Chapter Twenty-seven

Prophecies

The trip back to Olympus was quite. Neither Ariston nor I spoke. We gazed into each other's eyes; he did not look away from me the whole time. I already knew what he would ask me, what he would beg of me. Truth be told, I was tempted to ask the same of him, for him to give up his duties and live as an immortal with me… but I knew all to well that I could not be that selfish.

Once we stood on the dock, Ariston teleported us into our living room on Olympus. I stood there in his arms as we gazed into each other's eyes. When he went to speak, I put two fingers to his lips and shook my head.

"Don't speak." I said. "Make love to me."

I moved my hand and his lips came crashing down upon mine with a silent desperation that I could feel reverberating through every fiber of my being…

We laid in our bed looking into each others eyes, I knew we had to talk, and knowing that I could not give him what he needs most was tormenting me. He caressed my cheek.

"Mera." He said softly, his voice tormented. "If I lose you... not even Kallisto will be able to bring me back from that. You are my soul mate, there will never be another woman I love as I love you." His ancient eyes were begging, pleading with me. "I know that I am selfish, and pathetic, and weak, but I cannot live without you."

I wrapped my arms around him and held him close, his sadness was filling me, it seemed endless.

The thought of never holding him again… I looked back into his eyes; they were glassy with tears.

"The Moirae said it will be." I said softly

"The Moirae make the events, but we still have a choice. I am willing to fight to stay with you. Are you willing to do the same for me?" Ariston asked, looking into my eyes. "I will keep you safe. You will want for nothing."

I opened my mouth but no words came out. What could I say? I wanted to tell him yes, to tell him that I would give up everything and be with him, to tell him that he would never be alone again, that he would never have to worry about my safety. But how could I? I wanted to be with him more than anything but I could not bring myself ignore my duty. It was as I once told Ariston, having to choose between him and my destiny was tearing me apart.

I saw in Ariston's eyes that he already knew my answer. An unbearable disappointment filled him. He knew that I was not saying no because I did not love him, he knew exactly why I could not turn away from the path I have set out upon. It was my life, my choice, my destiny. I saw how limited my life would be if I said yes; I saw the precautions I would have to take to be 'safe' and I could not bear them; that would not be living.

"I am sorry." I told him with tears in my eyes. "But I will not live in a gilded cage. Not even for the man I love."

"I already knew your answer," He told me softly. "But I had to ask."

We were silent for a time.

"Are you scared?" I asked him. He knew I was asking of him being taken. He shook his head no.

"Are you?" He asked.

"I am not." I told him truthfully. I felt strangely at peace with knowing that I would die. I accepted it.

"Why are you so at peace with this?" Ariston asked quietly.

"Because death does not scare me," I told him with tears returning to my eyes. "What scares me is the thought of living without you."

"I feel the same." Ariston said as he caressed my cheek. I laughed once with little humor.

"What a pair we make." I said and shook my head. "Both of us willing to die for the other, and neither one willing to allow the other to sacrifice themselves for our sake."

He smiled slightly for a moment. He rolled onto his back and I laid on his chest. His arms wrapped around me as he stroked my hair. He was clearly wondering how much longer he would be able to do this for, how many days and nights we had left in each others arms. I breathed in his scent,; the thought of being parted from him for any amount of time was torture, I did not know how to live even one day without his presence in my life. He was as much a part of me as I was of him. Our souls, our very destinies had been intertwined for Moirae even know how long.

As I laid there, I felt a truth tugging at my mind. It was the same feeling I got when I first knew Ariston, as if the answer was right there in front of me, but I did not even know the question. What I did know was that there was more to this, something Ariston and I were missing, another crucial piece of the puzzle that was our destiny. My mind wandered, jumping from one thought to another, until the epiphany, the realization of both the question and the answer that laid before me, came to me with a stunning certainty. It is so ridiculously obvious!

I felt hope within me and a chuckle escaped my lips and tears of the deepest joy filled my eyes. I could not have said where the answer came from, suddenly it was simply right there before my minds eye.

"Mera?" Ariston sounded thoroughly confused. I looked up into his eyes with a slight smile.

"When the Descendants of Pandora were killed, were their souls destroyed as well?" I asked him.

"No, it was only their vessels that were destroyed. Their souls went to the Underworld to be reborn." Ariston said, still not understanding.

