Phoenix: Book One of The Stardust Series (9 page)

Between Two
Worlds

I smashed a pillow to
my face, wanting to scream in frustration. While the poker game was winding
down, I’d barely been able to keep my eyes open, certain that I would fall
asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. But somehow by the time I got settled
in bed, I found myself wide awake.

It must have been only
an hour or so later but felt more like an eternity. Once again, I was unable to
shut down the scattered thoughts running laps around my mind. I shouldn’t have
been surprised. The events of the last few days crashed into my life like a
tsunami, leaving devastation I never could have imagined.

All things considered,
I was thankful to the guys for providing a distraction from the chaos. While I
was busy focusing on whether I could trust them, I wasn’t thinking about what
I’d found out about my past or what I was going to do about my future. Of
course, it didn’t hurt that the distraction came in the form of three
captivating males.

But awake in the
stillness of night, I could no longer rely on those distractions. I lay in bed
staring at the ceiling and listening to the sounds of the cabin. Through the
thin walls, I heard the gentle creaking of the springs of the sofa bed and the
occasional groan of the wood floor. Beyond the walls, the chirp of crickets was
punctuated every so often by the hoot of an owl. Normally, sounds like these
would have soothed me; tonight they just irritated me, reminding me that I was
awake.

Moonlight filtered
through the open window, casting a spotlight on the foot of the bed. Shifting
positions, I got a whiff of the sheets. Closing my eyes, I tried to imagine
myself in my bed at home, longing to smell the familiar scents. I pulled the
covers up around me, seeking solace that blankets alone couldn’t provide. Would
anything ever feel like home again? So far from everything I knew, I ached for
something familiar.

Unable to relax my body
or still my mind, I thrashed in the sheets. The only home I had really ever
known was gone. The bookshelf of novels I had read, the guitar I spent so many
hours playing, the cups we drank out of, the blankets I snuggled up under. All
gone.

It wasn’t even that I
missed the things so much as the memories associated with them. They came
together to create a feeling of home, a sense of belonging and safety. I felt
like the rug had been ripped out from under me.

I got a glimpse of
trees swaying outside the window and longed for open spaces surrounded by
mountains, the sky a blanket of stars. If it wasn’t for my injured ankle, I
would have snuck outside to see the stars, even if I had to climb a tree to do
so. I needed the feeling of normalcy the night sky provided; I needed that
connection to my mom as always, but even more so now that my dad and I were
separated.

As I lay there, my
thoughts flitted through my mind like small birds darting through the trees,
quickly moving from one subject to the next without lingering. Agitated, I
threw back the covers and jerked onto my side, clumsily twisting my ankle in
the process. “Eek!” The loud sound tumbled out of my mouth before I could
suppress it. I waited silently, hoping that none of the guys would come to
investigate.

Apparently that was too
much to ask for, because a minute later, I heard the soft sounds of the door opening
and closing. I didn’t bother turning around to find out who it was, feigning
sleep instead.

I heard the smooth
timbre of Ethan’s voice as the other side of the bed dipped from his weight. “I
know you’re awake. Not trying to make another run for it, are you?” His tone
was wry, a quality that I had already come to appreciate as distinctly Ethan.

I let out an inelegant
snort in response to his question but refrained from saying anything else. I
didn’t feel like explaining my turbulent thoughts and emotions.

“Do you need anything?”
For once, his voice was serious enough that I could tell he was concerned.

“Nothing is really
wrong. I just can’t sleep.” I kept my reply brief, hoping he would get the
message and let me get back to wallowing in peace. “You can go back to bed.
I’ll be fine.”

Ethan chuckled.
“Considering tonight’s bed is the not-so-comfortable chair in the living room,
I’m happy to stay here and help.”

He was sleeping in the
chair? Obviously it should have occurred to me earlier that there was only one
pull-out couch and three guys. Now I really felt guilty for hogging the
bedroom. “I’m sorry,” I started, but Ethan interrupted.

