“Is…” I tilted my head and studied him. “Did you paint your nails?”
He nodded and held up his hands, looking at his colored nails. “Atalanta. Jason started it with his date idea, and after you left she insisted on painting everyone’s.”
I didn’t know if I should be grateful for having escaped the painting or sad for missing out.
“Orange isn’t your color.”
“Perhaps,” Percy said noncommittally as he turned his attention back to the book in his hands.
As quietly as I could, I crept over to Ajax’s bedroom. It was different from the other night. Instead of the others sleeping on the couches or on the floor next to her, Atalanta was in the middle of a man sandwich. Ajax on one side while Jason on the other, Theseus, the goddamn tallest of all of us, somehow squeezed himself at the head of the bed between the others, curled up.
“He’s like a cat,” I mumbled under my breath.
I tilted my head and studied the group, wondering how I was going to get Atalanta out from between them without waking the others. Like a math problem, I walked around and looked at it from all angles before just saying ‘fuck it,’ and going with the first thing that popped into my head.
Walking up to the foot of the bed, I ran my fingers up Atalanta’s leg, which had been sticking out from underneath the blanket. She began to squirm under my tickling, compelling me to continue tickling until she grumbled and sat up.
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she looked at me. “Hip?”
“Hello my little speedster. Up and at ‘em.” I whispered.
“You’re late.”
I tilted my head. “Am I? I thought I was right on time.”
“I was sleeping. Doesn’t that mean the day is over, when you fall asleep?”
“No, because then you enter the dream world. Wonderful dreams can extend your days.”
She deadpanned. “I have chronic nightmares.”
“Well, there you go. I was right on time to stop you from having a nightmare like the White Knight I am. Besides, it’s not midnight yet, so I believe the day isn’t technically over.”
With her hand in mine, I swept her out of the cabin and onto my motorcycle. I drove it deep into the woods on a path that only locals would know. The air was crisp and the path was black as pitch, but being inhuman had its benefits. Unconcerned about visibility when the path got thinner, I easily weaved through the trees before halting right before our destination. Putting down the kickstand, I hopped off and helped Atalanta.
“Sooo, your idea of a romantic Valentine’s Day is to bring me to the middle of the dark woods to…kill me?” She asked, looking around with a worried expression.
I chuckled. “Hey, I believe the statistic is that about 30% of murders are crimes of passion.”
She laughed it off, but I could see her shoulders stiffening.
“I’m sorry, Atalanta. I didn’t mean to scare you. It was only a joke.” I said, rubbing her shoulders.
“I know. It’s not your fault I’m, well, not weird…I suppose damaged would be the right word?”
Slowly, I took her arm and lifted it, kissing her wrist over where I knew her scars started. “We’re all damaged in some way or another. Like fine china being slowly swept across the ocean floor. Some of us simply get scratched up by the sand. While some of us get smashed against rocks. That’s life, and you shouldn’t judge yourself for it.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you would make an amazing poet?”
“People have called me an intelligent prick, but not a poet, no."
“Well, they don't give you enough credit." She said as she slipped her arm from my grasp to take my hand in hers. “Granted, I don't think you give yourself enough credit either. Now, are you going to kill me or show me a good time?"
I wiggled my eyebrows. ”Have you ever heard of being killed from a good time?"
“Hah hah, so funny. But seriously, what are we doing?"
"Can you see?” I asked.
She shook her head. ”Not a damn thing, but based on the fact that your eyes are glowing I can assume you can."
“Yes, I can.” I said, guiding her around a tree stump.
"Something I hope I learn in the future."
"I'm sure you will. For now, I'll use it to my advantage," Halting just at the tree line where I set up everything, I pulled my hand from hers. "Okay, this will only take a second."
"Is that water? Are we near the ocean?” She asked looking around.
“Shhh, questions will only spoil the surprise."
Reaching into the bag I brought with us, I pulled out what I needed, quickly snapped them, and dropped them at my feet. They landed into the water with a splash.
"What was that?”
"So jumpy, kitten.” I tisked.
Closing my eyes, I concentrated on the mass of water in front of me, willing it to wrap around the objects I dropped.
I could do this.
With a smooth breath, I opened my eyes and lifted six glowing orbs out of the lake. The balls of water were each no bigger than a baseball, but they shined brightly against the darkness in varying colors. The balls hovered in the air around my head for a few moments before I held out my hand and made them float over to Atalanta.
"Holy shit," She jumped back as the balls approached her. "What the fuck are those?”
It was at this moment that I realized I never told her about my abilities. Well, that might put a bit of a damper on this.
I laughed it off. ”It's okay. It's just water."
She squinted at one of the balls as it hovered closer. "And glow sticks?"
"Yep."
“Oh, thank god.” She let out a sigh of relief. “I thought you were about to tell me that they were some sort of water fairy or something."
"That would be way cooler, I think."
"I don't know. Hip, when were you going to tell me that you could control freaking water!?" She poked one of the orbs, her finger going right through it.
I walked back over to Atalanta's position at the tree line. "I'm sorry. I suppose with everything that's going on, I completely forgot."
"So...Ajax is an empath and you can control water. Wait, can everyone control water?" She asked, her eyes wide with excitement.
I shrugged. "I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one, but no, I don't think the others can do this. It's sort of my talent."
"Your talent?"
"Whether you want to admit it, we are magical beings, and magical beings can do magic. We all have talents." I scratched the back of my head. "I'm not really the person to talk about it, though. I really don't know much."
"Because...you were adopted?” she asked hesitantly.
"Yeah, because of that."
She looked away from me and stared up at the floating water in wonder. ”Well, I think this is pretty amazing."
"The evening isn't over yet. Come, our little fairy friends are going to be our guides."
I walked next to her as I pushed the orbs ahead as guiding lights through the trees. We didn't go far. Lifting the orbs higher, I used their light to illuminate a plush blanket I laid out in a clearing.
"Oh, Hip…” she breathed out as she squinted in the dim light to see the blanket.
"Stargazing by fairy light sounds like a good idea, don’t you think?" I sent the orbs up and deposited the water into bottles I had hung in trees around the clearing.
Their glow was soft as I lead her over to the blanket. "I even have snacks."
She sighed happily and flopped down, her arms spread wide. "This is amazing."
I smiled and joined her. "I'm glad you approve."
She snuggled close into me as we stared up at the stars through the trees. I was lucky that it was a clear night and the stars shone brightly through the trees. I knew I couldn't afford to buy her nice clothes or fancy chocolates, but honestly, I was okay with that. Her face looked so content in this moment.