Ode to the Queen (22 page)

But following my own advice I didn’t love it enough to commit to wearing it that evening. I was still sifting through the dresses looking for something that would be perfect when I came across a beautiful black velvet dress that I thought would look amazing on Valentina. I pulled it out and offered it to her.

At first her eyes widened at the revealing top it bore, before she agreed, “okay, I’ll try it on.”

I watched her take it, switching into it carefully and as she turned my breath left me. It was perfect. The velvet lay perfectly across her hips and tummy, accentuating her hourglass form. Despite the plunging v sweetheart neckline the dress had, it was still modest as the top half was still cut like a long-sleeved shirt but made from a mesh material. Along the collar and down the arms of the dress, beautiful intricate velvet lines had been drawn in patterns like tattoos. Val looked simply stunning.

“I think that’s it.” I said with an affirmative nod. She seemed excited as she turned to the mirror once again to take stock of herself and I could hear a soft gasp of pleasure as she stared.

“I…” She was speechless, which only made me smile. This dress made her look older than she was, a perfect reflection of the old soul she certainly possessed.

“Perfect?”

“Yes, I think so.” She turned to me, grateful and excited, “Thanks Savannah, I love it. Now we just need to find something for you.” I turned back to the closet and stared at it for a moment before reaching in and drawing out a strawberry coloured dress.

“I think I found it, actually.” The dress fit tight like a glove on me, pencil skirt in length and one shouldered like the others had been. But on this shoulder sat a bunch of ruffled and folded pieces of material, attached to a draped collar, crossing to the other side. The dress itself was peplum in style but instead of going all the way around it only hung in the middle on the front and the material fell down like a folded waterfall to the bottom of the dress.

I looked like a real Queen as I stared at my reflection and Val stood behind me nodding her head in silent agreement.

It was modest, but still sexy. It was everything I wanted and more. Anything Charlotte could wear would look trashy next to me - I knew it.

“We’re going to be the hottest girls there.” Valentina giggled and I turned to look at her, smiling and nodding. She was blushing at her statement but I could feel the pride resonating off of her. I got the impression she had never been able to dress like this, for one reason or another, and she liked it. Even more so with me there encouraging her to do it.

“You’re right about that. Now it’s time to accessorise.” We conjured two pairs of designer shoes then we set to dressing our hair and faces up.

By the end of it I resolved that girl time had been exactly what I had needed, how Val had known I didn’t know... but I was grateful for her appearance back in that hallway.

I had completely forgotten about the crushing feeling Aidan had left in my chest and actually found myself excited for the evening ahead of us.

I was going to be presented to the other Gods and this time, no matter what lies Charlotte spread about me... I was the only one who could ever look the part of the Queen of the Heavens.

The doors of the throne room opened and everyone was there. People I was familiar with at this point, and even people I’d never seen before in all my time here. But apparently Valentina knew everyone. But definitely not in the way everyone knew me.

Her eyes swept the room before she burst into a big grin and moved further into the room to say hi to people, give hugs and complement people. My eyes followed her, wishing I could be more sociable like that but she seemed to have this unique knack to make people feel at ease around her and I knew that was mostly what contributed to their reception of the younger girl.

I still felt a sense of protection over her. The inevitable wandering eyes of some of the boys in the room watched her as if wondering where this girl had been hiding. It was too easy to brush her off as too young when she wasn’t dolled up like this. But here and now, the way she manoeuvred herself around the room she looked like the woman she was growing into.

Catching a waiter as she passed with a tray of drinks I took a flute of something for myself and decided to leave Valentina alone for now. She seemed to be handling herself quite fine without me.

I didn’t exactly know where I was headed or who I was going to talk to but with my newly acquired confidence, and desire to impress people with my innate Queenly skills, I knew I had to seek out people who could be on my side instead of Charlotte’s.

Immediately I knew what I wanted to do. Charlotte would be prone to seeking out the ‘higher’ class, not that there was much distinction of that in this crowd with everyone’s access to finery. I also knew that would mean lesser Gods to her as well.

She’d seek the help of the Olympians because they had the most power but what Charlotte didn’t understand was that although there was more power with the Olympians, there were more lesser Gods in general, equaling if not surpassing them, with power.

I already felt more cunning with that plan under my belt and allowed my eyes to search about the room for my first target. It was hard to pick though, harder still to discern who was God, Titan or otherwise. I knew there were muses but I wasn’t sure if they fell into the realm of being Goddesses or being something else.

It probably wouldn’t hurt to get friendly with everyone but I needed a starting point instead of just jumping in.

Spotting a petite strawberry blonde hanging around at the back of the room I started toward her when suddenly a bulky presence stepped in front of me.

“Hello Savannah.”

I stepped back, turning my chin upwards to see his face. It took me a moment to remember his name, “Lincoln.” I stepped back more, putting some space between us though it made no difference as he closed in on me again.