"Do you not see?" I asked in excitement. "That is the answer! They said I would die, but it will only be my body that does so. My soul will live on. I will either become immortal or be sent to the Underworld where I will be reincarnated."

He looked at me and for the first time in a long time, I felt hope within him. He began to smile and soon he was smiling ear to ear as a joy filled his soul. A joy which was so profound it conjured tears in those beautiful blue eyes; he could not even seem to speak. He held me close and kissed me as he rolled on top of me.

"You are brilliant!" He said, gazing upon me in wonder. "How could I have missed this?"

"You were blinded by your worry for me." I said. "My father always said that when you worry too much, you miss the truth of the matter."

"If you are not immortal, you will go to Elysium." He told me, a bit of sadness within his soul. "I will not be allowed to visit you and your rebirth could take centuries."

"Will I remember you in the next life?" I asked him.

"Perhaps." He said. "Before you are reborn you will drink water from the river Lethe; it will wash away the memories of this life." The greatest kind of sadness filled my soul at that thought. Ariston smiled in a reassuring way though. "You will feel me though; you will long for me even though you do not remember me. On some souls, the waters only last so long, there are some out there that remember their past lives if there lives are important enough to be remembered." I smiled, if anything has ever been important it is him. "If you are reincarnated, there is the chance that it could take centuries, even millennia, for me to find you.

"But know this, my love," He told me, his eyes determined. "I will find you, I will bring you home. I waited for five thousand years to find you, and if I have to wait another five thousand, I will gladly do so. We are soul mates. Nothing can keep us apart for long. We will always be drawn to each other."

"I know." I told him, laying my hand upon his cheek. He kissed my palm tenderly and I let out a sigh. "I have no doubt that we will be together again."

"What about Margret? Your parents?" Ariston asked.

"I have had my time with them. If this is what is meant to be, if it will truly make a difference in defending those I love, then let it be." I said. He nodded.

"Do what you have to do, my love," He told me. "I will be waiting for you when you return to me. I will not be with another woman, I will wait for you no matter how long it takes." I knew he meant every word.

"What of you?" I asked him.

"They said I would be taken; they never said I would not be returned. So what now?" Ariston asked.

"We live each moment as if it were our last." I said.

He smiled warmly as he leaned down, bringing his body down upon my own as I pulled him closer, whispering of how I love him as our two bodies became one…


I opened my eyes and found Ariston gazing upon me.

"Happy birthday, my love." He said softly.

I had completely forgotten what today is, November 13th, my eighteenth birthday. What a birthday gift, to wake up in the arms of the man I love. I smiled to him and captured his lips in a long, wonderful, ardent kiss.

"Thank you, my love. What time is it?" I asked.

"An hour before first light here and 4pm in Pescadero." Ariston said, then shook his head softly. "Eighteen years old. I remember eighteen." I smiled and blushed a bit.

"I am so young." I said softly, he shook his head.

"No, my love." He told me. "You are an old soul; you have character, and a heart capable of so much love. You are perfect." I let out a breathless sigh in wonder of the god in my arms.

"I love you." I told him.

"I love you." He replied as he leaned in to kiss me.

After we bathed, I dressed in a simple rose-colored silk gown. It was sleeveless and had a braid of the same fabric that crisscrossed my torso then tied and hung from my side. I also felt like wearing some diamond earrings and tied my hair back with a silk ribbon. Ariston wore gray dress pants with a white dress shirt. My fiancé gave me a kiss and then teleported us to Pescadero.

We nearly gave my father a heart attack when we appeared in the kitchen; he swallowed a big gulp of his coffee and started coughing. I went to him.

"Are you alright?" I asked. He nodded as he continued coughing with his hand over his mouth. I patted his back a few times until he quieted down.

"My apologies for startling you." Ariston said when my father caught his breath.

"It's alright. I could use some warning next time you are going to light up though." My father said, waving his hand about at the words 'light up". I had to smile at the way my father said that.

"Of course." Ariston replied as he came to stand next to me, wrapping his arm around my waist, his hand settling on my hip. I leaned against him, leaning my head on his shoulder as I melted into him. He softly chuckled and kissed my forehead, leaving me breathless.

"Your back!" My mother exclaimed as she walked in with my grandmother.

