Gilded Ruins

by Chantal Gadoury

  Hermes rounded the corner of the hallway, interrupting my babbling. He wore a golden tunic, with a cream sash wrapped over his left shoulder. Around his waist, a golden chain with intricate carvings of moons and stars held everything in place. As he approached, I noticed gold flakes coating his eyelids, and he wore a large, spiky golden ear cuff around his right ear. The twelve points that fanned out around the cuff reminded me of a warrior’s spear. It was fierce looking, like something from a Tolkien novel. Delicately made by the finest elven crafter, or in this case, a God.

  Of course, the most eye-catching piece of his ensemble had to be his shoes. Sandals adorned with sparkling, golden wings.

  Hermes looked entirely different from the first time I met him.

  “You look beautiful, Summer,” Hermes said with a wink as he approached me. There was a hint of amusement as he gave a small bow. “Just as beautiful as yesterday.”

  “Thanks.” I flushed. As much as I preferred my sweaters and shorts and Keds, I was relieved that I looked at least presentable. If Hermes approved, then I must have done something right by Arae.

  “Have you heard the news?” Hermes asked as he came to pause in front of Darce. “There’s been a slight change of plans.”

  “Change?” Darce asked, brow arched. He crossed his arms against his chest and shook his head. “What do you mean?”

  “Do we get to go home?” I asked, doing what I could to keep the hope from my tone. Hermes chuckled and shook his head as he leaned lazily against the doorframe.

  “We’ve been invited to the Mediterranean Sea.”

  I didn’t miss the dark look Darce gave Hermes.

  “The Mediterranean Sea?” I asked, wrinkling my nose. “What about—”

  “Zeus thought it would be better for everyone to meet on more neutral ground.”

  “So he chose the sea?” Darce snorted, shaking his head. “Sounds more like he couldn’t resist an invitation to Poseidon’s superyacht.”

  “Wait a second,” I asked, looking skeptically between the two of them. “Poseidon has a superyacht?”

  The irony hadn’t been lost on me.

  “Yes,” Hermes said, flashing me a smile. “It’s a beautiful ship. There are several amenities I’m sure you’ll enjoy your time aboard. The hot tub is one of my personal favorite places there.”

  “I don’t think so,” Darce said, the muscles in his jaw tightening. “We’re not going.”

  Darce pushed himself from the wall and grabbed my hand.

  “But—” I started, feeling unsure. Was it so easy to just turn around and leave? Could we really go home? Just as Darce turned on his heel, and started towards the door, Hermes cleared his throat.

  “You know you have very little choice in this, my Lord. You know if you snub your brother, he’ll not resist punishing you, and her too.”

  His words caused Darce to pause. Darce turned to look to Hermes over his shoulder.

  “He gave me no indication that we’d be meeting out at sea. It was agreed that I would go to Mount Olympus. He demanded that she go there. . .” Darce tried to argue.

  “Certainly you do not oppose a more neutral place-”

  “It’s hardly neutral, Hermes. You know that,” Darce hissed. “It’s a show. All of this is a show.” I could hear the growl in his voice as he slid his hands to his waist.

  “He obviously intends to make this meeting into nothing but a grand, dramatic performance.”

  Hermes seemed unbothered by Darce’s outrage. “I’m just the messenger.”

  “What about Morpheus?” I asked. “Where is he? Will he be coming with us too?”

  I wasn’t sure I’d feel as strong or confident without Morpheus there, too. He had been around a lot of them much more than Darce had. He knew how to navigate through their inner circles, how to wine and dine with them. I knew his presence could only help me and Darce.

  “Morpheus already went ahead,” Hermes replied, jerking his chin behind him. “I told him before I came to see you.”

  “Morpheus left?” I repeated the words softly.

  It seemed strange that Morpheus would leave without us. Or rather, leave without saying anything to neither Darce or I. I felt a slight sting of betrayal that I did my best to ignore. Before I could continue to press Hermes, he reached for my hand.

  “Shall we get going then?”