“Hey now, none of that.
I was just pointing out that if you want to talk, I’d be more than happy to
stay with you for a little while.”

Although I should have
told him to go, I found myself giving in. The sound of his deep voice was already
soothing me. I turned onto my back and glanced at him in the low light. He was
facing me with his knee folded on the bed and his other leg settled on the
floor. His palm pressed into the mattress, supporting his weight, while the
other was draped across his lap. I couldn’t make out the expression on his
face, seeing only a slight reflection from his glasses.

I fumbled with the
covers, pulling them back over my body, mostly in an attempt to stall having to
talk to him. It’s not that I was uncomfortable talking to Ethan; I just wasn’t
used to sharing my feelings, especially in such intimate surroundings.

“I think it’s finally
sinking in that I don’t have a home to go back to. I’ve led such a solitary
life for so many years, all I’ve really known is that house, the land around
it, and my dad.” The words just seemed to tumble out, exposing too much.
“Usually when I’m feeling down or am having trouble sleeping, I sneak outside
and stargaze.” I sighed, “And now I don’t even have that.”

He quickly replied,
“You will; your ankle will heal, and you won’t be stuck in this cabin forever.”
He continued, his voice warmer than I’d ever heard it. “Haley, I know it’s hard
to imagine, but your perspective will change over time. Home is not just a
house or even a family. Sometimes it’s finding a group of friends that will
always have your back or even a career that provides new meaning to your life.
Your home as you’ve known it may be gone, but you will find your place.”

He quieted, letting his
words sink in. “Your love of stargazing . . . tell me about
it.”

I couldn’t explain the
feeling, but I suddenly wanted Ethan to understand. “I’ve always loved
searching for the constellations. They remind me of my mom. One of the few
memories I have of her was our secret stargazing.

I remember one night
she came into my room after I had gone to bed but long before sunrise. My mom
kissed me on the forehead, and I was comforted by the scent of her floral
perfume. After gently pressing her fingers to my lips to keep me from waking my
dad, we snuck away from the house with a telescope. As she pointed out the
constellations, she whispered their names; the
myths associated with them
were my favorite bedtime stories.”

Ethan slowly moved onto
the bed and lay down on his side, his head propped on his hand. “Will you share
one of those stories with me?”

I replied, “You really
want me to?” He nodded, his hand still cupping his cheek.

I pursed my lips.
“Hmmm, that’s a tough choice. I think the myth associated with the Virgo
constellation has always been one of my favorites. Plus, Virgo is easy to spot;
it’s the second largest constellation after Hydra.”

Ethan grinned.
“Perfect. Why don’t you tell me that one?”

I sighed, debating
where to begin. “Well, as you probably know, myths are often based on oral
tradition handed down from generation to generation. They mutate over time,
sometimes leading to conflicting versions. There are even several different
myths associated with the Virgo constellation. That said, I will tell you my
favorite version, the version my mom always told me.”

I inhaled deeply,
drawing breath to tell the tale.

“The Grecians
worshipped many gods, loving and fearing them in equal measure. Most gods lived
on Mount Olympus, a place of great beauty and good weather. Several gods
dwelled elsewhere, presiding over their own domain; Poseidon lived in the sea,
and Hades was lord of the Underworld.

The Underworld was not
a place you would want to visit; filled with darkness and the dead, it was a
place of no return. As lord of the dark Underworld, Hades was feared as a god
of terror and death. Not surprisingly, he didn’t have many worshippers or
temples.”

Ethan snickered, and I
continued.

“Demeter was the
goddess of the earth, responsible for agriculture and crops. The people of
Greece prayed to her, asking for fertile lands and abundant harvests. Demeter
had a brother named Zeus, god of the sky and lightning, among other things. Together,
they had a daughter named Persephone.”

I felt my cheeks warm
as I wondered what Ethan thought of this unorthodox relationship. Not wanting
to draw attention to it, I continued.

