Athena's Curse ((On Hold / Rewriting))

Chapter Four

I followed Nana to the back of the store.  In a chair sat a woman around thirty years of age, with chin length red hair and a sarcastic smile.  It said Ha ha.  That's what you deserve.  Death!  And I'm not kidding.  That's what it really said.  Oh, wait...that was her shirt that said that.  Whoopsie.  I'm stupid...

 I plonked myself down in a chair across from her, and Nana gave me the death glare.  I looked at her puzzled, and she mouthed, Stand up!  She hasn't told you to sit down yet!

 I stood back up sheepishly, and the middle aged woman (which I figured was Alyssa) said, "It's okay.  Wasn't that disrespectful, Nana.  Do you know who I am, child?"

 Do I want to know who she is...? I thought as I shook my head.

 "Hmph.  The young never learn." The woman snorted. "Whatever.  My name is Alyssa.  You're Erika."

 "Yeah, I already knew that." I said as I sat down again.

 Nana glared at me and I bit back a laugh.  Serves her right.  She seems like a jerk...I think.

 Alyssa raised her eyebrow. "Hmm...are you sure she's the one?"

 Nana nodded.

 My brain took awhile to catch on. "Hey!  What one?  What the-"

 Alyss rolled her eyes. "The other cursed one."

 "I'm not cursed!" I protested.

 "Are you sure?" Alyss closed her eyes. "Flying off a roof doesn't make you cursed?  Didn't you come here asking for me?"

 I narrowed my eyes.  I had no idea what this lady was playing at, and how could she know I jumped off the roof and landed in the tree?  And what did she mean that I came asking for her...waaaaaaait.  I get it!  She's Athena! I think, that is.

 My voice took me by surprise. "I didn't come asking for you.  I said Athena.  Not Alyss."

 "Oh, but you did.  You asked about Athena and curses.  And I'm Athena.  Nana," she complained, twisting in her seat. "I thought you said she was smarter than normal people!"

 "What do you mean?  I'm a senior in college!" I yelled.

 "That shows she's smart," Athena mused. "Sixteen years of age, and almost done with college.  Rather smart.  But you couldn't figure out that I was...wait.  You did figure out that I was Athena..."

 How the heck did she know I figured it out?!  And...she read my mind.  She has no right to do that!

 I glared at Athena, and she smirked. "Ah ha ha ha.  You figured that out to.  You truly are one of my cursed ones."

 I stood up and the chair clattered to the ground. "Let me get this straight.  Supposedly you read minds...you're Athena...and you curse innocent people!  This is stupid!" I stormed out of the room.

"You can't run from who you are, Erika!  You'll be back," Athena called after me.

Yeah, right.  I'm not ever coming back into this bookstore again.  Not while she was there. She basically ruined my life. I was always considered weird at school. The cold never seemed to bother me...and that sounds a lot like Frozen. But as I said before, I don't have as many problems as that Elsa idiot. Heat never bothered me...I need to stop saying that 'cause now that's reminding me of Let 'Em Burn or whatever that stupid parody is called. Ugh.

 Nana raced after me. "Erika! Wait!"

 I slowed down, gasping angrily. "What is it?"

 "Take this," she said. In her hand was a book labeled Children of the Ages. I took it.

 "What the heck is this?" I said looking at the book. "Children of the Ages? What so important that you had to give this to me?"

 "It's a mirage," Nana said. "The real title is for you to find out. It changes for whatever cursed person gets it. The title, I mean."

 "Okay..." I sat down on the counter. "How many cursed children are there?"

 "Four."

 Ouch. Four children? "All from Athena? She's been busy for the last whatever years."

 "No, two are cursed from Athena, one is cursed by Hades, and the other, Isis." Nana recited quickly.

 "Okay, so...these people...are real?" I asked.

 "The three I mention, yeah. The others were killed in the Third Great War," Nana replied, and I was confused. World War Three? That hasn't even happened yet.

 "Not World War Three," Nana said and I scowled. "I said Third Great War. A lot of gods from all the different religions died. Only four remain. But Athena is prophesying that a Fourth one is coming, And it might wipe out everyone. Everyone in the world, and the other worlds, too."

 "Ouch. So these people cursed four children so they could fight in a war?" I made that conclusion before she just told me all that.

 Nana smiled grimly. "Yeah, and they're all the same age. Your age."

 She didn't have to tell me that they were all my  age after she told me that they were the same age. Some people can be idiots, I guess.

 My phone rang, and I groaned. Whoops. I forgot to put it on silent. I held up a finger as I pulled it out. "What is it, Mom?"

 "Where are you?"

 "At...the bookstore. Why?" I asked.

 "Your dad got home and couldn't find you. Why are you at the bookstore?" Mom snapped.

 "Because, I can be. Getting a book," I said getting really confused.

 "What bookstore?" Mom said, sounding like she was afraid of something.

 "Not the one Dad works at." I retorted.

 "Did you meet anyone?"

 "Nana," I replied. "Mom, you're creeping me out. You never called me before if I was at a bookstore. So why now?" Then I regretted what I just said. I happen to disappear easily, and then I get called because I'm not around.

 "What about someone named Alyss?"

 "Alyss...?" I said slowly, and Nana shook her head and mouthed, Don't say anything about her.

 "No. Just Nana."

 "Okay, just checking. Bye. Love you." Mom said.

 "Yeah, whatever." I hung up and pocketed the phone. "That...was the most weirdest conversation over the phone I've ever had."

 Nana said, "Thank you."

 I flapped my hand at her. "I should leave."

 "Yeah, you should. Come back later."

 I shook my head. No way was I going to do that.

 Nana said, "You don't have to see Alyss. Just come back, please?"

 I cocked my head and considered it. Seemed reasonable. I shrugged. "Okay. Bye, Nana."

 Nana smiled and waved as I opened the door. "Bye."

 I rolled my eyes. I'll come back. Just not to see Athena or whatever she's called nowadays. I got on my bike, and raced home, frowning all the way. Now they were concerned...? This day was getting weirder and weirder by the second.

. . . . .

This is for Hailee. For many, many reasons...and if you don't know; don't ask, or I'll kill you verbally, got it? And I'll know. Hailee, a word of advice I already told you on Hangouts eariler today. Don't dwell in the past. You need to keep going with the flow of life.