At the start of the celebrations, Dea made the announcement, ‘the Oracles have said that the legitimacy of the Chosen One cannot be questioned. I have heard and seen some resistance and I appeal to those Gods and Goddess to abolish their resistance. The truth now stands before us’ as she pointed to Leucetius and I who were standing next to each other, smiling.
‘We all know that Taran is the chosen one and a young god for his age, 20,000 years and he is going to be installed as the next God of Thunder. I would like to announce that Taran IS the legitimate son of Leucetius from his matrimony to Marella. For all those of you who don’t know, Marella was Leucetius’ first wife, they were briefly married which resulted in Aidan or Taran, as we know him’ Dea as she placed her shoulders on Mother. ‘Taran comes from a lineage of Gods and nymphs. He is also The Chosen One and let me give you Gods and Goddess out there a piece of advice for those of you who want to destroy him or harm him or his loved ones, let me tell you, that his powers are beyond our imagination and his senses are very acute. I know that it is known fact not to make me angry but it is an unknown fact to make Taran angry. Together with The Protected One and once The Sacred Triad is formed, the demons better beware, although some have seen what you can do, Taran’ Dea said as she looked me.
After that announcement was made, there was a brief silence in hall. And then, there were whispers and a round of applause when Dea announced that, ‘Taran would be officially installed as the next God of Thunder, preparations for his installations are being made as we speak’
As the crowd began to enjoy the celebrations, Marella, Selene and her daughters mingled with ease and comfort, they had accepted Marella as their Elder Mother and Taran as their eldest brother. They didn’t have any objections to his installation and were glad that they now had a brother to call their own.
Just as I had a sip of mead, Agrona, Mars, Poseidon and Erecura had surrounded me and hugged me, they congratulated me on the official announcement that was made. From a distance, I saw Mother chatting with Dea while they turned to look at me; I sensed they wanted to talk to me about an important matter. I excused myself and made my way towards them.
When they saw me approaching, Dea smiled and hugged me, ‘Aidan, just as Marella said, she knew you were reading our minds and came here, is that true?’ Dea said.
I smiled sheepishly and said, ‘True! But I also sensed that there were important matters to talk about, so … go ahead!’ and smiled. Dea and Mother looked at each other while Mother motioned for Dea to speak instead.
‘Aidan, you are aware that you are The Chosen One and the next God of Thunder, right?’ Dea said.
‘Right’ I answered. ‘Well, the duty of The Chosen One encompasses protecting The Protected One’ Dea continued.
‘The Protected One? I was going to ask you about that and also The Sacred Triad’ I asked, seeking confirmation. ‘Who or what is that all about?’ I asked further.
‘The Protected One holds the link to mortals and Gods. It has recently been revealed to her, as she was a mortal, with no knowledge of her powers. She may need guidance on her transformation and the best person would be you. As for The Sacred Triad, I will introduce you and explain that to you some other day’ Dea continued as she looked at me.
‘That’s not a problem at all. I’m assuming this mortal female is on Earth. So, I’ll return to Earth, guide and teach her all her the stuff she needs to know and protect her at the same time, correct?’ I asked Dea.
‘Correct!’ Dea said as mother nodded smiling. I couldn’t help asking, ‘protect her from what, exactly? I mean if she has lived a mortal life, she wouldn’t have much demon enemies or any enemies for that matter’
‘Well, there have been several attempts on her life already and we feel with you being near or with her, the demons would think twice about attacking her. You would have to encourage her to reveal her true form to you, though. She has no idea on the immense power she holds’ Dea said enthusiastically.
‘Can I have the name of this mortal female woman I am supposed to protect?’ I asked, enthusiastically.
‘Sarah’ Mother replied to which I turned to her, surprised. ‘Sarah?! The one who isn’t talking to me at the moment and about to marry James, THAT Sarah?’ I asked, not believing my lucky stars.
‘How many Sarah’s do you know anyway?’ Mother asked curiously as she replied, ‘yes, THAT Sarah’
I answered jokingly, ‘only ONE!’ to which Mother and Dea laughed. As we laughed, I saw a nymph approaching us. I pointed her approach to Dea and Mother and asked, ‘who is that?’
