Chapter 13

Mera's Point Of View

I laid in my bed in the dark, not able to sleep. It has been a week since Kallisto and I talked to John Alexander and except for a call everyday to tell me that he was still searching, there has been nothing. I closed my eyes and reached out with my soul, focusing on a powerful memory.

Mera, I thought I asked you not to come back here, Ariston thought to me.

I smiled feeling him, he was a bit weaker than he had been when I reconnected with him again almost two weeks ago, but I could feel how feeling me within his mind and body uplifted his spirit. I thanked the Moirae that he did not have a Shadow within him, yet.

I had to feel you, forgive me, I thought in reply.

There is nothing to forgive. He said, a smile gracing his lips. I have missed you my Mera.

And I you my Ariston, I told him. I do not think I can tell you how much I miss you every moment of every day. I love you so very much.

I love you, he replied.

It will not be long now, I promised him. We are,

Don't, he cut me off suddenly. I cannot know what you are doing or where you are. If I know, then they will know if they ever succeed in bonding a Shadow to my soul.

Why doesn't it work on you? I asked him.

I do not know, and neither do they, Ariston told me. That is the only reason I am still alive. I am the first one that his Shadows are not able to bond with. I felt a deep sadness within him. Mera, you must know that I tried, I tried with all my might to free myself of this place, to return to you… but I was not strong enough.

What happened? I asked.

A few of my siblings and I plotted an escape, he told me. We almost made it free when they caught us… they killed Miranda, my sister, they made me watch. I killed twenty of them after that, but I could not save her, I was too weak. So they brought me back to this cell.

Tears ran down my cheeks at his words.

Oh my Ariston, I thought to him. I am so sorry, they will pay, I swear that to you. He nodded. I wish I could hold you, comfort you.

Just feeling your presence is enough to soothe me, he told me and I smiled a bit. They will pay, that much is for certain.

Is there nothing else you can tell me? Nothing that will lead me to you? I asked.

Nothing, he answered.

Would you tell me if there was? I asked him.

I would not want you to risk yourself, he thought. Not for me. But I cannot let you live like you are now, I know that you cannot bear to lose me, I feel that within you. So yes, I would tell you.

I am glad to know that, I told him.

What month is it? He asked.

It is the middle of March, I told him.

Nature will be returning soon, he said to me. The leaves will be on the trees, the grass will be green.

The grass already is green in California, I told him before I realized that I just did what he asked me not to do, I told him where I am. Forgive me.

It is alright my love. He thought to me. Would you do something for me? He asked.

Anything, I told him.

Go and look in a mirror, I long to see your face, he asked.

I opened my eyes and got out of bed, I could still feel him within my soul. I turned a light on and went to my dressing and sat down and looked into the mirror. I could feel tears in Ariston's eyes, in my eyes, as he look at me. I gave him control of my eyes and body. He looked over my face, my lightly tanned skin, my full lips and violet eyes which were surrounded by long golden eyelashes. He looked at my flowing golden blond wavy hair, which was in a bit of disarray. In his eyes, he had never seen a sight so beautiful, it warmed him to look upon me.

You are so beautiful, he told me.

He raised my hand and caressed my face, I closed my eyes as tears filled them, it felt like his touch even though it was my hand. He traced the shape of my lips as he brought my other arm around my waist. He ran my hand through my hair gently, my heart was beating faster. It was the first time I have cared about my heartbeat in a long time, I had almost forgotten how good his touch feels. He ran my hands over my body and I leaned back in the chair, enjoying the sweet sensation. I could not help the moan that left my lips, it felt too good.

Ariston, I whispered his name in my mind.

My hands stopped exploring my body and instead came to rest around my middle. It was his way of holding me.

I wish I had the strength for more, he thought to me.

As do I, I thought to him. Please, let me connect to you like this every day. I will go when you ask me to, just please… I begged him.

Aright, he thought to me and my smile grew. Will you do something else for me now?

Anything, I told him again.

Go outside and walk through the grass barefoot and look up at the stars? He asked. I want to see and feel nature again through you, I have been too long in this cold cell.

Of course, I thought to him.

