Alem's Book Corner: 06/11/15

Unlocking Olympus

Chapter Five: Alectrona

“If you want to masquerade as a human, you have to learn how to look like them. Dress the part, if you must.” Krissy was telling me, dragging me from one uh, what do they call these again? Outlets?Stores? Ah, never mind. We walked block after block, entered building after building, bought clothes after clothes.

“And then I thought dryads hated humans?”

“You think too much.” she smiled briefly and then wiggled her finger at my direction. “Turn around.” I did what was told and saw her grin in satisfaction. “Come on, let’s pay for all these things and we can go back to the café.”

“How about the coffee beans?” I asked, taking the blue blouse off. “Didn’t you say—”

“Clary said she’ll get some form the treehouse later, so no need to worry.” She wafted away from me, towards the counter. She greeted the cashier with a polite smile, but I could see her hand behind her back, her fingers drawing little circles.

Opening my mouth, a sigh escaping my lips, I just shrugged it off. But seriously though, couldn’t she help herself? Once done paying for my temporary clothing, I noticed the cashier’s face now full of freckles. Whether she’ll notice it or not was none of my business but then even I couldn’t help laughing at her.

“You’re evil!” I chuckled, once we were out of the building, the one with the large Prada logo on top.

She flipped her hair and incredulously eyed me. “You’re one to talk, missy. You had to give the poor customer a tail yesterday!”

“He was annoying!” I snapped, adjusting the paper bags on my arm.

Gaping at me in disbelief, a hand dramatically flying towards her chest, “He was just flirting! Human men always do that!”

“Well, they better not do it with me! I have…”

“Someone else in mind?” she inserted, grabbing my arm and pulling me across the street.

“Oh, please, Alec. You and he had been over centuries ago! Who knows if the bastard is still thinking of you? You know gods, one fling over and they’re on to the next like nothing had ever happened. Do I need to tell you what happened to my mother again?”

Wincing, I grumbled, “Oh, please no. I don’t want to hear you droning over it again and again.”

Reaching the other side of the street, she pointed a finger at me. “Exactly.”

Heels clacking on the ground as we walked, both of us entered the café. “Girls, we’re back!”

Krissy announced, “Come on, out you come!”

I sat on one of the tall round stools in front of the bar, watching as most of the girls materialised from the wooden walls. We all haven’t returned to the treehouse since last night because of a ‘staff meeting’ or whatever reason Krissy had. I honestly haven’t listened to her anyway.

“How was your sleep?” Krissy asked, greeting her seven younger sisters.

“Awful!” one complained, arching her back, as if in pain. Well, even if they are wooden walls, those do not have lives anymore. They were basically cut from their roots and stuck to building for support and décor.

I sighed, a small smile forming on my lips. They had been taking care of me, I guess I have to at least be kind and give them some sort of treatment. Raising a hand and pointing a finger at each dryad, golden dust slowly drifted into the air, showering each and every one of them.

Krissy looked at me in surprise and then walked past two of her sisters to pat my shoulder.

“Well, someone’s generous today.”

I am the goddess of the sky, the sun and waking up. It’s the least I could do to make them feel much better.

“Okay girls! Let’s open Lockheart.”

Wiping the table with a clean cloth, I was surprised to find myself a little bit enjoying. The last customer had just gone out the door and Krissy was ready to close the shop. Or at least she intended to when a red car stopped right in front of the café door. Coming out of the driver’s seat was the same lad two days ago, his face extra serious and his eyes sharper than usual.

Swinging the sling bag on his shoulder, he opened the door with one hand, ignoring Krissy’s polite attempt to tell him that the café was closing.

“Okay, ladies, speak.” He announced. “I know what you are and I know one of you is a fucking goddess of some sort. Keep quiet and you all get burned.”

My head snapped up, offended by his words.

“Where are you getting with this, human?” Chrysopeia’s figure was obviously shifting; her arms twisting into branches and twigs with leaves sticking out of her shoulders. Her once delicate fingers turned into small branches, sharp enough to stab into human flesh. Her other sisters did the same shapeshift, their green eyes gleaming in apparent rage. “We do not wish to harm anybody. Can’t you see we are even serving your kind?”

The lad smirked, looking unconvinced. He studied every last of my dryad friends before darting his eyes towards me. “You’re it, aren’t you?” he walked past tables, knocking the chairs as he went, and stood in front of me, his face straight and stern. “Tell me what happened up there.” He commanded.

“And if I won’t?” I challenged. “It’s useless trying to threaten me, demigod.” Hearing that, the dryads gasped and he stifled the urge to laugh at their dense intuition. “Well, let’s say you’re something of a fighter but can you really defeat me? You might have that senseless confidence but that’s all there is to it.”

His face twisted in rage and he spat. “Monster.”

“Ha!” I laughed. “See?” I glided away from him towards the centre of the café. I could see his fist shaking and in a blink of an eye, he grabbed something from his pocket and threw something at me. I raised a hand, my eyes glowing the same golden hue. Whatever he was trying to pull off, or thinking that he can defeat me with some puny demigod tricks, well he was greatly mistaken.

My fire burned past the little item that he had thrown and into his direction. Trying to cover up, he covered his face with an arm but that still was caught in my flames. “Retreat. You do not have any place here. Threaten us once more and that’s not the only thing you will get.”

Falling on the ground, I saw him wincing in great pain. Being burned by godly fire wasn’t at all pleasing to the human flesh, even if the victim had divine blood.

“Ah, before you go.” I moved forward. I haven’t felt this way since the creation of men. I haven’t gone into a fight since then too. And it felt invigorating, like the Ichor in my veins was flowing at a faster rate than before. “What is it that you want? Tell me.” Strong currents of wind escaped my body, knocking the tables and chairs that surrounded us.

Before he could even react, smoke surrounded the café and a female voice called to this lad I was currently threatening to kill.

“Adam, are you alright?”

Seeing the lad she had named Adam, I could now see a girl crouched beside him. The lad mustered up a weak chuckle. “Nice timing, Caddie.”

A growl reverberated in my throat and I raised an arm in the air. Scanning the girl’s spirit energy, I could sense strong magic within her, something related to Hecate. But that didn’t bother me. Magic and sorcery haven’t won against the sun and the sky.

“Do it and I’ll—” The female, Caddie, warned, turning both blind eyes towards me.

“Don’t!” Adam warned, catching her in his arms. “She’s one strong shit.” Struggling to stand, assisted by his companion. “I’m not here to kick your ass, lady. Just tell me what happened up there.”

Kick my ass? My brow rose. “Leave.” I hissed.

“What?”

“Leave now!” I screamed, causing them to wince. Looking at each other, the girl mostly worried by their situation, they finally decided to leave and I made sure they were gone before I put my arm down.

Returning to my calm self, I looked at the dryads. “Are you all fine?”

Krissy nodded, wiping her hand with the skirt of her uniform. “Dang girl.” She commented, grinning. “Haven’t seen you rage out like that for over a millennium.”

I mustered a soft chuckle, walking over to the sisters. “I haven’t felt that way for a long time too. And…” it felt good. Like alatent fury.

“And you were awesome.” Krissy put an arm around my shoulders. “Okay girls, let’s close Lockheart. We’re going home.”