Chapter 1: Stalking

Through long eyelashes a pair of storm cloud eyes observed the college students passing by. Scanning to locate their prey. Achilles utilized an upside down copy of the Iliad to hide his face much as a tiger might use the thick of the jungle to make himself seemingly invisible as he hunts. Achilles slit his eyes in irritation letting out an exasperated breath against the book he pretended to read.

Where was she? Knowledge of his prey indicated she should have been in the area by now.

"Why am I even doing this?" He mumbled to himself.

Letting the novel rest against his face with a tired groan he slid lower onto the bench where he was doing his stalking from. His body remembered he was jet lagged, his eyes and limbs feeling heavy.

He began to think how irrationally and ridiculously uncool he was behaving, after all meeting up with her was inevitable she was his baby brothers best friend.

He gave in to his eyes demands for rest, circling in his mind the troubling thought of Suiren losing all admiration for him. Which he wasn't even sure was still there, probably not. He'd replayed their reunion in his mind for three years and definitely him playing the part of a predatory stalker was never part of the plan. He was ready to deal with her anger but dealing with her thinking he was creep was not what he wanted.

"I've got to get out of here," he sighed against the book, his face still buried in it.

Just as he'd made up his mind to leave he heard a familiar voice. His eyes shot open.

Ahah!

Eros Avenzzano, her best friend and guardian angel! And where there was an angel there had to be a goddess close by. He sat up lowering the book enough to peek above the rim. Allowing himself an eager smirk as his eyes gleamed in anticipation, his body forgetting the weight of its jet lagged exhaustion, he leaned forward.

"God-dess!" Her angel called out in a sing-song way.

Achilles watched as he threw his arms over a woman's shoulders before resting his chin on the top of her head. Achilles inched closer on the bench, watching. She shut the book she'd had her nose in and tucked it under her arm. Could that be her? No, impossible? Where was the baggy clothing? The misplaced red streaks in unflattering blonde hair?

Long fingers pushed back the cascade of dark chestnut curls, the kind of curls that women paid top dollar for. She tucked the curls that veiled over her face behind her ears revealing an all too familiar pointed chin and large silver hoops clinging to her ears.

His eyes widened in surprise, eyebrows raising in response.

It was her, not as he remembered but nevertheless it was Suiren Zurita.

Achilles smiled, he'd waited long enough, a predators grin spreading slowly.

"There you are Bunny..." He whispered to himself.

Shutting the book he set it aside to get a more attentive look at her. He took her in from the chestnut curls cascading passed her shoulders down to her round hips. His gaze stopping at the skin peeking from between the waistband of her skin tight jeans and the black turtleneck that lifted over her belly button every time she moved. Achilles eyes traveled down the black denim enveloping her long legs down to the combat boots she wore, something that assured him it definitely was the Suiren he was longing to see. He stirred and he was suddenly unsure if the ache his body felt was due to the jet lag or the desire to hold her close to him.

🌸

Suiren turned to face her guardian angel folding her arms over her chest. Eros took a step back releasing her from his grasp.

"Eros, I told you not to call me that," she answered suppressing a smile with a frown.

"Yes, yes I know but it just suits you," he replied tapping her forehead with his index finger. That had been a habit of his since the day they'd met.

Suiren rolled her eyes and playfully punched him in the shoulder. "You're the one with the name," she laughed.

Eros shrugged, "Yeah well you know moms a mythology nut." He quickly glanced back to where Achilles impatiently watched. A jester grin appearing on his boyish face, Eros never would've thought he'd get to see the mighty Achilles so anxious over anything.

"Ren you head over to the library first, I'll catch up with you later," he said to her.

Suiren sighed assuming some girl must have already caught his eye. "Just so we are clear you can't use me as an excuse to break up with your girlfriends this year." She reminded him waving her index finger.

He laughed, his viridian eyes catching the sunlight. Suiren felt her stomach flip, his smile and the squint of his eyes that accompanied were a cool swim in a hot southern California day.

"That's my wing woman for you!" He chuckled shaking his head.

"I mean it, there's a long list of women who hate me." Smiling she turned on her heel her curls whisking around her. She turned her head to look back at him and bringing her shoulder to her chin she playfully stuck her tongue out. "Hurry up, if you're not there before class starts I'll leave you behind," she said turning her back around and waving her hand.

