The Temple Unleashed (Book 1) | Updated Weekly

Chapter 4~How to Annoy a Reporter

The next day, the Nites flew from Spain to Greece. They booked two rooms in a small, but quaint hotel built on a hill overlooking a small edifice. The parents promised Charlie and Hudson they would visit it after they went to the acropolis. They took a taxi cab to get to the site. Many tourists were gathered at the foot of the Acropolis waiting to be let in. The security would let a certain number of people in at a time.

Mr. Nite went to purchase tickets while the rest of his family waited in line. The line moved slowly and heat was stifling and uncomfortable and the line was a slow incline upwards which made matters worse. However, the Nites finally were allowed to pass and they walked up to the top.

The entrance was a huge archway made of ancient stone, though in some places, you could easily discern which was renovated due to the fact that the newer stone was much whiter and had sharper edges than the ancient stones. The Propylaea was the grand entrance to the Parthenon, the highlight in Greece. Many plaques and boards were set along the path for the tourists to read containing the history of the many different ancient buildings.

There was the Temple of Athena Nike with an olive tree planted as a symbol in front of it. Right next to it, towering of the small temple stood the Parthenon. Many tourists gathered around it on all four sides getting as close as the rope fence would allow to take pictures.

In many parts, the rock floor was worn smooth from the weather and multitude of people. In one particular spot, Hudson lost his footing and slipped, landing painfully on his ankle. He and his family decided to take a quick break before returning back to the hotel to put some ice on it. Suddenly, a small crowd of people gathered near them. With cameras flashing and mics getting shoved in someone's face, Charlie simply assumed they were reporters. They centered their attention on a woman who stood stiffly in the middle of the semicircle of reporters.

She was tall, dressed in a white blouse, with a black jacket thrown loosely on her back. She had on a black skirt, knee length but still formal looking. Her black hair was pulled into a French twist. An obsidian stone in the shape of a garden snake which hung on a thin gold chain adorned her neck. Her tan complexion and shape of her eyes suggested that she was from a different country, but despite all the heat and blistering sun rays, the woman's overall appearance maintained a formal, yet cool look.

"Dr. Damaris, Dr. Damaris, look over here please!" the voice of the main reporter shouted. The reporter had dirty blonde hair and was dressed in a gray blouse with a navy blue jacket and skirt. All the cameras flashed and the lady, on whom the cameras were focused on raised an eyebrow. Charlie shrugged at Hudson, knowing full well what his question would be.

"No, I have no idea who this woman is," he whispered to Hudson who stared at the group still clutching his ankle.

"We have received news that you were visiting the Parthenon and so we had to ask you a few questions before you got busy," the reporter said. Dr. Damaris raised both eyebrows this time.

"Oh! Forgive me, I'm Clara," the reporter said, extending her hand to shake Damaris' hand. The latter however did not feel as inclined to offer her hand, leaving the reporter in an awkward predicament. Clara's face took on a slight shade of pink and quickly pretended to swat at a nonexistent fly with the hand she had extended. 

Hudson snorted at the not so smooth recovery of Clara, but Charlie grimaced, the second-hand embarrassment was too much, but he was sure he saw Dr. Damaris eyes flicker ever so slightly towards his direction.