Kallos (Kallos Series) - By Khelsey Jackson
PROLOGUE
Aphrodite looks at the young girl and prays that she will make it. “Come on, you can do it.” It isn't fair that Aphrodite must watch from up here and not do anything to help. The young girl starts to have a seizure, as the man in a white jacket straps her down. “Come on Acidalia, you can do it.” Aphrodite hears someone enter her chambers. She doesn’t have to look up to know its Apollo. She has been in love with him since the beginning of time. Granted she has had many lovers, but she has always come back to Apollo and to Aries.
They have been cursed to live while watching themselves reincarnated over and over until one is perfect. Apollo and Aries have watched themselves successfully reincarnated many times, Aphrodite hasn’t. She has never seen herself be reincarnated; she has only watched herself die many times over.
“You shouldn’t be watching this, Agápe.” Aphrodite smiles at what he has called her since they first met. Agápe means unconditional love or his true love. Standing next to her, he places his warm hand into hers.
“Maybe she will be different.” Aphrodite brings her other hand up to wipe away a tear. Part of being reincarnated is that she cannot interfere. She has known for a while that Acidalia wouldn't make it. She wasn’t strong enough to survive; but it still breaks her heart to watch another of her reincarnates die. Acidalia doesn’t love the Hunters likes she should; she loves Ian more.
“Oh my Agápe, please stop watching.” Rubbing her shoulder soothingly as he tries to comfort her “We already know her outcome.” Apollo was right, as she let him pull her away from watching. “Would you like to see where the soul is going?” She had to think about that for just a minute and she nods.
“I must see who will be next. I do not understand why none of the girls make it. And it is not fair that I have to watch.” They walk over to the looking glass, and see a woman about to have a baby. Looking closer, Aphrodite notices the woman is not a woman but a child herself. She has short, brownish red hair, and when she opens her eyes, Aphrodite is shocked, seeing incredible sapphire eyes staring back at her. She squeezes Apollo's hand. “Look at that. The mother has my eyes.” She whispers.
“She does, but that does not mean that the baby being born is going to be the one.” Aphrodite knows that he is right but prays he is wrong. As the doctor pulls the baby from the young women, Aphrodite is amazed. She has not seen a more beautiful baby in all of her time.
“I know, but look at her.” Aphrodite smiles down at the beautiful baby and sees another couple burst excitedly into the room. The woman runs to the baby; slowly she brings her hands to her face as tears run freely down. The woman turns to face the man; and he smiles proudly at her. Aphrodite looks back at the young mother as she is being rolled out of the room. As the young mother passes by, she turns her head away from the newborn baby. The second woman moves to the young girl’s side and kisses her forehead. She is saying something, but Aphrodite cannot hear what. “Apollo what is going on?”
“She has been adopted amore. The younger one is not able to care for our little beauty.” Ares says as he walks in. Aphrodite understands and nods to Ares. They have already seen Apollo and Ares be reincarnated. She wonders if this one will be the one. At that moment the baby opens her eyes and seems to be looking right at Aphrodite. She gasps and wonders if this baby is the one, the one that will become her. Aphrodite concentrates and now can hear the woman and the man talking.
“James, she is beautiful. I know the perfect name for her.” The woman pauses and wipes away a few tears. “Kallos … it means beauty in Greek.”
Aphrodite starts to laugh. Maybe the woman can see the great beauty this little one holds. She sends a welcome to the new baby girl. Welcome, Kallos