The Gamekeeper

His feet stopped at the pavilion. They hadn't noticed him yet; the friends who weren't really his friends, his mentors that didn't ever mentor, his father that hadn't fathered until now. There was no grudge when he thought of this, but yet a bitter taste of ignorance. They weren't bad people – He was just too ignorant in the past to realize what was really around him. Nothing.

As his mind raced, quietness grew. Their attention seemed to narrow, and he realized after a moment it was him that made them seize. It felt so odd, he thought to himself, finally being the one who had the most attention. Neither him or Castor ever had any attention.

Somewhere in the crowd, interrupting bravely, somebody shouted. He heard the gruff voice, a boy who he probably talked to in some way or another, a couple cute girls smiling at him widely as if now that he was living he was attractive, and his father was dead silent. He turned to him, his attention only at him. Dionysus looked at him, his face lazy, his body slumped, but he saw the curiousness in his eyes.

"Oh, hur-rah!" Dionysus spat sarcastically at the crowd, "The boy from the dead walks! Now get back to your eating and chitty-chatty-ness." Once upon a time, he would've been angry for that remark, but he heard from the Stolls what his father had done. Truthfully, that's why he came back. He wanted the Stolls to get some recognition, for once.

He felt his feet move to his father, no fear showing. His father didn't look at him until he made it to the table.

"You do know I'm eating? I'll deal with this father-son thing later." Dionysus waved him off. Pollux's eyes narrowed.

"I'm going on another quest." Dionysus didn't show any emotions.

"And I may not come back," Pollux continued, "I'm looking for a girl." Dionysus's eyes seemed to flash.

"And who said you could go? I didn't hear that curly-girl give you a prophecy." Pollux's hands fell to the table, clenching it tightly until he felt his fingers dig into the wood.

"You didn't give me a prophecy," he reminded his father, "And I understand that now. I understand why you didn't give me one. But I'm here to tell you that my quest isn't over yet." Dionysus's eyes looked, for once, dead serious. Curious. Like a father should be.

"So why did you come back?" Dionysus asked, his voice low.

"Because sometimes people need some recognition for what they do," Pollux told him, "I'm leaving now though. So…bye." He swerved away, listening to the murmurs trail along.

He was nearly out of the pavilion when he heard, "You are going to go find the girl aren't you?" Pollux swerved around sharply, his eyes stinging darkly at his father. His father's emotion hadn't changed, as if even a god could be frozen from grief. His father couldn't hide it anymore.

"Yes," Pollux said, shocked that his father knew that much, "Yes. I am." He saw Dionysus swallow and look at the crowd nervously. He wasn't good at this, Pollux evaluated, being considerate toward other people. Except for his mother. Dionysus loved his mother.

"You'll need to get there tonight then," He told him seriously, "She's at the blue house, boy." At first, he was confused, until he remembered something, a memory flashing through from when he was in Limbo. At first, his eyes seemed to be frozen at a distance, but then he nodded. His eyes looked at his dad, about to say one last thing, but instead walked away.

(imagine three dashes here)

Since their fight, she decided to make it a priority to sleep on the porch. Of course, not too long before being carried inside by Nico, but it was still heartbreaking that she couldn't crawl into their bed consciously. It felt so different. She knew Nico was insecure now that he realized his chance in losing her, and now that she knew that he knew she wasn't in a trance, her nerves disappeared.

But tonight she was going to do it. She was going to crawl in bed soundlessly, and wait until Nico appeared. She sat up in their bed, cold but yet comforting, and watched as the window grew darker. Above, there was a crescent moon falling over, stars scattering across the sky. It was beautiful, she thought to herself, but yet so lonely.

She closed her eyes after a moment, taking a deep breath. No, this wasn't as difficult as it seemed, but it was a big step for her. To wait with fear.

She listened to the noises around her. The trees bristling, the feet below her wandering, her breath heaving. She could do this, she thought to herself, she could do this. Pebbles cracking outside, owls howling across the lawn, an occasional car sliding past. She could do this, she thought to herself, she could do this. A whisper, a foot walk, a crack. She opened her eyes, her breath smoothing, listening over and over again.

