Stone Heart (Dark Olympus 2.50)

“Time will tell.” He gives us each a searching look and then waves his hand. “Go on. I have things to do today.”

We don’t exactly flee the office, but we beat a hasty retreat, nonetheless. I don’t see Charon on the way out, but it’s just as well. I don’t know how to process what just happened. It seems too easy. Calypso and I stumble out of the strange mansion and make it one block down before we find a bench to sink onto.

She slumps against me. “What just happened?”

“What was that seductress bullshit? Anything? Really, Calypso?”

She straightens almost reluctantly. “Olympus is our home. I don’t want to start over somewhere else.”

I look around us. It’s late enough in the morning that the foot traffic has increased. People move differently in the lower city. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it feels just as seamless as the mix of shops. Like it’s truly a community instead of being whatever the upper city is. Another thing that seems too good to be true. “What if there’s a catch?”

“What if there’s not?”

We share a long look and it feels as if there’s a possibility this might be real. The threat of Athena’s disappointment—of what she might ask me to do next—has pressed down on me for so long, I can barely comprehend that it’s no longer there. I can see the same relief and disbelief in Calypso’s eyes.

She tentatively reaches for my hand. “I…” She swallows hard. “I meant what I said this morning. I would like to be your girlfriend, Medusa.”

I tug her closer and lean down to capture her mouth in a quick kiss. “I meant it, too.”

“We’re free,” she says wonderingly. “I’d hoped, but having it actually happen…”

“I think it’s going to take time for it to feel real.” I find myself smiling. “I’ll need to look for a job and all that, but I think it’s okay to start tomorrow. I have a few ideas to pass the time today.”

She laughs. “I bet you do.” Calypso stands and tugs me up with her. “Come on, Medusa. Let’s go home.”

Home.

It might be too soon to feel this way, but as I follow Calypso down the street and back to her cute little apartment, it really feels like home could be a person, rather than a place.

That, given a little time and a whole lot of love, Calypso can be my home. That’s the beauty of this turn of events, of something that started out like a nightmare and now feels more like a dream.

We have all the time in the world.