Free House of Thebes (The Bloodstone Saga) by Courtney Cole Page A

my life with Cadmus.  I felt as though I was in limbo right now, simply waiting for my life to start.  But very soon, we would be together.  We would be married and it would be official.
    He would be mine.
    Because of that thought, I was able to patiently smile at my mother. 
    “Alright.  Show me.”
    She pulled away the sheets and my dress hung before me.  She was right, as she almost always was in these matters.  The gown was beautiful. It was strapless and the bodice was made from lace.  The gauzy skirts were made from the finest of silk with pearls embedded in the hem and the voluminous fabric seemed to float to the floor.  It was simple and elegant, exactly my taste.  I turned to my mother.
    “Thank you for keeping it simple.  I love it.  It’s perfect.”
    “I know,” she agreed happily.
    My mother continued chattering as she called in my new maids and everyone began the process of making me beautiful for Cadmus. 
    My long dark hair was twisted into an elaborate chignon, my eyes were made up intricately with green cosmetics, my lips were painted with red.   My mother and my servants had just buttoned up the hundred pearl fasteners that lined my back when there was a knock on the doors to my suite. 
    A maid quickly appeared to me with Hephaestus, my step-father, limping at her heels.  He had limped for as long as I had known him, the result of a birth injury.
    The girl bowed low.  “Your step-father, your highness.”
    “Thank you,” I told her, then looked in confusion to Hephaestus. 
    He and I didn’t interact very much, since he obviously detested my father.  I was a product of Aphrodite’s dalliances with Ares.  I couldn’t quite blame Hephaestus for not wanting me in his sight. I was a visible reminder of my mother’s constant betrayal. 
    “Hephaestus,” I greeted him, kissing both of his cheeks.  Hephaestus was a giant of a god, so I had to stand on tiptoes.  “I’m so happy that you came.”
    “I wouldn’t dishonor Aphrodite by missing her daughter’s wedding,” he told me gruffly.  “Every other Olympian is in attendance.  I should be here as well.”
    “Well, thank you, all the same,” I told him awkwardly.  Hephaestus wasn’t known for his social graces. 
    He thrust a large velvet box into my hands. 
    “Your wedding gift.  I made it myself.  I thought you might like to wear it to the ceremony, as a reminder of home.”
    Surprise rushed through me, then warmth.  Perhaps he didn’t hate me, after all. It was an interesting turn-of-events, but my very nature craved peace.  I would accept any olive branch that he cared to offer me.
    I snapped the velvet lid open and gasped.  Nestled among silk, a perfect red bloodstone glistened from the white folds of fabric.  It was at least three inches long and hung on a glittering, thick golden chain.  It was quite a stunning olive branch.
    “It’s beautiful,” I breathed. “It must be very rare.  I’ve seen many green bloodstones, but rarely a red one.”
    “It is most assuredly one of a kind,” he replied.  “I thought it would look lovely on you.” He stepped around Aphrodite, ignoring her astonished expression, and lifted the heavy necklace from the box.  Unclasping it, he fastened it around my neck.
    It came to a rest against my chest and I felt a shiver of cold run down my spine from the cool stone.  It was large, the side of half my fist, a crimson blood-red with dark black veins running through it.  I ran my fingers along its face, enjoying the cool smoothness of the stone. 
    “Thank you, Hephaestus,” I gushed to my step-father.  “This will be my favorite gift today, I am sure of it.  It is breath-taking. And so very thoughtful of you.”
    He flushed, a rare show of emotion for him and then nodded his large head.
    “I am glad you like it.  As I was making it, I fancied that it might bring you fortune throughout the years.  As my wife’s beautiful daughter, you deserve any fortune