Chandler

My fingers traced the pendant I kept turning in my hands. I always loved this necklace. Lannie was the one who inspired me to learn everything about Greek mythology.

I kept tracing every dip and bulge, every single ridge.

‘’Chaddi?’’

‘’Yeah?’’ I looked up and saw Al smiling from the front counter.

‘’This lady would like a bouquet of roses.’’ She gestured to the young brunet woman in a sundress.

Slipping the necklace back into my pocket, I went about collecting the roses she requested and wrapping them up nicely in the paper she liked. Thank the Gods she was an easy to please woman.

‘’Chaddi can we talk?’’ Alex rested her hand on my shoulder as I waved the woman away.

‘’Yeah, of course Al. What’s wrong?’’

‘’Upstairs.’’

‘’Okay?’’

Something was definitely up. I could tell something was bothering her the second she woke me up. Her eyes were calculating and grim, not the usual playful Alex I’m used it. She reserved this look for serious situations only.

‘’Chaddi, you’re getting close with Jackson right?’’

‘’Yeah?’’ My hand wandered to my jacket pocket to hold the pendant he must have left behind last night.

‘’I want you to be careful.’’ She put her hands on my shoulders and lowered her head a small distance so we were locking eyes.

‘’What are you talking about?’’

‘’How much do we really know about him?’’

‘’What’re you getting at Alex?’’ I shook her arms off and took a step back.

What was she talking about? Be careful? How much do we know? He was Lannie’s son! How much does he really know about us? This streak goes both ways.

My finger tightened on the necklace.

‘’I’m just saying. I don’t want you to get involved with him. I’ve seen the way you look at him and I can tell you-‘’

‘’Just stop Alex! What has gotten into you? Two days ago you were fawning all over him and even more excited than me to finally have him here. What’s changed? You can’t suddenly change your opinion of someone overnight without a valid reason.’’

‘’Chandler? Alex?’’ The bell downstairs chimed as the door opened.

I gave Alex one last look before taking the stairs two at a time to meet Jackson by the door.

‘’Did I leave my necklace here?’’ He smiled warmly at me but I could tell there was panic in his eyes.

I nodded my head and motioned him over to me, making him sit in a chair by the counter. The relief that flooded his face made me laugh a little. I could understand how important this is to him. It was all he had left of Lannie besides the store.

I unclenched my hands and pulled the necklace out of my pocket before lowering it over his head to rest on his chest.

‘’Don’t lose it again or I might keep it next time.’’ I smiled and he engulfed me in a hug.

‘’Thank you so much, Angel. You have no idea how important this is to me.’’

‘’Angel?’’ I laughed and he smiled down at me.

‘’Yeah.’’

‘’Okay then.’’

‘’Where’s Alex?’’ He frowned and looked around the store.

‘’She’s upstairs. Why do you need her?’’

‘’Do you think you could let her know I can’t come and work today? I have to sort some things out with Daphney. I mightn’t be back for a few days.’’

‘’Yeah, sure. I’ll let her know but where’re you going?’’ I knew he was taking a second to think up a lie but he sighed when he came up with nothing.

‘’I’m just doing some stuff with Daphney that’ll take a few days. I’ll be back soon.’’ He rested his hand on my cheek before leaving out the door he just walked through.

What the heck was going on with everyone!? First Alex is acting strange and now Jackson I going away? Where was he even going? How long would he really be gone for? Was he going to see anyone? Why am I acting like an over possessive girlfriend!?

‘’See what I mean Chaddi? We don’t know him!’’

‘’He’s been gone for year to Gods only know where. No one knows him.’’ I groaned and looked out the door.

‘’I met a man that does know him and he said Jackson is dangerous.’’

‘’You can’t believe everything people say Alex!’’ I screamed at her and she looked taken back.

I had never raised my voice at my sister. There had never been a reason to. It’s just… Jackson couldn’t be dangerous. He’s like a tall, muscly, green eyed teddy bear.

‘’The man said he’s going to take Jackson back to his father because he did some really horrible things.’’

‘’What?’’ My eyes shot to her and my hand shot to my now empty pocket.

He was going to be taken back? What did he do!? I bet…no I know he didn’t do anything! He wouldn’t. He couldn’t! He just walked into my life and I’ll be damned if he walks out of it before I can yell at him for making me feel like an obsessive girlfriend.

She was smiling at me and I felt like something snapped in me. Anger just took over and I slammed the shop door open and closed behind me as I ran along the beach looking for any sign of Jackson and thankfully I was close enough to see him walking along the foot of the cliffs.

‘’Jackson!’’ I called but he didn’t turn. He mustn’t have heard me.

I kept calling him as I slowed to a walk and followed him onto the thin line of sand in front of the rocks. Where the heck is he going?

‘’Jackson!’’ I tried again but he was already ducking into a cave.

My hands ran over the rocks as my shoe covered feet kept getting washed with the waves of water rolling in and licking the rock walls.

‘’I never knew there were caves here.’’ I whispered and entered it.

I kept a hand on the left wall as the darkness took me over, only looking back once when a particularly large wave crashed into the cave chasing me down into the darkness.

‘’Jackson?’’ I couldn’t see anything but the glow of a light pretty far back.

I didn’t let my hand leave the wall even as I stumbled on stray rocks and boulders, my eyes completely locked on the seemingly purple light in the distance.

‘’Come on Jackson. I’m getting scared.’’ The growls of waves in the distance and the rumbling of a coming storm were drowning the cave in eerie sounds.

My body shivered involuntarily as a cold breeze came from behind me and pushed me further into the cave. The purple light was growing and a blue and green one soon joined it but they were still a little ways off.

‘’What the hell are you doing in here Jackson?’’ I whispered to the darkness.

The sound of the elements outside died down a little as I approached the lights.

‘’What are these?’’ My eyebrows scrunched together in confusion as I reached for the purple one.

My fingers touched the orb and it wasn’t hot like I expected…it was warm. I wrapped my fingers around it and brought it down to eye level.

It illuminated the walls around me and as I softly squeezed it, it grew brighter. It felt a lot like those liquid bags of soap or bubble bath you buy for kids in those cute animal shapes.

I released the purple one and it floated back to being above my head as I reached for the blue one until I heard a rock move behind me and spun around to see a large, beautiful, blonde man.

‘’My my. I guess my baby cousin hasn’t been hiding under a rock somewhere.’’ His large hand reached for my face and traced my cheek. ‘’You’re a gorgeous one aren’t you?’’

‘’Who are you?’’ I locked my eyes with his almost glowing blue ones and a smile broke onto his face.

‘’My name’s Apollo, Gorgeous. I’m looking for my baby cousin.’’

Don't forget to comment and vote!