Hi all! Hope you like the latest update. As always thank you for the follows/favorites/review. I appreciate the positive support!
~SHB
Lpov
Over the next few days, time seemed to fly as my life continued to be consumed with work, camp, and working at the library.
James was improving, not as quickly as I had expected with his track record for healing, but still at a rapid pace for someone who'd taken a direct shot from the king of the gods. A king who hadn't been pulling his punches.
By all accounts, it was amazing he was alive, but I'd learned at this point not to be too surprised by what the staff members at the library could do. Especially in the way of research.
Lucy hadn't been lying when she'd said Harper had prioritized my project. The trio were a powerhouse, churning out information with a document that was rapidly turning into its own encyclopedia of mythological creatures.
Often times I would come back from a shift at the clinic or in the infirmary at camp, and find that dozens of pages of information had been added. Harper dumping everything she knew onto the digital space, while Lucy cross referenced it with information she found online and through other resources, James tailoring the information for relevancy, and organizing it in to a comprehendible format, occasionally adding the new information he and I had discovered on our outings, and even some of his sketches.
I looked at it every day, feeling as if this project had taken over my life, adding information I'd picked up over the years, flagging things I thought might have been inaccurate or might have changed over time for either James or Lucy to look further into. I looked over James's editing, suggesting changes in the formatting and how the information was divvied up. Marking facts and observations for specific creatures, what was general information and could be used for everyday care, or medicinal purposes. What was old and what was new.
It felt like every night I was with them now, laughing over meals and brain storming ideas. Teasing James with his sister, and finally feeling as if I really saw all the sides of Harper that my brother and hers got to see, along with her friends in the library.
And then there was James.
It should have been impossible for someone who looked like him, that could face down a god and win, to be so unbelievably intelligent. It shouldn't have been possible. Sometimes I honestly thought there was no way he could be real.
I caught myself staring at him constantly as he walked through the shelves at the library, eyes darting over pages, or the way his eyes narrowed just slightly when he looked at the screen of his laptop as he considered something.
He worked longer than anyone, was constantly talking to Harper and Lucy about what they were working on or ideas he had, and every time I heard it, it made my heart swell, and I caught myself staring at him again as he pulled a book off a shelf in front of me and leaned against it, scanning the index.
It just wasn't fair. No one should be able to make my stupid nerdy project look that hot.
"Enjoying the view?"
I looked up to see Lucy dropping into a seat next to me at one of the guest tables shooting me a smirk.
"It should be like, illegal, for someone to be that attractive."
She made a face automatically but then looked at James, clearly trying to be objective.
"I don't see it." she said and I rolled my eyes.
"He looks like he could bench press a semi truck."
"He probably could." She agreed her expression considering. "Easily."
"You are not helping." I said scowling at her and by her grin, I could tell that Lucy was very much not trying to help.
It shifted however, to an eager smile as she got a notification for an email and I looked at her suspiciously.
"What are you so happy about?" I asked her, noticing that when she opened the email, it was an absolute novel of text.
"Nothing." She said innocently, but scrolling through the lines eagerly. "Just an email from a pen pal."
"A pen pal?" I asked curiously wondering how on earth Lucy could have met someone outside the library, then again, she was chronically online. Probably because she never left. In fact, a part of me was sort of surprised she didn't have more internet friends now that I thought about it. Judging by her expression however, if she did have some, this one would have been her favorite.
She nodded and, though I wasn't sure why, a sense of anxiety was unfurling with in me.
'Lucy isn't stupid.' I thought as she continued to read, biting her lip in concentration. 'And she's not a kid.'
She was an adult, and even if her idea of the world might have been a bit distorted… it wasn't as if she didn't have sense.
Lucy was smart, and she'd survived a hell of a lot. If she wanted to have a pen pal, that really wasn't any of my business. Right?
"A friend of James and mine back when we were kids." She continued distractedly and a flood of relief went through me.
'Gods, what were you so worried about?' I thought a little annoyed with myself. 'That Lucy was going to run off through the mortal doors and get herself kidnapped by some creep? Get a grip Libby.'
"Is he cute?" I asked realizing after the fact that Lucy hadn't said if her friend was a guy or not, but she smiled.
"Extremely."
