“You’re a little young for that, aren’t you?”
“Young?” Eros snorted.
“This won’t be the first time I’ve had to step in,” David said, ignoring Eros. “Will you be okay to stay here?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I’ll be fine.”
“What’s in Kyparissia?” Eros glanced between David and me.
“I thought Isis might enjoy the scenery,” David said.
“Why not take her to the isles of Greece, instead? That’s your home.”
“That place hasn’t been home for many years. But it’s not a bad idea.” David turned to look at me. “Would you like to go in a couple of weeks?”
“Where is this island, exactly?” I asked.
More important than location, I wondered what the cost would be to travel there. I didn’t want to spend the money I had received as a gift from my father only on vacationing. I wanted to buy a car, a little something for my mother, and save the rest.
“The island of Chios is located off the coast of Turkey, but it belongs to Greece,” David said. “A short forty-five minute flight will get us there.”
“I don’t know…” I wrinkled my nose.
Eros put his arm around my shoulder. I breathed inwardly when I felt his touch.
“My sweet, what’s holding you back?” Eros asked.
“Money, I presume?” David turned my face toward him and pried me out from Eros’ arm. “I’ll take care of the cost.”
“I don’t need your money.” I didn’t realize how rude I’d sounded until I heard myself spit out the words.
David glared at me, and then pushed his chair away from the table. “Enjoy your dinner,” he said, looking at Eros, and he walked away.
“David, wait…” I followed him into the living room. “I didn’t mean it to sound like that.”
“Perhaps,” he said, opening the front door and looking back at me, “you haven’t fully realized what that star on your chest signifies. Why won’t you let me take care of you?”
“I feel uncomfortable having you pay for such expensive things.”
“Is it really about how much I spend on you, or is it because you’ll feel like you have a commitment to make?”
“No, that’s not it. I just—I’m not your responsibility.”
“Is that what you think? Isis, you’re not only my responsibility, you’re my priority—and I assumed I was yours.”
“David—”
“I have to go,” he said, and he walked out the door.
***
Instead of returning to the table where Eros sat alone, I took refuge with my journal in the den. With my head in my hands, I sat there thinking for a long time about the weight that the Star Crest carried. What if I was in over my head with this relationship? Things were getting too serious too fast for me.
As I opened my journal to an empty page, I noticed Eros leaning on the doorframe. How long had he been there?
“Bonsoir,” Eros said.
“Sorry I didn’t go back to the dinner table. I kind of lost my appetite.”
“I don’t mind eating alone.”
He walked into the room with his hands dug into his pants pockets. I closed my journal and slid it closer to me as he approached the walnut desk.
“What are you doing in here?”
“Nothing important.”
Being alone in the same room with him made me nervous, especially with him looking at me in the way he did.
“I didn’t think anyone kept journals anymore.”
“Is that one of your abilities—clairvoyance?”
“No. The word ‘Journal’ is on the cover.” He pointed to the notebook.
“Oh. Right.”
Eros walked around the desk and sat on the edge. I was careful to keep my eyes turned away from his, but his magnetic energy was hard to resist.
“Are things okay between David and you?”
“Yes,” I lied. “We’re fine.”
“Really? Well, I’m concerned, you know?”
“About?”
“You could say that you only just met David. Do you think you’re ready to accept that vow you hold there between your fingers?”
I hadn’t noticed I was tugging on the Star Crest.
“We care a lot about each other.”
“That’s not an answer to my question.”
“He sacrificed his life to be with me. We belong together,” I said, glancing up at him for only a second.
“You’re evading the question, my sweet.”
“I just answered you.”
“No, you didn’t. But let me ask something else. Do you think it’s right that given your age, and given his, he pushed that commitment on you, knowing what the repercussions would be? He’s put you in danger, and he gave you no choice in the matter. To me, that seems quite unfair.”
“I wasn’t forced into anything,” I said. “I had feelings for him before I was given the Star Crest.”
“Oh, Isis, Isis…” His head fell back, and he closed his eyes. “Can’t you see that you’re making a huge mistake?”
“To be honest, I don’t think that’s any of your business.”
“Isis…” He brushed my face with the back of his hand, and I flinched. “Haven’t you realized that you will never fall in love again if you go through with this? You’ll be bound to him. And even if he isn’t truly your life partner, you’ll have no alternative but to stay with him—out of pity. Unhappy and alone.”
“That won’t happen.” I glared at him.
“The way I see it, David was sure of his decision when he gave you the Star Crest, but then again, he’s lived millennia and knows what he wants because he’s a man.
“You, on the other hand, have lived under two decades, and are just awakening into womanhood. You’re an inexperienced, young girl. Innocent, I assume.” He cocked his brow. “You see the difference? Now, I’ll ask you again. Are you ready for that commitment?”
I made the mistake of looking up at him. Slowly, he inched his face closer to mine, his eyes holding my stare. I froze. He cupped my cheek with his hand.
“Do you have the will to live without knowing what it’s like to love another? To never feel another man’s touch? To never breathe another man’s sugary breath?” His lips were a centimeter away from mine. His breath smelled like cherries. “Do you really want that life, when you could have a better one with someone else?”
