The Book of Gemma VOL. 2

25: FAMILY DINNER

I sit with Edna on the grassy hill, looking out to the field of the soldiers and Zodiacs train alongside each other.

"So how long did it take before you slept with Deecon?" Her question made me burst out in laughter. "You heathen.. We didn't sleep together, we are just friends." The last part feels like acid on my tongue.

She nudges me, "Oh, come on. Friends? You two are either ripping each other apart or dying for one another. You can't be just friends."

I look out to see Deecon, training with Leo in the field. Cane and Lib battling alongside them as Kyto fixes their placement.

"We are friends.."

For now, I thought about the last part of the statement. I tap her knee, "Come on, we have to host a God's party."

We turn into the house and set the table, only making a small meal for Edna to place on it. The other plating was fine glassware for the alcohol I displayed in the middle, a couple joints for Aqua and Sage to share. "So how was your first night here?" I ask her as she places her meal at her seat. She blushes, "They are very kind to me but sometimes they look at me like their words could shatter my bones."

I guess seeing humans after all these years is a bit foreign to them, they even step on eggshells around the soldiers. "Anyone you've connected with?" I genuinely was curious who she befriended here without me besides my father. She beams a bit, "Just Aries and Lib."

My gut twists a bit, I never told her about Aries and I. But she didn't have feelings for Aries, right? She would have told me.

"Listen, Edna-" I go to confess but hear the front doors swing open, Aqua clung to Sage's back as he carries her in. Capri and Cane chatting as they enter very closely together. Leo, Scorpz and Pisces pushing each other as they bicker over their matches on the field with Deecon talking to my father. I gulp a bit, nervous of what they have discussed. Aries' head is lowered as he sulks through the door, closing it behind him. What was making him so gloomy?

The Zodiacs gather around the table and I sit at the end, Edna and my father to the sides of me. They help themselves to the jug of wine and Aries home brew, their conversations from outside still continuing. I clear my throat and Lib clinks her glass to get their attention.

"I want to thank all of you for joining our fight, I know how risky it was leaving Veedu. You all know Aries, he took leadership alongside Deecon-"

Deecon makes a small wave with his hand, Cane leaning a bit over the table as he looks at him.

"You are far stronger than the hybrids we trained in Paradise.. Do you know what planet you came from?" His bold question made Deecon choke a bit on his wine. "Umm, sadly no. Aries can't find a beacon to retrieve that far back in my memories."

Pisces nudges Cane, "He's obviously from one of the planets that carries the same form as humans... maybe he's one of the humans that lived there after Zues won the battle of the Titans." Cane raises a brow, "You mean a descendant from Olympus?"

She shrugs, "It would make sense, Vyx wouldn't send someone who would crumble so easily on Darus... or someone Gemini could push around, no offense."

Deecon hangs his mouth open, "The Greek God? I probably came from the planet he throws his trash on." His chuckle breaks the tension of all the eyes on him, inspecting his face.

It didn't sound impossible, it would make sense to send a strong creature to me. I wouldn't give the time of day to someone who didn't want to be stronger physically or mentally.

Sage looks uneasy as they bring up the planet Olympus, "Can't be that planet." He mutters to himself.

Pisces sways her head to the side to look at him, "You conquered that planet for Vyx, didn't you?"