chapter EIGHT
Kallos opens her eyes and grins when she sees she is in the beautiful garden; she wonders if this is the Mount Olympus she had read about. Walking over to the brush of lilacs she smiles as the sweet aroma tickles her senses. She loves the smell of lilacs; she picks some and walks around. She can’t get over how many different flowers are here. She smells the lilacs that she just picked when she hears a male’s voice calling her name. Startled at the unexpected approach she turns quickly wary of the new man she has never before seen. She watches as the man walks towards her. He is the most beautiful man she has ever seen.
The enchanting man is bare-chested with a mere loincloth covering his manly parts. He has a stunning body with abs that you want to wash your clothes on. His dark brown hair is long and flows to the middle of his back. Her eyes make their way up to his face, and she gasps. His eyes are a mix between blue and gray, but are ringed in red. Kallos sees one side of his perfect lips rise in a half smile. He walks over to a part of the garden that she hasn't seen yet, and he turns around to face her.
“What are you doing here, Kallos?” There is something about him that’s familiar.
“Who are you?” That is the only thing she can think to say. His smile has gotten wider.
“Who do you think I am?” He says in a playful voice. She thinks about everything she has read in the last few days. She also thinks about what Ian and Sean told her about their gods. Then it hits her, it’s in his eyes, they are the same as Sean’s but his has a hint of red to his.
“Ares!” She says with all the confidence she can muster. He nods. She is trying to find something to connect him and Sean together. She can see the similar eyes now and his cockiness.
“You are right. Now answer my question. ‘Why are you here?’”
Well at least it was an easy question. “I need to see Aphrodite. She gave me some necklaces, and they didn’t work.”
His eyes widen when she says the word “necklaces.” She wonders if she was supposed to say anything.
“She gave you soul mate necklaces?” Aries asks with a strange voice. She nods. “Of course she did. Are you alright?” He reaches for her hands, which takes her by surprise. He takes her hands and turns them over as if he is looking for something. He doesn’t see any because there aren’t any to see. They vanished when she woke up in her room. He squeezes her hand and then loosens his hold a little, but he doesn’t let go. “How are the boys?”
“I don’t know. We haven’t talked much since then.” She says.
“Well, she told you that after it changes to silver, he has to keep it on.” Now her eyes widen. Aphrodite never told Kallos that. It must have shown on her face because she hears him mumble a swear word. “Who did it change for?”
“Well, you see, that is why I am here. It changed for both of them.”
“Impossible! It only changes for your true soul mate. Unless…” Kallos clasps his hands tighter this time. She needs to know what’s going on, and since she hasn’t seen Aphrodite, she is going to get answers from Ares.
“Please, tell me! Unless what?” she asks.
“Unless it finally happened that our souls all fit together. Do you know how long we have waited for this? Well, you probably don’t, but let’s say forever. Do they both take away some of your pain?” She nods. “Do you know all of you carry a part of us with you? I’m sure you guessed that Sean got my attitude.” He gives her a devilish grin and starts laughing.
Ares is laughing so hard that he starts crying; she doesn’t even know that Gods could cry. He moves away from her and turns his back to her. Walking back to Kallos he hands her a stunning large pink and white flower, smiling back at him she sniffs the flower and feels as if the smell of this flower is radiating through every pore.
“This is beautiful, and it smells delightful. What is it?” She smiles at him.
“It’s dahlia. It has a beautiful meaning, and it fits you well.” Ares says.
“Well, are you going to tell me the meaning, Ares?” She asks and slaps his arm. He chuckles and nods.
“It’s a symbol of a commitment and bond that lasts forever.” He reaches out and touches her cheek. “You are the first person to have two soul mates. I can’t wait to tell Apollo.” He turns away like he’s leaving, but she remembers something she needs to know.
“Ares wait!” he stops and turns back around. “Why can’t the boys take off their necklaces?” His smiling, cheerful face turned into something she can’t explain.
“It will tear their souls from their very being. The necklace is now a part of them. It will also connect you to them. They will know you are in pain before you need them. You must go, Kallos.” Then Ares does something that she has seen Aphrodite do; he vanishes. Kallos is left standing alone with all of these new thoughts running through her head. At least she isn’t confused anymore; she just has two soul mates.
Kallos thinks of her soft bed, her pillow filled with the softest down and her dark comfy room. She needs to tell Sean and Ian about the necklaces. She doesn't like how it feels when she returns. Going there isn’t too bad, but waking up is never pleasant; it simply hurts. The numbness spreads throughout her whole body. A sharp pain makes it increasingly difficult to take a breath let alone calm herself. The words escape her as she wants to call out for help.
All of a sudden Kallos’ bedroom door slams open, and there are two figures standing in the doorway. The two figures are in the doorway for only a brief moment. Her relief of the boys’ presence is shown as one of them grabs her hand and the other places his hand on her bare leg. She glances up at the door again and sees her parents standing there. The worry on their faces is heart wrenching.
As the pain lessens she can take in a full breath of air and fill her now anguished lungs with much needed air. Kallos squeezes the hand that is holding hers. Looking up she sees Sean’s gray eyes looking down on her in a silent panic. Propping herself up against Sean she looks down her pained body at Ian still lightly caressing her bare leg.
