{Title} Dangerous Devotion
{Author} Sweet Charisma
{Chapter} 4. Truth
{Story Summary} Stanton passes out again. But, this time, he has a dream.
{Notes} This story has been only in Serena's point of view. =) Not this time. This is Stanton's take on things.
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Stanton lay on the couch, Serena laying on her side next to him. He ran his hands through her hair and across her forehead gingerly, his touch as gentle and affectionate as ever. He didn't quite remember how, why, where, or when this happened…but, he knew he loved this girl. She gave him a feeling he couldn't possibly explain. How was he toward her normally? Her friends? He glanced to Catty who was sitting on a one-person armchair, legs folded beneath her as she intently watched the screen. Had he hurt her in the past? Is that why she was acting so distant towards him at first? And Vanessa. His gaze shifted to the responsible-looking blonde. His legs were curled, allowing her more than enough room to sit with him and Serena on the couch. A pillow was curled to her chest as she watched what they called a "chick flick". She was so welcoming. Yet, Catty didn't approve of this at first.
His glance strayed back to the girl in his arms. His love lay beautifully, some strands of hair falling in her face. Her features lit up with the flickering of the T.V set as the movie played. She looked innocent, heavenly. It wasn't hard at all to believe she was a goddess. Yet, he knew that without her even saying so. Why did he remember certain things? Serena might have just been on to something when she explained her theory on the things being truly close to his heart. Sure, he'd thought of the instance but never figured it to be the main reason why he remembered certain things.
Despite the events of the past three and a half hours, he was relieved Catty chose to take a break and watch a movie. It gave him time to hold the girl he loved in his arms and get to know the other two goddesses more.
Though he couldn't help but wonder and worry over what was to happen, he trusted them all. Not to mention pondering just why this was happening. It didn't feel like the work of evil. Somehow it felt as if a serene force was filling his body. Affection was fluttering in his heart. He was enjoying himself despite his condition.
Those thoughts were put on hold when his head began to pound. He nearly winced, struggling to keep it inward. It was the same feeling he received before he'd fainted the first time. It felt as if a tranquil force was trying to calm his body.
He couldn't burden Serena. She'd done so much for him already and she deserved to watch this movie. Perhaps if he faints again she'd think he fell asleep. Besides, she couldn't see his face unless she struggled to look up.
Again, his head began to pound. The room, already dark save the light of the T.V, began to fade. He struggled to keep his vision, even blinking a couple of times but it seemed no use. Darkness engulfed him, his head beat in pain. It was a constant brawl between the ache and his ability to suppress.
Gradually and excruciatingly, he slipped into unconsciousness. He felt himself falling deeper and deeper into blackness. Right then, he knew this wasn't just a dream. Suddenly, he hit solid ground. He was still caught betwixt blackness and he became lost in his own thoughts. They seemed to rush into him akin to a weight dropping hard onto his brain. Suddenly then he remembered everything. The Atrox. The hope that was lost to him when he was taken. Suddenly, though, that seemed ridiculous. He didn't feel proud of his position. He felt betrayed. Appalled that he'd ever tried to destroy peace.
Even Vanessa and Catty had been incredibly hospitable to him. Instead of wondering, like he once would, he was grateful. He even felt a tinge of guilt for everything horrible that they'd gone through because of him. But, even more mysteriously, he understood their heart. He understood why they'd helped him. How they must have felt to see him suffer.
His head continued to pound. He yelled in pain as it completely engulfed him. But, then, he felt two slender arms wrap around his neck. A goddess-like aura surrounded his presence. A warm feeling fell over him. One he'd never felt before by anybody besides Serena. But, this wasn't Serena. He could tell so clearly.
"Shhh…" the mystical feminine voice whispered near his ear. It sent chills up his spine. He slipped his eyes shut, letting this aura overcome his own. It was as if they were melding. It felt almost motherly.
Even Serena's love didn't suppress his inner-demon such as this presence did. Sure, it contained it. Serena's love filled him with an unexplainable feeling that none other could give him.
Who was this near him?
The darkness symbolically lit up. Symbolic for what, he had no idea. Instead of pure black, it was a divine white, blending with celestial gold.
"I'm sorry, Stanton…" she whispered, tears threatening her voice. Stanton's heart skipped. It'd never done that before. Felt anything so empathically. It was enigmatic. He almost didn't remember the feeling, with what he was and all. He felt sympathy for this presence, even unknowing of what it was.
"Who…are you?" he asked, trying to turn. But, he couldn't. Something had a hold on his mind and it wasn't about to let go.
"You will find out." The voice paused. It sounded nostalgic. Eerie even. "My son." it finished.
Stanton gasped and before he knew it he was plunging back into darkness. The hold was no longer on his body nor were the arms around his neck. My son?
His thoughts had no time to progress. Before he knew it, he was back in Vanessa's living room. The darkness of the room was no longer accompanied by the flashing light of the T.V.
Stanton no longer felt Serena near him. That's when he knew the movie had ended. Had he been asleep for that long? The chatter from the kitchen he could hear just fine and slowly he sat up. His head still had traces of aching. That was it. They had to get to the bottom of this fainting business.
