Page 14 of Guided by the Stars (Creating Destiny #1)

“Did you hear me?” Alexius’ booming voice interrupts my thoughts and my attention shifts to him. “Daemyn said we’ll figure this out. In the meantime, stay put, mind your business, and so will we. We’ll work on figuring out about your friend and how to get you far away from us.”

Why would he want to wait? We came here easily enough, traveling through thin air.

One minute I’m screaming, watching as this beast carries me further away from Adriane, then the next I feel my skin tingle and a splash of cold hitting me from all sides before dropping me into this place.

I’ll gladly go through that ten times right now if it gets me Adriane back.

“Can we go and search right now?” I plead with desperation lining my voice.

Alexius sighs, and for a split second his eyes soften, the storm behind them easing a fraction, shining bright blue like the ocean reflecting the sun.

“Here in this house, we can keep you hidden. Step out of those doors and wander too far, and you’ll have Zeus on your sweet ass within seconds, make no mistake about that.

But it’s your choice.” The softness fades as he spits the words out and gestures with his arm towards the door.

“If I portal again, he’ll know right away to follow our movement.

The Mortal World is off limits till I figure out how to hide you. ”

“What the hell does that mean?”

Alexius ignores me, turning towards Daemyn. “I need to check in with Aetos Dios, deal with her,” he orders and walks out of the front door he was blocking moments ago, leaving me with more questions than answers. What the hell is an Aetos Dios?

“He’ll be okay,” Daemyn states, pulling the cup out of my hand before taking the seat next to me, the old table creaking under the extra weight.

“By the looks of it, you two need convincing. Not me. I’m still trying to figure out if I should believe you.

” I force out a laugh in disbelief, despite feeling the small tinge of fear in my gut.

These assholes do not deserve my pity. Still, the worry that was etched onto both of their faces is trying to creep under my skin.

Daemyn chuckles, lightening the situation.

For the first time a grin crosses my face, brought out by the sweetness of his laugh.

It doesn’t last long as guilt washes over me like a cold shower, sobering me up.

“I’m not understanding half the shit you guys are rambling about. Just answer me this, is Adriane safe?”

“You two set things into motion.” Uneasiness shifts in him as his words taper off with his eyes fading towards the door Alexius exited.

It lasts only a brief second before he shrugs off whatever hesitation he had.

“My mother was powerful, and passed down her gift of sight. When you swam in the Aegean Waters, something changed. You felt it and so did the gods. I have long ago seen it. Fate has to be on our side, Baby Girl,” he finishes, and my eyes snap to his once more.

Whether instinct or insanity, the nonsense of his words has me intrigued.

It’s asinine to believe in thoughts of visions, but so is everything about this situation.

Before I can question him more, his hand tugs me up and I find my legs, following along with him as my mind is mentally exhausted. “We can answer your questions once Alexius comes back. We will tell you everything, but right now let me show you around.”

Downstairs consists of only two rooms, but Daemyn points out where the cups and silverware are in the kitchen and where to find the stash of games they keep in the living room.

Overwhelmed, I silently follow, until he hesitantly takes me to the front door.

“Look, we are in the mist where they can’t see us, but can I trust you not to run away?

” he asks, running his hand through his hair.

“As tempting as it is to run, I doubt I have a chance to make myself magically go back to where I was a few hours ago.” I sigh as his eyes study me.

I really have nowhere to run or hide. I grew up exploring the woods with my dad, and judging by what I saw out the window, there is no safety out there on my own.

I won’t be a fool though, the minute this turns worse, I won’t hesitate to tempt fate.

I guess Daemyn finds honesty in my words and he opens the door.

The view isn’t too different from the cabin my parents used to rent at Lake Tahoe.

Towering trees surround us. They are enormous, made up of bright and dark greens, bringing the world to life.

Except here, instead of looking down, I’m facing upwards, squinting at lavish homes climbing up a mountain.

They are too far away to make out details, but close enough to notice the sunset sparkling off of them.

It’s almost like a fairytale, homes that shine with gold and reflect like crystals over the forest below, right where we are standing.

I wrap my arms around myself, taking a deep breath in.

Maybe it’s their words spinning around in my head, but I can’t deny the air here seems heavy, almost oppressive, like you’re being watched.

I take a step back inside and don’t argue when Daemyn closes the door, and then I let him lead me up the stairs.

We barely set foot past the last stair, when the front door slams shut, vibrating through the empty hall, startling me.

