Page 79 of The Cursed Chalice

“You’re awfully quiet, Aric.”

“I am just observing tonight.”

“I find that to be very interesting.Interesting indeed.” I close my eyes and disappear from my room and reappear in front of Nisa’s.

I knock on her door and wait.

When the door opens, Nisa steps out with her hair braided with white ribbons. She is wearing a chiton, a simple white tunic fastened with a brooch with my sigil on it.

She spins around. “How do I look?”

I smile down at her. “Like a Roman princess.”

She smiles. “You’re so silly, Einstein.”

I bow and hold my hand out to her. She looks at my palm like she’s hesitant to touch it. Just as I was about to pull my hand away, she smiles up at me and places her warm hand in mine. In that moment, I knew two things: I would die protecting her, and she was more than my ward; she was becoming my daughter.

Hand in hand, we step out onto the patio and walk to the rose garden. There was no need for decoration; the rose garden held its beauty on its own.

The pathway was brightened by the copper basins with fire dancing in them. They lead to the stone arch covered in red climbing roses.

Red, white, and black cloths drape a stone table along with a gold bowl of water, one pomegranate, a gold dagger, and a gold cord.

The moon hangs high in the sky. I look up, wondering if the gods are looking down at me. Maybe some are feeling pity for me, while others may be hoping for my demise.

“Tonight, fuck the gods.”

“Agreed,” I whisper.

I hear footsteps coming behind me. Looking around, I see Phobos and Deimos in black shirts and charcoal pants. Deimos’s gold chain sparkles under the torches.

“Phobos.” Nisa lets go of my hand and goes running to Phobos, who stoops to talk to her.

Deimos turns to me. “I forgot to tell you that Mrs. Grady sent an email stating that she will be out for the month. Family issues.”

“Hmm, that’s never happened before.”

Deimos shrugs. At the same time, Hecate walks down the aisle in a shimmering, thin-strapped silver dress.

She smiles, and her eyes meet mine. “You ready, loser?”

“More than I would ever be.”

“Then let’s begin.” Hecate walks behind the stone table and throws her hair over her shoulder.

SORAYA

I can hear the soft music of a harp. No, it’s not a harp. It could be a lyre. I take up the bouquet of red roses and walk to the door leading to the garden.

Slowly, the door opens. Hmm, I didn’t realize they were automatic.

Deimos and Phobos stand behind Ares. They are all dressed in black. Nisa stands at Hecate’s side, but it’s Ares who has my attention. With each step I take, I think about how he saved me from Elias, how he gave me and Nisa a home. How he makes love to me. No, he was nothing like Elias; he was better. The moon hangs high in the sky, making everything in the garden look mythical.

At my first wedding, I ran away. This one, I am running too.

Ares inhales as I stretch out my palm and reach for his. It feels so warm and safe. That’s what it is. In my years of living, I have never felt completely safe, but with Ares, I do.

He looks down at me like he has never seen me before. “You look absolutely beautiful.”