“You look absolutely divine this evening. Where’s your date?” He let his eyes glance around as though he expected a man to appear at my side before they settled back on me, lazily taking in the curves of the dress.

“I’m going solo for the evening. Besides, I didn’t realise that this was a bring-a-date sort of affair.”

“So, you didn’t come with your husband?”

“My what?” I laughed; the question was rhetorical because I knew that he meant Aidan. I couldn’t believe he’d referred to him as my husband. “No. We did not come together; we don’t have any intention of ever going anywhere together.”

“Oh, are you and the hubby having a lover’s quarrel?”

“We’re not lovers, we’re not married, we’re not anything.” Lincoln looked thoughtful for a moment, an unnerving smirk crossing his features as he stepped closer.

“Well, lucky for me.” He reached out and brushed a bit of loose hair behind my ear letting his fingertips linger against the soft skin hidden there before dragging them away down my neck.

The gesture sent a series of shivers down my neck and my stomach knotted uneasily as I stared up at him. I had flashbacks of what Griffin had tried to do and ignored the fear that Lincoln might try the same thing.

Greek Gods, specifically the Gods, seemed to all be under the impression that they could have whatever they wanted whenever they wanted it, because they had the power to command. They were all arrogant and selfish people, to my horror all being exactly the kinds of guys I had vowed to avoid.

“It means you’re free to have the next dance with me.” He held the offending hand out to me. I stared at it before looking up at him with an expression that allowed him to read my mind on exactly what I thought about that. His smirk faded fast for a minute as he scowled at me before he leaned in, pressing his lips too close to my ear.

He hissed hotly, “I would play along Savannah lest anything unfortunate happen…” He leaned away again, his eyes deliberately jumping across the room to where Valentina was still flitting between parties so innocently. The maternal protective instinct I felt towards her reared its head in the form of disgust and hatred. How he could even imagine using her to threaten me?

But it worked. I wasn’t selfish enough to not play along and risk him following through on his word. All sorts of scenarios of what he could do to Val ran through my head, each one making me feel sicker than the last.

“Sure, one dance can’t hurt.” I said through gritted teeth, holding out my hand to him. I could see in his eyes how pleased he was that he’d won as he led me from our spot on the outskirts of the dancing crowd and weaved through until we were in the centre.

My stomach knotted tightly because I knew he was doing this so that everyone could see, especially Aidan. Sure I wasn’t happy with him right now but I definitely didn’t want him thinking I was making bedfellows out of his enemies.

“Ah, I like this song.” He said, slipping one arm tight around my slight waist and resting his hand on the lowest part of my back in order to keep me pressed close and intimately against him. I felt like a marionette doll, commanded only by the strings of her puppeteer, with no mind of her own.

For the first time since entering the room I realised there was almost a static energy in the air like everyone had been waiting for something to happen. I didn’t exactly know what an “open court” was or what we were going to do after we introduced our Gods to everyone but everyone seemed on edge like they knew no matter what something was going down tonight.

Disinterest shone on my face and he frowned, shaking his head, “come now Savannah, look like you’re enjoying yourself.”

I glanced back up at him, staring up at those dark brown eyes, which were nearly black, suitable for the soulless man who possessed them.

“Why is this necessary?” I asked, not giving him the pleasure of a smile or a flicker of enjoyment.

“This isn’t necessary, I just wanted a dance with the most beautiful woman in this room tonight.”

“That’s not true. You wanted to dance with Hera, not Savannah. That unto itself is a political statement.” He smirked, pride flashing through his eyes.

“You were always my smartest daughter. The apple of my eye: so to speak. Beautiful, intelligent, witty, and resourceful…”

I saw now that Lincoln’s eyes weren’t naturally that dark colour but they now reflected the darkness that Cronos had embraced. Lincoln had failed to control it, and this is what happened to Gods who turned. They lost their mortal conscious.

A shudder of fear ran through me, I never wanted to lose myself because Hera craved that dark, all-powerful feeling.

“Cronos. Well, this changes everything.” I shifted, trying to loosen his grip on me but he was steadfast as he continued to spin me around the dance floor.

“Does it? I just like to think of it as history repeating itself, minus the eating part. I’m terribly sorry about that. This time I don’t intend for Zeus to fulfil his prophecy, and he won’t trick me either. Which is where you come in, my love.” He whispered to me, the coolness of his tone forming a block of ice in my stomach.

“What prophecy?” I couldn’t help myself, if Atlas wasn’t going to tell me maybe I could get it out of Cronos. But he looked down at me like I was a child playing an adult’s game and shook his head, smirking down at me.

“It doesn’t matter anymore because, tonight, you and I are going to change the course of fate.”

I clenched my jaw, forcing a smile so tight it made my entire face ache, “if you want the throne, just take it. Neither of us thinks it’s important enough for all these games, threats…”

“Now, now. We both know that’s not true and we both know that it’s not as simple as just walking up there and sitting down. I’m sure you’ve realised this is a popularity game, and no doubt you’re aware you’re losing as much as I am.”

