She’d never really thought about dying, but the recent death of her Grandfather changed things. Would it be quick and painless, or agonizingly slow until she begged for death to come? Alexis couldn’t answer that question as she sat on the sugar white sand of Navarre Beach, watching the waves crash on the shore. She tore her eyes away from the Gulf looking over her shoulder hearing the laughter of several people dancing at a wedding reception. The bride and groom looked so in love. It reminded her of the love her parents once shared, and what she wanted for her own life. But she’d be damned if she’d ever treat her child the way her dad had treated her, after her mother’s death three and a half years ago.
Alexis turned her head away wiping her nose with her hand, then looked up at the twinkling stars shining above her and sighed. She hated feeling so miserable while this couple was clearly happy, and content with the start of their new lives together. If she ever found someone to spend the rest of her life with, she wouldn’t have to worry about a large reception. God had taken almost her entire family leaving just herself and her dad, but the moment Victoria entered their lives her dad became a complete stranger to her. It wasn’t long before he was wrapped around Victoria’s finger like a puppet on a string.
God, she sounded pathetic. Alexis rose to her feet brushing the sand from her clothes. She needed to bottle up her emotions and get away from this happy moment. It wasn’t their fault their wedding fell three days after her Grandfather’s passing. All she had to do was get through tonight, then she could worry about her emotions tomorrow. She walked through the cool sand toward the parking lot trying to ignore the flashing lights and loud music.
“Alexis, oh my gosh, I thought that was you. I didn’t see you at the wedding. Weren’t you invited?”
Alexis forced a smile and shook her head. “I don’t know everyone in Navarre like you do. Who was it that got married tonight?”
“Oh, just my very best friend in this world. But I’m surprised that you don’t know the happy couple since Wyatt was the Best Man.”
Alexis felt the blood drain from her face. “You have to be kidding me. Please don’t tell him you saw me. I can’t deal with him tonight.”
“You’re going to have to, Alexis. You can’t keep avoiding him forever.”
“Yes, I can. We work for completely different attorneys. Besides he’s probably been drinking, and we both know he’ll be drunk off his ass by the time he gets behind the wheel.”
“Just talk to him and clear the air.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You weren’t the one he almost killed in college..”
“He won’t leave you alone until you make him, Alexis.”
“That’s why I have a restraining order, and why I’ve changed my phone number.”
“I’m just trying to help.”
Alexis sighed and nodded her head. “I know, but he’s the kind of guy who doesn’t like being told no.”
“Most guys don’t, but he does seem to take it to the extreme.”
“He does.” Alexis shook her head. “I shouldn’t have come out tonight. I forgot about the wedding happening tonight. I just wanted to walk on the beach and breathe in the salty Gulf air.”
“Are you alright? You haven’t been yourself the last couple of days.”
“I’m not right now, but I will be.” Tears filled her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. She forced a smile and gently gripped her friend and co worker's arm. “I hope you have a great weekend. I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Okay, I’ll see you later. Call me if you need to talk.”
“I will. Thank you,” Alexis said sincerely.
Alexis released her hold, turned away from the pavilion, and walked down the beach. She heard Wyatt’s voice calling out to her, but she ignored him. Just keep walking and don’t look back. She’d just cleared the tall pylons of the fishing pier when a strong hand grabbed her arm, halting her forward progress. She glanced up over her shoulder at Wyatt’s intoxicated face.
“Didn’t you hear me calling you, Alexis?”
“Yes, I did, Wyatt.”
“Why did you ignore me?”
“Because I don’t want to see you get arrested for breaking the restraining order.” She may dislike the man, but she really didn’t want to see him go to jail. She also didn’t want him hurting anyone else either.
“You wouldn’t do that to me would you?”
“I don’t want to, so give me a better option, Wyatt. Let me go.”
“Sure, okay, I’ll let you go.” Wyatt released his hold on her arm.
Alexis turned to face him as she took a step backwards toward the hotels dotting the beach. “Please leave me alone.”
“I just want to talk about us, Alexis.”
