It has been a few days after Octavia's eighteenth birthday. Geryon was working on a schematic of a robot before he decided to share it with the family later. He drew lines with a pencil and erased some mistakes as he focused. Stolas entered the room and approached him hoping not to interrupt him. "What's up, Stolas?" Geryon asked as his focus was still on his schematic.
"I have good news for you," Stolas announced. "Since Octavia turned eighteen, she was out of the mansion hanging out with Loona until she met someone." Geryon accidentally scribbled on his schematic after hearing the unexpecting news. He quickly turned around on his stool with his eyes widened.
"A boy?!"
"Um, yes. Are you not happy?"
"I haven't even met the boy yet."
"That is why Octavia invited him here to visit?" Geryon was about to take a sip of his coffee. "His name is Amdukias." Geryon spits out his coffee in realization that Octavia's friend is coming to meet him and the family.
"Here?! Why not at a restaurant or something?"
"She insisted on introducing him to you." Geryon had an annoyed look on his face as he turned to look at his work. "Anyways, what are you working on this time?"
"A robot."
"Didn't you give up on that since Andrealphus?"
"Yes, but this one is going to be used as our bodyguard."
"Security purposes then?" Geryon nodded before he picked up his pencil and finished up his drawing. He then showed it to Stolas. "Impressive design and intimidating too. I'll let you work on preparations for building it, but think about meeting Amdukias." Stolas took his leave to let Geryon work in peace.
Geryon wore an outfit as he had an annoyed look on his face. Stella looked worried for him and asked, "You alright, honey?" He shook his head.
"I'm fine," Geryon lied. "Just a little tight on the bowtie. Are you sure about me meeting Octavia's new friend?"
"Perhaps you should start by saying hello and shake his hand." Octavia arrived home with Amdukias. He was a bird demon like the rest of her family who wore a white shirt with a picture on it with a jacket over it and jeans. His feathers were brown. Geryon rolled his eyes and crossed his arms when Octavia kissed her friend. Stella approached the two and shook his hand. "You must be Amdukias. It is a delight to meet you. My daughter has told me so much about you. This is her step-dad and my husband, Geryon. He's delighted too." Geryon had an annoyed look on his face.
"Ecstatic." Stolas arrived to meet Amdukias as Geryon stood there.
"Octavia has told me all about you, sir," Amdukias said as he lowered his head in formality. "He told me that you are an inventor as you live a life as a prince. You should show me your work sometimes."
"Charming, but I need to get back to working on a special project for the mansion." Geryon took his leave as Octavia approached Stolas.
"Special project?" Octavia asked.
"It's to tighten our security," Stolas explained. "Just let him work, my little owlette. Now, tell me about yourself, Amdukias."
Geryon worked on his robot bodyguard project as he was distracted thinking about his step-daughter dating someone she just met.
Geryon's Thoughts
I was a low leveled citizen living alone
My life was total shit
I was living a life
Things were just the way they should be
When all of a sudden, one man came along and changed my life
Now all of a sudden some strange things are happening here
I had friends
I had lots of friends
Now all my friends are gone
And I'm doin' the best I can to move on
I have power
I was respected
But not any more
I have lost the trust of the one I care about
Geryon grabs his weapon from his belt in anger of the thought and slashes his work table after seeing Octavia outside his workroom passing by while holding hands with a total stranger to him. He huffed and puffed after slashing it a few times then deactivated his weapon before continuing his work.
Let me tell you about the strange things are happening here
Strange things
Strange things are happening here
There's no doubt about it
At the dining room table, Geryon sat at the end of the table focused on looking at his schematic of the robot he was working on while the others were having dinner talking. He eyed Octavia as she laughed at a joke from Amdukias. He then noticed Stolas and Stella laughing as well. He decided to angrily scribble some things he doesn't want on his schematic with his pencil.
You got someone you think you know well
Who turns out a stranger
The minute you turn your back
You're all by yourself
They laugh at his jokes
He is doing quite well
So he better watch what he says
I'm all alone, forgotten, far up on the shelf now
Strange things are happening here
Strange things
Strange things are happening here
There's no doubt about it
After dinner, Geryon continued his work as he began to test the robot's vocabulator. He switched it on, but it started to malfunction.
Strange things are happening here
Strange things
Strange things are happening here
Geryon slides the stuff on the table to the ground angrily and hears glass shattering. He looked on the floor to see a picture of him with Octavia and Stella. He picked it up and took a long look at it as he sat down on his stool. Tears came out of his eyes as he placed the picture down on the table and placed his head on the table to cry.
Strange things
Strange things
Geryon was sound asleep with his head on the table. He woke up to feel a blanket wrapped around him. He then notices a note on the table and reads it. It stated that Stella saw him sleeping and noticed the mess on the floor from last night. It also stated that if he needed to talk, he only just needed to ask. "Thoughtful, my princess," Geryon said after reading the note. He then gazed at his family photo he broke on the floor and smiled a little. He then left his workroom and went to the kitchen to grab some breakfast.