“Why don’t I go downstairs and talk to Alexius for a bit? We’ll leave you alone up here so you can have some space,” Daemyn suggests, pointing towards the doors down the hall. “You can choose whichever room. Join us whenever you’re ready.”

He turns, heading back down the stairs and I move with purpose, running through a dark bedroom towards the open door on the opposite side.

I shut it behind me, locking it, and blocking out Alexius’ voice as it rises.

It’s a bathroom, one of those adjoining ones where two doors lead in.

Quickly, I lock the other and strip out of my clothes.

The sticky stuff is caked on my skin, and despite knowing no amount of water will wash away this nightmare, I step through the glass door, needing a cold shower for clarity.

I’m stuck in a ridiculous situation where I’m starting to question my own sanity, but something deep within me is believing this mess and if there is any hope of figuring this out, I’m going to need all the facts.

Hopefully Daemyn is telling me the truth and they will answer all these questions floating around in my head.

Determined to learn more, I shower in record time, only to be left cursing as I stand in nothing but a gray towel over the sink, scrubbing my clothes with warm water. With every rub, the goo grows stickier, and I eye the door to my left, knowing I’m out of options.

“Fuck, I need clothes,” I grumble, pushing the door open and letting the light of the bathroom shine into the empty bedroom. It’s small, lacking personality. No pictures, no posters, not even a tv. Just plain white walls and a king-size bed with a dresser in the corner.

“Whatever,” I mumble and run over, opening a heavy wooden drawer. My fingers sift through organized piles of colors until I pull out a black t-shirt and yank it over my head. At the sound of footsteps, I stumble back, dropping the towel.

“No,” I hiss out and dart back into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I move quickly, turning on the shower, hoping they will leave me alone. I just need a little more time.

The sound of a door creaking open pulls my attention to the other door connected to the bathroom.

I hold in my breath and listen as Alexius attempts to whisper, “I thought you said we can’t come up here.

” His deep voice fails him, especially since I’m leaning my head against the door, straining my ears to hear them .

“I’m just putting her purse in here. She might need something.”

Well damn, if anything, I guess at least Daemyn is considerate.

I dropped it during my struggle with Alexius.

Unfortunately, most of it is probably useless to me.

All the typical, random stuff any woman would carry; phone, camera, food, and my toothbrush; nothing too helpful when kidnapped into a fantasy world.

Maybe in the future I should consider bringing spare clothes with me.

I push my ear harder against the door and listen as feet shuffle across the floor. “Done.” Alexius’ husky voice vibrates loud and I hear the drop of my purse. “Now let’s get downstairs. I need a few drinks and we need a plan. She can’t stay here.”

My thoughts exactly, buddy.

Their footsteps fade away, followed by the sound of a door being pushed closed.

Assuming they left, I turn off the shower and wait a few minutes listening to the silence before cracking the door open just enough to peek through.

Without seeing a soul, I go in and run for my purse.

Quickly, I pull out my phone and drop it on the bed just as quickly when it confirms my suspicions, I’m out of range. I’m truly stuck.

As I make my way to the dresser I’m confident that I am in Daemyn’s room.

There are pictures of woods and sunrises hanging on the walls, and black and white sketches laying around the room.

It’s set up is similar to Alexius’, but this one holds more character.

Instead of a crisp white bed, his is covered with black satin sheets and colorful throw pillows.

His dresser isn’t neat and clean, but instead it’s cluttered with photographs.

“Cute,” I mumble, lingering on one particular photo. Daemyn has his arms wrapped around a guy covered in similar tattoos, with huge matching smiles painted across their faces. It’s the only photo with the pair of them together, but you can tell how comfortable they are with each other.

I let out a long groan, chastising myself. Seriously I’ve been kidnapped and I’m admiring his pictures!

With a heavy sigh, I pull open the drawer, finding only jeans and underwear.

I pick out a pair of his black boxer briefs, cursing this ‘fate’ thing Daemyn talked about.

I’m stuck in Olympus, left without much of a choice on anything, and relying on hope from a vision one of my abductors had, sealing my fate to theirs.

I must be damn crazy for believing them and accepting this as my current reality.

Lacking options, I tie a knot into the shirt and secure the boxers with the extra hair tie I keep around my wrist. Then, my eyes drift toward the window that holds the view of the world that’s going to keep me captive.

Inhaling deeply, my fingers brush against my necklace, and I promise myself that I’ll believe their words are true, that their intentions are to protect me. I’ll play nice, get all the information I need, and then I’ll get the hell out of here and back to Adriane.