Chapter 14

Diana woke early and smiled as she watched the first rays of sunlight illuminate her room. She had been at the villa for a week and a half and was having a wonderful time. Audrey had extended her stay an additional week because the man that had agreed to meet with her was delayed and Diana was enjoying their additional time together. Originally she had thought she wanted solitude, but what she found was that having her friend around made the trip more interesting and certainly more exciting. Thank Hera she had not decided to dive off any more buildings she thought ruefully.

Rising, she opened the doors to the terrace off her bedroom to watch the day begin. The ocean sounds were comforting and she watched as the birds dipped and glided over the foamy waves in the rosy dawn light. This was her favorite part of the day, the world was still quiet and the air was soft. It was easy to see herself living this way when she was not active with the League and the UN. Maybe she should consider buying a small house on the island as a place to decompress and unwind. It was worth considering.

Turning from the dawn she went to shower and dress for the day. Audrey rose late and spent the better part of the day sunning herself on the beach. Diana thought she would grow tired of inactivity, but after the second day she found it gave her time to catch up on reading and to meditate. In the afternoons she would wander around the island, sometimes with Audrey and other times alone. Shops and food stalls lined the tourist areas, and she had explored those her first day but it felt somehow false. Deeper into the island, where the locals lived and worked, is where she found the true treasures of Mykonos. The people were kind and did not seem to notice or mind that a member of the Justice League was among them. It was refreshing.

In the kitchen the housekeeper was already up and the scent of almond honey cakes had Diana's mouth watering.

"Good morning, your Highness," said the woman in Greek. "Would you care for breakfast?"

"I'll just have some fruit. And maybe some of that wonderful cake I smell?"

The woman blushed and bustled around the kitchen filling a plate with fresh fruit, a honeyed yogurt dip, and a generous slice of cake drizzled with orange syrup. Diana ate with enthusiasm, much to the housekeepers delight, and only stopped when her plate was empty. Sighing with appreciation she thanked the woman and took her coffee out to the terrace to relax until Audrey woke.

Diana did not have to wait long. Audrey woke earlier than usual and had a smile on her face.

"Who are you and what have you done with Audrey?" Diana asked, a smirk playing across her lips.

"Hush," she admonished. "I am not that bad in the mornings."

"Yes, you are. So tell me, what's put the spring in your step?"

Audrey sighed, grinned and said, "I received word yesterday that Gregor is arriving today."

Gregor, Diana thought, was the mysterious man that Audrey had fallen in love with. She wanted very much to get a look at him because she could not help but remember what happened the last time Audrey was in love. Vandal Savage was still locked up in a Kasnian prison and Diana hoped he would rot there.

"I was thinking we could take him to that beach party we heard about yesterday," she said then took a careful sip of coffee.

"I don't really want to go," Diana said apologetically. "Parties are not really for me."

"Don't be a spoil sport! Come, have fun. You shouldn't spend all your time brooding over men."

"I'm not brooding," she protested. Not much anyway.

"Of course you are darling. But, a little music and dancing will chase those blues away. Besides, if you absolutely hate it you can always come back here. No one will force you to stay."

"Oh," she sighed, feeling herself relent to Audrey's whishes, "fine. I'll go. But, I reserve the right to leave early."

"Yes, yes … so, what are you going to wear?"

Diana blinked, "Well, I suppose I could just go in one of those sundresses you made me buy." Audrey had bullied Diana into buying three sundresses, a black bikini, and a floppy woven hat. She had said her wardrobe was far too stuffy for the beach. Now, a week later, she found she agreed and enjoyed the unstructured dresses more than any other clothes she had with her.

"No," Audrey said, "I think a real dress would be better. Something classy and casual. After lunch we will go up and I will help you pick something."

"Whatever you say," Diana sighed.

…

After lunch they were in Diana's room as Audrey was going through the clothes in her closet, silently studying what she had. She pulled a few items out and hung them over a chair then began to rummage through her shoes.

"For a Princess you are seriously lacking in the shoe department." Audrey tisked softly and then pulled a pair of strappy sandals out. "Go ahead and try this on," she said waving her hand at the outfit hanging over the chair. Then I can decide if it will work.

"This is silly," Diana protested. Audrey simply took the clothes and put them in her hands.

"Go, now."

"Fine," she muttered. She changed into the outfit Audrey had selected. It was a white peasant style skirt and a black tank top with a wide silver belt and silver sandals. It looked really nice and she wondered why she had never considered the black tank as something to be worn with a skirt. She usually wore it with jeans.

Stepping out of the bathroom she did a little turn when Audrey twirled her finger.

