It's Very Greek

chapter six

From what I could gather, the night was still young to the residents of Mount Olympus. Gods and Goddesses danced tojjkgether, swirling and laughing with an indescribable glint in their eyes. Goddesses' evening gowns began to swirl together in a multitude of colors and shimmers. I'm sure if one were on the top of the grand staircase that wound down into the ballroom, the scene would look like a carousel of bodies and different hues spinning together at an odd rhythm, but complete from the magical way it contrasted.

Currently, I was in the back of the grand room, simply enjoying the sight in front of me unravel. I was in no way connected to these people and could not find it within myself to party with this large mass of unusual strangers. I was more than content to watch life play out in front of me; I never found the need to be in the center of it.

So here I found myself with one arm wrapped securely around my midsection and my other hand holding onto a tall-stem flute containing the golden liquid of the Gods, nectar. The drink had a somewhat thick consistency to it, but rolled smoothly on the tongue. It had a sweet taste to it, with a citrus under-tone, a hint of honey, and an almost flowery aftertaste. While under the light, it shimmered a metallic hue that easily had me entranced. I was on my second glass of the heavenly drink, trying my hardest to sip it and not drain the flute in one quick gulp, which is what many of the Gods seemed to be doing. I was sure this contributed to the glint present in many of the Gods' eyes.

I could not decide if I was truly sad to not be celebrating, or if I was simply convincing myself that I would rather spend my time alone at a party that was thrown in my honor. When thinking about it this way, it did seem depressing that I was happier to pity myself and not let myself go and meet these people I would be spending forever with.

A drawn out tap on my shoulder drew me from my thoughts. I turned around to see a very merry face.

"What are you doing here all by yourself, love?" Dionysus asked me sadly, his expression dropping.

"Oh, well I enjoy being alone quite a bit, and so..." I trailed off awkwardly.

"Don't feed me your lies, Layna. I believe the real reason you are sitting in the corner with that sweet little pout of yours is that you do not know anyone and you are intimidated by all of these marvelous Gods that you could only dream about," the God of Wine told me with a smile, no doubt his boldness coming from the large amount of alcohol he had consumed. He then leaned in closer to whisper in my ear. "Do you know the reason that we do not let humans know we exist?"

I shook my head, not sure at what he was getting at.

"The answer I am looking for is that we are too pretty for dull mortal faces to see. If they gazed upon us too often, it is theorized that they would simply combust, for that much beauty for a simple human is detrimental to their health," Dionysus told me with a straight face, no humor in his voice, but I broke out laughing anyway.

"I am afraid to tell you that you may give yourself too much credit, for I am a mere human, as you call us, and I have not combusted even slightly from my time here so far."

"Oh but my dear," he slurred, the alcohol he was consuming beginning to impair his speech, "you have so much immortal blood running through your veins. You are not a human at all, but a full blown God disguised as a mortal teenage girl. Would you like to know why you were disliked growing up?" he asked, and I raised my eyebrows surprised at the way this conversation was transforming.

"The mortals could sense that you were different and they became intimidated. They could see you were so much more special than they could ever be, and that confused them, as well as made them angry." He took a break from speaking and took a large gulp of his red wine, draining the glass, droplets of the liquid rolling down his thick beard and past his chin, dripping onto the marble floors.