The calm before the storm

Third person pov ~

Peter had been more foolish than usual. He had let his emotions take control, let his hesitation outweigh his reason. Instead of sending her away like he said he would, he had let her stay...just one more day. But he knew the consequences of his actions.

Barry would not stay quiet, that much was obvious. His pride had been wounded, both by his closest friend and by the woman he wanted and the pain that stemmed from the humiliation would fester into something far worse. Barry would come for him sooner or later and when he did, there would be no mercy.

Peter knew he had put his entire family into danger just with that one selfish act, he had wanted to stay with Athelia just for a second more, and those seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours until it was dawn again.

His father was just a carpenter, his mother was a florist and his sister, his younger sister who had more needs than any ordinary person would be in danger just because he chose a girl over everything else.

As he lay in bed that morning, his mind wandered to the worst case scenarios. Being Barry's best friend had it's perks, because of how close they were, Barry always ensured that the women in Peter's family were never chosen. Peter was suspicious because according to the legends, the goddess chose the women each year but Barry had been preventing that. Even though he was suspicious, Peter never actively questioned it. His mother and sister were being spared, after all. His sister would not be able to fulfill any of the goddess's quests, she could barely take care of herself and his mother needed to be on the island with them. Without her, their whole family would fall apart, he just knew it.

The sudden opening of the door jolted him from his train of thought, Athelia came in, looking as in bothered as always, completely oblivious to the many thoughts running through his mind. He smiled as he watched her walk to him so naturally.

"Here to ask me for Baurbius' whereabouts again?" He teased and she gave a small smile.

"I do not think my brother is on this island."

"So," he cleared his throat, "Barry..."

"Who?"

"My friend... The guy you launch into the air everyday for the past two days."

" Oh," was all she managed to say. "What about him?"

"He's going to come back. He might do something to my family. I think we should leave the island." Peter said his voice was tensed up but Athelia just states blankly at him.

"No need to do that," she waved her hand dismissively, as if rejecting his offer without a second thought. "let him come."

"Huh?"

"Never mind him. Teach me human things. I want to do human things today." She chirped excitedly, happy to be free from the boring talk.

"Human things?" Peter blinked.

"Yes. Since I have decided to live amongst humans, it is only fair that I learn human things."

"Huh?"

" What do you mean 'huh'? " She pouted, "Since I am going to spend the rest of my life with you, I might as well learn my duties."

" Spend the rest of your life with me?" Peter exclaimed, jerking backwards, his face turned red. "What makes you so sure about that?"

Athelia tilted her head, unsure if why he was being so jumpy. "Well," she began, "since humans always fall in love at first sight and live happily ever after..."

Peter blinked, caught between amusement and disbelief. "That's... not how it works."

She shrugged. "Of course it is. You've already fallen for me."

He barely managed to stifle a laughter, "I've only known you for two days."

"So?"

Peter chuckled and shook his head, there was no trying to reason with her. He had no idea where she heard that humans fell in love at first sight, it was completely untrue. He had not fallen for her at first sight, at least he did not think so.

"I can't believe I'm ruining my life for a woman." He thought aloud and immediately, he turned to look at Athelia, he hoped she would not feel like she was ruining his life or anything but he was met with a blank stare.

"Still worrying about that boy? Don't worry, I will protect you." She gave him a big reassuring smile.

"Is it not supposed to be the other way around?"

"Human things." She pouted once more and he chuckled.

"Fine. What human things do you want to do?"

Things were quiet, too quiet. Peter had expected an ambush but nothing came for days and soon, a week had passed. Still, nothing from Barry. The festival of the goddess had already passed for that year and thus, Peter thought he had time to plan before the next festival of the goddess in case any of his family members got chosen.

However, he knew that Barry had not given up on Athelia, as long as he had known him, Barry had never given up on anything he wanted, the chase made him want it even more as he found pleasure in the joy he felt after. Two weeks passed, then three weeks, then a whole month passed, Peter did not see Barry. When he went to Barry's residence for an audience, he was chased away, every single time he went, he was never granted an audience.

Athelia on the other hand seemed to have forgotten her true motive for coming to the human world, she had made herself comfortable but occasionally, Peter could see that she was anxious about something, something she would not tell him. She pretty much kept her life a secret. All peter knew about her was that she was a powerful god's daughter and she ran away from the heavenly realm to avoid a marriage.

She also confided in him that she had always wanted to be human and that she did not fit in to the heavenly realm. Peter was confused, he could not understand how someone with power and authority could leave and stoop beneath their level just because they liked something. That was probably one way Barry had influenced him. Athelia looked so happy, fitting in with humans and he just wanted her to be happy but the frequent anxiety he felt from her made him realize that her stay in the human world might be short lived.

Still, he enjoyed living in the peaceful days he had, with her.

However, that too was short lived.

It was almost two months after that fateful morning, Peter was working on a customer's order in his father's workshop. His father had gone put earlier to run an errand and had informed Peter that he would go home after his delivery run. Peter's neighbor ran into the workshop as if being chased, Peter stopped his work and focused on the agitated woman in front of him.

"Your mother.." the woman breathed heavily, her chest rose and fell as if she had run miles to get to him.

"Your mother..." She tried again, but her voice wavered.

Peter stepped forward, placing a hand on the older woman's shoulder to calm her down. "Calm down, Mrs Ravenfield. Take a deep breath and tell me what happened. What about my mother?"

She clutched his arm, her fingers trembling. "They've taken your mother and your sister." Her voice laced with urgency.

Peter's breath caught in his throat. "What do you mean they took my mother and sister? Who's they?" He tried to keep calm even though his heart was pounding hard against his chest.

"The soldiers of the village chief. I was buying flowers at the flower shop when they came. My immediate thought was to come tell you because..."

But he was already moving, he did not wait to hear her finish her statement before his legs carried him forward. His mind was blank. He knew that Barry would use his family against him but still he had not imagined the kind of horror he would feel after. He ran, faster than he could think, his mind could not catch up.

Please, be okay. Please, be okay. Please, be okay.

That was the mantra he recited in his head as he ran towards the village chief's residence. He was going to get on his knees and beg Barry. He was going to throw away all of his pride to save his family. He should not have crossed Barry, he should not have given in to his heart. He would not be able to live with himself if anything happened to his mother or his sister because of his selfishness.

He had planned to let Barry beat him up and do whatever he wanted, that was what he had thought would happen but the scene he met at the village chief residence was unlike anything he had expected.

He walked over to one of the bodies on the floor and checked their pulse, they were not dead. No, they were only knocked out.

The scene before him was a sight for sore eyes. The ground at the fare entrance of the village chief's residence was littered with unconscious bodies, their weapons scattered uselessly beside them. Peter walked in through the gate, ignoring them.

And there in the courtyard, standing talk amidst the fallen, was Athelia. Majestic, unwavering, as if she belonged above them. But what caught Peter's attention the most was not the dominating radiance of her presence, it was the way she held his mother and sister in her arms, their trembling forms clinging to her as they sobbed.

She had saved them.