But, then it hit him. He was just visited by a heavenly creature. A heavenly creature that had called him Son? And all of those emotions he'd felt…they were real? How would he know? He hadn't felt anything besides love for Serena in such a long time and now his body nearly ached with feelings of guilt, distress even. Catty and Vanessa had been so…hospitable? And helpful? Why was he feeling this when he should be trying to destroy them? Could it be still left over from that presence? It seemed so familiar yet, so indefinite. What would he know anyway without even knowing what that was?
As he thought about his new lack of dedication to the Atrox, he realized his memory was back. This wasn't making sense. He was feeling a disgust for darkness. Carefully, he swung his legs over the edge of the couch and held his head. Maybe he could start looking through mythology? Something had to be there.
He paused when he thought of Serena. Should he tell her? She and the girls had done so much for him already. No, he had to. It was because she'd gone out of her way he had to tell her. And Vanessa was offering her home to them for the night. Something told him they weren't just facilitating him because it was their duty as daughters. The Greek gods, why was he feeling so…generous? This wasn't right. Something had changed. And he knew that something wasn't going back to normal.
The doorbell rang. Thought Stanton turned his head toward the door, he didn't really notice the sound until Vanessa emerged from the kitchen to open it.
"Oh, Stanton." she noticed him, offering a smile. "You're awake."
Stanton slowly nodded. He rose, gathering his thoughts and the energy. A new hope filled him.
His eyes widened slightly. 'Hope?' he thought. 'Do I even remember what hope is?'
Vanessa opened the door, revealing Tianna on the other side. She wore capris that were torn at the knees, a helmet, and a million dollar smile though dirt covered her face. Her dark hair was tied up and the ends showed traces of dirt. She held her skateboard beneath her underarm. She waved contentedly and stepped through the doorframe. "Hey! I came as soon as Derek told me you guys called his cell phone. Is everything alright?" she asked as Vanessa closed the door behind her.
"Everything should be fine, it's just…" Vanessa tried to find the right words. "We're a little confused."
Tianna seemed to be avoiding eye contact with Stanton. Possibly because she was the one with the most grudge against followers.
A strange feeling filled Stanton when he thought of the term 'follower'. One word came to his mind. Disgraceful? Prince of the Night. He sure didn't feel like it. He felt so…defiant? If that was the proper term for his growing detest for what he was once loyal to.
He hated it. He hated this new feeling towards the thing he'd been his whole life. Darkness was his whole and now…it just…didn't seem all that great to him anymore. Everything he'd ever worked towards seemed stupid. A waste of time. It was as if it weren't his real purpose after all.
Vanessa shrugged immediately after finishing her sentence to Tianna. Then she said, "The girls are in the kitchen. They'll fill you in.".
They both watched Tianna walk off with a 'thanks' and a wink to Vanessa. She threw one last glance toward Stanton without saying a word.
Vanessa walked over to Stanton, a sly smile on her face. "Good morning, sleepy one." she said with a slight laugh. Stanton couldn't help but smile. Hers was catchy and it symbolized that the girls were getting on great. "How do you feel?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips.
Stanton simply nodded. "Pretty good, actually." He shook his head. "I'm guess you all called Tianna when I was out?"
Vanessa gasped, her eyes widening. "You--know who that was?"
Stanton paused. He completely forgot he'd lost his memory. ((Ooooh the irony.))
"Stanton…?" she seemed to wonder, surprise in her voice. Her blue eyes sparkled with confusion. He put his hand up in defense.
"Yeah… the strangest thing happened in my sleep…" he started, quirking a brow.
Vanessa narrowed her eyes with curiosity. "Oh? So you remember everything?"
Stanton nodded and started walking towards the kitchen. "Come on. I want to explain this to you all together." Grabbing Vanessa's wrist, he started to pull her in his direction. But, to his surprise, the goddess jumped. She fixed her bewildered stare to look him straight in the eye. Was it because she was terrified he remembered he was the Prince of Night? She thought he might hurt them now?
"What?" he questioned, concern in his voice.
"Stanton…you…" she tried to mutter something. "I…" She jerked her arm away and rubbed it. Had he grabbed to hard? "That was so…" she shook her head, seeming to search for words. Stanton listened intently. "Tender?"
Stanton shook his head, wondering if he'd heard her right. "Huh?"
"Your touch…" she began, walking closer to him. She reached out her hand and placed it on his arm. "It was…it…" She drew a breath. "It…filled me with…"
Okay, this was getting a little too strange for him. "What do you mean?"
"It sent a warmth through my body Stanton." she blurted finally. "A mystical warmth."
Stanton folded his arms over his chest tightly. "You sure it wasn't just body heat?" he tried to deny. Truth was, he still felt the warmth from the woman earlier.
"One hundred percent." she assured. She took both of his hands in hers and closed her eyes.
Stanton kept his gaze intently on the concentrating goddess. He felt her channel her energy, trying to take in his aura. A smile crossed her face, telling him she liked what she felt. She opened her eyes again and released his hands. She glanced down at hers as if the touch still lingered there.
"Unbelievable…" she muttered. She looked back up at him. "Do you feel any different?"
Stanton hesitated. He looked off to the side and bit his lip. "I…"
Vanessa stepped closer. "Stanton…your presence feels completely different ."
Stanton sighed, throwing his arms to his sides. "I just-"
The goddess shook her head and grabbed Stanton's arm. Again, a gasp escaped her lips but this time she regained herself quickly. "I think we should go talk to the girls. You can tell us what happened in your sleep."
