CHAPTER 1: AT LONG LAST
Arcadia

I could still hear my mothers warnings echoing in my mind as I sat in my seat. My red satin gown sat upon my body perfectly, and the sleeves rested nicely on my shoulders as I took another sip of my wine.

Although this celebration was in my name - to celebrate a new goddess welcomed on Olympus - I felt like a shadow resting in a corner for I was the one who felt left out. Many beautiful Gods and Goddesses were drinking and laughing, and I had realized far too late that this was really just an excuse for them to consume unholy amounts of alcohol before-

"Have you ever been to an orgy before?"

"Excuse me?" I audibly said in horror as a voice asked from behind me, coming up and startling me with such an odd question.

"I do not think I have seen you at one before, but it is entirely impossible that you wouldn't have been invited. I'm Eros," The God introduced himself, and now his question made a lot more sense to me.

"U-uh, Arcadia. And no, I have not."

"Ah," He mused, "you are Nyxs' newest child. I know all of her children are of divine beauty but the thought of angering her by inviting one to an orgy is too great. I apologize."

"You need not worry. I was caught off guard, is all," I expressed. Yes, I had heard of how active the Olympians were - especially in the illegitimate children department, but I fear that I would be too awkward or out of place in such an erotic scene.

"So you would be interested?" I moved back slightly in my chair as Eros leaned into me. He was handsome and had that charm about him, but being raised in my mothers realm with no interaction with anyone other than my siblings and my parents, so it made me feel strange. Eros, the son of Aphrodite and Ares, making advancements on me.

"Uh, uhm. . .I-"

"Clear the way, Eros."

A deep voice that almost immediately enraptured me interrupted us. I do not know how I did not sense him approaching before, but the musk of eucalyptus and sandalwood flooded the air as I looked up at this mystery Diety. He had messy black hair was was to his shoulders, his hands behind his back as he looked at us.

"Who invited you? Surely not Zeus," Eros said, his tone full of disdain and disgust. The man before us simply stared down at Eros, like he was beneath him and not worthy of his own gaze.

"I did. Y-yes, I did," I spoke up, wanting to stop the lingering tension.

"You invited an Endless?" Eros questioned, and that's when it hit me.

"One of my creations will be there to watch over you. You will not even see him if there is no trouble."

An Endless.

Nyx had created Night and Time from the stars, who then had their children - The Endless. Mother created them long before she and father had decided on being together and having us, as she did not wish to keep an eye on humanity as they spawned on Earth.

She sent an Endless to watch over me.

Probably a due favor that he owed.

"Yes. He is one of my mothers creations, and he knows the world better than I would. I hope that it was alright," I ushered myself from my seat, and towards him. Despite his very off putting and cold exterior, I linked my arm with his own as my hand rested on his wrist.

He feels so cold.

"Just don't be too brooding, Dream," Eros smirked at him as he started to walk by us, "and just call out if he's being a bummer, okay?"

I nodded with a nervous smile before he joined the sea of gods and goddesses.

So he's Dream.

"Thank you," I breathed out as I looked up at him.

"It was a favor," He replied in a cold tone as I let go of him.

"I have never met any of The Endless before, so I figured this was something you owed my mother. But thank you, and you may leave if you wish," I curtsied slightly to him, and he caught me off guard as he bowed before me. Our eyes met in surprise.

"Why are you bowing? You are an Endless," I expressed, "you have existed long before I and you are responsible for people's dreams and nightmares."

"And you are the offspring Goddess of my creator. Do not curtsy before one who is not the same as you, both in power and in rank," He was chastising me, his face remaining the same but with the most subtle look of annoyance in his eyes.

"Perhaps I was paying homage to my elders," I didn't want to let someone my mother sent to chastise me as if I'm a child.

I'm a Goddess.

I was molded from the galaxies and stars and forged by both Nyx and Erebus during the alliance of the planets. A risky time to make a Goddess but one of the most powerful times when the universe threatens to release the Titans. 

"Your elders?" His expression was monotone but somewhere there was an underlying tone of amusement with the slightest raise of his eyebrow.

"You are billions of years old, are you not? I do not know the order of your siblings, but I do know Destiny is the eldest," I know that The Endless will exist until the very last being in the universe dies, which gives them purpose but I do know that some of The Endless would much rather die than spend so long performing such duties.

"Why do you let Eros speak so lowly to you? He is only a few thousand years old," I asked in a hushed voice, leaning up to him so as to not attract any eavesdroppers. He looked down at me, his expression the same, but curious.

"It does not matter."

"But it does! You are-"

"Who is scolding who now?" He had a hint of amusement in his tone as his deep eyes bore into mine and my cheeks flushed.

"You can-did you read my mind?" I asked, my brows furrowed and I guess he took that as me being upset because he stepped back and bowed his head.

"Apologies, Lady Arcadia. I will not do so again."

"Stop bowing! I-"

The soft strums of harps started playing, interrupting me and my thoughts. A quartet of violins followed afterwards. It was a beautiful sound which was not too loud but the perfect sound. I looked above to see Selene on her chariot bring the moon up as Helios brought it down.

"May I have this dance?" I asked, excitement erupting within me. I have always loved watching the humans and their balls where romance and gossip erupted as they swayed with eachother.

He looked hesitant, and he had every right to leave. The only reason why he was there to begin with was to ensure my safety, for it was a mere favor. My own personal feelings and comfort should not matter to him in the slightest.

Or that's what I was made to believe.

His eyes lingered on my hand before snapping back up to my own. His cold hand took mine before his arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me in so much that I could feel his breath fanning on my face. I could see all of the details of his sharp grey eyes that held the color of the deep green forests and the rivers that run within them. 

"Dream, I-I-"

"Say the word and I will let go," He told me, his eyes not leaving mine as we spun around the room. Our bodies remained close together, my chest against his as his hand curled oh so naturally into mine. His arm around my waist, keeping us in such close proximity, was not a death grip but gentle as his hand did not wander beyond my waist.

It was such an intimate act, especially the proximity and our noses almost touching. My eyes shamelessly wandered to his lips, but quickly back up to his own eyes in shame. In all of my years, I had never been so close to anyone - especially an Endless that either knew what he was doing or was just having his own fun teasing me.

"Let us dance all night," I mumbled only so that he could hear.

"As you wish, Lady Arcadia."

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Arcadia is the youngest offspring of Nyx and Erebus, so Zeus welcomed her into Olympus as to keep on their good graces.