Olympus Drive Book 5: Situation Normal

Chapter 26

Basil

I get up out of bed, unable to sleep. My head is spinning. Maybe being sober for months did something to me. Or it's Thyme. I don't know.

I check Gerard. He's asleep next to me, clutching a pillow. I gently move the comforter over his smooth bare shoulder. He always gets cold.

I can hear the television on.

I walk out to the living room. Thyme is still up, with the volume low, playing one of the violent video games that theoretically distract him from being him. I should go talk to him. I haven't talked to him. Is Alice all right? He didn't really say. She didn't—that man didn't hurt her, did he? She stabbed him or whatever and got herself away, didn't she? I don't know if he knows. I should talk to him.

Before I move into the room, I see another shape. Little Alice walks up, holding the collar of one of the fat pit-bulls. She walks up and taps her dad on the shoulder.

He drops the controller and promptly lets her bury herself in his big strong arms.

"Hey baby girl, what're you doin'?" He asks, very quietly.

"I couldn't sleep," she mumbles.

"Do you want some milk?" He asks, picking her up easily. She looks like a doll in his thick arms.

"No."

"Do you wanna sit and watch me play or curl up with your mom? Or do you wanna watch a movie?"

"No I'll listen to the game," she says, pressing her face into his shirt. "You---you didn't have to get in trouble."

"Baby girl, I was born in trouble. Doesn't matter, I'm fine," he says, stroking her hair out of her face as he lies her on the sofa behind him.

She nods a little, precious face so sad. Fuck. That man really did something to her. Suddenly I'm glad Thyme beat him to death. Fuck everything. That was exactly what needed to be done.

"Don't worry about me, all right?" he says, rubbing tears off of her face.

"Okay."

"You sure you don't want to wake your mom up and make her make us popcorn?"

"No, I wanna sleep."

"Okay," he kisses her cheek.

I realize I'm just standing there. Spying. Watching my son be a good dad. A better dad than I ever was.

How old is the girl? That they think is mine? Twelve right? Alice's age. How did she get here?

I didn't ask. I wasn't sober then. Fuck. How did she get here? She's little and tiny and something happened to Alice right here with all her violent cousins wandering around. That little girl was absolutely tiny and she was looking for me.

Luna said we'd talk in the morning. Fuck that. If she is my daughter I'm meeting her tonight. Now. Fuck it. I don't even know who her mom was. I have got no clue whatsoever. And where does her mom think she is? Did Luna say? I don't remember.

"Luna!" I bang on the door of the lodge. A hunter answers with a broadsword.

"I'm here to talk to my daughter," I say, holding my hands up. I'm wearing a black velvet robe, my white sleep shirt, and jeans I tugged on. I do not look threatening. This has happened before. More than once. Only twice have I done it with the objective of flirting with hunters. That didn't end well for me; apparently Luna has no qualms about actually shooting me with a longbow. Anyway.

"Wait here." the woman leads me into the main room.

"Oh my god, dad," Luna groans.

"Bring her down, right now," I say, folding my arms, "If she is my daughter I am meeting her."