Agreeing, Stanton allowed himself to be dragged into the kitchen. Tianna stood over a garbage pail, trying to finger the dirt from her hair. Catty sat at the kitchen table. Lastly, he glanced over to the seat across from Catty. There was his love. His beautiful love. More than ever, he felt it. His care for Serena seemed to have grown, just when he thought it was impossible to love her more.
His goddess smiled a heartwarming smile. It was as thought it was meant for him. "Hey, tiger." her voice greeted softly. Her voice sent a chill through his blood. "Feeling better?"
Stanton was simply lost for words. Anything he tried to speak was caught in his throat. He was speechless, truly speechless. She was just incredible inside and out. "A-" he gave a weak, confused smile. His glance confused of what was going on inside of him. Why did he feel this way? Literally, it'd happened in his sleep. "A lot better." he confessed.
Serena let out a laugh similar to a giggle. She was never the giddy type, but it was closest to giddy he was sure she'd ever gotten. "Good." she said with a satisfactory nod.
Stanton smiled, staring into her eyes for a couple of moments. Lovingly, she stared back.
Catty broke the comfortable silence. "Come." she said, patting the chair in between her and Serena. "Talk to us."
Stanton nodded, reluctantly tearing his stare from Serena. He walked over and pulled up the chair.
Vanessa placed a plate of cookies in the middle of the table, particularly in front of Stanton. "Since you didn't finish breakfast."
He thanked her and picked up a cookie from the plate. Serena seemed to beam with recognition.
"Stanton? You seem a lot different from when you first went to bed." she said, sounding very pleased.
Before he could answer, Vanessa set a glass on the table and poured some iced tea into it. "Yeah. He has his memory back." she said with a matter-of-factness to her tone.
Stanton went to grab the glass to sip from it but Vanessa took it from his hands. She reached across the table for a small toothpick umbrella, a blue one, and stuck it in the glass. Satisfied, she let him take it back.
Serena titled her head in delight. "Yeah?"
Stanton nodded, taking a sip of iced tea. He let the cool liquid linger in his mouth before swallowing. It soothed his throat after being parched for so long. It was a shame they hadn't finished breakfast. Suddenly he had a craving for Serena's delicious pancakes. And those wonderful strawberries. More so for the breathtaking moments they shared. He shifted his weight, finding himself tearing away from lustful thoughts. What was with him?
Vanessa cleared her throat. "So…what was that about your sleep?"
Stanton looked up in a glance of thanks to Vanessa. "I think…it had something to do with this celestial-feeling figure I received a vision from in my sleep."
Tianna soon joined the four at the table, seating across from Stanton. She looked nearly captivated.
Stanton blurted out his vision from start to finish. From falling into a black void, to his meeting with the heavenly figure, and about never seeing her face. But, the last was hardest to blurt out. "She…called me 'son'." he said, his gaze wandering betwixt the four goddesses. Specifically his gaze wandered lovingly and confidingly to Serena. Why was he revealing all of this to his enemy? Or at all for that matter? It was as if something inside of him desperately needed to goddesses to know.
Catty leaned her cheek in her palm and drew a breath. "And you're sure it wasn't a dream?"
Stanton nodded. "You don't feel things like that in a dream." he said, neglecting to tell them he still felt an unexplainable warmth.
"And, is it just me or do you guys feel the major increase of fond emotion?" Vanessa asked with a curious glance.
Tianna looked away. A reluctant look of debate claimed her face as she bit her lip. "Actually, I thought it was just me."
He'd never seen Tianna this way, even though he hadn't seen her a lot something inside of him just knew she was being awfully conservative.
He looked to Serena as she nodded leisurely. But, what was different about her from the other girls was that she seemed very pleased with all of this. Delighted even.
So many thoughts began running though his own mind. What could this mean?
Tianna stood suddenly. "Vanessa…do you have any mythology books?" she asked. Disbelieving was in her tone and it sounded a lot like hostility. It sent disappointment through Stanton's veins, yet he still couldn't figure out why. Why had her hostility ashamed him so much?
"Ti, calm down." Vanessa urged, spotting the skepticism in her friend's voice. Once she saw Tianna's muscles relax, she continued. "There's one up in my room on my bookshelf."
Tianna nodded, heading towards Vanessa's room and eyeing Stanton until she was out of the kitchen.
Stanton sighed and leaned back, placing the glass of iced tea on the table. Serena slid her chair closer to him, placing her hand on his arm. She looked up at him with a contented smile. He simply smiled back and planted a kiss on her forehead. Such moments always meant a lot to him. But, for some reason, this time he didn't want to let it go more so than ever. He slipped his arm around her neck. She leant, giving him room to do so, and rested her head on his shoulder.
Catty brought her legs up onto the chair, curling her legs close to her and wrapping her arms around them. Then, she rested her chin on top of her knees. "You might have been right before, 'ness."
Vanessa shrugged. "I told you."
Serena's hand trailed closer to Stanton's. He smiled to himself as it met his and laced his fingers with it affectionately.
"But…" she began, as if hesitant. "Selene never had a son."
Stanton's muscles twitched the moment he realized the conversation that was taking place. "You guys think that was Selene?"
Serena looked up at him, startled by his sudden movement.
