From Titans (Book 4) (38 page)

“
Here, have some wine. It
should help all of you relax. The tension is rather hot in here.”
Zeus passed out glasses filled with wine.

When he got to me, I shook my head. “No,
thank you.”

“
What
’
s taking them so
long?” Auntie Kelly looked worried too. “Should I go and see if I
can do anything to help?”

Poseidon held
Kelly
’
s hands in his.
“There
’
s nothing you can do. The Oracles
have got this.”

Poseidon and Kelly had
been dating for the past three months. It took some time for Auntie
Kelly to soak in the gods
’
world, but eventually
she
’
d come around. She had been mostly shocked to know her sister
was Rhea, and that Kayla had known about the gods before she had,
but once everything was open and the secrets were out, we were one
happy family…sometimes.

“
The Oracles have been
delivering babies for ages. You need not worry, little one,” Hades
said, taking a sip of wine.

I
halted.
“I
’
m dying to know if I have a
brother or a sister.”

“
I think
it
’
s
a boy,” Hera commented, crossing her legs and leaning her head on
Zeus
’
s shoulder. No matter the occasion, she always dressed her
best.

“
How can you tell?”
Persephone stood next to Hades by the table, glancing at the
various wines.

“
I just have this feeling.
Call it gut intuition or women
’
s sixth sense or what have you,
or maybe it
’
s from having so many
children.”

“
Do you know if
they
’
ve picked out names for the baby?” Zeus asked.

I plopped next to Mason
and snuggled into his arms. Warmth, comfort, love. What the heck
was I thinking, pacing like a fool by myself? “Nope. They never
shared. Even when I begged. It
’
ll be a surprise for
sure.”

“
I personally
don
’
t care about the name as long as the baby
doesn
’
t turn out anything like Hephaestus.” Hades finished his last
drop of wine, placed it on the table, and caressed
Persephone
’
s braided hair.

Everett had remained
quiet. “The baby won
’
t be like Hephaestus. The baby
will have all the love and attention. All we need to do is create a
loving and supporting environment.”

Zeus dipped his head low.
“Gods are not perfect. I
’
ve always wondered, had I treated
Hephaestus better, would he have turned out
differently?”

Hera stroked
Zeus
’
s arm. “
You
can
’
t think like that. What
’
s done is done. Cronus
didn
’
t treat you well, but you didn
’
t turn out crazy like Hephaestus.
I believe we can only do our best in a given situation, and then it
depends on the child to do what
’
s right. They do have a mind of
their own after all. We can
’
t control them.”

Zeus rested his hand on
Hera
’
s. “I guess you
’
re right. I defeated Cronus
because he tried to kill us. At least I didn
’
t try to kill
Hephaestus.”

The room became silent. Whether they agreed
with Zeus or not, their faraway gazes showed they all turned over
the question in their minds.

I twitched. Others snapped
their focus to the double doors. The crying sound of the newborn
infant had me in tears. I gripped Mason
’
s hand tighter. Then the
door opened. A blue blanket had been wrapped around the baby in
Dad
’
s arm.

“
It
’
s a boy,” he exclaimed
proudly.

I rushed to him. Dad placed the baby in my
arms. The smell of something euphoric filled my nose. I could
breathe him in all day. Happy tears rolled down my face. As I
admired his small face, I took in his beautiful features. It was
hard to tell who he looked like, but he was perfect in every
way.

“
Hi there, little one,” I
cooed. It was the first time I held an infant, and I
couldn
’
t believe how natural I was. “What
’
s his name?”

“
Alexander.
He
’
s
named after my father, your grandfather you never had the pleasure
to meet.”

“
Hi,
Alexander,
” Mason whispered.

Then everyone stared
quietly with a smile. They had been as captivated as I had been.
This little one would bring happiness, love, and hope to our lives.
It was funny how a small person could hold such power over us. He
would have all the love and attention he needed. His family would
make sure of that. We didn
’
t need another Alana, Hephaestus,
Eris, or Cronus in our lives ever again.

“
How
’
s Mom?” I asked,
unable to peel my eyes off of my little brother
’
s face. It would take
some time for me to get used to the fact that
I
had a brother.

“
She
’s doing just fine. She’
s sleeping.
” Dad too
couldn
’
t look away. “He
’
s perfect.”

“
He is.” I peered up and
met Mason
’
s eyes and mumbled, “I can
’
t wait to start our own
family.”

Two Years Later

“
Why is he constantly
moving?” Zeus pointed his staff at my little brother. Standing
under a tree, he glared.

“
Zeus,
he
’
s
only two years old.” Hera clipped a pink rose off the bushes and
placed it in her hair to match her long pink gown. Surrounding her
were other types of flowers—tulips, orchids, daffodils, and various
kinds I had no name for.

