Page 5 of Poseidon's Trident
“It’s okay. Sometimes I want company up here but I like my own space as well.” I sit back on the bed where I was before we kidnapped Kira.
It’s nice having another female friend and it will be even better if she and Dax get together. Kira glances around the room and wanders over to the window.
“I always wondered what the view from up here would be like. I realize now is not the best time to look.” Kira shakes her head and wanders over to my desk chair.
“It’s dreary right now but I’m sure the weather will let up eventually.” I rest my head on my hand as I lay across the top of my bed.
“So, what exactly is a girls’ night? I’ve never done one before. In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m not the type that people want to be friends with.” Kira hangs her head.
“Seriously, Kira? Who are the girls that made you feel that way? Girls like Mia and her sisters? They are so caught up in themselves it’s surprising they have any friends,” I scoff.
“They’re all siblings so technically they kind of have to like each other,” Raven agrees.
“Look at me. I’m abrasive and take no shit from anyone. I am pretty sure the only person that I get along with the majority of the time is Raven.” I point to my BFF.
“And me, everyone but Beth and Jayden are intimidated because I’m not only a weapons expert but a badass fighter. Other girls?” She pulls a face.
“Now, tell me why you don’t think you’re the type to have friends because what I see is a smart badass girl who can literally forge anything out of metal and needs to take life by the horns,” I say and touch my stomach with a grimace. “Okay, that’s a bad analogy. Who ever thought of that anyway?”
Maybe giving Kira the confidence she lacks is the perfect way to get Dax to recognize who and what she truly is.
“It’s because I’m smart and spend all my time tinkering and figuring out how things work.” Kira throws her hands up. “Sometimes I wish that I was born human or from one of the other gods.”
Thunder booms over the academy and I flinch. “There is nothing wrong with being a child of Hephaestus. I mean, don’t get me wrong, the automaton of the Chimera was pretty fucked up, but he’s actually an awesome guy.”
“Yeah,” Raven speaks up. “He helped us find my father’s shield even though he loathes my father.”
“You met him?” she asks sadly.
Fuck. We are screwing up this lighthearted girl’s night royally. How the hell do we salvage it?
“We have but we were saving the world when he helped us. I’m sure a time will come when we have to help him too. I’m sure the oracle will send the strongest Hephaestus student to aid us.” I wink at her. “Now, enough about the doom and gloom. You like Dax and we’re here to help.”
Kira gasps and peers at us both. “You know? How? And how do you plan to help?”
“Honey, it’s written all over your face anytime you look at him. My big dumb brother can’t see past his nose. We have a plan to show him what a beautiful badass you really are.” Raven grins and pops a chip in her mouth. “But first, I think we could all use a drink.”
She takes a swig from the bottle of wine that doesn’t have a label and passes it to Kira. She glances at the bottle before shrugging and taking a sip.
“Where did you get that?” she asks, smacking her lips.
“A couple of the Dionysus siblings owe me a favor. That’s where we got all this.” Raven waves her hand to everything laid out before us.
I take the bottle from Kira and tip it back. “Now, we do spa treatments that would make the Aphrodite students jealous and tomorrow we enact operation make Dax notice you.”
Kira eyes us up skeptically but eventually nods. Hopefully this plan doesn’t blow up in our faces. Kira’s our friend and we want her and Dax to be happy together.
2
“There,” I shout as I put the finishing touches on Kira’s makeup.
We didn’t go dark, just highlighted all her best features. She doesn’t need to be overdone like the Barbies on the Aphrodite floor. That’s not what Dax is into. He’s into strength and power.
“I think we need to get to class,” Kira says.
“We have plenty of time. But if you’re worried, we’re ready now.” I grab my bag and head for the door. “Don’t forget. You’re not hiding today. You’re strong and confident and you’re going to sit in Dax’s usual seat.”
Dax usually sits next to me on my left while Adrian has recently been taking the seat to my right. Draven stopped sitting there after I punched him when he tried to kiss me after the last battle and I have no problem with that outcome. He deserved it after all the shit he pulled with us.