"It's a possibility." Vanessa said with a shrug.
Catty sighed. "I know…idea probably repulses you, being Prince of Night and all…" a reluctance was in her voice. It was as if she knew as soon as this was over they'd be enemies again and she couldn't place the very instance of it. It made Stanton's features soften.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Vanessa quirk a brow. He turned to her abruptly. "What?"
Vanessa shook her head.
Stanton felt Serena tug on the bottom of his shirt. He looked down at her pleading eyes. They asked for his attention so desperately. "You don't think…you weren't meant to be our enemy, do you?"
Stanton froze. The idea had nearly crossed his mind a couple of times but had been pushed quickly away. "I…" his eyes widened slightly. He was completely lost for words. "-don't know, Serena…"
Serena's head tilted curiously. Her interest was definitely caught. But, what could this mean for him?
"Here!" Tianna stormed into the room, a mythology book open and supported by her forearm. One finger rested on the page she'd found. She pushed the plate of cookies out of the way and slammed the book on the table in front of Stanton.
Stanton jumped. She'd found something and it nearly terrified him. This whole incident proved that there was something about himself that he never knew. He looked up at her incredulously.
"Read." she demanded. Stanton narrowed his eyes in protest. "Look, I don't know a lot about you. But from what they told me, it matches up."
Stanton sighed and freed his hand from Serena's. She sat up as he grabbed the book and placed it in his lap so they could both see it.
His eyes skimmed the passage slowly. He had to take in every word and every phrase. He had to prove Tianna wrong. He had to let them know this had nothing to do with mythology.
But then, he couldn't. This was a passage about the ancient love goddess Aphrodite and already it had a lot to do with what was going on. The feelings that they've all been experiencing. He shook it quickly from his mind, convincing himself it was purely a coincidence.
This passage explained a secret love affair between Aphrodite and Ares. Of course he'd know about that, it was a popular myth. But what he didn't know was what the next paragraph was about. Aphrodite's son emerged from the very seas she was born from. He didn't even know Aphrodite had a son, and now he had a feeling he might be it. What really surprised him was the next thing to read. A deal with Hephaestus, Aphrodite's jealous husband, and the Atrox. A chill ran up his spine as he read the name. This had everything to do with what was going on it seemed. The Atrox had purged this son's memory and placed him in a castle to live with the royal family. His new destiny was to be a follower.
Stanton's mind wandered everywhere. What if this was it? What if this was what they were looking for? He shook his head. "No." he said abruptly, standing. A startled Serena rose to his side. He shook his head again, turning to her. His fingers tangled in his own hair pensively. "This goes against everything I've ever known about myself."
"You never know, Stanton." she insisted, stepping in front of him. She caught his arms and brought them back down to his sides. It was apparent she'd read the passage. "I really don't see coincidence in this."
Stanton shook his head, tears of stress welling in his eyes.
"What?" Vanessa asked, panic and worry apparent in her blue eyes. "What was it about?"
Serena glanced to Vanessa. It seemed as if there was a conversation going on between them trough mind yet, Vanessa didn't have that ability. A slight gasp escaped the blonde goddess's lips and her hand flew up to cover her mouth.
Stanton began to tremble, slipping his eyes shut. What the hell was going on? He was so emotional then and it just gave him another reason to believe the passage was about him. Slowly, his knees gave out and he found himself closer and closer to the kitchen floor. Finally, he knelt there, his eyes wide with thought. "Why?" he questioned, shaking his head.
Serena knelt with him, looking into his eyes though his gaze didn't return to her. They were off to nowhere really. He was questioning who he was for crying out loud. "Why what, Stanton?" she asked, voice tender. Soon Vanessa was knelt on one side of him and Catty on the other. They watched him intently. It sent a soothing feeling through him. Finally, he gazed up, meeting Tianna's stubborn eyes. She stood behind Serena, arms folded across her chest. He tore his eyes away from her, finding it too painful to look at the expression on her face. "Why didn't she come to me sooner?" he asked, his voice a whisper.
Catty spoke. "Perhaps she couldn't." she suggested. Stanton's gazed focused on her. "Think, Stanton. You had heavy barriers. Your mind was closed to everybody but Serena."
Serena sighed. "And even me sometimes. I couldn't get to you."
Stanton nodded slowly in understanding. "But…you can't now." It was more of a question than a statement.
Vanessa offered a mischievous smile. "Aphrodite is probably blocking your thoughts."
Stanton's gaze met Serena's. Somehow this was slowly coming together. "Why would she do that?"
Serena shrugged, a smile creeping onto her face. "Perhaps she'll visit you again and you can ask her."
Catty stood. "Welp." she began, a lighthearted tone already present in her words. "Guess we'll just have to wait until you pass out again."
Stanton nodded slowly, his eyes slipping shut. He didn't know just how much more of this his mind or body could take. "Yes…that sounds like the best possible reasoning…" he said.
Suddenly, he felt a soft touch on both of his arms. His eyes slowly slipped back open, his gaze meeting Serena's dead on. A warm smile covered her beautiful face. A couple of strands of hair had fallen from the headband to frame her face perfectly. Unable to fight the urge, he tucked a fallen strand back behind her ear, his muscles relaxing, and his thoughts drawing away from pensive. They would get this all sorted out. And if he really wasn't meant to be a member of the Atrox, was that such a bad thing after all?