‘Someone we all know’ they replied as they hugged the nymph. ‘Aidan, you don’t recognize me?’ the nymph asked to which I shook my head and said, ‘nope’
‘Surely you don’t’ she continued. ‘I’m Electra but you know me as Nara’ she said as she transformed to the familiar Nara whom I had known and who also didn’t want me near her daughter.
I moved back and looked at all three of them, ‘what’s going on here?’ as Nara came and whispered something in my ear. ‘Don’t tell me you didn’t know this was coming!’ Mother said jokingly. As Nara whispered into my ear, I began to smile. There was hope after all. ‘Aidan, there is no need to call me Aunt Nara, you are a God and I am a nymph, you can call me Nara, please drop the Aunt, that makes me feel so old’ Electra continued as I smiled happily acknowledging that fact.
‘Taran, we need Aidan back, for Sarah, for Iris’ Nara says as looks at me in the eyes. ‘for us, for mankind’ Dea said. ‘For the completion of your sacred union’ Mother said finally. ‘No, Marella, the sacred union will only be complete upon their marriage and consummation of their marriage as that is when two become one’ Dea corrected Marella.
~~
A few days after the celebrations, I was installed as the God of Thunder, officially. However, that happy occasion was short-lived as it turned to sadness when Leucetius health took a turn for the worse. He soon lay bed-ridden with constant flow of visitors, Gods, Goddess, nymphs, angels and fairies. We all prayed for his recovery, which seemed bleak.
We all were in his room, Mother and Selene crying and giving him positive thoughts, his daughters seeing to his every need. I just stood by the wall and watched Leucetius, my head hung low and arms folded. It had been strong and had not cried, I did not want to lose a father for the second time. I prayed and prayed and remained silent in the room as the flow of visitors gradually reduced.
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a familiar voice, ‘let me through! Leave me alone! I want to see my friend!’ .A man barged into the room, startling everyone. I looked at that man angrily, it was Ambisagrus.
‘Taran! Marella! Selene! Oh my Leucetius, what has become of you?’ Ambisagrus said sarcastically as Leucetius tried to speak but couldn’t. I moved stealthily towards Ambisagrus and say, ‘is that the way you talk to my father?? I remember everything. Be polite and kind and make it fast, you don’t know how much I want to combust you into ashes, here and now’ I whispered into his ear as he looked into my flaming red eyes and showed fear instantly.
‘Leucetius, your time is near and so is our alliance. I wish you well, my friend’ Ambisagrus meekly continues as he hugs his friend one last time. He looks at me and we walk outside the room. In the hallway, Ambisagrus comes close to my face and says, ‘I will never forgive you for destroying my multiple arms, if I don’t defeat you, my son will and if he doesn’t his son will, is that understood?’
I looked at him and say, ‘Ambisagrus, I only seek peace with you but you only want to defeat me, if it’s war you want, you will get a war!’ I say angrily as I walk into the room to see everyone surrounding Leucetius, crying hugging, wailing and screaming as Leucetius breaths his last.
~~
‘Sarah! Sarah! Wake up!’ Jake said as he sprinkled water and her face and Savannah shook her to wake her up. Nara placed a pillow under Sarah’s head and caressed her hair as Dea placed her palms above Sarah’s face.
Sarah slowly opened her eyes and saw the faces of her mother, Dea, Jake and Savannah around her, ‘are you alright?’ they all asked simultaneously as Nara raised her daughter to sit with her knees bended.
‘Yeah, I guess. So, I am Nephele and I am The Protected One and my name is Iris?’ Sarah asked, looking at Nara and Dea for confirmation. They nodded and said, ‘yes, that’s right’
‘Oh my! This is all so new to me and with the wedding coming up, will I ever become Iris?’ Sarah asked as Nara gently calmed her down and said, ‘it is not a question of “ever becoming” dear, it’s a question of “when you become” that is important now’
‘And, James? I should tell him then?’ Sarah asked to which Nara replied, ‘NO! Don’t tell him anything. As for the wedding, we will wait and see’ Nara continued.