“Persephone was full of
life and Demeter loved the child more than anything else. Persephone loved to
wander the fields and meadows, often picking wildflowers. Over the years, she
grew into a beautiful maiden. Hades was struck by her beauty and fell in love
at first sight.

At the time, it was
common for fathers to arrange the marriage of their daughter. One day, Hades
asked Zeus for Persephone’s hand in marriage. Zeus had quite the dilemma. Hades
was a good match for Persephone. But, their marriage would separate Demeter and
Persephone forever; Demeter as goddess of the earth could not live in the
Underworld, and Persephone as queen of the Underworld would be required to
remain there.

Zeus knew that if he
refused, Hades, his eldest brother, would be offended. If he consented, Demeter
would never forgive him. Choosing his words very carefully, Zeus told Hades
that he would neither give nor withhold his consent. Although Hades wished for
Zeus’s blessing on the marriage, he read between the lines. Seeing the answer
as encouragement, he returned to the Underworld determined to have Persephone
as his bride.”

Ethan rose up slightly,
creating space between his head and the hand that had been supporting it. With
the other hand, he removed his glasses. He placed them on the nightstand before
returning to his side and laying his head on the pillow.

“One day when
Persephone was gathering flowers in the fields, she wandered away from her
friends without realizing it. She noticed a beautiful narcissus and knelt down
to pick it. Struggling to pull it from the ground, she tugged with all her strength.
Suddenly, a giant hole opened in the earth and out sprung a chariot driven by
Hades, drawn by steeds as black as night. Hades grabbed the frightened girl and
whisked her away to the Underworld; Persephone wept and refused to eat or drink
anything.

When Persephone didn’t
return that afternoon, her friends were worried. No one could tell where
Persephone had gone. Demeter was distraught and wandered the earth searching
for her. In vain, Demeter asked both gods and mortals what had happened to
Persephone.

Finally, Helios, the
all-seeing Sun, told Demeter what happened, and she was struck with grief. She
felt sick at the thought of her beautiful, vibrant daughter living in the
lifeless world of the dead. Demeter was furious with Zeus, and she left Mount
Olympus to live among mortals in disguise.”

Tired of craning my
neck to the side, I shifted, laying on my side facing Ethan. The room was
mostly dark, but I could make out his face. His eyes were focused on me and I
saw his lips part.

“In her sadness, the earth
suffered and the crops would bear no fruit. There was a year of great famine,
and it seemed as if the whole world would wither away. Zeus couldn’t let the
situation continue, but he was too ashamed to visit Demeter in person.

To apologize, he sent
other gods to her bearing gifts one after the other, but Demeter refused to
listen. She swore she would not let the crops grow until she could see her
beloved Persephone.

Finally, having tried
everything, Zeus sent a messenger to the kingdom of Hades to return Persephone
to her mother. Hades did not want Persephone to go but knew he had no choice.
He asked her not to think ill of him and persuaded her to eat four pomegranate
seeds before leaving.”

Feeling drowsy, I
fought off sleep, determined to finish the story.

“Persephone returned to
the earth and was embraced by her mother. The whole world was covered with
beautiful flowers; the crops bore fruit once again, and the mortals rejoiced.

But their happiness at
being reunited was to be short-lived. Demeter was heartbroken when she
discovered that Persephone had eaten the pomegranate seeds. Knowing that anyone
who ate the fruit of the Underworld would be doomed to return, Demeter feared
Persephone would be taken from her again.

Rules were rules, and
this one could not be broken. As a compromise, it was agreed that Persephone
would return to the Underworld to rule at Hades’s side for four months of the
year, one month for each pomegranate seed she had eaten.

Persephone continued to
share her time between the two worlds, rising from the dead every spring to
return to her mother. Flowers would cover the earth and crops would bloom,
celebrating their joyous reunion. There she remained through summer and fall.
Every year, when Persephone returned to the Underworld, her mother mourned.
Winter arrived and the earth turned cold as ice.