“
Just look at him.
He
’
s
making me dizzy.”

“
You
don
’
t have to look at him,” Nick suggested, sounding agitated,
sitting on the bench with Kayla.

Kayla leaned over to feel
the petals of the roses. Her diamond
engagement
ring sparkled, catching
my eye. They had been engaged for almost a year, and their wedding
was to be held in New Olympus next week.

“
Fly horsey, fly.”
Alexander ran in circles around the fountain, raising his My Little
Pony Pegasus in the air. His dark brown hair glistened lighter
under the sunlight, and his beautiful topaz blue eyes, the color
only gods and their descendants possessed, twinkled with
happiness.

After the wedding, the
statue of Mason and me holding hands had been replaced by the three
gods. Our statue was delivered to our house. It had been planted
inside a fountain we had installed. It wasn
’
t as grand as the one in
Olympus, but it was just as beautiful.

Hades and Persephone
appeared, her arm linked around his. The white gown she wore hugged
her bump. Hades, determined to have descendants of his own,
persuaded Persephone to have children. They looked so happy. It
saddened me when I reflected on how long Hades had been in the
underworld and how Persephone visited only six months out of the
year. Mason had been gone for a month and it killed me, so I
sympathized with Hades
’
s anger. But the past was the
past, and the future seemed bright for everyone.

Hades guided Persephone to
the bench. “
I
don’
t know how Mom does it. Alexander is
adorable, but he
’
s so full of energy.”

“
He
’
s a thief too,” Zeus
spat, frowning.

“
You
’
re calling that little
one a thief because he
’
s playing with one of your My
Little Pony toys?” Hades chuckled, his chest bobbing from laughing
so hard.

“
No, no, no,” Zeus
groaned, watching Alexander dunk Pegasus inside the fountain. He
ran his hand down his face. “Now it
’
s all wet.”

“
You can buy another one,
you know?”
Hades
said.

Zeus rubbed his hand along
the ridges of the tree. “You don
’
t understand.
It
’
s
a special edition. It
’
s one of a kind.”

I smiled at the fact that
a grown man, no a god, cared so much for a toy. It goes to show
that there is a child in all of us, even when we
’
re older.

“
Time for a bath.”
Alexander drove Pegasus in and out of the water. Then he jumped in,
splashing water out of the fountain.

Mason and I jerked and ran
to Alexander. The fountain was about three feet deep, and Alexander
hadn
’
t learned to swim yet.

“
No swimming, Alex.” Mason
pulled him out, cradling him. Water dripped down both of
them.

Alexander coughed,
spitting water out of his mouth. “No swimming,” he repeated in the
sweetest voice, looking innocent with apologetic puppy eyes.
Alexander
’
s strong grip around Mason
’
s shoulder showed he had been
scared.

“
That
’
s right.
I
’
ll
teach you to swim tomorrow. We
’
re going to the lake house.”
Mason brushed Alexander
’
s hair back to wipe away the
wetness. Mason was going to be a wonderful father.
I
’
d
had no doubt, but he proved it from his interaction with
Alexander.

“
I want Mommy,” Alexander
whispered.

I gave Alexander a peck on his cheek. “Mom
and Dad will be here soon. Remember, you get to have fun with
us.”

Mom and Dad took a week vacation with
Poseidon and Kelly to Europe. I had assured them Alexander would be
in good hands. And he was, but he was a handful.

Alexander reached out his arms to me.
“Sky.”

As I embraced my brother,
I thanked the heavens he didn
’
t look anything like Hephaestus.
Not that I would love him any less, but I hated Hephaestus, and I
didn
’
t want any reminders of him to haunt me for the rest of my
life.

I almost fell inside the
fountain when Alexander jumped off me. Boy that kid was going to be
the death of me. Zeus was right. Alexander never stayed still, but
I didn
’
t want to admit it. Besides, I didn
’
t like the way Zeus attacked
my brother. At least it felt that way. He was just a child who had
a lot to learn.

Alexander ran in circles around the fountain
again.

Mason shrugged. “At least
he
’
s
drying himself.”

I snorted.
“
True.
”

Alexander halted to examine his fingers. His
eyebrows drew together in confusion. Then he dashed around the
statues of gods lined along a pathway. Taking a turn, he zig-zagged
around the patches of flowers and stopped in front of Zeus.

“
You
don
’
t like me?”
Alexander
asked.

Zeus looked uncomfortable.
He pulled his staff behind him. Perhaps trying to appear less
intimidating. “Of course I like you. You
’
re my half-brother or
something.” He rolled his eyes.