Epilogue
Ariston's point of view
I leaned on the railing with my forearms and looked out over the lake outside of my house, it reflected the stars beautifully. I always have loved the Italian countryside, but my mind was far too preoccupied to focus on the beauty of the water and land.
It has been three weeks since I told my daughter where I was going and kissed Mera goodbye. I am grateful to have my sisters Carlia and Joanna and my brother Harris with me, but every moment of every day I long for Mera. She is in my every dream, she is my every thought when I am not completely focused on this quest. Every day it becomes more difficult to be apart from her, but I cannot let my longing for the woman I love to get in the way of helping my sister.
We began our search where Miranda was last heard from, outside a bar in Nashville Tennessee, we found nothing. From there we checked in with our contacts, some less than reputable and still we have found nothing. This can be said for the Shadows, they know how to make someone disappear. Our last lead is in Siena, a town not farm from where we now are.
I looked at the stars once more, knowing that Mera could see the same stars on Olympus comforted me some. After saying goodnight to my siblings, I went up the stairs to the master bedroom and laid on the king sized bed. My whole being ached for Mera, I wished I could hold her in my arms, look into those eyes that capture my soul and kiss her sweet lips.
I sighed, knowing it was no good.
Mera, I thought to her, I had to hear her voice.
Ariston, I could hear the relief in her voice, it made me smile and my soul soar. How are you? Where are you? Did you find her yet?
Not yet my love. I am well except for longing for you with every fiber of my being and worrying for my sister. I told her. My siblings and I are in my house in the Italian countryside.
I miss you. She thought to me, I could feel how deeply she meant that.
I miss you, I thought to her with the same longing. How are you?
As well as I can be without you, she replied. Kallisto, Aaron and I spent the day together at our home and Kallisto and I cooked dinner together. Our bed is cold without your warmth, tell me you are coming home soon .
Soon, I replied.
Not soon enough. She thought.
I agree, I replied. We have one more village to search tomorrow and if there are no leads then we will return shortly.
Mera and I talked for an hour, I knew I needed to get some sleep but I could not make myself disconnect from her.
I must go and get some sleep my love, Mera thought. I love you my Ariston.
I love you my Mera, I thought to her with every ounce of my being. Sweet dreams.
We always hang on for a moment, just to feel each other for a moment longer. A few moments later we disconnected and I took a deep breath.
I opened the locket Mera gave me and for the longest time looked at the photos of the women that mean the most to me. It truly was a perfect gift.
Bright light shined in the corner of my room but I felt no essence. It a millisecond I had my dagger in my hand and was standing, prepared for anything. When the light died down my being come to life when I saw her. Her essence came to life when our eyes met and was once again blinding. She truly has no idea how brightly she shines.
"Mera." I dropped the dagger and before it hit the floor I had that beautiful goddess in my arms, kissing her lips as if I had never kissed them before.
"Ariston." she moaned as I kissed her neck and I bent down and picked her up as I carried her to the bed…
The sun was just rising as I held her in my arms, looking into her violet eyes and treasuring the warmth of her skin and bright essence. We made the most of the night; neither of us would allow the other to sleep. I lost count after the third time we made love, I would have thought she would have grown tired but she seemed to grow more passionate and enthusiastic as the late night turned into the early morning.
"I love you my Ariston." she said softly, I felt how deeply she meant it.
I caressed her warm, soft cheek and held her close. I knew I had to send her away soon but could not find the will. This was the reason I had not returned to her since I left. I knew that if I were to hold her in my arms again I would not be able to do what I had to do.
"I love you my Mera." I said in a breath and saw her smile.
She caressed my chest.
"I do not have to go," she said softly then looked into my eyes. "I could stay with you and every night can be like this again."
"You have no idea how tempting that offer is." I said, lost in the depths of her eyes.
I brought her lips to mine and kissed them tenderly as I cupped her cheek with my hand. When our sweet kisses ended and I opened my eyes to look into hers, my soul was so full with love that I felt I might burst. I also felt protective as I always have of her.
"I want you and this every night, but I must know you are safe, it is what keeps me going." I told her.
