An Opportunity

 

Selene.

 

I feel confused and excited at the same time. I wonder if Madam Tsali would bring me back if Ares asked her. I wonder if I would be glad if she did. Mogh was just looking at me very strangely and I wondered if he was remembering what he saw that night Ares and I had almost done it. I remember what we saw in the hotel room. Mogh is no saint. We walk quickly along the corridor leading to Eros' office. I step aside and allow Mogh to knock and enter first. Eros looks up as Mogh enters. I can him but he cant see me from his position in one of the chairs next to the window.

“Where is Selene?” he asks Mogh, looking surprised. I step out from behind Mogh.

“Hey,” I say softly, blushing despite myself.

Eros grins and says, “Nice to see you again.”

Mogh tells Eros goodbye and smiles as he leaves quietly. Eros looks great in a turquoise shirt that matches his eyes and his hair is damp, as if he just came out of the shower.

I inhale deeply and decide to start with business. “Did the creatures reveal anything?”

“No. They resisted all our attempts to invade their psyche. They said nothing useful. One managed to take his own life.”

“What can I do to help out?”

“Remember that diary I showed you?” I nod quickly, “How could I forget it?”

“good, well, we have to find Hera.”

I am shocked. “but isn't Hera with Freon?”

“yes.”

I try to digest what I am hearing.

“If Hera is with Freon then in order to capture Hera we'll have to raid Freon.”

“Exactly.” Eros stands by the window with his arms folded, a confident smirk on his face.

“That would be suicide. To attempt to defeat Freon, in his own territory is insane.”

Eros steps towards me and narrows his eyes. “If you had any idea who you are speaking to, you would know that I am insane.”

“My bad.” I say quickly, trying to lighten the mood. Geez. Eros smiles and his shoulders drop. He is calm and easygoing again in a second.

I stare into his eyes provocatively and purse my lips. “Okay so where do we go from here?”

He turns away from me and picks up a folder on his desk. While his back is still turned he says lightly, “Where do we go? Into the forests. When? Night after tomorrow night. Get to sleep early and be on time Thursday because trust me, you'll need as much sleep as you can get.”

Eros turns around and faces me, “Selene, I chose you to help me because I trust you. I heard of your skills I battle. I know what you are good at and what you need to work on. Madam Tsali sent your file.”

He leans in closer until there is barely any space between us and I can hear his breathing,

I gasp in surprise and he nods understandingly. He hands me the folder. “Here, this is your file. I think if you read it you might be able to practice the areas you are weak in.”

I take the folder in surprise. “Thanks but isn't this against...”

He cuts in, “Rules? Yeah I know. Its just that I want you to be as prepared as possible. I'm not one to play by the rules anyway. Since your on my team now you should get used to it.” He grins and I find myself liking him more and more.

“Thanks Eros. I'm going to the library, wanna come?”

Eros contemplates accompanying me. “Hmm, I want to but no, I can't. I have to assemble the others I chose to battle with Freon.”

“Okay.” I hope my voice doesn't sound as disappointed as I feel.

“later.” He goes back to his desk.

As I head down to the main library, I replay our entire conversation. Since your on my team now. I cant help but feel a bit thrilled that he likes me. Or at least I think he does. I walk down to the library that Eros took me to read Hera's diary. I try to open the door but it doesn't budge. Oh great. I feel daft when I remember that Eros said it was the private library. I walk out into the courtyard and I look around the swarm of students here, most of them older than myself. I approach a tall, angular gawky girl. “Excuse me, I'm new here, can you tell me where the main library is?” She looks down on me (literally) in surprise. Then she flushes with pleasure as she recognizes me.

“Er, Selene.”

“Yeah, thats me.” I feel uncomfortable and a bit annoyed.

“whats your name?” I ask, partly out of curiosity mostly because I feel obliged to.

“Um, Halcyone.

“well I could , um show you, because I um, happen to be going there myself.”

Before I could say anything she swoops down upon a huge pile of books. When she is ready, we walk down the hallway. I follow her lead trying to keep some distance between us.

As we enter the library my girlie senses pick up something. A bevy of gorgeous girls sit there conversing and laughing and even though they are in a library and the word silence hangs on the walls, the doors even on the backs of chairs no one tells them anything. As I walk past them one of them looks up and says something. A hostile silence ensues. I hurry to the back of the library away from them. “What just happened?” I ask Beverly as we sit. Her books fall and I help her pick them up as she replies, “ oh those girls? Thats Medea and her clique. You two are like enemies since someone started a rumor that Eros likes you,everyone knows that.”

“Everyone except me.”

Halcyone looks surprised, raising an eyebrow as if she has not considered that. “Well, does he?”

“How should I know? Go you ask him” I am being unfriendly but I don't care. She takes my suggestion literally. “Oh, um, I couldn't do that,” she is blushing like an idiot, “He only spoke to me personally once and that was to congratulate me on a successful task.” She smiles at the memory, wistfully.

I open the folder containing my file. I read;

Selene.

Character -A bit reserved, very intelligent, intuitive, needs to expand to her full potential. My full potential... this is what they call constructive criticism. Very attached to her teammate, Ares. Forms bonds quickly( as seen in reaction to the death of Diana, former teammate.) Not a very independent person. Works best in a group. Needs motivation in order to fulfill. Compared to her teammates, is not exemplary in skill but individually is a very good student. Applies herself well and is faithful and trusting. Lacks cunning.

Well I am not exemplary in skill. I knew that but reading it stings. Not a very independent person. Lacks cunning. I feel a bit resentful of this description of myself but I console myself with the part about me being very intelligent and intuitive. Its true anyway. I'm not like Ares and Mogh. Thats why they are dealing with Dionysus while I am going to battle Freon with like, a lot of other people. It was convenient for Madam Tsali to dump me here while they... Oh gosh. Tears spring to my eyes and I wipe at them quickly, glancing furtively at Halcyone. She is absorbed in her book and my little moment goes unnoticed.

I read on;

Selene is strong in Mind Control of inanimate objects and creatures, the Art of Illusion, Mind Invasion, various shields and defenses and her greatest asset is her unique ability to understand the complexities of a situation. I feel good reading this and it sort of recompenses for all the earlier criticism.

Selene is weak in conjuring inanimate and live objects, summoning help from animals, conjuring external forces eg) fire, water and other elements and she is not a very fast shape shifter. I know all this is true and I silently vow to work on my weak points. Yes, I'll practice and I'll show them... yeah right in two days.

Suddenly Ares' voice interrupted my reveries. “Hey babe.”

My mind responded to his, “Hi, whats up?”

“Nothing much. I'm just missing you. I love you babe.”

“i love you too Ares.”

“Is, that guy harassing you?” I can hear the concern in Ares' voice.

“what guy?” I ask, pretending to be ignorant.

“come on Selene, you know exactly who I'm talking about.”

“Oh, the acting Head, Eros? No. Not at all. He just explained what I had to do and then I left his office.” I try to sound convincing, as if just earlier I was not flirting with Eros. Ares hesitates before saying, “Alright. Just don't let him, um corner you or anything.”

“Ares, come on.”

“No Selene, you come on!You do know you are really gullible, don't you?” Ares is laughing but I see no joke in hearing something that I practically just read about myself repeated to me by my boyfriend. Ares senses something is off and asks, “Why are you so quiet? Is something wrong ?”

I reply quickly so he wouldn't get suspicious, “No, honey, no. Anyway, I have to go. I have to practice my skills.”

“OK. bye.” he makes a smoochey sound that makes me laugh out loud and then is gone.