Fascinations
Chapter Four: Stolen Glances or Reincarnation
Disclaimer: You know- This story does not actually appear in mythology, blah … the gods and goddesses in the story are real… Aminta, Erric, and all of the others you don't recognize are mine!
Chapter Note: After a couple of wonderful reviews, I believe a new chapter is in order. And here is where our story continues-
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It had now been several years since Selene had called the boys to her home to meet Aminta.
But Erric still remembered. He remembered how hard he had tried to get the kiss, and how he had been denied at the last moment. He remembered how Aminta had taken his breath away- and never given it back.
Dead. Truth be told, Erric felt dead without her warm body by his side. 'Of course you feel dead,' a voice chided him angrily. 'You're the son of Death himself- the Lord of the Underworld.' Shoving the thoughts away in disgust, he left his room, were he had been taking refuge while reminiscing.
Wandering through the vast obsidian halls of his father's elaborate palace, Erric sought out the guidance of the only one who would understand and support him- his mother. Persephone. She had had her own share of romance problems, and always listened to her favorite son. However, when he entered the throne room, his father was seated in his massive chair, the smaller seat next to him empty.
He cringed. Hades did not approve of the girl merely because she was the spawn of a minor deity. In the Lord of the Dead's eyes, power was one of the only things that matter. From his point of view, his family would gain nothing from a connection to the petty moon goddess. Erric had been specifically instructed to forget about her.
"Father," he said, stepping before his father and dipping his head.
"Erric." Hades replied curtly. There was no doubt that the boy before him was not his favorite of his sons.
"Father, I come to you in perhaps my darkest hour. I cannot forget Lady Selene's beautiful daughter, the one you despise. Aminta. I was hoping that Mother would be here at the moment, but it appears she is not."
Lord Hades frowned deeply, the corners of his ghostly pale mouth turning down. "Your mother is out in the gardens- the dear thing is still a child at heart." His son sighed, and glanced away. Foolish, hypocritical father… Madly in love with Persephone, yet could be no less helpful with his own child's romance woes… "Any who, I believe I told you to forget about the girl. " The great man drummed his fingers on his throne, bored with these affairs.
"Yes, but-"
"But nothing," Hades finished for him. "How about this- I'll let you accompany your brothers, Mother, and I to the Summer Solstice Festival on Olympus tonight. Perhaps your silly Aminta will be there as well."
It was hardly anything, but it was a start. Erric nodded deeply, trying to hide his pleasure.
"Thank you, sir."
Rushing back to his room, his thoughts raced out of hand. He might see Aminta- if only a mere glance.
-x-
Though she was constantly on Erric's thoughts, Aminta had completely forgotten of the day when she had sat high in her tree. It was a distant memory, one she hadn't preserved well.
Tonight was the Summer Solstice- the day her Uncle Helios would have to work longer than usual, while Selene took a bit of a break. Though the goddess never attended the Solstice Festival in person, she had figured a way to be represented anyway- through her daughters. Each year she picked a girl to attend the festivities for her, and gather a bit of news and gossip as well.
This year as the 50 girls lined up before their mother, the goddess Selene stopped before Aminta.
"Why don't you go this year, little Aminta?" she said with a kindly smile. Aminta, however, grimaced. There was nothing she would hate more than to have to go and watch the deities of Greece become drunk off ambrosia, and talk to them as well.
"Me? Why not…Marissil?" Aminta pointed to her eldest sister. She was pretty and sociable, and loved the parties on Mount Olympus. Selene, however, shook her head.
"Marissil went last year, remember. You will go, and that is final." With that, the goddess swept off to her chambers, leaving forty-nine disappointed girls and one angry one.
Immediately, servants began rushing to Aminta, offering to help her dress for the occasion. She shooed them away, and told them that she would be attending to herself that night. Now alone, Aminta stormed off to her room.
Locking the door behind her, Aminta pulled of her dress and adjourned to the bathroom attached to her quarters. Once her skin had been rubbed with olive oil, she splashed a little bit of vanilla essence on her comb. She brushed the scent through her hair, making the divine smell waft about her. Aminta put on a clean, white chiton with a low neckline, and put her hair up in a pretty fashion.
A sigh escaped her lips as she looked at the sun out her window. The festival would be starting soon. Though Aminta was not technically a goddess, she still had power enough within her to transport herself to Olympus. With a bright glow, she departed for the home of the gods.
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The party was a blur to Aminta. She remembered talking to a few minor gods, and having a glass or two of nectar. In short, the whole thing was quiet tedious. Towards the end of the party, when the sun was starting to sink, she escaped in the gardens of Olympus to be alone.
Dancing barefoot through the rows of flowers, Aminta felt happier than she had been all day. The soft, remaining light illuminated her skin as she twirled and skipped through the sunset. The picture of beauty, she played by herself for a while
After an hour or so, Aminta could see a small pavilion up ahead. She could hear the deep voice of a man, and a woman's lighter tone. When she looked closely, she recognized the owners of the voices as Lord Hades and his wife, Persephone. A group of teenage boys, probably their sons, were romping around them, in the grass. One in particular, a tall, muscular boy, looked familiar to her. 'How odd,' she thought to herself.
The young man looked her way, and his expression turned to that of shock. Their dark eyes met for a moment, and Aminta gasped as memories flooded into her mind.
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P.S. I'm sorry for pretty much abandoning this story earlier. But don't worry, I promise to update regularly from now, on.
