Author's note- This is an anthology series set in the same dreamy Greek inn. Each part is a modern take on an ancient Greek myth yet the characters and plot differ so they can be read separately or in any order the reader chooses. That being said- I do recommend saving this story for last. Enjoy!
~All That Glitters~
Dani gazed up at the sky. The blanket of twinkling stars was gradually being obscured by the dark clouds that hovered on the horizon.
Just my luck,
she cursed to herself,
to arrive with the lousy weather.
This vacation was to be her last hurrah, she couldn't afford any more in-vitro treatments on her meager teacher's salary. So when a brochure arrived in the mail she thought why the hell not. Something about The Horned Gate had called to her, maybe it was the name which sounded vaguely like the title of a del Toro film. Or maybe it was the picture, a mysterious refuge clinging tenaciously to the edge of a steep-sided cliff. Whatever it was that compelled her, she took the very last of her savings and headed for the timeless splendor of Greece.
At age 38 Dani's life was almost perfect. She had a fulfilling job as a teacher, a beautiful home and a loving circle of friends. She had no need for a man in her life. And yet one thing was missing- a child.
She had tried to get pregnant for years with no success. Uterus incompatible with conception. That's what the doctors had told her. Her chances had always been slim but throughout the unpleasant and costly procedures she was comforted by the fact there was still a chance. Now that was gone too. Now she just felt like a prisoner inside her own body. A prisoner of biology.
When Dani finally reached the check-in desk there was a group in front of her. Father, mother, son- the whole Rockwellian family unit. The little boy peeked at her from behind his mother's leg and gave her a friendly wave. She went to return the wave but the simple gesture threatened to bring tears to her eyes.
Clamp it down Dani Downer,
she chided herself. She would simply have to get used to the soul-crushing feeling. It's not as if she could avoid children her whole life. Unless she got a job as an adults-only cruise director. Too bad she got seasick just watching old Love Boat reruns.
The family shuffled off and Dani's thoughts immediately shifted from camp 70's sitcoms to the equally campy innkeeper. The little old lady wore an outfit that could only be describes as ye olde fashion victim. Dark green medieval gown, pointy pink princess hat, purple feather boa.
Snazzy?
"Well met milady, what might I do for ye on this fine eve?" She asked in her best Ren faire routine.
"Hello there... Dennis." Dani leaned in to read the name tag pinned to her feathery chest.
She slid her rose-tinted heart shaped glasses down to reveal eyes that appeared to be as blind as a nocturnal flying mammal and twice as batty. "Oh no, my name's not Dennis. I collect vintage name tags, as well as medieval weaponry and Lisa Frank trapper keepers."
OK, make that ten times as batty.
"Well Not Dennis, I'd like a room please. I'm afraid I don't have a reservation."
"Prithee, no need for vexation. All will be put to right anon." She placed her hand over Dani's, tilting her pointed head slightly. Her touch was moist and tingly like the underside of a jellyfish. Dani silently prayed the creepy old crone didn't turn her into a newt.
"Anon sounds good." The anoner the better. Dani gulped and pulled her hand away.
"Tis fortunate you arrived when you did. For me thinks a fearful tempest breweth on the horizon." Not Dennis pointed a crooked finger at the window where the dark clouds could be seen gathering from the east.
"Thanks for the warning."
"Oh, tis not a warning. Tis more of a friendly prognostication." She handed over the room key. "Have a pleasant stay and don't forget to mind the dragon."
Dani scurried away from the amateur production of Spamalot she had inexplicably found herself in. Hold on, did she just say dragon? Dani turned to ask what she could possibly mean by that when in the corner of her eye she caught sight of something heading straight for her. She ducked just in time to see a whirling blur fly past her face and strike the wall behind her. A moment later the little boy emerged from the hallway and ran to pick up the object- a remote-controlled dragon. Inconceivable! How could she have possibly known?
Dani hightailed it to her room and spent the next couple hours pondering that very question until the distant rumble of thunder eventually soothed her to sleep.
Ξ©
DanaΓ«, Princess of Argos, gazed up at the sky. Just a sliver of the night's grandeur could be seen through the slender arrow slit of her tower. Only the harshest weather penetrated the nearly soundless cell. Judging from the muted rumbling that shook the thick bronze walls, a real rager was going on outside.
Not that DanaΓ« minded the rain. The stormy weather outside perfectly mirrored the shit storm that was her life. "It's not fair." She shouted out to no one. It was utterly unfair to be imprisoned not because of anything she did but because of an accident of birth. And one pesky prophet.
Disappointed that his only child was a dynastically useless daughter, King Acrisius asked a famed oracle if he would ever have a son. Unfortunately for Acrisius, (and for Dani) the meddling medium foretold that he would have no male heir and that his daughter's son would one day slay him. The king didn't very much like the sound of that. And so dear old daddy had his only daughter grounded for life in a high tower without as much as a staircase to admit the occasional pizza delivery boy. A prisoner of biology.
She banged fiercely at the intricately carved bronze friezes that covered the tower walls until her fists were sore. Only then did she sink back onto the mattress of her ritzy cell. No expense had been spared in its construction- the softest linen, the finest pottery, the sweetest wine. Her father's wrong-headed version of mercy. As if the poshness of her cage would make it feel like less of a prison. Fat chance.
A far-off rumble of thunder broke through Dani's morbid musings. With a deep sigh she flopped onto her pillow face first. As usual there was nothing better to do than sleep. She was beginning to develop the same nap schedule as a narcoleptic housecat. Yet tonight pent-up frustration was keeping her from getting any rest. Not just frustration at her unjust situation but the kind you get from weeks of playing nothing but sexual solitaire. To put it bluntly, she was horny as hell.
She tossed and turned, trying to ignore the persistent tension between her thighs until nature's white-noise machine started to have a relaxing effect. Her eyelids were just beginning to drift shut when something brushed her foot. Startled, her eyes shot wide open searching for the culprit. But there was no one there. Of course, there was no one.
Earth to fairytale princess!
That's the whole point of a private cell at the top of a tall tower.