  My eyes slipped back to Darce, watching as he gauged the situation. The tension in his jaw had softened some, but there was a slight twitch at the left corner of his lips. I had gotten used to this look whenever he was deep in thought, often irritated. I was surprised to find Darce sliding his hands into his pockets lazily, seemingly accepting this new change of pace. With a curt nod of his chin, he released a sigh.

  “Fine. Let’s go,” Darce replied. He knew we didn’t have a choice. I knew we didn’t have a choice. Whether it was to Mount Olympus or to Poseidon, we would have to go.

  “How are we going to get there?” I asked.

  “As we do with everything,” Hermes explained as he took my right arm and tucked it into his. He gave the top of my hand a quick pat, which made me feel like a child.

  “Close your eyes, my dear Summer.”

  “I’m not sure I—”

  “You can trust me,” Hermes soothed. “Just close them.”

  He was honestly the last person I trusted. There was something about him and his golden-boy charm. Maybe it was the way he smiled, or the way he carried himself as he swaggered through the Underworld. The way he goaded on Ares. Taking a step back, I slid a quick glance to Darce. In a silent reply, he gave me a small, cold smile and nodded again.

  “It’s alright,” Darce whispered softly. “Close your eyes.”

  I tried to keep my focus on the warmth of his voice, and the warmth of his body hovering closely behind mine. I focused on the warm scent of him as I gave Hermes my hand.

  “In three. . .” Hermes slid my arm through his, keeping me close to his side. Together, we took a step. There was a sudden plunge; the floor had disappeared. My stomach dropped to what felt like my knees and I screamed.

  “Two…” I could hear Hermes’ voice in my ears; his hand on my back. Another plunge. Opening my eyes, I found us speeding through light. Things flashed by us, but I couldn’t make out anything more than rippling streaks of orange and yellow lights.

  “One.”

  Suddenly, the world stopped. Or rather, we did. Hermes took a step forward, anchoring me to the present. It took me a moment to realize where we were. A breeze pushed salty-sweet air all around me.

  “The sea. . .” I said breathlessly. Was this really real? My legs felt like Jell-O, as I reached for Darce’s supportive hand. I could tell beyond his controlled expression that he was concerned.

  “The sea,” Darce repeated beside me in a reassuring tone.

  In the distance, the shrill of seagulls echoed in the air. I strained and squinted against the bright flash of sunlight that now surrounded us. Shielding my eyes from the sun, I took in the sight of the sea before me. Hermes had landed us on a long, wooden dock, with several beautiful boats tied off—waiting for their passengers. There were so many unique names: Serenity, Mystique, Mother of Pearl, Peaceful Sails. I had never seen such beautiful ships before.

  My gaze drifted from boat to boat, taking in the different luxurious styles. Several of them were white with numerous decks. They reminded me of the kind of boats you’d find James Bond taking a vacation in. If James Bond actually ever did take a vacation.

  “So, which one is his?” I asked as I admired each boat.

  “This way,” Hermes said as he began to walk ahead of us, down along the dock. “Poseidon’s yacht is the last one.”

  “Don’t tell me,” I began, doing my best to not laugh, “his boat is probably called the King of the Sea or something, right?”

  “I’d say that’s a pretty good guess,” Darce retorted.

  I figured by his response, I had to be right. At least, semi-close. At the en
d of the row, I had my answer. The final boat still docked had to be the largest of all the others we had just passed. It was…majestic. There were at least three decks, all tiered on top of each other. From below, I could make out several figures sitting on the uppermost deck, drinking tall glasses of champagne and laughing. They must have been—

  “The Gods and Goddesses of Mount Olympus,” Darce whispered gently into my ear, finishing my thought for me. He must have seen the expression on my face. For a moment, I wondered if he saw my surprise or my fear—or both.

  “Are you ready?” Darce asked, extending his hand out to me. I was anything but. Even though my feet were firmly on the dock, I could feel my stomach sinking to my knees again, and it was all I could do to keep from getting sick. “Everything will be alright, Summer.”

