Jaw

Chapter 10

Silena had to give an explanation about her disappearance yesterday to Pieck and Porco, but she figured she'd do it after a well-deserved rest. It had been a very long, emotional twenty-four hours, and she would prefer not to cry out of sleep deprivation in front of them. Still, her rest was fitful, and she was in hardly any condition to speak to people when she finally pulled herself out of bed. But waiting so long to check in with Pieck after disappearing into thin air was practically a death sentence; it was a wonder that her best friend hadn't sought military help in finding her. She'd probably bugged the neighbors, at least.

Mother was at the kitchen table, nursing a cup of coffee, and Silena debated saying goodbye to her. She hesitated by the door, fingers brushing on the handle, until Mother felt her eyes on her and looked up.

Mother scowled. Silena left without a word.

Spirits lower than they had been, Silena dragged her feet on the way to Pieck's house two doors down. She knocked– a courtesy that Pieck would never give her– and the door was opened to reveal Porco Galliard, of all people. He looked irritated, as usual.

"Pieck thought you were dead," he said in way of greeting. He seemed a little disappointed– was he disappointed that she was alive? Silena knew better than to ask.

"I'm not," she replied, deadpan. This wasn't the first time Pieck had thought she was dead because she hadn't shown up to meet her, and she'd rather suppress the fire than talk to Porco. Plus, her hair was a mess. "May I come in?"

Porco stepped aside with nothing more than, "I don't live here." He let Silena find her own way into the living room, assuming correctly that she knew where she was going. Mr. Finger stood just outside the entrance.

"Oh, it's good to see you, Silena," he said in that unbothered way he did. Staying unbothered was how he stayed so happy, Silena thought. "Pieck thought you were dead. You should probably go tell her you're not– she's in the living room."

Silena slapped on a smile as she passed him. "Thank you." And stepped into the Fingers' living room.

Immediately, Pieck pounced on her.

"I thought you were dead!" She cried, wrapping Silena up in a too-tight hug. As Porco came back into the room and sat on the couch, he gave them a judgemental look. "Where have you been!"

Silena scowled right back at Porco, but she patted Pieck's back gently. She wasn't dead yet, but with the way her friend was squeezing her... She let the hug dissolve in its own time and escorted Pieck to the sofa, where her friend rested her head on Silena's lap and her legs on Porco's. She stared up at Silena, ready to listen attentively to her reasoning.

Silena felt silently spurred on; even Porco seemed a little interested. She said, "I'm sorry I ditched you yesterday afternoon. But Zeke showed up at my house and sent me to Quincey to talk to the Tybur family about inheriting their Titan."

"Inheriting their Titan—!" Both of them said at the same time. Even Porco couldn't hide his interest; their synchronicity was eerie and a little insulting.

Silena shrugged as if it was no big deal, though she could feel herself flushing. "He thinks that I can do it."

"You are very manipulative," said Pieck in her Pieck-way, as if everything she said was law. Unfortunately, it worked.

Silena huffed. "I'm working on it, okay!" It couldn't have been that obvious– Silena barely saw it.

Undeterred, Pieck sprang to her feet, upsetting her position on both Porco and Silena. Porco glared at her and Silena startled. "I have to go tell my dad!" She cheered. "Go get your family! We're having dinner!"