She typed out a response to the email then drew my attention to a series of bullet points Harper had added, her and James eventually joining us at the table.
After a few hours of work, Lucy suggested ordering dinner which James and Harper went to go pick up. She'd gotten a call upon their return, and Lucy, sitting at her desk, was going through the visitor requests on the monitor leaving James and I to organize the food. Not that I was complaining.
If anything, it was the opposite.
James had always been polite, even friendly as he'd gotten used to me being around the library, and he'd always been nice to me, even back at camp, even when he was in the worst of his moods. But it felt as if something had shifted between us lately. Little changes in his behavior that, while subtle, felt strangely… significant.
I couldn't quite define it, it seemed like everything and nothing all at once. A million little things, that alone, would seem meaningless but together, made things feel different.
In the way he glanced at me, or smiled. Less distance in his expression whenever we were together.
We talked almost constantly now over text and it gave me a sort of window into his inner dialogue, what he was thinking, especially about his sister or Harper, who he was constantly commenting on. It made me realize that James was funny. Really funny. And had me suspecting that deep down, James, when he let himself be, was actually kind of fun.
He'd never admit it, but he liked to cause mischief. I didn't know if I'd never noticed before, or he was simply doing it more frequently, but he messed with both Harper and his sister in odd ways. Switching the side of a desk a coffee cup was on, or pick pocketing a phone, and leaving it out in the open, confusing the owner when they spotted it, tapping the pockets where they'd thought it was.
And he was good at it, like, very good, and I had a feeling he knew I'd noticed. More than once, he'd gotten a hold of Harper's favorite pen or Lucy's head phones, shot me a smile or a wink, then watched as they wandered the library looking for them, before putting the items right back where he'd found them much to their confusion.
"Nice try." I said turning and snatching my phone out of his hand, putting it back in my pocket and he laughed.
"You felt that?"
"No." I said smirking and hopping up to sit on the kitchen counter next to the takeout boxes so that our eyes were level. "I just know you get sticky fingers when you're restless."
This backfired almost immediately as he stepped forward.
"Figured me out have you?" he asked grinning, his fingers threading through mine that had been curled around the edge of the counter.
It was something he never would have done before, one of those changes, though I wouldn't have considered this minor, and it sent adrenaline flooding into my veins, tightening in my chest.
"I dunno if that's possible." I said quietly, letting my gaze meet his. "Your brain works pretty quickly, and you tend to brood."
"I thought women were supposed to like that." He said tilting his head a little as he considered me. "That whole strong and silent thing."
I snorted.
"Have you ever tried to have a conversation with a tortured soul?" I asked causing him to grin. "It's insufferable, and I'm a chatter box."
"So… talkative brooding?"
"Why does anyone have to brood?" I asked raising an eyebrow. "It's depressing."
"I imagine not very many people can around you." He said his thumbs brushing over my knuckles and I felt my fingers relax, further tanging themselves with his. "I know I find it difficult."
It shouldn't have felt like this. There was no logical reason as to why such a small motion attracted so much of my attention, had my nerves going haywire, but it did.
My brain had gone completely off line. All I could do was stare at him, and before I could even begin to try and figure out how to think, Lucy's voice rang from down the hall, at what seemed like a ridiculous volume.
"I hope we haven't kept them waiting too long!"
We both glanced towards the door. It was partially open, and I didn't know if I was relieved or disappointed when James stepped away.
Maybe it was both.
"Why are you shouting?" Harper asked, wincing and rubbing her ear while Lucy shrugged and shot her brother and I a smirk.
James rolled his eyes at his sister who winked and I felt myself blush.
Harper, as usual, missed all of this.
She grabbed a container of rice and her noodles before looking at me.
"You ok?" she asked an eyebrow darting up, obviously noticing the pink in my cheeks.
"Fine." I said quickly looking away and sliding off the counter.
I grabbed my order and started walking towards the table with Harper and Lucy, but was surprised to feel James catch my elbow gently.
I looked at him, curious only to feel a second jolt of shock go through me when he put my phone into my free hand.
"I hate you." I said darkly and he grinned, clearly satisfied with himself.
It was adorable.
"That seems harsh Lib."
"Deal with it Jamie." I said putting emphasis on the nickname I knew he hated and he let out an indignant noise.