I opened my eyes and I could still feel him. I walked downstairs in my nightgown and walked out into the cool night air. I felt Ariston smile at the feeling of the breeze on my skin. I walked onto the grass then laid down, the dew made the back of my nightgown wet but I did not care. I looked up at the stars, it was a clear night and here in the country you can see them all. Not to mention that with my enhanced sight, I could even see a planet or two clearly.

"Can you see them?" I asked out loud.

"Yes." The word came out of my lips, but it was Ariston saying it. "They are beautiful."

"Soon we will be looking out at them together." I told him.

"Soon." He agreed. "I love you my Mera."

"I love you my Ariston." I told him.

I stayed up the rest of the night with him. I did not remember falling asleep, but I woke up to a horse sniffing my face. I opened my eyes to see her black nose.

"Luna!" I cried as I sat up and through my arms around her. She did not pull her head away, she leaned into me. "I felt him Luna, I was with Ariston last night, and it was oh so sweet." I told her, she whinnied quietly and nuzzled me softly. I felt another kind of completeness now that I was with my horse again.

I let go of her face and pulled back to get a better look at my mare where she stood above me. With her trim muscular black body, her silver mane flowing beautifully and her blue eyes that saw into my soul, she was beyond beautiful. I will always be thankful to Poseidon for giving me her as a gift. As I looked around, I came to realize that the sun was just beginning to rise and that someone had laid a blanket over me. I yawned, I was still so tired, Luna must have known that because she laid her body right down next to me. I smiled and laid my head on her neck, closing my eyes as I curled up next to her. I soon fell into a peaceful sleep while listening to the rhythmic sound of her breathing.

When I woke up, Luna was still there watching over me. I sat up and stretched then thought over all that happened last night. I placed my hand on my neck and closed my eyes, trying to pretend it was Ariston touching my neck as he had last night, but I could not feel him anymore. I sighed and got to my feet, taking the blanket that had been laid over me in the night and folding it. Luna got to her feet as well, shaking her coat. I stroked her face lovingly.

"I will come back out later," I told her. "I need to tell them what I learned last night." The mare nodded her head and I wrapped my arms around her neck. "I am glad you are here with me." I told her, I could feel that she was glad to be here with me as well.

I went inside and then upstairs. I showered and then called to Tianna to check to see if I had any ticks, which thankfully I did not. After drying off, I dressed in jeans and a tank top with one of Ariston's shirts on top, which I left unbuttoned. I brushed my hair and smelled Ariston's shirt once more before walking downstairs to see that everyone was eating lunch.

"Good morning Mera." My mortal and immortal family greeted me with smiles.

"Thank you for bringing Luna, which ever of you did that." I said.

"That would be me, mother." Kallisto said. It made me smile to hear Kallisto call me mother.

"Thank you daughter." I said, kissing her cheek before sitting down in the chair next to hers.

"There is much I must tell you all." I told them. "I connected to Ariston again last night. He stayed with me for most of the night, that was why I went outside, he wanted to see the stars and feel the grass through me."

"How is he?" Kallisto was the first to ask as always.

"He is the same, although he seemed stronger after being connected with me." I told her.

"I wish he would talk to me." Kallisto said. I knew that Ariston was hesitant about connecting to anyone for fear of leading the Shadow's to those he loves.

"When I connect to him next, you can be there." I told her. "Then you can talk to him through me." Kallisto threw her arms around me.

"Thank you mother." She said. We hugged for a moment before letting go.

"There is more." I told them, my voice grave. "Miranda is dead." I told them and I saw their spirits fall.

"How?" Cronus asked.

"Ariston and a few of his siblings planned an escape," I told him. "They were caught. They made Ariston watch as they killed her." Ennina closed her eyes and everyone at the table was silent for a moment.

"Is there anything else?" Ennina asked. "Did anything else happen while you were connected to him?" I blushed a bit.

"That," I said. "Is for me to know." Ennina smiled to me.

I sat there for a while more before rising from my chair.

"I need some time to think." I told them. "I am going to ride Luna."

"I will accompany you." Ennina said.

"No, I need to be by myself." I told them. They looked at each other then back to me. "This is my home town, I will be fine."

"Eat something first." Ennina said.

"I am not hungry." I told her, she gave me a look that told me I had no choice in the matter. I sighed and sat down as Ennina made me a plate.

