Unknowing Attraction

15. I Need Answers.

I sit in the ring of fire, but it feels different this time. I no longer can feel the burn of the flames. I reach my hand out to touch the fire that surrounds me, and find that it no longer scorches me like before. I look at my hand to see no damage done. I smile to myself, a sense of relief engulfing me.

"Jasmine." I hear a soft yet powerful voice call out. I look up to see Hestia on the other side of the flames, like I have so many times before. "Come, Jasmine." She says. I stand, exiting the ring, now standing in front of Hestia. Her crown blazing and aglow as it sits atop her head.

"Hestia?" I say, and she smiles, her hand extending to meet mine. I take her hand, looking around us. The sky is filled with stars, two moons shining light from above us. "Whoa." I say quietly, a meteor shower happening over us. I continue looking around to see that we are standing in a field, flowers and fireflies surrounding us. Next to us rests a lake, high grass encircling it. "Beautiful, isn't it?" she asks, a nod being my only form of response. As I take in nature's beauty, my smile slowly falters. I have questions.

"Hestia, I need answers." I say as we walk to sit by the water. She nods. "Ask anything." she responds, her voice melodic. "What do I do? Where is my mom-" and she silences me. "One question at a time. What you do, is listen to that little voice in your head. It's faint, but the more you focus on hearing it, the louder it becomes." she says, a frown forming on my face as she answers. "I mean about Cronus." I say, feeling slightly misunderstood.

"I know what you mean." she looks to me and I notice her eyes. They are a bright, burning red. Much like mine. "Where did my mom hide your crown?" I ask, and she smiles. "Your mother. She was always so smart- so much so, that she hid the crown in one place nobody could ever look."

"Where nobody could ever look?" I question, and she nods. "Think." she says.

"Wait, so you're wearing it right now?" I ask, feeling confusion as I try to make sense of what she's trying to say. "How did my mom hide your crown in my dreams? That doesn't make any sense." I say, and she laughs. The sound sending ripples through the still body of water beside us.

"Sometimes, things are not supposed to make sense. Often, you'll find that things rarely ever make sense at all. You'll know what to do, when the time is right. Tell Poseidon the crown is safe. Now, rise, my child." She says.

I open my eyes, the light from outside shining in and the sound of the shower running, as well as bird songs from outside, fills the space that would be silence. I yawn and stretch, my muscles tensing and relaxing as I do so. I close my eyes again, trying my best to remember the details of my dream.

I spoke with Hestia, finally. I had somewhat of a better understanding, but how she spoke was extremely hard to follow. I remember the fireflies and the two moons- the way the water rippled from the vibration of her laughter. Her crown beaming, the flames burning bright.

HER CROWN.

My mom hid Hestia's crown in the dream realm. She hid it in MY dreams. How, I don't think I will ever understand.

My thoughts are interrupted as Caius opens the bathroom door, a towel around his waist and his hair still wet from the shower. He looks to me and smiles. "Damn, you're awake? I was fully intending on bringing you breakfast in bed." He says as he wipes his head down roughly with a small towel. My eyes are wide with excitement and awe as I watch the water beads drip down from his chest, past his stomach and disappearing into the towel that clung to his lower half. "I- um, I'm sorry." I say, looking away as the blood rushes to my cheeks. He chuckles, as he finds my bashfulness amusing.

"The bathroom is all yours, love." he says before exiting the room. I throw myself back onto the bed as the sight of him, fresh out of the shower, occupies my mind. I feel a tingling sensation in my core as I reminisce on the sight of him. "What a sight to see." I say to myself.