"Connie." Immediately, after hearing her name, her eyelids flew open. She looked at the door, waiting for Nico to walk in with a smile on his face, but nobody appeared. She frowned. Was she imagining her name being called?

She shook her head at herself, her paranoia taking over.

But then she heard it again. Her name.

"Connie!" It was louder, harsher. She got up from her bed, trying to hear where the voice was coming from, because it seemed huskier than Nico's. Maybe it was just in her head, she decided, nerves awakening her. She closed her eyes, once again, drifting off.

"CONNIE FOR GODS SAKES, LOOK OUT YOUR WINDOW!" She bolted up suddenly, and she felt her feet scramble to the window. Without even thinking, her shaking fingers unlatched it.

At first, she was just staring into black hedges, but then she felt a body outline. Tall and bulky and…and…

"Pollux?" Her voice was far away, her mind racing in circles.

"It's me!" the figure confirmed "Hold on – Don't leave! I'll get up there myself." She was so at awe she didn't know how she could leave. She felt like somebody was screaming in her head as she watched Pollux start to climb up the side of the house. It was Pollux, wasn't it? It wasn't a dream, right? He was really in front of her?

Her mind was going nuts. So many words. So many tones. She didn't know how she was seeing this. Her fingers clawed at the windowpane as the figure rose, and she couldn't take her first breath until he was in front of her. He seated himself on the outside of the windowpane lazily. She stared at him at first as if he was a lost painting, but then the realization finally hit her. He was alive.

For a moment, her hands could only reach for him. Her fingers groping his face wildly, as her eyes evaluated him. She could feel the stubble on his cheeks, a zit on his nose, the odd curve of his lips. He was there, he was truly there. He didn't move at all, as if he was surprised to see her as well. She felt warm tears trilling down her cheeks.

"Pollux." His name never seemed so beautiful. "How are you here?" Her lips trembled slightly as she watched him. He stumbled for a moment.

"You're alive, aren't you?" her voice grew more anxious as the past scene ran through her head. "How did you survive? The army…Nico…" She shook her head at him, not sure how to show him how confused she was. Under her, she felt her legs shake.

"Connie, something really wacky happened to me," his voice seemed feeble; "I don't even know what it was. I was getting attacked and then suddenly…everything went away. And then I went into this blue…world. It was like…like the spirit world or something. And this woman, she talked to me. She told me all these things. Things about you and things about me…Everything. So many important things, Connie." His face suddenly looked like he had swallowed a horse pill.

"It was so odd…Like I didn't even have a body. It was just my soul," his eyes seemed to grow far away as he spoke, "But I learned so many things, Connie. And I need to show you. I need to show you these things." She was silent, still at awe that he was in even front of her.

"Come on Connie," he reached out his hand, "Let's go." Her fingers were about to meet his, when suddenly she remembered what was going on.

"No!" she exclaimed sharply, "I…I…I can't go." The overwhelming emotions that took up his face immediately left.

"….What?"

"It's just, I'm…I'm…happy here. I'm with Nico now, and I have this pretty house, and—and there is this huge garden out in the back! I mean, I know, it's hard to wrap your head around it, but I…I..like it here. I wake up, and I drink tea, and I pick apples, and I'm happy. I'm just…happy." At first, his purple eyes flashed at her, as if he had no idea what he was looking at. Fine, she would admit it, she felt guilty. But she couldn't just pack up and leave everything – It just wasn't right. It wasn't logical. It wasn't fair.

"Connie," he spoke slowly, "I'm not sure how Nico got you here, but I promise you that you do not want to be here. The woman has so much stuff to say to say to me – I heard so many things. We need to get going – Now!" His hand grabbed her's as if to ease her, but she yanked her hand back, making him almost fall. His face fell in a stinging expression, making a guilty ball twirl in her stomach.

"Pollux, it's just…" She tried to get the right words, but his entire presence in front of her was still so overwhelming, "I found my treasure. What I needed. I know you don't understand, but I'm happy here. I really am happy here. This is where I'm supposed to be, y'know? And since all of this is over, I think you should follow your fate too. Don't wait for me, life is too short. Make that vineyard. Go follow your dreams." She waited for the screaming. For the argueing. For the fight, but he remained abnormally calm.