I closed my eyes, feeling a pull as strong as the gravitational force that kept me sitting in that chair.
“You can have anyone, Isis.” He licked his bottom lip. “You can even have me, if you want.” I felt his hand on my neck. “Would you like to—have me?”
Tiny shocks sped through my body creating a ripple of goose bumps from my head all the way to my feet.
“Signor.” A voice broke the current between us.
I pulled away from Eros, red-faced.
Paulina was standing in front of the desk with a cup and a cloth napkin in her hands.
“Your tea,” Paulina said.
“Thank you,” Eros said coolly. “That’ll be all for the evening. You may take your leave.”
“Sì, signor. Good night, Miss Isis.”
“Night,” I said, without meeting her eyes.
As soon as Paulina left the den, I stood up and faced Eros.
“How dare you do that, knowing I’m in a relationship with your best friend?” I grabbed my journal and walked to the door.
“And how dare you let me, knowing that I am his friend?” Eros followed close behind.
Turning to look at him, outraged at what he was implying, I raised my index finger. “Stay away from me. I don’t appreciate you using your power, or whatever it is, on me.”
Eros stifled a laugh. “I’m not using anything, my sweet. I swear. We have chemistry, and I must admit, I like it. I like it very much.”
“There’s absolutely nothing, but nothing here.”
“Only the passion in y
our eyes when you look at me.”
“You’re unbelievable,” I hissed. “I’m sure David will appreciate knowing that his so-called ‘brother’ is a conniving backstabber. I’ll be sure to quote you when I tell him.”
“And you’ll also tell him how I can feel your body temperature rise, and how your heart beats at a faster pace when I come in the room? Funny, you don’t react the same way to him.
Why do you think that is, Isis? Do you think I’m not well versed in my specialty? I understand emotions better than anyone. You can’t hide those feelings from me. I—own—them.”
Eros had nailed the description of how my body reacted to his presence. I wasn’t fooling him by denying that I felt a deep attraction, but that gave him no right to try to take advantage of the circumstances. Did he really think that I would be swept away by his godly appeal in the snap of two fingers?
“Yes, I know all about that charm you were born with that makes girls fall at your mercy, but I won’t be drawn into your circle of adoring groupie fanatics.”
“Ha!” Eros smiled. “My sweet, I can make you beg for me, if I want to.”
I felt my nose flare. “Don’t you dare.”
“I know how you like to be pursued. I know you like jealousy in a man. I know how to look at you, and I know where to touch you. I know your heart’s deepest desires. No one will ever satisfy them like I can.”
“You’re a pig.”
I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me against him.
“That may be true,” he said. “But that doesn’t make you like me any less. And it certainly doesn’t make you any less delicious to me.”
Infuriated, I raised my hand and swung it back, ready to slap his filthy mouth. Eros gripped my raised arm by the wrist before my hand touched his face.
“No, no, no,” he warned. “You wouldn’t like to see what could happen if you strike a deity, my sweet. How would we explain our first lovers’ quarrel to David if you’re dead?”
I pushed him away, stalked up the stairs, and slammed the door to my room. I would die three horrible deaths by skin-eating larvae, if I could have the pleasure of punching his perfectly-lined teeth out.
I threw my journal on the bed and walked to the opposite side of the room. Shaking, I paced on the balcony, trying to subdue my anger. My neck and ears were burning.
I didn’t care that Eros was right about everything he said that I felt. I was enraged that he was threatening to use his ability for a deity ego boost. There was no doubt in my mind that I would tell David about his hypocrite friend. I’d tell him everything as soon as he got back from his meeting.
Leaning over the balcony railing, I closed my eyes and breathed in the night air.
“I’m sorry for my forward behavior.” Eros’ voice made my jaw clench. He was standing at the balcony door, next to the swaying sheer curtains.
“Get out!”
“No.”
“I’ve had enough of you. I’m calling David,” I said, taking the phone from my pocket.
“Oui.” He nodded. “Run to your protector now while you still can. And after he’s become human and weak, who will you run to? Maybe, he’ll lose his appeal, no?”
As Eros said those words, I realized that if David lost his strength and abilities, we would be left defenseless against the Turpis. How would he fight the demons back without superhuman powers?
“Is there any way to stop that from happening to him, from changing?” I tried to mask my alarm. “Can’t he just take the Star Crest back?”
“It can’t be reversed. Once the star is out of the chest and the cavity has closed, there’s nothing left to do.”
“Nothing at all?”
“Mhhh.” Eros raised a shoulder. “Unless you have a death wish. If you die, he won’t change, and the cavity opens again. The Star Crest could be returned to him then.”
Somehow, I had known it all along. I turned away from Eros. I felt faint and sick to my stomach. I took a deep breath.
“You’re pale,” Eros said.
“I’m fine.”
I made my way to the bed and sat down.
“Isis,” Eros said, “fructus est?”
“I don’t know what that means,” I said, as the room started to spin.
“Is it the fruit?”
“No. I didn’t even touch my dinner.”
“I’m asking if you’re pregnant,” he said with a fixed stare.