She nodded and settled into my arms as she lied on my chest and we held each other close.
"You know you cannot come to me again, it is not safe." I said. With all my soul I wanted to take back the words as soon as I said them, but I could not bring myself to.
"I know my love, I will do as you ask." she said.
A knock sounded on my door and with all my might I wanted to yell "go away" but I knew better.
Using what will I could summon, I slid Mera off my chest and got up and cracked the door an inch and peered out.
"We leave in a half hour." my brother informed me.
I nodded and closed the door. I turned around to see Mera lying on her side, propped up by her arm, the covers lingering around her waist. I have never seen such a sight before her. I stood there for a moment, drinking her beauty in as she did the same with me with a smile on her face. A few minutes later she got up and picked up my button down shirt and pulled it on.
A moment later I was standing before her. I took the shirt in my hands, all the while wanting to slip the shirt off of her as I did up the buttons. My hand lingered below her collarbone as I slipped my arm around her waist to hold her. I wondered when I would be able to touch her like this again. She looked up into my eyes.
"Return to me Ariston, safe and sound, or else." She said, with emphasis on the or else.
I smiled in a way Mera has always called devilish.
"Or else what?" I asked.
She shook her head with a smile and laid her hand on my cheek, she was not teasing me, her eyes were too sincere for that. I melted as I always do under touch and looked into those violet eyes as I hoped with all my being that this would not be the last time I gazed into them.
"I love you Ariston." she said with a tender conviction. "Always and forever, I am yours."
"I love you." I said in the same way. "I will return to you my love, and we will marry and have those children you saw in your dream."
She smiled.
"I will hold you to that." She said.
We looked into each other's eyes for a time before she through her arms around my neck and kissed me. I held here as closed as I dared and deepened the kiss, treasuring it.
"I love you." I said profoundly.
"I love you." she said.
I looked into her eyes and sent her away using what little will I had left. I took a shower and smiled at the memory of last night. I wore a crewneck sweater with jeans and casual shoes. When I went back into the master bedroom I saw piece of cloth on the ground and walked over to pick it up.
I had not paid attention to what Mera had been wearing when she arrived last night, but apparently it had been red and made of lace that was now in shreds. I smiled as I thought of the sound it made when I tore it to get to her as she held my body close to hers with her amazing strength. I smelled her scent on it and decided to keep it with me and packed it away in my duffel.
I walked down stairs and into the large kitchen, breakfast was already made. The smells of bacon, sausage and waffles filled the room.
"Good morning." I greeted my family.
"Good morning." My sister Carlia greeted me with a sly smile and an odd look on her face.
"Good morning." My brother Harris greeted with the same kind of look.
"Morning." My sister Joanna said. Her brown eyes had the same look in them.
I did not understand why they were looking at me in that way; I shrugged it off and went to get a cup of coffee, adding two sugars and some cream. I sat down and helped myself to the breakfast on the table.
"I take it Mera was with you last night?" Harris asked.
"What makes you say that?" I asked.
"Either that or you were telling yourself I love you this morning." He said.
"Not to mention the noise all though the night and into the morning, it was not easy to sleep." Joanna added in innocently.
I laughed once when I realized that I had completely forgotten to sound proof the room. I had not expected Mera, and when she appeared I could not think of anything else. Not to mention that Mera and I have never been quiet. Women, the good ones make mindless oafs out of us all. I thought with a smile all the while missing her warmth and wishing I could hold Mera in my arms again.
"Yes, she was with me. I miss that woman already." I admitted.
Harris nodded, understanding. Sixty years ago he would have made fun of me, then he met Lyannie, the woman whom is now his loving wife. I knew he missed her, but she is no warrior and he would not risk her anymore than I would risk Mera.
"I have seen Mera at practice, she is a great warrior, you should have her join us." Carlia said.
"No," I said quickly, and more sharply then I had intended to. I smiled an apology, she did not know of Mera's fate but I sure as hell was not about to be the reason Mera dies. "Mera still has much to learn in the ways of war. I will not put her at risk."