"Connie…If I believed that then I would've put a bow on your head and sent you to him the minute I woke up with him standing over me under that tree." The vision caught her instantly, remembering that. So long ago, so much pain to feel again, but she shook her head.

"No, you still don't get it Pollux!" she snapped. "I don't want to! I'm tired of having a piece to play. Here, I don't have a fate! I'm just…me, and everything is good. I'm sure your…woman…had many things to say and I'm sure it means a lot, but maybe that was just supposed to be our friendship. Just to get each other over the bridge. This was my goal in the beginning, remember? To be with him. To be happy. So both I and Nico can be out of that game."

"Connie," he sighed as he put his head in his hands, "When will you get it? Nico isn't just a part of that game…He made that game!" It wasn't the words that hit her, it was the way he said it. The strength that built in.

"Pollux," her voice struggled to remain calm, "I'm not going to lie and say that Nico is perfect, but he's just…a guy. He made a mistake, alright? We all make mistakes, and that's why I'm here Pollux! I wouldn't be here if I thought I shouldn't!" His mouth, opened, as if to spit out something loud and harsh, but then something washed over him.

"You know, she said that," he breathed, "The woman. She said you had to choose between two fates. One is an easy, calm life with…being happy, and the other is making a change. And that I can't stop you from whatever you choose to do. Your fate is on an edge, and everything will be determined once you make that choice." At first, it seemed like he was just repeating what was inside his head, but then he looked up at her fully, his purple eyes looking at her like a lightning bolt.

"Fine, you know…I'm not going to stop you from staying here. If you're truly happy – truly – then I'll walk away. Because I'm sure he's normal here– I'm sure he's a sweet pumpkin, and yeah, I'm sure he loves you in his own sick way. I'm sure he's sweet and perfect and everything you'd like in your silly little daydream, but you better remember who he is, Connie. He'll always be the one that the dead worship, the one that humans are naturally made to fear, the one who kills for the sake of killing, and will always, forever, be the Ghost King." At first, there was a ringing silence. Where she was digesting his words, and he was waiting anxiously as his fingers dug into the windowpane. But then his eyes trailed behind her and suddenly they looked far away. Deep, deep away.

She saw him breathe something under his breath, his face stricken. Finally, she turned around. Her breath sucked in.

"What are you doing here?" Nico asked as his face flooded to a defensive glare. He took a step into the room. Connie felt herself move in front of the window, but Nico didn't notice.

"Playing the game, your Majesty, since you're the gamekeeper of us all." she heard Pollux hiss, "Please, tell the girl you stuck in here. Tell her everything." Nico's eyes narrowed.

"You were supposed to be with Lunar," his voice grew angrier, "How did you get back? Who let you out?"

"Haven't you learned yet, Nico?" Pollux's voice was cool. "Lunar is the spirit of the moon. She doesn't take sides." Nico's jaw clenched, his fingers raveling into a ball as his footsteps pressed heavily into the ground. She felt the aura grow thick suddenly.

"Look," she turned behind her toward Pollux, "Just leave, alright? This is my decision. My decision is to stay here, okay? J—Just go!" Her words were meant to appear sharp, but instead they let out crackly and fearful. She didn't want him getting hurt, she already lost him once, and it was taking everything she had to let him go willingly. Her grey eyes flickered beggingly.

"Then you have to say it, Connie," Pollux told her, "Say it. Say that you understand that nothing in him will ever change." Connie's firm face fell.

"Except he has changed!" she exclaimed loudly, "This is ridiculous! Just go! GO!" He shook his head.

"I'd advise you to go," Nico hissed, "Go. Get away from my home, or I swear I'll make you." Connie swallowed. Pollux's eyes, which seemed so warm suddenly, stayed on her.

"See Connie? The game never ends," he swore to her, "Not when he is the gamekeeper. Not with him." Finally, a firey jolt of anger flew inside of her.

"There is no game, Pollux!" She barked, "We are perfectly fine here, calm!" His eyes seemed to fall neutrally, no emotion.