{Author} Sweet Charisma
{Chapter} 4. Truth
{Story Summary} Stanton passes out again. But, this time, he has a dream.
{Notes} This story has been only in Serena's point of view. =) Not this time. This is Stanton's take on things.
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Stanton lay on the couch, Serena laying on her side next to him. He ran his hands through her hair and across her forehead gingerly, his touch as gentle and affectionate as ever. He didn't quite remember how, why, where, or when this happened…but, he knew he loved this girl. She gave him a feeling he couldn't possibly explain. How was he toward her normally? Her friends? He glanced to Catty who was sitting on a one-person armchair, legs folded beneath her as she intently watched the screen. Had he hurt her in the past? Is that why she was acting so distant towards him at first? And Vanessa. His gaze shifted to the responsible-looking blonde. His legs were curled, allowing her more than enough room to sit with him and Serena on the couch. A pillow was curled to her chest as she watched what they called a "chick flick". She was so welcoming. Yet, Catty didn't approve of this at first.
His glance strayed back to the girl in his arms. His love lay beautifully, some strands of hair falling in her face. Her features lit up with the flickering of the T.V set as the movie played. She looked innocent, heavenly. It wasn't hard at all to believe she was a goddess. Yet, he knew that without her even saying so. Why did he remember certain things? Serena might have just been on to something when she explained her theory on the things being truly close to his heart. Sure, he'd thought of the instance but never figured it to be the main reason why he remembered certain things.
Despite the events of the past three and a half hours, he was relieved Catty chose to take a break and watch a movie. It gave him time to hold the girl he loved in his arms and get to know the other two goddesses more.
Though he couldn't help but wonder and worry over what was to happen, he trusted them all. Not to mention pondering just why this was happening. It didn't feel like the work of evil. Somehow it felt as if a serene force was filling his body. Affection was fluttering in his heart. He was enjoying himself despite his condition.
Those thoughts were put on hold when his head began to pound. He nearly winced, struggling to keep it inward. It was the same feeling he received before he'd fainted the first time. It felt as if a tranquil force was trying to calm his body.
He couldn't burden Serena. She'd done so much for him already and she deserved to watch this movie. Perhaps if he faints again she'd think he fell asleep. Besides, she couldn't see his face unless she struggled to look up.
Again, his head began to pound. The room, already dark save the light of the T.V, began to fade. He struggled to keep his vision, even blinking a couple of times but it seemed no use. Darkness engulfed him, his head beat in pain. It was a constant brawl between the ache and his ability to suppress.
Gradually and excruciatingly, he slipped into unconsciousness. He felt himself falling deeper and deeper into blackness. Right then, he knew this wasn't just a dream. Suddenly, he hit solid ground. He was still caught betwixt blackness and he became lost in his own thoughts. They seemed to rush into him akin to a weight dropping hard onto his brain. Suddenly then he remembered everything. The Atrox. The hope that was lost to him when he was taken. Suddenly, though, that seemed ridiculous. He didn't feel proud of his position. He felt betrayed. Appalled that he'd ever tried to destroy peace.
Even Vanessa and Catty had been incredibly hospitable to him. Instead of wondering, like he once would, he was grateful. He even felt a tinge of guilt for everything horrible that they'd gone through because of him. But, even more mysteriously, he understood their heart. He understood why they'd helped him. How they must have felt to see him suffer.
His head continued to pound. He yelled in pain as it completely engulfed him. But, then, he felt two slender arms wrap around his neck. A goddess-like aura surrounded his presence. A warm feeling fell over him. One he'd never felt before by anybody besides Serena. But, this wasn't Serena. He could tell so clearly.
"Shhh…" the mystical feminine voice whispered near his ear. It sent chills up his spine. He slipped his eyes shut, letting this aura overcome his own. It was as if they were melding. It felt almost motherly.
Even Serena's love didn't suppress his inner-demon such as this presence did. Sure, it contained it. Serena's love filled him with an unexplainable feeling that none other could give him.
Who was this near him?
The darkness symbolically lit up. Symbolic for what, he had no idea. Instead of pure black, it was a divine white, blending with celestial gold.
"I'm sorry, Stanton…" she whispered, tears threatening her voice. Stanton's heart skipped. It'd never done that before. Felt anything so empathically. It was enigmatic. He almost didn't remember the feeling, with what he was and all. He felt sympathy for this presence, even unknowing of what it was.
"Who…are you?" he asked, trying to turn. But, he couldn't. Something had a hold on his mind and it wasn't about to let go.
"You will find out." The voice paused. It sounded nostalgic. Eerie even. "My son." it finished.
Stanton gasped and before he knew it he was plunging back into darkness. The hold was no longer on his body nor were the arms around his neck. My son?
His thoughts had no time to progress. Before he knew it, he was back in Vanessa's living room. The darkness of the room was no longer accompanied by the flashing light of the T.V.
Stanton no longer felt Serena near him. That's when he knew the movie had ended. Had he been asleep for that long? The chatter from the kitchen he could hear just fine and slowly he sat up. His head still had traces of aching. That was it. They had to get to the bottom of this fainting business.
