Royal Hearts (13 page)

Kent turned to her and Stacey. “I don’t know
when your parents expect you home, but I was wondering if you want
to get something to eat at the snack bar? It won’t fill you up so
much that you won’t be able to eat your dinners at home.”

Ann grinned at the way Kent worded his
statement. He was kind of quirky, but his heart was in the right
place. She liked him for Stacey.

“We’re buying,” Kent added.

Ann glanced at her watch. “My mom told me to
have the car back in an hour, so it’s going to have to be a quick
snack.”

“Okay. Great. I mean, it’s great that you two
can stay for a snack, not great you have to leave in an hour,” Kent
clarified.

Again, Ann had to grin. If Stacey didn’t see
how nervous he was and how much he was trying to impress her, then
she was blind.

By the time they got their snacks, the
Student Union was packed with students, so they had to break up and
sit at separate tables, which was fine with Ann because she wanted
some time alone to talk to Hathor. She sat across from him at a
small table and absentmindedly stirred the straw in her soda.
“Since you’re new here, I was wondering how things are going for
you. Are you fitting in? Is it hard to adjust to everything?”

“It’s like being on another world. You’re
around people who look like you, but you know you don’t belong
here.”

She considered his words. In a way, she knew
how he felt, even though she hadn’t moved yet. It was the
anticipation of the move that often brought her the same feeling.
“So it’s not going well?”

“Kent has helped me fit in, so I don’t have
to feel so alone. It’s nice to have someone to help you out. But
now that I met you, things are…complete.”

She blinked in surprise. She secretly felt
the same way about him, that he completed her as well, but she was
afraid to admit it.

“Anyway,” he continued, “at some point, I’ll
have to go back home. It’s just a matter of what the circumstances
will be when I do.”

“And you’re not going to tell me the name of
this place you call home, are you?” She smiled to show him that he
didn’t have to answer her. They didn’t know each other well enough
for her to pry into his personal business.

He sighed as he stared at the napkin in front
of him. “I wish I could,” he said at last, his mood turning somber.
“There’s a lot of things I wish I could tell you. If all goes well,
then someday I will be able to, but I can’t right now.”

Unsure about his meaning, she shifted in her
chair and took a sip of her soda. There was definitely something
different about him. He wasn’t like any of the other boys she’d
come across. There was a seriousness about him she’d never seen in
anyone before.

Deciding it would be best to turn to easier
topics, she asked, “What kind of things do you like to do?”

“I like going for walks in the evening when
the sun is setting. I like to carve things out of wood. I like
doing things for…someone else.” He offered a smile. “I like to be
of service when I can. It’s a privilege to know I can make things
better in the world, and that’s where helping someone else comes
in. Few things are more fulfilling than that. But enough about me.
What do you like to do?”

“Well, I’m not as noble as you,” she admitted
with a wry grin. “My interests are pretty self-centered. I like to
read, write, hang out with friends, go to the mall... That’s about
it.”

“I don’t see how that’s self-centered.”

“No one benefits from what I do. There’s
nothing special about me.”

“You never know. You might be more important
than you imagine.”

Before she could ponder why he’d say such a
thing, the timer on her watch went off. Groaning, she pressed the
button to stop it. “I have to go. If I get home late, I lose my
driving privileges.”

He stood as she got up. “Can I see you
again?”

“Yeah, sure.” She gave him her phone
number.

“I don’t have a car of my own. I’m pretty
much stranded here on campus unless I take the bus,” he said. “So I
can’t pick you up.”

“It’s no problem. I can drive.”

“Is there a good time for another
meeting?”

That was an interesting term for a date, she
thought. “I’ll be busy Friday night. How about Saturday? We could
see a movie.”

“A movie? Oh, yes. I know what that is.”

At first she thought he was joking, but the
expression on his face told her he was serious. Didn’t they have
movies in his hometown?

“Just give me a call, and we can decide on
what to see and when to see it,” she said. “Unfortunately, I really
have to go. It was nice seeing you again.”

