II. Gods and Monsters

15. What Next

Oli took in a huge, rasping gulp of air. He was alive.

"Oliver?" Andrew asked.

"Andrew," Oli greeted him awkwardly.

"Glad you made it," Andrew muttered, standing and leaving the room.

"Unbelievable," Oli thought.

Even after he saved his daughter, he still couldn't stand to be in the same room as him.

And you think I'm the asshole

As Andrew left, Carter replaced him, wiping his hands on a towel. Oli didn't know his family owned a red towel.

"Sorry, had to clean up after your little surgery."

The old man nodded to the blood-soaked dart lying on the table. That would explain the new red towel...

Oli heard Zarathos snort with laughter.

"Where's Charlotte?!" Oli asked suddenly, attempting to sit up and regretting his choice instantly.

"Eaaaaasy cowboy, she's fine," Carter assured him, placing his hand on Oli's healthy shoulder and easing him back down.

"What happened?"

"Well, you got attacked, hurt, Charlotte brought you back and I did my best to patch you up," Carter told him. Short and snappy as always.

"Thanks," Oli groaned, pain still wracking his shoulder.

"Don't thank me, thank your lady-friend. If she hadn't driven you here, you and I wouldn't be having this conversation."

A repeated thudding sound came speeding down the stairs.

"Speak of the devil..." Carter smiled.

Oli gave Carter a look.

"Probably not the most appropriate phrase, got it." The old man muttered.

Charlotte came dashing into the room, only stopping about an inch away from Oli's side as she threw her arms open, as if to go for a hug, then stopped, awkwardly hovering.

"Forgot... shoulder... thing..." she pointed to Oli's wound.

"It doesn't mean I'm suddenly allergic to hugs," Oli laughed, "Just... I dunno... don't poke it."

Charlotte beamed at him; embracing him in a loose, yet warm hug.

"I'm so glad you're ok," she told him.

"Thanks to you apparently," Oli smiled faintly.

"Well, it wasn't all thanks to me," she said shyly.

Bleargh, get a room for crying out loud...

Carter coughed behind them.

"Hate to interrupt," he said.

If it's all the same to you, please do it more often

"But now that you're not on the verge of death, I think we need to move to a less obvious location. Your home will be one of the first places your enemies will search."

"I'm not exactly up to full strength," Oli pointed out warily.

Carter fell silent. It seemed to be a combination of him agreeing but also thinking of a way to argue.

"How about we stay one night then?" Charlotte suggested, "One night to get rest and things we might need, then we leave tomorrow?"

Carter gave them a disapproving look.

"I don't know... It's playing right into their hands..." he grumbled.

An image flashed in Oli's mind:

"Now I hold everything you love in the palm of my hand," Hades growled in his mind.

"Actually, Carter may be right. We should leave as soon as possible," Oli stated.

"Ummmm... Oli? Are you ok?" Charlotte asked, not even attempting to hide the concern in her voice.

"Yeah... Fine..." Oli muttered.

He picked up the t-shirt Charlotte had brought down for him, eased it over his aching torso and attempted to stand once more. He could feel the gauze straining as he attempted to rise.

"Oli, you can barely stand, please rest," Charlotte pleaded.

"No, Hades will be coming after us. We need to stay ahead of him while we can. Gather what you need, we leave in half an hour."

With that, against all the protests his damaged body voiced, Oli got to his feet and staggered from the room. Both Charlotte and Carter watched him go, sharing the same confused expression.

"You should talk to him," Carter told her.

"Why are you saying that? He just agreed with you?"

"Because he clearly isn't making the decision for the same reasons I suggested it. Besides, he actually listens to you."

She gave a short laugh before continuing.

"Ok, I'll see what's up."

She made her way out of the room; leaving Carter to stare out of the window at the figure he'd been eyeing since he entered. He sidled from the room, opening the front door and moving outside to greet them.

"Haven't seen you in a long time," Carter smiled.

"It has been far too long," Gabrielle agreed, a small smile appearing on her perfect face.