"Do you really believe that?" She opened her mouth to respond, but the way he said it made her hesitate. She turned her head slightly, her eyes connecting with Nico's.

"Don't you dare look back at him like you were made for that, Connie. You were never made to be normal and you know it! All he'll do is take you out of the game. Of course you'll never be anything; you'll never have the chance because he will never let you try." He outstretched his hand, no need to say anymore. She looked at Nico behind her - Beautiful, but troubled. Was he really just holding her back? Taking her out of the checker board and putting her to the side? Was he even protecting her the way he swore at all?

"Connie, he's playing with you!" Nico told her sharply, a desperateness hanging, "I don't underestimate you Connie. This is ridiculous!" She was about to agree, but then something wandered into her mind.

"Would you stop me?" She asked out loud. His eyes frazzled.

"What?"

"Stop me. If I left, would you stop me?" her voice cleared, "Pollux wouldn't stop me, but would you?" At first, he just looked at her blankly.

"Connie, please, don't feed into this madness…I'm not some evil dictator! I'm Nico!" He exclaimed, "He's messing with you!" But her eyes fell firm on him. It wasn't that she really cared about what Pollux was saying, it was the mere fact of control.

"Answer the question, Nico. Would you stop me from leaving?" She waited for it. The immediate 'no'. But he stood still.

"Connie, I wouldn't let you hurt yourself," Nico worded carefully, "We're together." Together. That was how he said it.

"Wai—No! I meant like, that isn't supposed to be our life! I mean, Connie, come on, do you really want to be a part of that?" he asked tightly, "Wouldn't you rather be here? In a safe house?" This time, it was Pollux who bursted out. His laughs rang against the walls psychotically.

"You're calling this house – The blue house – A safe house?" Pollux barked in laughter, "Man, you better start telling the truth before I do." Connie felt her strength disappear. She blinked.

"The…the blue house?" she repeated, "Whats that?" Nico's face drained. At first, he stared at her, gaping, but then he turned back to Pollux. His eyes narrowed.

"You…" He said, his teeth clenched tightly, "You." Nico conjured a black rock instnatly, aiming toward Pollux, but she jumped in front of him on instinct.

"NO NICO!" She screamed, "We're not in this anymore, remember?" But he wouldn't look at her. He was heaving heavily, staring at Pollux with loathing eyes.

"Nico," her eyes lowered hesitantly at the black rock pointed at them, "Put it down." He wouldn't look at her.

"He can't do that," Pollux answered for him, "He is made for war, Connie. He is the Ghost King." There was a loud grunt.

"YOU STUPID KID!" Nico's rock shot out of the air, streaming toward Pollux and Connie. She knew by the suck of air that hit Nico's lips that he had forgotten where she was, but her mind was off from his grasp. She ducked instantly, carrying Pollux down with her to the floor. Above her, there were screams. Going between Pollux and Nico she guessed, but her ears were ringing so hard she couldn't catch their words at first.

"Yeah? Well maybe you should've thought of that before you decided to kidnap her!" She heard Pollux's voice growl, "You're pathetic! Everything about you is pathetic! You could've helped her – you could've saved her! And now she is secretly dying!" Nico throw something at him, purposely missing his target she knew, because it whatever he threw hit far from them.

"Why do you always keep trying screwing everything up!" Nico screamed, "I just want to be happy! I want her to be happy!" Connie looked up from the rug, at Nico. He looked bad, she had to admit, pretty freckin' bad.

"Yeah?" Pollux asked softly.

"Yeah!"

"And you want me to leave you both alone?"

"Yeah!"

"Especially if that's what she wants?"

"Yeah!"

"Then I'll respect that."

"Thank you!"

"And I will if you explain to her why theres a video camera in this room."

AN: Well, you guys would not even believe my week. It's been bad. Well, I'm back in the states atleast. Sorry it took so long and that it's dry, but I just needed to make sure y'all knew I was continuing. Thank you artemis-girl123 (Guest), triforceofwisdom (Guest), Artemis-girl123, SunnyA333, farawayfromnowhere, and my secret lover Please review, it really means a lot. Just one word can change everything :P