Athens, Greece
Prince
Athens was beyond compare. The city held an otherworldly beauty that spoke of a city that had seen much in the many years it had stood.
The echoing of the Greek gods could be felt in the very city. They seemed to whisper through the wind that blew through the columns of the Parthenon. It wasn't really surprising that this is where Discord chose to make her home, in the very heart of Ancient Greece.
The whole city made me feel uneasy. As if something was about to happen. As if I was walking in someone else's footsteps. I didn't like being here, much like I didn't much like the fact or claim that I was Ares, the God of war reborn. I missed my home. I missed the bustle of Chicago. The winds that blew every which way, I missed my dog Zeus and my sister Rachel with her bright red hair that looked nothing like the bronze locks I had been born with. I missed going to play basketball with my school friends and studying to eventually go to college. I missed all the notions of normalcy in my life.
Athens made me feel like something was about to happen, that would change everything. It's a feeling I had once before. And in all honesty, it had changed everything. How I saw the world and how the world saw me. It's why I was here, in Athens, Greece in the company of Discord, the goddess of Chaos.
I looked out into the balcony, at the Acropolis where the citadel stood as silent as it ever was. I sighed, as I continued to walk across the plush carpet. The city might've been old but the suite we were currently staying in was definitely new. The walls were brushed a warm gold that brightened the room as the light of the sun hit the walls, the middle of the ceiling held a three-tier chandelier, and the couches were cream and plush.
"I don't like being here," I said. Discord or Dee as most people called her snickered at my displeasure. She sat on the chaise lounge, dressed head to toe in black leather, the only color on her the bright green highlights that threaded her dark black curls. She was currently reading some book or the other. And for the most part, ignoring me like she usually did when she felt I was being unreasonable.
"You don't feel right because you are still trying to deny who you are." Discord said pointedly glancing at me before flicking a page in her book. "Who says I'm denying anything?" I said narrowing my eyes at her. "You are. Wishing things could go back to the way they were." Discord said.
"I had a family before this," I said, watching Discord chuckle in response. "You do have a family. A LOT of family." She said. I scowled and as if she had summoned them by thought alone the twins walked in. "Still having this argument I see," Theo said as he glanced at Discord to me.
I glared at Theo, with the dark curls that made him look like he had just stepped out of Victorian London before I glanced at Artie with her dark curls she would've looked more like Discord's twin if she had also had green streaks in her hair. Her blue eyes seemed to gaze into my very soul as she walked into the room and immediately perched herself on top of the dining table like the heathen that she was.
"You should probably calm down," Artie said. I glared at her. "What makes you think I'm not calm?" I asked raising an eyebrow at her. "You are making a visible trail in the carpet for one." Artie pointed out. "And you are twirling batons in your hands," Theo added gesturing at the batons I was indeed holding in my hands. "They aren't exactly the trademarks of someone who is calm." He said.
"Especially if that person is Ares, The God of War." Discord said.
I despised that name. Even if it was my true name. I glanced at the twins, Theo and Artie otherwise known as Artemis and Apollo. They had taken their true selves in stride, already able to command and use most of their gifts. I still had trouble wrapping my mind around the fact that I was a god who came back to life in the body of a mortal. "Not that this conversation is going anywhere but was there a reason for the two of you just suddenly showing up?" I asked. I wasn't wrong to question the twins, they acted more like spies for Discord and usually brought trouble wherever they went.
"Your favorite person in the world is in the market looking for you. And she brought friends." Artie said smiling at Discord who closed her book with a snap. "Oh, what trouble have you brought this time, dear Iris." Discord said with a smile. "Who the hell is Iris?" I asked narrowing my eyes at Discord. "Iris used to be one of mine. A Guardian of the Bermuda Triangle. Nowadays she is a guardian that serves the Council of Circe." Discord explained, making me even more confused than ever.
"They kicked her out of having servants when she became a human," Artie said helpfully making Discord scowl at her. "Regardless, Iris has never been happy with me. So if she has come all the way to Greece to find me, something must've happened to make her so desperate. It would only be kind to see what she wants." Discord said smiling.
I rolled my eyes at her words. Goddess of Chaos indeed. I shook my head ignoring Artie and Theo as they started to wonder how or why this Iris might've decided to look for Discord. I went to the balcony, my hands gripping the railing that creaked with displeasure at my weight. I looked out at the Citadel where the Parthenon had stood for thousands of years, and would stand for thousands more. I sighed. I wanted to go home, but if there were people coming to look for Discord, home was the last place I would be able to go.
"You look glum, Uncle of mine." I scowled at the familiar voice, as I leaned forward against the railing glancing to the left where a lithe boy with dark hair, and sharp bright blue eyes stood taking a whiff of a cigarette that blew purple smoke in the air as he exhaled.