‘But mother, will you teach me? How do I transform and do I have powers now?’ Sarah asked, as she gave a brief laugh.
‘No dear, I will not teach you but we have found the suitable person who can teach you and has experienced mortal transformation before’ Nara said as she looked at Dea happily.
‘Who?’ Sarah asked curiously.
‘Aidan’ Dea said excitedly to which Sarah moved back and said, ‘Aidan, he is coming back, here, to St Just? To teach me?’
‘Yes, he is my dear’ Nara said to which Jake replied, ‘yeah, Sarah, we have been putting up at his home, it’s just so warm and cozy and the roundhouse! That’s an experience altogether’ Jake said as he winked at Savannah, who blushed and looked down.
‘Mother, you do know James would kill him if he ever sees me with Aidan’ Sarah continued worriedly.
‘Actually, it’s Aidan who can kill James and walk away scot free, but, nah, he would rather take the punch, if it involves you, dear Sarah’ Jake said as he smiled at the punch and kick Aidan received from James at the Darkness Club.
‘That’s true’ Sarah laughed quietly as she looked at Jake intertwining their fingers and playing with them.
‘When can I see him, Dea?’ Sarah continued. ‘He will come for you, my dear, don’t ever forget that and don’t ever doubt that. Everything is being set in motion now. I shall take my leave, my dears’ Dea said as she kissed and hugged Nara, Jake and Savannah farewell. Jake and Savannah soon left as they wanted to spend a day at a haunted house to scare people, just for the fun of it. Sarah was left with Nara.
Nara took the opportunity and asked, ‘Sarah, are you truly happy to be married to James? Honestly’ Nara asked as she held Sarah’s gaze.
With tears welling in her eyes, Sarah said, ‘no, mother, I’m not happy with James and this marriage. I’d rather be with Aidan and spend the rest of my life with him. Mother, I love Aidan!’ Sarah said as she began crying and hugged her mother for support.
‘Tell him then’ Nara said to which Sarah asked, ‘but, does he love me?’
‘He loves you more than you can even imagine, my dearest’ Nara said as she stroked her daughter’s hair.
When Nara had left the room, Sarah went to the window and saw the clouds gathering and darkening. She was immediately brought back to the day Aidan had revealed his true self to her. At the sight of the clouds, she thought, ‘Aidan’ to which, there was a thunderous roar, as if acknowledging he had heard her call.
Chapter 19 - The reunion
I arrived in St Just on the week Sarah and James were expected to tie the knot. I was overcome by a sense of sadness at the thought that the woman of my dreams was marrying a man, who didn’t value her, appreciate her and love her. This made me want her even more. But, Mother and Nara insisted I meet Sarah before her big day. When I arrived, Jake and Savannah had already left my home with a message that they would be busy with Sarah’s wedding. They had asked me to meet and join them for dinner together with Sarah and James. I declined the invitation as I felt that if Sarah and I were to meet, we would, as for James, I didn’t want to see or meet him. I noticed Mother and Nara would always whisper when I was around and when I asked them, all they would tell me was, ‘you’ll know soon … very soon’
Nara had told me that it was a stroke of luck that James had postponed obtaining their marriage license until after their traditional church wedding. After the triple whammy that hit St Just, Aunt Josie had closed her store for good. She had a strong liking towards James while she still considered me, a useful handyman, which I didn’t mind. Aunt Josie would also be moving to Devon after Sarah’s wedding, for good.
One day, while I was walking along Holywell Beach, I sensed James and he was with someone, and it wasn’t Sarah, it was Rebecca. I had not expected that from James, considering Sarah had told me that he was no longer seeing Rebecca and that she had moved to New York. Jake had told me that Sarah was at the dressmaker, doing the final touches to her wedding dress. ‘I wonder what she will say if she knows that Rebecca is back’ I thought to myself. James and Rebecca lay down on a picnic mat, in a secluded area of the beach, it was ironic, as it was the same place, Sarah, Jake and I had picnicked last. James was in his black swimming trunks while Rebecca was in a skimpy halter-neck red bikini tied with strings.