I put out my hand to show them my engagement ring, and we all gushed over it for a few minutes as I told them of how Ariston purposed. Ariston stood next to me smiling from ear to ear the whole time. He was still so much more at peace and I could not describe my gratitude for that.

There were still a few hours before my party was to start, so I decided to open some of the gifts I received from the gods. Ariston teleported them into the living room and we sat there on the couch while my mother and grandmother prepared for the party tonight and my father cooked. I would have helped them, but I knew they would not allow me to do anything on my birthday. I could easily hear my mother singing outside; I had so missed the sound.

"My love, would you?" I asked, handing him the pen and paper.

"So you do not get carpal tunnel?" He asked with a smiled.

I gave him a look, which only made him laugh. I rolled my eyes.

"You know one of these days I might end up smacking." I warned him.

"Not if I do this first." He said.

His lips captured mine before I could even think to stop him. I heard the pen fall to the floor, and we continued to kiss as his hand tangled itself in my hair and we held each other closer. My sight was slightly blurry when our kisses ended; he surrounded me, everything was him.

"Do you have to be such a good kisser?" I asked, somewhat annoyed.

"Do you?" He countered with a smile. "As I recall, you have used the same… technique to make me lose my train of thought. I am just as helpless to you, as you are to me."

"Somehow I doubt that." I said.

"Would you like to test me then?" He asked.

I was about to take Ariston up on his offer when I heard my mothers entrance.

"What is all this?" My mother asked as she walked into the living room.

"Birthday presents from the gods." I said with a smile, knowing my cheeks were beet red. "Ariston and the gods threw me a surprise party before we came here."

Ariston handed me a thin blue box with a silver ribbon. I picked up the card and read it out loud.

"As cliché as it sounds, a gift for the woman who has everything else. Love Ennina and Cronus." I read the note with a smile.

I opened the box and my eyes went wide. Inside, nestled in white silk, was the most beautiful dagger I have ever seen. The hilt was striped mother of pearl and gold with finger grooves. The blade itself was sheathed in a cover of gold, which was engraved with a thunderbolt coming down amidst a tree, a symbol of Ennina and Cronus.

I drew the blade forth; the metallic sound was music to my ears. The blade glowed softly blue as adamantine does. The blue was so faint that to a mortal's eye it would appear white. It was easy to see just how sharp it was. The blade was covered with engravings of ruins in the language of the gods, just like the symbols in the Rose Diamond, which has not left my neck.

I smiled and looked to Ariston, we both understood what it was that I held in my hand. This dagger is Decimator, a weapon designed to kill a Shadow. I tossed it about from hand to hand; the balance was flawless

"Very nice." My grandmother said as she walked in.

"A gift from Ennina." I said with a smile. I handed it to her and she looked it over.

"Hephaestus' work, I would know it anywhere." My grandmother said before handing it back to me and sitting down next to my mother.

Ariston wrote down what I asked him to, and then teleported a box onto my lap. I smiled. This box was square and pink with a rose colored ribbon.

"For the not to distant future, love Hera." I read her note.

I opened the box and could not help my smile. The little silk dress was blue with a pink bow and had little tiny white pearls on the hem of it. It was clearly for an infant. I pulled it out of the box and held it up to showed Ariston. His smile grew.

"How cute is this." I said. I bit my lip and shook my head. I looked to Ariston, his smile and the look on his face was priceless.

We are both thinking the same thing aren't we? I asked him, he laughed and nodded. I do want this, a child, many children with you. I just want to get through the bulk of whatever is coming first. He nodded.

I will wait as long as it takes; this future is worth the wait. He said with a huge smile as he reached up to touch the little dress.

I feel the same. I looked back at the little dress.

"Is there something I should know?" My father asked as he walked in. Ariston and I laughed.

"No; it is a gift from Hera, for the future. You are just going to have to wait a few more years before we make you a grandfather." I told him to his relief.

"This one is from my father." Ariston said, handing me a box. It was a large square box. I read the note.

"Mera, inside are Pandora's personal journals and also the histories of my daughter and her Descendants. I hope you find these records of use in your endeavors. Zeus." I read the note.

I opened the box and inside were scrolls, books and even a USB key. I picked up a scroll and unrolled it; it was amazing it was still in such good shape. The letters were clear, it was written in an ancient writing I had never seen before but thanks to my bond with Ariston, I was able to read it. It was written in Pandora's own hand.

