We Bent Fate

Chapter 22.

The first thing that I did when I reached at my apartment was to drag Robbie out of his bed and made him help me decide what to wear to Martha's parent's house. "I can't go like this!" I gestured at my white sweatshirt and worn out black jeans. "Its too causal."

"You're behaving like my eighteen year old sister." Robbie whines, his eyes still drooping with drowsiness and my face scrunched up in a frustrated scowl.

"Excuse me?" I placed a hand on my hip, glaring at him. I am going to my girlfriend's parents' house for the first time. What part of this does he not understand?

"I mean, let's not forget that we are both guys and they are probably anyway going to hate you. You shouldn't be arsed about it." He said and I blinked rapidly at him for a few seconds. 

"I did a mistake when I woke you up, didn't I?" I sighed and he nodded, his lazy smile curling up in amusement. "Get your useless arse back to your room then. I don't need you." I said and he gladly crawled back to his room in his ridiculously slow pace. I quickly dialed my mother's number and she finally picked up after three rings. 

"Hey, mom. Ineedyourhelp." I said as quickly as possible.

"Sorry, sweetie? The connection is not so good. Should I call you back?" 

"No no mom. Listen to me, I don't have much time. Just tell me what should I wear to Martha's parents' house? I am going to meet them tonight for the first time." I said and the other end of phone line went blank. I removed my phone from my ear and frowned when I saw that the line was still connected. Why isn't she saying anything? 

I pressed my cellphone tightly to my ear and heard a faint cry say, "Peter, he is going to meet that girl's parents. He has grown into a man, now. I am so happy!"

"Aw, mom!" I whined, stomping my foot on the floor. I am getting late.

"Honey, is it serious? Why didn't you tell us? When are you getting engaged?" Mom finally came back to the phone and I sighed, shaking my head in amusement. 

"No, mom. It is just a gathering. Nothing special." I told her and I heard a small hum from her. Great, now she is sad. "Mom, whenever I get engaged, married or arrested, you will be the first one to know. Now tell me what to wear."

"Wear a tux! They will be so impressed." She was totally not getting it. I shake my head and heard a shift in the static of the phone. "Hello?" I heard Dad. 

"Hi Dad. Please help me out." I begged.

"Yeah, how about you wear a coat and something to go with it on the inside and below? Keep it causal yet formal, if you know what I mean."

"I love you, Dad. Thanks." I said and hung up immediately when I heard mom reaching for the phone, arguing how tux would have still been better. Hurrying to my wardrobe, I slipped in a black tee shirt along with a grey woolen muffler to wrap around my neck and layered over a black waist length pea coat with dark grey jeans.

Quickly grabbing my car keys and my cellphone, I told Robbie that I might be late and jogged my way to my car. 

I played Eminem's raps on my way to Martha's house to reduce the tension piling up in my throat bit by bit and muted the song completely when I pulled up outside Martha's house and saw the three goddesses glaring at me. 

"Sorry, I just could not decide what to wear." I explained as they climbed in my car. 

My hands were ice to touch and as evident, Martha hissed when for a minute my hand rested on her knee. I shrugged in response and immediately removed my hand from her smooth skin. In my defense, I was freaked out to my gut and Martha was looking freaking beautiful in that red jumper dress and black stockings. I have never seen a girl look so hot in a jumper dress. 

"Your hands are shaking." Martha giggled, pointing at my trembling hands as they reached for the steering wheel. I shrugged. "It is going to be okay. What are you so scared of?"

"I have never been to a girl's parent's house." I admitted. 

"About that, remind me again why is he even coming with us?" Chloe asked. For the first time, I agree with this. What am I doing here?

"Because I asked him to come." Martha rolled her eyes. 

"No, it is because mother wanted to know who is Martha spending all her time with and what is so special about this mortal?"

I sighed.

"Austin, it is going to be okay. I will be there by your side. I promise, I won't leave you alone." Martha's hand touched my shoulder just for a second or two and then went back to her lap. 

Chloe directed me off the road to the west and I saw darkness seeping around us like an envelope, covering us from the brightness of the day or of  what was left of it at seven in the evening. There was a nameplate which said Tartarus in gold near the black grilled gates. 

The trees on either side of the road were cocooned in such a way that it deliberately blocked light. Darkness stretched ahead of us and at its rear end was a huge bungalow. I shot a glance at Martha who was smiling a little as she stared out the window, at the building. 

I breathed heavily and shuddered as the winter's breeze slapped me right across my face when I slid out of my car. "Oh well, this is as good as its gonna be." I murmured to myself and followed behind the three goddesses of destiny.

I bit back my urge to run screaming to the car and back home to call it a day as we waited for someone to answer the door.  I was almost gasping for breath when I heard footsteps approaching us and my chest felt tight. My heartbeat was now hammering against my eardrum.

What am I doing here? 

The door opened and the place instantly brightened. I immediately recognized Nyx, Martha's mother and the goddess of night as she smiled down upon us. She was beautiful, indeed but her silver eyes made me shudder more than the cold winter winds could ever. Where was this light coming from? I thought to myself. I don't see any source of it. 

"Martha, my child. Glad to have you back." She took Martha into an embrace and that is when I see it. 

She is not just fair to her skin like moon but she had wings, ornamented with shining stars and dust. Not to forget that she had a luminous cloud of moonlight aureole surrounding her that may have been the source of the sudden brightness. I tried not to gape at her beauty. No wonder why romantics talk about nights and not the hot glaring sun. 

"Mother." Martha regarded her and they both stepped inside the bungalow as I thought to myself, well whatever happened to 'I'll never leave your side, Austin.'

I looked at my side and found Lila smirking at me with amusement. She is probably thinking about the same thing and I shrug. "Is this what betrayal feels like?" I asked her and her grin widened. 

She clapped a hand on my shoulder, jerking me forwards so much so that I almost could have fallen to my face. "There, there." Her voice was etched with sheer mock and I offered her a straight smile. 

"Mother." She motions towards the Goddess and clapped my shoulder again, "This is Austin. Martha's special friend."

Nyx's eyes shifted to mine in an instant and I felt like I had been hit by a lightening bolt.

I mutely debated with myself if I should say something or stay aloof. Do I kneel when I approach her? Should I say 'hello' or 'my lady', or perhaps 'my goddess'?

"God-dess." I stutter, nodding at her nervously. I suddenly feel too hot in this winter. "Its my pleasure." I manage to finish, bowing my head a little.

I probably look like an idiot.

Her silver eyes travels up and down my body as she regards me and a slow grin breaks into her cold fair face.

"Welcome, child. Get inside. It is getting cold." She said, her voice as warm and sweet as honey. I gave her a small smile and quietly shuffled inside.