“There isn’t an us, Wyatt.”
“There was once.”
“It was one date, and you almost killed me that night drag racing down highway 98.”
“Nothing happened though.”
“Nothing happened to you because you were drunk, lost control of the car, then flipped it. I was in a coma for a month.” Alexis exhaled, closed her eyes, and rubbed her chest.
“I tried to apologize, but your Dad wouldn’t let me.”
Her eyes snapped open. She barely saw his flinch as she took a step toward him. “You call demanding to see me because I belonged to you an apology?!”
A searing pain ignited in the center of her chest right over her beating heart erupting like a giant volcano taking her breath away. She glanced down and saw a dark red glow coming from her chest. With each beat of her heart, the glow became brighter then would fade back to the color of burning embers. Liquid fire lit up her veins as it pulsed through them. She looked up surprised seeing Wyatt take a slow step toward her.
She lifted up her trembling hands, her eyes widening at the sight. She should be burning alive with as much heat as was pulsing through her, but she wasn’t. Out of her peripheral vision, she saw Wyatt take another step toward her. He was saying something, but she never heard it. Why was he coming toward her? Couldn’t he see the fire pulsing through her veins? She looked up at him slowly lowering her hands as her surroundings came into crystal clear focus.
“Alexis, you do belong to me. We are meant to be together.” He stretched his hand toward her sliding his fingers through her long auburn locks.
Her jaw clenched and she shook her head. Was he serious? Did he really think they were destined to be together? Her friends were right. She needed to set him straight right now. She slapped his hand away and glared up at him.
“No, we aren’t, Wyatt. I didn’t belong to you back in college, and I damn sure don’t belong to you now.”
“But you do, Alexis. You were promised to me.”
“By who, Wyatt? Arranged marriages are a thing of the past.”
“You may not see it right now, but you will. We’re soul mates.”
The reek of his alcohol breath made her nauseous. “No, we’re not, Wyatt. Get away from me and leave me alone, or I will call the police. This is your final warning.” She stepped around him walking toward the crashing waves.
“Alexis, wait, please don’t walk away from me.”
He rushed around her and stopped directly in front of her. She could see the pleading in his eyes, but she was done. Why wouldn’t he just leave her alone? What would it take for him to realize she didn’t want to be near him? The fire in her veins pulsed to life again giving her arms an unnatural glow. He flinched again, shook his head, then stepped even closer.
“Wyatt, I’ve asked you multiple times to leave me alone. Now, I’m telling you to get away from me.” She clenched her hands into tight fists.
“I can’t do that. I love you.”
“But I don’t love you, and I never will.”
“I will make you love me.” He slid his fingers into her hair and leaned down toward her lips.
“NO! GET AWAY FROM ME!”
She leaned her head backwards, unclenched her fists, and slammed her palms against his chest. At the same time that she pushed against him fire pulsed through her veins and flames shot out of her hands igniting his shirt. He flew several feet backwards landing in the shallow water putting out the flames burning his shirt. She froze where she stood. That wasn't possible. How did she do that?
He stood up coughing but very much alive. She sucked in a breath of humid air then turned and ran. What the hell just happened? Would he remember any of this tomorrow? Would the police be waiting for her on Monday to arrest her if he did remember? No, they’d be arresting him for breaking the restraining order, but she had attacked him with fire.
Yeah, explain that one away, Alexis. She couldn’t because it didn’t make any sense. She reached her RAV4, unlocked it, and climbed inside. She framed it a second later glancing down at her arms as she pulled out of the parking lot. The streaks of red fire were gone from her veins leaving behind smooth skin.
She reached the house she shared with her roommate and best friend Mira ten minutes later. They were neighbors as kids and even though she was two years older than Alexis, they became fast friends. Alexis turned off her RAV4, climbed out locking the doors, then walked into the house. The moment she stepped into the living room and saw Mira, she burst into tears. She crumpled onto the couch burying her face into her hands.
“Alexis, are you all right? I got home, you weren’t here, and you didn’t respond to any of my texts.” Mira sat down next to her.