May 17th

Today we arrived in the village of Baveen. The Shadows are especially dense here. Ennina has cast a shield around us that I am certain will hold. Tomorrow the purge will begin, tonight we prepare. As I sit here by the fire writing this I cannot help but glance at my sister and her husband, the way they look at each other and how he holds her in his arms. My mind keeps wondering back to Epimetheus, I do not know how to describe the longing within me. I need him but I dare not ask him to join me on this quest, I would not risk him. I worry if I will have time to finish my quest; I wonder if it is even worth my while after the prophecy the Moirae gave me. To succeed only to fail… I know I must do this, even if my endeavors only bring a few years of peace it will be worth it. I just hope that,

"Mera?" My mother said.

I looked up to see that everyone in the room was staring at me; I realized then the look on my face and quickly changed it to a smile.

"It is easy to get caught up in her words." I said.

I wanted to read more but decided to leave that for later and go on with my presents. From Dionysus I received a wine glass that could hold perhaps two tablespoons of wine, I rolled my eyes at the joke and of course Ariston laughed. On the note the wine god told me that they finally made a glass that was just my size. There were many other presents; I only got through half before it was time to get ready.

I did not wear anything too extreme, I was not on Olympus. I chose a form fitting wine colored dress with black, strappy high heels. I wore the pink pearls that Ariston gave me on our first date, along with earrings that had the same pearls dangling down with diamonds at the top. They went perfectly with the outfit, as did my engagement ring. Tianna softly pined up my hair, leaving a few curls loose. I went to Ariston's room when I was ready.

He was sitting on the twin-sized bed buttoning up his shirt, covering his perfect chest. I stood there admiring him; he looked up with a smile, our eyes meeting and my smile growing. I walked over to where he sat on the bed; his hands went to my hips as I stood before him. I leaned down and kissed him, a tender kiss that held some fire within it.

"I love you." I whispered.

"I love you." He replied so sweetly.

A moment later he stood up and I went to retrieve his belt. He smiled as he slid it through the loops before fastening it. He did not wear anything extreme either, just a blue pinstriped button down shirt with adamantine cufflinks in the shape of eagles, with black dress pants with black shoes. He slipped on his tailored black jacket and held out his hand, I took it and he led me down the stairs.

"Oh honey, you look beautiful! You two make such a sweet couple." My mother said.

Ariston and I smiled to each other as he wrapped his arm around my waist and kissed my temple. There was a knock on the door just then.

"I will get it." I said.

I walked to the door with Ariston in tow and opened it to find Aaron and Kallisto standing there. Kallisto wore a light pink strapless dress that had an intricate braid of fabric under her bust in gold. She paired it with a necklace of gold and gold chandelier earrings that matched. Her platinum blond hair was braided over one shoulder. She looked stunning, and so did Aaron in a tailored gray suit. They both had the same smile on their faces.

We greeted them and they both wished me a happy birthday. Ariston hugged his daughter warmly and shook Aaron's hand. Aaron handed me a gift.

"Kallisto picked it out; you know how I am with gifts." Aaron said with a nervous laugh.

I laughed. For out first anniversary he had given me a clock. He admitted that he had no idea what to give me and I said that I had to give him credit for trying.

"Well thank you both." I said. "Come in."

"Mom, dad, grandmother?" I called.

They came in a moment later. My mother wore the dark blue dress I bought her yesterday and dad wore black dress pants and a white dress shirt with the first two buttons undone. Grandmother also wore a dress I bought for her, it was black and had a blue silk sash at the waist and went to just below her knees.

"I would like to introduce my soon to be stepdaughter, Kallisto," I said. "Kallisto, this is my mother Anne, my father George and my grandmother Marie."

"It is wonderful to meet you all." Kallisto said.

My family greeted Kallisto and Aaron warmly and we all talked for a time before there was another knock. Ariston and I went to the door once again. My eyes lit up when I saw who it was.

"Margret, Jack!" I said excitedly.

Margret was just as excited as we threw our arms around each other.

"I did not know you were coming." I said as I pulled back.

"Like we would miss your birthday." She said with a smile and handed me a present.

"Thank you." I said.

"Hey, Mera." Jack said with a smile.

"Hello." I said and gave him a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. I felt a slight slap on my arm and looked at Margret. "What was that for?" I asked, it had not hurt but I was surprised.