"This is better than my dramas." Lucy muttered digging into her pork her eyes darting between her brother and I eagerly while Harper let out a snort.
I walked towards the table, trying valiantly not to be embarrassed or look at James over my shoulder. I could feel his eyes on me as I walked, and I was almost certain he was still smiling.
Dinner went by in its usual way, talking a mix of work and personal business. Lucy was pestering Harper about wedding dress shopping, while James gave a mixture of helpful and sarcastic feedback to the photos Lucy was swiping through. Harper just looked harassed.
"Honestly Luce, she's too short." James said rolling his eyes as Harper shut down yet another ball gown. "She'd look like a cupcake."
"A gorgeous cupcake." She said narrowing her eyes at her brother a hint of steel in her voice.
"You could always just go to the court house." I suggested.
"That's what I said." James agreed gesturing towards me while Lucy looked appalled.
"And deny me the chance to see Ashton bawling at the ceremony?"
"Fair point." He smirked. "But he's going to cry either way."
"It's a good idea in theory." Harper said ignoring the siblings. "But I'm not trying to antagonize the pantheon even further."
"What do you mean?"
"They wanted the ceremony to be on Olympus." Lucy explained.
I choked on my rice in surprise and she thumped me on the back.
"What?" I asked between coughs, completely stunned. "Like Olympus, Olympus?"
"Yes." Harper said with a sigh.
"Why?"
"She's important." James said something between exhaustion and hilarity in his tone, and Harper shot him a look. "Most of the gods will be there. It's an honor, and more importantly it sends a message. That she's on their side."
"That I'm under their thumb." Harper muttered darkly. "Poseidon offered Atlantis as well. I'm pretty sure that was just to irritate Zeus."
"You could always pick the Underworld." Lucy said brightly.
"No one would be happy about that." James said grinning. "Including Hades."
"Well then, there's your pick." I said seriously. "It would set the tone of matrimony nicely, all the dead people."
Lucy burst out laughing and I could tell by James's expression he'd had to catch himself not to as well.
I expected Harper to glower at me but was satisfied to see the corner of her mouth twitch in amusement.
"I'm picking none of the gods, or their domains." She said calmly. "The wedding will be in New York, close enough to Olympus to be respectful, but still in neutral territory."
"Very pragmatic." James said seriously, with a sensible nod.
"Thank you." Harper answered, returning the gesture.
She'd either missed the sarcasm in his reaction, or was too tired of the subject to challenge it. Maybe her own was so advanced, it had become indistinguishable from an actual response.
"So why not Olympus?" I asked curiously. I really doubted Poseidon had been serious when he'd suggested Atlantis, and everyone knew how much Hades hated having people in his house. "I'm sure it would be beautiful."
"James and Lucy couldn't go." Harper said without missing a beat. "As well as, like half of Ashton and my family. Aphrodite was quite irritated when we pointed that out."
"Aphrodite?"
"She, my mother, and Hera all think this falls under the jurisdiction of their responsibility." Harper said miserably. "They've been battling to plan the event for months. It's ridiculous."
"Hilarious, you mean." Lucy said with a wicked grin.
James walked me towards the doors after dinner, and though they were glowing already, I stalled leaning against the column of the arch way, not wanting to go back to my apartment quite yet.
"It's weird." I said fighting back a smile as he stepped just a little too close to me. Not that I planned to say anything about it. "Harper might be the only person I know that would be this annoyed the gods want to plan her a wedding. Think she's going to be miserable on the day?"
"Please." He said rolling his eyes. "Twenty grand says those two run off and elope before the gods even notice they're gone."
I felt my mouth fall open at the number.
"Twenty grand?" I asked appalled. "What are you a trust fund baby? Who throws out an amount like that?"
He smirked.
"I'm fairly confident."
"Yeah, well, I'm not taking that bet." I said frowning at him. "Why are you so sure?"
"Because that's what those two always do." He said his tone surprisingly nonchalant, but shooting me a look filled with meaning. "Look at how they started out, running off from camp together, darting around the world for dates when Olympus irritates her. Harper hates attention. Any time the world looks her way she runs off and Ashton always follows her. Why do you think she lives here?" He asked gesturing around at the library. "She doesn't have to."
