A/N: To my lovely readers; Divinity is planned to be a long novel so I thought it will be a better idea if I post three days per week in order to keep this story flowing. I want to thank you for keep reading Divinity and marking it as a favorite, it really means a lot to me, thank you for your reviews as well, I will always try to send you a response to them.
I do not own anything, except for this story.
Divinity: Chapter twelve
Everybody was getting ready for the unexpected ball planned by the Queen.
In the Palace everyone was busy doing the arrangements; dozens of maids were cleaning the ball room, moping the halls, changing the candles, cleaning the chandeliers, making sure everything was perfect.
In the kitchen the chef was making all kinds of entrées. Bottles
Charmindy couldn't believe what she was seeing, everything was just too perfect; she was too sure to be the new Queen of this Kingdom. So her inner diva started to show.
"I want everything clean by the time I return!" she said out loud, so every maid could hear her words.
In the studio Eros was having a meeting with the generals including Leonidas.
"My mother's wimp has to be perfect. Otherwise we all are going to have a bad time, so I'll need extra vigilance at our gates, the upper part of the palace and the gardens. I want you to check invitations, we have to be extra careful...Start to get ready"
"Yes, Your Highness" the generals said in unison.
"You may be excused" Eros said while he arranged some papers. All of the generals left the room except Leonidas.
"This is dangerous" the general said worried.
"I know Leonidas, I tried to convince mother of not doing this unnecessary ball, but I did not succeed" Eros said rubbing his temples.
"Well...at least you won't have to marry that crazy girl" Leonidas said trying to lift up the mood in the room.
"I haven't heard anything from her" Eros said, his hand on his chin.
"You will...soon, you'll see" Leonidas smiled. "Who knows maybe she can come to the ball"
"I don't know" the prince says to his general, giving a loud sigh he stood up and walked to his friend, patting him on the shoulder.
"I better get ready for this ridiculous ball" the prince left the study.
Leaonidas stood there, smiling. Somehow, he felt that something interesting was going to happen tonight.
"..."
"Are you sure somebody was there?" Serenity asks Gaia panting, her hands on her knees.
"I heard somebody's breathing" Gaia says to her now sitting friend.
"What if that person heard what we were talking about?..." Serenity says worried.
"I don't think so, we were practically whispering...but still, we have to be careful. I think I'm going home now..." Gaia said to Serenity.
"I understand... this is all getting harder for you... do you want me to tell your mother you're leaving?" Serenity looks at her friend sadly.
"No. no... That's not necessary. Please, Serenity... keep in touch and I wish you the best in your marriage, Athan is a very lucky man" Gaia hugged her friend tightly.
"And Gaia, please, be careful..." Serenity let go of the black haired beauty.
"I will"
Gaia walked through the halls finding her way out of the Moon Palace. She doesn't feel like staying there anymore, this wasn't her place, her place was on Earth. With him.
"Are you leaving?" Ares said to Gaia holding her arm softly.
"Yes, I need to go" Gaia said simply, looking at his hand still holding her arm.
"When are you going to come back?" he asked again, his voice sad.
"I don't know... I'll try to come back soon..." she said holding her tears as much as she could.
"Whenever you need anything, please, let me know" he let her arm go.
Her tears wanted to betray her again, she actually wanted to break down and cry on his shoulder, she wanted to tell him everything and hear supporting words.
She wanted for her dream world to come true. But she knew she couldn't do that.
Unable to say anything else she only gave her friend a warm smile and left. Whispering in ancient words something to her crystal, a golden aura started to form around her and in a blink of an eye she was gone.
Ares stood there looking at the place where she was standing a couple of seconds ago, "What is going through your mind Gaia... why have you been so sad these last days...? why can't you tell me?" he asked.
It was time.
The ball was starting. Everybody was arriving at the Palace entrance, maids were taking the guests to the ballroom, every girl expecting the arrival of the famous royal prince, their dream was to wear the crown of their queen and to be the prince's wife.
The music already started to play.
From behind the big doors that led to the ballroom, Lady Charmindy was anxious, pacing around the hall, again, in her mind a lot of things were going to happen tonight. Just like the rest of the young female population, she was hoping for the prince to ask for her hand in marriage.
Without noticing she was smiling too much towards Eros, on the other hand, the prince was trying to ignore her again, her dress was to tacky... only that this time, wasn't that full of ruffles but still, he wasn't understanding her style at all, he couldn't stop comparing this girl with Gaia, with her dark hair always perfectly combed, always down or in a lose bun, her skin always flawless, her eyes with that mystic vibe, he loved when they changed colors like a prism.
How her smile formed in her soft oval shaped face, her cheeks always with a soft pink blush, her hands small and delicate as rose petals.
"Yes..." he thought. "She is like a rose..." his mind was still going thinking about her when a high pitched voice reached his ears.
"Are you going to hold my hand Eros?" Charmindy said to him holding his right arm.
