Hades

In almost a second, we were back on the busy streets of New York. Demeter and Dionysus said their goodbyes before they went back to their place. My brother Hera, Ares, Hephaestus, and Aphrodite were not as polite.

Calypso shifted her stance awkwardly. I took a breath and approached the awkward woman.

“Would you like to come to our place? Although someone will have to share a bed or sleep on the couch.” I spoke in my best confident Zeus voice. Her cheeks reddened as she slowly nodded.

As we walked, she clung close to Poseidon. I couldn’t blame her. I’m not particularly fond of people, and they don’t enjoy me. Luckily, my brothers make up for my lack of sociality.

***

When we reached the apartment, I flicked on the lights. Cerberus jumped out of my arms. Being invisible comes in handy when you’re trying to conceal a three-headed dog.

I turned to Calypso. “Do you have extra clothing?” My tone came out harsher than I’d meant for it to, but she didn’t seem to notice.

“No,” she mumbled.

“Follow me,” I told her, leading her to my bedroom. Diggin through my closet, I found an old pair of shorts and a shirt for her to wear.

Pushing them into her arms, I pointed at the bathroom down the hall. Calypso spun on her heels and left me to change in peace.

I barely had my shirt over my head, when I heard the startled squeal of Calypso. I quickly yanked down my shirt as she entered the room.

The shirt was a bit too big on her and her shorts were too long on her. Something black flashed on her collarbone.

I slowly approached her and examined what I found to be a tattoo. It was a snake, that went from her collarbone to her back.

“Why a snake?” I whispered. Calypso looked directly at me for the first time since we’ve gotten back.

“They’re competent on their own,” she replied. I stared at her for a moment, too long because she started to blush, and then I gave a fake yawn.

“Ready for bed?” She didn’t answer, but she followed me into the room silently. Poseidon was already asleep—and snoring — in the other room. I plopped down onto the air mattress laid out on the floor.

Calypso shuffled in the bed beside me. She tossed and turned until she made a harrumph and stilled.

“Can we talk for a bit?” she asked, turning to face me. “Only for a little while, until I fall asleep.” Quietly, she added,” I don’t really like silence.”

My body was crying for sleep, but I decided I could do someone else a favor every once in a while.

“What do you want to talk about?”

Calypso shrugged, causing some of her hair to fall on her face.

“What was your life like?” I watched as her body tensed. I’d hit a sensitive subject, I could tell.

“Do you really want to know?” She avoided looking into my eyes. I nodded. Sucking in the air, she began her story. “There was a little girl...”

She told the tale of a little girl with big dreams. Hopes of finding a family and a home. Abandoned at birth, she moved around constantly. From island to island, city to city, and state to state. She’d never gotten the luxury of being in one place for long. One day, she got the opportunity most kids in the system would kill for. A loving family. Although only part of that was true. Her parents couldn’t have cared less about her and the other children. One day, she packed and ran away. From that point on, she protected herself, and there was no time for making friends.

She’d said something else, but the weight on my eyelids was too much. She faded away, her voice becoming background noise.