But, then it hit him. He was just visited by a heavenly creature. A heavenly creature that had called him Son? And all of those emotions he'd felt…they were real? How would he know? He hadn't felt anything besides love for Serena in such a long time and now his body nearly ached with feelings of guilt, distress even. Catty and Vanessa had been so…hospitable? And helpful? Why was he feeling this when he should be trying to destroy them? Could it be still left over from that presence? It seemed so familiar yet, so indefinite. What would he know anyway without even knowing what that was?
As he thought about his new lack of dedication to the Atrox, he realized his memory was back. This wasn't making sense. He was feeling a disgust for darkness. Carefully, he swung his legs over the edge of the couch and held his head. Maybe he could start looking through mythology? Something had to be there.
He paused when he thought of Serena. Should he tell her? She and the girls had done so much for him already. No, he had to. It was because she'd gone out of her way he had to tell her. And Vanessa was offering her home to them for the night. Something told him they weren't just facilitating him because it was their duty as daughters. The Greek gods, why was he feeling so…generous? This wasn't right. Something had changed. And he knew that something wasn't going back to normal.
The doorbell rang. Thought Stanton turned his head toward the door, he didn't really notice the sound until Vanessa emerged from the kitchen to open it.
"Oh, Stanton." she noticed him, offering a smile. "You're awake."
Stanton slowly nodded. He rose, gathering his thoughts and the energy. A new hope filled him.
His eyes widened slightly. 'Hope?' he thought. 'Do I even remember what hope is?'
Vanessa opened the door, revealing Tianna on the other side. She wore capris that were torn at the knees, a helmet, and a million dollar smile though dirt covered her face. Her dark hair was tied up and the ends showed traces of dirt. She held her skateboard beneath her underarm. She waved contentedly and stepped through the doorframe. "Hey! I came as soon as Derek told me you guys called his cell phone. Is everything alright?" she asked as Vanessa closed the door behind her.
"Everything should be fine, it's just…" Vanessa tried to find the right words. "We're a little confused."
Tianna seemed to be avoiding eye contact with Stanton. Possibly because she was the one with the most grudge against followers.
A strange feeling filled Stanton when he thought of the term 'follower'. One word came to his mind. Disgraceful? Prince of the Night. He sure didn't feel like it. He felt so…defiant? If that was the proper term for his growing detest for what he was once loyal to.
He hated it. He hated this new feeling towards the thing he'd been his whole life. Darkness was his whole and now…it just…didn't seem all that great to him anymore. Everything he'd ever worked towards seemed stupid. A waste of time. It was as if it weren't his real purpose after all.
Vanessa shrugged immediately after finishing her sentence to Tianna. Then she said, "The girls are in the kitchen. They'll fill you in.".
They both watched Tianna walk off with a 'thanks' and a wink to Vanessa. She threw one last glance toward Stanton without saying a word.
Vanessa walked over to Stanton, a sly smile on her face. "Good morning, sleepy one." she said with a slight laugh. Stanton couldn't help but smile. Hers was catchy and it symbolized that the girls were getting on great. "How do you feel?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips.
Stanton simply nodded. "Pretty good, actually." He shook his head. "I'm guess you all called Tianna when I was out?"
Vanessa gasped, her eyes widening. "You--know who that was?"
Stanton paused. He completely forgot he'd lost his memory. ((Ooooh the irony.))
"Stanton…?" she seemed to wonder, surprise in her voice. Her blue eyes sparkled with confusion. He put his hand up in defense.
"Yeah… the strangest thing happened in my sleep…" he started, quirking a brow.
Vanessa narrowed her eyes with curiosity. "Oh? So you remember everything?"
Stanton nodded and started walking towards the kitchen. "Come on. I want to explain this to you all together." Grabbing Vanessa's wrist, he started to pull her in his direction. But, to his surprise, the goddess jumped. She fixed her bewildered stare to look him straight in the eye. Was it because she was terrified he remembered he was the Prince of Night? She thought he might hurt them now?
"What?" he questioned, concern in his voice.
"Stanton…you…" she tried to mutter something. "I…" She jerked her arm away and rubbed it. Had he grabbed to hard? "That was so…" she shook her head, seeming to search for words. Stanton listened intently. "Tender?"
Stanton shook his head, wondering if he'd heard her right. "Huh?"
"Your touch…" she began, walking closer to him. She reached out her hand and placed it on his arm. "It was…it…" She drew a breath. "It…filled me with…"
Okay, this was getting a little too strange for him. "What do you mean?"
"It sent a warmth through my body Stanton." she blurted finally. "A mystical warmth."
Stanton folded his arms over his chest tightly. "You sure it wasn't just body heat?" he tried to deny. Truth was, he still felt the warmth from the woman earlier.
"One hundred percent." she assured. She took both of his hands in hers and closed her eyes.
Stanton kept his gaze intently on the concentrating goddess. He felt her channel her energy, trying to take in his aura. A smile crossed her face, telling him she liked what she felt. She opened her eyes again and released his hands. She glanced down at hers as if the touch still lingered there.
"Unbelievable…" she muttered. She looked back up at him. "Do you feel any different?"
Stanton hesitated. He looked off to the side and bit his lip. "I…"
Vanessa stepped closer. "Stanton…your presence feels completely different ."
Stanton sighed, throwing his arms to his sides. "I just-"
The goddess shook her head and grabbed Stanton's arm. Again, a gasp escaped her lips but this time she regained herself quickly. "I think we should go talk to the girls. You can tell us what happened in your sleep."