“I went to the beach after I got off from work.” Alexis lifted her face from her hands. She glanced at Mira as a new wave of tears filled her eyes then streamed down her cheeks. “I knew you’d be at the pharmacy, and I didn’t want to come home to an empty house. I guess coming home would have been a better choice.” She wiped away the tears, wincing slightly.
“My God, Alexis, what happened to you tonight?” Mira gently grabbed her arm examining the bruise that was starting to form.
“I was attacked on the beach by Winston.”
Mira picked up her phone off the coffee table. “We need to call the police…”
“No!” Alexis grabbed the phone out of Mira’s hands.
“Alexis, this needs to be reported.”
“No, it doesn’t. He didn’t really do anything to me.” No, you did more to him when the flames shot out of your hands. Alexis shut her eyes and shook her head.
“Alexis…”
“I’m fine.” Breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Don’t get upset.
“Who are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
Alexis opened her eyes, her heartbeat slowing and handed the cell phone back to Mira. “Both of us actually.”
“Alexis, you were attacked tonight. It’s normal for you to feel all these waves of emotions right now. Trust me, I know. Don’t be afraid to let it out. I’d be worried if you actually were fine right now.”
“No, you don’t want me to let out my emotions right now. I need to bottle them up.”
“Why would you say that? I know how awful your dad has treated you since your mom died, but he’s right about one thing. You can’t bottle up your emotions.”
“This time I have to, Mira.”
Alexis rose to her feet and began pacing. Stay calm. Don’t get upset. Her stomach knotted up to the point she wanted to vomit. She clinched her hands into tight fists as heat flowed down her arms. No, please stop.
Mira rose to her feet, and walked toward her. “Alexis, are you feeling alright? You look like you’re burning up with a fever. Heat is just pouring off of you.” She reached up toward her forehead, but Alexis stepped out of reach.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“No, don’t touch me. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You could never hurt me, Alexis.” Mira reached out touching her shoulder then yanked her hand back with a yelp.
“I’m sorry, Mira. Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I think so. Your shoulder feels like a hot stove.” She examined her hand.
Alexis nodded her head, and took a step away from her best friend. “I don’t know what’s happening to me. I don’t have any control over it.”
“When did it start?” Mira lowered her hand and looked up.
“Tonight, when I was attacked. I felt this explosion of heat in the center of my chest. It rippled through my whole body before being expelled out of my hands in the form of flames. I never had a chance to think about what was happening.” A shiver traveled down her spine.
“Of course not, you had a bigger problem on your hands.”
Alexis took a deep breath, held it, then released it slowly. With each exhale, the searing heat ebbed out of her. She reached out with her hand a minute later gently touching Mira’s arm. They sat back down on the couch and talked for several hours.
“You might have the weekend off, but I don’t. I need to go to bed and get some sleep.” Mira covered her mouth yawning. “Are you sure you’re feeling better”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ll see you either in the morning or when you get home. Good night.”
“Good night,” Mira said, rising to her feet and walking into her bedroom.
Alexis rose to her feet, walked in the opposite direction of the house, and entered her bedroom. She completed her nightly routine then climbed under the warm covers. Moments later, she fell into a troubled sleep.
“Alexis…Alexis…”
A dense fog encapsulated the thick forest surrounding her. Off in the distance, she could hear the falling water of a waterfall. Where was she? This place doesn’t look like the Smoky Mountains. The enchanting voice called to her again, more urgent this time.
She quickened her pace stepping out of the fog and into a fairytale. Before her sat a single arch stone bridge with two waterfalls. The first flowed behind the bridge then rushed under the arch before flowing a short distance into a smaller fall. Fireflies flew around the bridge and the falls giving the entire area a whimsical feel. Standing in the center of the stone bridge was a woman dressed in the robes of an Ancient Greek facing away from her. She pushed aside the overgrown tree branches and stepped out into the open. The moment her feet touched the bridge the woman turned around with a look of pure joy lighting up her face.