“Mom, Dad, I’m fine. You can stop worrying about me. And thank you Sean and Ian; I feel better.” She lies; she doesn't want to worry them. Sean and Ian start to pull their hands away from her. “No, please don’t let me go. Not yet.” The boys didn’t say anything; they just returned to Kallos. “I need to tell you two, something. I went to see Aphrodite, but I didn’t find her; I found Ares.” She looks at Sean when she said Ares because she can feel the heat radiating from his body.
Kallos doesn't know if it is bad heat or a good heat, but she decides to continue. “He said all of our souls have finally found a way to fit together and you can never take your necklaces off. Ares said that it would destroy you and the necklaces will keep you connected to me. You’ll know what I’m feeling and when I need you.”
“Are you saying that if we take off our necklaces, it would kill us?” Ian asks. His hand isn’t moving now. Kallos just nods. “That’s how we knew you were in pain before we heard you. I know I felt a strong pull to be next to you. Did you Sean?” He looks up at Sean.
“Yes, I wanted to be next to you, and I could almost feel your pain before we opened the door.” His thumb is rubbing circles along her knuckles. “Kallos, what do you have in your hand?” He looks nervous. Kallos looks to her other hand and sees the flower that Ares gave her. It still looks and smells wonderful.
“Ares gave it to me,” she whispers, and she can tell that he is upset.
“I don’t understand how you are able to bring things from there. We have been going forever and never could bring anything back. And trust me, I have tried,” Ian says. Kallos doesn't understand where this jealousy is coming from. She speaks carefully.
“I don’t know. The first time Aphrodite told me that she would allow it, and this time Ares didn’t tell me that I could or couldn’t bring it with me. He just gave it to me and then he had to go.” He glances at her and smiles.
“Sweetie, now that we know your fine we are going to go to bed. We love you,” her mom says and comes over to kiss her cheek. Kallos' dad follows.
“You two can stay in here for a little bit. Good night KD,” he leans in and kisses Kallos' forehead. Her parents walk over to the door and walk out without saying another word. Since the boys put on their necklaces, Ian hasn’t been the same. It’s like he blames her for something. Even now, when he’s touching her, she doesn't feel the same warmth.
The entire time he has been in her presence the warmth and compassion that once was there seems to be clouded by something else something darker. It’s starting to break her heart, and she doesn't know how to stop it. Kallos closes her eyes because she can't bare it anymore. She can feel Sean squeeze her hand.
“Baby, are you still in pain?” Sean asks Kallos. She is in pain but not a pain that he can help. She opens her eyes, and he is inches from her face. She gives him the best smile that she can get out.
“I’m not in that much pain anymore. Thank you guys so much. I felt like I was dying.” Sean gives her a light kiss before moving away. She notices that Ian is finally looking at her.
“We should get going. I don’t want to make your parents mad on our first night,” Sean says. “Besides now we will know when you’re in pain, so that will help. Good night, Kallos.” He turns to walk toward the door and Ian follows.
“Ian, can I talk to you for a minute?” Kallos asks. He stops right in front of the door. Sean turns around and nods at him. Sean gives Kallos a wink and walks away, leaving Ian and her alone.
“Ian, can you come here, please?” At first he doesn't move, but he makes his way slowly to her. All she can see is the top of his silky black hair; the front of his hair is now covering his bright blue eyes. Kallos can feel something inside of her breaking because of him. She wants her sweet Ian back. “I’m sorry, Ian,” she hears her voice break, and she knows she is going to be in tears soon. Kallos buries her face in her hands to hide the tears. “I'm so sorry!” She knows it’s stupid to be crying. What she feels for Ian and Sean is more than love, and it's killing her to know that Ian is mad at her. She feels his arm go around her, and he holds her tightly.
“Shh, you have nothing to be sorry about,” Ian whispers into her ear. Kallos is still crying, and she is starting to feel the wetness soaking into his shirt.
“You don’t have to stay here with me if you don’t want to. I still have Sean.” She is really hoping he will stay. He pulls away from Kallos and stares into her eyes.
“Kallos, I want to be here. What gave you that impression?” He is looking at her, and she can see something dark in his eyes again. Suddenly, when he blinks, it's gone. When she is just about to tell him that he gave her that impression, he shakes his head. “I did. Didn’t I?”
Kallos doesn't say anything; she just looks down. He lets go of her body and put his hands on her face. “Oh, Kallos, I’m the one who is sorry. I’ve been scared since we put on these necklaces, and confused. But when we came in here and saw you, I almost lost my cool. Sean and I knew what you were feeling and felt it firsthand. Since you have two soul mates, what will you do?” That is the big question; what is she going to do? She can’t be with both of them, right?'
“I don’t know yet. You guys have to give me some time. I mean I just found out that I have not one but two soul mates.” She has only known them for a few days now.
“We aren’t going to rush you, Kallos. I better get going before your parents freak out. Good night, Kallos.” Without a good night kiss, he leaves, and she drops her head into her hands. There are so many things she is discovering about herself in such a little amount of time, Kallos is afraid she might break. She doesn't know how much more she can take. She runs her fingers through her hair, and decides to go back to sleep. The last thing she remembers thinking, I hope I have normal dreams, as she drifts off in a deep slumber.