The Tyrant's Tomb

quite specific that I shouldn’t stick my godly face anywhere near you. But
Venus…I mean, her plans are always twisting and turning. She may have
been practicing reverse psychology, so to speak. If we were meant to…Um, I
could help you.”
Reyna stopped. Her dogs tilted their metal heads toward her, perhaps
trying to gauge their master’s mood. Then they regarded me, their jeweled
eyes cold and accusatory.
“Lester.” Reyna sighed. “What in Tartarus are you saying? I’m not in the
mood for riddles.”
“That maybe I’m the answer,” I blurted. “To healing your heart. I
could…you know, be your boyfriend. As Lester. If you wanted. You and me.
You know, like…yeah.”
I was absolutely certain that up on Mount Olympus, the other Olympians
all had their phones out and were filming me to post on Euterpe-Tube.
Reyna stared at me long enough for the marching band in my circulatory
system to play a complete stanza of “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” Her eyes
were dark and dangerous. Her expression was unreadable, like the outer
surface of an explosive device.
She was going to murder me.
No. She would order her dogs to murder me. By the time Meg rushed to
my aid, it would be too late. Or worse—Meg would help Reyna bury my
remains, and no one would be the wiser.
When they returned to camp, the Romans would ask What happened to
Apollo?
Who? Reyna would say. Oh, that guy? Dunno, we lost him.
Oh, well! the Romans would reply, and that would be that.
Reyna’s mouth tightened into a grimace. She bent over, gripping her
knees. Her body began to shake. Oh, gods, what had I done?
Perhaps I should comfort her, hold her in my arms. Perhaps I should run
for my life. Why was I so bad at romance?
Reyna made a squeaking sound, then a sort of sustained whimper. I
really had hurt her!
Then she straightened, tears streaming down her face, and burst into
laughter. The sound reminded me of water rushing over a creek bed that had
been dry for ages. Once she started, she couldn’t seem to stop. She doubled
over, stood upright again, leaned against a tree, and looked at her dogs as if
to share the joke.