Rich Kids Don't Die | Featured

Chapter Four

"I COULD SAY THE SAME TO YOU" Maddie said.

Alex harbored an uneasy smile, adjusting his collar. "I work here. Now, again, what the bloody hell are you doing here?"

Maddie shrugged. "No idea, actually. A bunch of sparkly fairy dust shit brought me here and I still have no clue."

"Wait a minute," the grey-eyed boy interfered, stepping in front of Alex. He looked slightly younger. "You have no idea why you're here? You don't know anything about the magical world, the Greeks-"

"Son," Sonia interrupted. "I will explain. Leave."

"Wait, what?" Maddie shrieked. "Greek Mythology? Greek gods? Oh, Jesus. Seriously? What on earth is this place? Hell?!"

She had studied all about it in her free time. Endless hours of research, sprouted by mere, this-is-some-disturbing-stuff interest, provided her with most of the possible knowledge on the Greek Gods. Except for what Sonia was about to reveal.

The boys left the room. Sonia walked to her desk, pulling out a glowing map in front of her. She traced her finger onto a glowing spot marked with a blooming flower.

"This is where they were seen last. New York. No one knows much about their whereabouts. In this case, they are merely figures in the world of magic. Not much of your concern, for now."

Sonia plopped down onto the velveteen desk chair and sighed. "This is where it may become confusing. I'm assuming you would like to know why you haven't, say, died yet?"

Maddie did not fail to notice the slightly uncomfortable silence in the room on the topic of her suicide. Nodding, she gestured for Sonia to continue.

"Well, a few thousand years ago..."

THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, in the region of Lydia, Sipylus, king Tantalus sat on his throne. It was carved of crystal, cushioned with royal blue velvet and just about crumbling under his weight. He was a ginormous man, in theory.

Tantalus began to cackle, a screeching, shrill noise that bounced off the walls of his glitzy castle and made his servants want to knock themselves out with the silver dinner dishes.

One servant in particular had prepared a splendid, juicy dish of lamb. Fast-walking to Tantalus's throne, he noticed the king was smiling. It was quite disturbing, but the man couldn't help wonder why. It was rare, after all.

So he began, "Sir, what makes you so happy? Surely a slab of lamb cannot be the cause of such glee." (Obviously, to Tantalus, it definitely could.)

King Tantalus shuffled on his throne in excitement. "I've been invited to dine with the gods, on Mount Olympus. My father will be there: Zeus, mighty lord of the sky."

Huh, the man thought. That was impressive, and rather strange - most wouldn't dare invite king Tantalus anywhere near food.

Nodding, he rushed back to the kitchen and muttered word of the king's news to his friends. Pelops, king Tantalus's son, was merely passing by when he heard the cook mumble, "The gods? Mount Olympus?! Dear me. I sincerely hope Tantalus shows some manners at the dining table, for a change!"