"You are going to find him," My father said to me. "I know it." I smiled to him.

"I will not stop until I do." I told him, he nodded.

I made myself eat, realizing only then that I was indeed hungry. I do not think I know when I am hungry anymore, food is of little importance to me with everything else that is going on. After finishing off three plates of breakfast, Descendants have much higher metabolisms that mortals, I wiped my mouth and rose from my chair.

"I will return later." I told them.

"Alright, call if you need us." Cronus told me. I nodded and slid on my coat. Even though I would not notice the cold air, I knew I would stick out like a sore thumb if I was walking around in a sleeveless shirt in 45 degree weather.

The cool march air turned colder as I walked to Luna and swung onto her back. I did not need a bridle or saddle to ride her.

"Lets go." I told her with tears in my eyes and we cantered off towards the rolling hills.

The wind whipped my tears into my hair, there was nothing I could do about my tears. I cried for everything, for the Ariston who is still missing, for his sister Miranda that I never truly got to know, for all the missing and not just those of my family. I cried for everyone who has ever lost a loved one in anyway, no one should have to go through this. The only thing holding me together is knowing that Ariston is still alive, that he is out there. He needs me, I cannot give up, I will not give up.

Soon it began to snow. I knew that I was making that happen, I knew that the odd weather could attract the Shadows, but at that moment I could not find it in me to care. I almost welcomed the thought of a fight, perhaps it would take my mind off of things.

We rode for hours like this, both Luna and I getting covered in snow. I could feel that she was not the least bit cold, she is an Alki after all, an ancient breed of the first of horses.

I came to a walk an hour or so later when I spotted a park. A few children laughed and played on the slide and in the snow. I slid off of Luna's back and told her that she could go where she liked, and that I would call her when I was ready to go.

I went and sat down on a swing, watching the children in all their innocence and beauty as they ran around and tried to catch the large the snowflakes that were falling with their tongues, it made me smile. This is what we are fighting for, for their futures, for their safety. They are the future. I stayed at the park for hours, and as the day grew cooler, the parents brought their children home, leaving me to my solitude.

"Ariston." I whispered. I should have stopped him, this is entirely my fault.

I began to cry and I gripped onto the chains of the swings as I did so, I was crumbling and I was grateful no one was around to witness it, or at least I thought no one was around.

"A woman as beautiful as you should not be crying." Said a voice I did not know, his tone was kind.

I looked up in shock, I was more than surprised to see the man standing five feet from me. I did not hear his coming, I had thought I was alone. He was good looking I supposed, he seemed to look somewhat like Ariston except for his pale skin and pale blue eyes. It is just my mind that is seeing Ariston in this strangers face, I knew that much, yet still… there was something in the line of his jaw, the shape of his eyes, the fullness of his lips, that eerily reminded me of Ariston. He even had short black curly hair. I wiped my tears away, sitting up a bit straighter.

"Who are you?" I asked, almost demanded. I was not in the mood to play games.

"Jason Gray." He introduced himself, not at all bothered by my tone, holding his hand out for mine.

"Mera." I introduced myself, and shook his hand. His skin was as smooth and hard as a gods, but not as warm.

"Mera," He repeated my name with a smile as he sat down on the swing next to mine. "It is nice to meet you." He said, I nodded then he chuckled as he looked at the jade dragon bracelet on my wrist. "We match." He said, showing me his green jade dragon ring that sat on his pinky. So he is an immortal.

"What are you?" I asked him.

"Just an immortal who is wondering why a beautiful woman is in so much pain." He answered. I saw worry in his eyes, I looked away.

"My fiancé is gone." I said as I looked down at my engagement ring.

"Cold feet?" Jason asked, partly joking. I glared at him.

"For your information, he has been kidnapped by the Nameless One." I stated, my tone dark. The smile left his face.

"I am sorry to hear that." He sounded sincere in that at least. "Mera? Are you the one they are calling Daughter of Pandora?" He asked.

"I am." I admitted.

"It is an honor my lady." He said. He kept staring at me. I looked away, I learned long ago that I cannot stop men from looking at me, it still made me uncomfortable at times though.

