(ENG) Lapis the Child of Sea

Chapter Two: Owl's Student

Lapis was following David around and talking about what a beautiful goddess Athena is. David joined in her excited narration, but Poseidon was not happy about it. He tried everything not to show his jealousy, but even Lapis could see it in his face. "You're good." Lapis said, realizing that he was hurt. "That's it?" Poseidon didn't want to pretend that he wasn't pleased by this, but what was he less than Athena? On the contrary, he was far superior to the king's owl. And he wanted Lapis to see that fact.

"But you're good, too?"

Poseidon complained to David like a child. How could his own daughter only call him 'good'?! Poseidon was pacing around the room and complaining. "Can you believe it, David?! I called her my daughter and she just said 'you're good'! And she's praising Athena in front of me!" He stood in the center of the study and waited for David to respond.

"You're being childish," said David. "It's good that she thinks that about someone other than us, and she's very young. She's just a child." David said. Lapis was not yet familiar with the way the gods think. She had read books about official written documents and official written history. If one ignored the personal lives of the gods, their love lives and the gossipy side of history, Athena wasn't such a bad example.

David paused in the middle of speaking his thoughts. "Actually..." Poseidon looked at him curiously. David thought a little more before speaking. "She will learn a lot more in the future... I mean more than books," David said. Which meant heartbreak for Lapis. She hadn't been told every story yet and he didn't think she would take kindly to the stories she would hear. As much as there was Amphitrite inside the palace, Lapis was more of a follower of David and Poseidon. So she got the view of life that the two of them projected onto her. She thought the world was like her life in the palace and the books she read.

"So?" said Poseidon. "I mean... She might change her mind. You better hope she has the right role models. There's no good in any of you. And I don't know how you can tell her all those stories without upsetting her or scaring her." David didn't want to think about it and turned back to the writing in front of him. As the ink ran over the paper, David couldn't escape his thoughts. He had written the wrong word because he was not fully immersed in the work. "I was almost finished..." David gently shook the paper and waited for the ink to dry.

While David was complaining about his work, Poseidon was thinking about other things. "David, what's wrong with our stories?" David paused. And looked calmly into Poseidon's face. Was he serious or was he joking? He wished he was joking, but Poseidon was seriously waiting for his answer.

"You realize you forced a woman looking for her daughter to be with you, right? Oh, and... don't even get me started on Lady Medusa! And there's more. Good luck telling your daughter what you did to women!" David's scolding voice broke Poseidon's heart. Poseidon tilted his head to the side and tried to look sad. He thought that by doing so he might soften David up. "Same old stuff again?" But his plan didn't work. David was angry again. "Yes, the same old stuff!" Poseidon sat down in the chair in front of the table. He leaned back and began to grumble. Poseidon and David did not see eye to eye on this. David was always reminding him that they had daughters of their own, but for some unknown reason Poseidon was not convinced. Moreover, his own daughters were already married and living a good married life. It would probably be the same for Lapis. I mean, that's what he was hoping for.

"Nothing is going to happen!" said Poseidon. Because no one wants to mess with Poseidon and everyone know how fond he is of his children. If anything were to happen to Lapis, it would mean the end of someone. So no one would dare to upset Lapis. 

Yet David didn't fully trust the reassurance Poseidon offered him. The fear it created was of no consequence to a man who was reckless. A man who did not fear the end, would do anything.