"You didn't tell me!" She said with a mixture of excitement and irritation as she took my hand to look at my engagement ring with wide eyes. "When did this happen?" She asked.

My smile grew and I glanced at Ariston to see the same smile on his face.

"Just last night," I said. "I have been meaning to call you but we have been busy." She smiled hugely.

"Congrats." Jack said.

"Thank you." Ariston replied with glee in his voice.

"Margret, will you be my made of honor?" I asked her.

"Of course I will!" She said and we hugged again.

"Hey, you two." Aaron said.

I turned to see Aaron standing behind me with his arm around Kallisto's waist and her arm around him.

"Dude! Where in the hell have you been?" Jack greeted Aaron in true form and I had to laugh.

"Greece, with this beautiful creature." Aaron answered with a smile as he glanced at Kallisto, she laughed lightly. Aaron gave a one armed hug to Jack, then to Margret.

"You remember Kallisto Crete, Ariston's daughter, and now my girlfriend." Aaron said with pride, all the while looking into Kallisto's eyes as they smiled to each other. "Kallisto, this is Margret and Jack, two of my best friends."

"It is nice to see you again, Margret, and to meet you, Jack." Kallisto said as she shook their hands.

"How is the new school?" Margret asked Aaron when the greetings were done with.

"It is great." He said.

"He excels of course." Kallisto said with a smile.

"Are you a teacher there?" Margret asked. She laughed and shook her head.

"No, but we live close to each other." Kallisto said.

"Oh Margret, I have a gift for you." I said to her.

"For me?" Margret asked, completely taken by surprised. I gave a nod.

"Kallisto?" I asked.

"Hmm?" Kallisto murmured, looking away from Aaron's eyes.

"Would you come with me to get the gift for Margret?" I asked her, giving her a look that thankfully she understood.

"Of course." She said then looked to Aaron. "I will be right back."

He nodded then kissed her once; I smiled as I watched them get lost in the kiss before ending it. I went to walk away when Ariston, not to be out done, took my hand in his and turned me around to him and kissed me. I laughed breathlessly then somehow found the will to walk away from that sexy god with Kallisto behind me. We went up the stairs.

"Would you bring me to Ariston and I's bedroom?" I asked her when we were out of sight.

She nodded and held out her hand for me. I took it and a moment later we stood in the beautiful bedroom. She followed me through my dressing room and massive closet and down to my jewelry vault.

I would have asked Ariston to bring me, but I knew full well that we would end up missing the party if we were alone together after that kiss.

"Things seem to be going well with you and Aaron." I said to Kallisto.

"They are." Kallisto said with a wide smile. "He is wonderful."

"Have you two…?" I asked.

"Not yet, but soon. I am making him work for it." She gave me a wink and I laughed. "Aaron has told me he is new to the experience."

"Aaron and I never made love. I loved him and enjoyed kissing him but I never desired him in that way. Your father was my first." I told her she nodded. "Do you love him?" I asked.

"To the point where it scares me." She admitted. I saw in her eyes, that were so like her fathers, the truth in her words.

"Then everything will be beautiful." I told her. "Not that I have much experience in these matters." She blushed and smiled.

"With Aaron..." She sighed, her face beginning to glow. "I feel this excitement, this giddiness, almost like I am a teenage girl with her first crush. And beyond that, there is this deep… connection between us. Everything feels brand new with him. I feel brand new. I thought I knew love, I thought what I had with Tristan was it. But Aaron, he has changed... everything." A few tears escaped my eyes and I wiped them away as I smiled to her.

"I am so inexplicably grateful he found you." I told her.

"That makes two of us." She told me as she burst into this incredible smile.

I went back to my search and found the gift for Margret. It was in a gold box with vines made of emerald and flowers made of rubies and sapphires embedded into the gold of the box. As beautiful as the box was, the jewelry set inside was even more beautiful. The necklace had three strands of the finest gold with diamonds carved into horseshoes and horse bits at intervals. On the middle strand the diamond horse bits were white diamonds, on the top and bottom strands the horseshoes were pink diamonds. Each of the diamonds was five carats and there were forty diamonds in all on the necklace alone. The bracelet, earrings and ring matched. I smiled; I made a promise to myself long ago that after all Margret has done for me, I would give her a great gift if I were ever able to.

