Only a Game (Olympus Drive Chronicles)

Chapter 20: A friend?

Calypso

"He's back!"

"I told you he can't escape those chains. He can go to the Underworld, but here, he'll always be safe," my father says, unconcernedly.

"He's sad," I say, kneeling down by the boy. We brought the chains inside. I anchored them to one of the pillars. Now the poor scrappy boy is sobbing and trying to tug his way out. "I'm going to feed him."

"Do not keep feeding him! I'm quite sure he's dead by now, he'll eat forever if you let him," he scoffs, as he sits reading the paper and eating his breakfast (yogurt).

"Well, he looks hungry---don't be sad! We called your dad and he'll be here soon," I say, getting out a box of donuts. He's a little boy; he'll like donuts.

"Don't---don't---don't---don't---don't please---please don't, tell---tell my mom," the boy says, wringing his hands.

"I'm sure your father doesn't remember who your mother is," with no sympathy.

"Dad!" I hiss.

"I'm not even your dad! I'm your uncle, and don't forget that if your actual father turns out not to be dead."

"He's just sulking because we're the last of our people," I inform the boy, giving him the box of donuts. He starts stuffing them in his mouth one at a time.

"That's---a really excellent reason to sulk. That I am the last of my people, dead at the hands of monsters like his father," my father grunts, not looking up.

"And tell us how YOU survived the Titan's last stand?" I ask, sassily, hands on my hips.

"I said 'Me and Charon are essential workers you just call if you need us right? Don't go too hard on Rhea that shit's hilarious, funniest thing I've seen in eons, all right then do give me a shout if you can't handle it', and lo and behold they couldn't handle it. Didn't think to call me," very, very sulkily.

"Yes and everyone should have asked you for help because you know everything—"

"No, I just spy on a LOT of people and things," he says, haughtily.

"Well, we're listening to you. He's just sad. You said I could have a friend."

"I really never said that."

"You did, you said I could have a friend since Circe left---"

"Since I kicked my daughter out and put her back on island time out for bewitching mortals AGAIN? No, I did not say you could have a pet---- especially a little monster. No."

"He's not a monster----oh don't eat the box!" I take the box out of his mouth and go to throw it away. Immediately the little thief begins crying again and struggling.

"I don't ask much, but you'd think that Rhea's miserable puppies could collect their own little bastard puppies," my father growls, gathering up his paper and his phone to go sit outside.

"Well I'm glad you're here. Maybe if I train you not to run away you won't need the leash. Do you think you'd like doing things for food?"

"It was a slur that is not an ACTUAL puppy Cally---what is taking those idiots so long to collect their spawn?"