Thunk-thwack!
Because despite having locked the door, when I came out of the shower, I found the last man I wanted to see tossing a tennis ball at my wall.
“Calder. I can assume that telling you that you need to reevaluate your idea of personal boundaries would be equivalent to trying to tell humans dolphins aren’t actually all that intelligent.” I walk towards him, cautious, naked as the day I was born.
He tilted his head and gave me a slow smile. “I don’t know what you mean, Percival. I’m simply stopping by my old friend’s home.”
“We are not friends,” I said cooly. I reached for the sword that I had hidden behind my dresser, gripping it and pulling it out of its sheath before swinging it around to point at Calder. “Leave.”
“Now, this is a surprise. Despite your upbringing, I was under the impression that you didn’t know a sword from a mop.” Calder said calmly as he stared down the point of the sword.
“As I said, we are not friends.” I slowly pressed the sword to his chest.
He slowly raised his hands, one still clutching a tennis ball, placating. “Touchy, touchy. Fine. I came here to discuss the young made Mer that you have been hiding. I want to make sure that you convince her to come to the city.”
“I will not make her do anything. If she wants to go with you tomorrow, it will be her choice.” I growled.
“Even though you want her to go? Even though you know what will happen if she doesn’t…?” He trailed off.
Ah, yes. The conundrum. Atalanta would be safer from her tormentor if she stayed hidden in a Mer city for the next fifty or so years. However, given our traditions and laws, there was a very good chance that most of us, Ajax, Hip, Theseus, and I included, would never see her again. Jason, at least, would have a chance.
At first, it was an easy choice. Protecting her from a mere human and his little army would be simple enough. We could keep her safe.
Yet…
I knew Calder was aware of her presence and what would come if he forced the issue. Then he just had to show up today.
If Atalanta didn’t go with Calder tomorrow, it was likely a group of guards would be there to force her. Or even worse, they would hunt down her ties to the human world and cut them. Effectively making her more pliable to their wishes.
There was no way I would allow that to happen.
Thus, the conundrum.
We could make a run for it. I know Jason at least would follow if we were to flee into the night, staying far away from all of the threats until everything mulled over. But Atalanta would never leave her father behind. I could always arrange for him to be transferred to a hospital far from any coastline…
“I can see your mind turning, you know. Playing every piece on the board and trying to predict where the game would lead. It’s quite intriguing actually. Though,” he shoved the tennis ball onto the tip of my sword, and in one swift move tore the weapon out of my hand. "A warrior, you are not.”
I growled and lunged forward, landing a punch to his jaw. Clearly, Calder wasn’t as steady on land as he was in the water. He fell to the ground in a satisfying heap, with a split lip.
He spit out blood and set his blazing glare on me. “Do you have any idea what you have done!? Attacking me while protecting your claim was one thing, but this was unwarranted, and I could have you strung to a post and whipped for this.”
“Oh, shut up,” I drawled. “You are in my territory and were asked to leave. By our laws—and even some human ones—I have full grounds to kill you right now.”
Calder hissed at me, his human guise failing as red scales rippled across his skin.
I chuckled and walked to my front door, opening it for him. “I may be more of a scholar than a warrior, Calder, but I still can, as they say today, kick your fucking ass.”
“You will regret this.”
I rolled my eyes. "And you sound like a cliche villain.”
For a moment, it looked like he would attack me. Nostrils flared, face beet-red, but it faded. He composed himself and stood, straightening his clothes and leaving without another word.
As he slammed the door behind him, I sighed.
This would come back to bite me, I knew it.
My eyes slid to the clock by my bedside. 10:09 p.m. Not too late, I supposed I could either go for a swim or find the others and discuss what to do.
10:12 p.m.
“Swimming, it is.”
Not bothering to put on any clothes, I left my home, a quaint building attached to the back of the library, and into the familiar forest trail which led to the beach.
Diving into the waves I pushed the shift over me. My gills opening fully was akin to taking a breath of fresh air.
The waves were calm and the taste of salt on my mouth was all soothing as I closed my eyes and drifted along with the currents.
If Atalanta went to the city tomorrow, I wondered if I should follow. I did miss my old home. Beautiful in its own way, and what the humans would consider an amazing feat of architecture.
I did not belong there anymore.
And yet, I couldn’t help but picture Atalanta’s face. The haunted look I always saw hiding within the shadow of her eyes pulled to the forefront as she finally revealed how she became The Girl With No Name.
I wanted to stop seeing that look, and I’m sure the others felt the same. And for that to happen I needed to be there with her every step of the way.
“Percy?”
I jerked and spun around to see—“Jason. Why aren’t you with Ms. North?”
I quickly let go of my shift, taking on my less monstrous guise. Teeth and claws receded to the average length, glowing tail and spines retracting.
“I really needed a swim, so I texted Ajax to watch over her while she stayed at the hospital with her father.”
“Oh...” I relaxed, knowing that she was under some form of protection.
“Are you okay?” He asked, studying me.
“Calder showed up at my house, not long ago.” I grumbled.
“What!? Are you okay?” He shot forward and ran his hands over my shoulders, checking me over.
I gave him a reassuring smile. “I am fine. Actually, more than fine.”
He tilted his head in that cute way he did when he was confused.
“I may have punched your uncle in the face.”
“Oh, shit!” He burst out laughing.
“He deserved it for breaking into my home and practically demanding for me to force Atalanta to the city.” I crossed my arms.
Jason’s laughter skittered to a halt. “What?”
“I told him no, that it was ultimately her decision if she goes.”
“You want her to go, though.” I could see the hurt and betrayal on his face which acted as a lance through my heart. I didn’t like the idea of hurting him like this.
“I feel that it will be the safest place for her right now.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it.” He snapped.
I sighed. "Jason.”
“No,” he pointed furiously at me. "No, you understand exactly what’s at stake for her and us once the council has a hold of us.”
“Does she?” I asked.
He nodded. "Yes. I told her all about it today, in fact.”
“And that is why I am leaving the decision up to her. In the morning we give her all of the information and let her choose.”
“But—”
I interrupted him. “Jason, we already forced too much on her. We can’t keep taking away her choice.”
“We haven’t forced anything on her.” He sneered as if the idea disgusted him.
I looked at him skeptically. “Really? A little more than a month ago, that girl walked into town, human, closed off, someone so committed to her role as the average American girl we would sooner uncover the secret to Stonehenge than get her to break her persona. Yet, here we are.”