"I have heard rumors about what the Nameless One is doing to the ones he captures." Jason told me, his voice almost warning me. "Those that are taken do not return as they once were, if they are returned at all. Being who you are, you would be safer if you gave up your search."

"Nothing on heaven or earth will make me do that!" I snapped at him. "Even if Ariston has darkness within him when he returns, it will not change how I feel about him. I will help him through it, it is not impossible to still be a good person with that inside of you. Zeus has his fathers darkness within him and yet look at the god and king he is." My voice was softer by now. "Not that it is any of your concern, but this god, my fiancé, is everything to me. He is my other half, my soul mate, it is the kind of love that cannot be explained in words or matched by anything. If you loved someone like that, would you give up? Would you let go?" I asked Jason. He shook his head as he looked into my eyes.

"Never." He said softly.

"Then you understand why I refuse to give up." I stated. "I cannot live without him." Jason and I sat in silence for a few minutes before I stood.

"I should be going." I told him.

"Not on my account I hope." He said with a slight smile, it seemed like it was all he could do to stop himself from smiling. This made me smile a bit, but it was only half a smile.

"Partly." I admitted and he laughed and shook his head, then looked into my eyes again as he stood up from the swing and came to stand a little too close for my comfort. He was taller than me I found.

"I have eyes everywhere Mera," He said softly to me. "If I find out anything I will let you know."

"My thanks." I said as I took a step back. He was not the first to offer his help, and I was not about to turn down any help I could get in finding the god I love and the others that are missing.

I turned around and walked away, but could not help glancing back before I left the park. Jason was still watching me with a smile, he waved to me and I gave a nod before walking away. I called to Luna in my mind and she came galloping over the snowy hill a few moments later. I swung onto her back once again and we galloped off towards home.

The snow was easily 6" deep by the time we reached Main Street. It took work, but I made the snow stop, if it got any higher it would be international news I did not doubt. Nothing like saying 'Hello Shadow's, here I am!'

I kept thinking over the conversation I had with Jason Gray as I rode Luna home. There was something about him, not a good something but not exactly a bad something either, but whatever it was, it had me a bit on edge.

I brought Luna to the barn when I got back and brushed her then toweled her down with a cloud wool towel. I put a warm blanket on her out of habit. Luna told me that she did not need one to stay warm, but I asked her to indulge me, that it would make me feel better if she wore one. She agreed.

It was a relief when I walked through my front door. I took off my wet coat and shoes, which snow still stuck to. I would have to change, my jeans were soaked from the snow.

"I am home." I called. "I am going to take a shower."

I went upstairs and into the only full bathroom in the house. I stripped out of my soaking wet clothing and got into the hot shower, it felt wonderful on my skin. After bathing, I went into my room and called to Tianna, asking her to bring me a silk pajama set. I thanked her and she left before I put on the silk cami and pants and slipped on my silk robe. Once I was dressed, I went downstairs and into my little cozy living room to see everyone on the couches gathered around the fire in the small hearth. Everyone smiled to me as I walked in.

"Snow?" Ennina asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The children will love it, it rarely ever snows in Pescadero, never mind in March." I told her, she nodded.

"Ennina was just telling us about my mother Andrea." My mother told me with a smile, I smiled and sat next to her on the couch as Ennina continued with the stories.

After dinner, I sat down in front of the fireplace and read more about one of Pandora's Descendants named Claira Rogee. She was born during the French Renaissance in the year 1457, she died the day before she turned seventeen. Her biography read:

Claira Rogee of France

Daughter of Ermes Francisco of Italy and his wife Claudia

Wife to Linoel Rogee of France

Mother to Lilaina and Lyza

Born March 31st 1457

Died March 30th 1474

Claira was born in Genoa, Italy during the Renaissance to a wealthy Christian family. She was six years old when she had her first vision, which was sent by the Moirae. Her parents indulged her when she was young, thinking that she was only pretending to know the future, but once they realized that she could indeed predict what was to happen, they became fearful. They were strictly religious and had been taught that only god could have the power to see the future. They punished her severely every time she spoke of what was to come, even when she so much as mentioned that she thought it would be a beautiful day. They thought they were doing what was best, they did not want their daughter taken by the church and condemned as a witch. From then on she kept her visions to herself, but created a secret language to write them down in.