“You are finally here. I was so worried Zeus would prevent Morpheus from bringing you to me.”
“I don’t understand. This feels like a dream.” Alexis approached the woman slowly. “How can I be brought to you?”
“You are dreaming Alexis, and in those dreams are doors to many different realms of reality. I simply asked Morpheus to guide your dream tonight to me.”
“I see, and which realm of reality am I in right now?”
“We are in your reality my dear, in Greece. We are standing on Palaiokarya Bridge.”
“Okay, now I know where I am, but who are you?”
The woman smiled and nodded her head. “Yes, I must remember the mortals of your time do not know us as well as your ancestors once did. I am Artemis.”
Alexis’s eye brows rose. “As in the Greek Goddess Artemis”
“Yes, the very same. I am in need of your help, Alexis.”
“You’re a Goddess, so you say, and you need my help?”
“Yes, I need your help. It is a quest that only you can accomplish.”
“Only I can accomplish…okay, I’ll take the bait. What do you need me to do?”
“I need you to save a life.”
“I’m not a Goddess, and you have the power to do that all by yourself. You don’t need me.”
“I can not interfere, but you can. You must enter the main body of water near you by the Fall Equinox if you are to succeed.”
“You mean the Gulf of Mexico. No, that’s not happening. I can’t…”
“You are afraid that what happened tonight will happen again.”
“How did…never mind. It doesn’t matter why. I’m not going back.”
“You must face your fears Alexis,or be ruled by them. The choice is yours to make. You can either take a chance to save a life and learn about who you truly are, or continue to live in misery and fear.”
“Wait, what do you mean learn about who I truly am?” Alexis took a step forward, but Artemis was already fading from view.
“You have until the Fall Equinox to decide.”
Alexis jerked awake, rolled over, and smashed her hand on her cell phone. Why did she set the alarm clock last night? It’s Saturday for heaven's sake. She laid there with her eyes closed for a minute listening to the hum of the fan above her. You have until the Fall Equinox… Her eyes snapped open.
She bolted upright as Artemis’s words replayed again just as quickly in her head. Then she shook her head and climbed out of bed. She was gullible, but not that gullible. It was a dream Alexis, nothing more. She stepped in front of her vanity mirror and stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth falling open. Red-orange flames flowed through her hair and the blue irises she was born with now had a red-orange glow to them masking her original color.
What was happening to her? You can either take a chance to save a life and learn about who you truly are or continue to live in misery and fear. She tore her eyes away from her image hearing the soft click of the dead bolt as it locked into place. Mira was heading to work which meant she was once again alone with nothing but her thoughts for company.
She looked back at her image in the mirror. The red-orange glow faded from her eyes, and the flames in her hair extinguished themselves. Could it all be true? Could this person I’m supposed to save really tell her what kind of monster she was? There was only one way to find out.
She got dressed before she could change her mind, then walked out of her bedroom grabbing her wallet and car keys. She stopped at the front door, her trembling hand hovering above the handle. What was she doing? She couldn’t do this. What if he’s there waiting for her?
He won’t be there. She could do this. She took a deep breath then opened the door. Ten minutes later, she turned off her car pulling the keys from the ignition. She took a dollar from her wallet before locking it and her keys in the glove box. She climbed out of the car and smiled slightly shutting the door, her eyes drifting to the numeric keypad attached to her windshield. It was nice having a keyless entry on her car.
She turned around and walked up the stairs to the bait shop. Walking inside, she bought her day pass for the pier and walked back outside. The sun beat down on her, warming her skin as she slowly walked down the wooden pier. Before last night, she loved coming to the beach. The salt ocean scent filled her nose and invigorated her soul. Coming to the beach was her way of reconnecting with nature when she couldn’t go to Tennessee.
Yeah, the land locked state had everything her heart desired except access to salt water. It really was too bad she couldn’t afford to live in Hawaii. She stopped at the first open two person table that dotted the pier and sat down. Fishermen laughed, drank beer, and waited for the ‘big one’ to take their bait. The pier was always busy with fishermen and walkers, but the weekends had the most foot traffic.
