Heaven, Hell, and Earth

Chapter 5

The woods was the children's favorite place to play outside but inside their favorite place was something they called their Sanctuary. It was a secret room that existed on the end of a narrow stairway behind a small door the most people mistook to be a closet. In that room, Solomon had kept things from his past and items that he had inherited from his relatives. It was a sort of attic however it was so big that someone could easily get lost in it if they were alone and it wasn't really cluttered, there was plenty of room to run around in.

The children discovered it one day when Angel took Vaggie's hair ribbon to tease her with. She chased him and he tripped which made the door freak open. The curious four went up the stairs and became intrigued by the collection of items stored inside. Greek artwork and artifacts, old photo graphs, clothes from various decades, a good number of old books that were either written in English or Latin, toys from when Solomon and his friends were children, antique furniture, blankets and quilts, a few lanterns, a  projector that played old movies, and an old piano. All of which were something that a child with a creative mind could turn into a source of amusement.

Solomon was not sure about letting them play up there at first but he eventually concluded that they were old enough to be careful. So when they could no longer go outside they would go in that room and let their imaginations run wild. They played with the toys and also played hiding games, Vaggie taught herself how to read Latin, Alastor and Charlie learned how to play the piano, sometimes they would lay on the quilts and blankets while watching movies on the projector, other times they would dress up in the old clothes and act out stories they've heard. Sometimes it was stories from the books and sometimes it was their own pretend stories.

They called it their sanctuary because it was the only place where they felt that the world's cruelty couldn't reach them. A place where they could create their own world, a world where they could be accepted and go anywhere. A world where they could always smile. A world where they didn't feel like freaks.

"What am I supposed to be again?" Angel asked while wearing an old Greek mask that resembled a pig.

"You're the calydonian boar and I'm Atalanta, the greatest female mortal hunter in the world." Vaggie explained while wearing a helmet and cape that belonged to ancient greek warriors. "Alastor who's Eros, is competing with me to hunt you, Eros thinks he's the best because of his archery skills but Atalanta thinks she's the best because of her tracking skills. We'll who's better when one of us kills the calydonian boar. Which is you."

"No way! I didn't sign up for this!"

"You know I don't recall this story in any of the mythology books up here." Alastor said holding a bow and arrows while a black mask was worn over his eyes.

"That's because it's not in the books. Charlie made it up." Vaggie said.

"Did she make up the Eros character? Because I haven't read about him." Alastor said.

"No he's in the books." Said Charlie who was wearing a white dress and a circlet of flowers. "You just haven't read his story yet. He's the son of Aphrodite goddess of beauty and love so he can make people fall in love but he's also the son of Ares God of war and bloodshed so in my story he's cursed to have two sides. At night he is a handsome and romantic young man but during the day he is a terrifying and violent monster and he's decided to never fall in love or have friends because he's afraid no one will accept him."

"Interesting change." Alastor said. "But who are you supposed to be Charlie?"

"I'm Psyche. I'm the most beautiful woman in the world but in my story it's only because I'm kind-hearted and willing to help anyone in need. I have psychic powers, I'm Atalanta's best friend and we travel the world together doing heroic deeds. Also I'm the first person to show Eros compassion when he is in his monstrous form."