"Eros. How horrible to see you." I said, smiling slightly at the slight smile that graced his angelic features. Like me, Eros had originally had parents of Asian descent which you could see marked in his slanted dark eyes and beautiful spiky hair. Not that I would ever tell him that to his face. "Oh Uncle, you can sass me all you want. But I know you are indeed happy to see me." He said wagging a finger at me.
I scowled even though he was right. I was actually happy to see the God of Love, Discord he had been the first Greek god I had come across, and seeing him I always remembered the time before we had found out about our true destinies. Before I had met her.
"What are you doing here?" I asked narrowing my eyes a bit at him. "Being unpredictable. And I have a message for you. From the one that is never far from your thoughts." Eros said. "I don't want to hear anything she has to say. She betrayed us." I said darkly. Thinking about the redhead that had indeed betrayed us. The one who had caused us all to wake.
"How about we deal with one disaster at a time." Discord said as she joined the balcony. She looked at me, "I'm going to need you with me on this." She said. "Naturally. Wherever Chaos goes, war is sure to follow." I said raising an eyebrow. Discord smiled, "You are going to love this. I don't think you've met many witches or faeries in Chicago."
The Market – Damien
Greece was far too bright for my liking. Even if I could withstand the sun. Which I could, as my bloodline was one of the few Vampire bloodlines that had been given the gift of being able to walk the earth in the sun. Not many vampires had been given that gift but after too many Vampires had attacked witches a truce had been made and certain select bloodlines, mainly Aristocratic ones like mine could walk in the sun.
"Why are we just walking around in the middle of the market?" I asked in a near growl. I may have been slightly irritated. But it had been a full day since Zira had been kidnapped and Davenna had run away. The number of calls I had gotten from both Hunter and Marcus was nearing the triple digits. Sometimes it sucked being one of the members of the school council that Marcus leaned on in times of need.
"I have spent decades in the service of Discord. The easiest way to get her interested in your cause is to invade her territory. She always has people who watch on her behalf. One of them would've already seen us by now and will let her know. And then she will make herself known." Iris said calmly.
"How can you be sure of that?" I asked frowning. "Because she's the Goddess of Chaos. She revels in it." Ifrinn pointed out. Raena nodded in agreement. "Iris worked with Discord much too long, not to know what she's like," Raena said.
"Well don't you all seem to know what you're doing?" I turned around at the new voice surprised to see a dark-haired boy with curling hair and dark violet eyes looking at us. "Two fairies, a Vampire, and a Siren all walk into a market," another voice from behind us said. When I turned to look I saw a petite girl with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail looking at us with a shrewd look on her face.
"Now Artie. Don't be mean." The boy said. "Don't be boring Theodore." The girl said giving the boy an irritated glance. I frowned at the two of them, glancing at Ifrinn and Raena who were both scowling in their direction. "Who the name of Hera are you both, and how do you know what we are?" Ifrinn demanded roughly.
They smiled at Ifrinn's command before they both pointed to our right, where Discord strolled in. "They are gods." She said proudly. "May I introduce Artemis and Apollo or Theodore as he is now being called." Discord said. I scowled, then immediately started to back away from the group. Apollo was the sun god but also the God of Prophecy. His twin sister Artemis was the Goddess of the Hunt. No matter how very mortal they were, I wanted nothing to do with either of them.
I walked slightly away from the market coming across one of the Cafes that lined around the marketplace, where I saw a boy with darkly black hair and a boy with bronze-colored locks that were both looking at the spot I had just vacated. They both turned and looked at me as if they could sense my gaze.
"More Gods?" I said with a sigh. The dark-haired boy smiled at my words. "We are, more gods. Damien Cross." The boy said smiling at my glare when I realized he knew my name. "Who are you. And how do you know my name?" I asked.
"A while back we met through a mutual friend of mine. You helped him when no one else would. He was going through a dark phase and you helped him, in your own sarcastic way." He said. "My name is Mathius Scott, otherwise known as Eros." He said with a slight bow. "The god of love. Just my luck." I said scowling. "This is Prince. Also known as Ares the God of War." I looked at Prince who glared at my sudden interest. "We came here looking for you. And Discord." I said. "I wish you hadn't," Prince said with a long-suffering sigh.
"We are about to head into the Lands of Fairy. We were told by the Queen of the forest Fae that we would need the Goddess of Chaos and the God of War on our side if we are to survive the perils of the Land of Fairy." I said. Prince scowled at me. "Why should we help you?" He asked. "A girl was taken in mid-air against her will, to the Fairy King. A long time ago this King waged War against the Queen of Light. He means to do the same thing now, using Zira as a weapon." I said watching as Prince's face twitched at my words. "A girl?" He asked.
"A witch with elemental powers. She's extremely powerful." I said. "How are we even going to get to the Fairy Lands?" Prince asked. "We have someone on that as we speak."