Agreeing, Stanton allowed himself to be dragged into the kitchen. Tianna stood over a garbage pail, trying to finger the dirt from her hair. Catty sat at the kitchen table. Lastly, he glanced over to the seat across from Catty. There was his love. His beautiful love. More than ever, he felt it. His care for Serena seemed to have grown, just when he thought it was impossible to love her more.
His goddess smiled a heartwarming smile. It was as thought it was meant for him. "Hey, tiger." her voice greeted softly. Her voice sent a chill through his blood. "Feeling better?"
Stanton was simply lost for words. Anything he tried to speak was caught in his throat. He was speechless, truly speechless. She was just incredible inside and out. "A-" he gave a weak, confused smile. His glance confused of what was going on inside of him. Why did he feel this way? Literally, it'd happened in his sleep. "A lot better." he confessed.
Serena let out a laugh similar to a giggle. She was never the giddy type, but it was closest to giddy he was sure she'd ever gotten. "Good." she said with a satisfactory nod.
Stanton smiled, staring into her eyes for a couple of moments. Lovingly, she stared back.
Catty broke the comfortable silence. "Come." she said, patting the chair in between her and Serena. "Talk to us."
Stanton nodded, reluctantly tearing his stare from Serena. He walked over and pulled up the chair.
Vanessa placed a plate of cookies in the middle of the table, particularly in front of Stanton. "Since you didn't finish breakfast."
He thanked her and picked up a cookie from the plate. Serena seemed to beam with recognition.
"Stanton? You seem a lot different from when you first went to bed." she said, sounding very pleased.
Before he could answer, Vanessa set a glass on the table and poured some iced tea into it. "Yeah. He has his memory back." she said with a matter-of-factness to her tone.
Stanton went to grab the glass to sip from it but Vanessa took it from his hands. She reached across the table for a small toothpick umbrella, a blue one, and stuck it in the glass. Satisfied, she let him take it back.
Serena titled her head in delight. "Yeah?"
Stanton nodded, taking a sip of iced tea. He let the cool liquid linger in his mouth before swallowing. It soothed his throat after being parched for so long. It was a shame they hadn't finished breakfast. Suddenly he had a craving for Serena's delicious pancakes. And those wonderful strawberries. More so for the breathtaking moments they shared. He shifted his weight, finding himself tearing away from lustful thoughts. What was with him?
Vanessa cleared her throat. "So…what was that about your sleep?"
Stanton looked up in a glance of thanks to Vanessa. "I think…it had something to do with this celestial-feeling figure I received a vision from in my sleep."
Tianna soon joined the four at the table, seating across from Stanton. She looked nearly captivated.
Stanton blurted out his vision from start to finish. From falling into a black void, to his meeting with the heavenly figure, and about never seeing her face. But, the last was hardest to blurt out. "She…called me 'son'." he said, his gaze wandering betwixt the four goddesses. Specifically his gaze wandered lovingly and confidingly to Serena. Why was he revealing all of this to his enemy? Or at all for that matter? It was as if something inside of him desperately needed to goddesses to know.
Catty leaned her cheek in her palm and drew a breath. "And you're sure it wasn't a dream?"
Stanton nodded. "You don't feel things like that in a dream." he said, neglecting to tell them he still felt an unexplainable warmth.
"And, is it just me or do you guys feel the major increase of fond emotion?" Vanessa asked with a curious glance.
Tianna looked away. A reluctant look of debate claimed her face as she bit her lip. "Actually, I thought it was just me."
He'd never seen Tianna this way, even though he hadn't seen her a lot something inside of him just knew she was being awfully conservative.
He looked to Serena as she nodded leisurely. But, what was different about her from the other girls was that she seemed very pleased with all of this. Delighted even.
So many thoughts began running though his own mind. What could this mean?
Tianna stood suddenly. "Vanessa…do you have any mythology books?" she asked. Disbelieving was in her tone and it sounded a lot like hostility. It sent disappointment through Stanton's veins, yet he still couldn't figure out why. Why had her hostility ashamed him so much?
"Ti, calm down." Vanessa urged, spotting the skepticism in her friend's voice. Once she saw Tianna's muscles relax, she continued. "There's one up in my room on my bookshelf."
Tianna nodded, heading towards Vanessa's room and eyeing Stanton until she was out of the kitchen.
Stanton sighed and leaned back, placing the glass of iced tea on the table. Serena slid her chair closer to him, placing her hand on his arm. She looked up at him with a contented smile. He simply smiled back and planted a kiss on her forehead. Such moments always meant a lot to him. But, for some reason, this time he didn't want to let it go more so than ever. He slipped his arm around her neck. She leant, giving him room to do so, and rested her head on his shoulder.
Catty brought her legs up onto the chair, curling her legs close to her and wrapping her arms around them. Then, she rested her chin on top of her knees. "You might have been right before, 'ness."
Vanessa shrugged. "I told you."
Serena's hand trailed closer to Stanton's. He smiled to himself as it met his and laced his fingers with it affectionately.
"But…" she began, as if hesitant. "Selene never had a son."
Stanton's muscles twitched the moment he realized the conversation that was taking place. "You guys think that was Selene?"
Serena looked up at him, startled by his sudden movement.
"It's a possibility." Vanessa said with a shrug.