She took a deep breath filling her lungs with the salty sea breeze. She really did miss that smell. The smell of books was great too, but this was where she really wanted to be most days. She watched the people fishing on the pier and swimming in the Gulf all the while her muscles were tight as a loaded spring ready to pop at any second. She hated this. She hated that Winston did this to her.
“I did not expect you to come back my dear, but I am happy to see you.”
Alexis jumped and her head snapped upward. Standing there beside her in modern beach attire was Artemis. Oh my God, she’s real. This isn’t possible.
“Of course I am real.” Artemis smiled and sat down in the opposite chair. “You did not imagine me.”
“Wait…how did you…I didn’t say that out loud. Did you read my thoughts?”
“No, I do not possess that ability. It was your expression my dear, and many mortals before you have asked if I was in fact real.”
“You all walk among us like regular people?”
“We do. How else would all the DemiGods in the world be conserved if we did not walk among you?” Artemis’s green eyes sparkled.
“I’m sorry. It’s just to us mortals the Greek Gods are nothing more than myths and legends. I mean no disrespect but seeing you in a dream, it was easy to believe you are who you say you are.”
“You need proof.” Artemis nodded her head. “It is not an unusual request, and I am happy to oblige, but not here.”
Alexis glanced around nodding her head. “There’s too many people around.”
“Yes, if I were to display my ability now Zeus would banish me from my forest domain. Let us walk on the beach.” Artemis rose to her feet and waited for her to do the same.
Alexis looked up at the Goddess then leaned back in her chair. “Mom always told me to listen to my gut, and it’s telling me you aren’t Artemis.”
Artemis smiled and as she sat down again her appearance changed. Her long raven hair became a golden blond, and her eye cold became a bright sky blue. The clothing she wore also transformed. The bathing suit top and cover vanished revealing a well toned and tanned bare chest of a man. The legs of the shorts he wore extended down until they resembled swimming trunks.
“Your mother was very smart, my dear. I am Apollo. What gave me away?”
Alexis swallowed hard before glancing around at the people on the pier. No one seemed to be paying them any unwanted attention. Apollo’s transformation had been subtle, but if she saw it then someone else could have seen it as well.. her eyes locked once more on his handsome tanned face and licked her dry lips tasting the salt from the ocean breeze.
“It was the ‘my dear’ I think. In my dream Artemis called me by my name. I just figured if she did it in a dream, then she’d continue to do it here in the real world.”
Apollo nodded his head and stretched his long limbs. “Yes, she would. She never told me your name when she asked me to come here…”
“Wait, she asked you to pose as her and wait for me to come to the beach?”
“No, she simply asked me to wait for you here. I decided to disguise myself as her. You did appear to trust her, and you had not met me yet.”
“How did she know that I’d come in the first place?”
“She did not know. My sister can read minds not intentions. I can see the future, but I have no control over free will. She also asked me to persuade you to come to the beach tomorrow if you did not come today.”
“But why? I get that she wants me to save someone’s life and in turn help me with my situation, but why is she so…”
“Pushy, demanding, insistent that it has to be you who saves this complete stranger.”
“Yes, exactly.”
“I can not answer that question. If she were a mortal, then it would be easy. Like all things, my power of foresight has its limits, and I can not see the future of my fellow Gods and Goddesses.”
“Did she at least tell you what I’m supposed to do? All I know is I’m supposed to enter the Gulf of Mexico before midnight on Monday.”
“Yes, she said all you must do is walk into the water. Poseidon has granted Artemis permission to use his domain to transport you to a moment in time where you can attempt to complete your quest.”
“You’re talking about time travel. Artemis didn’t mention the person I have to save wasn’t in this time period.”
“Perhaps she left out that detail because she feared this reaction, or that you would not attempt the quest at all.”
“And she’d be right. The timeline is very delicate. If I made one wrong move, then I could erase someone’s very existence. I can’t take that kind of chance.”