A part of me wanted to ask James why he lived here, if he too was hiding away, but I didn't have the nerve.
"Where do you think they'd go?" I asked curiously. "Vegas?"
I had to stifle a laugh at the idea of Harper dressed as Marilyn Monroe or princess Leia holding hands with Ashton who was dressed like Elvis.
"Athens." James said confidently.
"You came up with that pretty quick."
"Harper loves it there." He said shrugging. "And it's the one place that wouldn't offend her mother if she did end up running off without telling the gods. That and I've caught her looking up hotels online."
"Really?" I asked surprised.
"Harper's much more of a romantic than you'd think." He said sounding a little amused. "I'm sure a part of her loves the idea of running off to Greece with Ashton, circumventing the will of the gods. It's all very clandestine and forbidden. Very dramatic. All for love." He smirked. "She did do the whole, off limits brother's best friend thing after all."
"Gross." I said with a laugh and he grinned.
"My sentiments exactly."
"Think we'll be invited? If they're running away together?"
"I dunno." He said thoughtfully crossing his arms over his chest as if he hadn't considered this.
"They'd need witnesses."
"If she ends up inviting her family, I probably would be."
"I'm Ashton's sister." I pointed out. "But if I don't get an invite, I'm forcing you to take me as your plus one."
He shot me an amused look. Both of us knowing the idea of me 'forcing' James to do anything was patently ridiculous.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, or I'll shoot you with paintballs again."
"I'm terrified." He said sarcastically.
"You should be." I said indignantly and he smiled. It was tolerant, and a bit patronizing and it needled me. "Though you said you had a thing for girls with guns, right?" I smirked. "You could just stand in front of a target and let me shoot you repeatedly. Though you'd have to sacrifice another shirt."
"Could be fun." He agreed looking down at me with interest, his eyes glittering with the same sort of mischief that was becoming so familiar to me. "Though I could always just not wear one."
I felt myself go bright red.
"Something wrong darling?" he asked innocently as I glowered at him.
"Stop looking so damn pleased with yourself." I said glaring at him and he laughed.
"I can't help it. You're so easy to mess with."
Intent on revenge, I was half way to making my own 'shirtless' comment when a pair of rapid footsteps caused us both to look up and I was surprised to see Lucy, looking a little out of breath and a bag thrown over her shoulder jogging towards us.
"I'm glad I caught you." she said the bag bouncing with each step and I could tell by James's expression he was just as surprised as I was that she'd turned up. "James, go away. I want to talk to Libby."
"You mean the thing I'm currently doing?"
"Yes, now shoo."
She made a dismissive gesture, and for once, I thought James was going to push back on Lucy's demands.
He seemed to think better of it however, instead, giving me one last glance, surprising me completely brushing a strand of hair back from my face in a brief, but obvious gesture of affection. His gaze lingering for just a second before saying.
"Bye Lib."
I felt myself blush again, thankfully not nearly as bad as just a moment ago, and I watched him walk away, too stunned to even remember to say good bye and Lucy made a retching noise.
"Git." She muttered annoyed, glowering after her brother. "I forgot he could be such a cad."
She then shot me a knowing look.
"Don't let him wind you up. He's like catnip to girls when he wants to be. Drives them all mad. I think he thinks it's funny."
"Well then." I said doing my best not to quite literally shake my head or sound too disappointed at this information.
'Get a grip idiot.' I thought, mentally slapping myself.
I needed to regroup. Regain perspective. Lucy was right this was probably just James's way of messing with me like the others here.
"I guess you and I will have to laugh at him then."
"Absolutely." She agreed sounding positively delighted about it.
"What did you want to talk about?" I asked and her face fell for a moment, before squared her shoulders and looked determined.
"I want to go to Harper's wedding." She said determinedly and I paused, trying to decipher this statement, wondering why it would be an issue.
"Well…" I said a bit awkwardly. "Then you should."
It was obvious Lucy was invited, Harper making sure it was a location she could attend.
"It's in New York." She said frowning and I hesitated still not seeing the disconnect.
She must have noticed because she added.
"Outside the library."
"Oh." I said not entirely sure how to handle the situation at this point.