I closed the box and latched it then turned back to Kallisto. She brought me back to my room back in Pescadero. I walked down the stairs and into the kitchen where everyone was talking and eating the snacks my father had made. Stuffed mushrooms, fresh fruit, salmon with cheese, crackers and olives were only a few of the things he had prepared.

"I found it." I announced, garnering everyone's attention.

Margret's eyes widened at the sight of the box.

"Don't tell me that is for me," She said, I could see she was touched. "It is your birthday."

"Margret, after all you have done for me, this is the least I can give you." I told her. "You have been a sister to me and I love you. I always promised myself that if I were able I would give you a great gift or two."

She took the box in her hands and was slightly surprised at its weight. She examined the box.

"The craftsmanship is extraordinary, I have never seen anything quite like it." She said then looked into my eyes. "I love it, thank you."

I smiled to Ariston, our eyes meeting as I remembered making the same mistake when he gave me The Rose Diamond.

"There is more." I said as I undid the latch and opened the box.

Her eyes went wide, her jaw dropping as she took in the jewels and my smile grew.

"Where did you ever find something such as this?" She asked in astonishment.

"Ariston's brother is an extraordinary craftsman, he has made many things for me and I asked him to make this box and the jewels within for you." I told her.

She shook her head then handed the box to Jack and hugged me.

"Thank you, I love it." She said.

"Your welcome." I said.

"And thank you, Ariston." Margret said, he nodded.

Margret showed her gift off to everyone. There was another knock, I was about to go and get it when my father stopped me.

"Allow me." He said.

I smiled to him in gratitude, then turned back to Margret to ask after her life, and her beautiful horse Willow. We laughed about the horses antics until a little voice that I would know anywhere called out to me.

"Mera!"

I turned just in time to see my little cousin Henry running towards me. I caught the little five years old and held him close.

"Oh how I have missed you, Henry." I said to him, kissing his hair.

"I have missed you too, Mera." He said.

I pulled back to look at him. He has always been beautiful, with his straight black hair and warm hazel eyes and his little cherub face, which had lost some of its childish roundness since last I saw him. One of the reasons it had been so difficult for me to leave for Blueridge four years ago was that Henry was just a year old at the time. I adored my dear cousin, but I knew that Blueridge Prep was where I needed to be. I still spoke to him on the phone and visited with him every time I came home, especially in the summers. I felt Ariston behind me and smiled to him.

You holding that boy is a beautiful sight, Ariston thought to me, nearly making me swoon at the love that filled his thoughts.

"My love, this is my cousin, Henry." I said to him.

"Hello Henry. I have heard much about you." Ariston said with a warm smile as he walked to stand before us.

"Who are you?" Henry asked.

"This is Ariston Crete, my fiancé." I introduced him.

"Your getting married?" My uncle asked, somewhat in shock as he walked into the kitchen. His eyes went between Ariston, myself and the engagement ring on my finger.

"We are." Ariston said with pride as he put his hand out to shake my uncles. "I am Ariston Crete." He introduced himself. Just like that, my uncle came out of his shock and a friendly smile appeared on his face.

"James Vandenberg," My uncle introduced himself, shaking Ariston's hand with a smile. "And this is my beautiful wife, Katherine."

"It is wonderful to finally meet you both." Ariston said.

I was thankful my uncle reacted better than my father had. Ariston kissed my aunts hand and she blushed as she spoke to him.

"Mera, I have to say that you have great taste in men." Katherine told me and Ariston chuckled.

"I have to agree with you on that." I said, looking up to Ariston before looking back to Henry who was watching Ariston and I. "Henry, Ariston and I want you to be the ring bearer in our wedding." I said to my sweet cousin.

"Really?" He asked excitedly, I nodded. "Mom, dad, can I please?" He asked, drawing out the word please in an adorable way.

"I do not see why not." His father said. Henry looked at me with excitement before his little face turned to confusion.

"What's a ring bearer?" He asked and we all laughed, Ariston answered his question.

"It will be your duty to hold Mera and I's wedding bands on a pillow and bring them to us when we get married." Ariston explained to Henry with a smile. "It is a very important task, we would entrust it to no one else."

"Okay." Henry said with a little shrug and laid his head on my shoulder.

"My god, look at that ring!" My aunt said as she took my hand in hers and looked at the diamonds with wide eyes.

"Dude, you are so making me look bad." My uncle James said to Ariston.

