The Immortal Echoes

Chapter 5: Harmonia

Harmonia could tell she was dreaming again. All she wanted was to have normal dreams, unfortunately, she was stuck with the ones she had. As she looked around the scenery was beautiful and lush. The distant mountain contrasting well with the woods and river on the other side. There was a man whose face felt familiar, but she couldn't tell why.

"Harmonia, I present you this necklace. I hope you find peace in this marriage."

"Wait? I don't want this. Please... I want you. I know I should have said something but I couldn't"

"Stop lying. You are nothing more than an affair child. I couldn't ever love you. Be glad she suggested this necklace."

Harmonia felt something burn her neck. When she looked down and saw a choker necklace around her neck. The choker was a simple looking to be a slight bronze color. There was a serpent design on it and multiple small stones of amethyst and sapphire. However the burning sensation never left. It seemed to get worse the longer she wore it.

"The king was right to instruct me to mess with the forger's work. You are pathetic."

A woman with dark brown hair, greenish gold eyes which held the most evil look in them spoke when Harmonia looked up. Nothing was making sense. Even though she knew it was a dream, Harmonia felt panic racing through her bones.

"Please. Stop."

'No, this can't be it.' Harmonia's mind raced as she started to feel someone shaking her.

"Harmonia!"

Harmonia's eyes shot open and looked up into Hephaestus' eyes. There was fear in his eyes as he looked at her. Though Harmonia could see him relax when he noticed she was in fact awake. Her mind was still processing the dream, for a moment she felt scared of Hephaestus. No, not of but for him. Slowly sitting up, Harmonia looked down at her blanket. Seeing the fear in Hephaestus' eyes messed with her head. It felt like it wasn't the first time seeing his fear.

Harmonia couldn't shake the feeling her dream was partially real. The necklace looked real as did the woman's words. Those eyes felt dangerous. Something else felt off about the dream, as if the words weren't any of the ones meant to be said.

"Why would anyone call me an affair child?"

The question wasn't meant to be spoken, but seeing how Hephaestus seemed to tense, Harmonia knew she spoke. Though his tension made no sense, unless he was taking the name joke to seriously with what she had said. The need to comfort him, Harmonia placed her hand over his. Her love for the man couldn't allow the grief and guilt in his eyes to stay.

"Hey, we aren't our namesakes. Heph, you woke me up before it could get worse. Thank you."

"Still, you said you were adopted, what if you were and someone learned and told you? I couldn't bare seeing the pain in your face. Harmonia, you are amazing."

"I don't know what I would do. I would hope by giving me up, it was to protect me and not allow someone else to harm me. But that is not the topic we should be discussing. Hephaestus what are we?"

Harmonia watched the man think. Watching him deep in thought had never not aroused her and after last night, it was harder to ignore her sexual attraction to him. Harmonia was deep in thought when she realized Hephaestus was talking to her.

"Fuck! Sorry. I spaced out."

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Without a doubt. I want to be with you. No one else has ever made me feel like this. Should we go on an actual date tonight? Like maybe somewhere easy."