From everything that I'd seen and Harper or James had said, Lucy didn't exactly have a solid grasp on just how separated she was from the mortal world, but she was avoiding eye contact now, squinting at the ground a mix of defiance and embarrassment. But also with a fair amount of resolve.
It was obvious to me now, that at some point, Lucy had become far more aware of her situation than either Harper or James had thought. That maybe, she'd known their impression of her, and had deliberately kept it that way.
"Look, I know it's kind of lame to invite yourself somewhere. And that James and Harper freak out about me, I get it, I do. And it's not completely unjustified but… I just… I really want to go. I want to be there for Harper. I want to see her get her dress and be there to laugh at her when she's miserable at a bachelorette party. And I can't do that here."
She looked at me now, her expression hopeful.
"I was wondering if you wanted to hang out, at your place." She added gesturing towards her bag. "Have a sleep over."
"Sure." I said automatically. "I mean, I've got to work in the clinic in the morning-"
"I know." She said with a nod. "And I don't want to leave your apartment." She said shaking her head. "Harper said she'd pick me up tomorrow or any time really, that she'd tell James. Just that I had to ask you since it's your place, obviously."
"That's fine with me." I said grinning and Lucy beamed. "C'mon."
I gestured towards the arch way, and her grin faded as she hesitated, then took what looked like an involuntary step back.
I caught her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
Her eyes darted towards mine, wide and a little panicked.
"You don't have to, if you don't want to Luce." I said and the words seemed to trigger something within her.
"No." she said resolutely, shaking her head again. "No, I want to go. I want to try."
"Alright." I said.
Keeping her hand in mine, I pulled Lucy towards the archway letting her take a deep breath, before stepping through.
She didn't stumble when we appeared in my kitchen, and I was startled to see the TV was on across the apartment, familiar dark curls falling over the back of the sofa.
"Anna?" I asked in shock.
She let out a squawk of surprise, popcorn flying everywhere as she jumped and turned around on the cushions.
"Where the hell did you come from?" she asked wide eyed and Lucy looked just as surprised.
"The library." I explained, feeling a bit awkward, not expecting to have to make this introduction. "Anna this is my friend Lucy, Lucy this is Anna."
"The roommate who hates James?" she asked with a laugh and Anna's eyebrows shot up at the accent.
"I'm guessing he's a relation." She said squinting at Lucy's obvious similarities in appearance and Lucy grinned.
"He's my brother, but don't worry. I've got far better manners."
"It's true." I assured Anna who looked suspicious for just a second, then smiled.
"That's a relief."
"I thought you weren't back until tomorrow." I said looking at Anna who shrugged.
"Changed my flight. There's an audition for a local show tomorrow morning I want to be there for." She frowned. "What is she doing?"
Lucy had wandered to the window and was looking out of it, as if it was the most fascinating thing she'd ever seen.
"There's people out there." Lucy said her eyes roaming the sidewalk across the street, something like awe in the words.
Anna let out an uncertain laugh, as if she thought Lucy was joking.
"Yeah," she said clearly thinking this should have been obvious. "There usually is."
But I shot her a look and shook my head, as she glanced to me, evidently looking for an explanation when Lucy didn't answer. Just kept staring out the window.
"Luce?"
She blinked then turned to look at me.
"There's people." she said again, her brow furrowing as if trying to make sense of the statement. "Outside. They're all going places. Have families…"
Anna shot me another look, clearly alarmed at this point, but I continued to watch Lucy anxiously.
Her expression had shifted from one of incomprehension as the pillars of the carefully constructed world James and Harper had created for her started to crumble, to the sort of look someone would had when they realized the sky was falling, and was about to land right on top of them.
"I should call my mum." She said quietly, her expression guilty before she shook her head, as if trying to clear it. "James said he had a phone number. And my friends. Hopefully they can tell me what I've missed…"
But this statement seemed to have smacked her right into a wall as her eyes went wider. "I-I need to finish school." She stuttered, her eyes going even wider as she looked around the apartment.
"Libby." Anna said uncertainly. "What the hell is she talking about?"
It was as if Lucy hadn't heard her.
"Libby. We need to get to London. Like, now." She said starting to sound panicked looking at her hands. "My mum, my friends, they're probably so worried about me. I-How long…"
She cut herself short however, her gaze fixed on something opposite her in the kitchen and when I followed her gaze, I saw she'd caught her reflection in the door of the microwave.