“The choice is yours to make. We cannot force you to do anything no matter how much we want to help you. I have said all that I can say. If you decide to take a leap of faith, walk into the Gulf and Artemis’s enchantment will do the rest.”
“Why did you come instead of Artemis? I know she asked you to come, but why didn’t she come herself?”
Apollo rose to his feet without a word then gave her a dazzling smile before he walked away mixing into the crowd. Alexis sat back in her chair again completely speechless. He was actually playing hookie. So, that part of the myths was actually true. She rose to her feet and walked to the beginning of the pier. She made her way to the white sand beach kicking off her shoes at the end of the stairs. Her feet sunk deep into the sand with each step she took.
She stopped on the wet sand watching the waves roll in then crash on shore. What was she going to do? Her decision would not only affect her life, but the life of a complete stranger. Wait, she still didn’t know the name of the person Artemis wanted her to try and save. In the chos, she forgot to ask Apollo for a name. What was she supposed to do, walk up to every person she meets and ask them if they know Artemis?
That wouldn’t work. And depending on the time period, she’d either be laughed out of town or burned at the stake. She didn’t like either option. Shaking her head, she turned toward the east and started walking away from the crowds. The farther she walked the fewer people she came across. It gave her the peace and quiet she needed to contemplate her decision.
The sudden shrill from both her watch and cell phone made her jump and groan at the same time. Why hadn’t she left the stupid piece of technology in her car? She looked at the caller ID and groaned again. What had she done or not done this time? He rarely called her anymore to check on her. Usually, when he did call it was because he was upset with her.
She took a deep breath, pulled out her phone from her pocket, and hit the answer button. “Hey Dad, what’s up?”
“Hey, are you okay?”
Alexis stopped short, rechecked the caller ID, then put the phone back against her ear. Was he actually checking on her? “I’m as fine as can be expected, why?”
“You didn’t wish Victoria a happy birthday yesterday.”
She rolled her eyes. So, he wasn’t checking on her to see how she was handling her Papa’s passing. “I’m sorry. I was at work all day, then I went to the beach.” And was attacked by the same guy who almost killed me in a car accident.
“She’s very upset that she didn’t hear from you. You know she loves you like a daughter.”
“Dad, stop right there. She may have pulled the wool over your eyes, but I know she doesn’t love me.”
“Alexis…”
“No, Dad, I’m in no mood to argue with you over this. I’ll send her a text after we hang up.”
“Why are you being so stubborn?”
“Maybe it’s because I feel like the black sheep of the family. I'm the one on the outside always looking in.”
“Well, you only have yourself to blame for that. How many times have I tried to include you in family gatherings, and you tell me no that you have other plans?”
“I’ll answer that with a question. How many times will it take for you to stop ignoring me when I do attend the family gatherings you’ve wanted me to attend?”
“I don’t ignore you, Alexis.”
“Yes, you do. Your birthday party last year is a great example. What was I supposed to do while you, Victoria, and your friends played poker? You never even asked me if I wanted to join in.”
“I just assumed…”
“That’s right, you assumed. You keep complaining about me not wanting to be a part of your new family. Have you forgotten that I’m the only flesh and blood you have left in this world? You’re doing the same thing to me that Papa did to Mom, except you keep shattering my heart. I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
She ended the call then shoved the phone into her pocket after sending Victoria a belated happy birthday message. This was the first year, since meeting the woman, she’d forgotten to send a message. And she was chastised for it. She quickly read the return message on her watch wanting to throw up. ‘Thank you, baby.’ Why did she insist on calling her that when they both knew it wasn’t true?
She shook there silently staring at the Gulf her decision made a second later. Maybe some time apart was what they both needed. Dusk had settled in when she started walking toward the warm water and the unknown. She was ankle deep in the water when a vortex pulsing with biolumance energy began to swirl around her. The deeper she walked the higher it swirled. Once she was at hip level, the water swirled so fast around her it took on the appearance of a wormhole. Suddenly she was lifted off of her feet, and she took a deep breath before she was pulled under the waves.