Eros does not respond to her question. In fact, he stares at her dress and tries to understand how come a girl like her is the way she is and dresses the way she does. She wasn't ugly, not at all, but the way she talked, she expressed herself and...Her tantrums.
"Sure..." he said after five minutes of silence.
"Are you okay?" she asked wrinkling her nose
"Yes" he said trying to find something else to think of until the moment to introduce them comes.
"I can't wait for a dance with you...Your Highness" she said in a deep voice, yes, trying to sound casual but...sexy.
"Yes..." he said not paying too much attention.
Gaia was standing outside the gate of her shrine and somehow she noticed the rose buds that were decorating the entrance, she looked up and stared at the door, not sure if she wanted to go in and not sure if she wanted to go away, she felt like some part of her was missing.
She turned her head to look at the road that could lead to the place where he lived.
She was sure she could find him. Tonight. Right now.
The rose buds opened when her lips formed a small smile, as if they knew their princess was happy; but she decided to look for him.
Leonidas was standing near the front gate of the Palace while he was giving directions to one of the soldiers when he saw a figure near a tall tree, he tried to focus his vision to the moving figure, somehow it looked ethereal, like a vision. Like a ghost. A golden ghost.
"That aura..." he thought. "It's her!" he said softly.
Leonidas said to the soldier to stay alert and ran towards the golden aura. Stopping a few meters away he smiled.
"His Highness is waiting for you..."
Gaia blushed, getting close she smiled at him. "It's good to see you again, Leonidas"
"If you wish My Lady I can escort you to the ballroom" he said bowing.
"Why is so many people gathered here tonight?" she asked touching his right arm in a soft manner.
"The Queen planned a ball in honor of the royal guests" he said in monotone.
Gaia thought it was better if she came by some other day but Leonidas interrupted her thoughts.
"I can take you were His Majesty is My Lady, he'll be more than happy to see you" he smiled at her.
"Can you do that?" she whispered, her voice trembled.
"I will be more than honored My Lady, please, follow me" Leonidas said to her.
They started walking through the halls of the Terran Palace; she was mesmerized by the huge paintings of previous royals and started wondering if there was an actual painting of Eros.
The chandeliers were illuminating the long hall, a red carpet at their feet hiding the sound of her heels, she was mesmerized by the decoration of the terran palace, the walls were covered by tall and dark wood panels, so different from her small palace or even the lunar palace.
Soon she was able to hear the music that came from the ballroom, Leonidas was about to open the huge golden door when a man announced the three royals and their guests.
"Follow me My Lady, don't separate from me" Leonidas said in a whisper. Gaia nodded.
Everything was breathtaking, Gaia was amazed by the delicacy of everything in this huge room, it was very different from what she have always seen on the Moon, or any other palace, this was magical, she could not believe this was a mortals place.
The big chandelier giving a soft light to the whole room, everything matched the tall walls with golden decorations on them, the tall ceiling; the curtains that fell from every window with such an impressive deep red color.
The dress of each woman, everything was so full of color. Her eyes were taking all in. Leonidas took her hand so she wouldn't lose in the large crowd leading her to his prince.
The three royals were sitting in their thrones. The king and queen were holding hands and smiling at the crowd. Eros on the other hand had a stern face; he didn't want to be here.
Although he was glad Lady Charmindy was flirting with some other man away from him. His mood was about to come even worse when he spotted a familiar face and it was rather strange that the familiar face was smiling at him.
"Wait here My Lady" Leonidas let go of Gaia's hand. She nodded.
The general came near the prince and gave him a small bow. "Your Highness, I have great news for you" he smiles at him.
"What is going on? Did something happen outside?" he asked confused.
"Yes. But I was able to bring the reason with me" Leonidas turned and gave a motion to his reason to come closer to them. Eros eyes went from his general to the person who was with him, his breath was taken away.
"Gaia..." he breathed, he immediately stood up and went down the stairs that separates the throne from the dance floor.
"Eros..." she said smiling at him.
Leonidas didn't need a sign to leave them alone; he instantly knew he was no longer required. He went back to his post.
"W..what are you doing here beautiful?" he took her small hand into his large ones.
"I came to see you...I needed to see you... I missed you so much" she said while tears formed in her green eyes.
"I missed you too very much... nothing is the same without you here..." he said bending to kiss one of her palms.
Queen Narella saw what was going on and turned to see her husband. "Who is that beautiful girl?" she asked.
King Odell stared at her in amazement. "I don't know...but she really is beautiful"
"When did you return?" Eros asked Gaia not letting go of her hand.
"Today, just a few minutes ago... I couldn't stay there any longer knowing you are here...with a bunch of ladies hunting you down" she laughed.
"None of them are like you...but now that you mention the word 'hunting'..." he laughed.
Eros actually forgot about the girl who was dreaming of him almost every day since she got there.
Across the room she could see him laughing and what it looked like holding hands with a girl.
Charmindy immediately stopped talking to the man who was with her and almost ran to where the prince was standing.
Her heart was pounding; her palms were starting to sweat.