Geryon was enjoying a cup of coffee when Octavia entered the kitchen twirling around as she was in love. She noticed him and said, "Good morning, Geryon."
"You seem cheerful today," Geryon said.
"Why shouldn't I be? I had a good time visiting Amdukias over dinner with mom and dad." Geryon only sighed at the memory as he remembered that he was so focused on his work. "Something wrong? Is it the project that is stressing you out?"
"No. It's not that. I just don't like the boy you are seeing. I feel like you are hanging out with him too much and I want you to stop seeing him."
"Why?!"
"Because things may not end well between the two like me and Stella when we were kids."
"You fear that it might happen to me?! Get your head out of the clouds, Geryon!" Geryon got up from his chair and followed Octavia out of the kitchen. "I'm not a teenager anymore! So why don't you just leave me alone!" After Octavia slams the door in front of Geryon, he feels bad about what he said as he heard crying in her room and slowly walks back to his workroom sad. He was jealous about his own step-daughter avoiding him and doing other things. He looked at some family photos that were on the wall as he walked.
Geryon
Out among the stars she sailed
Way beyond the moon
In her golden ship she sailed
A jealousy that ended too soon
Geryon stopped to look at a photo of young Octavia with Stolas and placed his hand on it.
Now I know
Exactly who I am
And what I've done
And I will go sailing no more
Geryon arrives at his workroom and closes the door behind him before sitting on the stool reflecting on what he did. Tears fell out of his eyes.
All the things I thought I'd be
All the brave things I'd done
Vanished like a magic trick
With the rising of the sun
Nevermore to sail her ship
Where no one has gone before
Geryon grabbed his family photo and planted his forehead on it in despair.
And I will go sailing no more
Geryon then had a look of confidence as he took the parts of the robot he was building and made some modifications to it.
But, no
It can't be true!
I can fly if I wanted to!
Once he finished building the robot, he took a step back to look at it. He then walked to the back of it and placed his hand on the switch.
Like a bird in the sky
If I believed I can fly
Why, I'd fly!
Geryon flipped the switch and the robot activated. He went to the front of it to see it in action. But after a few seconds being active, it malfunctioned and fell apart to separate pieces. Its head rolled towards Geryon's feet as he looked at it. He got on his knees in despair and picked up the robot's head to look at his reflection on its silver paint.
Clearly, I
Will go sailing no more
Geryon hugged the robot's head tight and began to cry about what he had done to Octavia. Stella noticed him in the room crying and slowly walked up to him. "Honey?" she said. Geryon's eyes widened as he quickly wiped off his tears with his arm and got up to put the robot head on the table.
"A little mishap on my project, dear," Geryon lied. He then sighed and turned to his wife.
"We all know that is not why I am here."
"I know. It's about Octavia, isn't it?"
"I heard the whole argument."
"I feel bad for what I said to Octavia about her boyfriend. I hurt her, Stella. I don't know what to do anymore."
"She is an adult now. It is time to let her go someday." Stella got down to Geryon's level and placed her hand on his cheek. "Go talk to her. Make things right." Geryon closed his eyes and nodded.
Geryon stood in front of the door to Octavia's room and gently knocked on it. "GO AWAY!" Octavia's voice shouted. He opened the door slowly anyways and saw her crying on her pillow.
"Octavia, can we talk?" Geryon asked.
"Come back to lecture me on my friend choice some more?"
"No. I just want to say that I have made a mistake. I know you think that I am a terrible step-dad right now, but I just want to say I am sorry for everything I said about your boyfriend. My jealousy got the best of me. I felt like you were avoiding me." Octavia looked up to Geryon as she wiped off her tears. "I just thought you should know. So, go ahead and yell at me if you want." Geryon looked down as he turned around to leave.
"Wait!" Geryon stopped in his tracks. Octavia rushed to her step-dad and hugged him from the back. "I'm sorry too. Please don't be mad at me too. I only met someone because I just wanted someone to let my feelings out. I loved him." Geryon's eyes widened in realization at what he just heard from Octavia.
"I know." Octavia broke the hug with Geryon as he turned around to meet her eyes. "Just like I love your mother. I was a commoner as she was a princess. Until I became a prince like your father. Perhaps I was a little overprotective." Octavia chuckled.
"Yeah you were."
"You want to know something interesting about my past life?"
"What's that?"
"You'll love this one. I used to date Verosika Mayday years ago before I became an inventor."
"Really? What was it like? I love listening to her music."
"It was interesting. In fact I had a run in with her one time when I hung out with Loona to cheer her up about our little reunion at the cemetery."
"Loona told me about that. Oh, that reminds me. I was going to hang out with my boyfriend today in the afternoon."
"Then I will leave you to get ready. Touch up your makeup and go out there and have a fun time. Just come home safely, okay?" Octavia nodded as Geryon left her room and closed the door behind him. Her step-daughter has finally grown up after all.
THE END