The Key to the Oleander

Chapter Eight - Athena

That night I pray to the Gods before I go to bed that I'll have another dream so I can get answers to my unanswered questions. And my prayer seems to be answered, Felicity stands right in front of me.

"You don't need to pray to see me." She looks at her nails as she talks.

My head pulls back in confusion. "Why?" I ask.

"You're special." She tells me, humor hinted in her voice. Her eyes twinkle in the moonlight.

I shake my head, scoffing nervously.

She opens her mouth like she's about to say something but shakes her head and looks down.

"I might as well tell you this now but, I'm a goddess." She says with all seriousness.

"That's not possible," I shake my head again, taking a step towards her. "Why would you visit me out of all the humans you can visit?" She raises her brows at me.

"I'll leave that to you to decide, dear." She vanishes but I keep staring off, not focusing on my surroundings as I try to think of where I remember the nickname from.

"Boo!" I jump, turning around quickly and see Felicity again, laughing with amusement.

"I have one more thing for you," She finishes laughing, but keeps the smile on her face. "Your soon to be husband is not who he seems." Her joyful expression quickly turns into a serious one.

"What do you mean? Miles or-" Felicity interrupts me with a scoff.

"You really think you're going to marry him?" Felicity asks in disbelief.

"I-I don't know... Maybe?" But my mind goes straight to one answer. no.

Felicity rolls her eyes, obviously not believing my answer. She swipes her hand in front of her. An invisible screen forms, showing Ace killing a man behind a bush. I hear my voice which catches his attention. He hides behind a bush, watching me and Cole. I gasp, covering my mouth in disbelief.

Felicity brushes the screen away, looking at me with guilt. I turn away and quickly wipe a small tear before I face her again.

"I want to wake up." I say. She nods understandingly and puts her hands on my shoulders before closing her eyes.

I jolt up, gasping. I look around as I breathe in and out heavily. I have to stay away from him. But that means sneaking out of his house. Thank the Gods he put me in a spare bedroom.

I slowly pull my legs out of the bed and stand up. The floor makes a creak, making me suck my breath in and squeeze my eyes shut, hoping he didn't hear.

I tiptoe down the stairs and quietly put on my shoes. As I'm about to open the door, I hear him. Of course, with my luck.

"Athena?" Sleep is evident in his voice. I turn around slowly and force a smile onto my face.

"Hey." I try not to look at his abs, as he is only in his boxers. Boys always sleep basically naked, everyone of them. I swear. This is not the time to be admiring him!

"What are you doing up?" He begins to walk towards me, I put my hand on the doorknob behind me.

"What's wrong?" He frowns once I don't answer him. He's about an arms length away from me. Could I run out without him catching me? "I saw that there's a new serial killer, it's on the news."

"Who is it?" Play along, Athena. I take my hand off the doorknob.

"I don't know, but they're calling them the Masquerade Killer."

"Are you okay? You look pale." He reaches for my face but I take a step back. Hurt flashes in his eyes for a moment.

"I need to talk to you about something, Ace. And please be honest about it." I say softly. He nods almost instantly.

"Who are you really?" I demand.

"I'm the Prince of Nethilor, Athena." Rage sparks inside me.

"Other than that. What do you do when you're not being the prince of Nethilor?" I ask.

He narrows his eyes for a moment before answering, "I don't know. Hang out with friends, sleep... what do you want me to say, Athena?"

"If you don't tell me the truth this marriage is over. I will choose Miles," I say quieter. His smile quickly fades away. Hurt sparks in his eyes but he quickly hides it. "I know you killed a man that night in the woods." His jaw clenches for a second before returning to the normal expression he always seems to wear.

"Why do you think I'd care?" He scoffs. I slowly take a step back. I feel my face begin to heat up. You know what, fine. He doesn't care, I'll find someone who does.

I rush out the door and run. Tears fall from my eyes, blurring my vision. I don't stop for what feels like an eternity. Eventually I'm in the woods where this all started. Why am I crying over him? I just met him a few days ago!

I frown and wonder if he left any evidence that I could use to make him break his silence. I head to the place where I killed Cole and look behind the bush.

Nothing.

I sigh and move over to where Cole's body was, the place Cole died. I stop dead in my tracks once I notice something shiny. I bend over and pick up a dagger with the words, "Romano Gang" He's in the underworld. I knew it. And for some reason, I put it in my pocket. I covered for him, and I don't know why.