Forbidden (The Secret World Of Atlantis 2)

What is life? Is it anything else, than a mess of moments between birth and death? Some moments  matter, others not that much. Some might be so important, that they change the rest of the moments, that are yet to come. Where does that leave me? On the verge of life and death? Or have I run out of my moments?   I don't feel anything. I don't hear anything. I don't see anything. I just am. My mind is floating aimlessly around the darkness, until slowly light makes its way into it. A single ray of sunshine invites me and I get closer. As I touch it, I get absorbed. I feel myself spiraling inside it, until I am thrown out.   I take a surprised breath, as I land on a soft grass, suddenly having a body once again. I look at my hands. They are mine, but they don’t seem mine at the same time. It’s like they have some sort of a silverish glow to them. I put them down, trying not to think too much about how odd my body feels.   Only then I realize, where I am. The gardens in front of me look just like I was in Dairelis. But as I turn around, there’s nothing but an orchard of orange trees behind me. No palace. And there’s something else, that I notice. I have my wings out.   I try to pull them back into my body, but no matter how hard I try, nothing happens. Alright then, it’s not like anyone is around to touch them. Before I even begin to pick myself up, my memory starts returning. I stiffen in horror as I my mind replays the scene, that unfolded in front of my house. Not only did I let Eros drink my blood … I even touched his wings! I wasn’t supposed to do that! They are sacred!   I stand up on my shaky legs, already expecting to feel blood rushing to my cheeks, but I don’t sense the familiar heat. It’s like I’m not actually feeling the body, that I’m in. Even as I force myself to walk into the gardens, it seems like I’m not really moving my legs.   I try not to think about what happened with Eros, as the path begins to rise up a smaller hill. But it’s not like I have anything else to do, since I’m all alone. I know I’m a coward, but I don’t dare raise my hand to my neck, to feel the wound. If it’s there, I know this isn’t my imagination playing tricks on me.   My surroundings get richer and richer with flowers, statues and fountains, until I spot a breathtaking Temple. Its magnificence makes me stop for a moment, taking the view in. I don’t think the Royal Palace can match the beauty of it. The closer I get, the more I’m sure of that.   The façade is like a painting, telling a whole story with the many statuettes, that are stoned into the building. I notice all sorts of magical creatures like Gryphons, Chimaeras, even Pegasuses. But then, right at the top of the motif, there are six people. I recognize a flyer, a magician, an elf … And then on the opposite side, a werewolf, a witch … A vampire. I shudder at sight of fangs, that his smile is showing off.   I avert my gaze to the enormous door in front of me. I have no idea who might be hiding behind it, maybe The Maidens Of Artemis? But whoever it is, I feel a pull towards them. Like they’re calling me to join them.   Before I’m even able to touch the door, it swings right open for me, revealing a breathtaking Hall. If I would have the courage to admire it, I would love to look around for a few minutes, but the thing is, I freeze right on spot. There are twelve thrones in front of me and all of them are taken by the biggest people I’ve ever seen. I don’t dare to insult them by thinking they’re giants, because I know exactly, who I’m standing before. I bow deeply.   “My Gods, I reveal to you my humbled heart,” I speak loudly, trying to sound brave and confident, when in fact I’m feeling neither. There’s a terrifying silence for a moment, before I hear the most melodic voice I’ve ever had the chance to listen to.   “Your spirit lives in us,” a woman replies. “Rise, child, there’s no need for further ceremonies,” she continues. A moment passes, before I dare to do as she says and look up at them. I am incredibly shocked. Is this really happening, or have I gone completely insane? I turn to the woman, who spoke to me, watching her familiar features. How is it possible, that she’s reminding me of so many people at once? I can see Emilia’s face, then Elena’s, Demitri’s, even my mother’s.   “Thank you … W-What is happening? Where am I?” I ask, carefully choosing my words. I don’t want to make them angry with anything. Because I know I’m going to regret it.   “Did you hear that, Zeus? Where am I?” one of the male Gods mocks me. As I turn to him, I am shocked to see someone very much resembling Daniel, Flora and a bunch of other people, that I happen to know. Then I turn to the person, the man was speaking to. The leader of Gods. I fear to look upon his face and I soon realize, why I felt that way. It’s like looking at my father and Eros at once. I try not to gape, but I don’t really think I’m in control of this body, that I’m inside.   “Ignore him please. He’s bored every time, that we need to solve something without violence, aren’t you Ares?” Zeus speaks, casting a dirty glance at the God, that was mocking me before. Ares rolls his eyes, but doesn’t continue. I’m surprised to see Gods acting so … ordinary. Like they were just one of us. “You are at Olympus, Arya. Welcome to our humble home,” Zeus proceeds. If this were a normal occasion, I would snort at his use of words, but I’m not talking to an equal. He’s a God. The leading God.   “Thank you for your hospitality, but … May I ask how I got here? Am I dead?” I ask directly, making the whole Hall erupt into laughter. I stand there, watching their familiar, everchanging faces in confusion. Is there something funny about dying? Oh, right. Immortals. They must not give a damn about death.   “Why does everybody always ask, if they’re dead?” Ares voices his thoughts once again, wiping a tear of laughter from his eye. I take a deep breath to prevent myself from having an outburst, that would make me end up as a pile of ashes.   “Child, we’re really sorry,” another God speaks up and I don’t even bother contemplating, who he reminds me of. He’s holding a golden trident, which helps me recognize him immediately. He’s Poseidon. He’s one of the Gods, that chose me at my Blessing. “You’ve been called here for a reason,” he begins, but as he turns to Zeus, he closes his mouth.   “And what is that reason?” I ask, trying to encourage them, to tell me more, but I am met with silence. The woman that spoke to me first, turns to the leading God with pleading eyes.   “Father, we must help her. Atlantis is in danger,” she tells him, trying to make him see reason. I look back and forth between them, wondering who the Goddess might be. Artemis? Or is it …   “Athena, we don’t mend ourselves into the affairs of mortals,” Zeus responds sternly, but my gaze shoots to his daughter. She chose me too! I wonder which one of them might be Aphrodite. But before I’m even able to look around, I already know the voice, that speaks next, must belong to her.   “My son’s life is in danger!” she bursts out, her red curls even enhancing the furious lines on her beautiful face. The more I stare at her, the more of Eros I see. “I am going to burn the whole Atlantis down if anything happens to him!” she continues raging, making me furrow my eyebrows in confusion. There’s a descendant of Gods walking amongst us? How is he able to hide?   “He’s going to be just fine,” Zeus snaps back angrily. As he looks at me, his face softens a bit. “That’s why we’ve summoned Arya to us,” he declares, making every God in the Hall turn to me. I connect the dots quite quickly. It’s too big of a coincidence, that I would look past it.   “Your son …” I begin, turning to the redheaded Goddess, who eyes me warily. “It’s Eros, isn’t it?” I guess, making her lips tighten. She doesn’t answer me, which surprises me, even hurts me. Athena and Poseidon both greeted me so warmly, while she refuses to even speak to me.   “Do you now see, why I’ve chosen her?” Athena speaks, a proud smile beaming on her face. I return it with hesitation, but I am still shook to my core. I never could’ve seen this coming. Eros, an actual son of a Goddess? But how was he born to the Callistos? There are so many things, that don’t make sense about this. But if it’s true … That means, that he’s the God of love.   “Does he know about this?” I ask, once again turning to Aphrodite. She just gives me a short nod. I blink a few times, unable to comprehend what this means. All those times, when he was so frustrated with being an Undefined one, with being different … Was there something else, he was trying to tell me with that? That he was fed up with hiding his actual nature? The nature of a God?   “But how …” I try to form a sentence, that would make sense, but nothing else comes out. I am simply too overwhelmed with what they’ve told me, to make myself function properly.   “The God of love played against our rules, which is why he was punished by being reborn as a mortal. Part of his punishment is him knowing, who he truly is,” Zeus informs me, his tone telling me, that he’s not open for further discussion. I shut my mouth, but my mind keeps racing. I suddenly feel mad at him. He’s been lying to me this whole time! “Now, as you must already know, he’s going to be in trouble for drinking your blood,” he continues, sending me a meaningful look.   “What do you want me to do?” I ask, pushing my anger aside. I can confront Eros about his true nature later. It seems like the matter is serious, if Gods themselves have summoned me to discuss this.   “Save him. No matter what happens, he must stay alive,” Zeus implies in a serious matter. I widen my eyes in horror. What is he trying to say? That they’re going to kill Eros for what he did?   “They won’t try to have him executed, will they?” I ask, barely able to get the words out of my mouth. I look at Aphrodite, who is staring at me with her eyes narrowed. Seriously, what did I do to deserve this?   “You’ll find out soon enough,” the leading God retorts nonchalantly, while I feel myself panicking. Why isn’t he telling me more? What is going on?   “I need more than that. How am I supposed to save his life, when I don’t even know where he is or what is happening to him? More than that, I don’t even know, how I’m going to get back to the Academy!” I burst out, unable to hold my feelings under control any longer. Zeus sends me a murderous gaze, making me gulp nervously. Have I gone too far this time?   I watch in horror, as the God rises from his throne, slowly walking towards me. I’m shaking with fear as I watch his serious face tower over me. My neck hurts by just looking up to his eyes and the weight of my wings isn't helping either. In the next moment he kneels down, so I don’t have to stare so high up at him.   “I’ve given you enough information. Now that the prophecy’s completed, you won’t have trouble finding him,” he informs me, making my breath hitch in my throat. Of course. Everything makes sense now. It’s been six full moons, since I’ve heard it. Fear the darkness … The clouds, that were forming on the sky … Fear the rain … It was pouring. And it wasn’t death, who stole my blood. It was Eros!   “What do you mean I won’t have trouble finding him?” I ask, barely able to get the words out of my mouth once again. Never in a million years would I expect the prophecy to turn out the way it has.   “You’ll find out soon enough,” he hints, refusing to tell me anything else. He raises a hand above me and I stare in horror, as the enormous palm hovers over me. The moment it touches me, Zeus’s last words ring in my head. Save him.   The Hall begins fading around me and I expect to become bodiless once again. But as I am pulled into darkness, I start to feel pain. It’s quite faint at first, but with every moment that passes by, it gets sharper and sharper. It hurts so much, that it gets unbearable and that’s when I know it. I’m back in my body. I gasp for air, as my eyes flutter open.