"Perfect, darling. Casual but pulled together." Audrey then started going through her jewelry, selecting simple silver pendant and a blue scarf. "Use the scarf to tie back your hair and wear this. You will look perfect."

"Alright," she said. She went back in the bathroom to change when the doorbell rang. Through the wall she heard Audrey squeal and dash from the room. Gregor must be here. She slipped her sundress back on, tied her hair back in the blue scarf, and hung the outfit for tonight on the door. Smiling she went down to meet him. Once she met him she discovered he was nothing like what she imagined he would be. He was short, about Audrey's height, and he was blond like she was. He was certainly handsome, but in an innocent way. The contrast between Gregor and Vandal Savage was stark and Diana wondered if her friend wanted someone that bore no resemblance to her ex-fiancée.

"Diana, I want you to meet Gregor. Gregor," she swept her hand toward Diana, "my dear friend, Diana."

"Wonder Woman," he said in thickly accented English. "It is an honor," he swept into a bow and Diana nodded.

"I am very happy to meet you. Audrey has told me so much about you." He smiled at her and she was reminded almost instantly of Wally. She liked him almost instantly.

They decided to have drinks on the back terrace so they could enjoy the ocean view. Audrey sat beside Gregor on a small wicker love seat while Diana sat on a lounge chair. They discussed the weather, Greek culture, Gregor's homeland in Denmark, and what they planned to do that evening. Diana found he was witty and had a sharp sense of humor. He also loved Audrey very much and for that reason alone Diana would have liked him.

"Darling," Audrey said to Gregor, "we are going to this beach party this evening. You simply must join us."

"If it is alright with Wonder Woman," he said. "I wouldn't want to intrude."

"I would love for you to come along, and please," she smiled, "call me Diana."

"Then yes, I would love to go." Audrey smiled from ear to ear. Diana decided to give them a little privacy and went for a walk along the water. The sun was warm, but the breeze off the ocean was cool and as she let the waves lap against her toes she thought about her own complicated love life.

She should be thinking about Steve, she admonished herself as she thought of Bruce. He would never be the devoted puppy that Gregor was, but she did not want that. She wanted Bruce and she wanted Batman, and she wanted the passion and the darkness that made them both who they were. No, he would never fawn over her, but she would never tolerate that. He would, she imagined, treat her as an equal, he would argue with her when he felt she was wrong, and he would be her balance just as she would be his. He would match her passions with his own.

Awareness raced up her spine and she felt as if she was being watched. sTurning to investigate she was sidetracked when Audrey called to remind her to change for the party. Turning to sweep the beach and the grassy area behind it she saw nothing. Satisfied that it was just her imagination she started back to the house.

…

At sunset they left for the party. As they arrived there was a band playing traditional Greek songs, but she saw that a DJ was setting up on a long platform and knew that later the music would run to modern electronic dance. The scent of food made Diana's mouth water and she looked with longing at the tables bearing heavy trays of dolmas, baklava, hummus, pita, and spiced lamb.

"The real party starts after dark," Audrey said as much to Diana as to Gregor.

"When does it end?" Diana asked, watching a large circle of people dancing to the music.

"At dawn," Audrey said with a laugh.

Diana groaned but remembered she could leave any time and felt less trapped. Audrey had her guards and Gregor to keep her in check. In fact, Gregor had a calming effect on her friend, something that both surprised and pleased her. Yes indeed, she was growing more mature. It was a very good thing.

Deciding she had been tortured by the scent of food long enough, she got in line and was loading her plate when the feeling of being watched crept up on her once again. Casually she glanced around the square and did not see anyone looking at her or acting suspicious, but still the feeling persisted. Taking her plate back to the table where Gregor and Audrey were seated she tried to brush off the feeling and enjoy her food. Whatever was wrong with her she was going to put it aside, keep her guard up, and enjoy the party.

After they had eaten their fill they watched some traditional Greek dances, listened to some singers and played a few carnival games. On the beach a group of people were busy building a bon fire. Wood smoke began to scent the air as the flames licked the wood. Soon the beach was crowded with tourists and locals alike. When the DJ began to spin records the crowd uniformly moved to the beat. Caught up in the music and the crowd Diana found herself dancing along with so many others to the light of the giant fire.

Her body moved in time to the rhythm alongside Audrey and Gregor. For a third time she felt the hairs on the nape of her neck stand on end and she whipped her head around to see if she could find the source of her discomfort. In the distance, moving toward her, was a dark haired man. He was tall and well built but she could not see his face in the shadows. Sudden recognition had her jolting to a stop and looking at the man in angry disbelief. He stopped a few feet from her, his eyes unreadable but his lips were curved into a smug grin.