Only a Game (Olympus Drive Chronicles)

Chapter 56: One night on this island

Ariadne

"Mommy, I want to marry a prince someday."

"Make sure he's a good man first," she said, amused, as she braided my hair for church. We used to go to church, back then. That was when I got to visit my mom and spend the summer with her.

"A handsome prince, who is brave, and strong," I said.

"So long as he treats you like a princess. That's all that matters."

"Do you want a drink? I'm almost positive this is just water," so he's not necessarily strong. He's shorter than me. And from what I can tell he comes from some backwoods redneck Sweet Home Alabama family. But he has sandy hair and soft ice blue eyes, and a gentle smile that rivals sunsets for their beauty.

"Thanks," I say, taking the cup. It is actually water.

"Sorry about your dad."

"I didn't really expect him to let us in, we tried, that's what matters," I sigh. We're sitting on the balcony of my room, not on the furniture, just on the ground nearest to the sea. My dad wouldn't even open the door when we knocked, just shouted at the guards to take us away. The guards were drunk. We left of our own free will. Now, Maya went to take a shower and get ready for bed, we barricaded ourselves in my rooms. And Dean and I came out here to sit.

"Yeah, we'll try to save them tomorrow, then we're saving us," Dean says.

"You're a good guy, you know that?" I ask, frowning at him.

"My mother's pretty much alone in thinking that, but you know," he shrugs.

"Are you with Maya?" I ask, fussing with my fingers.

"Yeah we came here together----oh you mean like dating? No, she's really not into dudes that much I was more experimental for her," he says, shrugging.

"But, you are into girls?" I ask.

"I'm ---I'm into anyone really," he says, blushing hard.

"I really feel like I'm gonna die tomorrow and I want to forget about everything right now so---will you kiss me?" I ask, wincing. God this is stupid.

He leans over, his hand cupping the side of my face so gently as his lips meet mine. I don't know how long we kiss like that but pretty soon we're both on the cement, pouring into each other, hands under shirts, lips still gloriously locked.

 I've been kissed before, and made out a little, but it never felt like this. His skin is weirdly warm and smooth, and he tastes of wine and honey and fresh cool grapes. I press my hands against his chest as I kiss him, he lets me roll partly on top of him even though he's smaller than I am. I put my hands through his soft hair and he touches me like me I'm a goddess.

"We---we shouldn't, I don't want this to be because you were upset," he says, moving away from me, a little, "Or because I'm---me."

"I'm completely sober," I say, a hand on his warm cheek. He closes his eyes. Are they---glowing? "Open your eyes."

"We don't know what I really am," he says, quietly, not opening his eyes, "We know it's something different."

"I know what you are. You're my prince," I say, kissing his lips again, quickly, "Open your eyes for me."

He does, slowly. They are faintly glowing a light crystal blue.

"Neat," I put my hands on his cheeks, "Do you feel it?"

"A little warm because I'm---because I---I influence people. To want to do things---and that doesn't make it very consensual. Until I know how not to do that to someone I want to have sex with—then I----I can't go very far," he says, "I'm not going to do that to you."

"Okay. You're right," he's right. It's the middle of the night. This is stupid. I am so tired. "Can I lay here with you while you take the first watch, though?"

"Definitely," he says, opening his arms. I crawl into them, leaning my head against his chest.

"I'm worried about you," I say, squeezing his knee through his white jeans.

"I know. I am too," he says, resting his head in my hair.