Poseidon's Palace

Poseidon's PoV

She was still the most beautiful being I had ever seen.

I regret what I did. If only she could see, then maybe my son would forgive me. Forgive me for hurting her, forgive me for ruining her life, her world, her happiness. I just wished he could know what I used to feel - what I still do feel. That I still-

"My lord?" Asked Lysha, one of the naiads who work here, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, Lysha. Just a little disappointed."

"oh. Alright, my lord." She replied, knowing that I was fine, really, just distracted.

The feast passed with loud noises and bright colours, yet I couldn't take my eyes off Medusa.

It ended and I stood up in front of the crowd of familiar people and said, "now that the feast has ended, the party can begin again!" The crowd cheered as the tables dissolved into water and a table of refreshments appeared in the corner.

Medusa left Deuce and his friends alone. I believe one of them is Medea's daughter and the other is his cousin, but the other two I had never seen before.

I took a deep breath - yes, I know. I'm a god, I shouldn't be scared. But I was - and I approached them through the crowd.

Deuce's PoV

He was coming towards us in the crowd. I closed my eyes and hoped that he wasn't, but he was still moving towards us.

Cleo put a hand on my shoulder and said, "you should at least introduce us."

I lowered my head and closed my eyes again. Introduce them? How was I going to introduce my best friends to my dad. My dad, who I hate?

I didn't have anymore time to ponder, though Medealia did gain me a few seconds to recompose myself.

"May I take a photo, Poseidon?"

"Of course."

Her camera flash went off - three, two...one

"Deuce. How are you?" Dad asked, smiling.

"I could be better." I grumbled.

I noticed his face fell.

"Cleo, I would like you to officially meet my dad, Poseidon." I said in a much happier tone.

"Nice to meet you." Cleo said kindly.

Why was she being so nice to him? He doesn't deserve it after what he did!

"The pleasure is all mine," my father said. "I hope my son is good to you. I have heard that you are a very wonderful ghoul." He shook her hand kindly.

get away from her!

"He has always been good to me, and I love him for it."

"And this is my best friend Clawd." I gestured to him.

Medusa's PoV

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Poseidon excusing himself from Deuce and his friends.

Deuce gestured to his friends in a way that said "I'll be back in a minute, but don't wait for me."

He stalked in my direction in the corner of the room.

I grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him into another corridor before he could start yelling at me.

"Why do we even come here?" Deuce growled at me, when I let go of him.

"Because I'm trying to forgive him!." I said.

"Why do you want to forgive him? He's never done anything for you!" Deuce screamed back at me.

"He made me happy!" I lost it.

"but what did he do to deserve your forgiveness?"

"He hasn't done anything! I'm trying to forgive him so you can be happy! So you can have a life where you don't have to worry about if I'm alright!" I shouted at him. I then lowered my voice, forcing back tears. " I don't want that life for you. I want a simple kind of life for you." I said.

"So we come for me?" He asked.

"No. We come for me."

Poseidon's palace

Medusas PoV

Poseidon approached me in the hallway.

The party was coming to an end and Cleo, Clawd and Deuce had school tomorrow so I wanted to get them home.

I shifted my feet when Poseidon looked at me.

"Medusa?"

"Mm?"

"I know I've been unfair to you and I know that you blame me for everything..."

Was I hearing what I thought I was? He was apologising?

"Unfair? To me? Poseidon, you've only ever been nice to me. Yeah, okay, you made some mistakes and I know you regret them, but it's not your fault. I've been-mph" he gently grabbed my chin as he kissed me and I fraught the urge to run my fingers through his hair.

Thank the gods for the bell. It chimed and I pulled my lips away from him, just as Deuce ran up the hallway.

"Mom" he growled. "We have to go."

"I-I know, Deuce."

He gently took my hand and started pulling me away. I took a quick glance over my shoulder at Poseidon and knew that neither he, nor Deuce understood how the other truly felt.