She put her hand to her head and leaned against the wall, sliding to the floor, the realization rolling over her, pulling her under like a storm surge.
She looked at me, voice shaking as she asked.
"How old am I?"
Anna's eyebrows darted up but Lucy didn't seem to notice. Her eyes were still wide, but now sparkling with tears as well.
"Nineteen." I said quietly and I felt her heart rate spike.
She nodded and swallowed, clearly it wasn't the first time she'd heard this information, rather the first time she'd understood what it meant.
"How old is James?" she asked closing her eyes and leaning her head against the wall.
Her heart was still hammering, but while her voice was tight, it was steady.
"Twenty-two." I said quietly, and she shook her head, the first of the tears finally starting to fall.
"Twenty-two?" she whispered in disbelief looking up at me through the tears, as if the number was something she couldn't comprehend. "He's twenty-two?"
I nodded, though I desperately wanted not to. Wanted to lie, to protect Lucy from this realization like Harper and James had done for so many years, but I knew I couldn't.
It was too late.
It was the crack that broke the dam, Lucy's seeming to collapse in on herself as she dissolved into a series of heart breaking sobs.
"Lucy…" I started but she cut me off, shaking her head and clamping her head between her hands.
"Twenty-two." She repeated. "James, he-he never got to have friends, or a girlfriend." She stuttered between tears as she wiped her eyes. "This, this is all my fault."
"No." I said crossing the room and sitting next to Lucy as she continued to cry.
I put my arm around her, but she pulled away looking appalled.
"I destroyed our lives." She said her voice shaking. "James. He's not normal. He…"
But the sentence died as the true impact of her words seemed to hit her. Her expression was horrified. Clearly, the memories James had been so careful to protect her from, tried to keep from resurfacing had reared their ugly heads.
It seemed as if leaving the library, had finally allowed her to remember.
"Libby," she asked quietly. "What did I do to my brother?"
"It wasn't your fault." I said gently as more tears filled her eyes and she looked away. "Luce, look at me."
She didn't, but the shuddering subsided a little as she wiped her eyes.
"Your brother loves you Lucy," I assured her and she shook her head. "More than anything. What happened to you guys, it wasn't your fault, either of you. It was out of your control."
She sniffled at little, then surprised me completely by tackling me in a hug, her body shaking as she continued to cry. I felt my own eyes sting, looking helplessly at Anna, who I could tell by her expression was now sufficiently freaked out.
"He could never be mad at you." I said quietly hugging her tighter, knowing with absolute certainty that if James was here, it was what he would have said. "No matter what you'd done. Or someone forced you to do."
This seemed to resonate with Anna because she looked away, her expression torn clearly not sure if she should stay or give Lucy privacy.
Several minutes passed in which she continued to cry and I hugged her, but eventually, the tears subsided and she wiped her eyes, sniffling.
"S-sorry." She said sounding embarrassed.
Anna had gotten off the couch at this point and seemed to be heading towards the fridge.
"Don't apologize Luce." I said putting my hand over hers that was resting next to me on the ground.
"My mum," she muttered, brushing away the last of the tears. "She's probably terrified. She-"
"James told me he'd talked to her." I assured her. "That he let her know you two were ok."
"Recently?" she asked.
"I don't know."
We both looked up as a pair of feet stopped in front of us, and I saw Anna holding out a carton of ice cream and a bottle of what looked like very expensive wine. The label written in Italian.
I stared at her.
"What?" she asked innocently. "I got it on my trip."
"But-" I started not entirely sure wine and soul crushing guilt was a great combination but Anna cut me off.
Oh c'mon Libby." She said impatiently. "You know who I'm related to. And besides, it's legal where she's from."
She gestured towards Lucy who let out a watery laugh and grabbed the bottle.
Not really having an argument against this, I grabbed the ice cream while Lucy passed the bottle back to Anna who also took a drink.
"So," Anna said sliding down the wall next to Lucy, narrowing her eyes a little at her as I dug a spoon into a chunk of cookie dough surrounded by swirls of hot fudge. "Am I about to find out why your brother is such a prick?"