Catty sighed. "I know…idea probably repulses you, being Prince of Night and all…" a reluctance was in her voice. It was as if she knew as soon as this was over they'd be enemies again and she couldn't place the very instance of it. It made Stanton's features soften.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Vanessa quirk a brow. He turned to her abruptly. "What?"
Vanessa shook her head.
Stanton felt Serena tug on the bottom of his shirt. He looked down at her pleading eyes. They asked for his attention so desperately. "You don't think…you weren't meant to be our enemy, do you?"
Stanton froze. The idea had nearly crossed his mind a couple of times but had been pushed quickly away. "I…" his eyes widened slightly. He was completely lost for words. "-don't know, Serena…"
Serena's head tilted curiously. Her interest was definitely caught. But, what could this mean for him?
"Here!" Tianna stormed into the room, a mythology book open and supported by her forearm. One finger rested on the page she'd found. She pushed the plate of cookies out of the way and slammed the book on the table in front of Stanton.
Stanton jumped. She'd found something and it nearly terrified him. This whole incident proved that there was something about himself that he never knew. He looked up at her incredulously.
"Read." she demanded. Stanton narrowed his eyes in protest. "Look, I don't know a lot about you. But from what they told me, it matches up."
Stanton sighed and freed his hand from Serena's. She sat up as he grabbed the book and placed it in his lap so they could both see it.
His eyes skimmed the passage slowly. He had to take in every word and every phrase. He had to prove Tianna wrong. He had to let them know this had nothing to do with mythology.
But then, he couldn't. This was a passage about the ancient love goddess Aphrodite and already it had a lot to do with what was going on. The feelings that they've all been experiencing. He shook it quickly from his mind, convincing himself it was purely a coincidence.
This passage explained a secret love affair between Aphrodite and Ares. Of course he'd know about that, it was a popular myth. But what he didn't know was what the next paragraph was about. Aphrodite's son emerged from the very seas she was born from. He didn't even know Aphrodite had a son, and now he had a feeling he might be it. What really surprised him was the next thing to read. A deal with Hephaestus, Aphrodite's jealous husband, and the Atrox. A chill ran up his spine as he read the name. This had everything to do with what was going on it seemed. The Atrox had purged this son's memory and placed him in a castle to live with the royal family. His new destiny was to be a follower.
Stanton's mind wandered everywhere. What if this was it? What if this was what they were looking for? He shook his head. "No." he said abruptly, standing. A startled Serena rose to his side. He shook his head again, turning to her. His fingers tangled in his own hair pensively. "This goes against everything I've ever known about myself."
"You never know, Stanton." she insisted, stepping in front of him. She caught his arms and brought them back down to his sides. It was apparent she'd read the passage. "I really don't see coincidence in this."
Stanton shook his head, tears of stress welling in his eyes.
"What?" Vanessa asked, panic and worry apparent in her blue eyes. "What was it about?"
Serena glanced to Vanessa. It seemed as if there was a conversation going on between them trough mind yet, Vanessa didn't have that ability. A slight gasp escaped the blonde goddess's lips and her hand flew up to cover her mouth.
Stanton began to tremble, slipping his eyes shut. What the hell was going on? He was so emotional then and it just gave him another reason to believe the passage was about him. Slowly, his knees gave out and he found himself closer and closer to the kitchen floor. Finally, he knelt there, his eyes wide with thought. "Why?" he questioned, shaking his head.
Serena knelt with him, looking into his eyes though his gaze didn't return to her. They were off to nowhere really. He was questioning who he was for crying out loud. "Why what, Stanton?" she asked, voice tender. Soon Vanessa was knelt on one side of him and Catty on the other. They watched him intently. It sent a soothing feeling through him. Finally, he gazed up, meeting Tianna's stubborn eyes. She stood behind Serena, arms folded across her chest. He tore his eyes away from her, finding it too painful to look at the expression on her face. "Why didn't she come to me sooner?" he asked, his voice a whisper.
Catty spoke. "Perhaps she couldn't." she suggested. Stanton's gazed focused on her. "Think, Stanton. You had heavy barriers. Your mind was closed to everybody but Serena."
Serena sighed. "And even me sometimes. I couldn't get to you."
Stanton nodded slowly in understanding. "But…you can't now." It was more of a question than a statement.
Vanessa offered a mischievous smile. "Aphrodite is probably blocking your thoughts."
Stanton's gaze met Serena's. Somehow this was slowly coming together. "Why would she do that?"
Serena shrugged, a smile creeping onto her face. "Perhaps she'll visit you again and you can ask her."
Catty stood. "Welp." she began, a lighthearted tone already present in her words. "Guess we'll just have to wait until you pass out again."
Stanton nodded slowly, his eyes slipping shut. He didn't know just how much more of this his mind or body could take. "Yes…that sounds like the best possible reasoning…" he said.
Suddenly, he felt a soft touch on both of his arms. His eyes slowly slipped back open, his gaze meeting Serena's dead on. A warm smile covered her beautiful face. A couple of strands of hair had fallen from the headband to frame her face perfectly. Unable to fight the urge, he tucked a fallen strand back behind her ear, his muscles relaxing, and his thoughts drawing away from pensive. They would get this all sorted out. And if he really wasn't meant to be a member of the Atrox, was that such a bad thing after all?