It's Very Greek

chapter five

I woke up very early to the sight of the sun just barely peaking above the horizon and the sound of the birds' very first morning melodies. I stayed in bed much longer than necessary, but I couldn't find it within myself to get up. The soft sheets and plush duvet beckoned to me.

Eventually, however, I did get up, and I made my way down to the kitchen, remembering the walk there from yesterday. It turns out that many were up just as I was, for the kitchen was bustling about with life. Chefs were making breakfast for my mother, no doubt, and most likely for all of the other servants within the palace. I did not realize it would be this busy, and I found myself embarrassed to be here since I did not know anyone, nor was I invited.

Just as I was about to turn on my heels and leave, I heard a voice.

"Layna," a male voice called and I turned around looking for the source.

I found the surprising sight of my father sitting at the round table my mother and I ate at yesterday.

A surprised smile found its way onto my face while I walked over to Ares.

I pulled out a chair next to him and plopped down.

"Good morning," I greeted. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I come here many mornings, the food is always divine," he told me, then leaned in close to me and lowered his voice to a whisper. "Your mother's chefs are much better than mine, but don't tell anyone that," he winked at me.

I laughed softly and nodded my head. "Your secret is safe with me."

The chef I saw yesterday in the kitchen came over to my father and me, two plates in his hands. He placed one in front of Ares and one in front of myself.

"Oh!" I said surprised that I would be presented with a meal without ever talking to any of the staff in the kitchen or making my presence known. "Thank you."

"My pleasure," the man smiled to me.

My father was already digging into his hearty breakfast and I decided to join him.

After chewing and swallowing a bite of food, he looked over to me. "So how have you been liking Olympus?" he inquired.

"It's amazing, more than I would have ever imagined. I am really enjoying my time here," I told him truthfully.

"I am very glad to hear that," Ares smiled at me widely. "Are you ready for the ball?"

"I suppose. It's just going to be very overwhelming, I can already tell. But I think I know everything I need to get through it."

"Do not worry, my dear, you will do a wonderful job, I am sure of it."

I smiled and thanked him.

From then on, we finished our meal in a comfortable silence, until my father announced that he had to go and had business to attend to in regards to the ball tonight.

It seemed that this ball was a much larger deal than I originally believed it to be.

The remainder of the day was fairly uneventful. I spent the majority of my afternoon in Aphrodite's magnificent library, exploring the many shelves filled to the edge with countless genres of books, both very old, and new.

At around five o'clock, my mother found me sitting in a chair in front of the many tables in the library, my nose in a old book.

"Oh, there you are, I've been looking for you," she said as she walked up to me. She was in a long, white silk robe, her face devoid of any makeup and her hair dripping wet. "We need to get you ready, come on!" and with that, she dragged me up to my room.