"You will not have a choice for long. The storm is as strong within that one as it is within you brother." Harris said.
"Believe me, I know." Even I could hear the sadness in my voice and I rolled my eyes, irritated with myself. I am stronger than this.
I took a deep breath and felt slightly better; I knew how to put those kinds of thoughts aside. However I never have been quite able to put Mera out of my mind from the day I met her.
After breakfast we went to Siena, the town was beautiful with it's old world buildings and beautiful country side. Joanna's arm was wrapped around mine and Carlia's was wrapped around Harris', to the rest of the world we were two married couples on vacation, not divine siblings searching for their kidnapped sister.
We played our parts well, laughing now and then and taking photos from time to time. Joanna would even kiss my cheek and whisper in my ear with a smile, she always has told good jokes and so I rarely had to fake my laugh.
After a half hour in the town, I felt a Shadow across the street from us.
"Wait, right there." I said in English to Joanna.
I turned her and brought out my camera and took a photo of her as she posed.
"Let me see that honey." She said.
And I gave it to her. She looked at the photo of the Shadow that was behind her and looked into my eyes.
This could be it, She thought.
I nodded once, my head moving a fraction of an inch. The Shadows would have scouts if there were something here to protect. Joanna and I continued walking and stopped at a few shops to browse, wherever we went, the Shadow followed. If there was a hide out here it was well hidden.
I felt another two more Shadows join the other not long after. I looked around to see Harris and Carlia looking at trinkets in a stall. My eyes met with Carlia and I knew that she felt them as well. Joanna and I walked up to our siblings and we all began walking down the street as we felt more Shadows arrive. Our hopes that we would go unnoticed was obviously in vain.
Orders? Carlia asked.
I looked into my sisters blue green eyes for a moment before replying.
Not here, we cannot endanger the mortals. I thought to them all at once.
We walked out of town though the twisting pathways and to a place behind the buildings. We let go of each other and stood back to back to back to back in a square so they would not be able to sneak up behind us. We would move as a unit, working both together and apart at the same time. I had half the battle planned a million different ways by the time we summoned our weapons and I summoned the storm. The grass rustled in the wind.
The Shadows materialized before us, surrounding us. Some screamed showing their piranha teeth. Their eyes, that were darker than they are, were focused on us, their claw like hands flexing in anticipation. I kept collected even though I was shocked at how many there were, thousands upon thousands surrounded us, and they were some of the strongest Shadows I had ever felt.
I said a silent thank you to the Moraie that Mera was not with me at that moment, that she and Kallisto were safe.
I was no fool; I knew full well that my companions and I could not win this fight. They knew it as well, they nodded and I nodded to them, an understanding passing between us.
Go, run if you have the chance. I thought to my siblings.
We are with you till the end. They thought in unison.
May this not be it. I thought to them.
Even with that said, I saw my life before my very eyes.
I saw my mothers smile and heard the thunder in my fathers laugh. I saw Elianna. Our first kiss when we were courting, it was obvious she had never been kissed before in her hesitation and in the way she shyly returned the kiss, but there was something so sweet about it that it captured me. I looked into her green eyes and she smiled, then I kissed her again and held her gently all the while falling even more in love with her.
I felt her delicate hand in mine as my father wrapped the cloth around our hands and we said the words that bound us together as husband as wife for all her days. I saw her nervous blush on our wedding night and the way her body trembled in anticipation. I knew she was scared; most women are their first time. I took my time, making sure she was comfortable with each move and touch I made before I went any further and was even more careful to be gentle with her. It was a beautiful night.
I watched our children being born. First Sophus, with his mother's hair and my eyes and face. That was one of the proudest days of my life, holding my newborn son in my arms and kissing Elianna's lips and telling her what beautiful work she did. Next was Timaios, he was the very image of me even though he ended up taking after his mother in every other way. After him was Solon, out of our sons he by far looked the most like his mother, her platinum blond hair, her green eyes, her face but with a stronger jaw. Then last but not least was Kallisto, our beautiful little girl. I saw the first time she smiled up to me, I heard the Moraie telling Elianna and I that Kallisto would be immortal and I felt our joy.
