Cold Heart

Chapter 14

Two weeks later
South Dakota

"The sudden appearance of an enormous stone figure in the Indian Ocean has left more questions than answers for authorities. U.S. and Australian naval ships are maintaining defensive positions, but at this..." The news listed off its report on the aftermath of our battle to save the earth.

Druig had been seated with Makkari and Phastos on Ajaks couch. Meanwhile I was in the kitchen with Thena, making myself a sandwich. We had taken the last two weeks to settle after the near disaster and relax, me taking the time to pack up the few items that I had in the house.

"You guys did that?" Ben looked to Phastos and the others, turning away from the TV in shock, not having seen what resulted of the fight.

"I love you so much." Phastos told him as he ate his pizza slice, the other two eating casually as well. Ben looked at him confused before turning back to the TV to hear the rest.

As I laid out the ingredients for my lunch, Thena beside me had been sticking her hand in the toaster which was thankfully unplugged. Jack watched with confusion, looking to me to see why I wasn't helping her but noticing that I wasn't even paying attention.

"Are you okay?" He wondered.

"I get confused sometimes." She admitted, making me smile slightly to myself as she never liked to admit weakness to anyone.

"Yeah. Me, too." Jack nodded, stretching to reach for a orange in a bowl on a shelf too high for him to reach. "So, Dad said you're the goddess Athena."

"Thena. Drop the 'A'." She corrected.

"Oh." He sighed.

"Hmm." Thena smiled at him while I folded the two slices of bread together with my own smile for the young boy.

"What's your superpower?" He wondered with interest. She stuck out her arm quickly and spiked the orange with a sword, creating a clatter in the kitchen which was heard from the living room.

"Um, can you just... Look... One second." Phastos rushed to set his plate on Makkaris lap as she looked to him confused as he rushed to the kitchen in a hurry.

"Are you alright, Love?" Druig called out, not in a hurry to go but still checking in.

"All good!" I called back with a fond smile, leaning back against the table and watching Phastos enter in a panic.

"Okay. All right." He laughed nervously, entering as Jack pulled the orange off of the sword, Thena holding it at her side.

"See, that thing is... Okay. Almost gave you a shave and a haircut, didn't she? Stand behind me, actually." He rushed to stand in front of his son as I watched with an amused smirk and Thena simply looked to him to see what he would do.  "Um, you remember earmuffs? Remember how we practiced earmuffs? Thank you so much." He gestured for his son to cover his ears before turning to address Thena. "You know that your babysitting privileges are completely revoked, right? Like, it's done." He looked between us both with a pointed finger.

"You're just mad we're cooler than you" I shrugged, smile growing.

"Thank you." He turned back to his son after rolling his eyes at me. "Violence... Hey. Violence is never the answer. Right, T?" He looked to Thena to agree with him.

"Hmm."

"You gotta always use your brain, hmm?" He looked back to Jack with the life lesson.

"Like you did fighting on the beach?" I pointed out calmly, Thena grinning along.

"Your dad spoke calmly and firmly to the bad guy and he had no choice but to listen to me, so no violence." Phastos claimed to his son.  Thena and I glanced over at Makkari who entered carrying her jacket as we didn't believe a word he said.