Ariston laughed with that smile that has not left his face. We introduced Kallisto to my aunt and uncle. Ariston gave a short story about her mother passing away years ago and my aunt and uncle offered their condolences.

We all went outside for dinner when it was called; everything was perfect. A long table had been set up with a white lace tablecloth and beautiful food. The dance floor was surrounded by hanging lights, and great music was playing. Henry sat with his parents, much to his dismay. He wanted to sit on my lap but they insisted. Ariston held my chair out for me and I took my seat. Ariston sat next to me and the whole family talked as we handed bowls and plates of food to one another.

"What do you do for a living, Ariston?" Katherine asked.

"I am honored to hold a place in my father and stepmother's organization; we specializes in managing and consulting. I also do some teaching on the side, which is how I met Mera." Ariston said with a smile to me.

"You are her teacher?" My aunt asked.

"He was." I said. "I had no idea he was my teacher when we met, he was just a breathtakingly handsome man whom fascinated me on a level that I could not comprehended before I met him. I was working at the Stables at Blueridge Prep when we first met."

"I was bringing my horse Vrontos to be boarded there that day," Ariston said, and I looked to him. "When I got out of my truck I saw no one in the Stables, then I heard the voice of this goddess as she sang to a song I know well and followed the sound to see Mera dancing as she cleaned bridles. I will never forget that moment." He looked to me. "She had hay in her long golden hair and shavings on her skin. There was something about her that drew me in."

"He was an hour early and so I had no time to clean up," I explained and shook my head with a smile. "There I was singing at the top of my lungs and dancing around like an idiot. I had no idea he was standing behind me. I spun around and there he was in all his glory," Ariston laughed and rolled his eyes. "Needless to say I was mesmerized by him."

"And I her; she had me the moment I looked into her violet eyes." Ariston said. "I introduced myself and the rest is history."

"And what about you Kallisto? How do you feel about your father remarrying?" My aunt asked, she has always been the nosey one. Kallisto smiled.

"I am very happy, he could not have chosen anyone better. I am honored that soon I will call her Mother." Kallisto said with a smile. "I first met her in New York. My father had told me about her, that he was in love with her. I had heard that Mera was in New York and so I decided to pay her a visit to find out what kind of a woman she was. When my father found out, he told me,"

"That you are nosier than Aphrodite and Eros combined." Ariston finished with a look to his daughter.

Ariston, Kallisto, Aaron, my grandmother and I all laughed at the joke, but apparently it was lost on the rest of the table. We talked and laughed more during dinner, Ariston and I told my aunt and uncle of our home and showed them some photos. We all shared wine with dinner that Ariston had brought for tonight. My aunt and uncle did not seem surprised that I was drinking.

After we ate, my father brought out the cake he made for me. It was chocolate and decorated beautifully. Everyone sang happy birthday to me and when I blew out the candles I had only one wish on my mind. 'I wish that Ariston and I will be reunited after my death, no matter how long it takes.'

After the cake it was time for presents. My aunt and uncle gave me a gift card to one of my favorite stores.

"If we knew you were marrying some rich guy we would have given you something different." My uncle said.

I laughed and thanked him and my aunt. My mother and father gave me a beautiful, silver framed photo of our family that was taken this past summer. I smiled and thanked them both.

I looked at the tag on the next gift and looked to Ariston.

"Did you think I would forget your birthday?" He asked.

"Forget?" I asked, then laughed. "You only gave me an art studio, threw me a huge party and not to mention the other gifts." I shook my head with a smile. "I swear, if one of us were to forget our anniversary, or a birthday, chances are it would be me." He laughed.

"Because you have such a horrible memory." He said sarcastically, making me laugh.

I opened the box, inside were dangle earrings that were carved out of diamonds in the shape of a galloping horse with such precession. The horses looked just like Luna, a black body with silver mane and tail and tiny blue eyes. They were so beautiful.

"They are perfect, thank you." I kissed him then showed everyone the gift.

"Those are really something." My uncle said.

"My brother is a great craftsman." Ariston said.

"Ours next." Kallisto said. I smiled and opened the box.

"Oh my goodness!" I said. "Ariston, look at these."