Then, there she was, a few feet away from 'her' prince and that girl.
"Eros!" she called out loud, trying to sound hurt. Eros and Gaia turned to see the girl standing there with her fisted hands on her sides. Upset.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your...friend, here?" she said placing one hand on her hip.
Gaia just stared at her, not sure of what to do.
"Lady Charmindy this is Gaia... Gaia, Lady Charmindy...she's the daugther of my parents's friends, Duke and Duchess of Amington." he said.
Gaia nodded. "A pleasure Lady Charmindy" she said.
"Just Gaia?... don't you have a title?" she said arrogantly.
"Charmindy!" Eros snapped.
"It's okay Your Highness" Gaia lifted one hand at him and directed her gaze at her.
"Yes. Just Gaia" she said in a serious tone.
"Well... how poor...I am a regal Lady you know...so... I think you should keep yourself at distance with His Highness, only important people can address to him" she snapped.
"Charmindy stop this nonsense at once!" Eros raised his voice at her, Gaia interrupted him again with her hand. "It's okay Your Higness... allow me" she stepped forward.
"It's okay Lady Charmindy...I may not have a title like you, but I do have something you don't even can imagine, something you can't even pronounce...it's called grace."
"How dare you to speak to me like that!" Charmindy exploded.
"You have no right to be here! She raised her voice. She wasn't even aware the crowd was turning more and more quiet allowing them to hear what Charmindy was saying.
Charmindy takes a step and grabs a handful of Gaia's hair and pulls of it.
"HOW DARE YOU! YOU LITTLE WHORE! STAY AWAY FROM HIM! STAY AWAY FROM HIM! HE'S MINE!...DO YOU HEAR ME? MINE! YOU ARE A NOBODY! YOU NOBODY...STAY AWAY FROM HIM!" Charmindy's voice was loud, Gaia knew she couldn't react because she wasn't in her grounds and she didn't want to compromise Eros and cause him trouble.
She might even been considered a witch, she felt pain for the very first time.
Eros couldn't believe what he was seeing; immediately he took Charmindy's arms, holding her tight.
"Charmindy! That's enough!" Eros's voice was in a deadly tone. He didn't need to say anything else.
The desperate girl let go of Gaia's hair and took in what just had happened.
The crowd was staring at her in horror.
The king and queen were in complete shock.
Queen Narella didn't know how to react to such tantrum, her hand hiding her mouth trying to hide her surprise she turned to see the duke and his wife. Their face paled, they were horrified.
Gaia's heart was pounding fast. She was trembling, trying to rub the place where this girl had pulled her hair with such force. Her eyes flinched were she touch the soft spot. It hurt.
"But Eros! She treated me with no respect!" Charmindy tried to defend herself.
"I said enough!" he said. His grip was strong on her wrist.
Leonidas came with discretion into the room, when he sees Gaia looking scared and Eros holding Charmindy.
He immediately knew something wrong was going on, when he saw Eros taking Charmindy to the throne were his parents and her parents were, Leonidas walked towards Gaia and led her out of the dance floor.
Taking her outside the ballroom she turned her face looking for Eros and asked to Leonidas to wait.
An older woman came near Gaia with a worried face and asked "Oh dear, are you okay?" touching her shoulder.
Gaia smiled softly at her "I'm okay...thank you for asking"
King Odell motioned to the band to continue with the music. "Please, let's leave this embarassing moment in the past and let's keep enjoying the night!" he raised his golden cup.
The music started playing again and everybody returned to dance and kept their chatting like if nothing have happened but even the king knew this was a topic that could not be left alone.
Eros took Charmindy to another room where the king and queen were waiting along with Charmindy's parents. Leonidas followed them holding Gaia. Charmindy was already crying when Eros let go off her and walked to a side taking Gaia's hand.
"You have to explain us what just happened out there" King Odell said.
"She disrespected me!" Charmindy said crying and pointed at Gaia with her index finder. "She called me uneducated!"
"And what you did proves to us that you are an educated person?" Queen Narella said annoyed.
Charmindy turned to Eros and tried to get a hold of his arms but he stopped her.
"Eros... you were holding her hands!"
Eros was tired of her screaming and crying.
He rubbed his temples and kept a deadly tone in his voice. "That's enough Charmindy. I can do whatever I want to do. I hold her hands because I want it to. You and I are nothing; we are not together and will never be. Deal with that"
"B..but I can't! She disrespected me! I won't..." Charmindy's face looked lost.
"That's enough young lady! You will ask for this lady's forgiveness and that is all!" the duke said upset.
"B..but..." kept trying to defend herself but she didn't succeed.
Charmindy turned to see Gaia, her makeup was ruined because of her tears, her lipstick smudged and her hair disheveled, with angry eyes and low voice she addressed at her.
"I'm sorry"
Gaia could see there wasn't even a drop of sincerity in her eyes. This girl was crazy. Her thirst for power was bigger than she could ever think of. This was her curse.