“Jasmine!”
The voice came from behind us. Jasmine turned just as Mia shoved through a few people and launched herself at the other girl. She wrapped her arms around Jasmine and hugged her tight.
“I was so scared. I thought you were—”
“I’m fine, Mia.” She gave Mia a soft smile.
We walked together through the corridor, and when we rounded the corner to head to the main foyer and the staircase to the dorms, Dionysus was there, leaning up against the wall.
“Lucian, mate, we need to have a little chit chat.”
Ren gave me a look of concern, but I shrugged it off. “You guys go ahead. I’ll catch up to you later.”
“Let’s go to my office.”
I followed Dionysus down another hall, up some stairs, then down another empty corridor until he stopped in front of a very ornate wooden door. All the carvings were versions of him dancing, or singing, or engaging in some suggestive activities with what looked like wood nymphs. He opened the door and we went in.
His office was dark and cramped with all manner of things: velvet covered chairs, round wooden tables stacked with glass jars and small boxes, piles of books and scrolls, shelves crammed with bottles of different colored liquids, and herbs and other plant based things that smelled horrible. He gestured for me to sit in one of the chairs, and he sat behind a very heavy-looking mahogany desk. He leaned back in his chair and put his feet up on the desk. There was a hookah on the desk, and he took a puff. He offered it to me, but I shook my head.
“So, that was sure something.”
“I didn’t tell anyone about you, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
He pointed at me. “That is what I was wondering. I’d hate to be tortured like your friend Melany.” He made a face. “She did do well, though. Surprised the crap out of Zeus I’m sure.”
“Someone did talk, though.”
His eyes narrowed. “And you’re wondering whether I did?” He drew his feet off the desk and leaned in toward me. “I can assure you, mate, that would be the last thing I would do. Do you honestly thing we’re not all ruled with the same iron fist? Zeus likes his power and likes to wield it on whomever he wants.”
I sagged in the chair. Everything was started to weigh on me, especially what had happened to Melany. I couldn’t get the image of her suffering out of my mind. Her scream still echoed in my head. I knew it would haunt my dreams for a very long time.
“Look, I’m really sorry for what happened to your girlfriend. It was a terrible thing to watch. But she’ll heal. Chiron is a fantastic medic. And with my potions, she’ll be up and about in no time.”
“I want to see her.”
He put a hand to his chest. “I’m not sure how I can help you there.”
I gave him a look. “How do I get into the infirmary?”
“You can go now, mate.” He waved a hand toward the door.
“I’m not leaving until you tell me how I can see Melany.”
He opened his mouth and made a sighing noise. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
“You’re immortal. You can’t die.”
He waved a hand at me. “It’s a figure of speech, saying just how annoying you are.” He stood and walked to one of the shelves behind the desk. When he turned back, he had a silver flask in his hand. He gave it to me. “Give this to Chiron. It’ll buy you a few minutes with her I’m sure.”
I tucked the flask into my pocket and left his office. Before I went by the infirmary, I snuck by the kitchen and stole a chocolate cupcake. I wrapped it up carefully and put it in my front jacket pocket. When I arrived at the infirmary, there was a lot of activity nearby, so I had to wait. Zeus, Hephaistos, Demeter, Ares, and Aphrodite all came and went, bickering amongst themselves the whole time. After the corridor emptied, I quickly walked to the main door of the infirmary. I was about to slip inside when I felt a huge presence behind me.
I whipped around and came face to chest with Chiron.
“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in your dorm. I’ll give you five minutes to get lost before I—”
I thrust the flask toward him. “Dionysus sends his regards.”
His eyes narrowed as he looked at me, then the flask. At first I didn’t think he was going to take it, but then he snatched it from my fingers. He uncapped it, sniffing whatever was inside. “You have ten minutes.”
I stepped into the gloomy room; the only light came from a couple of lamps flickered in sconces on the walls. There were twenty small beds in two rows, one on each side of the room. They were all empty, save one. I could see Melany’s blue hair spread out over the white pillow.
She was on her back, and her eyes were closed when I approached. I took in the ashen pallor of her skin and the hollowness of her cheeks and my stomach clenched. As I settled on the edge of the bed, her eyes blinked open.
“Hey, Blue.”
“Hey.” Her voice was hoarse and she grimaced.
I picked up the cup of water on the table beside her bed and bent the straw for her, so she could take a sip. When she sat up, the sheet fell away from her neck and shoulder, and I saw the red puckered scars branching out across her skin. It looked like spider-webbed lightning on her body. A wave of cold surged through me. I had trouble swallowing as I took the damage in.
“Oh, Blue…” I didn’t have the words.
She lifted her arm to show me more of the scars that coiled from her shoulder to her wrist. “I’m told they’ll be permanent.” Her voice cracked a little, and she licked her lips. “I guess I’ll fit right in with these Gods and monsters.”
“You’re not a monster.” I wrapped a tendril of her hair around my finger and gave it a little playful tug. “You’re still beautiful.”
That made her smile.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
“Yeah, not how I thought my day was going to start.” She snorted and then grimaced as her body shifted in the bed.
“Were you able to find out what happened to your adoptive mother?”
She swallowed, a few tears rolling down her cheeks. “She didn’t make it out.”
“Oh Blue, I’m so sorry.”
I reached up and brushed her tears away with my thumb. I wished I could wipe away all her pain as easily. But I knew that it would be impossible.
I put my hand in my jacket pocket and took out the cupcake; it was all mushed now. I unwrapped it for her. “I know this isn’t going to stop the pain, but it might help a little.”
She took it from me. “Thank you. I’m starving.” She took a big bite and icing stuck at the side of her mouth.
Chuckling, I wiped the chocolate icing off with my thumb, lingering a little longer than was probably wise. I licked it off my thumb, when what I wanted to do was kiss her long and hard.
We locked eyes, and for a moment everything fell away. I bent down to her mouth and was about to touch my lips to hers when someone coughed from the door.
“Time to go, Romeo.”
Startled, I got to my feet and bumped her bed, jostling her a bit. She grimaced. I winced. “I’m sorry.”
She chuckled. “It’s fine.”
“I’ll see you later, okay?”
Melany grabbed my hand before I could walk away. “Thank you, Lucian. For the cupcake… and for helping me get out. It means a lot to me.”
“You’re welcome. Just get better. Hand-to-hand combat won’t be the same without you to spar with.”
I left the infirmary, feeling both joy and despair. My emotions were so mixed up about Melany I didn’t know what to do. All I knew for certain was that I liked her. More than I ever thought was possible. And that was scarier than facing any of the Gods’ trials.
Chapter Seventeen
MELANY