Hunter

Chapter Ten - I Do A Celestial A Favor

I woke up in a room embedded with crystalline flowers that changed color every second and that displayed my reflection. I was dressed in a long gown of red roses, my dirty-blonde hair in a single braid. I had makeup on, yes, makeup, and my nails were painted in the same color as pearls. Something was seriously wrong.

I raised myself from the floor and headed outside. The sky was a beautiful, vibrant blue, a home to birds of all colors and sizes. A glistening castle of glass loomed in the distance, its towers tall and sparkling. A smooth path paved the way, the rocks perfectly round. My feet glided over them, almost as if they were pulling me to the large wooden entrance.

I opened the door. Inside, a kaleidoscope of colors danced on the walls and floors. In the center of the room stood the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my life. Her hair defied gravity, a wonderful curly mass floating in the air. Her skin was the color of rich mahogany, flawless and smooth. The longer I looked at her, the more beautiful she appeared.

"Hayley." She smiled, her sparkling eyes warming my heart.

"Goddess?" I asked. She laughed. Her laugh caused my shoulders to droop and my ears to tingle.

"Celestial." Her voice sounded like the chorus of a thousand angels.

"Aphrodite's Celestial?"

"Yes. My name is Zariyah" She rose up and strode towards me, my eyes catching her vibrant dress. It was long and trailed behind her, changing color as she swayed. On closer inspection, it was as if it was made from every flower petal on earth.

"So, there's a reason I'm here," I stated distractedly, my eyes absorbing the view.

"I have brought you here today because Aphrodite needs your help." I raised my eyebrows.

"Then why didn't she come to me herself?" Zariyah smirked at me, a soft glimmer in her eye.

"Her daughter, Andrea. I'm sure you're well acquainted with her?" I let out a half laugh, half snort.

"I guess you could say that."

"Your neck seems a little bit... bare." My hand flew up as if her voice had commanded it to do so.

"My necklace." My heart sank into my stomach as I realized why the necklace I wore was attracted by the dragon's magnetic field. "Why does she need it?" I questioned with narrowed eyes and a strangled voice.

"Your necklace is very powerful, Hayley. It has the Charm of the Wild and your parents' talents in one. Those powers could be used for wrong."

"That's not what I asked."

"She has switched sides. There are people out there, who work according to their own set of rules. Andrea has joined them and their leader, although no one knows who he is."

"Or she," I added.

"The point is, this person, god, Demigod, whatever or whoever he, or she, is, is giving out instructions, and they could eventually lead to the destruction of order in our society."

"Okay... so why do you need me?"

"If the gods ever find out that your necklace is missing, they're going to suspect Aphrodite of sending Andrea to steal it."

"Why would they suspect her?"

"Aphrodite was love struck, by Ares, the god of war. She believed it was true love, but the god of war and the goddess of love, together? Something was not right but she was too taken by him to realize it. Later on in their affair, he told Aphrodite of ways they could rule Olympus. She was willing to do what was required of her for them to reach that goal, so she did."