𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐀 | 𝐆𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐒𝐄𝐒

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
I REMEMBERED LAST WINTER, flying Festus the dragon over the city of Quebec. I had never seen anything so beautiful, or felt so embarrassed yet pleased to have my arms around Angelique—but this was even better.
The night was cool. The ship sailed along more smoothly than a dragon. We were flying away from Camp Jupiter as fast as we possibly could. No matter how dangerous the ancient lands were, I couldn't wait to get there. I hoped I was right that the Romans wouldn't follow us across the Atlantic.
We leaned against the rail on portside, our arms folded on top of the railing. The moonlight made Angelique's hair have a glossy sheen of dark blue, contrasting beautifully against the black of her hair. Her stormy dark-brown eyes were practically obsidian in the dark. They reflected the stars, the irises looking like the midnight sky itself.
"Thanks, Angelique," I found myself saying. "You saved me again."
Angelique tilted her head. "It was Piper, not me."
"But if you hadn't pointed it out... Let's just say it wouldn't be pretty."
Angelique gave me a small smile. "Well in that case, you're welcome."
Her eyes trailed back to the sky, and I found myself just watching her as her hair was blown back by the wind. Angelique looked like she was just star-gazing, but something in me told me she was thinking about something else. Rather, someone else.
I gazed up at the stars when I asked the question. "Thinking about him?"
I stole a quick glanced, and I noted with a hint of pride that I slightly startled and surprised her.
After a moment, she quietly sighed. "Yes."
When Angelique didn't say anything else, I pressed on a bit more. "Did something happen, before Leo- I mean the eidolon fired on Camp Jupiter?"
When I turned my head to look at her, I found a single tear glistening on the edge of her left eye. Angelique didn't have her usual neutral expression. When she realized I was seeing this, she wiped it away and slipped her mask back on.
These little glimpses, of the other parts of her she hid, was killing me. I wanted to actually know Angelique.
"He was just being an ass," she murmured finally.
"Just?" I asked with a hint of anger. "It was enough to make you cry."
Angelique inhaled deeply, and stopped leaning on the railing. "I understand why he's upset. I'm not justifying his words, but Khian was correct about how the gods are unfair sometimes... I just wish I could get a break, you know? An actual break from all of..."—she waved her hand at everything around us—"this. All of these quests to save humanity. And now I sound selfish."
"No you don't," I said with such intensity, I surprised myself. "It's okay to want a break, Angelique."
We were both fully facing each other now.  I took a step closer and now we were only centimeters apart. "You are the most selfless person I know."