The Three Kings Trilogy- Lord Of The Sea

Chapter Thirteen- City of Monsters

Neoma

How long has it been since Cronus left? Two? Three hours? Long hours passed with thoughts running at a million miles. Was I stupid to put trust in Cronus to stick with our deal? Did he find a loophole and actually kill Aphrodite? Was I about to be the reason love dies?

As I paced in my bedroom, the streets below sounded busier compared to when we were on the balcony. I suppose mid-day shopping and adventuring was a thing here in... well, wherever we were. I just knew I needed to get Aphrodite the help she deserved. Maybe Cronus wouldn't back out of our deal. One can hope he's a good villain and not a terrible one.

The door opened and in the doorway stood Cronus with a smile on his face. He definitely was happy to be rid of Aphrodite and tricking me into staying here. Sure my deal was more in his benefit compared to anything else but was Aphrodite worth saving compared to my own safety? Yes... she may be Aphrodite but she was Phoebe first and I know Phoebe would have done the same if the tables were flipped.

"Aphrodite is being sent back to your precious gods as we speak; you have my word. I figure since you agreed not to run, you should see the city we're in." Cronus suggested, holding out his hand slightly.

"What? Are you going to show me where are the tourists hang around?" I asked, taking steps closer but not touching him.

Cronus scoffed like my question was some kind of joke in response. Once he realized I wasn't joking, his smile only got bigger. I hate his smile... sure it was a cheeky one but nothing to enjoy. Nothing I should be enjoying.

"I can assure you no tourists come to this village. If they knew it existed, that would be enough for them to leave. You may get odd looks though. For a lot of these people... you're either the first human they've seen in a long time or just in general. They may be confused."

Odd looks? Confusion? Were these possibly other gods? Or maybe creatures that didn't even exist in myth due to how terrifying they were. Still, I nodded my head in agreement and followed Cronus out of the house and onto the cobbled streets. The streets below were a tight squeeze as each door led to another home or tiny family-owned store but in the center of the town was a courtyard lined with even more shops and an impressive church looking building. Each building looked older than multiple centuries with barely any care to them but the citizens didn't mind.

Catching my eye was the same little girl Cronus and I had seen earlier dragging her mother behind her. I hadn't realized it until she came towards me with a toothy grin and one solid seaweed green eye. Glancing toward Cronus, a small smile was already on his face like this was somehow part of his plan.

"My mommy says you're a human! Is that true?" The girl asked once she got to me. I nodded my head in confirmation, kneeling down to her level although I didn't have to kneel far.

I always read Cyclops' were giants but the mother must have barely been over six feet and the girl around four feet tall. Clearly either people creating the myths were shorter compared to modern times or they just had a tendency to over exaggerate.

"I apologize. My daughter has been learning about humans in school and you're the first one she's seen." The mother rushed to apologize, looking flustered and nervous. It was obvious the mother was one of the people Cronus had warned that didn't get treated kindly by them.

"It is totally fine! I'm happy to answer any human questions you have." I responded, chuckling at the sort of statement I could have only imagined telling aliens from some other universe.

The little girl and I sat at a bench as she asked me a million and half things that I would have taken for granted. The idea of not having to walk everywhere or hide. The simple luxury of eating whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted to eat it. Hell, even my old stupid phone that I never got the chance to use since coming across the gods. After about an hour, I had attracted a bit of a crowd of various other creatures I had been told even as a child were something to be afraid of but were too innocent to even imagine hurting someone. Minotaurs, Giants, and even Harpies.

One by one they would each ask me questions about 'human adventures' I had gone on, forcing me to make a trip to the super market exciting at this point. On occasion, I would glance up and still see Cronus keeping his eyes only on me with a small smile while the parents of the various children kept a close eye on each of the children. Without making it obvious, he mouthed the words 'want to leave?' As subtly as I could respond, I nodded my head yes in confirmation.

"Okay children! I need to steal our human guest to make her more acquainted with the town. Tell Neoma goodbye." Cronus announced, trying to make his way through my new fanbase and toward me.

The children groaned, standing and waving goodbye before returning to their parents who couldn't have been more excited to leave. How many times have these people come across humans that actually knew what they were? It took Echidna transforming before I even knew she had a tail where her legs should have been.

"Why did you bring me to this city? You could have taken me hostage anywhere but you chose here... why?" I asked quietly, keeping my eyes on those children full of joy being dragged away by parents filled with fear.

"So you know what I'm fighting for. My brother may be the one called 'father to monsters' but I am the king. It's my job to fight for my people no matter how my children play me as." Cronus answered, looking in the same direction as me.