Feeling like a naughty boy, I decided to eavesdrop on their conversation, ‘you mean boy!! You are going to do it, aren’t you?’ Rebecca said with an evil grin on her face. ‘Yeah, I mean, how could you seriously think I would fall in love with her again and marry her for the second time. I’ll just keep her excited with the marriage preparations and then, just like old times, I’ll leave her at the altar!’ James answered as he laughed while looking out to the ocean.
‘Can you imagine how devastated that poor girl would be?’ Rebecca laughed as she caressed James bare skin. ‘No, dear, I just can’t imagine how she would be; I would rather see her face once she is dumped at the altar for the second time!’ James said as he laughed and held Rebecca’s face and passionately kissed her on her lips.
I was furious with what I had heard and saw and just when I was about to storm their picnic, Mother and Nara held my hand and stopped me and brought me back to my home. Mother then said, ‘Aidan, we knew this was coming, so, before you kill them both, this is our plan’ as Mother told me specifically what I was to do on Sarah’s wedding day. As Mother explained, I looked at Mother and Nara, gave them my widest smile and said, ‘you two are brilliant! That’s a plan and I’m game!’ I said as I hugged them both.
‘Now, go off and meet Sarah. She would love to meet you. She is at the dressmakers’ Nara said as she pecked me on the cheek. Just as I was about to leave, Nara transformed into Electra and said, ‘I have shown Sarah my true form and she is still recovering from it. What James and Rebecca are doing is not right, hurting my daughter like that, but they are fools! They do not know who she is and with whom her future lies with. Go meet her now and I will have to show Sarah that James hasn’t changed one bit. Your presence would make her feel better’ Nara continued as she gently released my arm. ‘Fools they are!!’ I laughed to myself and told Nara, ‘not to worry, I’ll be there!’ I said, happy that I had received Electra’s and Nara’s blessings.
At the dressmaker’s store, I saw Jake and Savannah who were admiring Sarah’s bridal gown. I placed my index finger on my lips, a hush sign to Jake and Savannah. I walked silently and admired Sarah from behind a pillar. The wedding gown Sarah chose had a combination of traditional and modern elements to it. It was an ivory satin bodice, padded slightly at the hips and narrowed at the waist. Her gown was inspired by corsetry. The bodice encompassed floral motifs. On her back, there were fifty-eight buttons of gazar and organza which were fastened by a means of rouleau loops. The gown also consisted of a skirt, underskirt trim and bridal train which measured one hundred inches and incorporated lace materials. The main body of the gown was made from satin gazar and had a long full skirt designed to echo an opening flower, with soft pleats which unfolded at the floor. As with British tradition of having something blue, Sarah had choose to have a blue ribbon placed inside the wedding gown which was sewn inside the dress. ‘It’s
beautiful; Sarah … the bodice fits perfectly and accentuates your curves’ the salesgirl assigned to Sarah said. The tailor was nodding in agreement. ‘Yes, it does … but I’m not sure’ Sarah continued.
As she turned her body with her face facing the mirror to view the dress from behind, I came out from behind the pillar when she turned her back towards the mirror. We both looked at each other for a while until she screamed happily, ‘Aidan!!’ and came to give me the tightest hug she had ever given me. I managed to give her a kiss on her forehead as she hugged me. I acknowledged Jake and Savannah as they watched excitedly.
Her scream had startled the waiting sales staff as she turned towards me and said, ‘I’m sorry, but I didn’t see you come in’ to which Sarah replied, ‘Oh! Marie, he is a good friend of mine. Aidan!! When did you come? How long will you be here? I have so much to tell you!!’ Sarah continued elated. Then, she came closer to me and looked up at me into my eyes and whispered, ‘I missed you’
I had never expected the reaction Sarah gave me. We gazed at each other until Jake came up to us and said, ‘ahem … ahem … Houston, we have a problem’ and that sentence brought a flash of memories with it. Sarah moved back while Jake, Savannah and I waited for her to complete the purchase. ‘Marie, that’s it for today. Let’s pack up!’ Sarah said as she closed the curtains and began to change into her casual attire.