“Yes. I liked seeing you again. It’s too bad
our time was so short.”

Surprisingly, she couldn’t help agreeing with
him. It had been nice to see him, and she had no doubt she’d enjoy
seeing him again. Focusing on her curfew, she told him good-bye
then went over to Stacey, who was laughing at something Kent was
telling her.

Ann waited until he finished with his joke
before speaking. “I hate to break this up, but I need to get
home.”

After Stacey said her good-byes to Kent, they
headed for the car. “He is so great!” Stacey exclaimed. “I hope he
calls me.”

“He will.”

“You think so?”

“I watched him talk to you. He definitely
likes you.”

Stacey smiled widely. “Who would have thought
going to that thing about colleges could actually be useful?” When
they got into the car, she asked, “What do you think of Hathor? The
two of you looked like you hit it off.” She fastened her seatbelt
and turned to Ann, waiting for all the details she could get.

“He’s different from any boy I’ve ever met,”
Ann said. “It’s hard to explain, but I feel like I’ve met him
before. I guess it’s because he seems to know so much about
me.”

“What did he say to make you think that?”

“That’s just it. It wasn’t really anything he
said. It was the way he looked at me, the way he said things.” She
shook her head. “I don’t understand it.”

“Maybe you two are meant to be together.”

Ann considered the possibility but decided it
was too soon to tell. Besides, she was moving to Florida. With the
Internet, it was possible to have a long distance relationship. But
it was still too soon to make a decision either way.

“We’ll see,” Ann finally said then drove them
home.

***

Hathor hadn’t wanted Ann to leave. It took
all of his willpower to let her walk out the door with her friend.
He knew that she was going to see William at some point in the
week. Perhaps that was what she was doing on Friday night. His
heart constricted at the thought of her with someone else. He
didn’t want to share her with anyone. She was his wife, his best
friend.

William’s words echoed
ominously in his mind.
“Look, what
happened in the future we came from isn’t necessarily going to
happen this time. We’re all starting with a clean slate. The future
is wide open.”

Hathor released his breath. No, William
couldn’t have her. He didn’t deserve her. She chose Hathor once,
and she would choose him again. Or at least, he hoped.

Kent walked over to him and grinned. “I think
I just found the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Hathor looked over at his friend and smiled.
“I’m glad things went well for you.”

“Yeah, she’s not only nice to look at but
she’s actually got a brain. I think I’ll give her a call. Do you
think tonight is too soon to talk to her?”

“I think the best time to call her is when
you want to hear her voice.”

“I don’t want to seem pushy. I don’t think
girls like that. It scares them off.”

Hathor hadn’t thought of that. He didn’t want
to scare Ann off.

“I think I’ll wait for tomorrow. Then I’ll
ask her out for this weekend. Friday will be too soon since
tomorrow is Thursday. I think Saturday will be better.” He put her
phone number in his backpack and took a deep breath. “So, how did
things go with you and Ann?”

“Great, I think,” Hathor replied.

“Is that a good thing or bad?” Kent asked as
they left the Student Union. “Not that it’s any of my
business.”

“I don’t mind your asking. Remember
William?”

“I don’t think I’ll forget him anytime soon.
He got you really mad about something.”

“Yes. It turns out that Ann is seeing him
this Friday. She doesn’t know what a jerk he is.”

“Bummer. Are you going to see her again?”

He nodded. “Saturday.”

“You know, I think the key here is to show
her that you can be more caring than he is. Girls like guys who are
interested in them and what they like. It makes them feel special.
And of course, it’s not a bad idea to compliment them on something
like their hair or what they’re wearing,” Kent continued.

“How do you know so much about girls?”

“I have an older sister who complains a lot
about what the men she dates don’t do right. I try to make sure I’m
not like them.”

Hathor smiled to himself. He would miss
talking to Kent when the time came for him to go back to Raz, but
he couldn’t stay on Earth forever. He didn’t want to stay here
forever, though, even if he had the choice. Regardless, he had to
admit that Earth did have its good points, and finding a good
friend like Kent happened to be one of them.