  I suddenly wished Arae hadn’t dressed me in something so strange. I wanted something familiar; something of my own. Especially now that we were about to go sunbathing on a big boat and not lounging on a chaise in some mountain palace. Even in this place, Darce looked as though he had always belonged—had always been meant for grand palaces and golden crowns. Me? I was ready for a McDonald’s drive-thru and a mad dash to the closest Michaels to get more paint. I was so far from the sort of expectation these. . .people would have. I wanted nothing more than a smock, paints and music to get lost to.

  Darce grazed his fingers over my spine, while his other hand sought mine. His grasp on me was hard and solid and comforting. There was something in his strength that I found myself clinging to. It was the same strength I sought as we peeled the layers of our clothes away at the end of the day. The way his arms would cradle me; his thighs supporting mine. I bit my lip, pushing back the thought.

  Slowly, we walked together, keeping a slight distance behind Hermes.

  “I’m nervous,” I admitted softly, keeping my voice low enough only for Darce to hear me.

  “I know,” he replied. “Zeus and his courtiers can be intimidating.”

  “You and Persephone never…” my voice drifted to silence as I peeked at him.

  “Went to him together?” He finished curiously.

  I nodded, biting my bottom lip. Darce shook his head.

  “No. At least not together. When Demeter found out about us. . .she went to Mount Olympus, begging Zeus to have her returned. Persephone came to Mount Olympus alone. Hermes insisted that I remain in the Underworld.”

  “Why didn’t you…” But the question went unspoken as I felt the memory fill me. I knew the palace of Mount Olympus from another lifetime; another set of eyes. Persephone had gone there on her own, to plead with Zeus and her mother. To allow her the chance at true happiness.

  And they had lied. Lied.

  Because of the seeds and the bond they represented, she could return to the Underworld. But with her “death,” and her powers stripped away, the old deal that had been brokered, split apart the moment she was no longer Persephone.

  The memory went as quickly as it came.

  “But we’re here now, together…” Darce continued. “You and I.”

  He lifted my hand to his lips and pressed a tender kiss against my open palm. I watched him, saw the tension in his eyes as they moved to the superyacht in front of us, then slipped to Hermes; he was waiting patiently for the both of us by the ramp. Just beyond him, was a world I had only read about. A world that I was terrified of. A world that had the power to change my entire life if I wasn’t careful. This wasn’t the exact battlefield I had prepared mentally for, but it was the one that guaranteed me a challenge. One wrong move, and I knew I could be separated from Darce forever. And by the way his jaw tightened, he knew it too.

  “Zeus is waiting!” Hermes called again.

  “Come on,” Darce groaned, giving my hand a squeeze. “We don’t want to keep my brother waiting.”

  Just as we began to walk across the ramp, I saw the name etched on the back. If I hadn’t been so nervous, I might have laughed.

  “He named his boat ‘The Trident,’” I mumbled under my breath. “Predictable.”

  Chapter 7

  As I stepped onto the back of the boat, I couldn’t help but feel as though I were stepping into someone else’s life. I had only ever seen luxury through the MTV channel. I was waiting for someone to pop out and either say I was being ‘Punk’d’ or to say, “welcome to my crib.”

  I really didn’t know what to expect as we walked onto Poseidon’s superyacht. I guessed that the interior would almost be the reflection of a grand palace—that floated. I almost expected the floors to be gold, gleaming in the sunlight, and the walls to be made of dyed marble, but I knew that was impossible. A yacht could never hold such grandeur, no matter the size.

  A soft melody drifted through the boat, reminding me of something one would hear in The Great Gatsby.

  My eyes drifted over the opulent deck, taking in the luxurious beauty. Delicate, shimmering, beaded lights lined the ceiling, making everything appear magical. The golden strands hung along the dark wooden walls, causing the whole room—and it’s darkened wooden floors—to sparkle in the light. The nearby tables were lined with silver and gold beads, long black and white feathers, and pearls. If Poseidon was going for a twenties theme, he’d nailed it.

  Suddenly, I was very aware of my own fashion faux-pas. I was dressed for the mystical land of Mount Olympus, not Gatsby’s manor. I had never felt more obviously human than I did walking onto an elite superyacht owned by a God, fully staffed with deck hands and stewardesses, who were dressed to the nines in black suits. Each of them smiled and politely pointed us in the direction of where the gathering was taking place above us.