Both Eros and Achilles watched as long strides elegantly carried her off in the direction of the library.

🌸

Eros turned to walk toward Achilles. Sitting next to Achilles he crossed his ankle over his knee and stretched out his arms resting them on the bench.

"Well?" He questioned giving Achilles a smirk.

"Hermanito(little brother), you were right. I almost didn't recognize her." Achilles smiled giving his baby brother an affectionate pat on his knee.

In fact he hadn't recognized her at all until Eros came around.

"I don't understand why you made it a point to never send me pictures of her... you and mom." Achilles shook his head adding, "I can see why they call her the goddess of the literature department, es divina(she's divine)."

Eros chuckled, "Keeping you from seeing her was as much for our entertainment as for your own good. If you had gotten a glimpse of her no doubt you'd have abandoned business in Malaga and come back here."

Achilles frowned, "C'mon I like to think I have a little more self restraint than that." He tossed his head back rubbing his jet lagged eyes.

"Riiiiiight says the guy who came straight to see her from his sixteen hour flight." Eros sighed, "Ren is definitely beautiful there is no doubt." His smile dropped and his eyes took on an unusual seriousness.

Achilles noticed, "What is it?"

Eros brought his arms to his chest crossing them he sat up straight. "I know with you being back the reigns of Ren's well-being go back to you..." he paused to look intently at Achilles. Achilles felt his stomach churn as his brother spoke.

"...she's dear to me and her happiness is important. If there is anything threatening that happiness, even if it's you Achilles-"

He waved his hand for Eros to stop, "Eros, are you..." He paused fearing the answer to his next question. "Are you in love with her?"

Eros chuckled punching him on the arm.

"Ow!" Achilles complained as he held his arm. "When did you get so strong?"

"Whenever you got so stupid," Eros replied running his fingers through his almond tresses.

Achilles glared slightly at him

"Achilles, it's always been obvious to me how you feel about her, to me she's always been like my sister." He clarified shaking his head.

Achilles brought his ankle up to cross over his knee as he tossed back the few rebellious dark strands of hair that fell over his face.

"It was always a possibility that you two developed feelings for each other." He gave his brother a quick glance, "It's not like the idea is far fetched you have been the one by her side for the passed three years."

Eros sighed, "I may have been by her side but I was definitely not the one in her heart." A hint of disappointment evident in his tone.

Achilles raised a quizzical brow watching his brothers expression from the corner of his eye, "Oh?"

"Ah, I would be a fool if I didn't at least acknowledge how fortunate it would be to be the object of her affection," he admitted staring off into the direction she'd walked off.

Eros had in fact harbored the hope of calling Suiren his own when they'd first met however that notion was shortly lived. He stood up and faced Achilles. Turning up the corners of his mouth he confessed, "however I can confidently say since the beginning I was always aware that I am not and would not be that object."

Achilles felt a pang of guilt. Keeping his gaze ahead he asked. "Does it bother you that I-"

Eros was quick to interject. "Dude don't get the wrong idea. Yes, she's special, yes, I love her but she's family to me." He shrugged a shoulder nonchalantly adding, "And anyways I am not a man of commitment, too many beautiful ladies."

Achilles shook his head with a soft chuckle under his breath. Tossing his head back closing his eyes he groaned, the sudden relief of making sure Eros hadn't fallen for Suiren in his absence had once again reminded his jet lagged body of its exhaustion.

"My point is you have hurt her before Achilles as legitimate as your reasons were three years ago it's different now. I won't forgive you if it happens again."

Achilles smiled at Eros, "You guard your goddess well."

"She isn't MY goddess," he clarified. "Now that curiosity has been satisfied you should go home and sleep," Eros suggested running his thumbs under the straps of his backpack. "You'll want to look good for tomorrow mornings literature class professor."

Achilles slight laugh turned into a tiered groan. "You're right, I'm exhausted." With a heavy sigh Achilles rose from the bench. "I'm going to swing by and see mom before I get out of here. I'll see you in class tomorrow."

Eros began to walk away but stopped before he was too far. Turning to face his brother he twisted his lips as he scrunched up his nose. "She hasn't brought you up since I told her you left. How will you get close to her again?"

He sighed shrugging a shoulder, "First of all I have to find out how pissed off she is." Achilles smiled wryly.