I could not take my eyes off the photo at the top, it showed Ariston and I at my pre-birthday party. It was right after I sang to him and we kissed. I took the photo out of the box to find that there was a stack of them. Another photo showed us with one arm around the others waist and a glass of wine in the other hand as we gazed into each other's eyes. There were so many other photos, even one of me turning red faced after John made the joke about carpal tunnel and many others of Ariston and I and the Gods.

Kallisto clearly had a true talent for capturing the moment, whether it be a look in the eyes or the way someone laughs.

"Kallisto, you are gifted!" I told her, looking away from the photo and to her with a huge smile. She blushed.

"That is what I keep trying to tell her." Aaron said. "It was my idea to give the photo's to you."

"Kallisto, Aaron, thank you." I said from the bottom of my heart as I looked between them. "These are beautiful."

"You are very welcome." Kallisto said. I showed them to everyone.

"I see that the looks run in the family." My aunt said. Ariston and I laughed.

"That looks like Zeus." My aunt said. Ariston and I glanced at each other.

"Which photo?" I asked, already guessing which one it was. My aunt turned the photo around and sure enough it was a photo of my soon to be father in law and I dancing.

"That would be my father." Ariston said.

Margret and Jack's gift to me gift to me was a certificate to rent a yacht; she knew I always wanted to learn how to sail. I thanked them then we all began dancing. I danced with everyone, especially Ariston.

"May I?" My father asked.

Ariston nodded and placed my hand in my fathers and we began to dance. It was my father who had taught me how to dance, he is almost as good as Ariston. I glanced over to see Ariston dancing with Kallisto. The grace of their movements was truly something to behold. As good of a dancer as I may be, I knew full well that I was not at that level. The grace they have only a god can possess.

"Are you happy?" My father asked. I looked to him.

"Immensely." I told him with a huge smile. "I hope you know how much it means to me that you said yes to Ariston."

"I see the way you look at him," My father said. "I knew that if I did not accept him as a part of your life, I might lose you." I hugged him close.

"You will always be my father. I love you and nothing will ever change that." I promised him.

"I love you too, Mera." He said.

When the song ended my father kissed my cheek and let me go. I felt Ariston behind me and smiled to him.

"May I have this dance, my love?" Ariston asked as a song by Rebecca Corriea began playing, Sonnet #30, the same sonnet Ariston read to me by candlelight during that storm a month ago.

"I am all yours." I said, taking his hand.

He took me into his arms and brought me in close as we slow danced looking into each other's eyes. I tried memorizing everything, the look in his sky blue eyes, the warmth of his body held close to mine, his scent. I felt tears in my eyes but kept them in as I rested my cheek against his. Please gods, I cannot lose this, I cannot lose him. I will not survive.

"Whatever is to come," Ariston said softly, his warm breath caressing my ear. "Know that I love you and that I have treasured every moment I have been blessed to call you my own. I will always love you; not even death will change that."

"Your death or mine?" I asked, pulling back to see his ancient eyes.

"Either." He said after a moment.

"And if you die? Is there an afterlife for gods? Will you be reincarnated as well?" I asked. He shook his head.

"That is a much debated question among the gods." He told me. "But no, there is no proof there is an afterlife or anything but nonexistence after death for gods and immortals."

My eyes slid shut as tears split.

"I cannot do this," I whispered to him. "I cannot lose you, not for any length of time. How are you not as worried as I am right now?"

"I have come to understand that loving someone like you, a selfless soul, means that I must accept your destiny and standing by you in what you must do, even if it kills you." Ariston said to me. "I realized that by moping around I was wasting the precious moments we have left. There will be times ahead when at the end of the day all we will have to hold onto is faith, and there will be days when that is no where near enough. You must be strong for me," he looked into my eyes, his eyes asking me to do this for him. I nodded and took a deep breath and he caressed my cheek. "Even if I should die, I will always be with you. A part of my soul resides within you now, just as a part of your soul resides within me. This exchange took place the first time we made love. Because of that, not even death can part us."

I looked into his eyes and found the strength and faith I needed there. I leaned in and kissed him, a long sweet kiss.

"No more sad thoughts, this is your birthday." Ariston said as he kissed my tears away. "I love you."

"I love you." I said and we kissed again.

The song we had been dancing to came to its end, and I had to laugh at the next song to play. Mark Antony's 'I Need To Know' the first song we ever danced to together. Ariston changed his hold on me and we began dancing as we had that day in the isle of the Stables. I soon forgot my worries.