Athena’s Dilemma

Callista scoffed, the sound harsh against the gentle symphony of night singers. 'Cliches,' she thought, her gaze rolling through the moonlight. Natalia stuffed them down her throat like poorly fermented beer, romance novels spun from cobwebs and wishes. Bumping into your supposed "soulmate" at every turn, especially when your vision was clouded by wines? Not her style.

She shouldn't have strayed from Indigo's haven, that much she knew. The city, a suffocating cage of concrete and neon, held no solace. But the Academy's garden, a sanctuary woven from emerald vines and fragrant blooms, called to her with an irresistible siren song. The air, thick with the scent of lavender, lilies, and blooming peonies, was a balm to the metallic tang of smoke and petrol that clung to her like a shroud. This place wasn't entirely devoid of beauty, she supposed, just like beauty couldn't erase the ugliness that festered within its walls.

Callista slumped against the rough-hewn bench, her eyes straining to pierce the inky canvas above. The few stars that managed to peek through were a pale imitation of the constellations she used to admire from the orphanage roof – a simpler time before vampires dared defile even holy sanctuaries. Now, she knew their weaknesses were mere myths – sunlight, crosses and holy water were useless against their monstrous appetites.

That, more than anything, fueled the inferno within her. It wasn't the darkness that defined them, but the cruelty of their choice. Weak, pathetic creatures enslaved by an insatiable hunger.

As she simmered in her indignation, a vision swam into focus – a cascade of blonde hair catching the moonlight, eyes that outshone the two lone stars above.

"Stargazing, Astra?" Princess Athena's voice, sweet and melodious, filled the air. She sat beside Callista, amusement dancing in her golden eyes like fireflies in the night.

"If you can call these pinpricks stars, then yes," Callista mumbled, the throbbing in her head intensifying with each pulsating beat of her heart. Agreeing to Amelia's absurd "date" already felt like a mistake, and the unexpected encounter with Athena left a bitter taste on her tongue.

Athena chuckled, a genuine sparkle lighting up her face. "Stars are ever-present," she murmured, her gaze fixed on the vast expanse above. "They may be obscured by the artificial glow, yet their essence remains. The ones we see are simply the most resilient, wouldn't you agree?"

Callista remained silent, a battle raging within her. Drunken oblivion with a cryptic vampire princess wasn't exactly her idea of a relaxing evening.

Undeterred, Athena continued, twirling a strand of her golden hair between her fingers. "They are a testament to perseverance, Astra," she whispered, her voice barely a sigh. "Cherish their brilliance for what it is, a fleeting spark in the eternal darkness."

A reluctant smile tugged at the corner of Callista's lips. "Hardly the stuff of grand romances, right, Princess?"

"Who mentioned romance?" Athena smirked, a flicker of amusement playing on her lips. "It's simply a matter of observation. Stars possess a certain undeniable beauty, wouldn't you agree?" Her gaze flickered against Callista's crimson.

Callista muttered a response, unsure of the purpose in challenging the princess. "They're just burning rocks, Athena."

"Burning rocks, yes," Athena conceded, "but where life, our life, originated. And yet, here I stand."

Callista scoffed. Here she was, caught in another one of Athena's riddles. Still, a voice inside compelled her to reply. "An unenthusiastic view of immortality, wouldn't you say, Princess?"

"Wouldn't you?" Athena's voice, usually devoid of emotion, cracked, revealing a raw vulnerability beneath the polished facade. "Watching those you love fade into dust while you remain eternally unyielding? Not quite a fairy tale ending, is it?"

Callista swallowed a lump in her throat. The mention of "love" caught her off guard, a foreign word in their world of darkness and deceit. She met Athena's gaze, her own eyes reflecting a different kind of fire. "Think of it. No wrinkles, no hangovers, and imagine the knowledge you've accumulated! Witnessing history unfold firsthand, a constant learner in an ever-changing world." Her words tumbled out, fueled by a mix of curiosity and confusion.

Surprise flickered across Athena's face before she settled back on the bench. A genuine, melodic chuckle escaped her lips, sending a strange flutter through Callista's wine-addled mind. "Hangovers," she chuckled, "I still get those."

Callista felt a strange mix of frustration and intrigue. The urge to test Athena's claim with a drinking challenge flashed momentarily, but she restrained herself. "We mortals," she continued, "our lives are fleeting. We learn regrets… often at our deathbeds. But you, you have the chance to learn and grow, to right your wrongs, to become..." she hesitated, searching for the right word, "...more than the sum of your past."

Athena's golden eyes, usually as cool and distant as twilight, held a flicker of unexpected warmth. A hint of a smile played on her lips, as fleeting as a shooting star. "You offer... unforeseen insights," she began, her voice a touch softer than usual, "considering..."

Callista, suddenly uncomfortable under the scrutiny, muttered, "...my age?"

Athena's gaze dipped for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her face. "Your reserved nature," she corrected gently. "Yet, there's a depth to your empathy, even for those you profess to despise."

Callista wanted to protest, but the words died on her lips. Did she truly despise the princess? Could she say for certain? And yet, the faint scent of blood that usually clung to Athena was strangely… not repulsive. In the fragrant garden air, it was almost undetectable, masked by the sweetness of blooming night jasmine.

As the gentle night breeze rustled through the leaves, Callista found herself oddly comforted. Surrounded by the gentle floral fragrance, a steady, comforting rhythm echoed against her ear, and a warmth, unexpected yet strangely familiar, nestled against her side. The only remnants of the night as she drifted off were the lingering scent of flowers, the rhythmic pulse of a beating heart, and a faint memory of golden eyes gazing down at her with… something akin to understanding.

Callista woke with a gasp, the crisp sheets of her bed unfamiliar beneath her fingertips. The previous night's events swirled in her mind like a half-forgotten dream, leaving behind a lingering warmth on her skin and a faint scent of lilies clinging to her clothes – a scent not native to her room. It felt surreal, the encounter with the princess, a memory that felt both strange and strangely captivating.

**

The cafeteria's symphony of chatter quieted to an awed hush as Princess Athena, a beacon of otherworldly grace, glided through the crowd. Here, in the domain of 'commoners', her presence was as rare as a snowflake in summer.

But beneath the serene facade, Athena warred with an unseen tempest. A fleeting glimpse of Astra, not with Natalia but with a captivating brunette, had lured her to this place. The name, Amelia, echoed in Athena's mind like a knell, a predator she recognized all too well.

Athena's gaze, usually sparkling with amusement, now simmered with a cocktail of conflicting emotions. A serpent of jealousy, a creature she thought long-slain, coiled tightly around her heart, its venom bitter on her tongue. Denial, a flimsy shield, shattered at the sight of Astra, uncharacteristically shy, her hand hesitantly reaching for Amelia's.

Athena forced a practised dismissal of the serpent's squeeze. It shouldn't matter. Astra, the ice princess, was free to seek solace in another's touch. But the truth was, it wasn't the vampire, nor the woman, who repelled Astra.

The problem was Athena herself.

Not that it mattered. It should not concern her. 

The knowledge was a bitter pill to swallow, laced with the poison of self-doubt. Yet the dam holding back the storm within her finally crumbled.

"Your Highness, you're burning!" A voice pierced the haze. Looking down, Athena saw her shattered cup, scalding liquid painting her hand crimson. Yet, the searing heat was a mere ember compared to the glacial grip around her heart.

She fled the cafeteria, oblivious to the worried gazes and a pair of crimson eyes burning with silent concern, their depths mirroring the storm within.