  “Can I take your shoes?” One of the stewardesses asked, gesturing to a large wicker basket she had beside her. If only Arae were here; she would have most definitely cringed at the idea of me walking around barefoot.

  Hermes tossed his shoes into the bin, and took one of the offered champagne glasses, filled with the amber wine from the tray of the other nearby stewardess. As Darce slipped his shoes from his feet, I tossed him a quizzical glance.

  “Are they human?” I asked, doing my best to keep my voice low. They looked just about as human as I was, though, how had they managed to land a job working for ancient Gods from mythology? Did they even know who their clients were?

  “No, not human,” he whispered in turn. “Nymphs.”

  Ah. That makes more sense, I thought. They did have a certain appeal about them that wasn’t exactly ordinary now that I knew what they were. Unlike Darce’s face, theirs was almost perceptibly sheer and easily seen once I could look past the glimmer.

  After I peeled away my sandals, and slipped them into the basket with everyone else’s, the deck hands gestured for us to climb a set of steps, leading to where the rest of the party was waiting. Hermes was already at the top step, lifting his arms in a warm greeting. I felt sick. Actually, I knew I was going to be sick. My heart was beating wildly in my chest and my stomach was twisting painfully. I stopped at the staircase and held my breath.

  “I can’t,” I gasped. “Can’t we. . .run away?”

  The regret in Darce’s expression was clear as he took my hand. “We’re doing this together. I won’t leave your side.”

  “I’m going to puke.” I felt the bile at the back of my throat. “Arae will kill me if she finds out I puked on her dress.”

  “She will do no such thing,” he said tenderly. “But if Arae were here, she’d be pushing you up those steps, demanding that you hold your chin high, and be the Goddess we know you are deep down.”

  “Human,” I said, pointing to myself.

  “Goddess,” Darce said, lifting his finger to my heart. “My Goddess at that.”

  “If I weren’t so sick with nerves, I might have swooned a little.”

  “You didn’t swoon?” He teased, smirking.

  “Maybe a little,” I smiled, lifting my fingers, exposing a small space between my thumb and forefinger, before releasing a deep breath.<
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  “My Lord?” Hermes’ voice broke the moment, turning my attention to where he was waiting. Darce gave me another reassuring nod before he took a step forward and began to climb the narrow steps. I tried to push the butterflies from my stomach, but nothing seemed to work. No matter how many things I tried to distract myself with, my nerves felt like a raging storm inside of me. When I looked up the staircase again, I saw Morpheus standing beside Hermes and Darce, gazing down at me from above. He tilted his chin towards the stairs; a silent beckoning for me to come.

  With another breath, I began to climb the steps.

  As I ascended the stairs, I saw my dad’s face in my mind. I heard his laughter, and his voice calling to me.

  “Sunny.”

  I saw my mom sitting in the airport beside me, with her book-filled purse. With each step, I saw all the faces of the women I had been before—all of the women Darce had loved so much. All the women he had fought to save, to keep, and had lost over and over again. I knew I had to end this deadly cycle. I had to be the one to end our pain; to put an end to this long-delayed curse.

  Arriving at the last step, I suddenly felt like a fish out of water. There were so many eyes on me; so many people with unfamiliar faces crowded together. They were the Gods and Goddesses I had read about—heard about. So many of them were dressed elegantly, yet timely. It seemed everyone but the three of us had received the memo about this twenties-themed-yacht party.

  I shifted awkwardly.

  “May I present,” Hermes began with a boom, making me jump in place. “Summer Mavros. The daughter of our own, beloved Demeter.”

  He gestured to me with a grand sweep of his arm. He was clearly one for the dramatics with this crowd too. My cheeks warmed as I peered across the ocean of eager, curious faces. Between their expensive outfits and the extravagant decorations, anyone could tell they were made for this luxurious life. There was not a single empty hand on the whole deck. Each of them were holding a flute of champagne, sipping on it with such an easy elegance. Almost as if they had just come from a stay at the Hamptons.