Chapter Twelve

Present day

Underworld (Hades’ Domain)

Planet: Olympia

Guard Falon’s shoulder throbbed with pain as
he continued walking down the vacant passage inside the mountain.
He heard various sounds. Sometimes he thought he heard screams. At
other times, he heard laughter. This place was gloomy and
depressing. He couldn’t wait to find his way out of it.

He needed to find medical help, but he knew
he still had a couple of days before he’d risk an infection in his
wounded shoulder. Still, he’d love to have something for the pain
right now.

His footsteps echoed hollowly in the place
for another half hour, then…finally, he saw a glimmering light up
ahead. Relieved, he quickened his step, his pain momentarily
forgotten.

When the narrow passageway came to an end, he
found himself at a large circular area lit by torches. To his right
was a gate, which was partly open.

Figuring he had nothing to lose, he headed
for it. Just before he got to the entrance, a huge three-headed dog
jumped in front of him, snarling its displeasure at the uninvited
guest.

Falon had never seen anything like it in his
life, so he wasn’t prepared for it. He looked behind him and saw
there was no other way for him to go except the way he had come,
and he already knew that path led to nowhere. He had no choice. He
would have to find a way through the gate.

“I’m lost. I need to find a way out of here,”
he told the dog.

The dog snarled at him.

He stepped back. How was he going to get
around this beast? After a moment, he tried to reason with it. “I
need to go through that gate. I have no other way to go.”

The dog’s response was to place itself right
in front of the gate, as if to tell him he wasn’t going to enter,
no matter how much he needed to.

Falon groaned. He wasn’t in any shape to
fight with his damaged shoulder, but it looked as if he didn’t have
a choice. He slipped his flashlight and compass back in his
pockets. Then he squatted down and assumed a familiar combat
position.

The dog hunched lower, its three heads turned
right to him.

One, two, three… Go! Falon shot up into the
air and flipped forward once before he landed in a sitting position
on the dog’s back.

Irritated, the dog howled. Two of the heads
on either side of him turned towards him, each head baring its
teeth and trying to bite him.

Falon swiftly slammed his fist into one of
the heads. He punched the jaw so hard that it broke. Without
missing a beat, he kicked the other head squarely in the jaw, also
breaking it.

The dog bucked back, forcing him off its back
and onto the ground. Falon rolled over and started to sprint to the
opening of the gate. The dog was too quick. It pounced on him and
pinned him to the ground. The good head in the center got so close
to him that he could smell its putrid breath.

“Cerebus!”

The dog jumped off of him, retreating to the
shadows.

Shocked by the sudden change in its
temperament, Falon looked for the person who had shouted the dog’s
name.

An old man, clothed in a black robe, emerged
from behind the gate. “You are a stranger here. What is your
business?”

Falon tried to stand up, but a sharp pain
shot straight through his shoulder, making him stumble.

The old man helped him up.

“I am Guard Falon from Pale. I came here on a
mission to-”

“Excuse me,” he interrupted. He listened to
the earpiece he was wearing and turned back to Falon. “Hades is
demanding my presence. I will have to take you to him since this is
his territory that you’ve invaded.”

“I’m not invading his territory. I was on my
way to see the gods and goddesses in the palace on top of this
mountain when I went into a cave near a cliff. I saw a crack in the
cave’s wall and went to investigate it when I fell down here. I
just want to get out of here.”

“That is for Hades to decide.”

“Are you saying he might not let me out of
here?”

“It depends on his mood. Considering what
you’ve done to his pet dog, I seriously doubt you’ll see daylight
again.”

Falon considered running off, but really, he
had nowhere to go.

The old man walked through the gate and
turned back to him, a question in his eyes.

Reluctant, he passed through the gate. “When
you say I won’t see daylight again, do you mean temporarily or…” He
couldn’t bring himself to say it.