She was thirteen when she saw a vision that terrified her. The vision showed her that her father would die at the hands of his closest and greediest friend, a man by the name of Alberto Tandello who was in love with Claira's mother Claudia. Claira knew what it would mean, but she could not keep quiet. She warned her mother and father, but in return she was beaten for insolence and shipped off to Paris, France to be fostered by family friends from another highborn house. Her parents hoped that she would get over this nonsense with some training.

When she reached Paris, she unknowingly befriended prince Apollo, who was disguised as her tutor. After a time she told him of her visions and he encouraged her to pursue her gifts, telling her that he saw visions as well.

A month after she arrived in Paris, Claira received a letter from her mother, telling her that her father had been murdered. Claudia stated that she still did not believe that her daughters visions were true and to prove it, she was going to marry Alberto Tandello, the man Claira claimed had murdered her father.

Her new stepfather believed in her visions though, he sent her a letter saying as much, although he claimed not to have harmed her father. Alberto ordered Claria to return to her home, saying that together they could do anything, nothing would be able to stop them as long as she had her visions. She knew it would not be as easy as just to say no to him, he coveted her gift. She told prince Apollo and with his help she went into hiding.

Claira was fourteen when she met Linoel Rogee, a young aspiring artiest, and fell in love with him while she was still in hiding. Claira married Linoel just two months after she met him and nine months to the day after their wedding she gave birth their daughter Lilaina. A year after that she brought another daughter into this world, they named her Lyza.

Lyza was two months old when Apollo revealed himself as the god he is and offered Claira a place in the army of Descendants upon Olympus. Claira declined, telling him that she wanted nothing more than to raise her children and be with her husband.

The day before she turned seventeen, Claira was attacked by the Shadows. She fought them off as best she could, but except for her dream training she had no skills at self-defense.

Her husband went mad when he found out that she was dead. He took her prophecies, of which there were thousands of pages, and began throwing them in the fireplace. He blamed the prophecies for his wife's death. Apollo only managed to save three pages out of all those thousands.

Below are those of her prophecies that he saved. Many of which have already come true.

I read through them. They predicted with precision such events as the world wars, Hitler and his fall, Columbus finding America, the birth of George Washington and so many more. It was the one at the end of the last page that caught my attention.

I walked through a cold room, ice surrounded me and filled my senses. A goddess, who could be none other than Pandora, stood in the center of the room holding her box. Words were whispered into my mind, words I feel oddly compelled to write down. "Beware Mera, he is close. You will not know him, but he will come to you in,

The words ended there at the bottom of the page. I looked around, hoping for more, but unfortunately it was the last page, the next page had been burned with the rest it would seem. I was shocked, I read the words over and over again just to be sure.

"'He' who?" I asked aloud. It was so frustrating to have the rest of this prophecy missing. "Ennina!" I called to her.

"What is it?" Ennina asked, walking in with Cronus a moment later.

"She said my name." I told her, handing the goddess the papers in my hands. Ennina looked at them.

"Ah yes," She said. "Claira Rogee's prophecies. She was the Nostradamus of her day. It is a shame her husband burned the rest of her prophecies."

"Could she have been writing to me?" I asked. "Could Claira have written those words so that five hundred years later, I would read them?"

"Stranger things have happened." Ennina said, handing me the papers back as she and her husband sat on the love seat together.

"Who do you think she meant?" I asked, looking down at the papers. "Could she be talking about Ariston? Telling me that he is near so that I will not overlook some detail?"

"Perhaps." Ennina said. "I cannot be certain."

"Can't you just look into the future and see where he is?" I begged again.

"You do not know how much I wish it were that easy." Ennina told me. "I can only see so far ahead, then things become uncertain because I am either not supposed to know the outcome, or the Moirae have not yet put that future into the weave. I wish it were that simple, that I could just look and see, but unfortunately it does not work that way, not for me."

I sighed, wishing that something would be found, I was going crazy doing nothing. It was at that moment that my phone chose to ring, I looked at the caller ID, John Alexander it read. I sighed, another report saying that he has found little and less and he is still looking.

"Hello." I answered the phone, my tone dull.

"Ms. Vandenberg, I have found something." John informed me and my heart leapt.

Author's Note: So? what do you think?