I saw raising our children in the home that now belongs to Mera and I. I saw every laugh, every kiss, every time we made love. I saw the pranks our sons would pull and the look on Elianna's face that would scare them far more than if the Nameless One would appear in front of them and would always make me laugh.
I saw my wife age, I saw the day she passed peacefully in my arms and felt the last kiss she gave me. I saw the dark, lifeless, meaningless days that filled two thousand years of my life before I met Mera.
I saw Mera dancing the first time I saw her, she spun around and our eyes met. I saw the first time I held her when she cried in my arms in the hayloft then after when she looked into my eyes and it was all I could do not to kiss her. I had to close my eyes before her eyes could draw me in any further and dissolve what was left of my will. I saw Mera in her bed when I would watch her sleep; her golden blond waves sprawled out on the pillow. I saw all the moments we shared together. She still does not know how I treasured our conversations, every day I would be with her, watch her, trying to understand that fascinating young woman that had captured my soul. I wanted to ask her why she did the things she did, I wanted to understand her. For every conversation we had, there were a hundred more that I wanted to have with her.
I heard once again in my mind Mera's words that night while she was in New York and I was in my house trying with all my might not to think of her. "Ariston," she has whispered, her voice capturing me. "I love you." Hearing those words gave me a reason to live again; she is my reason to exist.
I heard the words Mera spoke when she told me she loves me in person and in my mind I once again spoke the words I spoke to her that night. I felt her body against mine and her hips in my hands as I leaned down and captured her lips with my own for the first time. Of all the kisses I have stolen or been given in my five thousand years, this simple kiss out shined them all. No part of me expected her reaction, how her hands went into my hair and her body arched against mine and I could not help but hold her closer and kiss her again. I had expected Mera to pull away at some point and tell me no more until we were wed as Elianna had always done, but every time I held her close she held me even closer to deepen our kisses, her leg wrapping around my waist. I had to make myself stop at least once to ask her if this was what she wanted, her response was to smile and kiss me deeply.
I almost made love to her right then and there that night, in the heat of the moment nothing else mattered but her, and I would only have stopped if she had asked me to. If it had not been for the shadows, I would have made love to her right then and there that night. From that night on, almost every time we kissed it was all I could do to stop myself.
I saw the night we first made love. I wanted to make it perfect for Mera and so I created the pathway of roses and candles all the way to my bed. If she was nervous, she did not show it as we kissed and undressed each other. I felt how it felt to pick her up in my arms and carry her to my bed as I kissed her fiery lips. I did not expect Mera to be so quite so passionate that night; she brought a fire out from within me and enjoyed every moment of it as much as I did. That night was unlike anything.
I saw every day and night we spent together, how we could not keep our hands off of each other, how it was all I could do to focus enough to teach a class and not find some excuse to take Mera into my arms again instead. How we would spend hours in bed just talking about everything or nothing or how we would lay for hours in silence and bliss. I saw asking Mera to marry me, the pure joy written on her face and the tears in her eyes when I got down onto one knee with the ring and said my words and I heard her whisper "Yes."
So many memories, so many joys. If it was my time to die then I was grateful to have had so much joy in my life. From my family, to Elianna and our children, to Mera and her love, I have been greatly blessed.
I made a promise to myself that if I survived this I would track down my descendants and be in their lives if they would have me. Mera was right about that, Mera is right about most things.
Kallisto, Mera, I thought to the women I love. I love you both with every fiber of my being. Take care of each other.
And with that I let out loud battle cry that my siblings echoed as we charged towards our enemies with weapons at the ready and no fear in our hearts, only acceptance and determination. One thing was certain; if we were going to die we would be taking at least fifty times our numbers with us.
Author's Note: Thank you once again for staying on this ride with me! I have decided to temporarily take down Book Two: The Three Gifts in order to repost more broken up chapters. My current plan is to post one a day! Be sure to follow/favorite me to stay up to date with Beauty In Itself's sequel!
Much love and healing to you all!