“What? No.”
“Good, because it’s forbidden for a human to bear the fruit of the gods. The thing would be killed upon birth, and the deity responsible would be dealt cruel punishment.”
He placed the back of his hand on my forehead.
“Don’t touch me,” I said, turning my head.
“Your temperature is dropping. It’s a low-temperature fever. I think you may have a virus or food poisoning.”
My stomach churned as I breathed in deep gulps of air. Then, I don’t know why, but I started to cry.
“What’s wrong?” Eros looked puzzled.
I felt a devastating angst, and the crying turned louder. Eros wrapped an arm over my shoulders, trying to console me. I tried to shove him away, but I couldn’t break free of his hold. I didn’t understand why I was so emotional. All I knew is that suddenly my wailing had turned into nothing short of screams. Eros covered my mouth with one hand and tightened his hold on me with the other. Finally, the muffled shrieks simmered down to crying again, and Eros draped both his arms around me.
“Shh…” He rocked his body and mine back and forth. “No more, my sweet.”
As much as I wanted to punch his lights out, I felt comforted. He released me and swept his hand across my cheeks, wiping away the tears.
“Stop.” I pushed him away, feeling nauseated. My body shivered, and I broke out in a cold sweat.
“Do you suffer from anxiety?”
“Go away,” I moaned, holding my stomach.
“You need to go to the hospital.” He pulled a phone from his pocket. “Your temperature is still dropping.”
“I don’t want to… g-g-go,” I gagged.
“You have to. I’m calling an ambulance,” he said, pressing numbers on his phone.
I felt a strong pressure coming up my throat. I held my breath, but it was no use. I couldn’t overcome it, and I retched.
“Mag... ni… fique,” Eros said, looking down.
There would be no need to knock Eros’ teeth out after all. Justice had been served—on Eros’ over-priced designer shoes, that is. That’s where most of the nastiness landed. Eros raised his foot with a disgusted look on his face.
“Camilla!” he called out.
If I hadn’t felt so horrible, I would’ve laughed.
***
Poor Camilla had the unpleasant job of cleaning up my mess. I trembled so much and my body felt so weak that she also had to help me change into my pajamas. In the bathroom, she wiped my face with a warm damp cloth, which felt good against my cold skin, and then brushed my hair.
“Thank you,” I said, shivering as I sat on a vanity stool. She replied in Italian with a lot of words that sounded like gibberish to me.
When we returned to the bedroom, Eros had turned down the bed and was waiting to help Camilla. Even though I protested, he lifted me and placed me on the mattress, pulling the sheets up to my neck. Camilla pulled a chair next to the nightstand and sat with a pan on her lap and a towel over her shoulder.
“What’s she doing?” I asked Eros.
“Her job.”
“Can you tell her to go? I’ll be fine.”
“I no go.” Camilla surprised me with her English.
For a few minutes, Eros and Camilla spoke in Italian, leaving me in the dark. Camilla then handed the towel and pan to Eros with her brow tightly knit. She left the room with what sounded like nagging, and Eros took her place on the chair.
“I don’t want you here,” I said.
“I’m not leaving you in this condition. W
hat would your David say if I left you alone and ill?”
“You’re a hypocrite.” I glowered at him.
“And you’re not? Do you think that because you keep your feelings for me a secret you’re being sincere? You’re two times a hypocrite because you try to pretend with me, as well.”
“I’m going to tell David about you as soon as he gets home.”
“And who do you think he’ll believe? He’s going to confront me, and I’ll have to tell him the truth. I’m going to have to tell him that you—” he shrugged “—threw yourself at me.”
“That’s a lie! He won’t believe you.” Or would he?
My teeth rattled, either from rage or from cold. I knew their long years of friendship were my disadvantage.
“He will.”
“Get out of my room.”
“No,” he said, touching my cheek. I trembled more. “Your temperature continues to drop.”
“I h-hate you.”
“No you don’t, my sweet. You’re only a thin line away from being in love with me, and Dahveed has every right to feel jealous.”
“He’s not j-j-jealous of y-you.”
“I can feel it in him.”
“Then you must f-feel how much I hate you right now.”
“I ignore those emotions. But when it comes to matters of the heart I feel everything—what you felt when you heard me speak for the first time, the surge that spirals through your blood when I touch you. Do you know how I know this? Because I feel the same thing when your skin touches mine. And do you know why? Because you and I yearn for each other, Isis. You don’t have to be empathic to know that.”
“You’re d-deluded.” My teeth chattered.
“It’s strange,” Eros said, ignoring me. “I’ve never felt this sort of attraction for anyone. I can’t ignore it, and frankly, I don’t want to. It’s like you’ve bathed in pheromones, and it sickens me with an emotion that I’m unable to explain—and I like it.
“Did you know that nothing I’ve ever truly wanted in life has been given to me—like you, for example? I’m starting to believe that I’m cursed.”
“Well, sucks for you, doesn’t it?” I curled myself into a ball. “G-go away. “
“No.” He stood from the bed, and pulled the covers off my chest. “Your lips are turning blue. I’m taking you to the hospital.”