Kidnapped

CHAPTER THIRTY

-ARES SEIDON >

Another day. 

Another party.

Another group of business officials to introduce me to/brag about me. I'm exhausted, and it's only been a week since I landed in Athens. My parents have been dragging me to meaningless parties, business meetings, etc. I can't wait to disappear again, God I might not come back next time.

You would think your parents would be happy to see you after eight long years. But the only thing I got from them was a pat on the shoulder and a 'you must be a millionaire by now, huh.'

"Air-bear, I demand you tell me who has your heart hanging from its hinges." Athena interrupts my thoughts. Throwing herself onto the rust-colored sofa next to me. 

She looked gorgeous. A black ballgown with a high slit. Dark chocolate hair up in a high ponytail, light green eyes brought out because of the smoky makeup, and her lips tinted blood-red. 

Annoyance traces my features at the nickname she's always called me. "I don't know what you're talking about." 

I take a swig of my Whiskey, hearing a snort as a response. "I know you, Ares Atticus Seidon. My dear little brother." She pinches my cheek, and as a result, I narrow my eyes at her. "I don't know why you choose to hide from your big sister, after everything we've been through." She slurs, snatching my whiskey glass from my grasp. 

Suddenly I'm reminded of a certain princess that stole a rose from me six years ago.

I shake my head in an attempt to clear my mind off her. She's constantly on my mind so much that visceral irritation courses through my veins. 

"You're drunk, Athena." She hiccups, waving me off. "Listen to me, I roam underground clubs, partying and drinking with countless varieties of people for years and years. I know a man that's tightly gripped by the balls by love when I see him."

I scoff a laugh. "The fuck are you talking about?" 

Her eyes narrow to slits. "I'm not playing around, Ares. I can see the love in your eyes." She crosses her arms over her chest. "The way you're acting right now shows me that you don't believe you're in love. Either that or you're oblivious to it. You don't want to give into it, do you?" She asks hesitantly as if she's tiptoeing around glass.  

Give in? It's not as if I'm holding myself back. . . am I? I don't know. 

She claps her hands once. "You've never been acquainted with love!" She suddenly exclaims. My eyes widen a fraction.  

"Tell me I'm wrong." She huffs a chuckle, throwing her dark hair over her shoulder. "Of course, you wouldn't know. Our parents were horrible role models. You never were around that kind of environment." She scoffs. 

Then her eyes narrow a fraction. "You. . . wouldn't know what a physical representation of love or affection would look like or feel like." 

Her gaze morphs into sympathy and I don't realize the pathetic frown I'm pulling which probably gives away the fact that the truth she threw at me hit me like a freight train. "The fuck is this? Therapy?" I grumble, un-comfort eating at my being. 

"Come on, I'm here to listen. I'm kind of sober now anyway."

I focus on the ice in my glass. "It's been eight years. I forgot how to speak about the emotional shit, okay." I admit, my heart racing in a humiliating manner. "I know, but it used to be like second nature for us." 

A quick flashback throws a knife into my chest. "I was fifteen then, not fuckin' twenty-three."

I down my entire glass, my throat rejoicing at the burning sensation gliding down through it.

"And? Our age ascended, but nothing changed between us. We're still siblings. You're still my little brother. Talk to me." She pleads, her eyebrows tightly pulled together.

She then impatiently slams her hand on the table. "If you don't, so help me God I'll dangle you above mom and dad's pet piranhas." She threatened, a frown on her tinted lips.

My gaze falls, a grin playing on my lips as realization became clear to me.

Persistent.

Just how I remember my sister to be. How could I forget?

Athena was the one to drag me out of my dark room to go play games with Arte and Alex. She was the person I enthusiastically spoke to about my coding skills. Even though she was a sucker for money, her siblings came first. 

Maybe this family isn't as corrupt as I thought.

"It's. . . it's not that—" I start but instantly get interrupted by arms wrapping themselves around my neck, squeezing me in a hug. "I'm sorry," She pulls away, waving her hand close to her face as if to stop herself from bursting into tears. "I forgot what it felt like to break your facade apart."

I shake my head. "You're acting as if you won a medal. It's not a big deal." She flashes me a wide smile. "Breaking down your barrier will always be medal worthy to me. I don't say this much but I love you, my dear baby brother." She grasps my jaw and squeezes my cheeks. As a result my lips formed a ridiculous pout.

I don't retract. I bask in her humiliating method of giving me sisterly affection. Even though I hate every second of it.

But at the very least, I felt a sort of weight starting to lift off my shoulders. "Are you ready to hear my internal turmoil? It's not exactly simple." I glance at her with challenge in my gaze.

"I'm more than ready."

~~~

Hey everybody!

I have surgery in less than an hour and I'm nervous as hell.

I'm sorry for the short chapter but I don't have much time. This is how I'm trying to get my mind off getting my body cut open.

I'll see you all in the next chapter. I'll definitely be out of the hospital by then.

Hope you enjoy!