I looked back up at him, glaring as much as I could despite the growing fear.

“I’d rather lose then side with you if that’s what you’re getting at.”

“Savannah… Savannah… Don’t be so petulant. Think of the power you could have if you were my Queen.”

“Why is it so important to you? Why does it matter now? The world is different, don’t you see? It’s not fit for an all-mighty God anymore. They tried that, even he’s starting to lose his faithful following.”

“Because it was mine to begin with!” His voice raised a decibel in anger before he composed himself again, taking another sweeping side step and then pausing to remain in the same spot.

We turned around slowly so I could see Aidan staring at both of us from where he was grouped with Charlotte, Nicola, Zane and Royce. If looks could kill I was absolutely positive Aidan was murdering me a hundred times over right now.

Unable to bear it any longer I looked away from him, craning my neck to look back up at Cronos.

“And say you win it back, say you usurp your power and return as the God of the Gods… What are you going to do with it?”

“Why – whatever I want.” He sounded surprised I needed to ask this question, “whatever I desire will be mine, and yours of course. They’ll bow down to us, give us their power and we’ll rule as the most powerful Gods of all.”

“You’re going to… steal everyone’s powers?” I said slowly, my fingers instinctively tightening in an attempt to form a fist.

“To put it so crassly, yes. That is exactly what I intend to do.”

“I don’t want any part of it.” I struggled to free myself from him but he pulled me closer, and to my horror let his hand slip over the curves of my form possessively. Aidan must still be watching.

“I think you’ll find you’ll change your mind Savannah… Soon enough.”

The ominous tone of his voice frightened me but to my relief he let me go. I turned to leave him when he suddenly swept down in a grand gesture, capturing my lips with his. He held me there against him for a moment, his hands holding my head so tightly I feared he was going to crush my skull.

The kiss was bruising and dizzying and as he pulled away to release me I felt drained, exhausted. Panic seized me as he walked away leaving me like that on the dance floor and my mind raced through the possibilities of what he could have done.

Something deep within me reassured me that whatever it was he had done, he hadn’t been taking my powers. Hera was still there.

Stumbling through the crowd I sought somewhere to sit down. Almost instinctively I made my way toward the thrones, collapsing into one of them as the room began to spin around me. My fingers clutched the arm of the chair for support, willing myself not to pass out or whatever it was that was happening. I took a moment to let my eyes close, leaning back against the chair.

Cronos was up to something tonight. I had been so distracted with the dramatic dealings of Aidan and Charlotte I had completely forgotten about Lincoln and Aidan’s fight earlier in the week. I had forgotten about Atlas’ warning and my own fears that something bigger was going on.

My selfishness had clouded my entire perspective on this whole King and Queen of the Heavens thing that I forgot the ‘King and’ part.

It didn’t just matter which Queen made it to the top throne but who would be sitting beside us. I could only imagine how disastrous it would be if Charlotte were to descend the throne with Lincoln at her side. Yet, I could see her giving into his advances considering she was desperate enough for power.

I hated Charlotte, but I didn’t want to see her driven to slave status at the side of Lincoln. No less so to see her drained completely of her being and left as a shell of who she was – ugly as that personality could be.

I needed to figure out what Cronos was up to and I needed to stop it. I didn’t know how I was going to, or what would happen but I knew that I needed to stop focusing so much on the pettiness of Charlotte and I or Aidan and I.

This wasn’t just about us anymore but our Gods and the threat to our safety, everyone’s safety. I also needed to get the prophecy out of Cronos; I needed to know what Aidan and I were up against.

My lips were still stinging from the force of his kiss and after a moment or two I felt a little better.

As my eyes scanned the room I couldn’t see Cronos anywhere, which was worrisome. Before I could dwell on it my eyes found Valentina again. She was standing at the drink table, holding a cup in her hand as a man spooned out a helping of punch for her.

I rose quickly from the throne, something inside of me telling me to go to her. Although I knew she was old enough for boys, there was something else that wasn’t right about this in the pit of my stomach.

My concern for the younger girl replaced the uneasiness I felt after Cronos and frankly, the distraction was welcome even if perhaps I wasn’t going to be. As I drew closer to the pair, the man’s voice hit me first, making me stop short in my steps toward them.

I could recognise that English drawl anywhere. It had, after all, threatened me once.

“Griffin.” I said coldly, moving to Valentina’s side with haste. “Nice of you to show up.” I said with false nicety, one arm looping through Valentina’s. “Enjoying yourself? I think every man in this room has been watching you, vying for a chance to ask you to dance.” I teased lightly with a smile, the other girl blushed and shook her head.

“Well, if that’s true they haven’t asked.”

“I, uh, I’m not much of a dancer but…”

Griffin started to speak and I glared at him, “I think that’s simply because you intimidate them. Royce actually asked if I could ask for him, that’s why I came over to get you. So nice to see you Griffin… enjoy your night.”