Alex Rider: Luck of the Goddess

Simon's Story

Alex and Simon had a bit of time to kill on their way to their destination.

"I think I'm going to compose an epic about you when this is over."

Alex had never been more conscious of the fact that he was traveling with a son of Apollo until that moment.

"Of course I won't share it or anything, at least until you're dead. If I'm dead there might be a problem, but I can work around it."

Alex took a moment to contemplate the scenarios. "What if you die, and I destroy it."

"Bah, don't be such a grouch, let the world know what kind of person you are. It'll be more fun to watch when you're dead."

"I beg to differ."

"So what, you're just gonna die plain old Alex."

"I just wanted a normal life."

"Too bad, we're demigods, this is what we do."

"Even demigod normal would be fine, at least I wouldn't have to chase people half-way across the world, convince myself that this gut feeling inside of me is right, and I'm not doing this for nothing. I just want to be able to let loose, experience the world like other people do. I've been pretending around other people so long I don't know who I am when I take all of this away."

Simon looked behind him. "Come on man," Simon elbowed him. "You've got me know, right, what about that friend you mentioned, Tom? And Jack, we're going to find her Alex. I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep."

"I'm a son of Apollo, Alex, besides, it's not like I swore on the River Styx or anything.

Alex sighed. "Don't you ever want a normal life?"

"I grew up around the rich and wealthy," Simon began by taking a deep breath. "There were always people who would do anything to get close to me. I'm a son of a wealthy oil tycoon, as a result I wasn't close to anyone."

"I guess it's worse for you. You've at least had an idea of what normal is. I've never tasted it. So when you had to turn you back on it, it hurt worse than something I've never been able to experience." Simon shrugged.

Alex wasn't one to get uncomfortable during conversations, quite the opposite, but something about Simon's tone made him uneasy. Simon sounded almost... bitter... resentful... spiteful. Emotions Alex felt but never let lose. Simon seemed to be holding them in as well. Alex calculated his next words carefully. The air was primed and ready to explode in a minefield he was attempting to avoid.

"Simon, you agreed to help me... why?"

Simon cocked his head in the darkness. "I'm trying to help. You're desperate, Alex, and I think you know it too. I think that's why you came to me for help. You're afraid of what you're going to do, and I wanted to stop you from doing something you'll regret."

"Why?"

"Because I've seen how regret and neglect can hurt, and I don't want anyone to go through that."

Alex felt he was being led on a bunny trail, like Simon already knew how this conversation would play out. It was unnerving to be on this end.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I guess you've probably heard the stories, the camp ones, the one abou the second Titan war, about how the whole thing could've been prevented, stopped sooner."

"I don't think you're talking about another war."

"Well no, not yet anyway. Not because of you, it's just, I think, I don't know, It's just something about you Alex. You're a good person, and making those mistakes would destroy me, so I guess that makes me conscious."