “I’m sorry I let myself into your house. I saw Atlas bringing you in and you looked sick, I wanted to help.”

  “You did, it’s alright. I don’t mind.” His face contorted suddenly like he was in pain and he stepped away from me. I felt offended, not that I had any reason to, as he grabbed the side of his head like he had a headache and continued to move away from me like I was the source of it. “You need to go now, please.” He muttered softly, keeping his back to me as he continued to fold into himself in pain. I reached out, half stopping myself before even touching him.

  “Okay, but... Griffin... Are you okay? You don’t look well.”

  “Go! Leave!” He shouted suddenly, making me jump away from him in fright. He didn’t have to tell me twice, especially in that voice. Swallowing hard I turned and ran from the room, accidentally slamming the front door behind me as I left.

  Once in the hallway I could feel how shaken I was, holding my stomach slightly as I bit down on my lip. I didn’t want to dwell on it, knowing I would only worry myself into misery. I was supposed to be heading to the party and enjoying myself tonight. I was not supposed to be worrying about some ungrateful, mean boy.

  But even as I made my way down the hall, thinking about my garden and trying to excite myself for the party, I couldn’t stop thinking about how strange his behavior had been. Had I been the one to cause him pain? Did it have something to do with my Goddess?

  I walked through the door into the garden, startled suddenly by the other two people who were standing there. They turned to look at me, both sizing me up for a moment when finally, the girl smiled, moving over to me and holding her hand out.

  “I’m Nikki,” she said, “or Nicola, but most people call me Nikki.” I held out my hand, letting her take it as we shook hands.

  “Valentina.” I said, offering her a smile of my own. She looked over her shoulder at her companion and then back at me, “that’s Zane.” Zane looked at me, nodding his head silently and waving his hand slightly.

  “It’s nice to meet you.” I said politely, “Do you guys know who you are... I mean, as Gods.” Nicola gave me a beautiful grin and nodded her head.

  “I have some idea.” That seemed to be everyone’s answer. Was no one hazarding a guess until more people got here and more Gods and Goddesses were ruled out?
I wanted to pry and see what she would say if I tried to push the subject, if only to help me figure out who my Goddess was.

  Then I thought again about Griffin, the only explanation was that he had sensed who I was. Perhaps his God didn’t like mine and that’s why he had pushed me away suddenly. But what Goddess could I be that someone would hate me? I tried to recall the things I had read, but no one stood out against the others.

  “Like who?” I finally said, against my better judgment and mostly to carry on the conversation. It was awkward feeling like I might have interrupted something with my presence between the other two Gods talking was the only remedy I knew of for the situation.

  “Aphrodite.” She said with a curious smile, tucking a piece of her long blond hair behind her ear. I sized her up then, deciding that she was, in fact, one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. She looked like she had walked straight out of a fashion magazine. A woman that other women strived to look like but could never fully achieve.

  “And Zane?”

  “Oh, Zane is definitely Ares.” Well, that made sense

  then. Aphrodite and Ares were lovers according to the book Atlas had given me. I must’ve interrupted something. I felt myself flush slightly, turning away from them to look at my set up of food.

  “Well, help yourselves to whatever you want. I mean, this isn’t my party but I did prepare it all.” My words were stilted and awkward now.

  “You baked this?”

  “Oh, no. Not like that. I imagined it all into reality.” I said quickly.

  Nicola looked around and smiled politely at me, “well, it’s lovely. When I walked in I was breathless at how beautiful the gardens are.”

  “Oh, I planted those.” I amended my earlier statement, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks in modesty. Nicola smiled sweetly and nodded once more before looking down at me.

  “You are wonderfully talented then.” I giggled slightly, feeling dizzy from the praise and out of embarrassment excused myself, going to the table to fuss with the food. I stole a glance over my shoulder, hoping my strange behavior wasn’t too off-putting, but Nikki was unfazed, returned to Zane’s side and whispered in his ear.