Only a Game (Olympus Drive Chronicles)

Chapter 43: This is really great

Teddy

You would think I would get over the thrill of meeting Metion and being ordered around by him. I have not. I also have not yet gotten over the urge to look at all of his notes and drawings and things. Every now and then he actually addresses me and says things like "how dare you speak to me" and "touch that and I'll kill you with my bare hands" and "do you have the attention span of a goldfish" and "Ariadne please take him away" (the last one isn't to me it's about me but I'm counting it).

My bad dreams from the night before fade away. The cigarette smoke must be getting to me. That's all. Viktor is nearly as bouncy as I am. His dad is much more tolerant of his antics, however he becomes quite stern when he realizes that despite feeding us, Viktor wasn't eating himself, and forces the boy to sit down and eat a bowl of oatmeal while we all watch. Viktor very nearly sobs he hates it so much, and Ariadne intervenes and offers him a chocolate protein bar instead. Metion grudgingly allows the switch and Viktor scarfs it down.

Metion, however, remains generally opposed to Viktor going with us, all the while maintaining that it's perfectly safe.

"Come on Dad, it'll be fine, I don't leave until three anyway that's lots of sunlight," Viktor says, bouncing in an actual circle.

"They'll be fine on their own."

"Then it doesn't matter that I go with them? I'm not doing anything all day anyway," Viktor says, shouldering a backpack his father packed for him, before fussing with repel lines and harnesses.

"You need to be careful all right? For me if not for yourself?" his dad asks, gripping the back of his head.

"I'll be fine, Dad, I promise," Viktor says, tiredly, like his genius father is a pain (he is). "I know the plan."

"No later than three, I'll have distracted them by then," Metion says, putting a nicotine stained hand through his boy's hair.

"Hopefully I'll see you on Crete," Ariadne says.

"Oh, I doubt you'll see me," Metion says, icily.

"I'm not asking you to spare my father's life, I'm suggesting you get away before something happens to either of you," Ariadne says.

"Noted."

The three of us depart. I'm entirely ready to be in clear, smoke free air. That lasts for about twenty five seconds.

"Anyone want a cigarette?" Viktor asks, jauntily leading the way on top of the Labyrinth walls. That is a much quicker way to get around—well theoretically not. But it feels better, as we can see ahead a bit better from here. Also we're closer to the crystal blue sky, which feels safer somehow.

"No, those aren't good for you," Ariadne says, trying to swipe it from him.

"Yeah, because I have such a long life expectancy," Viktor says, avoiding her.

"Wow the conversation got around to death quickly all right do we not need to talk about how Metion as much as admitted he's going to commit murder?"

"No, if it makes him happy?" Viktor shrugs.

"He and my father deserve each other," Ariadne shrugs, "I'm more worried about other people getting caught in the crossfire."

"Honestly, same," Viktor says, "Like Teddy here. You should probably go home. You said you had one?"

"Yeah in London, and I'm finishing the Labyrinth, I signed away my rights to stream if I don't complete it," I point out.

"Teddy, I will personally find that contract and tear it up---it's not going to mean anything anyway I'm sure Naughty Bull games is going to be completely defunct as soon as Metion gets out," Ariadne says.