Divinity

"Our expressions coloured with fear and apprehension,"

Izek

I draw my hood over my face, hoping no one will notice me. Reme was small enough that the default Stacey characteristics, misty grey eyes, dark brown hair and bronze skin would also be associated with Hermes.

    And seeing Hermes at Nemoralia, a Roman festival... well, let's just say that it'll make worldwide news. It was more than scandalous, it was treason.

All around me, girls with wreaths of flowers dance around the lake, careful not to dip their feet in, because it sacredness and it being exclusive to the Divine, and boys waving their hands in the air. 

    Then, a silent hush falls amongst the worshippers as Diana enters the scene.

   She walks slowly, head down, murmuring soft chants to herself as she slowly walked to the lake. But she doesn't stop there. She walks across the lake, water lapping at her ankles but she doesn't sink. I notice that she hops from stepping stones but everyone else seems to be mystified by her walking on water trick.

   I laugh to myself. When I realize, I slap my hand to my mouth. Like I said, I didn't want to be noticed here, where I could be seriously punished.

   Diana carries on walking, her cloak dragging behind her in the dark water till she reaches a tiny island, with a giant oak tree. She turns back face us mysteriously, her blue eyes glowing.

   I catch myself mesmerised by the intense blue. Towards the pupil, the iris is a pastel blue but green slowly seeps to it from the outside in. All around me, humans gaze at the beauty of her eyes.

    I shake my head. I was here upon requests of Zeus, not to fall in love. (Although exceptions could be made...)

   She pulls her hood down, revealing her face.

   And I couldn't say I wasn't impressed.

   She has delicate features and striking blue eyes that were framed by thick black lashes her dark olive skin. Her brown hair brushes against her cheeks and frames her face and falls down her back. She looks good in a hot and sexy way. I'd rank her an eight.

   Behind her, the sun meets the horizon (yes, the lake was that big, so were the roundabouts) and orange spread across the lake. She begins her prayer.

   "Lovely goddess of the bow! Lovely goddess of the arrows! Of all hounds and of all hunting. Thou who wakest in starry heaven, when the sun in sunk in slumber. Thou with the moon upon thy forehead. Who chase by night preferrest, unto hunting in the daylight. With thy nymphs unto the music. With the thorn thyself the huntress. And most powerful; I pray thee. Think, although but for an instance, upon us who pray unto thee!"

   As the last word falls from her lips, two wiry, old men materialize behind her, from their hiding behind the tree. One was Jupiter, and beside him, his Greek counterpart, Zeus.

   Murmurs ripple through the crowd. What was Zeus doing here? Could it maybe explain my presence?

   Profanities begin to be called.

   Jupiter raises his hand, silencing the gathering with his stern glare. "This day is most definitely a most memorable one." He says proudly. "For both us, and the Greeks." He says, tossing a pointed look at Zeus.

   Diana catches my eye, as if she knew I was Hermes, the Greek Messenger God and a faint flicker of recognition washes over her face.

   I draw an anxious breath and begin to turn away when Jupiter begins to speak again.

   "Today, we espouse two major characters in our parallel religions, in a treaty of peace."

   And slowly, I understand my presence here. I search the crowd frantically, hanging onto the sheer hope that someone else would be here.

   "Their marriage will form a bridge over the gaping hole between our religions." Zeus says. His smooth voice captivates me and I follow his every word with utmost loyalty. Zeus wouldn't do anything bad to me. Everything he has in store is for the best. Yea.

   "A lifelong contract bound by love and religion." His words ease me out of my worry and into a carefree trance.

   "The couple would be a beacon to the rest of us. They would respect each other like the rest of us will respect each other. They would be representatives to the rest of us."

   All around me, people nod, smiling, absolutely embracing his ridiculous idea.

   But not Diana. Her expression is coloured with confusion and disbelief and the same realization I had moments before.

   Jupiter begins to talk. "And today, when we commemorate Diana, we engage her."

   People start cheering.

   Diana's face grows with horror and by her sides, her fists clench.

   "And we choose to represent the Greeks, Hermes."

   I stare at him, my mouth gaping.

For a moment, my vision is simply a kaleidoscope of swirling colours and blurred lines.

   The air around me bends, forcing my legs to move.

   Zeus...

  Without my authority, my legs carry me to the podium where Zeus, Diana and Jupiter stand. I leap over water.

  A smile is plastered across my face, but I'm anything but happy.

   I'm confused.

   Slowly, Diana's image focuses, and I see her in high definition. But she's all I see.

   Her smile is stretched over her face, and looks just as fake as mine does. Her eyes are wide and wandering.

   I swallow thickly. My feet are drenched and my cloak, which two minutes ago had been soaking with the water from the lake, pulls away, manipulated by Zeus' unnaturally manifested power, just like I had.

   I look down. White cloth wraps around my shoulders and waist. It ends like a dress above my knees. My legs end with a pair of winged, gold boots. When I raise a shaking hand to my head, I can feel a feathered helmet.

   Bile rises up my throat.

   I'm going to have to marry this girl!

   Her name bounces around my head, her image, etched permanently in memory.

   I wasn't ever going to forget this girl. I knew that much.

   My teeth chatter as Jupiter announces me.

   His words fly past me, unrecognized. Inaudible.

   He takes one of my hands and links it with Diana's.

   In unison, we look down to our entwined fingers, our expressions coloured with fear and apprehension.

this is Divinity, which Zoe and I have been working on for forever. Creds go to my amazing cousin, Ayesha. (Or Ace.) She's been SUPER helpful with this entire thing and she introduced us to Wattpad. Check out her book "Forgotten Shadows."